Page 9 of A Lord in Want of a Wife (Daring Debutantes #2)

L ucy was bursting with excitement and desperate for someone to share it with. But as much as she wanted to shout it to the skies, she’d had a lifetime of hiding herself away. Most half children did. She knew she couldn’t go around making noise, but inside she was singing at the top of her lungs.

She’d forgotten how wonderful life could be.

Once upon a time, she’d lived this joy every day.

She’d had to hide who she was, of course.

She’d dressed as a boy and stood as translator for her master who bartered in the Thirteen Factories district.

It was the only place where whites were allowed to bargain with Chinese for goods.

And since she was a half person, she was allowed to taint herself by interacting with the English.

She learned their language in halting gestures and grunting phrases.

And the more she learned, the more capable she became.

That meant she got excellent deals for her master, and within a year, he followed her lead, not the other way around. Indeed, it went much like it had with Lord Domac, and how amazing it felt to be doing that again.

Her sister landed before her, jumping down from wherever she’d been in the sails. ‘How did it go?’ Grace asked. Then she held up her hand. ‘Don’t answer. I can see it on your face.’

‘It was like being back in the factory district,’ she said. ‘Only better.’

‘Better? How is that possible?’

Because of Lord Domac. Because he had watched her with respect instead of criticism, and he’d moved to protect her when he was worried. And because he had seen the girl in the shadows and let her shine, as well.

‘It was so much fun. I got good prices, too.’

Her sister looked over her shoulder at where Lord Domac and a sailor were bringing on two crates. ‘We don’t have room in the hold for that,’ she said.

‘You can find someplace, can’t you?’ She leaned forwards and spoke the rest quietly because it was too wonderful to give full voice to.

Good news was always whispered in secret, even though they spoke in Chinese that no one else would understand.

‘Father has said the profits when we sell them will go into my dowry.’ She squeezed her sister’s fingers. ‘I will have a dowry! Me!’

Her sister’s eyes widened. To have money was the dream of all people, but especially the half children. ‘Money,’ she breathed. Then in a more moderate tone, she said, ‘Husband?’ In truth, the word came out more as a question. As if that wasn’t also the dream of every young girl.

‘Don’t you want to be married?’ Lucy asked.

‘To have a home of your own?’ Children all around.

Nice clothing and food. These were things she dreamed about at night.

Of being part of a family without fear of starvation or being beaten for whatever reason.

She dreamed of a mother’s love, if not from a woman to her, then from her to a child.

And she wished for a man who was kind and had a lightness to him. Just like Lord Domac.

‘My home is aboard ship,’ Grace said. ‘I do not need a husband for that.’

No, but she needed a captain who supported her.

And people who would protect her when they docked at whatever port.

Life aboard ship was not as safe as a wealthy home on land.

But Grace was not someone who could remain still.

Lucy, on the other hand, looked for safety in the shadows in a place she could call home.

‘I am building my dowry,’ Lucy said, her happiness undimmed by her sister’s skepticism.

‘But where are you going to store that?’ Grace pressed, looking at the two huge crates. ‘There isn’t room in the hold.’

‘We could get one of the crates in our berth, couldn’t we? And the other…’ She looked around. ‘You know this ship through and through. There has to be someplace.’

‘That will keep it safe and dry?’ She shook her head. ‘There is no place except the captain’s quarters. Maybe.’

‘Then we will have to put it there.’ She spoke with certainty, though inside she was fearful.

‘Go to the hold first. Let’s see what we can do.’

They couldn’t do anything. Everything was tied down and bolstered. There wasn’t even room for rats.

Her sister shook her head. ‘Speak nicely to the captain.’ Then she pressed a kiss to Lucy’s cheek. ‘I have to go back to work.’

‘We could keep it in our room, yes? At least one chest?’

‘And do we sleep on it then?’

There wasn’t room in their tiny space. Not if both of them slept at the same time.

Grace patted her sister’s shoulder. ‘Speak to the captain. He may have an idea.’

The captain did not. And even she had to admit that there was precious little space in the captain’s quarters. Which left her at a complete loss. Why hadn’t she thought about storage before she’d purchased so much? But she’d gotten caught up in the negotiation.

Now what was she going to do?

