Page 33 of Lady Tempts a Rogue

What sort of sickness, and how widespread was it?

Forefinger knuckle bent, Devin knocked again, this time a trifle louder.

“Trinity? It is Devin,” he said, mindful to keep his voice low.

His checking on her was not improper, but he would rather not alert the other passengers.

If the winds continued, the captain estimated they’d make port the day after tomorrow in the afternoon. That left blasted scarce time to make arrangements for her.

Devin had just lifted his hand to knock again when the latch squeaked, and the door creaked open.

Trinity’s rich chestnut hair hung over her shoulders and down to her trim waist. She had resumed wearing the slate gray gown, likely because it was the closest thing to mourning black she owned. It stripped the color from her alabaster skin and turned her eyes indigo.

Her face sleep-softened, Trinity blinked drowsily at him.

She looked utterly done in. And adorable.

He wanted to take her into his arms, kiss the crown of her head and that delectable dimple in her chin, and assure her everything would be fine. Except, he could not because it would not. Even if Bandar had proclaimed that it would.

“I am sorry, Devin. I fell asleep and did not hear you knocking.”

Remorse tunneled through his blood for waking her.

She had used his given name again, whether due to exhaustion lowering her defenses or because she’d become familiar enough with him these past days that she did not think it necessary to uphold strictures.

Poor darling.

She needed to rest. The purplish circles beneath her eyes earlier today and her current pallor were an indisputable testament to that.

“I am sorry I woke you, Trinity, but we should make Casablanca the day after tomorrow, and I wanted to discuss your plans.”

Shock flitted across her pale face, and she clasped her hands together before she schooled her features into a benign mien.

“That soon?” Glancing over her shoulder, she murmured. “I intended to go through Mrs. Peagilly’s effects to discover her plans for our arrival. I thought that might help me decide the best course of action.”

A good plan.

She tugged the corner of her lower lip into her mouth. “I am not sure that is entirely ethical, and it makes me feel intrusive and like a criminal, but I do not have a choice.”

“No, you do not.” Had she eaten dinner? She had barely touched the fare Captain Breckett had prepared after the funeral, though she’d filled her plate. “Would you like help?”

She shot him an astonished glance.

“I would, in truth. I started to, but as I said, I fell asleep.”

If Mrs. Peagilly had paid in advance for a hotel or other lodgings, as well as the other services she had arranged, then a refund was due, but that was not Trinity’s responsibility. Mayhap Bandar could see to those details on her behalf.

“Let’s get to it, shall we?” he suggested.

Assisting Trinity would provide an opportunity to discuss her plans.

Pale and drawn, she appeared fragile and ready to collapse.

That protective instinct swelled within him again.

Devin would not leave her.

He could not, which put him in a deuced difficult situation, blast his eyes.