Page 18 of A Siren for the Duke

Jemima followed his finger to the little area at the top of the middle mast, not unlike a balcony.

“I see,” she said softly.

“You must be our mysterious stowaway. I’m Ellis Robinson, first mate on the HMS Regina.” He bowed as though they were in court, and Jemima could not help but laugh.

“My name is Jemima Upton. I’m sorry to have caused such an uproar. I did not know women were considered bad luck aboard a ship.”

Mr. Robinson sighed and placed his hands on the side of the ship.

“I have always thought that to be confusing. We sailors name our ships after women almost exclusively, and we refer to the weather and the sea itself as ‘she.’ Why an actual feminine presence aboard ship is bad, I cannot say – other than it is the men whom I do not trust.”

Jemima shrugged in agreement.

“Please tell that to your Captain. He seems determined to keep me prisoner in the cabin. I know I can be useful aboard the ship. And perhaps I could gain the crew’s trust if I were more present.”

“Do not think of yourself as a prisoner, Lady Jemima. Rather… a guest. A restricted one, but we mean you no harm.”

“I shall keep that in mind as I pace my quarters like a madwoman.”

An awkward silence fell between them as they looked at the stars together. Finally, Jemima sighed.

“I suppose I should go back. I cannot risk anyone else seeing me, apparently.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t tell,” Ellis said with a wink.

Jemima curtsied politely, then wrapped her shawl tighter around her shoulders, suddenly ready to return to the small bed.

“Goodnight, Mr. Robinson,” she said.

“Goodnight, Lady Jemima.”

She thought that was the end of their conversation, but she barely got a few steps in before he called to her again.

“Lady Jemima! I… I am curious. Before we left Portsmouth, there were rumors of a young lady of nobility who disappeared in the night to escape a marriage. I wonder… are you that such lady?”

Jemima smiled ruefully at Ellis.

“All of us are escaping something, are we not?”

With that, she turned around and wandered back to her cabin. Ellis chuckled behind her, and she smirked.

Perhaps life aboard the HMS Regina would not be so unbearable after all.

* * *

It hadn’t been too much of an exaggeration when she’d told Ellis that Lionel treated her like a prisoner. He had the cook leave her meals on a tray outside her door, and she was strictly forbidden from visiting the decks when it was busy. Whether it was truly for her protection, she could not say–for it also seemed very much like a manifestation of his shame.

When he burst into her room unannounced that morning, she was quite surprised. She’d contented herself with some light reading and was sitting in the plush velvet chair when the door opened.

Regarding him with a cool demeanor and raised eyebrow, she sniffed.

“Though I may be a prisoner here, I am still a lady, and it is proper to knock on a lady’s door before receiving an invitation to entry,” she said.

“My ship, my rules.”

Jemima rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to her book.

“You look positively radiant today,” he drawled with so much false charm it made her grimace.