The Ship of Love Read online

  But Margaret, although pretty, was too shy to take the town by storm, and when she still wasn't engaged at twenty-one her mother despised and bullied her. Rowena had discovered this when she stayed with the family for a few days. The two girls shared a bedroom, and she saw Margaret's tears.

  "What can I do?" she'd wept. "If men don't want to marry me, why should they be pushed into it by Mama? If it comes to that, I don't want to marry them."

  "One day you will find someone you love," Rowena had said encouragingly.

  "I don't think so. I am not beautiful like you and Mama begrudges every penny she spends on me."

  "But you are a lovely person," Rowena had told her. "Lots of men will think so."

  "Well, they are very slow in coming forward," Margaret had answered bitterly.

  Rowena had felt very sorry for Margaret, so she was first on her list.

  Next was the Hon. Elaine Danver, an heiress, not as spectacularly rich as Rowena, but with two very pushy parents.

  After much thought Rowena also included Lady Dulcie Sinclair. Her dowry was no more than reasonable, and since her father was an Earl she already knew the higher ranks of the aristocracy and didn't have to hunt for a title.

  Her drawback was that she was horse mad and dog mad, and they were the only things she could discuss. To someone of the same inclination, she would be a perfect companion. To anybody else she would seem rather boring. Rowena liked her, although she too sometimes found Dulcie's conversation limited.

  She still had one vacancy, when Mark came to discuss his own list with her.

  "You'll like the Hon. Andrew Rackton," he said. "He's a cousin of my own. Lord Patrick Tellman is a good friend. I don't know Dominic Fears very well, but he has a lot of money and is expected to marry a title, which bores him a good deal."

  "I'll probably get on well with him," Rowena mused. "Who's the last one."

  "Lord Brice. He's an Earl."

  "What a catch!" Rowena exclaimed excitedly.

  "In some ways, yes, although he has his disadvantages."

  He refused to explain further, but seemed to be enjoying a joke.

  *

  At last the great day came. Rowena and Mr. Farley, accompanied by her father, set off for Dover in the carriage, followed by a fourgon with all her luggage, and Jenny. Mrs. Kilton was a terrible sailor, and had had hysterics at the thought of going on board.

  They arrived to find the others ahead of them and the ship already being boarded. The girls welcomed Rowena with shrieks of delight, and the men became very grave and sensible as they greeted the Colonel.

  He came aboard to speak to Mark and look over his ship with pride.

  "Take care of the ship," the Colonel told Mark. "It'll serve you well," he said. "I trust you'll have a fine voyage."

  "I have every faith in the ship, and in its fine crew, sir," Mark responded. "Have no fear, I'll return everyone safely."

  Rowena kissed her father goodbye.

  "I hope you have a calm sea," he said, "otherwise there will be too many of your guests in bed."

  "Oh, Papa, do not leave us on such a dismal note," Rowena protested. "There is nothing romantic in seasickness."

  At the same time she was laughing. It seemed extraordinary that her ideas had really come true. They were actually on board The Adventurer.

  Impulsively she said, "You have been wonderful, Papa, in letting me do this."

  The Colonel eyed his child with a touch of cynicism.

  "The party has developed a little from the one I agreed to," he said. "It's become a lot livelier."

  "Why Papa, how can you say such a thing, when we have Grandpapa and Lady Honoria – "

  "And you and the Duke – "

  "We are extra chaperones. But of course some of our friends may want to pair off, and come back blissfully happy."

  "Never count your chickens before they are hatched," her father warned. "They may come back all hating each other and be glad to return to the security of England."

  Rowena laughed. "You are making fun of me. The Duke and I are secretly having bets on how many of our guests will be engaged when we come back to England." Impulsively she threw her arms about her father.

  "Thank you, thank you, for being so understanding and kind."

  Her father smiled. "Well, take care of yourself, my darling," he said. "The house will be very lonely without you, so don't be away too long."

