“I don’t think God will mind if I wait here in Victoria a short while longer. Until Patience arrives and we make sure she’s settled into her new life here.”

At the tenderness in Joseph’s eyes, she linked her arms around his neck and stood on her toes so that her mouth found his again. She leaned into him, letting her kiss tell him how much she desired and loved and needed him.

A clearing throat nearby interrupted them. Mercy jumped at the sound and would have moved away from Joseph had he not kept his arms securely locked around her waist.

“Lord Colville?” came a tentative voice. A uniformed steward stood a short distance away, his face red and his eyes averted.

“You may tell the captain I’ve been unavoidably detained,” Joseph said, giving Mercy a sly grin. “If you would be so kind as to unload my trunk and other bags, I will more than make up for the inconvenience.”

“Very well, my lord.”

As soon as the steward started to walk away, Joseph pulled Mercy close again. “Now, where were we?” Thick desire melted the brown of his eyes into a warm liquid that threatened to drown her.

“We were speaking of our marriage plans,” she replied.

As he bent to kiss her, she eagerly lifted her lips to his, relishing the feathery kiss that only made her impatient for more.

“Though I want to marry you today,” he said, tilting his head back, “shall we wait until Patience is here? I should like a family member to see us wed.”

Tears sprang to her eyes at the sweetness of his words. Still, she had to be honest with herself about Patience’s arrival. She’d been clinging to the hope that Patience would survive the workhouse. But if she was truly going to start facing her heartaches, then she had to acknowledge the reality that Patience had been near to dying. If her sister was too ill for the passage aboard the Tynemouth, she’d likely be too ill for the Robert Lowe as well.

“I’m afraid Patience won’t be making it here,” Mercy said, her voice breaking at the thought of losing her sister.

Joseph didn’t say anything but instead looked into her eyes as though attempting to peer into her soul.

“My sister was dying when I left her.” Mercy spoke the words even as her heart broke to say them. “She made me leave so that I wouldn’t see her die.”

“And she made you leave so you could have a better life than she did.”

“Aye.” Mercy thought back to the last time she’d seen Patience at the workhouse and her words “You know I’ll always love you.” Had Patience known it was good-bye forever?

“If she has half your strength, Mercy, then she’ll pull through and get well.”

“Do you think so?”