Declan finally looked down. 'It's after noon, and you were expected several hours ago. Also, I'm only three years older than you.'
'That's old. Now, come down. I'd like to talk without craning my neck.'
Declan sighed. The air up here was clearer, and he'd discovered the unexpected thrill of challenging the sky by climbing. He hadn't got far, of course. Not yet. But he abruptly decided that he would someday.
Unfortunately, now wasn't the moment. He needed to speak with Cedric, so he narrowed his eyes, planned his angle, and jumped.
He landed with a thud, the feel of the wood on his bare feet making him grin. He hadn't jumped like that since he was a boy. God, how he missed those days, when he hadn't been constantly aware of his violent legacy.
When running and jumping had been fun and not an indication of generations of past misdeeds.
Meanwhile, Cedric was gazing up at the sailor still running about the rigging.
'Welcome back to England,' Declan said as he mentally closed the door on his boyhood dreams.
'Thanks. Isn't it your birthday today?' Cedric returned.
'Yesterday. And instead of birthday greetings the Duchess has ordered me to speak with you.'
'Has she?' Cedric drawled, his expression carefully blanked.
The poor man bore the moniker of 'The Inconsistent One', thanks to Declan's mother, so there was little love lost between the two. But rather than discuss that, he gestured around at the massive boat with a too-enthusiastic grin. 'Isn't she magnificent? Let me show you around.'
'I have been all over this boat already,' Declan said. 'And she's definitely seaworthy.'
It was the best compliment he could give to the efficient vessel. In truth, he liked it for being exactly what it needed to be, without luxuries, beautiful woodwork, or anything that would usually attract Cedric's attention.
'I know she's not much to look at, but she's exactly what she needs to be.'
Declan couldn't agree more, though he was surprised Cedric had echoed his thoughts. 'She's a fine ship,' he said in all honesty.
'And she's all mine.'
Had he married the girl already? Doubtful. His mother rarely got details like that wrong. What was more likely was that Cedric had yet to learn that wanting things and having things were entirely different. How like the young man to speak as if something were a fact when that was far from the truth.
'Truly?' he said.
Nothing more, but Cedric withered under Declan's stare. 'Um...well, it will be after the wedding.'
'Ah,' he said as Cedric ran his hand up and down the mainmast. 'About that...' he began.
But before he could go further, a voice interrupted from above. 'Beware below!'
Declan looked up, but Cedric was faster. He grabbed his cousin's arm and pulled him to the side rail. Then they watched in shock as the jumping sailor launched off the middle sail, flipped mid-air, then landed solidly on the deck. It was an impressive feat, and would have been a dangerous one if the ship had been full of people. Even relatively empty, the deck had coiled ropes and buckets all about. One slight miscalculation and the sailor would have a broken leg or worse.
Crazy! And yet Declan was impressed—especially as the leaper straightened up with an impish grin.
'I never get to do that when we're sailing,' said the boy.
At least Declan assumed it was a boy, given the grin, the diminutive stature, and the Asian slant to his features. Though Declan had met precious few Chinamen in his life—exactly two—he'd thought they all looked young, with features as refined as their porcelain. Smooth skin accentuated by dark slashes for brows and long, elegant fingers. This boy had the addition of a ready smile, a softly formed nose, and dark hair swept up into his sailor's cap.
'You're showing off!' Cedric said with a grin.
The boy laughed with a surprisingly musical treble, but Cedric hadn't finished.
'Did you have any problems getting here?'
'Took a hansom cab—as you suggested. But you're late.'
Cedric shrugged. 'You seem to have occupied yourself easily enough.'
