“I beg your pardon,” he said, walking over and sweeping a deep bow. “I am Erskine Dewland, and I shall soon have the pleasure of becoming your brother-in-law.”

“Oh,” Gabby said faintly. There had been an awful moment when she thought that he was Peter, her future bridegroom. Now she realized that although Erskine had a faint resemblance to his brother, he was nothing like the Peter of her picture. No, Erskine was rather terrifyingly masculine. Too large, for one thing. And his eyes were so…so commanding.

She dropped a curtsy. But before she could speak, there was a tug on her cloak.

“Miss Gabby, is that your husband?” Phoebe’s eyes were shining with deep excitement.

Gabby blushed slightly as she met Erskine’s eyes. “May I introduce Miss Phoebe Pensington? Phoebe and I spent a good deal of time together on the voyage,” she explained. “Phoebe, this is Mr. Erskine Dewland, Peter’s brother.”

Mr. Dewland looked at her so measuringly that Gabby felt short of breath. He seemed to be an exceedingly formal man. Perhaps he disliked her referring to his brother by his first name.

But then, rather surprisingly, he turned and made Phoebe an elegant bow. “Miss Phoebe.”

When he smiled, Gabby realized, his whole face warmed. Perhaps he wasn’t so terrifying—and at any rate, he would now be part of her family, so she had to like him.

“Do you know where my new mama is?” Phoebe asked.

Mr. Dewland shook his head, seemingly taking this question in stride. “I am afraid that I do not.” He looked inquiringly at Gabby.

“I thought it would be raining,” Phoebe said chattily. “My ayah told me that English skies are always as black as the devil’s soup pot! Why isn’t it raining? Do you think it will rain later in the afternoon?”

He met Gabby’s eyes over her head and repeated, “New mama?”

“Phoebe is referring to a Mrs. Emily Ewing,” Gabby explained. “Mrs. Ewing is the sister of Phoebe’s late mother. You see, Phoebe’s parents were killed in a most unfortunate accident in Madras, and Phoebe had to be sent to England. But the captain told me that the letter informing Mrs. Ewing of Phoebe’s situation may have gone astray. There was no acknowledgment from Mrs. Ewing before the Plassey set sail.”

“Why the devil did they put her on board?”

Gabby was very aware of Phoebe listening alertly to their conversation. “I am sure that Mrs. Ewing’s letter crossed our path,” she said cheerfully.

“Not likely, given her absence today,” Mr. Dewland remarked.

Gabby gave him a quelling look. “It is also quite possible that she is not aware that we have arrived, Mr. Dewland. Unfortunately, the Plassey was blown off course a month ago. We were around the Canaries, and we had tempestuous weather through the Bay of Biscay, with a prodigious sea.”

“Has Miss Phoebe no governess?”