Beloved (The Duel Book 4) by Mary Lancaster

Author:Mary Lancaster [Lancaster, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, romance, Historical
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2023-08-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

The duke’s yacht was a fine vessel with, inevitably, luxurious accommodation below deck. Olivia was sent ahead with the captain to view the cabins while Tom and Black between them managed the duke’s awkward descent of the ladder.

“I hope this will do, Your Grace,” the captain said, showing her a large sitting room with carpet on the floor and a highly polished dining table and chairs in the center. “Sleeping accommodation is through there, and there are other cabins for guests and servants at—er…the other end.”

“Where do the crew sleep?” she asked.

“Oh, they have their own quarters. It doesn’t take many of us to sail her, and I didn’t have warning enough to take on servants.”

“Of course not. Thank you, captain.”

Aggie said, “Show me the kitchen, if you please, and I shall cook.”

“Galley,” the captain corrected her automatically. “Come with me, then.”

As they left, Olivia crept forward through the doorway into a bedroom. A large, curtained bed dominated, causing a flush to spread through her whole body. She turned hastily away from the bed and went through yet another door into what appeared to be a dressing room, with a much smaller bed made up. Would Black sleep in there to help the duke when he needed it? Or would the duke sleep there himself? She had no idea how wedding nights were managed. Or any nights, really, for married people of the duke’s rank.

Hearing the familiar sound of the stick, she turned to see the duke in the sitting room doorway, gazing around the larger bedroom.

“Liked his comforts, did His Grace,” Victor remarked. “I wonder who he took on his voyages with him? It certainly wasn’t my stepmother.”

“I expect the captain could tell you.”

Victor considered. “If I cared, I would ask him. Will you be comfortable enough here? It should only be for the one night, providing the weather holds fair.”

She smiled. “I suspect the sea is likely to be a much greater source of discomfort than the furnishings! The movement is most odd, is it not? And we have not even set sail yet.”

“According to Tom, Her Grace has a potion that helps. Though that won’t be much use to us, sadly.” He turned restlessly. “I’d like to go up on deck and watch the ship leave the port, but I don’t really want us to be seen if our enemy is in pursuit.”

“We can watch through the windows. We’ll have different views from here, and the big window in the sitting room.”

Black appeared with their bags, Aggie at his heels, and Victor and Olivia went back into the sitting room. Tom stuck his head in admiringly and was invited to come for a glass of brandy. He happily drank to the health of the bride and groom, and it suddenly seemed odd again.

I am a wife. I am a duchess…

Only a little later, the ship got underway. It started creaking in different ways, and as the sails were unfurled, its roll deepened. Olivia gave in to

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