  With a final kiss on his daughter's cheek, he walked down the gangway. Rowena leaned over to wave him goodbye.

  "Thank you, Papa, and take care of yourself," she called. "I love you! I love you!"

  Her father waved as the yacht began to move. The sound of the water splashing prevented them from saying any more to each other.

  'We are really beginning our adventure,' Rowena said to herself, going below deck as the yacht moved out into the sea.

  As she expected several of her guests were sitting in the saloon, celebrating with champagne. The Duke was amongst them.

  When he saw Rowena he said. "Come and join us. We are drinking to good health, good weather and good temper to start us off."

  He handed her a glass of champagne, and they clinked glasses.

  "We thought we could choose our cabins when we are out at sea," Mark said. "As it is your party and mine we have to decide which of us will have the master cabin."

  "But I think your aunt should have it," Rowena replied.

  "No, she prefers a smaller cabin and has gone below already to claim it." He looked around at everyone. "You understand that she will act as chaperone, so no one afterwards can say you were not looked after and prevented from misbehaving yourself."

  They all laughed, and some of the men gave roguish glances at the women, who pretended to be very much shocked.

  "Of course you must have the master cabin," Rowena insisted.

  "Why of course?" the Duke wanted to know.

  "Because men come first," she told him mischievously. "If you don't put them first they might feel disagreeable or sulky all the way there and back."

  "I promise not to be disagreeable and sulky," he said at once.

  She smiled. "And I promise I will be very happy in an ordinary cabin, without having to worry in case you think I am claiming to be more important than I really am."

  "You need not be afraid of that," Mark answered. "Everyone here thinks they are very important and we have to treat them with respect, unless they become so disagreeable we have to push them overboard."

  Everybody roared with laughter at this sally, and the steward went around refilling glasses.

  Eventually when she went below, Rowena found she had a very attractive cabin decorated in pink which was her favourite colour. As it was quite large there was room for a truckle bed, for Jenny.

  When she'd changed her clothes she joined the others on deck, where they were all discussing their living quarters.

  Margaret and Elaine were sharing the cabin next door to Rowena, which exactly suited them, for they were good friends.

  "We can talk at night, which I always enjoy, when I go to bed," said Elaine.

  "We can say how much we dislike so-and-so," Margaret added, "and how much we like someone else."

  "I have never heard anything so disgraceful," Rowena exclaimed. "You know as well as I do that everyone has to enjoy themselves on this trip.

  "It's a journey of pleasure, perhaps even romance if we're very fortunate, and anyone who is disagreeable or unpleasant will be put ashore, and left to return home in disgrace."

  There were shouts of laughter at this.

  Then the Duke's cousin, Andrew, said,

  "I thought there was a catch somewhere and if this is one way of getting rid of me, I will find some way of having my revenge."

  As the boat moved out further into the channel, they crowded on deck, watching the sun on the water.

  "What do you think of my selection?" Mark asked. "Didn't I choose some splendid young men for you?"

  "They
are not for me," she said firmly.

  "But you must have first choice."

  "If I carry one of them off, we'll have odd numbers and one girl in tears."

  "Not at all. I promise to pay the odd girl a lot of attention, and that will even us up again."

  "Suppose the girl isn't interested in you."

  He grinned. "Then I'll have to exert myself to please her."

  And he would know exactly how to do that, she thought. He was the most handsome man on board, and if he gave a young woman all his attention, she would probably soon find him the handsomest man in the world. And the most charming. And the most attractive, with that look he sometimes had in his eyes, as though he couldn't decide whether to flirt or laugh.

  Not that he would be flirting with her, and she was very glad of it. She was quite decided on that point. Nothing could please her more than to know Mark had no romantic interest in her.

  "Rowena – ?"

  "I beg your pardon?"

  "You were off in a dream."

  "Was I? Do forgive me. How rude – "

  "I'm not offended, but I'd give a deal to know what you were thinking about to bring that sparkle to your eyes."

