Page 23 of A Siren for the Duke

“Lionel, say it plain.”

Ever so perceptive, he thought.

“This is to be my last voyage with the Royal Navy. I will not say I’ll never travel again, but when we return to Portsmouth at the end of the summer, the captaincy will be transferred to another officer. I’ll write a good reference for you if you’re interested — I think you’d make an excellent captain.”

Ellis’s eyes were wide in shock upon hearing this news.

“I... I had no idea.”

Lionel swallowed thickly.

“I struggle with trying to find the right time to tell everyone. I’m still not sure how to tell the crew.”

“We shall find a way. What matters now is your family.”

“If all that weren’t enough,” Lionel said in exasperation, pinching the bridge of his nose, “I also have to contend with that infernal woman aboard our ship. I swear, Ellis, she is purposely trying to make my life and this journey more arduous.”

A wry smirk spread across Ellis’s visage.

“What? What is that look?”

Ellis shrugged. “I rather like her. It is amusing to see you struggle so.”

“She is maddening, Ellis. Do not encourage her.”

“She does seem like a challenge. There is a... familiarity between you two. May I inquire as to the nature of that?”

Lionel heaved another deep sigh.

“Well, seeing that I’ve already told you of my family troubles, I might as well tell you more. Jemi — Lady Jemima and I know each other from the past. We were... rather close.”

“What happened?”

“Quite honestly, I’m unsure. It would take a long time to explain. And I’d like to find out.”

This conversation was growing a little too personal for Lionel’s level of comfort — not just because he disliked sharing personal information — but as the Captain, he did not like to burden the rest of his crew. He needed to be a strong figure for them, and showing any sort of weakness was distasteful to him.

Mercifully, a knock sounded at the door, so he didn’t have to add any more.

Ellis jumped up and opened the door. Jemima stood there beaming, a tray in her hands and two bowls of stew.

“Dinner is served!” she said brightly.

Lionel had to admit... she looked very well in her apron, offering a meal. Something about the sight activated a primal part of his brain, and suddenly he was picturing her in a domestic setting, serving him a humble meal in a countryside cottage.

“I ought to take my leave,” Ellis said, reddening a little. Poor man — as flirtatious as he could be on land, perhaps knowing their history was awkward for him.

“No, no, stay! Please, try it. I labored hard over this and annoyed Mr. Coade out of his mind,” she insisted.

“Imagine that,” Lionel said dryly.

Jemima stuck her tongue out at him, but Lionel and Ellis took the bowls anyway. Her hazel eyes sparkled as she watched and waited for their verdict. They each took a bite, but Lionel was not expecting it to be so awful. He spit it out almost immediately and looked for his flask to rid his mouth of the awful flavor.

“It cannot possibly be that bad!” she cried.

Ellis was a little more gracious about it, but he also clearly hated it—he swallowed with a grimace as if he’d been forced to eat glass.

“It is a good thing you are pretty, as the culinary arts are clearly not one of your gifts,” Lionel said before taking a swig of Scotch from his flask. It burned pleasantly in his mouth, and he felt the warmth travel down his chest and settle in his stomach.