"Oh. In that case, I am glad I didn't return sooner."
"With your experience, I'm certain it wouldn't bother you at all."
He swung his legs onto the bed. Very muscular manly legs, she thought, and again wanted to giggle.
"Diana," he said very quietly, "this lie, this incredible tale, do you not realize the consequences?"
"There are no bad ones, I think. We will simply unmarry once we arrive at St. Thomas."
He groaned. "Do you not realize what you've done? What you're forcing me to do?"
"It would be nice if you felt forced to be civil to me."
"You are the biggest twit it has been my misfortune to know. I will have to marry you now!"
"That is ridiculous, why ---"
Blick knocked on the door and stuck his head in. "Ah, my lord, 'tis awake you are." He paused a moment, very aware of the tension between the two of them. Anger?
Diana made the introductions, feeling tense, and was relieved when Lyon wasn't rude to the doctor.
"Now, let me look at your eyes, my lord. Follow my finger, if you please."
After several more tests, Blick nodded. "You will feel quite fit by tomorrow. Do you wish a bit of laudanum?"
"No," said Lyon. "It is just a dull throb now."
"Very well. Here's Neddie with some food for you. Your wife is an excellent nurse, my lord, and I will leave you now in her capable care."
"I'm glad she is excellent at something," Lyon said.
Blick frowned at that but, after a quick look at Diana, kept his opinions to himself. He wondered if Lord Saint Leven blamed his wife for the ruffians' attack. He said as much to Rafael some minutes later.
"He is probably feeling like the very devil," said Rafael. "You remember, Blick, when I got that bullet through my side? I cursed you for days."
"You were very colorful, 'tis true."
"Well, don't concern yourself further. I will visit our guest in a while. Is Diana over her shock?"
"I don't know," said Blick. "Perhaps you can also provide me with your expert opinion on the lady's state."
"Sarcasm doesn't suit you. You're very poor at it, old fellow. She is lovely, is she not? A pity she's married. A further pity that I don't poach."
"I know, but there are other mermaids in this vast sea."
"Indeed."
"Aside from the addition of a very lovely lady, allow me to point out with straightforward logic that this voyage is not without risk. And now we've two passengers to worry about, one of them a damned earl, a peer of the realm."
"I'll do the worrying, you do the quacking."
"One of these days, Rafael, someone is going to take you apart. And I just might turn my back."
Captain Carstairs merely grinned and began singing a rather dirty ditty.
11
A lion's skin is never cheap.