Temptation: 3 (Timeless Series) (13 page)

“You have no need to worry.” His sincerity did what all his other ploys over the past few days failed to do, push through the rest of her resistance. The admission, along with the genuine concern in his voice, made Penny feel as if her safety were the most important thing in the world to him.

“I could accompany you and provide escort for a day or two, just to make sure you’re all right.”

“That’s a kind offer.” She should be scandalized at the thought, but she wasn’t. Not when the earl had wiped most of her maidenly sensibilities away with his behavior. It might even be nice to have such an escort, but she couldn’t allow it. It became harder and harder to keep her distance, to keep thoughts of their kiss out of her mind. And when he gazed at her as he was doing now, she could almost feel his lips again—was ashamed to admit she’d love nothing more than to feel them again.

Heat flared on her face. She shook her head, using the movement to avert her eyes. “But like I said, I’ll be fine,” Penny stated firmly, once she could speak without giving her inner thoughts away. She couldn’t risk spending even one more hour in the attractive man’s company. She already dreaded leaving him, and now more than ever, she had to remember her plans with Geoff and stick to them. Nothing had changed in these past weeks. She was still running from a monster. Her beloved would be meeting her soon enough, and until that happened, her life would never be safe. Sensing the determination of the men at the table to foist Parker’s solution on her, Penny added quickly, “Besides, Mindy and her sister will be escorting me on the train and stay until my betrothed meets me in San Francisco. Isn’t that right, Mindy?”

Mindy looked up, clearly startled.
“Um, yes. That was the plan,” she said, blushing furiously at the obvious lie.

Both men eyed each other again, but neither spoke.

Penny let out a sigh of relief when Hillman got up to leave, changing the focus of their thoughts. She had one night left and then her adventure would begin in earnest.

~~

After dinner and another game of chess, Parker watched Penny and Mindy maneuver toward their cabin as the ship rocked back and forth. He then climbed the narrow stairs to the top deck to find his brother.

“I’m worried about Miss Layton,” he said, seeing him at the wheel and hurrying to his side.

“What?” Lucas chuckled. “No longer interested in finding out her secrets?” He waved a hand. “Parker, you need to quit obsessing over her.”

“I’m not obsessing, just concerned. Mindy’s sister is with child and in no condition to travel. Which means it’s a lie and Penny’s going alone with no one to help or protect her,” Parker said, his irritation rising. “You can’t tell me you’re not thinking the same thing because I saw it in your eyes at dinner.
’Tis obvious she’s on her own.” And running from something, he added mentally. The thought of the fragile young beauty being out in the world without protection bothered him more and more. There was no way he could simply let her walk away without ensuring her safety.

Lucas sighed and lit his pipe, sucked in a long puff, then blew it out. The sweet scent of burnt tobacco filled the air. “Yes, but it seems she doesn’t want our help.”

“She’s your responsibility. You said so yourself. Are you denying that?” Parker demanded and leveled his now narrowed gaze at his brother.

“No, and I am worried about her. Maybe you could keep your eye on her—at least until she’s safely on board her train. Once she’s traveling, she does have some amount of safety in the other passengers. My biggest worry is what happens to her when she gets to California. Unfortunately, the moment she’s off my ship, it’s out of my control.”

Parker grunted. Lucas had a point. The two stayed silent, absorbed in their thoughts. Finally he said, “I’ll watch out for her because I’m going along, and she won’t even know I’m there.”

Lucas’s loud laughter rang out.

“What’s so funny?”

“You!
Have you lost your senses?”

“Maybe.
But damn it all, I can’t have her going out into the world alone.” Plus, he’d have a purpose, a perfect solution to this new need to help others. What better way to start than making sure she was safe? He’d simply delay his trip home a few more weeks, after which he’d planned on staying put. “Since you’re going to see Mother, you could inform her of my delay.”

“I thought we’d go together. My ship’s only in port for unpacking, reloading, and provisioning, so I won’t have but a couple of days before sailing to London,” Lucas said with a rueful smile. When Parker didn’t respond, he asked, “Why would you go to such great lengths to help her? Seems she has her life planned out and those plans don’t include you.”

“I can’t explain it. I’m sure she’s running from someone, but it’s not her parents as I once thought. They’re both dead and she has no one else.”

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were in love with her.”

“No.” Parker laughed outright. “Enchanted, yes. Attracted, yes. But love? No. You know love doesn’t exist for us.”

Nodding, Lucas took another puff on his pipe. “It’s not a bad idea. Just don’t let the lady see you.”

Parker rubbed his hands together, feeling energized. “Don’t worry, she won’t.”