  "It's just a reflection of the water."

  "I don't think so. You were thinking very pleasant thoughts then. They brought a half smile to your lips – "

  "Indeed? Then I was probably thinking of one of the young men you brought on this voyage."

  "I wonder if I can guess which one. What about Lord Brice?"

  She gave a choke of laughter. Mark had warned her of poor Brice's disadvantages, and she had discovered that the young man, although handsome, rich and well born, was almost paralysed by nerves.

  "Yes, it's definitely Brice," Mark grinned.

  She pressed her lips together, refusing to answer him.

  A little further along the deck she saw Jane Stanton, sad and alone. Jane's engagement to Francis Dillon, had recently been broken off, and Rowena had hastened to offer her the last vacant place.

  She didn't know why the engagement had ended, because Jane couldn't discuss it without bursting into tears. She, normally so bright and merry, now stood in an unhappy dream, gazing out over the water.

  As Rowena watched, Jane turned away, tears streaming down her face, and stumbled. It was Lord Brice who reached out to steady her. She apologised. He said it was his fault and produced a large clean handkerchief.

  "Let's leave them to it," Mark murmured.

  "There's another couple down there," Rowena said, pointing.

  Lady Honoria had come out on deck, and was being squired by Mr. Farley. The two of them sat in deckchairs absorbed in conversation.

  "She's quite different to what she seemed at first," said Rowena.

  "Quite different," he agreed, with a smile.

  "You've been very clever," she said. "Oh, I am so looking forward to this journey."

  "I hope you don't get seasick in the Bay of Biscay. It can be quite choppy there, but the weather forecast for the next few days is good. We'll anchor off France tonight, and tomorrow, with any luck we might get right across the bay and south as far as Lisbon. We'll stop there for one night and then go on into the Mediterranean. After that we can go more slowly."

  At Cherbourg they dropped anchor for the night, which meant that, to everyone's relief, they had a calm sea for eating dinner. In the galley there was a flurry of activity as the chef tried to outdo his own best on this, their first night out.

  Everyone dressed for dinner. The men were elegant in white tie and tails, and the girls looked like flowers in their pretty pastel dresses. Rowena thought it would be difficult to find a prettier collection of young women and handsome men.

  "You look lovely," Lord Patrick Tellman told Rowena meeting her in the corridor on her way to the saloon.

  They had been introduced earlier that day, and Rowena had immediately been attracted by his merry talk and fun loving nature.

  "Thank you," she laughed.

  "You don't mind my saying so?"

  "Of course not. Why should I?"

  "I was afraid I might have offended you the last time we met," he said.

  "But have we ever – ?" She stopped and her hand flew to her mouth.

  "At the Rackingham's ball last month," he explained. "You promised me a dance and then forgot me – completely, it seems, since when Mark 'introduced' us this morning you gave no sign of ever having seen me before."

  Filled with horror, she blushed as the memory came back to her.

  "I don't know what to say," she exclaimed. "Yes, I do remember you now – "

  "Dished," he said mournfully. "It's bad enough when the loveliest girl in the world forgets you, but when she finally says that she remembers you now – well, I may as well shoot myself, or emigrate – or something."

  "What nonsense you talk," she said, laughing. "I'm really very sorry, and I'll make it up to you on this voyage." "I'll keep you to that," he said with a grin.

  "What's this?" Mark asked as they entered the saloon.

  "I'm covered in shame," Rowena said. "Lord Patrick has reminded me that we've met before."

  Lord Patrick placed a hand theatrically over his heart.

  "Promised me a dance and then forgot me," he said in throbbing accents.

  Mark grinned. "Miss Thornhill, shame on you! What were you doing? Deep in a discussion of fashion with your cronies, I'll be bound."

  "No such thing!" she said with dignity. "I was enjoying a conversation with a Member of Parliament. We were discussing the next election. It was fascinating."

  "It must have been to make you overlook this rattlepate," the Duke said. "Now, it's time for us to go in to supper. Miss Thornhill?" he offered his arm.

