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T HE CLOSER THE Steamship Empress sailed to Southampton, the more Hector’s stomach roiled with anxiety.

Maddie had convinced him to wear a few garments borrowed from.

..he wasn’t sure. Anyway, he wore a greatcoat, a pair of socks, and shoes against the cold wind blowing from England, but he’d refused to wear a waistcoat and a cravat.

The shirt already constricted his chest, and the greatcoat felt heavy on his shoulders. Not to mention the shoes squeezing his feet. Had shoes always been so uncomfortable? He didn’t want another layer constricting him.

He gripped the railing as a light fog swirled over the grey sea. The sky was no longer a bright shade of blue, and the air had lost its warmth. Even the fresh scent of the sea had dissolved, replaced by a combination of the smells of burning coal and oil engines.

When Maddie moved closer to him, he released his grip on the rail.

In a dark-blue dress and capelet adorned with silver flowers, she was shrouded in starlight.

His mood lifted. She’d offered to be close to him once in London, but he’d already taken too much from her.

He didn’t want to become a burden. And Lord, he’d kissed her.

Perhaps he was as uncivilised as her mother said.

She brushed a dark strand of hair from her rosy cheek and smiled. The sight rent him asunder as a dark desire seized him, causing a sensation to explode below. How could she have let him kiss her?

“I’m sorry.” He fought the urge to take her hand. “I behaved beastly with you.”

“You didn’t.” The colour of dawn blossomed on her cheeks. “I enjoyed the kiss,” she said so low he would have missed the words if he weren’t focused on her.

Enjoyed the kiss? The world tilted. “I thought you were being nice.”

She nodded, her eyelashes fluttering down. “We agreed to tell each other the truth.”

Would she let him kiss her again? The possibility sent his pulse spiking. The question died on his tongue when an attendant announced they were about to dock. A cold sliver of dread put out the fire of his desire. He turned towards the coast. England. He was so close. Yet so distant.

He took her hand and cursed inwardly when she was startled by his brusque gesture. Damn. He had to learn to be gentle again.

“Sorry,” they said together.

She smiled, and his chest became lighter, his head cleared, and the sky wasn’t so grey after all.

“Do you think I’m going to meet my cousin soon?

” Fear rose in his chest, and the urge to escape nearly overwhelmed him.

He needed her help to face London’s society, at least at the beginning.

“I promise I won’t bother you any further after I meet him.

I don’t want you to feel obliged to be with me. I’ll manage, somehow.”

She parted her lovely lips, but whatever she was about to say was cut off by her mother.

“Madeline would love to come with you,” Mrs. Debenham said. Her hands were tucked in a fluffy muff, and for once, she didn’t glare at him but smiled. “She’ll help you in every possible fashion she can. Will you not, darling?”

He didn’t care about whatever reason had brought Mrs. Debenham to show kindness to him, but as long as Maddie was with him, he was happy. He waited for Maddie’s answer expectantly.

“Just so we are clear, I don’t think I need anyone’s permission.” Her gaze was on fire. “I’ll be with you, Lord Wentworth, as I promised.”

“If you want to.” He kept holding her hand, but opened his fingers in case he was trapping her. “I understand it’s not easy to deal with me.”

Her expression softened. “I want to deal with you, and you won’t scare me away. Besides, I’m used to dealing with a worse lot than you.”

He could breathe again, except the air was thick and heavy with the smell of coal. England was close.

Verity joined them, the tip of her nose reddened by the cold. “Are you excited to see London again, Lord Wentworth?”

“I’m afraid not.”

The ship took an hour to dock at Southampton, but to him, it seemed a matter of minutes.

Time flowed differently outside of the island.

On the island, a day was as long as a year.

On the ship, everything happened quickly.

Everyone was in a rush. London would be worse.

The passengers disembarked in a steady flow, talking excitedly.

Mrs. Debenham handed Verity a few guineas and patted her shoulder. “Hurry.”

“Where is she supposed to hurry?” Maddie asked in a sharp tone.

“I’ll go ahead and send a wire to the duke.” Holding her hat, Verity rushed towards the stairs.

Quentin. His cousin. Hector hadn’t seen him in well over a decade. Goosebumps covered his skin as if icy shards pricked it. Maddie narrowed her gaze over her mother who kept smiling.

“Lord Wentworth.” Dr. Landon approached him and removed his hat.

Hector bowed his head in greeting.

