OUT OF THE QUESTION!” Boyd told Katey.
They were sitting in his sister’s parlor. James was there with one arm leaning on the mantel and thankfully keeping his mouth shut. Boyd’s nerves were strung taut as it was. He didn’t think he could handle one of James’s cutting remarks today.
Georgina was present also and sitting next to Katey on the sofa, pouring tea for the four of them. She merely raised a brow at him for his sharp tone. She, too, was mostly trying to stay out of the conversation after it had taken such an amazing turn.
Boyd still couldn’t believe Katey was even there, much less what she’d asked of him. He’d come bounding into the room after being woken with the information that he had a visitor and who it was.
His clothes were askew because he’d dragged them on so quickly. Georgina had stepped forward and, without remarking on it, lined up the buttons on his shirt in the right order. He barely noticed, unable to take his eyes off Katey.
Not for the first time, he’d thought he’d never see her again. This time, however, she’d snuck off from Haverston before he’d even woken yesterday morning, and Roslynn had told him Katey’s ship was sailing today. Nor had he been able to locate her after he got back to London. He’d spent the rest of the day and most of the night frantically trying to find her new hotel, but with no luck. Which was why he’d still been abed at this late hour in the morning.
But she’d found him. And she’d gotten right to the point of her visit. No cordial greetings from her, even after they’d spent an agreeable day at Haverston that had given him quite a bit of hope that they could put that unfortunate Northampton mistake behind them. Of course she had turned stiff again that second evening. She might not have railed at him again, but that stiffness was a clear reminder that he hadn’t been forgiven.
“You asked if there was something I needed that you could help with,” she’d bluntly stated, her emerald eyes locked to his. “As it happens, I find myself needing a ship. Would you be willing to rent yours to me?”
“Rent it?” He started to laugh, but cut it off so abruptly, it sounded as if he were choking. He ended asking, “Why?”
“Well, I have a lot of traveling on my agenda. I’m seeing the world, you know. And I’d much prefer to just go where I’d like to go without having to wait for a ship scheduled to go there, and—I missed my ship this morning.”
A little pink showed up on her cheeks for having to admit that her ship had sailed without her. He was used to that, too, and how that bit of color enhanced her…
“There are no other ships leaving today?”
He stared at his brother-in-law incredulously and thought about cutting out James’s tongue for asking that. Here was a golden opportunity, and James had just risked losing it for him! But that was unfair. James had merely followed his own lead. Instead of saying, of course, rent The Oceanus as long as you like, he’d asked her why she wanted to.
Wake up! She’s thrown you for an incredible loop. Don’t mess it up with logical questions.
“Apparently there was a storm in the region recently that damaged a large number of ships,” Katey said to James.
“She’s right,” Boyd added. “One of our Skylark ships also limped into port from that storm. Most of the cargo was lost. It’s still being refitted. With so many damaged ships sitting in the harbor, it’s taking much longer than usual to get them all back to sea.”
Katey continued, “I already experienced one delay last week because of that storm, or I would have sailed sooner than today. But now—” She gritted her teeth before she said, “Eight days! Eight more days I was told, unless there is a cancellation in the meantime. But I was also told how unlikely that would be. Foreigners who visited here for the summer are anxious to get back to their homes before the colder weather sets in.”
There was no doubt that she was frustrated by the delay. It was obvious in her expression and tone. So she’d thought of him and his offer to help her in any way he could? Understandable. Boyd decided to jump on it. This was a boon for him the likes of which he could never have imagined.
“You can rent The Oceanus,” he said.
“Just like that?”
“Yes.”
She was surprised. Georgina was surprised. You could never tell by looking at him what James was feeling, but at least he was still just listening without comment. Had Katey really anticipated an argument? But then she blew the wind out of Boyd’s sails.
“I don’t expect this to inconvenience you,” she’d added. “You don’t captain your ship. There’s no reason for you to come along.”
