There was little time for happy reunions once Jules found me. He made haste to secure Duncan's hired hooligan so he couldn't run off, gagging and tying his limbs with the bindings that had held me. Then we left him in the cot to await Captain Boucetta's return.

After insisting we not leave Norris, Jules loaded him in the carriage he'd been using to search the city for me. I also learned that the boy from the dock had led Jules to me after giving him my description and some coin. As a reward for the boy's good deed, I asked where he lived and promised to deliver plenty of sweet potato pies to him and his family.

When the coachman had carried us safely away from the dock, Jules pulled me into his arms and held me in an unforgiving embrace. "I thought I had lost you for good. I thought that blackguard had taken you out to sea. I was ready to enlist the help of the entire royal navy to find you."

"I'm sorry you had to worry. I was not treated poorly. In fact, I was fed better than the crew. Although the bindings did cause my skin to blister a bit."

"Fair treatment is no excuse for kidnapping. And being of noble birth, your father could seek the death penalty."

I gasped. "Heavens no. I am opposed to such a crime against human life."

"He committed a crime against human life."

"It was a crime of greed not of murder."

"The captain wouldn't hurt yer young lady." Norris croaked from his slumped position opposite us. "It's clear to me he finks highly of her. I 'spect he was reconsidering his choice once he'd given it more thought."

Jules frowned. "No matter. He should have thought of the consequences before he drugged her and carted her off. If I ever see him again, I will tear him limb from limb."

His hands clenched, and I took them both into mine. "It's alright now. I'm okay. Where is my father? Is he planning to pay Duncan the ransom? Or is the Duke of Montrose giving up the pendant?"

"Your father is managing it. But now that you've been found, I can tell him to call off the exchange."

"Yer prolly too late fer that," Norris said. "The captain left at dusk to collect."

Jules snorted. "We'll see about that."

I directed the coachman to stop at a voluntary hospital so I could see that Norris was properly treated. After assuring the clerk I would cover all expenses, I bid Norris good health, and he seemed content to have a pretty nurse escort him away.

Back in the carriage, Jules queried me. "What happened between you two? Wasn't that man holding you prisoner on his ship?"

"He was under Duncan's orders to keep me from escaping. But the man is not well. He is malnourished and suffers from opium addiction. He collapsed and stopped breathing not long before you arrived."

"What?"

I proceeded to tell him the story of how I managed to save Norris's life, although I knew I was just the vessel doing the work of a higher power. Clearly, Norris's mission on earth was not through.

"Even under extreme threat, your compassion compels you to see good even where evil exists."

"Norris is not evil. And neither is Duncan. They are just misguided."

He gave his head a frustrated shake. "I don't think I will ever understand you. But that doesn't mean I cannot love you."

"If it helps, I have decided to adopt a more suspicious attitude towards strangers and unfamiliar settings."

Although I stunk of sweat and sewage, I leaned in and kissed his cheek, and we held hands until the carriage rolled to a stop in front my home. When the door flung open, Tilda collapsed into my arms and began sobbing against my shoulder. It was then that I decided it would not be a bad thing to join her.

Once that business was managed, Tilda and Jasper prepared a bath, while Clara and Douglas made sure Jules and I were fed.

"We haven't left the estate since you went missing. How could we?" Clara ladled potato soup into my bowl as she pressed a kiss to my head. I expected she got a snootful of stink, but she didn't seem to mind. "The earl and the duke were in and out all day, making plans and drinking port. As far as I'm concerned, you couldn't find a more concerned father than yours, Rose."

"Where are they now? I hope they haven't gone to meet Duncan. He surrounds himself with the most ignorant sort of ruffians. And ignorance often makes folks more dangerous."

Jules lifted his fingers to the bruise on his cheek, although he didn't appear to realize he'd done it. "They wouldn't engage with a pirate. From what I understand, they are observing the meeting place from a distance. According to Boucetta's ransom note, the payment was to be left in the care of a certain barkeep. The earl hired a guard to manage that. Then Boucetta was to deliver you into the hands of the guard once he confirmed payment."

