“At the Schip. The landlord there will get word to us.” The master stood back and executed a short bow. “I’d better get back to my duties.”
“Thank you,” Geoff said. “Do you know when the captain expects to be able to dock?”
“They move them in and out at a pretty smart pace,” Benchley said, eyeing the harbor. “Sometime tomorrow or even this afternoon, if we’re lucky.” The ship jerked, causing him to brace. “Ah, good, the anchor’s set. The skipper will have orders now.”
Geoff watched as the man moved toward where the captain was standing, next to his first officer. He scanned the deck expecting to see Elizabeth, but there was no sign of her. He hoped she had taken a nap, but, somehow he doubted it. It occurred to him that she gave the impression of being restful when in reality she was in constant movement. The only time he’s seen her still was when she was asleep. It had been much too long since he’d held her against him.
Soon, he vowed to himself. Soon they would be back to the way they were right after their wedding.
Chapter Thirty
By the time the ship had anchored in the Ostend harbor to await a berth, Elizabeth had washed and changed in her maid’s cabin. She did not dare go into hers. Geoffrey in bed, now that he was feeling better, was simply too much temptation to bear. The only way she had found to rid herself of her need for him was to turn into a shrew. And she could not keep that type of behavior up for long.
Her mother-in-law had agreed she could drop hints, and Elizabeth had tried, but they had slid right by Geoffrey, just as the dowager said they would.
She rubbed her forehead, hoping she was not getting a headache. The best thing she could do was to continue to keep her distance and pray he would realize that he loved her. If only she could think of a better plan.
She climbed up the companionway, spying Lord John at the rail. With his soldiers recovering frommal de mer,the colonel decided to ferry his men to land rather than wait for the ship to dock.
Glancing her way he smiled at her and bowed. “I wanted to thank you for your help and that of your servants, my lady.”
“I only did what was necessary, my lord.” Honestly, she hadn’t done anything anyone else would not have done.
He gave her a lopsided grin. “Be that as it may, I do not know many ladies, even soldiers’ wives, who would have nursed common soldiers as you did. Your husband’s a lucky man.”
She could not stop the warmth that rose in her cheeks. “Thank you, my lord. I wish you a safe journey and good luck afterward.”
“Thank you my lady. I think we’ll need it.” The lines etched in his face seemed harder.
“Perhaps we shall see you in Brussels.” She smiled brightly, trying to lighten his mood.
“I hope we do.” He smiled, and inclined his head before striding off and ordering his major and batman into the first boat with orders to find them places to stay until their provisions could be offloaded.
“Do you wish to go ashore as well?” Geoffrey appeared at her side, taking her hand and tucking it in the crook of his arm as he waved farewell to the colonel’s men.
Normally, she would be happy to remain aboard, but then she’d be faced with having to sleep in the same bed as her husband. “Yes. We may as well leave the captain to deal with finding a berth and not have to bother with us. Nettle said we have a hotel arranged. We can send him and Vickers ahead to get everything ready.”
Geoffrey tugged her a little closer, and she fought the urge to lean into him. “Very well. I’ll let the captain know.”
But just then Captain Higgins strolled up to them. “If you don’t mind, I’ll send you to shore as soon as I get the last of the soldiers off.”
Trying and failing to ignore the tingling sensations caused by her husband, Elizabeth grinned at the captain. “We just now decided the same thing.”
“Famous. If you tell me where you’re staying, I’ll send a message when we’re ready to offload your cattle and carriages.”
“The Princess Henrietta,” Geoff said promptly. “I understand it is inside the city walls. Have you any idea how long it will be?”
“Give me an hour or so to get your trunks out of the hold and these fellows”—he nodded to the soldiers—“into port, and I’ll be ready for you.”
“Thank you. We’ll be ready.” Geoffrey led Elizabeth back to the companionway. “You were awake most of the night. Do you wish to rest when we get to the hotel?”
The question took Elizabeth by surprise. She had honestly not expected him to notice. “I am tired, but I think I would like to see some of the town. And discuss where we go next.” She took in the wan look in his face. “But if you would like to rest? You were quite ill.”
“No. I’m happy to stroll around Ostend.” She was about to mention their further travel when he said, “I sent a messenger to Sir Charles with the first boat that went in asking him for instructions.”
“Will we wait here until they are received?” How long would that take? she wondered. It was already close to the middle of June. Lord Markham had assured Geoffrey that as long as they were on the Continent by the fifteenth, Sir Charles would be happy.
“It is over one hundred miles to Brussels, and we will not be able to travel quickly. I would like to start out as soon as the horses are rested.”
