Page 49 of The Swan Syndicate #1

Stella stood at the railing and watched the number of seaside homes that dotted the coastline increase as the Daphne made its final approach to the port in Bristol.

She’d woken early, starving and jonesing for coffee.

It didn’t surprise her to find a pot of coffee waiting for her with no Beckworth in sight.

His side of the bed was still warm, so he hadn’t been gone for long.

She’d sipped the coffee and ignored her growling stomach as she dressed for the day.

Jamie said they wouldn’t reach Bristol until late afternoon.

She picked through her clothes and considered how she’d spend the day.

Sitting around the cabin reading held no interest, and she could only spend so much time in the galley.

She slid on her pants and was tying her shirt when Beckworth returned. If her choice of clothes surprised him, he didn’t show it.

He pulled her in for a dizzying kiss.

“If I’d known you were going to do that, I would have stayed in bed.” She ran a hand over his hair and tugged at his ponytail.

He smiled down at her. The light in his eyes expressed his love more than words. It also reminded her how she’d scared him to his core.

“I have special plans for when we reach Waverly. A fire, a bottle of fine wine, and nothing but you and me.” He kissed the tip of her nose, squeezed her backside, and tugged her out of the room. “Jamie’s holding breakfast for us.”

During breakfast, the team gave her a recap of the activity on the Daphne once their pursuit of The Horseman began.

It was shared with a jovial air, mostly by Fitz, who Stella was now convinced was the ship’s storyteller.

The day went by quickly, and as much as she wanted to see Waverly, she would miss the Daphne and her crew. Who would have believed it?

Her final task was to assist Cook with a late lunch or early dinner, depending on how one looked at it.

The crew had worked hard during the mission with little downtime at the ports.

When they reached Bristol, they would have several days to relax in port, but Jamie wanted them fed before they docked.

No one had to tell her the crew would be spending the majority of their time pub hopping.

She’d barely cleared the galley of the last of the pots and pans when Beckworth dragged her back to the cabin to change.

He’d asked to help with her hair, and she didn’t have the heart to say no.

She was pleasantly surprised to see his skills were improving as he went with a simple approach of pulling her hair back with a couple of hairpins.

She decided to wear the best day dress she’d brought from Waverly. Everything was packed in their trunk, with the crossbow placed on top. Beckworth had lifted a brow but didn’t say anything.

Neither of them spoke of Cheval or his ending, just like they never spoke of Gaines.

Maybe someday she’d need a shrink. But what would she tell them?

She couldn’t mention time travel or she’d end up in a padded cell.

If she ever needed to talk about it with someone other than Beckworth, she had AJ.

She’d faced her own demons from the past. And if Stella ever felt the need to confess her sins there was Sebastian, and knowing all of that somehow lightened her burden.

She lifted her face to the sky and stared at the burnt colors of what was sure to be a spectacular sunset. The sun had shown itself several hours earlier, and it had lightened her mood. When the Daphne turned toward one of the piers, she felt a sense of coming home.

How strange was that?

B eckworth tugged at his sleeves, feeling like the viscount once again in his breeches and waistcoat. Once he had the trunk transferred to the deck, he stopped by Jamie’s office on his way up to wait with Stella.

The door was open, but he stopped and tapped before entering. “You have a minute?”

Jamie pushed back the ledger he’d been staring at and rubbed his eyes. The man needed a good long rest. “Always for you.” He sat back, his face a bit haggard yet he managed a grin. “How’s Stella?”

“She’s a bit quieter than normal but she’ll be better once she gets to Waverly.”

“It won’t take long once Mary gets a hold of her.”

Beckworth chuckled. “Mary is food for the soul.”

“That she is.” Jamie studied him until he began to fidget. “How are you?”

That was a good question. Stella hadn’t asked, but she seemed to intuitively understand his moods and responded accordingly. They would talk eventually. If not at Waverly, then once they returned to Baywood.

“I’m happy to be returning home from a successful mission with the same number of crew as when we left.

” He stared at a spot on Jamie’s desk, his mind more on Stella than himself.

“Cheval wasn’t the first man Stella killed.

Not that it makes it any easier, but I’ve discovered it’s better for her to internalize her emotions.

She’ll let me know when it’s time to talk. ”

“Taking a life is never a good thing, but sometimes there’s no other way.”

