Episode 3

Three days later, aboard the Azure...

As agreed upon between the Captain and Amélie, three days later they set sail for Plymouth. There, they were expected to be met by the Count's carriage and would then head towards Devonshire and her grandfather’s manor. Amélie had sent a letter informing him of what had happened to her parents and that they were on their way. But there had been no response, and Tabitha didn’t know what to make of this man. Would he welcome her? Or, on the contrary, would he be waiting to disdain and disown her? What kind of man was her grandfather? She knew he was extremely wealthy, as Amélie had told her, but could he love her as a long-lost granddaughter? These were the thoughts that circled in her mind as she boarded, certainly not expecting to come face to face with that arrogant man again—she had endured enough time with him while waiting at the inn for the ship’s departure.

Devereux noticed when she boarded; all the men stopped what they were doing, including him, staring in awe at her beauty and sensuality. What irritated him most was that she didn’t seem to notice it. Today, she wore a white muslin dress with blue and green embroidered flowers, tied under her chest with blue velvet ribbons. The ends of the ribbons fell to the hem, and matching ribbons adorned the cuffs of the long sleeves and the high collar. Over it, she wore a bottle-green cloak trimmed with silk and a wide-brimmed hat with the same trim. He was irritated with himself for noticing this—after all, she was a goal to be achieved, still a child in his eyes. She was not supposed to wield this kind of power over him. Tabitha held Ethan’s gaze, her eyes firm as a wall that refused to yield.

“Damn those green eyes,” Ethan thought to himself. A storm was beginning to brew. I must control myself, he thought, repressing the wave of frustration that threatened to overflow. Every time they encountered each other, it felt as though she was slowly dismantling the barriers that maintained his composure. There was something about her—her defiant manner, the way she seemed to perceive everything he tried to conceal—that made him feel exposed, vulnerable in a way he despised. She was a breach in his fortress, a silent threat to the self-control he so highly valued. This can't go on. Determination hardened his expression. Tabitha could never know the impact she had on him, and above all, he wouldn’t allow it to change him.

With a brief nod, he forced himself to look away, allowing his composure to return to his face like a mask carefully placed. He turned his back and, irritated, made his way to the Captain’s cabin. He knocked lightly and entered. The Captain looked up from what he was doing and greeted him with a smile, inviting him to sit as he poured him a glass of brandy, which tasted very good to Ethan’s spirit.

“Your passengers have arrived.”

“Really? Then I must go welcome them. I got distracted with the ship’s accounts and lost track of time.”

“Don’t worry, your first mate, Jaime, right? He’s already welcoming them and guiding them to their cabin. You’ll see them at dinner,” Ethan said in a tone that expressed his dissatisfaction. The Captain raised an eyebrow at him. Devereux met his gaze without flinching, but thought to himself once again that he needed to learn to control himself, because every time he saw Tabitha, he became irritable.

***

They were still anchored in Saint-Malo. When Tabitha had boarded, she had seen the sailors loading provisions and cargo into the hold. Now, she was resting in the cabin assigned to her and Amélie. Amélie, from what Tabitha had gathered, had gone up to the deck saying she wanted to see the ship depart. A short while later, Tabitha felt a gentle swell rock the ship. They were hoisting the anchor. She decided to go up on deck to watch the departure; she didn’t want to stay shut inside.

She arrived just in time to see the breeze majestically fill the sails and feel the gentle rocking of the ship. Soon after, Amélie passed by her, running, with a slightly greenish hue to her complexion. She told Tabitha she was feeling unwell and was going to lie down for a while. Tabitha smiled to herself—Amélie suffered from seasickness. It was going to be a complicated journey. Oh no, there he was again, and now he was walking toward her. She’d have to greet him, how tedious. But then she wouldn’t say anything more. Maybe he’d get tired and leave, she thought.

Meanwhile, Devereux had left the Captain to his duties and decided to watch the departure as well. He hadn’t expected to run into her again, but it was an opportunity to win her over and undo the bad impression he’d made. He made his way to the railing where Tabitha was leaning.

“Good afternoon, Miss Lyons, it seems we had the same idea.”

“Good afternoon, Lord Devereux, unfortunately, it seems so.” Oh, why couldn’t she just stay quiet?

“Unfortunately?” Ethan repeated, smiling.” May I ask why?”

“Forgive me, My Lord, but let’s skip the pleasantries. You don’t like me, you think I’m a schemer, though I don’t know why. But since I don’t like you either, it’s fine. There’s no need to waste time with polite exchanges; it’s better if we just avoid each other.”

“What a lengthy speech, Miss Lyons. May I call you Tabitha? It’s simpler,” Ethan said with a smile. “I believe this is the first time since we were introduced that I’ve heard you string so many words together. But tell me, why do you think I don’t like you and consider you, how did you put it, oh yes, a schemer?”

“Damned man, he must be mocking me”, Tabitha thought to herself. “He’ll see how many sticks it takes to make a canoe”, she fumed.

“My Lord, I apologize if I was too hasty,” she said, offering a shy smile that made Ethan lower his gaze to her lips. “But I got that impression when we dined at the inn. I even noticed you had a doubtful expression when you heard Amélie talk about my grandfather and the scandal surrounding my parents.”