Page 92 of Miss Wylde and the Wynd

“Yes,” Damian answered before he quickly explained how they arrived on the Isle of Man. “It is imperative that we arrive there as quickly as possible.”

“I am happy to take you but we have no quarters available for passengers.”

“I do not mind. I will sit on the deck, away from everyone, so long as we are given passage,” Georgie insisted.

Captain Crale laughed. “We have seats in the dining room off the galley. Would that suffice?”

“Yes,” she answered before Damian could.

“How long will the voyage take?” Damian asked.

“We have good wind and sea conditions and if they remain, it should take no longer than twelve hours.”

Georgie nearly collapsed with relief.

“Thank you, Crale.” Damian stuck out his hand which the captain shook.

“I am happy to be of service,” he insisted.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Thank goodness that he had been able to find passage quickly and was lucky enough to know the captain of the merchant ship. Further, Damian was glad that he was not on another steamship.

However, he had not been prepared for Georgie to burst into tears the moment they were left alone and quickly drew her into his arms.

He had not even seen a hint of a tear in her eyes since they first met, and they had been in more difficult situations, and he was at a loss at what to do so he stood there and rubbed his hands up and down her back while hers shook with her sobs.

What did one do with a crying woman when the cause was unknown?

This was one of those moments when he would have benefited from having a sister, instead, he stood helpless until they finally subsided as a calm came over Georgie and only a few sniffs remained.

When she pulled back, she looked up at him with a watery smile. “I am sorry. I do not know what came over me.”

Damian smiled and drew her back into his arms. “Relief that we were on our way, worry, and it has been a very trying six days.” He frowned. “Has it only been six days?”

“Seven,” Georgie answered with a sniff.

“A full sennight,” Damian chuckled. “We have experienced much in a very short time.”

Georgie pulled away then searched in her satchel before she withdrew a handkerchief. She first wiped her eyes and then her nose. “Sometimes it feels like I left Carrera a year ago, when it has not been so long.”

“Well, those weeks on ship were not nearly as eventful as the one since you snuck off my ship.”

She chuckled. “That is true.”

“We will find Grace tomorrow,” Damian promised and hoped that it was not a lie.

“Why not today?”

“Twelve hours will deliver us to Greenock late in the evening.”

Georgie blew out a sigh. “Yes, you are correct, but I am so ready for this searching to be done.”

As was he, except, once they did find Grace, his time with Georgie would most definitely be running out and he was not ready to let her go. In fact, Damian wasn’t certain if he ever would be, even though he must.

*

Their time on the ship had been uneventful, thank goodness, but the hours had stretched and put her on edge.