Page 54 of Unchaining the Heart of the Marquess
“It pleases me to hear you admit it,” her mother replied turning to face her daughter. “It is long past time that you let go of your fantasies regarding His Lordship and moved on to more sensible possibilities.”
“I agree.”
Her mother smiled and nodded. “Then we have an understanding.”
“Yes, Mother.” Josephine closed her eyes and allowed herself to drift off to sleep. She dreamed that she was running across an open field filled with flowers in a white dress toward a man on the other side. The face of the man changed back and forth between Frederick and Owen. When she finally reached him, she fell into his arms and looked up into his face. She awoke just before she was able to see which man held her in his arms.
Chapter 25
When Frederick arrived back in Naples, he took his mother to the Espositos’ and immediately went down to the port to find the ship that had brought the message. He found the captain standing on the deck, overseeing the replenishing of his ship’s stores. “Permission to come aboard, Captain?” he called up from the dock.
The captain looked down at him in inquisition. “Permission granted.”
Frederick boarded the ship amid crates of lemons, oranges, olives, cheeses, and wine casks. He recognized the crates that held the lemons and oranges as coming from Sorrento. The unmistakable wood inlay on the lids set them apart from all of the others. He found such artistry in everyday work to be admirable and made a note to inquire further upon the matter on future visits to the region.
Moving past the crates, Frederick walked over to speak with the ship’s captain. “Captain, thank you for agreeing to speak with me.”
“Anything for a fellow Englishman in foreign climes,” the captain answered nodding in greeting. “How may I be of service?”
“I am seeking passage back to England for myself and three others. It is a matter of some urgency so I would appreciate any accommodations you could make on our behalf.”
“Your name, sir?”
“Frederick Hadley, Marquess of Pentford.”
“My Lord,” the captain bowed. “We would be most pleased to accommodate you and your party.”
“Thank you, Captain…
“Captain Peter Morrison, My Lord,” he bowed once more. “We will be departing just as soon as we have taken on our cargo.”
“We will be ready,” Frederick reassured him, then disembarked.
He walked through the streets, weaving in and out of the crowds that clogged the streets buying and selling wares. Upon reaching the Espositos’, he found his mother and the lieutenant being doted upon by Giuseppe and Maria. He stood in the doorway and studied his mother’s face for a moment. Her time in Sorrento had been good for her in spite of the looming threats that hung over her head.
“Ah, Signor!” Giuseppe greeted happily.
“Signore Esposito,” Frederick returned his greeting with a smile. “Mother, the ship’s captain has agreed to grant us passage back to England. He is restocking the ship’s stores as we speak and will be departing upon its completion. It would be best if we made our way to the port now to ensure a timely departure.”
“Yes, of course,” she replied standing. “Grazie, Signore Esposito, Signora Esposito.”
“Prego.”
The group gathered their possessions and walked down to the port to board the ship. The captain approached them upon boarding and bowed in greeting. “Your Lordship.” Turning to the Duchess, he bowed once more, taking her hand in his and kissing it. “And who might you be, my beautiful lady?” the captain asked full of roguish charm.
“Captain, allow me to introduce to you my mother, Aurora Hadley, Duchess of Chescrown,” Frederick made the introduction. He had given up on hiding their identity as by now word would have spread of their absence in England. He hoped that the Duke had brushed any inquisitions aside by telling everyone that they were on an Italian holiday. Hiding their identities now would only feed gossip.
“Your Grace.” The captain smiled at the Duchess. It was clear that he was enamored by her beauty. “If you will follow me, I have prepared the best of our cabins for you. Once you have settled, I would consider it the greatest of honors if you would join me for dinner.”
“It would be our pleasure,” the Duchess graciously accepted.
They followed the captain to their respective cabins, the Duchess and her maid in one, Frederick and Buckworth in the other. The maid had turned green the moment she had stepped onto the deck. Frederick felt sympathy for her as she curled up into a ball on her bunk, clutching her stomach in agony before the door closed behind his mother.
Entering the adjoining cabin, Frederick and Buckworth tossed their belongings onto their bunks then stepped back out on deck to lean against the rail and watch the city of Naples fade from sight. “Will we make it in time?” he wondered aloud to himself.
“I sincerely hope so, My Lord,” Buckworth commiserated.
“It would have been best had Father come with us.”
