Addicted to the Duke (Imperfect Lords #1)(22)
After finishing her breakfast, Hestia began studying the spacious stateroom. She let out an exclamation of delight. She was very impressed by the sprawling smart, masculine style. It suited Alex.
There was a closed door on the left, which she assumed led to Alex’s cabin. How her feet itched to enter and explore his cabin, but she knew Mr. Foxhall would be back soon and she did not wish to be poking her nose where it did not belong.
She spied a small bookcase and made her way across the room to see what Alex liked to read when at sea. To her surprise there was an eclectic mix. Books on exploration were mixed with philosophy and poetry. Another she quickly put back on the shelf when she opened it to see an etching of a couple in an intimate embrace.
Her face heated, and to her horror Mr. Foxhall returned at that moment. Hestia couldn’t look the sinfully handsome surgeon in the eye. And it wasn’t because he was well over a foot taller than her. He’d caught her snooping. Did he know what books were on this shelf?
He politely offered no comment as she hurriedly took a seat and busied herself with sipping her tea.
“Is the Angelica the only ship you sail on?” she managed to ask.
“Yes. When docked at Great Yarmouth, I also have a small office where I can treat sailors. Most cannot afford a doctor, but His Grace pays me well enough to afford me the time to help others.”
“That sounds like Alex…that is, His Grace.”
Mr. Foxhall did not seem fazed by her slip.
“Have you known His Grace long?” she inquired.
“I was under his command in the Turkish campaign. I worked as a newly qualified surgeon. Did you know that I also know your father? During the campaign, when His Grace was captured by Murad, I turned to your father for help. It took two years, but we finally rescued him.”
“You weren’t with Alex when I was rescued?”
“Sadly no. My father had just died and I returned to England to attend to family matters.”
“Do you come from a big family?”
His smile widened. “Yes. I have two elder brothers, the head of the family being Bernard Foxhall, Viscount Riley, and three younger sisters.”
A viscount’s son. How interesting. “Do you miss them?” As an only child, she’d longed for a large family and hoped to have many children one day.
“I pop home whenever duties allow. In between voyages.”
She poured herself another cup of tea. She was finally beginning to feel human again with a bit of food in her stomach and a long sleep, although her bottom was still rather tender. “Does His Grace sail with you regularly?”
“When his family duties and estate business allow him to indulge his joy of the sea. He sails mainly when we travel to North Africa.”
The words implied that the Mediterranean was not one of Alex’s favorite destinations.
“I want you to know that there is no need to worry. Every man on this ship is determined to help you defeat Fredrick Cary.”
“Thank you. I just hope it does not take too long to find my father. His Grace sent a missive on ahead, so I’m hoping it will alert him to the danger he’s in.”
Mr. Foxhall nodded. “It would certainly help us if he was not blind to his predicament. More tea?” he asked, and refilled her cup yet again. “I hope you won’t find the journey too boring. I have other books in my cabin that I could make available, although I have no idea if you’ll find them interesting. Some are in Latin or French.”
“Thank you for your kindness. I can read both languages, plus Greek. My father is rather enamored of the classics. He named me after a Greek goddess. Hestia was the goddess of hearth and family.” She wondered why her father named her after Hestia, as she certainly was not his call to come home very often. “I was given a rather broader education than most young ladies.”
He opened his mouth and then closed it, only to open it again. “What is it you’d like to know?” she asked.
“Forgive me for being so forward, but I cannot understand why you have not married. Surely that is the safest route to thwart Fredrick Cary’s plan. Once you marry your wealth would become your husband’s. He’d have no cause to kill you.” He sighed. “Sorry, it’s just a woman as beautiful and lovely as you must have had many offers.”
She hated it when she blushed, but really, how was she to respond? She’d had offers, but usually from men who wanted her large dowry and thought they were doing the scandalized Lady Hestia Cary a favor. So all she said was, “I won’t let Fredrick scare me into a quick convenient marriage that would last my whole life. I want the right to choose my husband.”
His smile dimmed. “Not many of us get to choose. There are always other considerations.”
There was such sadness in every syllable. She wanted to ask if he was married, or if he’d been thwarted in love like her, but she could not bring herself to inquire. Instead, Hestia reached across the table and rested her hand on his. “Sometimes life doesn’t go the way we plan, but then sometimes I think it would be rather boring if it did. I always try to look on the bright side. Right now I’m trying to put my fear aside and enjoy this new adventure. Look, I’ve already made a new friend.”
He placed his other hand over the top of hers, and that beautiful smile was back. “Quite right.” He sat staring at her and finally said, “You are quite an extraordinary young lady.”