Will almost groaned.
“A man who wishes to hear a woman’s opinion. I’m dumbstruck.”
“Certainly,” Calstone went on. “You don’t think so little of the male of the species, do you?”
“I do.” Her chin went up. “I think a lot more than that, but I’m not about to waste my breath on reciting my thoughts.”
Will yanked Calstone from her view. His friend was not helping. At all. “Enough, Calstone. We are leaving.”
“Ah, so you have decided we should return to London,” Harriet murmured. “Sadly, my legs aresotired and sore. I need to rest them.”
Will no longer hesitated. She seemed determined to test his resolve for some reason. Well, she hadn’t said she wouldn’t go, after all—just that he’d have to carry her off the ship. And he could certainly rise to the occasion on that score. He stepped up to her, dipped, and scooped her over his shoulder. Her gasp echoed down his spine in a small shiver.
She tried to wiggle from his embrace. “You, you rogue! What are you doing?”
“Aren’t your legs sore?” The question rolled off Will’s tongue with ease, carrying with it a fleck of amusement. “I shall carry you.”
He snatched up her travel bag and tossed it to Calstone, striding from the room. He would rather not test the captain’s patience lest they find themselves actually traveling to Charleston. Unless Harriet insisted on staying on board, they would return to London.
One step at a time.
By now, it ought to be clear that he was not after her dowry, if that had ever been a concern for her. He had spent a hell of a sum for those two special licenses and a small fortune for the captain to let them off this ship. Unfortunately, with the way she seemed to think of him, she’d likely find a way to accuse him of involvement in some dirty plot anyway.
From their conversation at the house, it appeared that a good deal of her cheap opinion of him had developed because of that fool Cromby. Will had never liked the man, only endured his presence, as most people did. But if Harriet didn’t like him, Will would no longer even bother being polite in the future.
Regardless, he would wipe out her reservations about his character one at a time.
“Ah, here we are,” Calstone said as they emerged on deck.
A group of sailors already waited by the boat. At their appearance, the men began to lower it. The captain was nowhere in sight.
“Put me down!” Harriet hissed in his ear. Will could practically feel the rage she was emitting soak into his body. He lowered her to her feet, and she promptly punched him on the arm twice. “That’s for acting like a barbarian!”
Will rubbed the spot she’d clubbed, amused that such thin arms could punch so effectively. “My apologies.”
She puffed out a breath. “As if you mean it. I cannot believe you hoisted me over your shoulder like that.”
He arched a brow. “As a gentleman, how can I not help a weary lady in distress?”
“Distress, my arse,” she muttered. Her gaze moved beyond him. “You expect me to climb down that rope ladder? What if I am afraid of heights?”
“Then I shall carry you down.” In fact, he wouldn’t even mind if it meant he could hold her some more.
“How? On your back?”
“No, not the back. The front.”
Her eyes widened. “Am I a child?”
Will tilted his head to the side. The more he conversed with her, the easier it seemed to become. “Are you afraid of heights?”
“Of course not.” She straightened her back. “I’m not afraid of anything.”
Will’s lips twitched.
“I’ll go last,” Calstone said, and Will nodded. Nestled between the two of them, she’d be safe in her descent. He glanced at her. “I’ll go first. Follow close behind.”I’ll be there if anything happens.
Will grabbed hold of the ladder, carefully climbing over the edge of the ship, motioning for her to follow. “Don’t be scared.”
