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  After having breakfast in her chambers and attending to her correspondence, Eve decided to wait for Ben in the library below stairs.

  Dobbins exited Ben’s study as she reached the ground floor. “Mr. Hillary will see you now,” he said.

  She startled at his formal manner until she realized a man was standing in the foyer. Curious, she took his measure as he crossed to Ben’s study. The man was certainly tall enough to be a footman—over six feet—but he was willowy like a woman, although his weathered face was far from feminine. How odd that a man his age would answer the advertisement for a fourth footman. Surely if he had been in service long, he would have been promoted. He disappeared into the study.

  “Dobbins, is that man here for the footman position?”

  “No, ma’am. Mr. Gilroy is from Bow Street.” Her shock must have shown on her face, because the butler rushed to explain. “There is not a problem. Mr. Hillary is hiring him to look into a matter for him. That is all.”

  Ben was hiring an investigator from Bow Street? “What matter would that be, Dobbins?”

  The servant’s craggy face blazed red. “I am afraid I cannot say, ma’am. Mr. Hillary does not make me privy to his business.”

  “Of course, I was not thinking.” She offered an apologetic smile. She hadn’t meant to make Dobbins feel uncomfortable. “Please inform my husband that I am waiting for him in the library once his meetings are finished.”

  She could think of only one reason Ben was hiring an investigator. He was looking into matters with Jonathan as she’d requested. Her step was livelier as she retired to the library. Despite her husband’s protests that they mind their own affairs, he thought there was something strange about Jonathan too. Well, she could rest easier knowing everything was in his hands now.

  Twenty-seven

  Eve had never been to the docks. She gawked at everything, not knowing which way to look next. She swung her head toward the massive rows of warehouses lined up like disciplined soldiers on her right then back to the enormous ships moored to her left until she felt a little dizzy. She counted eight of the floating giants on this stretch of the river, although Ben said the docks could accommodate three hundred ships. That many ships in one area were inconceivable to her.

  The docks were much more orderly than she had anticipated. When she had first heard about the ruffians and thieves who frequented this seedy area of London, she had been sufficiently frightened, which she supposed was her mother’s intention. Mama had warned her away from visiting Ben at the docks when they were betrothed. Eve had never been one to take unnecessary risks, so the lecture had been senseless, but it made Mama feel better.

  Dock laborers—rough-looking men with faces tanned and weathered like animal hides—cut in front of them with creaky carts headed toward a warehouse. Ben pulled her to a stop.

  She glanced around while they waited for the men to pass. “Where is Hillary Shipping?”

  “In Wapping, close to the Pool,” Ben said, smiling down at her. “Our grandfather started his business there. Even though most of Daniel’s ships arrive and depart from the West India docks, and the bulk of mine must go through the East docks, we never moved the office. Daniel thought it would be bad luck.”

  “Is it far? I would like to see it.”

  “I’m afraid it is no place for a lady.”

  She refrained from rolling her eyes. “I am with my overprotective husband. I’ll be perfectly safe. I want to see your office.”

  He slanted a long-suffering glance at her. “Lord save me if you refused to take no for an answer.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?” She faced him with her hands on her hips.

  He grinned and tweaked her nose. “It means I’m almost powerless to deny you anything.”

  “Almost? It sounds like I need to work harder,” she teased.

  Once the path was clear, they continued along the quay, joking with one another and chatting about this part of Ben’s life she wanted to know better.

  “You share Hillary Shipping with Jake too,” she said. “Does he keep ships?”

  Ben shook his head and drew her protectively under his arm to wait as another set of men rolled barrels down a gangplank. “Jake advises us on legal issues that arise, and he plays nice with members of Parliament who start squawking about sponsoring legislation that could interfere with business.”

  “It sounds as if he was saddled with the least desirable tasks.”

  “Out of necessity. He is the only one of us with enough patience to deal with the windbags.”

  She smiled. Jake had likely developed the ability to navigate strong personalities at a young age. How else was he to survive his three older brothers?

  Through a gap between ships, she spotted a rowboat with five men in the main channel of the Thames. They pushed the oars through the murky water with brute strength to make the boat inch up river. The River Thames was always in motion—a living entity that slithered through London like a cunning serpent. She shivered and returned her attention to the ships.

  “Are you cold?” Ben drew them to a stop to shrug off his jacket.

  “No, I’m fine.”

  Despite her reassurance, he draped the garment over her shoulders. She grabbed for her bonnet, holding it down as the breeze along the quay jerked at the brim. Ben brushed aside a strand of hair that flew in her eyes.

  “I have never been fond of the river,” she admitted.

  “You are not afraid of the water, are you? Many people are. We will be at sea for days on end. Will it bother you?”

  She scrunched her nose and laughed at herself again. “I’m not afraid of the water. I can swim, at least a little. It is the river. It reminds me of a giant snake.”

  Ben lifted an eyebrow and his lips twitched in mirth. “My, you are fanciful today, Mrs. Hillary.”

  “I am fanciful every day, Mr. Hillary, but I typically keep my thoughts to myself.”