Boyd wasn’t going to budge on this one. When he’d told her that was out of the question, he’d meant it. And now they were staring at each other in a brief battle of wills that was lasting longer than the two other occupants in the room were comfortable with. Boyd could see it in Katey’s eyes, that she wanted to insist, but he knew his own expression reflected his adamancy, so she held her tongue.
James actually helped him out, probably without intending to, when he said, “It’s an unusual situation. Doubt if I could send my ship off for an extended trip whether I captained her or not. But the Yank here always sails with his ship. Besides, I envision being stuck with him under roof if his ship leaves without him, which won’t do a’tall.”
He made it sound as if he were joking, but Georgina and Boyd knew he wasn’t. James merely tolerated his brothers-in-law when they came to visit. Anything longer than a brief stay they would hear about most unpleasantly.
“It’s not subject to debate, anyway,” Boyd stated, settling the matter. “I go where my ship does.”
Katey sighed. “Very well. If you must, I suppose you must. As for the particulars, I only have a small entourage. My maid and a driver I’ve already hired. Can your ship accommodate a coach? I’ll be ordering one as soon as I get to France and will expect it to travel with me.”
“You’ll be paying their salary in the form of ‘rent.’ My crew will be most accommodating about whatever you want to transport with you.”
Georgina gave Katey a thoughtful look. “It will take time to have a coach made. Are you sure you want to spend that long in France, as cold as it’s getting?”
“I didn’t really plan my trip around the weather,” Katey admitted. “But I do want my own coach. Depending on hired ones has already become tiresome. But I am not going to remain in England to have one made. I was told that would take three weeks.”
“Or longer.” Georgina chuckled. “The last one I ordered took over two months to build.”
“Only because you tried to turn it into a bedroom, George,” James remarked.
“I did not!” Georgina said indignantly.
“Those special seats you designed certainly felt like mattresses,” he rejoined.
“Oh, stop.” She snorted even as she gave her husband a wicked grin. “What better place to add extra comfort than where you’ll be sitting for long durations. That coach was designed for our trips to Haverston, if you’ll recall.” Then she returned her glance to Katey. “But I’ve thought of a way of eliminating that delay for you.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, my sister-in-law Roslynn just had a new coach delivered. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if she would offer it to you.”
“I couldn’t,” Katey said.
“She would insist, I know she would,” Georgina replied. “Believe me, she complains constantly that she has nothing to spend her money on. She didn’t even need this coach, yet she ordered it anyway. And I saw the other night how upset she was over the way you were mistreated after helping Judy.” Georgina spared a glare at Boyd for having been responsible for that upset. “I’ll wager it would delight her to do this small favor for you.”
“Really, I couldn’t. Judith’s family owes me nothing for my help.” Katey turned a look on Boyd, just as his sister had. “You, on the other hand—”
“I know,” he cut in. “Believe me, Katey, I wouldn’t be putting my ship at your disposal if I didn’t have a very big hole to crawl out of.”
“Well, let me just find out how Roslynn feels about it,” Georgina said. “If I’m right, the coach can be delivered to The Oceanus later today. Then you could skip France for the time being and travel somewhere warmer—unless you like the cold, of course.”
Katey grinned. “I don’t mind the cold, but I hadn’t really thought about some of the difficulties of traveling in it. I would insist on reimbursing Roslynn for the coach, however—if she’s agreeable to the idea.”
“Wherever you’d like to go is fine with me, Katey,” Boyd added. “But Georgina’s suggestion has some merit. You’d probably enjoy seeing the European countries much better in the springtime and summer. And there are many warmer destinations to choose from for the winter months. Then we could return this way next year.”
“You’re quite right. There’s no reason not to see the countries with milder climates first, then return north later.”
“How long did you actually plan on traveling, Katey?” James asked curiously.
“As long as it takes to see the world.”
Such a remarkable statement, but, damn, that was sounding nice to Boyd. This trip of hers could take years. And he’d either be in sublime heaven, or she’d drive him positively insane.