Page 60 of Gabriela and His Grace

Brodie met them at the docks after they delivered Señora Lopez to her daughter’s house, clutching his hat, his mien pale. Sebastian was instantly alert. Ushering Brodie several feet away, Sebastian listened as his valet spoke, watching as a ship porter unloaded the trunks.

“What do you mean there are no cabins available?” Sebastian bit out when Brodie was done.

The Scotsman shrugged. “Exactly that, Yer Grace. I was able to secure a boarding ticket for Miss Luna, but there were no available first-class cabins for her, let alone her and a companion. I haven’t bothered to inquire after one because where would the poor lass sleep?”

“What of second-class cabins?” Sebastian ripped his hat from his head and dragged his hand through his hair. “She can have my first-class cabin and I’ll stay in second class.”

“None there, either, Yer Grace.” Brodie scratched behind his ear. “Apparently the ship is full with passengers wanting to return to Europe now that the collapse of the French empire seems nigh.”

Bloody hell. “And you made sure to throw my title around? What good is it to be a duke if you can’t make impossible things possible?”

“Of course. I know how to leverage yer lofty title to get my job done.” The Scotsman threw up a hand. “But there’s nothing available, Yer Grace.”

“Fuck,” he bit out. Sliding his gaze to where Gabriela waited silently by the carriage, he clicked his tongue on his teeth. “What the hell are we supposed to do now?”

“It seems to me, Yer Grace,” Brodie began, in that singsongy tone that immediately put Sebastian on guard, “that Miss Luna will have to share your cabin with you.”

Sebastian slowly looked down at him. “Now is not the time to jest.”

Brodie’s face darkened. “I’m not jesting, Yer Grace. There are truly no cabins available. Now if you would like me to offer Miss Luna to share my cabin, I will certainly do so. Sadly, I’m sleeping on a bunk and the other bed is occupied, but I’m certain we can figure out some sort of arrangement. Miss Luna is a delightful young woman, after all, and the other gentleman will no doubt be pleased to wake up to her pretty face.”

“You’ll do no such thing.” Just the thought of Gabriela sharing such an intimate space with other men, even out of necessity, made anger flare in his chest. It was a preposterous suggestion, and Brodie knew it.

“Well, then, what do you plan to do, sir? I suppose we can try to dredge up an empty bunk or cot in steerage.”

Curling his lip, Sebastian ignored how the Scotsman crossed his arms over his chest and stared at him with arched brows, instead locking his gaze on Gabriela. What was there to do? He supposed he could offer a sum to another first-class passenger in exchange for their cabin, but Sebastian doubted anyone would accept.

So that left Brodie’s idea. An idea that made Sebastian just a bit breathless.

Without saying a word to the valet, Sebastian spun on his heel and prowled toward Gabriela.

She watched him as he approached, her brow slowly lifting with every step he took.

“Did something happen?” Her gaze moved over his face. “You don’t appear particularly pleased.”

Sebastian tapped his cane on the wooden planks beneath their feet. “There’s a problem. With our lodgings on the ship.”

She tilted her head to the side, waiting for him to continue.

“Brodie was able to book you passage, but there are no first-class cabins available.” Sebastian cleared his throat. “Nor second-class cabins.”

The color in her cheeks fled, and her mouth opened and closed several times before her teeth snapped together.

Pausing to gather his thoughts, Sebastian glanced about them. A steady stream of passengers made their way up the wide gangplank, some dressed in expensively cut clothes and servants ladened with boxes trailing behind them. Others possessed only a simple coarse knapsack slung over their shoulder, hope in their gazes. Dozens of carts, wagons, and carriages were lined three deep along the docks, the calls and cries of drivers, passengers, and sailors melding into a roaring clamor. Still, Sebastian heard Gabriela when she spoke.

“Do you know when the next ship will be departing?”

Swinging his gaze back to her, Sebastian’s chest squeezed to see the forlorn expression on her face.

“Miss Luna, I’m not going to leave you here by yourself,” he said softly.

Her eyes darted to his and away again to scan the bustling crowds. “Do—do you think there’s availability in steerage?”

Sebastian shook his head. “Brodie suspects that every cabin and room is booked.”

“Oh,” she murmured, her throat bobbing before she dropped her gaze to the ground.

Licking his lips, he moved a step toward her. “I have an option for you to consider, and I completely understand if you reject it outright.”