“I have a practice on Harley Street. Please don’t hesitate to contact me should you need me.”

“Thank you for your help, doctor.” Hector shook his hand. “You’ve been very kind.”

“I’m glad I helped.” Dr. Landon held Hector’s hand. “I’m sure you’ll be all right in London. Just remember that manners maketh man.” He released Hector’s hand and bowed to Maddie and Mrs. Debenham before strolling away.

Hector exhaled. Great. If manners made a man, who was he?

People chatted, laughed, and carried their luggage among sailors and attendants. He waited for the deck to be almost empty before heading for the flight of stairs that would allow him to walk again on British soil.

“Ready?” Maddie asked.

“Do I have a choice?”

“Not really.” She hooked her arm through his. “But I’ll be with you. We’ll share this moment.”

With Maddie at his arm, he left the ship on unsteady legs.

The last time he’d been to Southampton, he’d embarked aboard the Observatory in a troubled state.

The thought of leaving Maddie sick and pale behind had tormented him.

But he’d be lying if he said he hadn’t been hopeful and excited as well, looking forward to studying the Amazonian Forest. Now he wasn’t either hopeful or excited.

“We’re going to take a train to London,” Maddie said, steering him away from the crowd.

He scowled when a group of passengers ran past him, causing him to stiffen. The noise of dozens of voices, footsteps, and horses made his pulse go faster and his ears buzz.

Ladies in colourful frocks and hats chatted or waved their hands to the passengers. People hugged each other and cried their welcomes or goodbyes. Someone played an accordion somewhere, and a small dog barked as its mistress held it in her arms.

So many smells, not all of them pleasant.

The ladies’ perfumes mingled with the scent of roasted meat from the street vendors and coal from the ships.

A shine of humidity glistened on the cobblestones, and he nearly slipped.

He jolted when a ship let out a piercing hoot.

His brain couldn’t deal with all the colours and the sounds, but he searched the crowd for Robert all the same.

Having left the island seemed like a terrible idea.

England was too much. A choking sensation gripped him.

“Hector.” Maddie gently tugged at his arm and led him to the station. “This way. Ignore the crowd.”

He held her arm harder when a pair of tall men strode close to them, but she didn’t seem worried. His thoughts piled up in his mind so quickly he couldn’t keep up with them.

So many people. How would he pay for the train? Horses everywhere. Was that a seagull? He shouldn’t have had breakfast.

Verity bought the tickets, or so Maddie told him. He couldn’t keep his focus on her, too distracted by the overwhelming crowd. Only her arm anchored him to the ground. If she let him go, he’d float away with his thoughts like a kite.

“We’re nearly there.” She helped him down a flight of marble stairs stained by grease and oil.

He kept being distracted by people and sounds, almost tumbling down the stairs. So much for being independent.

Panting, Verity joined them. “The message has been sent. Hopefully, the duke will receive it before we arrive.”

He calmed down when he finally sat in the carriage and opened his coat.

The plush seat smelled of worn leather, a pleasant change from the stink of coal.

Maddie sat in front of him with her mother and sister.

His stomach flipped when the train jerked forwards and sped up.

The train’s loud whistle pierced his eardrums. He ought to calm himself.

As the train raced towards London, the red-brick houses of Southampton disappeared behind a curve, replaced by green fields gleaming with dew.

“What are you planning to do once in London?” Mrs. Debenham asked. “You’ll have a lot to do with your title to reinstate.”

When she smiled, her similarity with her daughters was striking but for one thing. Verity’s and Maddie’s smiles were warm and genuine. Mrs. Debenham’s was strained and calculated.

“Mother,” Maddie said in a harsh tone.

Hector peeled his gaze off the window. “I don’t understand.”

Mrs. Debenham patted his hand, causing him to stiffen. “You’re going to be a duke soon. Isn’t that thrilling?”

Maddie glared at her mother. “Is this the right moment?”

Verity shook her head, muttering under her breath.

“No time like the present,” Mrs. Debenham said.

Hector didn’t answer. He had no idea what she meant.

“Well?” she prompted. “The Duke of Blackburn will be surprised to see you, even more surprised to know he isn’t the duke any longer.”

“Mother, you’re impossible.” Maddie acquired the fierce light she always had when she defended him.

He liked it. He liked her passion and determination. He liked her .

“Quentin is the duke,” Hector said, puzzled by the whole conversation. He only wanted to watch the English countryside and think about nothing.