Page 26 of The Duke’s Guide to Fake Courtship (Daring Debutantes #1)

One month later, Grace was sharing tea with her sister. Lucy had found some Chinese tea at an apothecary, and they both relished the taste. But what Grace relished more was the moment when her new husband sauntered in. He’d been closeted in his library with his steward for hours, but now he strode into the parlour with an excited grin on his face.

‘What has you so happy?’ she asked as he came for a kiss.

‘I have finished with my solicitor, my banker, and my steward, not to mention my valet and your maid.’

She blinked. ‘Why ever would you be talking to my maid?’

‘Because we must go. Now.’

He tugged her upright. She went willingly, but stopped when she was fully upright. ‘Let me say goodbye to my sister—’

‘No, no. She is coming with us.’ He turned to Lucy. ‘If you will join us, please?’

Lucy frowned, but nodded. In truth, her eyes were dancing. She enjoyed surprises much more than Grace ever had.

Soon enough they were all in a carriage, headed towards...the docks? Grace could smell the air and knew that terrible, wonderful scent from far away.

‘What have you up your sleeve?’ she asked her husband.

‘Only what we have already discussed.’

She couldn’t think of it. This last month of their marriage had been a delight. Nights of passion coupled with long hours of learning about one another. They had discussed boats and crops, Parliament and royalty, and every other topic under the sun. Too much to give her a hint as to what was coming and why it involved Lucy.

Until they arrived at The Integrity .

Captain Banakos was there, a broad grin on his weathered face, as was...

‘Why is Lord Domac here?’ Lucy whispered. ‘I will not—’

‘Oh, I remember now!’ Grace exclaimed. And then she squeezed her sister’s arm. ‘Don’t worry. You shall love this.’

Meanwhile, Declan rushed ahead, leaping with joy onto the deck of the large merchant ship. He greeted the captain with a warm embrace, and then arched a brow at his cousin, who was looking daggers at all of them.

‘I’ll make this quick, shall I?’ Declan said as everyone made it on board. ‘Miss Lucy Richards, your father and I have discussed things and come to an arrangement. The repairs on The Integrity are underway. It will take another month at least, but then she will be ready to set sail with a new cargo.’ He leaned forward. ‘Would you like to choose it?’

The girl’s eyes widened as her hands flew to her mouth. It appeared she could not speak.

‘Damn it!’ Cedric snapped.

But he did not have a chance to continue as Declan turned to address him.

‘I’m willing to give you a portion of that cargo, cousin. I’ll let you supervise it, sail with it, and sell it in China as you initially planned. Any profit will be allotted to you and your sisters’ dowries evenly.’

‘What?’ The man gaped at him.

‘One condition, though.’ He grinned as he turned to Lucy. ‘She will be the one deciding on the cargo. She will be the one to set the price. And you will work under her and Captain Banakos. Prove your mettle and we can discuss the next sailing.’

‘I’m to be her lackey?’ Cedric asked, bristling.

‘Yes,’ Declan said cheerfully. ‘For the next two months. If you want the boat.’ He looked to Captain Banakos. ‘I trust you will treat him as he deserves?’

The captain chuckled as he set his thumbs inside his waistband. ‘That I will, Yer Grace. That I will.’

‘Excellent,’ Declan said as he grabbed Grace’s hand. ‘And now for your surprise.’

‘What?’ she said.

She’d been vastly entertained, watching her sister’s reaction. Finally the girl was going to be able to put her skills to use. Few understood exactly how precious that was. Indeed, she’d been on the verge of asking if she could work on the crew as well. They’d need a navigator...

But she had no desire to leave Declan.

‘Come along, my love,’ he said as he tugged her down the gangplank.

They didn’t go far, simply crossed to the bottom of the next gangplank. She frowned at the boat, seeing a sleek pleasure craft, large enough to weather turbulent seas, but not strong enough to carry a profitable cargo.

‘What is this?’ she asked.

‘It’s The Duchess ,’ he said as he gestured expansively at it. ‘Or The Duchess’s Gift. Or The Duke’s Pleasure. I don’t know. It’s a yacht, and it’s yours, my love.’

