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She said it so firmly, he wondered who she was trying to convince.

Her face held a lonely cast to it, her eyes glimmering with unshed tears.

She watched the shoreline, as though she didn’t know when she would see England again.

And from the way Hannah was glancing over her shoulder, he suspected she didn’t want to keep his company any longer.

Sailors began releasing the ropes from the dock. The steam engines rumbled as they began to take the vessel away from its landing and down the river.

Michael wanted to offer her words of comfort, but he suspected it would only make her feel worse about her exile. He rested his wrists on the side of the boat, staring out at the water. Waiting for her to leave.

But long moments passed, and she stood a short distance away, resting her own gloved hands upon the wood.

He ventured a glance at her, and she kept her eyes averted.

Her lips were pressed together, her cheeks pale from the cool sea air.

He remembered just what her mouth tasted like, as sweet as a succulent berry.

“Why are you watching me?” she whispered. Her hands came together, and she rubbed her palms.

He didn’t tear his gaze away. Instead, he looked his fill, memorizing her green eyes and flushed cheeks, down to the prim-and-proper body he wanted to touch.

“Don’t you want to retire to your cabin?” he prompted.

It was a veiled dare, to see if she truly wanted to be rid of him. He waited for her to march off, sweeping her skirts clear of a man like him.

Her face reddened, but she held her ground. “I don’t want to just yet.” Taking a deep breath, she confronted him. “I think we are both capable of being civil to one another. We’ve agreed that there will be nothing improper at all about our behavior.”

They had? He raised an eyebrow, but she seemed completely unaware of it.

“As traveling companions, we have no other choice, if we wish to avoid future gossip.” She squared her shoulders. “If we attempt to avoid one another, that may cause further talk. Instead, I suggest that we behave with politeness and decorum.”

It was with great difficulty that he held back his own opinions. Instead, he studied the other passengers on board the ship.

“Well?” she prompted. “Is that acceptable to you?”

His gaze fixed upon Mrs. Turner at that moment. It occurred to him that he could not watch over the widow at night. He needed someone to protect her, in case she suffered from one of her spells.

Facing Lady Hannah, he said, “You want to pretend as though we’re strangers. As though I never kissed you.”

A slight shiver passed over her, but she nodded.

“Then I want a favor in return.” Before she could protest, he continued, “There is...an elderly woman I’ve known for many years. Abigail Turner is her name, and she has joined our travelling party.”

Though he could have found another place for Mrs. Turner, he didn’t trust anyone else to handle the widow’s welfare. Others wouldn’t understand her condition, nor would they sympathize. He didn’t want Mrs. Turner sent to an asylum if she suffered from one of her spells.

Hannah didn’t answer, and he wasn’t certain she’d heard him until at last she said, “Go on.”

He stepped in front of her line of sight, forcing her to look upon him. “Mrs. Turner is starting to grow forgetful. Sometimes she doesn’t remember her name or where she lives.

“She needs someone to look after her,” he continued, in all seriousness. Staring directly at Hannah, he added, “She tends to find trouble when she isn’t looking for it.”

Hannah shielded her eyes as she stared behind him at the tall funnel. “What is it you want from me?”

He raised his voice above the din of the engines. “Would you allow Mrs. Turner to join your maids? I cannot watch over her at night, and there are no other female servants traveling with us.”

“She may join us.” Then Hannah studied him, searching his expression. “Why is she so important to you?”

He had never been asked the question, and he didn’t really want to explain it.

Abigail Turner had lived near his family all his life.

She was the woman who had slipped him sweets when his mother wasn’t looking, allowing Henry and him to build fortresses in the bedroom out of sheets and old pillows.

As long as he could remember, she’d been like an aunt or a godmother, watching out for him.

“She saved my life,” he admitted. “After I was shot at Balaclava, I was sent back to London. Mrs. Turner nursed me back to health.” He pointed out the widow to Hannah as the woman strolled around the deck.

“How badly were you hurt?”

He sobered. “I’m alive. Which is more than I can say for most of my men.” He thought of Henry Turner, whose body he’d lain beneath. There wasn’t a day that went by when he didn’t wish he’d been the one to die instead of Abigail’s son. The loss of Henry had shattered her mind.

“I should be glad to look after her for you,” Hannah offered, holding out her hand for him to shake.

He stared down at her gloved hand, and she snatched it back, caught off guard by what she’d done. But he reached forward, taking her palm in his. The sudden touch seared his consciousness.

He took a step forward, and in turn, she stepped back, her shoulder brushing against one of the ratlines. Interesting.

He hadn’t truly intended to start this game of cat and mouse, but her reaction was intriguing. She appeared flustered, as though she didn’t know what to do about his sudden attention.

But her eyes held no fear. No, there was anticipation in them.

Michael reached up and took hold of two of the ropes.

Though he didn’t touch her at all, it was the hint of an embrace.

Hannah colored, but held her ground as though it were the most natural place to be, with her back against the ratlines.

She glanced around, to see if anyone saw them, but they were farther back on the ship, with no one nearby.

“Why would your father force you to travel with strangers?” he asked.

“The Graf isn’t a stranger. He’s Papa’s friend. They’ve known each other for years.”

Michael took a step closer, lowering his voice. “How well do you know him?”

“Not well.” Stiffening at his comment, she added, “But Papa would never place me in harm’s way.” She glanced at his arms pointedly, but he refused to move them. He wanted to see what she would do. Would she push him aside? Or surrender, waiting for him to let her go?

Right now, he wanted to take her below the deck, away from everyone else. To kiss her until she could no longer stand. To feel her naked skin beneath his.

“And then there’s you,” she said softly. “You would protect me, if I needed it.”

“Don’t try to put me on a pedestal, Hannah.

” The more time he spent near her, the more he desired her.

Michael let his hand brush against hers, and she started at the contact.

She truly had no idea of the sort of danger she was in.

Twice, he’d kissed her. And though he possessed a slight bit of honor, even that was beginning to unravel.

“You’re trying to intimidate me,” she accused. “And I know none of this is real. You wouldn’t dare hurt me.”

Michael leaned closer so that his breath was against her cheek. “Sweet, you don’t know me at all, do you?”

“You—you don’t know me, either.” She squared her shoulders, lifting her chin until her mouth lay only inches from his.

“I know enough about ladies such as you.”

“And what is that supposed to mean?”

“You live your life bound by a strict set of rules. I’m the sort of man who breaks those rules.”

“Do you truly believe I enjoy living that way?” she asked. “I’m not allowed to choose my own clothing or decide what to eat.” Her eyes held frustration, and she stared down at the wooden decking, her face pale.

“I can’t go back to the life I had,” she murmured. “It’s gone forever. This time, I want to make my own choices.” She pushed his hands aside and broke free of him.

“I want to eat whatever I want and wear a gown of my own choosing.” She calmed herself, taking a deep breath. “I want my freedom.”

He saw the desperate need within her and knew he could do nothing to destroy that hope. “You have two days before we reach Germany. Perhaps less.”

Staring hard at him, she whispered, “Then I’ll have to make the most of my voyage.”

God help him, he hoped she would.