The Captain's Caress (45 page)

Reason told him that she was probably safe, but he could not be sure. And his anger over imagining the earl was forcing Summer to accept his caresses paled before his worry over what Gowan would do when he learned she was carrying his child; Gowan’s hatred was virulent and longlasting. Brent stared out the window again, a feeling of helplessness stirring rage in his heart. He wouldn’t let himself think about those fears now, but Gowan would pay with his blood if he harmed either Summer or the child. Brent swore that oath anew each day.

Chapter 41

“Don’t forget to tell Wigmore to pack the medicine for the Claxton child. She’s not getting any better.”

“I wish you wouldn’t keep jaunting all over looking after sick people,” Bridgit said disapprovingly. “I’m worried to death you’ll catch something in one of those dirty cottages.”

“I’ve never felt better in my life. If I didn’t fear running into the earl, I wouldn’t spend a waking minute in this apartment.”

Wigmore entered the room on silent feet.

“I beg your pardon, milady, but a man who claims to be your parent has arrived and wishes to see you.”

“That can’t be. My father’s in the Indies.”

“So I thought, but this gentleman claims to have just arrived from the Indies. He also seems to be in possession of a great quantity of information about you.”

“What does he look like?”

“I would not like to be disrespectful to your father, milady, but unless I’m mistaken, he has been drinking too liberally for this hour of the day.”

“If it’s Charles Ashton, he drinks too heavily for
any
hour of the day.” Summer rose. “I suppose I must go down.”

Ashton was pouring himself a liberal drink when Summer entered the salon. He turned and surveyed her swollen belly through bleary eyes. “My God, you didn’t wait long.”

“What are you doing here?” Summer inquired coldly.

“That’s not a very warm greeting for your father,” he said. “How about a welcoming kiss?”

“You’re not my father, as you were at pains to point out just before you sold me.”

“I was angry then, worn down with worry.” Summer’s expression didn’t change, so he went on. “You’re not going to hold that against me, are you? I was just upset.”

“You’re always upset, and when you’re upset you drink too much.”

“I’ve reformed. I’ve decided to make a complete change in my life.”

“You can start by putting down that glass. Or is that one of your exceptions?” Ashton looked hurt, but Summer’s eyes didn’t soften. “Have you given up gambling as well?”

“Absolutely. I have sworn never to pick up a card again, not even in a friendly game.”

They stared at each other like two strangers.

“Aren’t you going to ask me to sit down? Don’t you even want to know why I’m here?”

Summer motioned him to take a seat. “Why
are
you here?”

“I’ve come to visit my daughter, to see how she’s getting along with her new husband.”

“Have you sold the plantation? Is that why you’ve come? You must have left before the planting season.”

“No, I didn’t,” he said testily. “I can’t sell the damned hellhole. I can’t even raise a penny on it.”

“What happened? Did you lose it in a card game?”

“Your grandfather cheated me, he and your mother.”

“You got half. Isn’t that enough for you?”

“I didn’t get anything,” he complained, aggrieved, and then drained off the rest of the glass. “The whole thing belongs to you, every stick of furniture and stalk of cane. I don’t get a penny.” He poured himself out another glass and swallowed half of it. “Do you know what those thieving bankers told me when I went to see them?”

“No,” she said patiently.

“They told me I couldn’t have any of the money unless I stayed on the plantation and worked it. They said if they had to pay an overseer, everything would go to you. I told them they could have the bloody plantation and everything on it. I was tired of the never-ending heat and the damned hurricanes that scare a man half out of his wits.”

“You were never sober during a hurricane.”

“Did you expect me to get through one of those howling, screeching monsters without a few drinks?” Ashton asked with injured air.

“As I recall, it usually took several bottles.”

“Just like your mother, always counting everything. Now you made me forget what I was saying. Oh, I told those bloodsucking swine that I was going to see my daughter. Told them you’d take care of me.”

“But you’re
not
my father, and you can’t stay here.”

“Why not? You’ve got plenty of room.”

“I’d have to double the amount of spirits we keep in the house.”

“You can’t let the little tyke you’re carrying come into the world without a grandfather.”

“You aren’t his grandfather either.”

“Well you can’t tell him you’re a bastard, can you? Your husband wouldn’t like that very much.”

“My husband knows who my father is.”

“You weren’t fool enough to tell him a thing like that?”

“No, he told me.”

“You’re lying! He couldn’t have known. He never would have paid a pound for you.”

“That’s the only reason he paid anything at all. I’m Frederick Boyleston’s
legitimate
daughter, and this little tyke will be his grandson. Mother was married when she eloped.”

“I don’t believe it,” Ashton said, his drink suspended halfway to his mouth.

“Maybe you’ll believe me when I tell you the earl only married me to keep control of these estates.”

“Damn!” Ashton slammed his glass down onto the table. “I could have gotten at least twenty thousand instead of a measly ten.”

“That
measly
ten ought to keep you for the rest of your life.”

“It can’t. It’s gone.”

“All of it? Not even you could have gambled away ten thousand pounds in less than a year.”

“There wasn’t ten thousand left by the time I paid Carter. I ended up with a little over two, and that doesn’t last long when you’re in the middle of the worst run of luck that ever cursed a man.”

“So you’re out of funds.”

“I’ve got less than twenty pounds.”

“And you expect to live at rack and manger here?”

“It’s not much to ask, seeing as how I took care of you for all those years.”

“But you’re not worth much, are you? I certainly won’t be able to sell you for ten thousand pounds after I’ve put up with you for nineteen years.”

