The Lost Duke of Wyndham Page 0,83

might be the Duke of Wyndham, which would ensure him a bloody lifetime of books and papers and quills.

And headaches.

He glanced off to his left and saw Thomas standing by the bow with Amelia. He was pointing toward something - probably a bird, since Jack could not see anything else of interest. Amelia was smiling, perhaps not broadly, but enough at least to ease some of the guilt Jack was feeling about the scene back at Belgrave when he had refused to marry her. It wasn't as if he could have done anything else. Did they really think he would roll over and say, Oh, yes, give me anyone! I'll just show up at the church and be grateful.

Not that there was anything wrong with Lady Amelia. In fact, one could (and probably would) do much worse, if one were to be forced into marriage. And if he hadn't met Grace...

He might have been willing to do it.

He heard someone approaching, and when he turned, there she was, as if summoned by his thoughts.

She'd left off her bonnet, and her dark hair was ruffling in the breeze.

"It's very pleasant out here," she said, leaning against the railing next to him.

He nodded. He had not seen much of her on the voyage. The dowager had elected to remain in her cabin, and Grace was required to attend to her. She did not complain, of course. She never complained, and in truth, he supposed she did not have reason to do so. It was her job, after all, to remain by the dowager's side. Still, he could not imagine a less palatable position. And he knew he could never have lasted in the post.

Soon, he thought. Soon she would be free. They would be married, and Grace would never have to even see the dowager again if that was her desire. Jack did not care if the old bat was his grandmother. She was unkind, selfish, and he had no intention of exchanging another word with her once this was all through. If he turned out to be the duke, he would damn well buy that farm in the Outer Hebrides and send her packing. And if he wasn't, he planned to take Grace by the hand, lead her from Belgrave and never look back.

It was a rather happy dream, to tell the truth.

Grace looked down, watching the water. "Isn't it strange," she mused, "how quickly it seems to move by."

Jack glanced up at the sail. "It is a good wind."

"I know. It makes perfect sense, of course." She looked up and smiled. "It is just that I have never been on a boat before."

"Never?" It did seem difficult to imagine.

She shook her head. "Not like this. My parents took me out rowing on a lake once, but that was just for merry." She looked back down. "I have never seen water rushing by like this. It makes me wish I could lean down and dip my fingers in."

"It's cold," Jack said.

"Well, yes, of course." She leaned out, her throat arching as she seemed to catch the wind on her face.

"But I'd still like to touch it."

He shrugged. He ought to be more voluble, especially with her, but he thought he could see the first hint of land on the horizon, and his belly was clenching and twisting.

"Are you all right?" Grace asked.

"I'm fine."

"You look a bit green. Are you seasick?"

He wished. He never got seasick. He was landsick. He didn't want to go back. He'd woken up in the middle of the night, stuck down in his small berth, clammy with sweat.

He had to go back. He knew he did. But that didn't mean a very large part of him didn't want to turn coward and flee.

He heard Grace's breath catch, and when he looked at her, she was pointing out, her face alight with excitement.

It was quite possibly the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.

"Is that Dublin?" she asked. "Over there?"

He nodded. "The port. The town proper is a bit farther in."

She craned her neck, which would have been amusing had he not been in such a wretched mood. There was no way she could have seen anything from this distance. "I've heard it is a charming city," she said.

"There is much to entertain."

"It's a pity. I don't expect we shall be spending much time there."

"No. The dowager is eager to be on her way."

"Aren't you?" she asked.

At that, he took a breath and rubbed his eyes. He was tired,