  "Aha, but the lady has promised to make it up to me for her cruelty," Lord Patrick said, extending his own arm.

  "Indeed I did," she replied, taking his arm. "I'll be delighted to go in with you, Lord Patrick."

  As they swept past, Lord Patrick gave a lofty glance at his friend and murmured, "My trick, I think."

  The Duke accepted the situation gracefully, and offered his arm to Jane Stanton.

  Over the excellent meal Rowena told her companion more about the purpose of their voyage.

  "What we all have to do," she said, "is to enjoy ourselves. You must admit you could not find a more attractive party or a better looking one anywhere in England."

  "I agree with you," he said, "and you are the loveliest of them all."

  She laughed in delight. "That's just what you must say to every woman here, so that we can all enjoy ourselves."

  "I'd rather just say it to you," Lord Patrick said at once. "But since your wish is my command, I'll say the same to every young lady here."

  "Good. That will start the voyage well," Rowena said, "and more importantly will make the journey romantic."

  "Romantic?" the young man enquired. "But why?"

  "Because we are all young and we are looking for excitement," Rowena answered. "When I think of all the thrilling places there are for us to see – "

  "I think what makes the place thrilling, is the person one is with," Lord Patrick replied. "Now I am with you everything will seem more glowing than it first appeared."

  Rowena clapped her hands. "Wonderful. You do it so well."

  "But suppose I just want to admire you and nobody else?" he asked plaintively.

  "That's not allowed," Mark said, appearing unexpectedly behind his chair. "You must work hard to spread your compliments among all the young ladies."

  Lord Patrick was about to remark that he was smitten only with Rowena, but he caught a glint in the Duke's eye, and thought better of it.

  Before going to bed that night Rowena went up to the highest deck and stood looking over the rail at the lights of Cherbourg.

  From a little distance away she heard the sound of a man's footsteps. It would be Mark, she thought, come to mull over the first day with her.

  "Good evening."

&
nbsp; She turned, smiling. But the smile faded when she saw Dominic Fears.

  "Good evening," she said pleasantly.

  "I couldn't help hearing what you were saying to Patrick. It's quite some notion you and Mark have got up between you. At the same time, it is very unlikely that all your guests will fall madly in love before we return home."

  "Not all of them, certainly, but even one or two would be a victory."

  "Over what?"

  "Over society," she sighed. "Over pushy parents."

  "Oh now, there I agree. Your idea of love is charming and delightful, but does it really happen except in books? I have been disillusioned over and over again."

  "What do you mean by that?" Rowena asked curiously.

  "Whenever I think I've found the ideal woman she turns out to be after my money."

  Rowena remembered Mark saying Dominic was very rich. She knew exactly how he felt.

  "I've been disillusioned so often," he went on, "that now I make it clear to most women as soon as I meet them, that I am not the marrying sort. But with you I feel at home, because I believe you're in the same pickle."

  "Yes," she sighed, "and it isn't nearly as pleasant being rich as people think it must be."

  They looked at each other in fellow feeling.

  "In fact," he added, "with you I think I can risk being completely frank."

  "In what way?"

  "I'd like to kiss you."

  Rowena's eyebrows went up. "That is frankness indeed," she said. "But to be honest I only want the man I am in love with to kiss me, and I am not in love with you."

  He sighed. "I was afraid of that. Do you know, you are fantastic! I never expected to meet anyone like you. I am beginning to think I would be a fool if, having met you, I lose you. Suppose I wanted to marry you?"

  Rowena's lips twitched with mirth. "Is that a proposal?"

  "It could be, with a little encouragement."

  "After one evening? Don't be rash."

  "Well, you see, you're the one girl I can be sure isn't interested in my money. That's a great attraction."

  "I know what you mean," she admitted. "It makes me feel kindly towards you too. But I'm afraid it's not enough. You would have to make me fall in love with you. And that is not going to happen."