Della nodded, pleased he was so willing to venture to a place she doubted he ever wished to return to again—a place where the future he wanted was housed, while also being the place that had attempted to rob him of his freedom.

He is not doing it for you, she reminded herself. It was all because of their bargain. And to find his missing seaman, since it was clear it rankled his masculine pride to have lost someone so thoroughly.

Although she knew he was doing it a little bit for her. And she knew why.

The question was whether she would be able to allow him that much control over her body without immediately wishing to rescind it.

“We can walk,” Griffith said, gesturing ahead of them. “It’s only a mile or two. I presume you’re not too much of a lady to balk at some brisk exercise?”

Della began to frown in outrage, then realized that was exactly the reaction he was looking for. “Of course, my lord,” she replied in a silky tone. “I wish only to proceed with the investigation and locate our missing sailor.”

“Mmph,” he grunted, beginning to stride ahead, making no accommodation for her shorter stride. Or if it was accommodating, it wasn’t quite accommodating enough. But she relished his brisk walking. It meant that he knew she could handle it, that she would adjust herself to work alongside him. That she didn’t need special treatment because she was a lady.

She knew that he would treat her as an equal if or when they ever managed to find their way amicably to the bedroom. She’d be more than able to keep up with him there, and she couldn’t wait to challenge him with some of her own wants and desires, and discovering what his were.

So the faster they located Sarah’s husband, the more swiftly they could proceed to a bedroom of their choosing to explore.

No wonder he was walking so quickly.

Chapter 14

“Do you have an appointment?” The prim man seated behind the desk looked as though the closest he’d come to being on board a ship was walking over a puddle.

Not that there was anything wrong with that, Griffith amended in his head. If there wasn’t paperwork and management on land, captains and their crews would have to deal with it themselves, and that was the last thing Griff ever wanted to do.

Good thing he was on his way to becoming a duke, where paperwork and management seemed to be the entirety of the position, tossing in a few awkward moments in ballrooms for a little added fun.

You’re being ridiculous again, he chided himself.

“We’re looking for a sailor,” Griffith announced. Della stood at his side, despite his trying to shield her from most of the men they’d passed on the journey.