  “Well, I do hope you plan to abandon the habit of keeping your thoughts a secret. I love the way your mind works. Here she is.” He swept a hand toward the gangplank the men had used to disembark the ship. “My pride and joy, the Eve Lorraine.”

  Her eyes flew open wide. “You named a ship for me?”

  “Of course I did. Every gentleman christens at least one ship for his beloved.”

  The sight of his loving smile paired with the most romantic gesture she could have imagined caused her heart to nearly burst with happiness.

  “I’m anxious for you to see her.” He stepped onto the gangplank and held out his hand. “Shall we?”

  She nodded, too overcome to speak. Placing her hand in his, she allowed him to lead her onboard ship—her namesake. Chills raced down her back.

  Ben identified different parts of the ship as they crossed the deck. “The cabin under the half deck serves as temporary accommodations for important guests,” he said as they reached a solid door with an iron handle.

  “Will important passengers be traveling with us?”

  He grinned. “None as important as the owner’s wife. This will be our cabin during the voyage.” Tugging the door, he directed her inside to a space larger than she had expected.

  Eve looked around with an assessing eye. It had small windows along the sides of the cabin, which kept it from feeling like a tomb, and it boasted a plush bed, but she would want the coverlet from her bedchamber at home and extra pillows. There was also a small space for a dressing table to be placed next to the washstand, which she would need. “The cabin is already well appointed. I cannot think of much more we should need.” She spun toward him to find him watching her with twinkling eyes. “You have been busy, Mr. Hillary.”

  He shrugged in a modest gesture that endeared him to her. “It is only the basics. We won’t set sail for another two weeks. That should give you enough time to outfit our cabin to your spec
ifications. The lighting is fair, but if you prefer more for reading, you may visit the great cabin during the day.”

  “What a lovely suggestion. I will visit the bookshop before we leave.” She pulled a piece of foolscap from her reticule and helped herself to the quill and ink on a desk in the corner before scribbling “books” on her list. “Where will my maid sleep?” Alice had surprised and pleased Eve by expressing her wish to travel with them. At once, Eve had abandoned plans to hire a younger lady’s maid to accompany her on the trip.

  “There is a cabin on the deck below where she should be comfortable if you would like to see it.”

  “Yes, I want to make her quarters as comfortable as possible.” Her loyal maid deserved a few comforts at her age and after her unwavering kindness during Ben’s absence.

  Once they had toured Alice’s cabin and the great room, they returned to their cabin so Eve could look around once again and add more items to her list. Ben lounged at the desk with his foot propped over his knee and allowed her as much time as she liked.

  Once she felt confident she hadn’t missed anything, she folded the foolscap, tucked it into her reticule, and issued a contented sigh. “I’m eager for our trip. Are you certain we must wait two weeks?”

  He flinched. “Yes, about that… I have something I would like to discuss with you.” Standing, he waved toward the chair. “Would you like to sit?”

  Her heart gave a little flip when he regarded her with such a grim expression. She did as he requested, settling her skirts around her, but she didn’t know what to do with her hands all of a sudden. They fluttered for a moment before she forced them to be still, folded them on her lap, and tipped up her head to meet his gaze. “What is it you would like to discuss?”

  She hoped it wasn’t more of that nonsense about sleeping alone. They hadn’t discussed anything further this morning, and she would rather they forget about the entire affair. She certainly had no plans to sleep alone onboard ship.

  * * *

  Ben propped on the edge of the desk, wondering if he was doing the right thing by considering delaying their departure until he had settled things with Charlotte’s family. He didn’t want her misinterpreting his need to help the Tanneys, but it felt wrong to leave England without seeing to their welfare. Eve had sworn she never felt threatened by Charlotte, but he didn’t want her believing he hadn’t let go of his first love. His heart belonged to Eve and had for a very long time.

  Nibbling her bottom lip, she lifted her gaze and his heart expanded until it felt too full for his chest. He leaned forward to kiss away her worries. Her plump mouth moved in unison with his, and he was tempted to abandon the topic for another time, but he wouldn’t. It was best to have the matter in the open.

  He reluctantly broke the kiss and sat up. “At breakfast the other day, you invited me to talk about Charlotte. Although there is nothing more to say about our time together, I must do something for her family before we travel abroad.”

  “Very well.” Eve’s open expression and unquestioning acceptance eased his concern that she might misunderstand his motivations. “What can I do to assist?”

  A relieved smile spread across his face. “Nothing at the moment, but I might need to travel to Eton before we set sail. There is a chance it won’t be necessary if I can connect with the Earl of Wellham, but he has been a hard man to find.”

  Because he could see the confusion in the furrowing of her brow, he started telling his story from the beginning of his campaign to save the Tanneys’ bakery. “When I returned to London, I sent a man to inquire after Charlotte’s family. I’ve kept abreast of them over the years. It is just something I felt I needed to do.”

  Eve reached for his hand and threaded their fingers together. “You still care about the Tanneys.”

  He shook his head. “It has never been like that for us. Charlotte’s family was pleased when I started showing interest in her, but after her death, her father blamed me. I doubt they care if I live or die, but I made promises to Charlotte. I promised to take care of her and her family, and I need to keep my word.”

