Page 55 of A Siren for the Duke

“I do. It’s stunning. We have the seaside in England, of course, but... it is nothing like this.”

“When I first visited over ten years ago, I saw this spot, and I knew I was going to build a home here.”

“It seems a lovely place to escape.”

“It is and has been. Come. We must catch up, and I must hear more from your companions.” Eliza said. Jemima was in awe of the way her aunt carried herself and even moved—with such grace and deportment that her mother would have been jealous. Eliza Upton did not seem like a libertine at all. In fact, the only crime (and truly, it could not be called such a thing) that Eliza seemed guilty of was being a confident woman.

When they reached the drawing room, Jemima saw Lionel standing by the French doors, a glass of lemonade in hand. Mrs. Sherwood was sitting on one of the low sofas, cooling herself with her fan.

“Thank you both for bringing my niece safely to me,” Eliza said as she strode into the room.

“Of course, my lady. I shan’t say the journey was easy, but we all arrived in one piece with good health,” Lionel said, winking at the both of them.

“A blessing indeed, as there is much to do. For instance, I would love to sit and converse with you all here, but know that I am also making preparations for tonight’s ball, so if I seem somehow amiss, please know it is not intentional.”

“A ball? Again?” Jemima asked, joining Lionel by the window. She’d had quite enough sitting for one day.

“’Indeed! I am reunited with my niece and must introduce her to Port Royal society!”

“Oh, Aunt Eliza, if it is in my honor, please—I am not worthy of such celebration,” Jemima protested, already feeling fatigued at the thought of meeting so many more people once again.

“Nonsense. Though you’ll be my guest of honor, I also do it for the citizens of Port Royal. There are not many places in town that do public balls, so I invite people of all classes here for a summer ball series,” Eliza explained.

That information was interesting to Jemima. Perhaps that was one of the reasons for her mother’s disdain for Eliza. Lady Upton of the Portsmouth variety would never be caught dead at a public ball. She decried them often and spoke at length about how she preferred to be with her “own” people. Jemima liked Eliza even more now.

“Let me know if I can help in any way. I am happy to assist,” Mrs. Sherwood offered.

“Thank you, I may enlist your help and Jemima’s as well. But first, let us take this afternoon to reacquaint ourselves with one another,” Eliza said and took a seat on the sofa opposite Mrs. Sherwood.

Not wanting to make things too obvious, Jemima sat next to her aunt, which left Lionel on the other side of Mrs. Sherwood.

They chatted pleasantly and enjoyed the lemonade and refreshments. Jemima learned more about everyone—how Mrs. Sherwood met the ambassador, Eliza’s travels before she settled in Jamaica, and even some seafaring stories from Lionel, whose eyes glimmered like water in the sunlight.

She felt a happy warmth spread through her body. Perhaps running away had been the best choice after all.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Lionel wanted more than anything to get out of Jemima’s aunt’s house. After not having the time to tell her that Ferdinand would likely be waiting for her, the immense guilt he felt was just eating him alive. If he was going to hurt and betray her again, he’d rather not see it. It was cowardly, to be sure, but he wasn’t sure his heart could handle yet another goodbye. As he gazed at the vast turquoise expanse, Lady Upton’s voice interrupted him.

“Captain Hunt,” she addressed him from the doorway.

“My lady,” he acknowledged with a curt bow.

“Thank you for safely returning my niece to her family.”

Lionel was a little taken aback at her words. Did she... know? He stumbled over the first few words that left his mouth but quickly recovered.

“I... was only doing my gentlemanly duties, escorting a woman across the Atlantic.”

Eliza gave a sly smile as she walked further onto the balcony.

“That is not what I heard from my nephew.”

Lionel blanched. “His Grace responded?”

“He did indeed. He arrived in Port Royal yesterday evening and is staying in town. But his correspondence reached me rather quickly. I was prepared, you see.”

He hung his head, and his shoulders rounded in shame.