Miss Frazer's Adventure (8 page)

She stiffened in surprise at his low words. “I have never thought you a monster, Luce.”

“No?”

“Of course not. I . . . simply do not trust you.”

“So you have told me.” His gaze narrowed. “But you have not said why you will not offer me the opportunity to prove that you can place your faith in me. Do you fear that I might convince you that we belong together?”

She sucked in a sharp breath. “Certainly not.”

“Good. Then we shall simply enjoy our time together while you are in London,” he said in firm tones. “Without concern that I am plotting some devious and evil scheme to force you into marriage. A new beginning. Do you agree?”

A silence descended, broken only by the striking of hoofs against the cobbled road. Luce knew that Kate was far too intelligent not to realize he was still fiercely determined to have her as his wife. And yet, he had managed to manipulate her into either agreeing to his offer of friendship or allowing him to presume that she was frightened of being vulnerable to his charm.

An untenable notion for a woman with such pride.

“I will agree to accept your companionship if and when it pleases me,” she at last reluctantly conceded. “But I will not be hounded nor bullied.”

His low chuckle filled the carriage. “I will do my best to curtail my tendencies to hound and bully, which are always unforgivably gauche. Although I do not promise not to charm and bewitch. Two of my most potent weapons, I feel compelled to warn you.”

Thankfully, her tension seemed to fade at his light teasing, and she even turned to offer him a faint smile.

“And whoever was foolish enough to convince you that you possessed even the slightest ability to charm and bewitch?”

“Shall I offer you a list of references, my dear?” he murmured.

“Does it include more than just your mother, my lord?” she quipped.

“Ouch. A noteworthy hit.” He laughed as the carriage slowed to a halt. “Thank heavens we have arrived.”

She turned her head to peer out the window. “Arrived where?”

“You shall soon discover.”

Pushing open the door before the groom could assist, Luce climbed out of the carriage, lowered the steps, and handed Kate onto the narrow walk. Not surprisingly, her brows lifted at the shabby buildings and the distinct aroma of rotting fish.

“The docks? This is your surprise?”

“Not quite.” Pulling her arm through his own, he assisted her down the narrow steps that led toward the shadowed pier. In silence, they carefully traversed the slick wooden platform, halting as he came to the awaiting dinghy that floated upon the dark water. “Is all prepared, Foster?”

“Aye.” A soft glow suddenly revealed the sailor as he lifted the shades from the lamp. “All is in order.”

“Good.” He glanced at his companion. “Shall we, my dear?”

Luce did not even realize that he held his breath until, after a short hesitation, Kate slowly gave a nod of her head, and he wrapped his arms about her to lift her into the boat. Heaving a silent breath of relief that she had not balked as he had half expected, he smoothly vaulted into the boat and settled Kate on the seat beside him. Even then, his sharp glance toward Foster silently urged the captain to set his oars in motion with all speed.

After no more than a low grunt, no doubt intended to reveal the older man's disapproval at hauling about a dreaded female, they were swiftly skimming over the water toward the silent ship looming in the distance.

Luce ignored the cantankerous Foster and instead turned his attention to the woman who was regarding him with a rather suspicious frown.

“Are you chilled?”

“No, the night is remarkably mild for November.”

“And remarkably beautiful,” he murmured. “We are blessed to be graced with starlight rather than fog.”

His ploy to distract her seemed successful, as she obediently glanced up at the jewel-studded sky.

“It is beautiful.”

“If you desire, I could dazzle you with my knowledge of the constellations.”

“You must think I am easily dazzled,” she said in wry tones.

“No, I think you are a very intelligent, discerning woman.” He slowly smiled. “I do sense, however, that you would like to be dazzled.”

She shrugged. “I just desire to enjoy myself.”

“I can appreciate that.” He tilted his head to one side. “Tell me, why have you never traveled to London before? Most young maidens have at least one season.”

There was a pause before she at last gave a restless shrug. “My father considered it a waste of money.”

