Chapter Twenty-One
Cedric could not stop staring at Lucy. He hadn’t spoken with her in two months, beyond two sentences at his cousin’s wedding. In that time, she’d seem to grow. She stood taller and didn’t look on the verge of running anymore. It was a subtle change. She was a strong woman before, but now there was a subtle calm presence about her that was new. As if she could indeed command a fleet of ships.
It looked good on her.
And it required him to be the one who spoke first.
‘You look lovely,’ he said. ‘You’re wearing colours now that you’re out. It suits you.’
She said nothing. Of course not. Lucy was never one to show how she truly felt. Not at first. ‘I behaved abominably. I cannot tell you how much I regret it. I think back and I cannot believe I did it.’
He had apologised before, but some things needed to be repeated.
‘Lucy—’
‘One of your sisters had a son?’
‘Yes.’ He shoved his hands in his pockets. It was the only way he could stop himself from reaching for her. ‘You were right. They found ways to survive. Cora is married now, and the babe ishealthy.’ Not to mention legitimate. ‘If I can get dowries for my other two sisters, they will have the life they ought to have had from the beginning.’
‘So you no longer fear for them?’
He arched a brow. ‘I didn’t say that. But I have helped all I can. Now I need to have a successful cargo.’
Her gaze went toThe Integrity, but she said nothing. Just as well, he had more to say.
‘You know,’ he began as he settled onto a barrel. ‘It doesn’t matter what Declan decreed. I was coming to you anyway. I needed your help.’
‘My help?’ Doubt laced her tone.
‘Yes. I have investors. I have a cargo planned. But I cannot negotiate like you do. And you have a better understanding of the buyers than I do. Youshouldset the prices.’ He looked up, hope lacing his tone. ‘I thought we might work together, but now I accept Declan’s offer. With gratitude.’
She was silent a long time, studying him. He tried to be as open as possible with her. No artifice. No attempt at charm. Eventually, it worked.
She scrambled onto a barrel set near to him. Not within touching distance, but close enough for discussion.
‘You have changed,’ she said.
‘For the better, I think.’
‘Or you have learned how to lie more convincingly. I cannot tell.’
‘Of course you can,’ he said. ‘Of everyone, you have always seen me clearest.’ He wanted to touch her but knew better. She was too wary, and he had not apologised enough for what he had done. ‘I will do whatever you want. I swear it.’
She stared at him. ‘You are not a humble man.’
He was now.
‘You are a brash man with joy in his step and confidence enough to let another shine.’
He wasn’t sure he was that man still. ‘I have had my confidence knocked aside.’
She snorted. ‘No, you haven’t. You have found investors. That is no small feat.’
It had been exhausting, difficult work, but he knew the Englishton. He knew how to talk to them. He knew how to persuade them to stoop to commerce. After all, if a future earl could work, then they had no excuse.
It helped that Prinny thought him the most brilliant of fellows. He just had to live up to the promise.
What he didn’t have was a boat. He’d spent the last two months looking for one in between trips home to help his sisters and to greet his new nephew. Declan was right. None matchedThe Integrity. And as much as he made it sound to others like he had a couldn’t-possibly-lose cargo, he wasn’t sure about it. Which is why he’d been planning on talking to Captain Banakos. And to Lucy.