Page 13 of A Duke in Pursuit of Passion
Ella watched anxiously, wondering what could possibly be discussed that was not suitable for her ears.We are going to look formysister,she thought angrily, though she had to quickly remind herself that other than their servants, they were the only two on board who knew such a thing.
“What do you think they are …” she asked Alice, but before she could finish, Lord Rolfe shook the captain’s hand once more and returned to them.
“I’m afraid there has been a slight problem with the cabins,” Lord Rolfe explained, looking a little sheepish. Even before he finished, Ella felt dread clawing at her insides. “Due to the last minute nature of our boarding, only one first-class cabin remained on the vessel. The captain assures me that we are welcome to share.”
Shocked beyond belief, Ella very nearly removed her veil in its entirety. “You cannot be serious!”
Glancing quickly over his shoulder, Lord Rolfe stepped forward and whispered in a hushed manner, “Remember,cousin, we are family.”
Ella seethed just beneath the surface, barely able to contain it as she imagined the audacity it must have taken for Lord Rolfe to believe that this could ever be acceptable.
“It is only a short voyage,” Alice suggested, looking a little sheepish herself. “I am certain we can all make do, My Lady.”
“Is my maid expected to bunk with us too? And your man?” Ella demanded, feeling hot under the collar.
“They have bunks in the servants’ quarters. I can assure you that Mack will take pride in keeping an eye on your lady’s maid.”
“This is preposterous. I must speak with the captain!” Ella snapped and started to rush towards Captain Cormack.
Before she could go more than a couple of steps, she felt Lord Rolfe’s hand grip tightly around her elbow, forcing her back against him.
“Need I remind you,cousin, you are supposed to be keeping a low profile.” The way he whispered the words into her ear caused her to tremble throughout her entire body. Heat continued to seethe just beneath her skin, and she grew even more infuriated with herself knowing he was right.
*
The moment Ella found herself alone in the cabin given to them – Lord Rolfe having gone off to ensure that Mack and Alice were settled in their own lodgings – she could not stop from sitting on the bed and letting the events of the last seventy-two hours wash over her.
She remembered all too well the arguments she and her sister had shared, the harsh words and angry glares that had passed between them, and how she had practically forced her away.
Weeping and weeping, she could not stop thinking that it was likely too late to stop her sister’s marriage now. All that she could hope for was that she could convince her to come home, quietly and without too much fuss, so that they could at least pretend nothing at all untoward had happened. At least, that was what she told herself, though deep down, she knew it could not be so simple.
Nothing could seem to comfort her, not the rocking of the ship or the sounds of the crew preparing to make sail, not even the sound of the waves lapping against the side of the ship just outside the open port holes that were the only windows in the room. Perhaps if she had not been so upset, she might have had the good sense to go across the room and close them, lest anyone might hear her weeping.
But the next thing she knew, a hand landed upon her shoulder. Stiffening, she tried her hardest to hold back tears, barely daring to glance over her shoulder.
Even as she did so, Lord Rolfe slipped onto the bed beside her and pulled her into his arms. Instinctively, she twisted in his grip, moving to rest her head upon his shoulder and allowing herself to cry openly just as she might have when they were children and she had hurt herself or been upset by her sister or had a falling out with one of her parents.
For several seconds she allowed herself to be transported back to those days, back when Lord Rolfe had been the little boy from the next estate, a little boy she had called Nate, a boy she had frolicked with in the fields and caught frogs with by the pond when her mother wasn’t on the prowl.
She cried openly, pressing herself into the hardened muscle that was strange yet somehow all too familiar. Though his scent had changed somewhat from that of a sweaty, boyish one, she could still sense the familiarity upon him when she breathed deeply.
“There, there, it is alright, El,” he whispered, stroking several strands of golden blonde hair away from her face, his palm caressing her head in a comforting manner.
Then, just like that, her senses returned to her as though one of the waves had crashed right atop her. She sat bolt upright, pulling herself from Lord Rolfe’s arms. They weren’t children anymore, and he had absolutely no right whatsoever to get as close as he was to her. For all she knew of him now, he may as well have been a total stranger.
Just remembering their childhood all over again had brought back wonderful memories, yet it had also brought back terrible ones, painful memories of the day when he had suddenly been gone from her life, never to return, leaving only a letter written in his hand to announce that he had gone off to Scotland to care for a grandfather he had never even known. He had left her and had betrayed her. She could not trust this man as far as she could throw him.
“Lady Ella, please forgive …” Lord Rolfe started as though he meant to apologise, clearly having sensed her sudden change in mood.
Rushing from the bed, Ella turned her back on him and said firmly, “My Lord, if you wouldn’t mind, I would like a chance to change and freshen up before bed.”
“Yes, of course, but please,” Lord Rolfe insisted, and just hearing the pleading in his tone, Ella couldn’t help doing as he asked, “please, look at me.”
The look in his stormy grey eyes when she looked at him reminded her of one of the puppies that had been borne to one of her father’s hunting dogs. They were large and round and pleading.
“Are you not pleased to see me?”
“It has been a long time.” It was the only reply Ella could think to give, not wanting to admit that seeing his face, handsome as it was now, made her heart race just as it had when they were children. Again, she remembered the day he had left for Scotland. Her pet chicken had died only the day before, and he had promised to attend the funeral. He had never shown up. And though she would never admit it, she still carried the pain of his betrayal.