“Money is hardly a concern for Sir Frazer,” he prompted, wishing her to reveal the contents of her heart while she was not fuzzy with champagne. He needed to earn her trust if she was ever to willingly become his wife. “And he must have known that with your beauty and considerable dowry, you could have your choice of titled gentlemen.”

“Obviously, he realized there was no need for such a journey when I could just as easily discover a titled gentleman in Kent.”

He grimaced at her ready retort. She was not going to make this easy.

“A gentleman of his choice, as I have come to discover, not your own.”

She offered another shrug. “My father has rarely considered anyone's desires but his own. Like most gentlemen, he does not believe a woman is capable of knowing her own mind.”

He leaned closer, his expression somber. “It is not entirely fair to presume every gentleman believes such nonsense, Kate. There are any number who not only appreciate the female mind, but consider it a prime asset in a wife.”

“Gentlemen such as you?” she demanded in disbelieving tones.

“Yes. I would certainly hope that the mother of my children would possess the qualities I hope to instill in my heirs.”

“What qualities?”

“Intelligence, courage, and an independent spirit,” he promptly listed. “Only a fool would believe a weak, clinging wife could produce such offspring.”

He seemed to catch her off guard, and for a moment she searched his features in the silvery moonlight.

“But surely you must have considered me weak and clinging when you first met me?”

Luce carefully considered his words. Any hint of attempting to deceive her would ensure she never believed another word he offered.

“I thought you reserved and somewhat uncomfortable in my presence, but to be honest, I presumed your father was responsible for your demure manner. He is overpowering in even the smallest doses.” He allowed a shudder to race through his body. “That did not, however, prevent me from noting your well-educated conversation and the ability to confront a near stranger as your fiancé without giggling or fainting or giving in to hysterics. That reveals more courage than if you had confronted me with sword in hand.” A wry smile suddenly curved his lips. “And of course, during the past few days, I have been charmingly convinced of your independent spirit.”

“Hardly charmingly, I would think.”

He gave a soft chuckle. “Well, at least unmistakably.”

“Yes, I suppose.”

“It is an independence I greatly admire, considering you were raised by a father who does not seem to appreciate women of spirit,” he said firmly. “I know from experience how difficult it can be to oppose a parent's desire to mold you into something that you are not.”

She regarded him with disbelief, not seeming to notice the steady pull of oars was slowing as they neared the looming ship.

“You?”

“Yes, me.”

“I find that hard to believe,” she retorted with a shake of her head.

“Why?”

“To begin with, you are male. Sons, especially heirs, are always considered perfect no matter how flawed they might be.”

“Wrong,” he informed her, reaching out to tweak one of the burnished curls that had escaped her bonnet. “My father never bothered to hide his frustration that I was not destined to become the polished rake and gambler he thought it necessary for a nobleman to be. It did not help matters that I readily challenged his determination to toss away his entire fortune upon the card tables. In fact, he commanded me to leave the estate when I turned eighteen.”

He thought he heard her breath catch. “I . . . forgive me, Luce. I did not know.”

Very few people did know.

Luce rarely spoke of those black days when he and his father had waged endless battles. Nor did he speak of the manner in which his mother had taken to her bed, leaving him to face the burden of their mounting debts. Of the nights he had walked the floor wondering what he could do to prevent disaster. Not even of his relief when his father had tossed him out the door so that he no longer was forced to watch the inevitable ruin.

He far preferred others to believe him arrogant and imperious rather than reveal the uncertain lad who had fought to survive because he simply was too frightened to give up.

Tonight, however, it felt somehow right to share his past with this woman.

“I was fortunate to possess a small allowance from my grandmother that kept me afloat and eventually helped me to establish my business.” He breathed in deeply of the salt-scented air. “In truth, I was perhaps the most content I had ever been. For the first time I was in utter control of my life with no concerns beyond keeping my ships afloat. And then ...”

“Your father died and you became Earl of Calfield,” she finished softly, surprisingly reaching out to lightly touch his arm.

A poignant warmth flowed through his blood. It was the first occasion she had sought to touch him of her own will.