"I wonder why Duncan left me behind? Norris said he had gone to make the exchange."

Jules dragged a spoon through his soup. "Who knows what's going on in that blackguard's head."

"What about Alice and your father? We need to let them know I'm home and unharmed. They need to know you're fine too."

Jules reached across the table, setting his hand on mine. "Just relax and eat. I'm going to manage everything as soon as I can. I need to make sure you're safe first."

I smiled. "But I am safe. Thanks to your heroic actions."

"I'm not certain my actions were needed. You seemed to have done a fine job of taking care of yourself. You weren't bound and gagged when you came on deck. And I noticed your gloves hanging from the porthole window."

I shrugged innocently and dug into my soup. I could buy a new pair of gloves.

Despite Jules's intentions to manage everything, he could not bring himself to leave me after all I had been through. He tasked Jasper with traveling to his family's home to put their minds at ease. After which, Jasper was to locate the duke and my father to inform them I was safe at home. Jules kept a vigil on the staircase while I enjoyed the most luxurious bath I'd had in ages. Soap really did wonders when there was actual dirt and stench to be removed.

When I stepped out of the bath, I had Tilda add more hot water and insisted Jules avail himself of the tub. When he tried to decline my offer, I told him he stunk of blood, which had him seeing the advantages of a bar of soap. His only issue was leaving me unattended.

"Jules, this home is equipped with locks and is quite secure."

"If Boucetta learns that you have escaped, he will not stop until he has you again. Despite what you might think about him, pirates are ruthless killers."

"I am not disagreeing with you. And I know we are both rattled from the recent events. But I won't have you treating me like a delicate piece of china. You know that won't work long term."

"What about short term? Will you humour me and stay here while I have my bath? It isn't like you haven't seen me in a bath before." He smiled like an imp, and I could not contain my own childish grin.

"Fine. But you will wash yourself, this time." I took a seat at the dressing table and brushed my hair while he undressed and slipped into the water.

"Will you tell me everything that happened while you were trapped on that ship?"

"Do you really want to know, Jules? Won't it stir up more pain for you?"

"You said you weren't treated poorly. Did you only say that because your friend Norris was listening?"

"Not at all." Because I knew it would eat at him if I didn't grant his wish, I told him what went on while I was held captive; the gloves on the porthole, the fruit, the boy, and the story behind Duncan's obsession with the pendant.

By the time I finished my tale, he had finished his bath. And because I did not think it would do him any good to wear the same clothes he had run around London in, I asked Tilda to bring up something from Jasper's wardrobe. As Jules did up the buttons of his shirt, I approached and took over the task. The clean scent of him sent my senses into a dizzy spell, and I leaned close to prolong it.

He brought his arm around my waist and pulled me closer, until I could no longer manage the buttons. I rested my hand on his bare chest and pressed a soft kiss to his neck. His wet hair tickled my face, but I paid it no mind as I burrowed deeper, feeling as relaxed as I'd been in a long while.

"I am a fortunate man to have earned your love," he said. "I promise never to take that for granted."

We stayed there in a warm embrace, not speaking, just enjoying the moment. I could not compare the feeling to anything before it. Was it satisfaction? Comfort? Happiness? I could not say. I only knew I wanted more of it.

In the quiet, I heard the knock, and Jules's shoulders stiffened. He pulled away, managing the rest of the buttons of his shirt as he opened the door and stepped onto the landing. He turned and held up his hand to stop me following him. "Stay here, please. Just until I've managed whoever is at the door."

I nodded, finding it funny that he had easily taken up the role of head of household as he hurried down the stairs to join Tilda in the foyer. I peeked round the corner as the front door was opened.

"Ah, Jules. Learning a new skill to add to your expanding list?" My father stepped inside, followed by the duke and Jasper.

"Just making certain you weren't a pirate, you grace."

"And how is my daughter? Is she well? Is she resting?"

I stepped onto the landing and hurried down the stairs to greet him. "I am well. But how are you? I am sure this has been a very..." As soon as I came to stand before him, my father pulled me into his chest. His jacket smelled of pipe tobacco and coal dust, but it didn't bother me a bit.

