Page 28 of A Siren for the Duke

At that moment, Lionel saw the flicker of defiance in Jemima's eyes and braced himself for another argument.

With measured steps, Lionel approached the table, his gaze locked on Jemima's. The crew parted like a sea, giving him a clear path to reach her side. Upon closer inspection, he could see she looked a little... loose, free.

"Lady Jemima," Lionel spoke firmly, his voice carrying a mixture of concern and tenderness. "Come down from there. It is unsafe. I will escort you back to your cabin."

“Captain!” she cried out, the happiest he’d yet heard her on this journey. “We were wondering when you’d join us.” She grabbed his hands and tried to pull him up onto the table.

“What is the matter with you?” he hissed.

“Why, I’m simply enjoying all the delights that the HMS Regina has to offer!”

Upon closer inspection, he smelled ale on her breath.

“Have you been drinking?” he asked incredulously.

“Indeed! Ellis bade me try it. I hated it at first, but now it’s alright!” she laughed heartily, and it rang out through the silent mess hall.

“Mr. Robinson, we’ll discuss this later,” Lionel said, fuming that Ellis would do something so foolish.

“Sir… she’s only had one and a half cups,” Ellis protested weakly.

Lionel looked in disbelief from Jemima to Ellis and back to Jemima again. Only one cup had her dancing on the table like this? Goodness, even his grandmother could stomach more than that. He sighed, still needing to maintain a sense of order.

“Report to my cabin tomorrow morning. The rest of you,” he shouted at the crew. “Commence watch shifts. Whoever is not on watch should go below and sleep. We’ll reach Jamaica in a matter of days, and I need everyone in their best shape.”

Jemima resisted him as he grabbed her arms to take her back to her cabin, but she was loopy and blasé enough that he could grasp her around the waist and pull her down. The chatter gradually resumed as the two of them left the mess hall. Once on deck, it seemed she had no intention of returning to her quarters anytime soon.

"Let me go, Lionel!" she exclaimed, pouting and struggling against his grip. "I'm having fun! The stars are so beautiful tonight."

Lionel's frustration deepened as Jemima managed to slip out of his grasp and dashed towards the deck, her skirts billowing behind her. He chased after her, his footsteps echoing in the silence that had fallen over the ship since he had ordered everyone to their posts.

Jemima twirled and danced, her laughter blending with the sound of the waves crashing against the hull. The moonlight bathed her in an ethereal glow, highlighting the soft curves of her face and the flowing locks of her hair. She spun around, her eyes wide with wonder as she gazed up at the glittering tapestry of stars above.

"Look, Lionel! Look at the stars!" Jemima cried, her voice filled with childlike awe. "They're so… so bright."

He approached her cautiously, his annoyance slowly giving way to a sense of awe at the sight before him. Jemima stood still, her eyes fixed on the heavens, her body swaying gently to an unheard melody.

"You've had too much to drink, Jemima," Lionel said, his voice softened by a touch of concern. "You shouldn't be out here."

Jemima turned to face him, a radiant smile lighting up her features.

"I know I'm tipsy, Lionel. But just for tonight, can't we forget all? Can't we just be free, like… like the stars above?"

Lionel studied her for a moment, captivated by her innocence and the way the moonlight caressed her features. Just then, he noticed she was shivering. Out in the middle of the Atlantic at night it could be cold, so instead of indulging her with a dance, he shed his Navy coat and draped it over her shoulders.

She looked at the garment, then up at him with those wide hazel eyes.

“What’s this for?”

“You looked cold,” Lionel said softly.

“I’m not,” she responded, her eyes searching his.

He was paralyzed, unsure what to do, until Jemima grabbed his collar and leaned in. Their lips met, igniting a fire that had long been simmering beneath the surface. It started as a gentle exploration, their mouths moving against each other in a delicate dance. But as the intoxicating taste of him flooded her senses, Jemima's inhibitions melted away entirely.

* * *

Lionel responded with equal fervor, his hands finding their way to her waist, pulling her flush against him. The heat between them grew, their kisses deepening with each passing moment, their mouths melded together in a passionate frenzy, their desires intertwined.