“Yes.”

“It must have been difficult to accept a title you did not desire,” she murmured with startling perception.

He grimaced. “I will admit that I considered taking one of my ships and sailing so far away that no one could ever find me again.” He paused as he searched her beautiful features bathed in silver light. “Now I am very happy I did nothing so foolish.”

“I cannot imagine why,” she muttered. “It sounds delightful to me.”

“But if I were hiding among the savage natives, I would not be here with you.” He stroked the softness of her cheek. “And at this moment, there is nowhere else on earth I would rather be.”

“Luce ...”

“Ah, we are here.” Waiting for Foster to maneuver them next to the ship, he offered his companion a small smile. “I hope you are prepared for your surprise?”

Nothing could have prepared Kate for the sight that greeted her.

Wide-eyed, she gazed at the torches that circled the large blanket spread on the bow of the ship. Upon the blanket were platter after platter of delectable foods with countless flowers sprinkled across it all.

Set in the midst of the star-sprinkled night, it was mysterious and beautiful. Like something out of a dream.

“What do you think?” he whispered close to her ear.

She lifted glittering eyes to meet his expectant smile. “It is . . . lovely.”

“Here.”

With a tug on her hand he settled her on the blanket. Swiftly, he lowered himself close beside her and Kate was suddenly aware of the scent of warm male skin mingling with the perfume of flowers.

She knew she should scoot away and put a sensible amount of distance between them. But an odd sense of ease had been woven between them over the past few moments. A connection that hummed in the air and soothed the warning voices in the back of her mind. It seemed somehow right to have him so close to her side.

“I have tried to think of a variety of foods you were most likely not to have tried before,” he told her, taking a plate and beginning to fill it with the bounty before them. “Escargots. Fois gras. Quail eggs with caviar. Eggplant and, last, papaya.”

“Dear heavens,” she breathed as she accepted the plate. “It is a feast.”

“A feast for the senses.” The blue gaze swept over her features, lingering a tantalizing moment on her lips. “Just as you requested.”

A renegade flare of pleasure warmed her heart as she considered the effort that Luce had taken to create such a special setting. No one had ever concerned themselves with pleasing her. Certainly not in such a spectacular style.

The knowledge that he must have devoted hours, and a not inconsiderable amount of his limited income, threatened to undermine her determination to treat him with utter indifference.

With an effort, she turned her attention to the food awaiting her approval. Food seemed far preferable to the unwelcome pang of tenderness.

In silence she savored the rich, varied tastes, occasionally sipping from the wine, although she was careful to ensure it was only tiny sips. She felt him watching her. Perhaps judging whether his efforts had succeeded in soothing his crazed, unpredictable fiancée, she wryly acknowledged. But she refused to allow herself to be bothered by the unwavering scrutiny. Instead, she thoroughly savored the meal.

She had cleaned the plate before she set it aside with a satisfied sigh.

“That was delicious,” she murmured.

“Which one?”

“All of them.” She lifted her head to meet his indulgent smile, not even flinching when he carefully wiped her lips with a linen napkin. “I cannot believe that I waited so long to try such wonderful dishes.”

“There is much more to try. Lobster, curry from India, fresh asparagus made by a top French chef . . .”

“Not tonight,” she protested with a chuckle. In truth, she did not believe that she could stuff in one more morsel.

“No, not tonight,” he agreed, leaning on one elbow and tilting his head to one side. “I presume that your father prefers the more traditional English dishes?”

“My father is suspicious of anything beyond roasted venison and boiled potatoes,” she retorted in dry tones. “He believes that sauces and confections are a plot of the French to overthrow our monarchy.”

He laughed softly at her confession. “Good gads, venison and boiled potatoes? It is no wonder you were starving for something different.”

“Yes.” Her gaze slowly moved about the velvet darkness that surrounded them. In the distance, a lone bird sang to the stars, its song oddly haunting in the deep silence. “Although I did not realize that I was starving until it was almost too late. Now I am determined never to seclude myself from such pleasures again.”

