The Captain of All Pleasures (Sutherland Brothers 1)

"Despite all her family's zealous efforts, I remain a bachelor."

Derek lit his cigar. "I always thought you would suit. She's nice and staid. Hard to believe you've resisted her scandal-free nature."

"She is a nice girl. She even swore she'd wait for me to return."

Derek raised his eyebrows. "Return?"

"You know Belmont's fool's errand?" Grant asked with a grin. "I signed on as the fool."

"You're serious?"

He nodded. "I went back to him and counteroffered. He's to give me all of Belmont Court at his passing."

Derek let out a surprised breath. "He must be convinced his son's family is out there to give away all he has left."

"That's because Belmont is desperate. Very emotional man, that Belmont," Grant explained in a censorious tone. "He fears his health is failing, and the thought of them out there stranded makes giving away his home a small concession to find them."

Derek frowned. "But if he gives away the estate and you do find the family, what will become of them?"

"It didn't take you long to find the rub. If I were an intuitive man, I'd swear he dreams that I'll marry the granddaughter when I find her, and we'll all live at the court happily ever after, or some such nonsense."

Derek paused, then pointed out, "You said 'when.' "

With a sheepish grin, Grant said, "Yes, well, that damn man actually has me believing it." From his coat pocket, he pulled a fading daguerreotype of a towheaded young girl with a shy smile. "Look at her. She looks so delicate. If she did survive...Thinking of her, out there alone--"

Derek must have looked at Grant with surprise, because he hastily slid the likeness into his pocket, then said in a gruff voice, "Probably a waste of time. She most likely didn't survive."

"I don't know if I like this," Derek said with a wave of his cigar. "You're settling in at Peregrine. And I feel like I just got you back as my brother," he added in a mutter. His wife had asked him not to hold back his feelings with his family, but he was new to it.

"You'll just have to miss me until we come back, because it's settled," Grant advised good-naturedly. "And I figure, between you and Nicole, managing Whitestone and Peregrine for a year or so will be child's play."

Derek tamped his cigar and gave Grant an expression of absolute agreement. "I expect Nicole would like to help Peregrine, now that her father won't be a head-to-head competitor."

"Exactly so," Grant agreed. "Who knows?" he began as the corner of his lips quirked up. "Maybe I'll find some hidden treasure." He slapped Derek on the back and, with more excitement than Derek had heard from his brother in years, said, "I sail in a fortnight."

Chapter 31

N icole and Derek had seen a marked excitement in Grant about the upcoming expedition, though all knew it was far-fetched at best to think the lost family had survived. The islands targeted in Oceania were isolated and riddled with pirate activity, but if a voyage was what it took to make Grant happy, then they would be supportive.

On the day before Grant's departure, she and Derek went to the docks to wish him a safe journey. He was sailing the Keveral on the high tide, early the next morning. Embarking was a lively time, but thinking about how long Grant would be gone, and how much Derek would miss him, made Nicole's eyes tear. Lately, it seemed as though she choked up at the tiniest things.

Grant saw her dab at her eyes and said, "Don't cry, Nic." Then, in a pained voice, he urged, "No, really, don't cry."

Nicole had forgotten how uneasy Grant got around emotional females and smiled to reassure him. Her smile grew when Derek moved his hand to rest at her waist. One night soon when she lay in his arms, she would tell him what she'd suspected for days.

Grant was needed to supervise the last-minute arrival of provisions, so Derek said, "Get back to work, Grant." A hearty handshake and slap on the back followed.

"Fair winds, Grant," Nicole said as she hugged her brother-in-law, nearly tearing up again. "I hope you find them."

Grant looked so very confident and strong when he said, "If they're out there, I'll find them."

As Derek escorted her off the ship, they called out a last round of good-byes and wishes for smooth sailing. Grant in turn ordered them, "Be good to each other!"

Derek put her arm through his as they made their way to the carriage. "I suppose we'll be doing this again soon," he said, sounding aggrieved.

Nicole elbowed him, and he chuckled. In another week, they would be saying good-bye to Lassiter, Maria, Chancey, and the Bella Nicola's old crew as well. They were all sailing for South America to develop their newly planned routes. Nicole would miss them dearly. Even her grandmother, who'd truly become fond of her father and Chancey, and certainly of Maria, the "governess," would miss them. However, the marchioness was excited that Nicole and "dozens of great-grandbabies" would be staying in England.

Nicole was no longer worried about Maria and Father. She was confident that together they would turn Lassiter Shipping around, and she'd begun to believe that her father would finally...see Maria. The lovely, intelligent woman looked at him with such tenderness that Nicole was convinced she would win him over in the end. A love that shone so brightly would overwhelm any obstacles.

She knew. Because hers had.

As they watched Grant give a last wave before their carriage rolled away, Derek said, "I hope he finds as much happiness in his journey as we found."

"Still find." Nicole smiled and snuggled closer to his side. "And I hope we can fulfill Grant's wish by the time he returns."

"What wish?" he asked against her hair.

"To become an uncle."