He scooped her up and began carrying her up the gangplank.

She squealed in surprise, but her eyes were on the sails, the lines, and everything else she could study.

‘It’s mine?’ she whispered.

‘It is,’ he answered as he set her feet down. ‘Will you teach me to sail, my love? Will you help me with the sails and the wheel and the...? I don’t know what else?’

‘But where are we going?’

He grinned as he spun her around. ‘Wherever you want, so long as we are back within a month. Do you think I have been killing myself in my study these last weeks for no reason? It was to set everything in place so that we can sail to the Continent, or to Spain, or to wherever you choose, so long as we do it together. I want to see the world, and I want to do it with you.’

‘The whole world?’

He shrugged. ‘Or as much of it as we can see in a month. Possibly two the next time. But for now—’

‘You must come back for Parliament.’

She had spent a great deal of time lately, learning the workings of his government.

He nodded, showing he was pleased, then shrugged. ‘I must also be sure the crops are handled well.’

Farming. That was another thing she would need to study. Perhaps while they were sailing this beautiful boat.

‘So we can play for a time now? We can sail—’

‘Wherever you like for as long as it takes you to teach me everything.’

She laughed, knowing that would take a lifetime. ‘I should like that very much,’ she said.

‘Good because we sail with the evening tide.’

She opened her mouth to argue, but he pressed a hand to her lips.

‘I have a small crew who will help. Your bags are already on board, though I believe Molly was shocked by the clothes I have had made for you. And...’ He waggled his eyebrows. ‘We even have a crow’s nest large enough for two. That took the longest time to arrange, but it’s done now.’

He pointed up, so that she could see the double-sized barrel up top.

He had thought of everything, and she couldn’t believe how happy she was. They would sail together! And even more than her own joy at the idea was seeing how absolutely thrilled he was. What a pleasure to see him so happy!

Then she looked at his clothes. ‘Do you have equally scandalous attire?’

‘I do.’

‘Good. Then I believe we should both change, and I shall race you to the top.’

‘Agreed.’

Then he dropped a kiss on her lips before dashing below decks. She was startled by how fast he moved. She had to jump to follow him.

It took longer than it should have for them to change. They were, after all, in the same stateroom together, and the bed was quite comfortable. But soon enough they were climbing the ratlines while she pointed out things that he needed to know. It wasn’t until they were both settled one against the other in the crow’s nest that she realised how incredibly happy she was.

‘I never thought to be this lucky,’ she whispered as she leaned back against him.

‘Nor I,’ he said. Then he pressed a kiss to her head. ‘I love you, Nayao. I cannot imagine my life without you.’

‘I love you,’ she answered.

Then she twisted to kiss him. But just before her lips found his, he burst out laughing.

She pulled back, shocked and a little insulted, and then she looked to where he pointed.

There, still on the deck of The Integrity , stood Lucy and Cedric. They were nose to nose, both gesturing with hard, angry slashes.

‘Oh, dear,’ Grace said, fear skating up her spine. ‘Maybe this wasn’t a great idea.’

Cedric was much larger than her sister. He could hurt—

No, he couldn’t.

While they watched, Captain Banakos grabbed Cedric in a casual headlock. Grace knew the position, knew as well how humiliating it was. And there he stood, holding Lord Domac in place, while Lucy leaned down and continued speaking. They couldn’t hear the words, of course, but Grace knew her sister well.

Lucy was telling him exactly what cargo they would carry, and exactly what his responsibilities would be. Likely scrubbing the deck until his hands bled.

‘She won’t be too hard on him, will she?’ Declan asked. ‘He is a titled peer, or rather he will be eventually. I want him to learn what is needed on a boat, not—’

‘She’ll be fair with him...eventually. I trust Captain Banakos will keep them both in line.’

‘Well, that will be an adventure for them, won’t it?’ Declan asked.

‘That’s their story,’ she said as she twisted again to face her husband. ‘I’m more interested in ours.’

‘Me, too,’ he said.

Then he pulled her into a kiss, one that they both knew would be repeated a hundred or more times up here. Because they had the time, now, and the freedom to be themselves. And the love to keep them afloat for the rest of their lives.