His gaze became watchful, as if he were not entirely pleased by her soft words.

“You seem to have forgotten that there is more than mere pleasure in life, and that you managed to accomplish a great deal while you were in Kent, my dear. Surely you take pride in having built an orphanage and ensuring that the school was opened to the local girls? No small feats for a young maiden.”

It was true enough. She was proud of what she had accomplished. How could she not be?

Because of her, dozens of children had been saved from the coal mines and workhouses. And it was only at her relentless insistence that the vicar had agreed to allow the village girls to attend his daily lessons.

Even a woman utterly devoid of conceit would have taken a measure of satisfaction in the thought that she had truly made a difference in the neighborhood.

“I suppose so,” she slowly admitted.

“You possess a rare talent to not only realize the plight of those less fortunate, Kate, but also to take charge and ensure you do all in your power to make their existence better,” he murmured in insistent tones. “Most among society prefer to turn their heads and pretend that they do not notice those in need.”

She gave a small shrug. “There are many who contribute to worthy causes.”

“Contribute funds, not their hearts.” He regarded her steadily. “Only you have been willing to take on such formidable tasks. It is a gift that you should not take for granted.”

“But it is not enough,” she stated firmly. “I realize that now.”

A small silence fell at her determined words. Then he reached out to lightly stroke a curl from her cheek.

“So what do you intend to do, Kate?”

She gave a blink of surprise at his unexpected question. “Do?”

“For your future.”

“Oh.” She shrugged. “I do not intend to consider the future for now. I will worry about tomorrow when it comes.”

A frown tugged at his brow as his fingers shifted to her chin and raised her face so he could closely study her set expression.

“You cannot remain in London indefinitely. Your father is bound to discover your deception sooner or later.”

“I realize that, but while I am here, I am going to appreciate my independence,” she insisted, refusing to apologize for her impulsive desires.

And why should she apologize? she asked herself sternly.

She had waited a lifetime for this brief period of freedom. Surely she deserved to take her pleasure without explaining herself to a gentleman who desired only to return her to the shackles she had fled?

“And what if this outlandish scheme of yours brings you ruin?” he demanded.

She met his gaze squarely. “At the moment, it is a risk that I am willing to take. If you are concerned for your own reputation in being associated with me, you are quite welcome to return to Kent.”

Despite his best intentions, Luce could not entirely hide his flare of exasperation.

Understandable, she told herself with a spark of dry amusement. He was a gentleman accustomed to giving orders and having them obeyed.

It was a small miracle and a testament to his desperation that he had forced himself to maintain his dubious patience.

“I cannot believe you would be content to live in shamed isolation because of a brief bout of insanity.”

Kate considered his accusing words for a long moment.

“No, I intend to take great care that I do not cause a scandal,” she at last conceded. “But to be honest, I have lived in isolation with or without shame. And if worse does come to worse then I will discover some means of caring for myself. I do possess an independent allowance from my mother, and more importantly, I no longer depend upon others to protect me from the world.”

Her words did little to reassure him and he gave a slow shake of his golden head.

“It would be a sin against nature to have you waste into a spinster, Kate. You were meant to be a wife and mother.”

Kate felt her own annoyance being stirred to life.

She had been honest with Luce. Far more honest than she had intended to be, thanks to her bout of vulnerability at his own confessions of his childhood and the beautiful dinner he had created.

She did not desire to be reminded that his only concern was luring her to the nearest church.

“You mean I was meant to be
your
wife, do you not, Luce?” she demanded tartly.

His mouth thinned. “Yes.”

“I have told you that . . .”

“Very well. You have made yourself gruesomely clear, Kate,” he murmured, the annoyance seeming to drain from the blue eyes to be replaced with a dark, far more dangerous amusement. “I do not desire to ruin this evening with an argument. Not when there are far more pleasant means of passing the time.”

Kate shivered, suddenly aware of their isolation. They might have been completely alone on the ship. Just one man and one woman with the seductive beauty of the starlit night.

