Georgiana watched him, her eyes full of expectation, of hope … and something else he didn’t recognize because nobody had ever looked at him like she did right then. Whatever it was, he couldn’t disappoint her.
Placing a hand over his heart, Nick said, “I swear on the stars, I’ll not betray yer trust.”
Richard crossed his arms over his chest, tucking his chin down. “And we shall not delay getting to the bottom of this matter. Have you had any success locating the midwife?” he asked his father.
“Mrs. Finchley’s last known residence was near Cambridge. She cannot be far. We shall find her.”
Georgiana’s gaze remained fixed on Nick. Releasingher hold on her uncle, she stepped toward Nick. “You will help us find William? Please … Brother?”
That dashed cravat did its best to choke Nick, but he got the words out. “I’ll do everything in my power to bring him to ye,” he swore. How easily the promise came to him. He, a man who was beholden to nobody, was now indebted to this family. His family, in all likelihood.
If he could find Mr. Darcy—his twin—he would do it. Nick always paid his debts.
CHAPTER 18
Darcy dunked his mop in the bucket, one eye on his chosen chore and the other on the captain’s quarters where Elizabeth stayed as a forced guest.
By the time he finished swabbing the quarterdeck, he considered that enough salt had landed on the surface to justify cleaning it again.
All the while, he watched the door.
Beckett was at the helm and kindly kept his thoughts to himself. Boone softly chuckled but spoke not a word. When Alex took over, however, she pointed to a knot in the plank. “Ye missed a spot, Darcy.” But she did not send him away, so he scrubbed the clean spot and began polishing the copper and brass, coiling and re-coiling ropes. All this time, his senses fixed on the cabin.
Jaffa nodded at him occasionally, as though toreassure him that Elizabeth was safe. That no harm would come to her so long as he was on guard. And Jaffa, Darcy knew, was always on guard. He had yet to see the man sleep, and somehow he was always alert. Always at his best.
Darcy did not feel his best at that moment. He was sweaty and unshaven and had not enjoyed a proper bath in days. The canvas hose that pumped frigid ocean water over them every morning hardly counted. It left Darcy sticky and itchy.
He stretched his back, rubbing his hand over his face. Five days of stubble prickled his fingers. Alex did not trust him with a razor, and, truth be told, he did not trust his own hand with the constant movement of the ship.
Rapid steps made him turn in time to see a flurry of black hair and ruffles. Alex snatched the polish rag out of his hand. “I didn’t have yer lady brought here to watch ye avoid her.” She pointed at her cabin. “Go! Woo her!”
As if he could when he was the reason for her capture. “It is not so simple.”
Alex plunked her fists on her hips. “Why not? Yer a man; she’s a woman. An idiot can see ye like each other. There are many dark corners on theFancy. Why don’t ye find one? Whisper in her ear; sneak a kiss; do something!”
Darcy stood erect, toweringover her. “I am a gentleman. I could never treat a lady as you describe, much less Elizabeth.”
Alex looked befuddled. “No honeyed words?”
He nodded his head.
“Not even a little peck?”
He nodded again, more sternly.
“How’re ye supposed to woo her if ye don’t talk or kiss?” she asked, flailing her arms in the air.
“We may dance at social occasions. It is understood that a gentleman who wishes to express his particular regard may call the following day during calling hours.” A far cry from kissing and whispering in dark corners … though the image that provoked in Darcy’s mind was not unpleasant—not in the least.
Alex smiled. “Nick and I used to talk for hours. Lord, I miss that.”
Darcy imagined the luxury of conversing at length with Elizabeth. They would have little difficulty filling the hours. But that simply was not how it was done. “Calls last fifteen minutes. To stay longer than half an hour is impolite.”
Alex gasped. “That’s a pittance! I suppose ye get right to business if yer time together’s so short.”
“It is difficult to discuss much of importance when others are present. One cannot ignore the lady’s family if they are in attendance.”
Her eyes bulged. “Ye mean ye’re not alone?”