“You’re more like your mother every day.” Ashton suddenly dropped any pretense of fatherly feeling. “Hard as nails and not an ounce of forgiveness in you.”

“After what you did to me, I don’t ever want to see you again.”

“I’ll wait for the earl. You may be the mistress here, but I’ll wait to hear what he has to say.”

“And just what is it you would like to have me say?” The unexpected sound of Gowan’s voice startled Ashton into spilling wine down the front of his coat.

“Now see what you’ve made me do?” he sputtered, quite put out. “You ought to cure yourself of the habit of sneaking up behind people. It gave me a nasty turn. I’ve quite ruined this coat.”

“I’m sure it can be replaced.” Gowan’s cold eyes regarded him evenly.

“That’s easy for you to say, rich as you are, but I don’t have a pocketful of gold pieces.”

“As I recall, I gave you enough to fill even the most commodious pocket.”

“Nothing lasts forever, especially money,” Ashton declared cynically. “In fact, it’s the first thing to go.”

“I take it from the complaining note in your voice that a want of gold is the reason for your visit.”

Ashton was pleased by Gowan’s quick understanding, but he would have preferred that the earl had phrased it differently.

“I came to see how my daughter was doing in her new home, and to make sure you were treating her right.”

“As you can see, I’ve treated her in the manner that suits all new brides, and she’s doing quite well.”

“Slap me if I expected you to settle the business so soon, but you hot-blooded young bucks will have your way.”

Gowan, who was older than Ashton, fixed him with a glare that even that thick-skinned hedonist couldn’t ignore.

“That is a subject I do not propose to discuss with anyone, even my father-in-law.”

“As you like.” Ashton took a quick swallow of his drink. “Wouldn’t want to upset you for the world. Just thought I’d stay on and see that she comes through the thing right and tight. After twenty years I’ve developed quite an affection for the girl.”

“But one that could be set aside for a suitable sum, such as ten thousand pounds.”

“Every girl has to get married, and there’s no sense in turning down money when it’s offered. Which is not to say that I’d have her let go for a measly ten thousand if I’d known she was Boyleston’s legitimate daughter,” he declared, aggrieved.

“Such constancy deserves some reward. You must stay for dinner, but I think we should go in while you are still able to see what’s on your plate.”

Summer was too upset to do more than taste the meal set before her. She avoided Gowan’s eyes, but she could feel his cold, critical gaze upon her, and knew he was including her in the contempt he felt for Ashton. She longed to protest that since he had invited Ashton to remain against her wishes, he deserved what he got. But the more Ashton drank the more incautious he became, and she began to seek any excuse to leave the table.

“I’m a little tired. I think I should lie down for a while.”

“Shall we see you when the tea tray is sent in, my dear?” Gowan inquired, his words really a command.

“I didn’t think anybody still drank tea,” Ashton remarked.

“It’s not a requirement,” Gowan replied. “We have more brandy.” His tone would have warned a sober man to proceed with caution, but Ashton was beyond prudence.

“You scared me there for a minute,” he said.

Summer was too mortified to move.

“Have you left the islands for good?” Gowan asked.

“I’m never going back to that stinking hellhole,” Ashton stated as vehemently as he could after drinking for the better part of the day.

“What plans
do
you have?” drawled Gowan. “Have you seen your brother?”

“Yes, I’ve seen the prig, and the harridan he married,” Ashton said bitterly, “and they’ve seen the last of me.”

“I take it your visit did not prosper.”

“No one could get along with that pinch-penny, money-grubbing pair. They turned Presbyterian on me too. Just about every pleasure is a sin according to them. It gives a man a sour stomach to hear that kind of talk all the time.”

“I take it you don’t include Grantley Manor in your plans. Do you intend to purchase a property?”

“I thought I might pay you a visit, now that Summer’s about to give you an heir. Wouldn’t do to ignore my grandson.”

“He’s not your grandson, and I’ve already told you I don’t want you here.” Summer desperately wanted to leave the room, but she was afraid of what Ashton might say in her absence.

“You know you don’t mean that,” said Ashton with feigned fatherly concern. “You’re just feeling out of sorts because of the baby.”

“It has been my experience that your daughter means exactly what she says no matter how poorly she’s feeling,” Gowan observed dryly.

“I wish you’d stop calling me his daughter,” Summer snapped. “If you let him settle here, you’ll never get rid of him. Why don’t you go back to the plantation?” she demanded, turning back to Ashton. “The trustees would see you didn’t starve.”

“This’s a fine way to talk to one who’s been your father in name and deed, if not in fact,” said Ashton, simulating dejection. “And after I came all this way to see you.”

Summer uttered an inarticulate snort.

“You may stay as long as you require to satisfy your mind that my wife is well and happy,” said Gowan, “and I am quite willing to arrange your return passage.” Ashton looked rather uncomfortable and glared moodily at Gowan.

“To tell you the truth, I don’t dare go back. There are a few people who would be happy to deal roughly with me,” he confessed.

“Gambling debts?” Summer asked in disgust.

“What did you expect me to do with my time, spend it slaving like a common laborer?” Ashton asked angrily.

“Some people
do
work.”

“You’re being a little hard on your father, my dear,” Gowan put in. “It would be rude to turn him out after he came all this way to see you.”

“He can stay at an inn.”

“Probably, but I fear he would soon feel compelled to tell his story, or what he imagines to be his story, for the price of a drink, and that would be undesirable.”

“You wouldn’t.” Summer turned to Ashton.

“I don’t think you want everyone to know you’re Boy lesion’s daughter,” he replied, proving that the earl had gauged his character more correctly than she had.