After she had sipped at the water, she became aware that he was looking at her oddly. She thought of the child in her womb, but decided that now was not the time to tell him of her pregnancy. She stared up at him, and set her jaw.
“Should you not remove your wet clothes, my lord?”
His odd, assessing expression gave way to a grin. “Only if you will promise to spare my male modesty.”
“I assure you that anything you do will leave me unmoved.”
Indeed, her words were true, she thought. She started to feel very drowsy and the pain in her shoulder seemed to be easing. She heard his boots drop to the floor, but she was no longer paying attention.
* * *
The earl laid down the hairbrush and surveyed his handiwork. “You are presentable now, Cassandra.”
“What is the time?”
“Late afternoon, near four o’clock. You slept a long time, little one.”
She sighed and pulled the dressing gown more closely over her breasts, a dressing gown that he had put on her whilst she had slept.
“Are you hungry?”
Cassie consulted her stomach and discovered that she was ravenous. “Is Arturo aboard? I think I could eat three horses.”
A light knock came upon the cabin door.
“Enter.”
Scargill’s smiling face appeared in the open doorway. “The viscount and a young lady are here, my lord.”
“Well, Cassandra?” The earl’s gaze was questioning.
“Yes, Anthony. I believe proper good-byes are in order.”
Edward stepped awkwardly into the cabin, a radiant Jenny at his side.
“My lord,” he said stiffly, bowing to the earl. “I would like you to meet Jennifer Lacy. Jenny, Anthony Welles, Earl of Clare.”
The earl took in Jenny’s flushed cheeks, and her rich auburn hair tumbled artfully about her shoulders. He was aware that she was eyeing him closely. He raised her gloved hand to his lips and lightly kissed her palm. “A pleasure, Miss Lacy. I trust you are fully recovered?”
“I am not certain, my lord,” Jenny said, “to which recovery you are referring. There have been several of late.”
The earl grinned down at her. “Actually, I was thinking of your most recent timely swoon, ma’am.”
“It was, was it not?” Jenny agreed smoothly.
Edward, whose eyes were upon Cassie, turned to Jenny, frowning comprehension dawning. “Jenny. You little wretch. Are you telling me that your fainting was an act?”
“Well, yes, Edward,” she admitted. “But enough of that.” She smiled toward Cassie. “I only wish that I had had the courage to put a stop to your dueling. But what one lady doesn’t manage, another does. Well done, Miss Brougham.”
“Thank you, Miss Lacy.”
“Well, Lyndhurst,” the earl said smoothly, “it would appear that our destinies have been determined by two chits, barely into petticoats.”
A faint smile replaced Edward’s appalled expression. “I think, Jenny, that you are deserving of whatever fate I choose for you.”
Jenny lowered her eyes to hide their lurking laughter. Her voice was demure. “So long as I do not have to faint anymore, Edward, for effect, you know, I shall be content.”
“You are a minx, Miss Lacy,” the earl said, as Edward turned stiffly to Cassie.
“You are all right, Cass?”
“Of course, Edward. His lordship has put me back together again. It is but a scratch. Do not worry yourself over it.”
“Let her suffer a bit, Lyndhurst,” the earl said. “After all her machinations, she deserves to pay the piper. I trust you will join us for a glass of wine.”
“Wine glasses filled with rich bordeaux,” Jenny said. “All’s well that ends well?”
“The taming of the shrew,” the earl said.
“Do make that shrews, my lord,” Edward said, looking at Jenny.
“Let them have their little joke, Jenny. Gentlemen adore so to swagger about, believing themselves lords of all they survey.”
Jenny held back her giggle, aware that Edward was not at his ease, particularly in the earl’s presence. She raised her eyes some moments later to the earl, and said ingenuously, “You have a lovely boat, my lord.”
Cassie nearly choked on her wine, but the earl merely nodded graciously. “I and my boat thank you, ma’am. Perhaps you would like a tour whilst Lyndhurst talks to my patient?”