Page 110 of A Match of Misfortune

“Give Mrs. Markham our regards,” Mr. Ellington said.

“I shall.” With quickened steps, he weaved through the people between them, coming up behind Cecily who stood conversing with their families. “Good morning, my love,” he whispered, enjoying her intoxicating scent as he lingered near her.

The smile Cecily sent over her shoulder was as bright as the cloudless morning. “There you are.” She eagerly took hold of him. “Have you already spoken to the captain?”

“I have. Everything is in order, and once I complete the ship’s christening, he will set sail.”

Cecily released a slow breath, her gaze falling to Adelaide and Fredrick, who spoke in hushed tones to one another. “She will miss him terribly.”

“As he will her,” Nash said, both of them all too aware of what grief their separation would cause.

Cecily gave a pensive nod, her focus remaining on the young, besotted couple. Though Adelaide had returned with her father to Penrose Court after the wedding, she’d not been away long. She had come again to London at the end of summer for another extended visit, this time staying with Cecily and Nash at their Mayfair townhouse. Fredrick had been a frequent visitor, and their families had taken several outings together, including the long-anticipated excursion to the Royal Menagerie just days before Lady Bridget had begun her lying in.

Even Fredrick’s mother, who had seemed somewhat hesitant while witnessing her son’s focused attention and constant doting on Adelaide upon her return from Cornwall, now wore a sad smile at the touching scene before her. She’d clearly grown accustomed to the idea of their preference for one another. As had Sir Vincent.

Fredrick’s gaze caught Nash’s, and he whispered something to Adelaide before heading toward him. “I suppose I had best get on the ship?”

“That would probably be wise.” Nash’s gaze flicked to Adelaide, his heart dropping when he saw her wiping tears from her cheeks. “If you are certain you wish to go.”

Fredrick gave a hard swallow but nodded. “You haven’t spent months instructing me only to have me withdraw my offer now. Besides,” he threw Nash a teasingly haughty grin, “you need me.”

It was true. The main reason Nash had been able to remain in England was because Fredrick had offered to go to India in his stead, at least until Nash could find someone else he trusted enough to train for the task. Fredrick was to be the touchpoint for his contacts in Madras and would continue to strengthen relationships Nash already had while forging new ones where he could. Mr. Crauford would certainly help, but Fredrick was an integral part of all of it. “Undeniably.”

Fredrick drew in a slow breath. “Any last words of advice?”

“Remember, if the other shipping owners give you any trouble, inform Mr. Crauford directly, write to me of it, and most importantly, don’t engage. Nothing is so important that it is worth risking your safety for.” Not that Nash thought there would be too much trouble, what with the unwanted attention Johnathan’s antics had already drawn, but he’d take no chances where his cousin was concerned.

Cecily sent a worried look between them and reached out for Fredrick’s hand. “Please be careful,” she implored. “For all our sakes.”

Fredrick nodded, his gaze flitting briefly to Adelaide. “I will be.”

Before his cousin could step away, Nash wrapped him in a tight embrace. “Thank you, Fredrick.”

“I’m just glad I could be of help.”

Fredrick gave one final nod to Nash, then started down the line of people awaiting his farewell, beginning with Nash’s parents and younger brothers, then making his way to Rothsburg and Lady Bridget, pausing to place a kiss on the top of his new niece’s head before embracing his own mother. Nash’s mind flashed back to his own departure from England for India all those years ago, and despite his worry, he knew his young cousin would do a great service to the Markham name.

Fredrick crouched down at the side of Adelaide’s Bath chair. “Don’t go falling in love with any other chap while I’m away,” he said, tenderly wiping a tear from her cheek.

“Of course, I won’t.” She gave a small sniff, her cheeks rosy from the slight chill in the air. “I’ll be here when you return.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” He cupped her face in his hand, and she held it there for a moment longer before she released him. Straightening, Fredrick flung his seabag over his shoulder, then paused and leaned in to place a kiss upon Adelaide’s cheek. “Farewell, Adelaide.”

The tears streaming down Adelaide’s cheek nearly broke Nash’s heart, but as fragile as she seemed, she had a fighting spirit about her, and she met Fredrick’s look, her green eyes full of determination. “Farewell. For now.”

Cecily moved in beside her sister, taking her hand, and the group of them watched as Fredrick made his way along the dock toward the gangplank. He sent one last lingering look over his shoulder, then disappeared into the crowd.

“Look at us,” Rothsburg said after a few moments had passed in silence. “We are a solemn lot. Is this not a day for celebration?”

“It is.” Lady Bridget nodded her agreement, ensuring the blanket around her new baby girl was well situated. “And I do believe the crowd expects a speech.”

Nash forced a smile, fighting the nerves that came with the reminder. He had no problem interacting with others, even speaking to groups of people, but addressing an audience of this size was not something he looked forward to. “I best get to it, then.”

A wooden platform had been situated near the bow, and as he climbed the stairs, he could hear the din of voices quiet. Nash looked out at the faces, some of whom he knew well while others were only slightly familiar. “Lords, ladies, and gentlemen. It is no small task to commit a vessel to the sea, but to do so for a ship that represents a greater cause—the first of many that will sail under the flag of our newly formed shipping company—seems entirely overwhelming. So I shall keep it short. Both for my sake and yours.” Several smiles appeared throughout the crowd, but none so full of pride and admiration as Cecily’s. “We name this ship the Heart of London, so that no matter where she goes in this vast world, she may always find her way safely back to the place she first called home. The place where so many of us call home.”

Applause sounded, and Nash retrieved the bottle of wine near his feet. He lifted it, holding it above his head, and waited for the crowd to quiet some. “May God watch over her, her crew, and the cargo she will bear for us.” Readying to bring it down on the hull, Nash extended it outward toward the ship, but his hold was too high on the neck of the bottle, and he worried it would prevent him from having the correct force to shatter it against the wood planking. In a hasty attempt to resituate his grasp under so many watchful eyes, the bottle slipped. Haphazardly he grabbed for it, desperately trying to maintain his hold, but the swift movement proved to be the very thing that sealed its fate. The bottle plummeted into the sea below.

The crowd stood in stunned silence.