“And precisely what pleasant means are you referring to?” she demanded with a lift of her brows.

“Well, I could offer a few suggestions . . .”

“No,” she interrupted in a voice that was oddly husky. “That is quite all right.”

“Then you tell me what you wish to do,” he urged softly.

A voice in the back of her mind warned her to simply demand to be taken back to her hotel. It was without a doubt the wisest choice to make.

Unfortunately, she felt too restless to simply return to her chambers for the evening. Not when the night was so mild, and the view so spectacular.

And her companion so tantalizing, a wicked voice whispered in the back of her mind.

She gave an unconscious shake of her head and rushed to divert the unwelcome thought.

“Tell me of your travels,” she abruptly demanded. “Have you visited many exotic locations?”

A golden brow lifted in mild surprise, but thankfully, he leaned back on his hands and allowed his gaze to wander over the large ship.

“I have been to Jamaica, the West Indies, and even to the colonies. I suppose some might consider them exotic.”

“They must have been fascinating.” She tilted her head to one side. “I have heard that the air in the West Indies smells of spice and flowers. Is it true?”

He gave a wry chuckle. “Actually the air smelled of tar and sweaty men and rotting fish.”

A hint of disappointment fluttered over the delicate features. “Really?”

“Well, to be honest, I rarely visited more than the docks and warehouses, which are tediously similar the world over. As are seedy taverns and rat-infested inns.”

She wrinkled her nose at his blunt honesty. “You do not make it sound particularly romantic.”

“Forgive me.” He offered a rueful smile. “I fear that I am destined never to be invited for a series of lectures throughout London.”

“Not if you intend to discuss seedy taverns and rat-infested inns,” she readily agreed.

“Very well, I shall attempt to leave out any mention of lice and rats and food that an Englishman would consider unfit for his hounds.”

“It could not have been all bad.”

He paused for a moment, his expression oddly softening in the moonlight.

“No. Although I have yet to discover a land as beautiful as England, there is nothing to compare to nights upon the waves with the stars splattered like diamonds across the sky and the silence so profound that you can hear your very soul.” He breathed in deeply. “It is those moments that lure men to the sea.”

Kate caught her breath at the near poetry of his soft words. “Do you still sail?”

“Not as often as I would desire.” He turned his head to meet her gaze. “It was a simple matter when I possessed only the
Windsong
. Now I cannot afford to be away from London for months at a time. Not without one disaster or another occurring.”

“But you miss your time at sea?”

“Very much.”

Kate absently tucked her feet beneath her, a wistful smile tugging at her lips. “You are most fortunate, you know. It must be glorious to simply sail away without knowing what you might see or discover. Every day would be a fresh adventure.”

“Some days are more adventurous than others, considering the treachery of the seas, and the determination of pirates,” he said dryly. “Still, there are few places I would rather be.”

“Yes.” She heaved a faint sigh, quite easily able to imagine drifting into the darkness with no concerns, no petty rules, and nothing but the unknown horizon to occupy her mind. “I envy you, Luce.”

There was a slight pause before she heard a faint rustle, and then warm fingers were gently pressing her chin up to meet a pair of glittering blue eyes.

“You wish to travel?”

“I can imagine nothing I would enjoy more,” she retorted without hesitation.

“You do realize that I could make such a dream possible, my dear?” he aked softly. “I have only to say the word and we could be cast off and headed for wherever your heart may desire.”

Her breath caught in her throat at his mesmerizing words. Wherever her heart desired? Simple words, and yet unexpectedly poignant.

“You make it sound very simple,” she murmured.

“What could be more simple?” he demanded. “For now, your father believes you to be in Surrey, and those in London know you only as a lonely widow. There would be no one to halt you from indulging your dreams.”

For a moment, she allowed the tempting image of sand-scoured Egypt and lush Greece to rise to her mind. It would indeed be a dream come true. To walk in the footsteps of the ancients, and stand among the ruins of past civilizations. To perhaps even travel to distant lands with their savage natives and vast wilderness.