“Of course you do,” Victoria drawled, even as she felt a hint of amusement at the idea of the two great lords making their way through the vivid mass of humanity that surrounded them now.
She pursed her lips and couldn’t stop herself from teasing, “Are you taking me to a tavern?”
“No,” he said, his gaze serious now. “Most definitely not.”
The coach made its way slowly down the crowded dockside and then came to an abrupt halt. Chase shoved the door open and jumped out quickly, disappearing for a moment into the crowd.
Catharine hastily followed, her whole person positively vibrating with curiosity.
Though Victoria was also intrigued, she could not match Catharine’s excitement. Nerves were rolling around inside her, wondering what the blazes this was all about.
She was still in extremely good health, and anybody who looked at her would not guess she was pregnant. But when she stepped down out of the coach, she swayed in astonishment. The coach had stopped in front of a great ship. She stared up and up and up… In fact, the three masts were so tall, she had to crane her neck to spot the crow’s nest.
The entire vessel stretched a goodly length of the dock and appeared to have at least two levels.
The dock about it teemed with activity, as did the ship.
Men in brightly colored coats and pantaloons were running up and down the gangplank, with ropes, barrels, and chests in their arms.
Crates were being pulleyed onto the deck, and shouts of myriad languages filled the air. It was a ship that had been to places far and wide…or perhaps was readying to go to those places.
“Why did you bring me here?” she asked as she watched the fascinating scene.
His gaze trailed to the prow.
She let her own eyes follow his.
And there she spotted the name.
The Victorywas painted in bold gold letters upon the fresh green paint of the prow.
At the very forefront of the bow, a goddess had been carved.
Victoria swung her gaze back to her husband, astonished, unable to speak.
He met her gaze, and that was when she saw it in his eyes.
Hope.
“The Victory,” Catharine called. “You mean like—”
“Victoria,” Chase announced. “Yes, exactly like.”
“This is what you’ve bought me?” Victoria marveled, barely able to make the words pass her lips.
“She’s yours. The papers are in your name, and you must do with it whatever you please. Go wherever you please. Whenever you please. You do not need to rely on anyone to dictate your travels anymore. Not even a ship owner,” he said, his voice rough with passion and purpose. “You will be able to set course wherever you wish. You can be the master—no, the mistress of your own fate,” he breathed.
She shook her head wildly as tears stung her eyes. In all her life, no one had ever kept giving her freedom the way he had. Not once, but twice now.
“You’ve done this for me?” Her throat tightened as the dawning realization hit her. “You’re making it possible for me to leave you for a very long time.”
“Yes,” he agreed, his voice rough now with emotion. He hesitated. “But I wondered if there was a chance that you might have room on it for an extra passenger, a passenger who has realized that his life in England is not what he really requires or desires. I don’t need to pursue that life any longer, Victoria. I don’t need to pursue my father’s dreams or passions.”
He took a step forward and held out his hand. “I can pursue my own.”
“And what is that?” she said, eyeing that hand as tears slipped down her cheeks. Tears of foolish love. Love that filled her up so entirely, she was terrified what would happen if he wouldn’t receive it. “What are your dreams and passions?”
“To be with you, my darling,” he said, his hand still outstretched. “To support you, to help you.”