Page 58 of My Fair Lord

“Stop laughing at me,” Florence demanded. “You are making me so mad! Why aren’t you taking me seriously?”

“Oh I am,” Ned assured her, though it was hard to do. “You’re too delightful. I’ve never seen you so passionate. I didn’t know you had it in you!”

“I’m not passionate, I’m furious!” Florence swept her hand over her brow, slightly dislodging the straw hat. A carefully pinned lock of hair came loose. Ned’s hand twitched to slip it back into place. His pulse was racing. The cabin was too cramped for this. He was too aware of Florence’s perfume, the lingering scent of aniseed, and the heat of their bodies.

“It’s good to see you have this coin in your purse. Keep it safe and spend it wisely and sparingly,” he said quietly.

Her eyes were burning. “Why?”

He swallowed. “Because it makes you the most attractive woman I’ve ever encountered and if you use it wisely you could achieve great things. If you use it inadvisably, then men will either fall at your feet or forget propriety and kiss you whether you want it or not.”

“You’re making that up!” she said, giving him a look that sent his blood rushing.

“Not at all. Why if I wasn’t trying so hard not to, I’d be kissing you right now!”

He snapped off the words, stepping back against the bunk and wishing he could turn back the clock and unsay them. His heart was hammering in his chest and he realised that he’d walked straight into a trap.

“I don’t believe you.” Florence licked her lips and smiled triumphantly. “Prove it.”

“Don’t play games with me,” Ned said.

He walked past her, heading for the door to open it and see her out.

“I’m not playing games with you,” she said.

Her mouth contorted with misery. Her eyes became pools of longing. It would be so easy to grant her wish and kiss her. Just one step forward and she’d be within the reach of his lips.

He shook his head sadly. “Florence, I think what you really need is a glass of water and possibly an hour sleeping. I don’t know what brought this on, but if I did what you ask me, we’d both regret it.”

Not as much as he was going to regret not doing it.

She dropped her gaze, giving a little shake her head.

“I think you’re right. The closer I get to America, the less I feel like myself. I didn’t tell you why my father has summoned us back, did I?”

“No? Do you want to tell me why?” Ned’s curiosity piqued.

She looked doubtful, drawing the corner of her bottom lip in with her teeth.

“Talking about problems can help lessen them,” Ned said. “Why don’t we go for a walk along the lower deck where it will be quieter and you can tell me all about it.”

He held an arm out and after a brief hesitation, Florence slipped hers into the crook. With relief, Ned escorted her on deck. He’d really believed for a while that he would have to force her bodily from his cabin. They walked to the stern of the boat. No one else was there, being a covered area and shaded.

“Father wants us home because there is some sort of emergency. I don’t know what it is and as I get closer to finding out, the more nervous I feel. It’s horrible knowing that something is affecting my life without me being able to do anything about it. I hate feeling helpless.”

Ned swallowed, his mouth unexpectedly growing dry. He’d been thinking the same thing earlier. “That’s understandable. Anyone would feel the same.”

She dipped her head slightly. The brim of her bonnet tilted so that her eyes were hidden but the tension in her neck and jaw was clear for Ned to see.

“I wonder whether fate led our paths to cross not so that you could masquerade as a viscount but so that you can help me sort out whatever problem my brother has got himself into.”

“Your brother? So you do know something?”

“I don’t know but I suspect,” Florence said darkly. “The rest of us have been in England so I know we’re all fine. It could be something to do with the business, but I don’t think Daddy would need us all home. So I imagine it’s my brother.”

She dropped Ned’s arm and leaned back against the railings. They were waist height and there was a deck below, but Ned’s muscles tensed at the thought that she might plummet backwards. He stood beside her, ready to tug her into his arms if she looked like she might slip. Florence looked up at Ned.

“Be thankful you don’t have one. They are more trouble than they are worth.”