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He sipped his sherry as he contemplated her quietly, “Star, you have had any number of local gentlemen at your feet. You have even had a London beau come courting, but I fancy, Sir Edward
is a cut above them all and well…I don’t want you hurt.”
This was not precisely telling her what to do and the truth hung on each word, thus, it effectively depressed her into silence. Her shoulders sank with sudden doubts. She said, “Of course, you are right and I am a stupid girl to have contemplated…even for the briefest moment, such things are what dreams are made of…”
“Star, Star…” he said grabbing her fingers as she turned away from him, “I didn’t mean to burst your bubble and bless me, what do I know about such matters? Don’t listen to me.”
She smiled, “You haven’t, but you are quite right. I should hold back and evaluate matters with more than…my heart.”
“Right, good girl and now for the coup de gras!” he said with some excitement.
She laughed, “There is more?”
“Yes, Miles and I will sail the yacht to Hastings. At first I had told Duncan I would have to see about that, but Miles says that it would be a grand adventure, so I agreed.”
“You already spoke to Miles…?”
“Yes, busy day at the bank. He was coming in as I was going out…said he wanted to see his man about his trust fund so that he could…well, he wanted to loan us enough to get by on.”
“Oh, he is a dear,” she said.
“Told him, it wasn’t necessary and then we went back in and saw Duncan and told him we accept.”
“But, why can’t Duncan sail it into Hastings? What if something happened to the Vision while you and Miles were sailing it? He might hold us accountable?”
“Deuce take it, don’t you think I thought of that? He can’t sail it as he is due in London on some business or other and doesn’t want to wait to get his men working on it for the next race. We wrote up a contract. We would have to do something grossly negligible to be held accountable for any damage that might occur during delivery and we won’t do anything of the sort. Sailing is not my favorite thing, but I have the knack of it from Papa and Miles. Miles has the sea in his blood.”
She laughed, “So he has always told us. You know, Duncan was Papa’s rival in all those races years ago.”
“Yes and he always lost. Thinks it was because of papa’s schooner. That is why he wants it so bad, but that isn’t the reason. It is his inferior sailing skills.”
She laughed, “Well then, I suppose it is all settled. I wish you lads well. When do you leave? Do you take a crew?”
“That’s a good girl, now, need some things…no crew,” he said going to his writing. “I’ll make a list.”
“When do you leave?” she repeated.
“At dawn,” he answered absently.
“Ah,” she said. “And how do you propose to return.”
He eyed her, “That is where you come in. It will take us the better part of the morning to get to sail into Hastings Harbor. I should think you wouldn’t have to leave before ten or eleven. That will put you there by noon or so.” He smiled at her. “Things should move along now, for we’ve got it sewn up right and tight.”
“Indeed, yet I have this awful feeling of impending doom.”
“Nonsense,” he said and shook his head. “Women have absurd notions.”
She watched him for a long moment before leaving him to his list and going to the kitchen to see what Cook was preparing for a lunch.
Chapter Twenty-Two
JULES SAT BACK in his coach and watched the rain as his driver made their way to Madison House. He could still hear Edward’s voice in his ears.
“Jules, you and I both know Star would never suit you and you and I both know why your face lights up whenever you look toward Georgina Madison.”
“Don’t be absurd,” he had told his friend. “You don’t know what you are talking about.”
“Oh, but I do. What is more, I am going to tell you straight to your face, don’t let her get away from you, for you will regret it all the rest of your life.”