‘Can’t find a storage place, can you?’ Lord Domac asked when she came back up on deck. The two crates were sitting exactly where they’d set them down near the gangplank. They couldn’t remain there. It was too wet, and the crates would slide.

‘I don’t know what to do. I wasn’t thinking.’

‘There is a place. At least I think they will fit.’

‘Where?’

‘My berth.’

His room was tinier than the one she shared with her sister. ‘I don’t think they will fit in the door.’

‘They’ll fit. One atop the other.’

‘But you won’t.’

He shrugged. ‘I can sleep with the crew. It’s what I’d been planning anyway.’

‘But why? Why would you give up your bed?’ He didn’t have a stake in the bargain. He put up no money and would not make any profit. And yet, he would give up his berth for it? It made no sense.

His smile was slow as it spread over his face. A sweet curve of the lips that lit his eyes and warmed her heart. ‘I’d do it for a price.’

Ice slid into her veins, and she took a step back. She’d thought he was different. And while she was still reeling from that, his eyes widened with horror.

‘No, no!’ He held his hands up as if in surrender. ‘Nothing like that.’

‘Then what?’

He gave a charming shrug. ‘A percentage of the profit when you sell. Do you think your father will agree?’

She nodded. ‘He will, but I won’t.’

‘Why not? Where else would you store them?’

‘I’ll pay you a set fee. Same as if it were in the hold.’

He leaned back against the side of the ship. ‘But it’s not in the hold. It’ll be in my bed.’

‘Maybe it will fit beside your bed.’

‘Maybe it won’t.’

They set about bargaining. And though the stakes were tiny, the pleasure was the same as it had been that morning.

He was a strong opponent in this, happy to negotiate, but secure in the knowledge that he had the upper hand.

After all, she had no other options. But he didn’t exploit her, and he was going to be very uncomfortable for several months.

Once they agreed upon a price, she ended up feeling very grateful to him.

And because of that gratitude, she helped him move the crates to his cabin.

The ship was not busy, but most of the crew had gone into port on their own business.

Her father had retired to rest and even her sister was nowhere around.

Fortunately, Lucy didn’t mind. She had done manual labour before. And though she wasn’t nearly as strong as he was, she wasn’t useless either. Together, they got the first crate shoved through his door. And, after a few resting minutes, they shoved in the second.

She had to squeeze in first and pull. He was the stronger, lifting the second crate atop the first and putting all his weight into it.

The result was a room that had two badly stacked crates taking up all the space while his narrow cot was shoved against the side and currently held all his belongings on it.

The only way in or out now was by walking on the bed and squeezing out the door in the few inches there.

‘Not too bad,’ he said as he climbed in, effectively trapping her in the tiny space. She was on her knees, leaning against the second crate.

‘If the top crate slides, it will crush you.’ She frowned.

‘I’ll tie it down. There are ropes that will make it secure.

And my things can go underneath.’ As he spoke, he grabbed his bag and awkwardly shoved it underneath his bed.

Then he didn’t say anything as he faced her.

His gaze roved over her and his expression intensified. ‘You were amazing this morning.’

She smiled, feeling a rush of heat throughout her body. ‘I’d forgotten how much I love bargaining.’

‘Tell me what you did. Tell me how you learned.’

She chuckled. ‘The way everybody learns. I was apprenticed to a spice merchant when I was very young. We all start in the temple as babies. But as soon as possible, we are apprenticed. Because I was good with numbers, I went to a merchant. At first, he only let me watch his children, but I watched the sales instead. I learned how to bargain from my master and his wife. And when he started offering his spices in the Thirteen Factory district, he brought me along as translator. His sons were terrible at it, and I…’ She grinned. ‘I was good.’

‘You loved it.’

She nodded. ‘I did. I do.’

‘So why did you leave China?’

She flushed as she looked down. ‘I’m a girl. Girls aren’t allowed in the Thirteen Factory area, much less inside the bargaining halls. There came a time when I couldn’t hide who I am anymore.’

‘But you did today.’

‘I think they knew. But since the girl does it, too…’ She shrugged.

‘So you know spices. Any other cargo?’

‘It’s all buying and selling. There are things one has to learn, but I can barter with anyone.’

He nodded. ‘I think I could study for a thousand years and not have the talent you possess.’ He leaned forwards. ‘But I still want you to teach me.’