Page 97 of The Admiral's Daughter

“I’m here to escort you off the ship.”

“Right, of course.” In my reverie, I’d missed the ship docking. My time on HMS Queen Elizabeth is finally over. I’d packed my small amount of belongings last night in preparation. I don’t think I could’ve stomached it this morning.

Turning to Captain Morley, I offer my hand to shake. “Thank you for your hospitality, Captain. It’s been eye-opening, if short.”

“My pleasure, Ms Carter. I’ll see you in the debrief later.”

I’m pleased she’s already expecting a meeting with me. Maybe it’s more to do with my dad spitting feathers and the captain’s need to keep him happy, but it doesn’t matter. I’ll get my time to speak and that’s all that matters.

Kit and I are silent as we make our way through the ship. Eventually, I can’t take it anymore.

“Kit, where is she?”

Foolishly, I thought River would’ve found a way to see me before I disembarked.

Kit sighs. “She’s in the bunk.”

A tight sensation grips my throat.

“She’s a mess, Cleo.”

“Why won’t she talk to me?” I know she couldn’t see me, but hell, she could have sent me a message. “Is she ending this?”

We reach the gangplank, but Kit doesn’t stop, and she walks with me until we’re off the ship. Stopping and looking over her shoulder, Kit gestures with her head to step to the side. Other sailors are disembarking and we’re in the way.

“She’s spiralling, Cleo. I think it’s finally hitting her just how much you mean to her, and this whole thing with Grey and Benson has hit her hard. She’s scared of what’s going to happen to her. Then there’s your dad.”

“It has nothing to do with him.”

“Well, he certainly thinks so. River’s been requested to meet him in the captain’s private mess.”

“What?” This is the first I’m hearing of it. I didn’t even know my father was here yet. “He’s on board?”

Kit nibbles her lip. “He arrived as soon as we docked. He was already in Portsmouth, waiting for the ship to come in.”

“He has no right,” I begin, but Kit stops me with a hand on my arm.

But he does have the right. That’s the problem. He’s the Admiral of the Fleet. He has every right to pull rank,to insert himself into my personal life, to intimidate River with his authority and his position.

And I hate it. I hate that he uses his power this way. I hate that he can’t just be my dad and let me figure things out on my own.

I hate that River is probably terrified right now.

“He does have the right, Cleo. He’s the bloody Admiral of the Fleet. Anything that happens on or off the ship is his concern.”

I shake my head. “But he isn’t here as the admiral. He’s here as my dad and that’s not right. River would never be dragged in front of someone so high up in normal circumstances.”

“I know,” she says sympathetically. “But these aren’t normal circumstances.”

“Take me to him,” I bark, but Kit only sighs again and shakes her head.

“I can’t. I have orders, Cleo.”

“Didhegive you the orders?”

She doesn’t need to answer. I see it in her face.

“Fine. Where am I supposed to go?” I’m beyond angry, but not at Kit. I hate it when my dad pulls this shit. Why does he always wreck any progress we make by inserting his authority into my personal life?