herself to save a friend’s life … who managed to find her way across miles of desert practically unaided … I think not.”
“Are you going to kiss me?”
Oh dear.
She had shocked him now.
Chapter 8
“Should—should you like it if I did?” Captain Hollys was clearly attempting to regain his footing.
“Logically, you know, that question is unanswerable until after the fact.”
That surprised a laugh out of him. “You are a minx. But I should have expected nothing less. You are quite right. But logic notwithstanding, perhaps you might tell me something.”
It was not quite fair. She stood in the light of the brazier, while his face was shadowed. She stepped to the side so that both of them shared equally in the light. “Certainly.”
“How does it stand between you and Andrew Malvern?”
She would give a great deal to know that answer herself. “We are very good friends. We owe each other our lives.”
“Owing a life is not quite the same as promising one.”
“We are not promised. I have been too recently engaged for that.” Belatedly, it occurred to her that her affections were not really any of his business unless he planned to make them so. “What is your purpose in asking, Captain?”
“Ian. I should think that when a man and a woman discuss kissing under the light of the moon, his purpose should be rather obvious. You cannot doubt my feelings for you, Claire.”
If her racing heart was any indication, that was a fact.
“But I should very much like to know yours.”
“If—if I knew them myself, I might be able to tell you.” Oh dear. She sounded like a perfect featherhead. Snouts would be ashamed of her. “But Captain—Ian—there must be many other ladies here tonight with whom you might have this discussion.”
“I’m sure there are. But I am having it with you.”
“Many others with whom your time would be better spent. Ian, I am not the best prospect in the world. If you knew—there are things that—” She took a frustrated breath at her own inability to speak her mind. For if she did, he would bolt into that ballroom and for the rest of the voyage she would have to endure the loss of his friendship and the pain of his avoiding her.
She rather enjoyed being the Lady of Devices. She suspected, however, that the Lady would not make the best choice of wife.
“If you mean to frighten me off, you will have to do a better job than this.” He smiled down at her, and moved a step closer. The tips of his polished boots touched the hem of her gown. “I have nothing but admiration for you. If it is your family’s straitened circumstances that you’re thinking of, that does not matter to me. I am not without resources.”
This reminded her of something she had meant to ask him. “How does a baronet come to be flying a ship for an earl, taking his orders and ferrying him about the world?”
“You did not know I am a baronet?”
“You wear no such insignia on your collar, sir. Merely an airman’s wings and an officer’s bars.”
“And I am proud to wear them. For me, they are the important ones. As for taking the earl’s orders, he takes plenty of mine, too. We have seen too much together and had each other’s backs too many times to let something as unimportant as rank affect our relationship. I am, in fact, John’s cousin.”
“Ah.” That certainly explained the ease with which he came and went among the members of the family. “But what of your responsibility to the baronetcy? Your home?”
“The estate is a small one, but it is in the capable hands of a steward I trust. And until now, I have not been overly concerned with taking up, as you say, my responsibility. Should I be shot down, the estate will be folded into the Dunsmuir holdings and managed as efficiently as they manage everything.”
“I imagine your family would prefer you not be shot down. Though I must say, you came rather close on this voyage.”
“My mother would agree. She would like you, I think.”
I doubt that very much. My own mother has a difficult time with me.
“Ian, we cannot speak of these things.”
“I mentioned that I had not thought much of my responsibility until now. But I could see myself at Hollis Park, settling down, with a gray-eyed girl who makes my heart lift like a ship each time she enters a room.”