“Do you know what you’re going to say? You are going to talk to her, aren’t you?” Frederick asked, taking a sip from his glass.

Griffith frowned at his cousin. “Should you be drinking? I mean, aren’t you—you know?”

“Dying?” Frederick supplied. He grinned at Griffith. “Well, no, as it happens. I am sorry to disappoint you, but it seems I have a weak constitution, but as long as I take care of myself and drink some ghastly concoctions the new doctors have prescribed, I will be here a long time. I know you were looking forward to being duke too.”

Griffith was leaping out of his chair as soon as Frederick said “no,” and was hoisting him up, clasping him in a huge hug.

“I knew it was a good idea to have you see more doctors,” he said.

“Don’t squeeze me too hard,” Frederick said, his voice muffled. “Weak constitution, remember?”

“Put him down, Griff,” Hyland demanded.

Griffith complied, setting Frederick down as gently as he could.

“This means you could return to sea, you know,” Frederick said.

Griffith stared at Frederick as his words swirled in his head.

Return to sea? Be the captain of his own ship again? Not have to attend parties and wear clothing that would tear if he moved a muscle?

The thought was alluring, and certainly what he had dreamt of when he’d first returned home.

“Return to sea. You hear that, Captain?” Clark said. It was as if Griffith was hearing the words through a fog.

Griffith felt as though his heart was being squeezed.

But—

But—

But then there wouldn’t be her.

Life at sea was unsettled. Life could literally capsize in an instant, and he knew that she would never subject her daughter to that.

And he didn’t want it anymore either.

He wanted to be settled.

He wanted to have vigorous, frequent sex with her in a bed that was properly sized and immobile, unless they were the ones moving it. He wanted to get to know her sisters, and her best friend. He wanted to argue with her, and have her call him Lord Handsome and then watch her stand up for herself.

Most of all, he wanted her.

“He’s a goner,” Hyland commented, shaking his head as though disappointed. But he had a grin on his face that contradicted his demeanor.

“Damn it,” Griffith said. “I am.”

“So you’ll be staying here, then?” Frederick asked.

“If I can get her to agree to it,” Griffith replied in a gruff voice.

Clark waved his concern away. “You can persuade anyone of anything. You got me and Hyland here to stop arguing, that was a miracle.”

“Especially since all Clark is good for is reading maps and issuing orders,” Hyland said.

“Whereas all you’re good for is scurrying up ropes and causing trouble,” Clark replied.