Page 71 of Discovering Her Earl

She was defenseless against him now.

Chapter Twenty-Two

After he and Ben were situated in their adjoining rooms below deck, Julian brought the older man up on deck. This would be Ben’s first sea voyage and Julian wanted to make sure he had a sound familiarity with the side of the boat in case he was to need it.

They came across their hosts, and Julian expressed his thanks once again after introducing them to Bentley.

“No need to thank us,” Lady Darlington said.

“Then I shall thank your niece.”

“I’m glad she overcame her resistance to your joining us,” Lord Darlington offered.

Julian felt a twinge of guilt knowing the man surely wouldn’t be glad Julian was onboard if he’d known he’d taken liberties with the man’s ward. It had only been a kiss, but Julian knew Lord Darlington would not be pleased.

“It is a good day to sail,” the man said.

Julian agreed. The sun warmed him despite the January breeze. It seemed everyone wanted to stay up on deck for as long as possible.

Lord Darlington bowed as they went off to greet the other guests.

It was as Julian was greeting Mr. and Mrs. Leighton that he noticed Miss Bantham. Elaina. Standing near the front of the ship. He could practically feel the eagerness to set sail radiating from her.

She was wearing a gown and a shawl. He should have expected as much. But in his fantasies of her, she was always wearing snug breeches and a thin shirt. And there had been plenty of fantasies in the months since he’d seen her at the ball. The ball where he’d attempted to make things right, but instead had danced with her.

“There she is,” he whispered to Bentley, though why he thought he needed to whisper was beyond him. She was still much too far away to hear him.

“Shall we move forward to greet her or run in the other direction? I’m never quite sure.”

He’d told Ben what happened at the ball. How his plans had been turned on their nose thanks to Lainey. Ben, of course, didn’t seem surprised that she had forgiven him so easily. If Julian understood his valet’s mumblings correctly, he’d said something about dramatics.

Julian chuckled. “Neither am I, but I think for the moment I’d prefer to do neither.”

“Stand here staring at the lass, then?”

“When you say it like that it sounds rather disturbing.”

“Quite.”

“Do you think women are like food, Ben?” He blurted without thinking.

He turned to see his valet obviously thinking. Surely, he was trying to puzzle out what Julian meant.

“What I mean to say is, any food seasoned with hunger tastes like the most wonderful meal one has ever had. Do you think the more deeply you know a woman, the more beautiful she becomes? I must admit when I first met her, I thought her pleasant enough, but seeing her now with the breeze blowing whisps of her hair about, she is the most beautiful creature I’ve ever encountered.”

“You’ve missed her,” Ben said.

“Yes.” Julian was nearly shocked by the truth of it. “Yes, I have missed talking with her. Hearing all the things she finds interesting. Making her laugh.”

She turned her head to brush her hair from her eyes and noticed them.

He warmed over when a smile pulled up on her lips and she waved.

“I’m not sure if she missed you, my lord. But I’m certain she has missed me.”

Julian chuckled at the man’s wit.

When Julian didn’t move, he added, “Perhaps we should go speak with her.”