  Eve rose from the chair, then sat on the edge of the desk beside him. She stroked his back, her nails lightly scratching through his waistcoat. “Mr. Tanney was wrong. You didn’t cause her death. You realize this, don’t you?”

  “I do.” On some level, this was true. He hadn’t caused Charlotte’s accident directly, but he bore some responsibility. “Come here.”

  He widened his stance, and Eve moved to stand between his legs. She twined her arms around his neck and pressed a sweet kiss to his cheek.

  His hands spanned her waist and instead of the past flashing through his mind, he saw his future—the children Eve would bear him, the happy home they would have together, a lifetime of laughter and love. He needed to do this one thing for Charlotte’s family, so he could embrace the life he had been given with Eve.

  “What did your man learn about the Tanneys?” she asked.

  “Her father died while I was in Delhi. Pneumonia. Charlotte’s brother inherited the bakery, but it seems his father had fallen on hard times and Robert Tanney hasn’t been able to make a go of it. He is behind on rent, and the Tanneys will be evicted by the end of the month.”

  “Couldn’t you settle the debt for Charlotte’s brother?” There was no hesitation in her response. To Eve, it was natural that he would pay the Tanneys’ debts, even if it possibly meant less in the coffers for her.

  Pulling her close, he brushed a kiss across her cheek. “God, I love you. How is it you can be kind and understanding about this?”

  “It is easy when I have everything. My life is rich. I can afford to show a little kindness to others.”

  He held on, resting his cheek lightly on the top of her bonnet. His life was richer than he had ever hoped, but he constantly wrestled with the fear he could lose it all in a blink. He should embrace happiness as easily as his wife, but he didn’t know how.

  “I tried to assist Mr. Tanney as you suggested, but he has refused every offer of assistance,” he said. “I understand that he has his pride, but I can’t allow him to lose the bakery and end up on the streets. Charlotte’s mother is already in poor health. My second thought was to purchase the property from Lord Wellham and forgive the debt, but as I said, he has taken off to regions unknown. I met with an investigator this morning to make one last attempt to find the earl, but I am not counting on success.”

  Eve played with the hair at his nape, and he closed his eyes to savor the tingles generated by her touch. “That explains the Runner I saw earlier. I thought you were hiring him to look into the situation with Sir Jonathan.” When his eyes widened, she held up a hand to stop his chastisement. “I will not say anything more about it, I promise. If he said he wants to keep us out of his private affairs, who am I to argue? Perhaps Lady Norwick knows why he was behaving so oddly before he left. Maybe she knows some of his associates and could question them.”

  He couldn’t allow her to involve Lady Norwick or pursue this any further, no matter what Hackberry said about forgetting their conversation. “Eve, your curiosity and good intentions will do more harm than good. You must leave well enough alone. Our lives could be in jeopardy if you begin meddling in his affairs.”

  “In jeopardy how? That is ridiculous.” She dropped her arms from around his neck and tried to step back, but he drew her closer. Her hands rested against his chest, and he wondered if she could feel the pounding of his heart. Her complexion drained of color as she appeared to comprehend he was serious. “W-what has Sir Jonathan gotten involved in?”

  His throat grew tight when he looked into her fearful eyes. “I didn’t intend to scare you, dearling. I promise, you are safe as long as you abandon this fascination with uncovering Sir Jonathan’s secrets.”

  She shook her head, denying her fear, but her eyes were misty and her bottom lip trembled. “Are you in
danger too?”

  “No, and neither are you.” He caressed her cheek with his thumb. “We are both safe as long as we forget about Sir Jonathan. I don’t know what he has gotten into exactly, but he can take care of himself. I saw how capable he is of self-defense, and he doesn’t require help from either of us. Promise you will never go to his town house again or make inquiries about him. I need to know you are safe.”

  “I promise.” As she eased from his hold, her eyelashes flickered, seemingly working out everything in her mind. “Why didn’t you tell me? I never would have gone to his house if I had known.”

  “I should have told you. I’m sorry, but Sir Jonathan warned me not to share our conversation with anyone.”

  Her brows formed a V, and she issued a small sigh of frustration. “I am not just anyone. I am your wife. It is commonly accepted that a gentleman tells his wife everything, so unless one truly means no one else should know, he shouldn’t spill his secrets to a married man.”

  Ben blinked. There was much logic in her argument. He was certain his brothers’ wives knew every embarrassing detail about him.

  “And as long as we are discussing secrets,” Eve said, “I know you dream about Charlotte’s accident. I heard you call out for her on our wedding night, and last night you had a nightmare. You don’t have to keep it a secret. My father used to dream of the war. His screams would wake me at night.”

  Ben opened and closed his mouth without uttering a sound. His throat was too dry to speak. Were his dreams as bad as that? Did he cry out and wake his household? The possibility made him queasy.

  “Papa’s nightmares wouldn’t leave him alone.” She reached to cradle his face, acceptance shining in her soulful eyes. “Have you been having bad dreams since the accident?”

  “No,” he managed to utter. “A few times afterward and occasionally throughout the years. Not as often as I’ve been having them lately.” He covered her hand on his cheek. “I’m sorry for putting you through this again. I do not want to be a burden.”