Page 28

Talk About a Young Woman

M eanwhile

Watching from his barely-opened cabin doorway as Helen made her way to the parlor near the front of the ship, Tom huffed a breath of disappointment.

The babe, still perched on her hip, was now saying, “Mama mama mama,” his words directed at Helen.

He carefully closed the door the rest of the way and banged his forehead against the polished wood surface.

He was about to do it again when he realized he wasn’t alone. Whirling around, he discovered David regarding him with a lifted brow.

“I was set to ask you what all the excitement was about out there, but now I’m wondering who it is you’re spying on?” David said, the book he had been reading landing on his lap as he straightened on his bed.

“I wasn’t spying,” Tom replied on a sigh. “Merely... watching to be sure someone was all right. We had a bit of a fright out there near the stern.”

“Felt as if we collided with something,” David remarked.

Scoffing, Tom headed to his own bed and sat on the edge of it, his elbows resting on his knees.

“Cataracts,” he said. “Uncle Will is back there with Nasir,” he added, waving in the direction of the stern.

“I think the boy who handles the rudder wasn’t paying attention, or perhaps the captain didn’t warn him soon enough when he spotted the obstacles in the water.

” He chuckled softly. “The rudder on his ship is certainly responsive, though.”

“I’m surprised the women weren’t screaming,” David said, swinging his legs over the edge of his bed. He mirrored Tom’s pose and regarded his older cousin with a look of expectation.

“What?” Tom asked.

“Who were you watching to be sure they were all right?”

Tom closed his eyes and sighed. “Uh, Lady Helen. She was carrying Master Bradley when the ship shifted. I thought she might... might have been injured, is all.”

“Was she?” David asked, obviously suspicious.

“No. She’s fine.”

David continued to stare at his cousin. “So... no chance she fell into your arms?” he asked with an arched brow.

Tom gave a start. “How did...?” He narrowed his eyes.

Barely able to contain his glee, David said, “I knew it. You are in love with her.”

“I am not.”

“Did you kiss her once you had her back on her feet?”

“No!”

“Liar.”

“I couldn’t kiss her. She was holding the babe,” Tom claimed.

“But you wanted to,” David accused.

Tom was about to say, “Yes,” but clamped his mouth shut. “She’s...” Here he stopped and swallowed.

“She’s what?”

“Well, married, probably, given she has a babe.”

David made a sound of disbelief. “We wouldn’t be addressing her as ‘Lady Helen’ if that was the case,” he argued.

The grimace Tom displayed was a mix of anger and pain. “No, we wouldn’t,” he agreed. Even if she was a widow, they would be addressing her by her married name.

David furrowed his brow, about to put voice to what he knew about Master Bradley when there was a knock at the door. “Come,” he called out.

The door opened and his father appeared on the threshold. “Everything all right in here?” Will asked, his gaze darting between the two young men.

Shrugging, David said, “Yes. But what was all the commotion about out there? I heard shouting.”

“There were some cataracts we had to go around,” Will replied. “Although the captain has some directional control with the sails, his ship relies on the rudder for quicker turns.” He turned his attention to Tom. “May I have a word with you?”

Tom swallowed and slowly stood. He directed a glance of worry at David before following his uncle out the door and to the stern. When Will indicated one of the metal chairs, he sat down and asked, “What’s this about?”

Will settled into an adjacent chair. “You tell me.”

His eyes widening in alarm, Tom opened his mouth to claim innocence but finally sighed. “If you’re referring to finding me with my arms around Lady Helen?—”

“I am.”

Tom dipped his head, surprised that in all the excitement, Will had even noticed them. “I was merely helping to keep her on her feet. She... stumbled when the ship shifted, and she was carrying the babe and...” He shrugged as if defeated. “I didn’t want her to fall, sir.”

“Good,” Will replied.

Blinking, Tom stared at his uncle. “Good?” he repeated.

Will shrugged. “You saved her from falling. Saved the babe from injury,” he stated.

“I suppose I did,” Tom agreed, although he didn’t show any emotion at the admission.

“So... why didn’t you escort her to her cabin? You left rather abruptly.”

Tom tugged on his ear. “I... I didn’t wish to... compromise her, sir.”

Will sighed and settled back in the chair as he crossed his arms over his chest. “You like her,” he stated.

Suspicious of his uncle’s motives, Tom furrowed his brows. “I suppose. I mean... I don’t dislike her.”

Arching a brow, Will sighed again. “I know I told you boys to be on your best behavior on this trip?—”

“I have been, sir.”

“—but that doesn’t mean you have to avoid her.”

“It’s rather hard given the tight quarters,” Tom countered.

“You can talk to her.”

“I tried, but that babe...” He displayed a grimace.

Will angled his head to one side. “What about the babe?”

“He’s always about,” Tom complained.

Will blinked. “You sound as if you’re jealous of him.”

Tom knew his face was reddening with embarrassment. “I’m not.”

“Hmph. Well, I was on my way to speak with the captain when I stopped at your cabin,” Will said, not adding that Helen had passed him in the corridor.

The memory of hearing Master Bradley’s ‘mama, mama, mama’ nearly had him grinning.

The boy certainly knew what to say when he wanted his mother.

“I’m going there now,” he said, rising from his chair. “Just... be friendly with her.”

Tom inhaled to respond but closed his mouth and watched as his uncle disappeared down the corridor.

“Friendly?” he had almost repeated. How could he pretend friendship when he wanted nothing more than to take her into his arms again?

Feel the warmth of her body as it pressed against the front of his.

Capture her lips with his and kiss her until he had to take a breath.

Slide his hands across her back, along her sides.

Mold his hands over her breasts. Undress her and kiss every inch of her soft skin before claiming her as his own.

The thought of sexual congress with Helen Tennison had his cock reacting, and he shifted uncomfortably in the chair.

Just knowing she was sleeping in a cabin directly across from his had him groaning.

This trip up the Nile was going to be the death of him.