Page 54 of My Fair Lord

“Of course I won’t speak of it,” Florence promised. “How wonderful it would be though. I’ll be an aunt and Daddy will be a grandfather.”

“He’ll be able to brag at being grandfather to an heir apparent. He’ll love it,” Cordelia said with an eye roll.

Florence took her hand, incensed that Cordelia was probably right. “He’ll love it because it will be your baby. So will Twemlow.”

“Of course, but it will definitely ease Twemlow’s mind if we have a child and he knows his title and estate is in safe hands. These things do matter, however much we pretend they don’t. Imagine how awful it would be if everything he has achieved passes to a distant relative.”

“I suppose so,” Florence said. “At least his ancestors were enlightened enough to allow women to inherit.”

She hugged Cordelia. “I won’t say anything, but I’ll be hoping as hard as I can, and whatever you need, just call for me. Except now I need to go because I’m meeting Mr Blake.”

Cordelia waved her off with a wan smile. Florence skipped up to the promenade deck, barely able to contain her excitement.

Ned had a spring in his step too and appeared much more like himself. He was dressed elegantly in a light grey suit with a closely striped, blue waistcoat. He sported a straw boater, a little like the one Florence was wearing.

“Soup must agree with you,” she remarked.

He grinned. “I kept the window open and the fresh air has helped me a lot. I must remember that on my return journey.”

“Make sure you do. I won’t be here to remind you,” she answered.

He looked thoughtful. “No. I suppose you will be staying in America if all goes according to plan.”

“I suppose I will,” Florence agreed. A dash of melancholy took her by surprise. “You could always stay with us in Philadelphia for longer.”

Ned gave her look of surprise. “I hardly think your father will want a guest who has been instrumental in deceiving him.”

“Oh I’m sure he won’t mind,” Florence said, waving a hand as if brushing away the concern. “He’s bound to see how funny it is once we explain everything. Perhaps you can return on the same crossing as Lord and Lady Griggs so you have some company.”

Ned wrinkled his brow. “It was good enough that they took me into their home while we were undertaking this enterprise, but there is no reason why they should wish for me to impose on them any longer once it is over and done with.”

“So we shall all go our separate ways,” Florence said quietly. “That’s too bad.”

“Yes. It is.”

Ned walked away. He stood with his hands resting on the railings, staring down at the water. Florence joined him. The sea was glossy black with white foam tips. It made her feel slightly unsteady to see the way it surged against the sides of the ship and rolled back.

“It doesn’t look entirely real, does it?” she murmured. She reached out for the railings to steady herself, and her left hand brushed against Ned’s right. His little finger edged closer to hers then slipped in between so that they were almost holding hands. Over the scent of the salty air, she caught a hint of his cologne and was unnerved by the slight shudder of desire that tickled the length of her spine. She glanced sideways at him and he must have chosen the exact same moment to look at her, because she met his eyes. They stared awkwardly at each other before Ned blinked and looked back at the sea, withdrawing his hands as he did so.

“Shall we go see if the shuffleboard courts are vacant?” Ned asked.

“I think that’s a good idea,” Florence said, removing her hand and adjusting her gloves.

The atmosphere on the games deck was lively. Groups sat at small tables or in canvas deck chairs, some drinking pots of tea and others having cocktails, even though it was barely three in the afternoon. Florence nodded to a few to whom she had been introduced.

“Life on board ship is very strange. We meet strangers, share dining rooms, bathrooms and play games together for a week and then most likely will never encounter each other again,” she mused.

“Perhaps this is what Purgatory will be like,” Ned answered. “A sense of lives on hold but with no end to the voyage in sight.”

Florence smiled. “There would be worse places to spend eternity than on a ship with every luxury. I’m not in any hurry to be back home.”

“You surprise me,” Ned said. “I thought you would be glad to be safely out of England and away from the risk of being married. You won’t find many peers of the realm in New York.”

Florence made a non-committal noise. She might be escaping that worry, but Clayton hadn’t called them back without reason. She had no idea what tragedy or scandal would be waiting on her return.

All three shuffleboard courts were busy, but one game looked close to finishing, so they decided to wait. Florence spotted an empty table and they claimed it.

“I think I shall have a cocktail,” Florence announced when the white-clad waiter arrived. She studied the menu. “A Sazerac, please.”