Page 86 of Romanced By the Orc

As they hitched their skirts and lightly touched the captain’s hands to board the steamship, Diana took note of her sister’s condition. Lil’s face looked wan, but the firm set of her jaw was encouraging. No doubt Lil had numerous tales to relate about her time as a nurse, and she seemed no worse for the experience.

But how close she has come to losing her. And Albie, as well.

Diana extended her arms to balance as she followed Lillian up the stairs leading from the first to the second deck. The Langleys had enlisted Jacques to help stow luggage, and Albie had left to have a word with the first mate to see if he needed assistance when it was time to hoist the sails. The mere thought of Albie trading his elegant Bond Street attire for the loose shirt and trousers of a sailor, his muscular calves bare as he worked the sailing ropes, made Diana smile to herself, both for the sheer wonder of it and the familiar thrumming desire for her husband.

For now, she and Lil were alone in the main cabin, its walls bare of furnishings and the doors to each of the berths closed. Perhaps she would want to sleep in another few hours, but right now, she wanted nothing more than to be near those she loved most.

At last, Diana turned to Lillian and drew her close in a tight hug.

“Are you all right?” Diana whispered. “Truly?”

“I was disappointed to have my trip cut short, but I am so grateful to Albion.”

“It is my fault you were in danger,” Diana exclaimed. “It has been my fault all along. With everything.”

Lillian shook her head. “You mustn’t think that.”

“I fancied Nigel,” Diana said, the words locked inside of her for so long now pouring forth, as a sinner in a confessional. “For a short while, only. But it was not appropriate. I grew too intrigued by his politicking. It was shameful. I’m sorry, Lil. I’m so sorry. You must hate me.”

Lillian regarded her calmly, elegant and unreadable as ever, before releasing a sigh.

“Di, I know.”

“You know?”

“You have always been a female politician. How could I expect anything less? But you did absolutely nothing to encourage him. I know that as well. Nigel was never a good match for me. Were he a better man, I would say he was a better fit for you. Father encouraged the proposal. He was afraid I would be left on the shelf and a burden to him. I was less enthusiastic but felt pressured to accept. I’m the oldest. It’s my duty. Were I to become a burden to my family, how could I live with the shame of it? ”

As Lil spoke, the tension Diana had carried in her shoulders for so long slowly started to relent. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You were even more thrilled than Father! And I had to marry someone. That is how I saw it. I had been through a season already, after all. Truth be told, Di, by the time of the incident. I’m ashamed to admit this.” She lowered her head. “A part of me was glad it happened. That is the truth of it. I couldn’t wait to call off the engagement. But I couldn’t share as much because I felt too much shame over it. You suffered. Mother treated youabominably. And you were sent away. Across an ocean! It was terrible.”

“In the end, I did not mind my time away from London.”

“And I did not mind your interactions with my fiancé. I think the lesson to take from this whole affair is that we must always trust and be honest with one another.”

Diana smiled at her sister. Naturally, Lillian would want to draw a lesson from all this. She was the elder sister and saw it as her duty to do so. As for Diana, she saw the entire affair in a different light now: as a silly and cruel result of the social rules they were raised to obey as though their lives depended on them. In many ways, their lives had depended on them.

But not anymore.

“I don’t know if I consider all of this a lesson, as such,” Diana said. “But I whole-heartedly agree. As long as we are honest and open with one another, our bond will remain strong.”

“Whether we live near one another or farther away,” Lil added.

“So you’ve still plans to become a nurse,” Diana said. “And not in London?”

“I don’t know yet. But I believe your destiny lies elsewhere, Di. For now, anyway.” She worried a bit of lace edging her pelisse. “Or should I call you Daisy? As your husband does.”

“I am proud of both my names, Lil. You use whichever you feel moved to.”

They embraced again.

“And now, go to your husband,” her sister said. “I’m sure the two of you have much to discuss.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Albion had found his way to the open balcony portside. As the ship roared to life, the hiss of steam from the boiler and metallic reverberations of the engine pierced the air. The paddle wheel turned, setting theHyacinthon a northward course. Away from Chamberly. Away from Reginald Addington and the Duke of Rostin.

As the sky darkened, the topography of the strip of coastline between Chamberly and France dulled, but the sharp light from the new lantern served as a beacon on the medieval watchtower.She took in the briny aroma of rot from the Channel that was somehow more pleasing than the decay found further inland.

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