“Certainly not in this century.” He played at the edge of his sleeve. “What will you tell Hensley about the lost opportunity with MacDuff?”

Jamie shrugged. “You’re worried that pulling her out of her meeting with MacDuff when we discovered Cheval in town was a mistake.

” He picked up an orange that had been sitting on his desk and peeled it.

“It was a fifty-fifty chance that he would have told Stella anything important. And as it turned out, you were right to be concerned.”

“I never suspected Cheval would have known about Lady Swan.”

“No one did.” Jamie ate two slices of orange as he stared at the ceiling. He dropped the unfinished orange on the corner of his deck and wiped his hands on his pants. “As to your question about Hensley, I suspect you don’t share everything about your missions with him. No reason to think I do.”

Beckworth stood, and Jamie followed him to the upper deck.

When they stepped outside, Beckworth held out his hand. “It was a good mission, wasn’t it?”

Jamie shook it without hesitation. “That woman of yours is rather special.”

“And reckless.”

“And just as devious as you.”

Beckworth laughed. “That she is. Thank you for keeping her safe.”

“In the end, that was all on the two of you.”

Beckworth looked toward the bay and the setting sun. He sucked in a long scent of strong salt air mixed with the stench of fish. It brought back memories of his youth in London living next to the Thames. He gave Jamie a last look. “Will we see you at the hunting party?”

“Aye. We wouldn’t miss it. We’ll need a day or two for maintenance and restocking the stores, then we’ll be on our way.”

Beckworth clapped Jamie on the shoulder and strode toward Stella.

When he stepped next to her, she reached for his hand.

He gripped it tightly, and without saying a word, they watched the Daphne dock.

Before they went ashore, she pulled him down for a long kiss.

When she released him, she gave him her best broker smile.

“Take me home.”

S tella was surprised to see Thomas standing next to a coach when they reached the end of the dock.

“How did you know when we’d be arriving?” Stella asked, smiling and happy to see for herself he was alright after Cheval’s men had taken her from the alley.

“I didn’t.” He opened the coach door. “I arrived yesterday and planned on waiting for as long as it took for you to arrive.”

She touched his arm. “It’s good to see you well.”

“Enjoy your ride to Waverly.” He helped her into the coach, then smiled at Beckworth.

“You should see that foal of yours. I think Hensley spends more time in the stables than anywhere else.” He lowered his voice but Stella, who was peering out the window, managed to hear him say, “Hensley has a lot of questions.”

“Thanks, mate. I wouldn’t expect anything less.” Beckworth jumped in the coach and sat next to her.

She leaned her head against his shoulder, wondered what questions Hensley would have, then forgot it all when she closed her eyes.

When she sensed the coach slow and make a turn, she sat up, jarring Beckworth.

“Sorry. Are we home?” She scooted across the bench to stare into the darkness. The coach passed tree after tree. She rubbed her eyes, noting the trees appeared the same and were evenly spaced, and knew they were on the drive into the estate.

“Is this what you meant when you asked to go home?” His voice seemed thick with emotion.

She turned to him, words ready to tumble from her mouth, but she stopped. He’d thought she’d meant Baywood. Of course, he would. That was her home—and his too now.

But so was Waverly. He had to know that. She reached across the bench and grabbed his hand.

“Of course, I meant Waverly. Until it’s time to go to our other home. Lots of people have two homes.”

He laughed. “Yes, they do. I’d always imagined someday having to marry and settle down. Be the proper viscount and all. Then I’d have to buy a home in London for the season.”

“And would you take the children with you?”

He shrugged. “I imagine that would be expected. In addition to the governess. All so tedious.”

“Would they have blond hair or brown?” She didn’t know why she wanted to know. As a viscount, he would be expected to marry.

The coach pulled up in front of the manor, and she lost her train of thought when she leaned over Beckworth to look out the window. The manor was ablaze with light not only from the windows but the torches that lit the outside, as if it had its own spotlights shining upward.

The front door opened, and Barrington barely stepped out before he was pushed aside by Mary, with Eleanor and Dame Elizabeth not far behind.

Before Thomas opened the coach door, Beckworth whispered in her ear. “I was thinking ginger-haired.”

Then he was outside waiting to take her hand.