Thomas lay back on the bed and didn't bother to undress. He folded his arms across his chest in frustration. He nudged Lucile to the side to give himself more room on the bed. It was not like the grand bed they had in the manor house. She reached over and placed her hand on his chest and watched as it rose and fall with his deep breaths.

"You know…" he said as he turned his head to her. "They think we are married."

"Yes I heard him say that."

"Do we correct them? Or .." Thomas paused with a smile and rolled on his side to face her. "Should we keep up the rouse for the voyage?"

She placed her hand on his cheek. "I think I would love to be on your arm and not have eyes watch us with any concern. We could be affectionate and no one would judge us."

"Together as we should be. Just like Adam and Eve." Thomas kissed her softy and placed his arms around her, drawing her in for a firm hug. He looked past her to the wall as he thought then to her eyes. "But there is the concern that there is a possibility that someone knows we are siblings and they are travelling to Boston as well. No.. I think we will need to keep our affections a private affair."

The boat set off late in the evening. Thomas and Lucile had gone to the main dining hall to mingle with other members of first class. They didn't act out of place but they did look it in their older fashions. It was all they had, the clothes of their parents.

Thomas did look very handsome and was catching the eye of a few young ladies on the arms of their current suitors and parents. Followed by their jealous glares at Thomas. He walked proudly and with purpose escorting Lucile and finding their table.

He pulled out her chair and took her hand as he guided her to her seat. She nodded politely and then he took up a seat next to her. They looked down at the lavish spread and expensive cutlery. It had been a while since they had use such items as they have been selling off the effects of the estate for years now.

Thomas chose the wine and poured for Lucile. They sat and made polite pleasantries with the other three couples at their table. Thomas was reluctant to lie about his relationship, despite the overwhelming desire to want to kiss her like they were married. Lucile felt this way too. She kept her hand on Thomas' thigh under the table and gently touched him. She pushed her hand over and down between his legs and then slid up to cup him.

He coughed slightly as he was just taking a bite of food. He wasn't angry. He smiled and wanted to make her happy. He pulled his chair in closer to the table and ever so slightly closer to her. He quickly undid his pants and flopped out his semi. He placed his hands on the table and interlocked his fingers and pretended to be engage in conversation with the others.

Lucile smiled coyly to him as she felt him now freed. She was so eager to touch him she didn't even notice she was focused on him and not the person who was trying to talk to her.

"Lucile?" Thomas coughed out as he tried to maintain composure. "Mrs Jones was just asking about what we are doing in Boston."

"Oh!" she realised her focusing on Thomas and blushed. He smiled wickedly as he got her a good one. "Um, we are looking for investors."

Thomas took over and began describing his machine enthusiastically. She looked a bit embarrassed and tried to remain out of the conversation. The band started to play and the room was full with sound. Thomas tried to suppress his moans as she resumed touching him.

She could feel he was well hard and he sipped his wine to distract himself. Some of the couples abruptly stood up and walked over to start to dance. One of them turned back and spoke to them.

"Are you going to join us?"

Lucile decided to get him back. "Of course, my brother and I would be delighted. She pushed back on her chair and hinted to Thomas to escort her. He reached under the table and forced himself down the leg of his pants and quickly fixed his clothes. He stood up and moved behind Lucile and pulled back on her chair and held out his hand.

She took it and stood and turned to face him. She glanced down and his heavy woollen pants could not totally hid how well endowed he was. He walked her over to the dance floor and one of the couples bowed and the man did the chivalrous thing and took Lucile's hand.

"Would you like to dance my lady?" she nodded. Thomas smiled and the man's daughter smiled at her father dancing with Lucile. She looked over to Thomas and she took a deep breath and stepped forward and turned to face him.

"Sir, may I have this dance?" She confidently asked. Despite being young. She smiled and bowed down. Then she gasped as she saw his size. She stood up and blushed. Unable to look him in the eyes.

He took her hand and bowed his head and then spoke calmly like there was nothing wrong. "Do you know the waltz?" She nodded and he placed his hand on her waist and began to step off. Unfortunately she was quite flustered with him and she stumbled and accidently kicked his foot.

