‘So when we talked, that first time at the palace?’
‘Yes.’
He sighed. ‘At the luncheon? When you bid for me?’
‘Of course. What part of that day did you think wasn’t a challenge?’
‘If I’d known...’ His hand went to his forehead, as if he’d just realised an irrefutable truth. ‘Actually, if I’d known I wouldn’t have been able to get a word out. Probably best that I didn’t.’
‘I don’t imagine you as ever being lost for words, Hugo.’
He rolled over, covering her body with his. Kissing her, with more than a hint of the desire that had filled them both tonight. ‘Maybe you should consider the idea. You leave me speechless.’
* * *
Hugo felt whole. Wholly happy, more than wholly satisfied, and...just whole. He hadn’t felt that way since he’d first felt the signs that his heart might not be working as well as it should. Nell had somehow seen something different in him, and had never shown any doubt about his ability to recover and lead the life that Hugo had thought he’d lost.
That had been his mistake. He’d wanted to put his illness and his operation behind him so badly that he’d tried to rush it. Hugo saw a lot of things differently now. And one thing that he saw with complete certainty was that tonight wasn’t going to be enough.
Nell was sleeping now and Hugo fought the temptation to watch her sleep. If he wanted to keep everything that he’d found, he needed to be strong.
* * *
Opening her eyes came with a sudden burst of nausea. The whole cabin seemed to be pitching and rolling, taking her stomach with it. Nell closed her eyes, and then opened them again quickly when the feeling that she might be about to die washed over her.
She wasn’t about to die. She was just going to be—No. Not now. Please, not now...
Her stomach wasn’t listening. Hand over her mouth, Nell rolled off the bed, half staggering and half crawling to the bathroom. The door banged shut behind her, and the whole world lurched.
‘Nell...?’
She heard Hugo’s voice, but even that couldn’t stop her from being sick. Trembling, she called back to him.
‘I’m okay. Go away...’ Naked and being sick in the bathroom wasn’t the best way to wake a lover. The lock on the bathroom door seemed about a mile away and rocking dangerously.
And he ignored her, dammit. She felt him wrap a towelling robe around her trembling shoulders.
&nbs
p; ‘All right. Try to relax.’
How could she? Humiliation wasn’t conducive to relaxation. ‘Go away!’
‘Be quiet.’ His voice was firm, and Nell reckoned that begging wasn’t an option. Another bout of sickness chased any further thoughts away.
‘I’m sorry. I’m so sorry...’ She moaned the words, wishing that she could be somewhere else. Anywhere else.
‘It’s okay. You’re just seasick.’
‘Uh. Just...?’
‘You’ll feel better in a minute.’
No, she wouldn’t. She felt so ill that she was almost glad that Hugo was there. In between wanting him to go away and somehow forgetting that this had ever happened.
‘Is that everything?’
Maybe. Nell wasn’t sure, but she felt cold now, instead of burning hot. Hugo seemed to think so because he was gently guiding her to her feet.