The Final Storm

38. The Long Wait

When, the next morning, I left my cabin on bent legs, Adaira was there, waiting for me. I'm sure it was a pure coincidence. Just like it was a pure coincidence that she was grinning from ear to ear.

"And?" she enquired. "Enjoyed yourself last night?"

"Absolutely," I said with the confidence of a woman who had grown up with five sisters and was long since immune to teasing. "How about you and the captain?"

Adaira blushed like a whole vat full of tomato juice. "You...! We...we didn't... We aren't yet..."

Ha! Lilly – 1, Adaira – 0!

"Ah, right." I nodded sagely. "I'm sure when you two were cuddling in that cupboard, everything that went on in there was perfectly innocent."

"Yes! Yes, absolute—"

"Even the kissing."

"Err..."

"And the part where he ended up lying on top of you."

"I, um—"

Lilly – 2. Adaira – 0. Yay!

"Just in case you didn't know, Mrs Ambrose," a chilly voice came from right behind me, "I would prefer you not talk about men lying on top of my sister in my presence."

Oh. Ehem.

"Then you should probably leave?" I suggested in an innocent tone. "I was planning on discussing that subject with dear Adaira in quite some detail."

A firm hand grabbed me by the scruff of the neck. "Are you trying to get me to drag you back to bed?"

I glanced towards the west. The direction where, far too far away, Berty was waiting for me. If he was safe, that is.

Honestly? Yes.

If he were to drag me back into that room and resume our previous activities, at least I wouldn't have to think. I wouldn't have to constantly worry. It hadn't been so bad back in India, when we were still constantly fighting for survival. But now that I had actually time to imagine what might be happening to my son at this very moment?

Bloody hell! Why can't this ship move faster?!

Somehow, Mr Ambrose seemed to hear my unspoken words. His hand shifted to my shoulder and gave a gentle squeeze.

"He is going to be all right."

"H-how do you know?"

"I have faith."

I turned to stare up at him incredulously. "You? Faith?"

"...in the several dozen heavily armed bodyguards I secretly stationed there. And the small fleet of ships hidden nearby."

One corner of my mouth twitched. "Now that I can believe."

I heard him move closer and, a moment later, felt a strong pair of arms wrap around me. He didn't say anything, not even a word. But I could practically feel the comfort and care flowing into me with every single second. Sighing, I closed my eyes and relaxed into his embrace.

"Ehem..." I heard Adaira clear her throat. "I'm just going to go and...and..."

"...find a cupboard for yourself and the captain?"

"Yes! No! I mean...I...I'm just going to go now."

I smirked as she hurriedly skedaddled—until I felt my husband's arms tighten around me. "My little ifrit...did you actually just suggest to my sister what I think you were suggesting? In my presence?"