Papa grinned. “After Vincent realized we had enough men to rescue you, he dropped me off and told me he’d see us at Gorda Sound. With sick people aboard, he didn’t want to take any chances of being caught in the storm.”
“I just hopeweget there in time,” William commented grimly.
“Don’t worry, my boy, we will,” Papa responded. “With this wind we’ll be there in no time at all.” He glanced at her, William, Cicely, and Andrew. “Now it’s your turn. How did both these marriages come about?”
Eugénie took a breath. “If Cicely and Andrew agree, I will tell you the whole story, but you must promise not to repeat any of it to Mr. and Mrs. Whitecliff.”
William’s arm tightened around Eugénie. “Are you sure about this?”
“Yes. I do not like keeping secrets.”
Andrew’s brows came together. “Cicely, my love?”
“If Mr. Wivenly promises, then I think he deserves to know. After all, it is hard to explain the rest without telling him about that night.”
Papa squinted his eyes at them. “You are all married, and I wouldn’t want to upset your parents, Cicely. I promise.”
“Bon.”Eugénie began the story by telling him when she and Cicely first saw Andrew and William. Andrew, Cicely, and William joined in at times to explain parts Eugénie didn’t know. All of them left out William’s kissing her in the alley. Her mother could continue to believe it was love at first sight.
By the time they’d finished the story, they’d consumed the tea, Papa had poured rum for everyone, and the cook brought stew and bread.
“Remind me not to go away again,” he said in a wry tone. “I miss all the fun.”
“I agree.” Maman’s voice trembled. “You do not need to go away again at all. We missed you so very much, my love.”
“And I missed you.” He kissed her. “It appears I have a lot of catching up to do.”
Eugénie blinked back her tears of joy. It was so wonderful to have her parents together again. William’s arm tightened, drawing her even closer to him. “I have everything now.”
“Yes.” His answer was a soft whisper against her ear.
Suddenly the ship rolled and they all reached for their mugs of rum.
Papa grabbed his cup as it slid to the end of the table. “We’re in for a long night.”
Cicely yawned. “I’m for my bed.”
“As am I.” Andrew stood.
“Yes. I am tired as well.” Eugénie slid a smile at William. Usually waiting out a hurricane involved many tedious hours of trying to stay busy, yet tonight she’d be with her husband. The storm would probably not last long enough.
In their small cabin, Will released the last of the small buttons of Eugénie’s gown, drawing the garment down over her slender shoulders. “How long will it storm?”
She shrugged, causing the rumpled muslin to slip to her breasts. “It depends on how fast it is moving.” She pulled her arms out, pushing the gown over her hips. It landed in a heap on the floor. “Sometimes they just blow through, and at other times they stall. That is when the most damage is caused.”
Will braced himself to keep from falling as the ship rolled. Eugénie tossed her petticoats over the desk chair as though the boat hadn’t moved at all. “How do you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Not allow the ship’s movement to bother you?”
She grinned then presented her back to him so that he could unlace her stays. “It is balance. I always feel the way she shifts. In the same way you would on a horse.”
Once free of the stays, she sat on the bed, then removed her shoes and stockings.
Normally Will would want to do that, but he wasn’t sure he’d be able to concentrate on her and stand at the same time. Instead he focused on getting his clothing off as quickly as possible, and grumbled, “I thought a hurricane hole would keep the ship from being tossed around.”
Eugénie laughed. “It will keep us safe from most of the winds and high seas, but the boat will still roll.”
