At twenty-five, there were those within his class, including his aunt Pen, who believed men of his age ought to be marrying and starting families. But he’d convinced himself he still had time before he needed to get serious about looking for a wife and settling down. Meanwhile, he had no plans to indulge his flesh with fleeting encounters with women. Such relationships might temporarily fulfill a man’s needs but almost always resulted in hurt and heartache.

“Again,” he said, “I beg your sincere apology if I have in any way insinuated such a relationship. It was not my intention at all.”

“What is your intention, sir?”

He couldn’t say exactly why he’d singled Mercy out from the other women. Surely it wasn’t simply because he found her physically appealing. Perhaps he’d been drawn to her because she was the only one with whom he had an acquaintance. And of course he liked her gentle and caring nature, along with her inner strength and independent spirit. Whatever the case, he had no plans—had never even considered—anything beyond a working relationship with her.

“I have no intentions toward you, Miss Wilkins,” he said, reassuring himself. “I had hoped to engage your help. That is all. But if I make you uncomfortable, and if you’d rather not be near me—”

“Oh no, sir,” she said, the accusation falling away. “I want to help. I don’t have the training like a proper nurse, but I can learn fast.”

“You do learn very quickly, Miss Wilkins. More important, you truly care about people, and trust me, they can sense it.”

“You care greatly about people too, sir.” She averted her eyes. “I could tell it the first time I met you. And I’m sorry for doubting you, sir. It’s just that when I overheard the talk about becoming your mistress, I didn’t know what to think.”

He should have known other passengers might gossip and twist his intentions into something lewd.

“I tried to put the suggestion out of my mind, sir, that I did. But it stayed there. . . .”

Slowly he made his way toward her, stopping several feet away. “I hope I can prove to you I am honorable in every way.” He wasn’t sure how he’d be able to do that, but the desire to do so was powerful.

She nodded, her focus still on the deck.

He wanted to look into her eyes where he was beginning to learn to read her thoughts and emotions. Did she still doubt him? He was tempted to reach out and tip up her chin so she would have to meet his gaze. Instead, he clasped his hands behind his back again.