The characters do not belong to me! They belong to Stephenie Meyer

Edward's point of view

I sighed loudly as we boarded the ship. Another monotonous journey to the United States. At the last minute, my business partner had sent a letter informing me that he must meet with me regarding our agreement, so here I was on a ship when I could have been enjoying the delights of the ton. Jasper and Emmett had taken pity on me at the last moment and joined me on the voyage to keep me company.

"I don't know why you insist on keeping our titles a secret on these journeys," Jasper declared as he walked up beside me. I didn't reply. I hated being fawned over when people learned I was a duke. All I wanted was for people to know me as a person rather than as a duke. I desperately wanted to fall in love, marry and have children, but I would never know if the woman I wed truly loved me, or wanted me for the title. Jasper could care less. He was very astute at reading people's emotions and could generally feel whether someone was being truthful or not. He was also merely an Marquess, so the designs on his title was considerably less. Emmet was of like mind as Jasper. He was an earl, but was completely guileless and therefore saw only good intentions in others.

I sighed again as Emmet excitedly ran up and wedged himself in between Jasper and I. "We could very well see some sharks on this journey!" he yelled, punching his hands in the air. At this, I cheered up momentarily. No one could remain melancholy in the face of Emmett's enthusiasm. There was no doubt about it, I was lucky as always to have two friends like them. We had met as young boys sent off to school away from parents and neighbors, and banded together immediately defending one another from the older boys, teachers, and at times parents. No one could ask for better friends than I had.