He didn’t, he supposed. Surely Frederick had some sort of valet tucked inside that grand house of his. Or he could enlist Clark to act as his valet, for that matter. If he could find him.

But the best-case scenario for that would mean having to wait, and now that Griffith had made up his mind—had set his course, so to speak—he didn’t want to waste time. Besides which, it would be delightful to have her help rather than anybody else’s.

“I do, my lady.” He spoke as though reluctant to ask.

She narrowed her gaze at him. As though she knew what he was thinking.

“I will have to ask my brothers-in-law where they go. I do not have a list of fine gentleman’s haberdasheries at hand.”

“So perhaps you’re not that shocking after all?” He couldn’t resist asking, if only to see her reaction.

“Honestly,” she said. “Are you going to vex me every time we speak?”

“Surely not every time,” he replied. He grinned at her. “I imagine when I wish you a good morning I won’t annoy you too much.”

“Perhaps not too much.” Her lips twisted as though she were trying to suppress a smile.

“Excellent. I will try to limit myself to all the good hailings I can imagine. Good morning, good afternoon, good evening. Will that suit?”

“Perfectly.” She did allow herself to smile then, and he felt momentarily flattened by the brilliance of it.

And not only was she stunningly beautiful, she was also the barrier he would wield toward any ambitious debutante who thought a duke’s heir might be worth the bother of him. Not to mention someone he could be himself with as he navigated these new waters.

She’d make an excellent captain herself, he could tell. She was obviously too stubborn and fierce to obey orders, as though he hadn’t had her own words to confirm that. But she could give them with a lift of her imperious nose. And everyone would scurry to follow.

He would scurry to follow. He wondered if he could persuade her to issue some particularly intriguing orders after they’d gotten better acquainted.

His cock reacted predictably, and he shifted on the sofa.

“So how did we meet?” she asked. She is not talking to you, he reminded his cock. Focus, Griffith.

“Uh—perhaps we met when you came aboard for a tour of my ship and were struck by my remarkable handsomeness?”

She rolled her eyes.

“Or you dropped your handkerchief, I returned it to you, and you were struck by my remarkable handsomeness?”

She folded her arms over her chest.

“Let’s just say we met at a park. We don’t need to discuss your appearance.”

“Fine,” he replied. “What else?”