Miss Whittier Makes a List (43 page)

He looked down at her and grinned.
“
I will only insist upon it if I am ever named a Lord of the Admiralty.
”
He shuddered elaborately until she smiled.
“
As I do
not see the eventuality of that,
you may safely shake the dust of
London
off your shoes. Lady Amber.
”

While they did not leave London early enough
to suit Hannah or Captain Spark,
it was still too early for Lady Spark, who suffered the ill effects of last night
’
s overindulgence at the gaming tables.
“
I think you are perfectly hea
rt
less!
”
she railed at her son as he handed her into the family carriage and closed the door firmly on her protests. He blew a kiss to Hannah through the glass and mounted his horse as the carriage sprang forward and Lady Spark moaned.

Luckily she was snoring by the time they reached
London
’
s suburbs,
and Hannah had ample time for reflection. Such an odd family, she thought
as she regarded the older woman, and recalled, with a pang,
her own famil
y, Mama so gentle and dignified,
and Papa firm and deliberate. I wonder if they ever had any doubts about marriage to each other, she thought as she observed Captain Spark riding beside the carriage. Did they ever wonder if they were doing the right thing? Did the idea of sharing a bed with Papa ever frighten Mama? She longed more than ever for the safety of her mother
’
s
ar
ms
,
and for some word of advice. I wonder if I wou
ld have the good sense to take h
er counsel, Hannah thought as the miles turned
London
into just a memory. I never did before; would I now? Have I
learned
anything?

These were not questions she could ask Daniel
’
s mother, who woke u
p finally, straightened her hat,
and complained about the damp, her head, the shabbiness of the carriage (
“
For all that Daniel is not head of this house
,
I do not know why he cannot buy another carriage and spare his poor brother, who is always under the hatches.
”
) They stopped for luncheon not a moment too soon for Hannah.

After their meal, Captain Spark must have noticed her reluctance to continue the journey in the coach with his mother.
“
My dear, you could use some roses in your cheeks,
”
he said as he pulled her up into
the saddle in front of him.
“
Mama, I
’
ll keep Hannah a while.
”

With a look of extreme ill usage on her face, Lady Spark allowed the postilion to help her into the c
a
r
r
iage.
“
If she takes i
l
l with a putrid sore throat and dies a wasting death, then
you
must explain that to the American ambassador!
”

“
Mama, Hannah is healthier than a horse,
”
Spark said, doing his best to keep the amusement from his voice.
“
See you at the estate!
”
He dug his heels into his horse and they shot ahead.

As the horse established its rhythm, Hannah sighed and settled back against the captain.
“
Healthier than a horse, am I?
”
she m
ur
mured.

“
So I have observed,
”
he replied, tightening his arms around her.
“
Think how handy that will be in years to come.
”
He was silent a moment, rubbing his free hand over her
ar
m.
“
I am sorry to have to subject you to my mother, but, damn, we do need a chaperon.
”

She sighed and he kissed her neck.
“
I think we
Sparks
do not meas
ure
up well against the Whittiers of Nantucket,
”
he ventured.

“
No,
you do not,
”
she said simply,
“
and I am sorry
,
truly I am. I fear you do not love your relatives
.”

“
Would you l
ove them, in my place?
”
he questioned in
tu
rn.
“
And you have not even met my brother yet. I do not know a more worthless slug on the face of the ea
rth than Edmund Spark,
the current earl. Between Mama
’
s recriminations and Edmund
’
s petitions for relief from his debtors, do you have any doubts why I prefer the sea?
”

She turned around to look into his arresting eyes, marveling again how fascinating they were up close.
“
Would your reluctance for the land keep you from me?
”
she asked.

He kissed her in answer, dropping the reins as the little kiss turned into a searching rediscovery of her mouth, neck, and eyes that left them both restless and the horse chewing grass by the side of the road.

“
I am not the horseman for lovemaking in the saddle,
”
the captain said as he gathered the reins again and coaxed the horse back onto the road.
“
I merely had to assure you that was a silly question.
”

“
Was it?
”
she
murmured
, half to herself, as the agony of unsettled love was replaced by a distinct chill that went
heart
before she could wish it away. I wonder what will happen when Mr. Futtrell brings you news of another ship.

They arrived at Spark
’
s estate too late for a good look at it in the fading autumn light.
“
It
’
s always better by morning light, my love,
”
he whispered in her ear as he reined to a stop in front of the well-lighted house.
“
Early
morning light, need I add?
”

“
Oh, please, not before eight bells,
”
she said, trying to keep her eyes open.

He laughed, handed her down, and dismounted with a groan.
“
I know
this
man
’
s natural state is a quarterdeck, and not the back of a quadruped,
”
he said, then picked her up and s
tarted
toward the steps.
“
Here, Hannah, you knock on the door. My hands are full,
”
he said.

“
Not until you put me down,
”
she said, then touched his cheek, closing her eyes when he kissed her palm and her wrist, where the pulse beat faster.
“
If I marry you, you can carry me over the threshold, but not now.
”

“
Spoilsport,
”
he said, and lowered her to her feet. He knocked and the door was opened by a handsome woman in cap and apron who held out her hands to them both.

“
Captain,
”
she said, taking his hand and Hannah
’
s.
“
You
’
ve been too long away. This is Hannah Whittier?
”
she asked, her eyes on Hannah, her smile of welcome genuine.

“
The very same. Hannah
,
ma
y I introduce my housekeeper, Mrs
. Paige? She raised me and I purloined her from the family estate, when I bought this place. Edmund is still smarting from that piece of impertinence, by the way, as the bailiff came with her.
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”

In a few minutes they were in the kitchen, eating almond cake with icing so g
ooe
y that Hannah could only roll her eyes and follow one bite with another one.

“
My love, I think you can see why o
n
ly a few of these bring me right back up to my precruise to
n
nage,
”
Spark said as he scooped up more icing with his finger, dodged Mrs. Paige
’
s slap, and stuck his finger in his mouth. He leaned back finally and pa
tt
ed his flat stomach.
“
Now
I am home! Mrs. Paige, how do you do?
”

“
Excellently well, sir,
”
said the housekeeper, who sat next to Hannah with her hands folded in her lap.
“
Your mother is already in bed with a hot water bottle. She was sure you had been delayed by pirates or smugglers, so I gave her a sleeping draught.
”

“
Bless you, Mrs. Paige,
”
Daniel said fervently. He glanced at Hannah, who was hard put to keep her eyes open.
“
Lady Amber here doesn
’
t need a sleeping draught. Did you put her in the
corner
room?
”

“
As you wished, Captain,
”
said Mrs. Paige as she rose to her feet
and
picked up a candle by the kitchen door.
“
I believe Mr. Paige has already put her trunk in there. Come, little one, let me show you upstairs.
”