“Good-bye,” Penny yelled as she waved to the group of sailors hanging over the sides of the ship. “I’ll write.” She never realized how hard leaving would be. Parker, his brother, the captain, and even Jacques had become her surrogate family, and saying her good-byes to them had been heart wrenching.

She turned back to the noisy dock filled with seamen, travelers, and their families. Everyone had someone to meet but her. She pushed the scary thought aside. This was a new adventure. America was a perfect place to hide and full of promise. Gerald Knightsbridge would never find her in this big, open country. Still, ignoring the stench of fish, foul water, and sweat while darting through the throngs of rough-looking dockworkers unloading not only Lucas’s ship but also two others now docked, she was glad she had an escort of sorts. She now understood Parker’s concerns.

To alleviate those concerns, Penny kept to her deception. She trailed behind Mindy, her sister, and husband after her friend explained Penny’s plight, letting them think she was traveling to meet Geoff in California, rather than the other way around.

Less than an hour later, with the trunks on board, Penny tried not to gawk as the horse and buckboard drove toward the center of town and the train station. Once away from the docks, Penny’s fears ebbed. Baltimore looked no different from London, and she and Mindy had ridden those streets often enough to add to her comfort level now. She had to remember Geoff would be joining her soon.

“Your belongings will be safe here, ma’am,” the burly stationmaster said, taking the tip Mindy’s brother-in-law handed him. “Just bring proof of ticket purchase, and I’ll make sure they’re loaded properly when your train arrives.”

She took the claim check he held out and smiled.

Dressed in black pants and an open vest over a white muslin shirt with rolled sleeves, he looked no different from any stationmaster she’d encountered in England.

Except for their rough speech, Americans seemed very much like her British countrymen. They dressed the same, the men wearing somber suits and top hats, and the women wearing dark-colored skirts topped with white blouses and matching hats and gloves.

Penny adjusted her hat to wipe her forehead with her handkerchief and smiled, enduring the stifling heat without a complaint. She loved the hot, humid weather she’d experienced on the ship.

The crowds had thinned to only a few stragglers who hadn’t gone inside yet.

“Please stay in touch after you’re married,” Mindy said, pulling her into a bear hug once Penny’s trunk was secured.

Blinking back tears, she watched her friend climb into the buggy. It rolled down the cobbled road, mixing among other similar conveyances. When she could no longer see them, she turned back to the station’s entrance. The imposing brick building appeared familiar in its opulence. Exhilaration as well as trepidation filled her. Ignoring the small amount of fear at feeling very alone, she headed inside to buy a ticket. The rest of her grand adventure was only a train ride away. San Francisco was a city of opportunity. She had the travel brochure to prove it.

The heavy doors closed behind her and she glanced around. Americans had to have some culture and artistry, given the marbled floors and grand columns. She’d never stepped inside London’s train station, but she figured if she had, she’d note more similarities.

She followed a family of five to the ticket booth. The mother, father, and three children dressed and acted much like the higher classes in England, which eased her sense of isolation. As did the travelers hurrying past her, most likely going off to find adventure just like her.

When it was her turn, Penny flashed a confident smile at the man behind the caged window, “I’m traveling to San Francisco.” He was just like the ticket makers in England, his bespectacled face partially hidden with a visor and a pencil tucked behind one ear.

So far, so good.
She’d be fine.

“Just one?” he asked.

“Yes,” Penny nodded, paying no heed to the two men on her left. “Just one.”

He acted none too pleased with her answer but he took Penny’s money and wrote out a ticket. Earlier Lucas had exchanged her British pounds for American currency, so she was all set with American dollars.

“Platform two.” He pushed the ticket as well as her change under the bars. “Train going west leaves at ten thirty tonight.”

“Thank you.” She stuffed her change into her reticule and ambled through the station, taking note of all the activity of other well-dressed travelers going about their business.

She was about to pay a vendor for a pastry to eat when someone shoved her aside and ripped her small bag from her hands. Stunned, she watched in horror as two men sprinted toward the entrance with her money.

It took a moment to gain her wits and she yelled, “Stop, thief!” She ran in the direction they’d shot off, but her half boots and traveling skirt hampered her speed. Pushing past the passersby who were eyeing her with speculation, she lost sight of them.

Tears sprang to her eyes. Oh dear Lord! The thieves had stolen her means to live while she waited for Geoff. Looking down, she was relieved to see the ticket still in her hand, but the fact didn’t stop the emptiness from growing in the pit of her stomach. Bereft and all alone, she walked over to a bench and sat. Though she fought them, her tears wouldn’t stop flowing. Except for the value of her ticket and a few pieces of jewelry in her trunk, she had no means of supporting herself and no idea of what to do now. And even worse, her prized locket had been in her reticule.