"I was so worried I had lost you. And after we had just found each other," he said.

When he released me, I was wearing a smile I could not control if I wanted to. Was this what parental love felt like? "I'm sorry you were so worried. Please, come inside and take comfort. I want to hear about everything that happened during my absence."

When a serving tray had been brought out, and plates and cups were filled, the earl and the duke recited their stories.

"We knew straight away that Boucetta was keen to where you lived because his ransom note arrived here," my father said. "He requested that Patrick relinquish the pendant to him in exchange for your safe return. But he also suggested that, in lieu of the pendant, payment could be made in coin of equal value."

"I understand why he was agreeable to either," I said. "He told me that the pendant had caused him trouble."

"Serves him right," said the duke. "No good ever comes from ill-gotten gain. And I want you to know that I was willing to give up the pendant to ensure your safe release, but your father insisted on managing the coin."

"There was no argument to the contrary, as far as I'm concerned. She is my daughter."

My face grew warm, perhaps due to the parental love I'd felt earlier. "What happened next? Jules said you had a guard deliver the payment to a barkeep then wait for the exchange."

"That we did. Patrick and I secured the help of a smoke shop owner down the street from the pub where the transfer was to take place. We sat in the upstairs window, waiting well past the hour the exchange was to be made. While we didn't expect to see Boucetta himself, we did expect to see you. By the time Jasper found us and told us you were safe at home, there had been no contact made with the guard."

"So, nobody ever showed up to collect the ransom?"

"Not a soul."

"That's very curious. I presume you had the guard get the payment back from the barkeep."

"In short order. And I will make sure it gets back into the hands of the fellow I borrowed it from." He said this as he patted his pocket.

"Well, I am sorry you had to go through such trouble. I would like to write this generous soul a letter of thanks. May I ask who it is?"

He smiled coyly as he took a sip of port. "Prince George."

"The prince regent? Oh, my."

"Don't be modest, Rose," he said. "While George attended me, he spoke very highly of you. He told me of the work you did to help bring the plight of disabled soldiers to Parliament. I would almost guess he is smitten with you." He glanced at Jules, whose immediate response was to shove his shoulders into the wingback. "Of course, we both know you and Jules are happily betrothed and the prince is a spoilt, pompous royal."

Everyone chuckled. Politely, of course.

"While I would love to spend more time in your presence, dear daughter, Patrick and I have spent enough time on our arses. And we do not want to arrive too late at Viscount Surrency's estate after he so graciously offered his guest accommodations. We will leave first thing in the morrow. But I hope you will make a point of traveling to Perth before the wedding. I know my Lillian will be overjoyed to meet you both."

"We will try to make it so. Jules and I have an important wedding to attend next month. If you remember, his sister is marrying Lord Albert Kingsley of Oxford."

"I do indeed. Jules, it seems you are surrounded by noblewomen. This has been my life as long as I can remember, and a fellow can feel as if he doesn't know where he stands. If you ever need a bit of advice on how to manage the complaints, I am only a missive away."

"Thank you, your grace. But I expect the complaints I receive from the noblewomen in my life will likely come because I need to hear them."

My father smiled as he stood from his chair. "Ah, humility. I have struggled with that one. It seems you might be the one giving me advice."

After the noblemen had taken their leave, Jules and I returned to the sitting room. We knew the hour was late but neither wished to admit it despite the fact we had been yawning behind our sleeves. I went ahead and offered what I knew Jules had been wrestling with.

"Would you like to stay here tonight, Jules? We have a number of guest rooms. Truthfully, I would feel better knowing you're close enough to call should I need a capable ally."

His lips pursed, as if he needed to give my proposal careful consideration. "If my presence will help you sleep better, I accept your offer. That rapscallion is still out there. Who knows if he is plotting something more fiendish than what he pulled with his last attack."

I doubted Duncan was planning anything more fiendish. In fact, based on my last conversation with the rapscallion, and the fact that he never sent a man to fetch the payment, I suspected he had changed his mind about using me as a means to stuff his pockets. Could a pirate learn compassion? One could only hope.