Page 68 of Rescued By the Icy Duke
“How can I ever give you up?” Julian finally breathed when he was capable of speech.
“You cannot. No more than I,” Ester shuddered. “I love you.”
“And I love you.”
“What are we to do?” Ester asked after a long, drowsy silence.
“I don’t know. Pray for your storm.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
The storm came.
Ester had not prayed for it, nor even seriously hoped for it.
Yet it came.
She stood near the prow of the Sprinter holding her father's arm and marveling at the leaping play of dolphins in the ship's wake. To their left was Wales, while Ireland lay distantly to the right. Percival told her that they were crossing the Bay of Cardigan and before they entered the Celtic Sea off the north coast of Wales, they would pass through one of the most dangerous stretches of water in the world, theMenai Straits. Vicious currents would tear at the ship as she passed through the narrow passage between tall cliffs and rocks that would gut a vessel twice as large as Sprinter. Ester had shuddered but had welcomed the gleam of excitement in her father's eyes at the prospect.
“I hope I have the strength to stand here and watch our passage through the Straits,” Percival grumbled.
“Well, perhaps you should rest now to ensure you do,” Ester suggested.
Percival harrumphed and let his daughter turn him away from the playful aquatic mammals below them. Looking the length of the ship, Ester saw the dark, tall silhouette of Julian. He stood as far away from Ester as he could so as to not antagonize her father. He cut a lonely figure, a thought that made Ester's heart break. She was no closer to an honest solution than when they had been alone together in his cabin. Since then, there had been precious little opportunity, with her father wanting to be up on deck as much as possible and her mother not caring for such things. Percival followed her gaze and halted, leaning on the walking stick that he so heavily relied on.
“Thatman. I did hear that the Duke was aboard.” He glanced at Ester. “You are not to speak to him or associate with him,” he chided, sternly.
“I think you misunderstand him, father,” Ester mumbled.
“Perhaps I do, but it is a father's prerogative. A man died in my house and the Duke seems to think he is personally responsible. That is not a man of sound mind or character. Or both.”
“But he is a Duke and could bring a great deal of prestige to...”
“And a great deal of scandal. Think of Helen. What chance would she have for her debut if her sister is associated with a man who attracts the attention of gutter writers for scandal sheets.”
Julian was not looking at the pair but leaning on the railing and gazing out towards Ireland. Ester knew that he had seen her though. His gaze had always been as a physical caress to her being. Without looking, she felt she could point to Julian wherever he was, and tell if he was looking at her or not. But then he nearly certainlyalwayswas looking at her, just as she could not keep from staring at him if she entered a room that he occupied.
“Papa, I wish you would be fair,” Ester argued, knowing it was pointless.
“I am being fair to this family. To you and your sister. Do not press me. I am not convinced as to the strength of his character or his quality as a man. There is something... of the night about him,” Percival retorted.
Behind the ship, Ester noticed the sky was darkening. The wind was growing stronger and she noticed that not only were the sails at full stretch and straining at their ropes, but the masts were creaking under the force of the wind. Her hair was soon whipping about her face, her skirts billowing behind her like a banner.
“Heavy weather on the way. I may not get the chance to see the Straits after all,” Percival observed.
Then Captain Anderson, a man with a thick, black mustache and tanned skin, was descending from the poop deck. All of the ship's passengers barring Lady Janet, Helen and Harper were on deck at that moment.
“Ladies and gentleman. I must ask you all to return to your cabins. A storm is overtaking us and it is a powerful one. We will be running before it in an attempt to gain the shelter of the north Welsh coast but it will be a close-run thing.”
Percival looked at Ester and she saw the excitement in his eyes. She rolled hers.
“We will take the captain’s advice,” she said, looping her arm through his, “and avoid getting under the feet of the crew.”
As she guided her father towards the ladder to the companionway, she glanced again towards Julian. He was heading in the same direction but holding back, letting Percival descend the ladder before stepping close to Ester. She closed her eyes as his gloved hand slipped into hers. He stood behind her as she faced the top of the ladder, one finger running down her spine and making her whimper.
“What's that, old girl?” Percival called. “It is only a stairway, don't be getting worried now.”
Ester bit her smile at the absurdity of the situation and began descending the ladder. As she walked her father along the companionway to the cabin he shared with her mother, she heard the footsteps of Julian beginning his descent.