~~

“Are you all right?” Parker asked minutes later, sitting down next to Penny.

Staying out of sight, he’d followed her to the station and had observed her tearful good-byes to Mindy. While keeping to his task, he’d noticed the men’s interest. Then, hanging back further, he’d seen them make their move. Only he’d been much faster than Penny. He’d tackled the one who’d grabbed her purse. The thief eventually got away, but he’d retrieve her money, along with the other objects in the small bag. After placing them in his pockets for safekeeping, he’d returned to help Penny.

“Mr. Davis? What are you doing here?” Penny sniffed, wiped away her tears and flashed a brave smile. “They took my bag.”

He gripped her elbow, turning her to him, slowly sliding an intent gaze over her body, looking for injury. Under his scrutiny, her tears increased.

“I lost my locket, my only memory of my parents, along with all my money,” she said in between sobs. “I can’t travel without money.”

“Shush,” he whispered, wrapping her in his arms and holding her as she continued crying.

“What am I to do now?” Her soft, accented words filtered past his ears not long after her tears subsided.

Parker’s arms tightened. “We’ll work it out.” He kissed the top of her head, not about to tell her he’d retrieved her money and locket. The little fool just didn’t realize how dangerous it was to be alone and unprotected in the world. He couldn’t let her go now. While holding her, his mind churned, thinking of some way to keep her in his company until he could come up with a better plan.

“You still have your ticket, right?” When she nodded, he smiled. “All right. Let me see it.”

She placed the ticket into his outstretched hand. “What good does it do me, if I haven’t the means of supporting myself?”

“This is good for travel anytime,” he said, reading the ticket. “Which means your trip will only be delayed.” He met her tear-filled gaze. “When did you say you were meeting your fiancé?”

“Six months.”

“Plenty of time to make it on the train at a later date. I’ve booked a hotel room for the night,” he told her, suddenly coming up with the lie. “Let’s get you a room and we can discuss what to do once we’ve had dinner and can think clearer.”

“I can’t.” Shaking her head, Penny said in a more confident voice, “I just realized I can sell my jewelry, but I don’t have the funds to squander on a room.” She looked off in the distance, lost in thought. “I hate selling the pieces, though. They were my mother’s and all I have left of her now that my locket is gone.”

“It’s not a wise idea to keep to your original plan, Miss Layton.” Parker’s voice became more urgent. “It’s really best to secure a room and postpone your trip.”

“Oh?” she said, eyes widening. “Why would I do that when I won’t
be needing one? Hotels charge money. I have until ten thirty to sell some jewelry. Then I can make my train. I’m sure I can get some type of employment once I get to California.” Her voice lacked conviction, but her eyes flashed determination.

Parker bit back a retort and held in his frustration. Was she jesting about still traveling to California alone? And selling jewelry for more money to live on once she arrived there? Hadn’t one lesson of being robbed been enough? Sweet Jesus, she was too trusting.
Too naive. There was no way he could let her leave his side, even if it meant taking her screaming and kicking off the street.

“I can’t in good conscience let you get on the train tonight.” He shrugged. “I’ll pay for an extra room and even help you sell your jewelry. Today’s Saturday. Not the best day to do business.
Might do better to wait until Monday. Better yet, if you don’t want to sell them, why not come home with me and work on my farm. Surely that’s a more viable solution than me leaving you to make your trip and find nonexistent work in California.”

“I don’t know.” Penny eyed him thoughtfully, chewing on her bottom lip. “If only my bag hadn’t been stolen.” She sighed. “I was so looking forward to my train trip.”

“You’ll still take your trip west.” He hesitated. “You’re only changing your plans a bit.”

She smiled wanly,
then admitted sheepishly, “This incident has left me a little shaken.”

“It’s a perfect solution.” He grinned and he added more enthusiastically, “Gives you a chance to think about what you want to do. Sell your jewelry and go now, or stay awhile, earn some money, and keep your jewelry.”

Penny nodded. “You do make a good case. I’ll pay you back for the room.” She stared at him for the longest time, as if weighing his suggestion before her focus shifted to a distant spot. Watching her facial features go through several changes, Parker prayed he wouldn’t have to coerce her any more than he already had. He hated deception. Yet if he told her the full truth, she’d leave him only to become an unwilling victim to some other horrible fate, and he couldn’t allow that to happen.

“Maybe it would be best to delay my trip.
At least for a day or two.”

“Come along then.” He stood and held out his hand. “Let’s go retrieve your trunk and make our way to the hotel.”