"Sorry." She stopped and blushed.

"That's ok. Let me guide you." He slowly talked her through the steps and helped her dance effortlessly. She whirled around with him and was immediately quite smitten. The music stopped and every one bowed and congratulated their partners. Thomas looked for Lucile and escorted her away to the bar to get her a drink.

The young woman went to her father. "Father, that man, Sir Thomas Sharpe…"

"Yes, he is travelling to Boston."

"Father is he available? That woman is she betrothed to him?" She asked coyly.

"No that is his sister. I'm not sure if he is looking for a spouse." He rubbed his chin and she hugged his arm.

"Oh father, please find out! I'm sure he is interested in me." She then blushed as she thought he was aroused over her. "Such a young man with a tile and money would be wonderful to be with."

"Ok darling. I will find out." He patted her hand and escorted her towards Thomas at the bar. Lucile sipped her drink and Thomas stood and smiled. The man came over and coughed. "Excuse me, Sir Thomas Sharpe?"

"Yes." He saw the young woman and was not the least bit interested. He was more interest in the potential investor in her father.

"Sir, by chance are you betrothed to anyone?" he asked as respectfully as possible. "It's just my daughter has the impression you are interested in courting her."

Lucile nearly choked on her drink. Thomas turned to face them and the man saw why his daughter was keen on him and he did his best to not make it obvious he saw the bulge he was sporting.

"Courting her?" Thomas looked surprised. "Dear Sir, I'm not sure where she would get that impression." Thomas sipped his drink and placed it down on the bar. The man glanced down again while he was turned and coughed.

"Why indeed." He made the not so subtle note to his manhood. The young woman was a bit insulted. He father turned to her and then back to the stranger with dark curls.

Thomas then spoke. "I am looking for a wife, however, she must be deemed suitable by my family, just as her family would assess me for eligibility." Thomas said coldly. He made it clear he was not interested in someone so young. He made that mistake before in a previous marriage, she was all over him. He looked to Lucile for an out. She saw his growing mistrust.

"My brother has had word from a prospective family and we are going to meet them." She stood and stepped in to block the woman's sight from Thomas. She looked up at Lucile as she blocked her. "He is desired and we not just going to settle for anyone that may not be able to make a suitable heir."

She placed her hands together in front of her waist. She continued to dig the verbal knife in. "It must be a partnership of both families. There isn't much point in him marrying into a family that is faking its way in high society and is expecting his money to solve their problems." She was calling the bluff of the woman and her father.

She looked to her father and shook her head in nervousness as her father grabbed her hand in fear. Lucile smiled as she realised that the man was on a borrowed ladder and did not come from, or was trying to marry into money. He graciously bowed and tried to cover his escape.

"Yes, I think my daughters intentions were rash as she is too young to marry. I'm sorry that she has been so impetuous and showed this unsavoury forwardness." She glared daggers at her father as he was throwing her under a bus. "Since her mother died young, she has not been as effectively schooled in they way she should approach or interact with men."

Lucile turned to Thomas and gave him a knowing smile that they had won this round. "That is ok. I understand." She talked down to the woman and touched her cheek with a false affection. "It is hard when you have not had anyone to guide you in edict. I'm sure my brother took no offence in your unrestrained affections." She leaned back and turned back to the bar and go her drink. Thomas turned too and the father escorted his daughter away quickly to whispers.

"Darling, they saw right through our rouse, you have to be more careful to not elude to the face we do not come from money."

Thomas and Lucile smiled to each other as they heard the whispers. She placed her hand on his as it rested on the bar. He glanced out of the corner of his eye as the father and daughter quickly left the room.

"Well that was quick thinking of you." He said. She squeezed his hand and then looked down at his bulge.

"You defiantly gave her some mixed signals."

"That would be your fault." He tapped his glass to hers and sipped his drink.

"I think the signal is quite clear to me." She stepped closer to whisper.

"Yes." Thomas quickly put down his glass and stared at her and licked his lips. "I think we need to resolve this presently." She put down her glass and took his hand to lead him out.

"Yes, with upmost haste I think." They both smiled as they left through the other doors to their cabin.