Page 32 of Lady Tempts a Rogue

Short of marrying Trinity so she could remain aboard the ship until the Daunting Duchess returned to England, what could Compton do? That was if the captain approved of the match. An officer with a wife on board led to all sorts of sticky situations.

Jealousy, swift and acrid, twisted a sharp, serrated blade in Devin’s belly.

That blighter did not deserve her.

Besides, didn’t officers share quarters?

Stop. Your imagination borders on lunacy.

Besides, nothing in Trinity’s interactions with Compton suggested a romantic inclination on her part.

But what about his?

More than once, Compton had behaved like a jealous suitor.

Devin booted the aggravating thought aside.

On a happier note, his conversation with Bandar Amzil had gone extremely well. Tired of life at sea and missing his homeland and family, the middling-aged man was happy to accept a position as an interpreter, guide, man of business, and any other capacity Devin might need him.

Devin preferred to work with someone he knew rather than rely exclusively on the strangers Shillingford had hired, though many of them would still be necessary. Regardless, that still left the issue of what to do with Trinity.

Bandar also expressed concern for her. “The port and the city are not safe for pretty, young, unmarried European women,” he said, concern pleating his face and crinkling the corners of his eyes. “Not safe at all. There are evil men with eyes everywhere.”

His black-eyed gaze had shifted, veering toward Meriwether and Truman-Shelton.

Had he also deduced those seemingly unremarkable men were not what they presented?

In truth, Trinity might not be amendable to Devin’s help but instead see his offer as interference or, worse yet, machinations. He, above all people, understood how irritating and frustrating it was to have someone else take it upon themselves to control one’s life and steer it in a direction one neither wanted nor expected to go.

For instance, marriage to an empty-headed ninny who could not tell time. Pitiful, malleable Miss Marsters-Montgomery. Pray to God her grandmother had intervened on the girl’s behalf.

Sighing, Devin thinned his mouth into a taut line before giving a single soft rap upon Trinity’s door. It could not be comfortable for her to remain in the cabin where Mrs. Peagilly died.

He could offer to exchange quarters with her, but she was fiercely independent and would likely refuse. He admired her gumption—her spirit and pluck. Regardless, there was no shame in accepting help.

He had the impression she had relied upon herself most, if not all, of her life.

Since his conversation with Captain Breckett last night, Devin had gone round and round with possible solutions to Trinity’s troublesome situation. The most obvious and easiest remedy was to pay for passage back to England.

However, there was the matter of locating a ship with an available berth. Often, passages were booked months in advance.

He supposed it was too much to hope that a suitable vessel was docked at Casablanca and shortly after the Daunting Duchess made port would sail. Not just any passenger-carrying vessel would do either. Many unscrupulous scoundrels just this side of pirates manned sailing ships offering passenger accommodations—filthy, rat-infested common quarters that made Devin’s humble cabin on the Daunting Duchess seem a bedchamber at Buckingham Palace.

If Trinity had to wait to sail, which was likely the case, what would Devin do with her in the meanwhile? He’d had almost suggested that Trinity reside with the McKinnicks until she sailed back to England, but then he discovered they were not staying in Casablanca.

Better for her to remain near the harbor, in any event. There she stood a greater chance of booking an immediate passage if a cabin became available. However, as with most port cities, the docks and piers were among the most dangerous areas, and he did not know where else she could stay.

Which brought him back to square one.

What was he to do with her in the meantime?

In truth, he did not relish the idea of her sailing home alone either.

Nevertheless, he could not remain in Casablanca for weeks waiting on a ship for her. Besides, even this far from England, it would not be respectable for them to have rooms in the same hotel. Unchaperoned as she was, no one would believe that midnight assignations weren’t commonplace.

Captain Breckett had strongly warned against her going anywhere or being left anywhere by herself, and that included a hotel room. Evidently, Mrs. Peagilly, an experienced traveler, had prearranged an entire entourage for her venture well in advance, including armed guards.

Then there was the issue of the sickness the captain had mentioned.