More questions occurred to her, but there was no opportunity to ask them, since they were in front of the pub. He turned to her and adjusted the hood of her cloak lower over her face.

“You’re still too damned beautiful,” he murmured as he tucked a strand of flyaway hair behind her ear. “But I also know you’re too damned stubborn, so you wouldn’t let me do this on my own.”

She smiled up at him. “And you’re far too handsome, but I assume you won’t let that impede you from asking questions.”

He grinned back as he pushed open the door to the pub.

They stepped inside, him close at her back as though for protection. Not that I need it, she thought. Although it did feel nice to feel the solid warmth of him.

He strode to the bar at the other end of the pub, her trailing along after him. The pub was half-full of men, some white and some black. All of them staring at them, making Della feel nearly uncomfortable.

If she ever felt uncomfortable, that was. Which she did not.

“We’re looking for someone,” Griffith announced. He placed a few coins on the bar and addressed the room. “A Mr. Henry Wattings, he would have come ashore about three years ago, right after the Royal Lady capsized.”

Della held her breath as the men glanced at one another. A man, one nearly as large as Griffith, rose slowly to his feet. “And who is asking?” he said in a soft voice, but one that held a menacing tone.

“I’m Captain Griffith Davies. Wattings was under my command, and now I want to find him.”

The man paused, his gaze assessing the two of them. At last, he nodded. “I’ve heard of you.” Della exhaled. “Wattings hasn’t been here for at least a year. He went to—where did he go, John?” he said, turning his head to address a man at another table.

Was it going to be this simple? And once she had found Sarah’s husband, did that mean her agreement with Lord Stanbury would be finished?

“I can’t say,” John said, shrugging.

Damn it.

Lord Stanbury tossed a coin to the first man, and then to John, leaving the rest on the bar. “If you hear anything about Wattings, send word to the Duke of Northam’s address.”

The first man looked askance at Lord Stanbury. “You’re a duke?”

His mouth thinned. “Not yet I’m not.” He nodded at the two men, then slid the remaining coins to the barkeep as he took Della’s arm none too gently.

She was going to do it. She was on her way to taking Lord Enormous into her bed, where she’d discover if his enormousness extended everywhere.

She was fairly certain it would.