The Duke's Lady (Historical Romance - The Ladies Series) (13 page)

Ambassador Pinkney turned toward Adam. “Your Grace, it has been a while since we’ve seen you. Come join our conversation and be of assistance. You’ve been to the United States. Is it as bad as these gentlemen seem to think?” He swept his hand toward the group.

Oh, how he’d love to tell them what he really thought, but he’d have to choose his words carefully if he were to gather any information. These men believed him to be true to England and her cause. Adam thought a moment before he spoke. “The United States is made up of hardworking people, I agree. But on the other hand, they should not be ungrateful to their mother country.” Adam looked at the earl. “After all, England has helped them through some difficult times.”

“Hear! Hear!” the British gentlemen cheered.

Pinkney’s face reddened. “Well, of course we’re grateful, but we don’t like the blockade of our ports, and we’re quite willing to do something about it.”

“Really?” Adam said, playing his part the best he could. “Do you have anything to fight with?”

“We have a small navy,” Monroe answered, “and it’s growing. It has already challenged the British blockade on the Eastern Coast.”

Adam saw his expression change when Monroe realized he’d sounded boastful. He hurried to add, “Gentlemen, let me point out the others and I are here to end the war between our countries.”

Adam watched as the assembly of men nodded their heads in agreement.

The three Americans, evidently feeling they had overstayed their welcome, bid an early good night.

After their departure, the rest of the group moved out to the terrace so they could smoke and enjoy the fresh night air.

Adam cupped his hand and lit a cheroot. Assuming a bored expression, he asked, “Tell me, Captain Percy, how do you think the war is
really
going for our country?” He knew Captain Percy was one of England’s top commanders, and could provide him with valuable information.

“England has a navy superior by far to those young upstarts,” Percy boasted. “Still, we have discovered the Americans are quite a stubborn lot! Pigheaded I believe is the word.” He chuckled. “We’ve been working on a plan that just may give us the power we need to tame them.”

“Such as?” Adam drawled.

“I’m really not at liberty to discuss such matters,” Percy said bluntly.

Ludlow cleared his throat. “Captain Percy, do you not realize you are speaking to a duke?”

Percy flushed with embarrassment. “I beg your pardon, Your Grace, but surely you can understand such military secrecy.”

Adam nodded, politely accepting Percy’s apology, though he really felt like choking the man. “One never knows
who
the enemy could be,” Adam admitted, wondering how he was he going to get the details. He didn’t have long to ponder the question because Ludlow spoke next.

“You might like to know, Captain, that His Grace has lived in New Orleans for several years and knows quite a bit about the territory.”

A spark of interest appeared in Percy’s eyes at that tidbit.

“Certainly, that is good news. We could put to use such valuable knowledge, but I think you’ll admit a party is not the proper place to discuss these matters.”

“I quite agree, Captain. Perhaps I could meet you at a later date.” Adam wondered why that particular territory was important. So far, New Orleans had escaped the war on the East Coast, but now it sounded as though his American home might be drawn into the battle.

“Two days from now we’re having a meeting at my town
house,’’ Percy said. “We would be most grateful if you would attend.”

“I’ll look forward to, perhaps, being of some service to you and my country,” Adam said. Of course, he didn’t say which country.

“Gentlemen, gentlemen.” Ludlow held up his hand. “Enough business for tonight.” He glanced at Adam. “Tell me about the young woman you’ve found. I’ve only heard bits and pieces, and we all know how things can be exaggerated.” His eyebrows shot up as he asked, “Did you really find her half-dead and washed up on the beach?”

The hairs on the back of Adam’s neck stood on end. He now found himself the center of attention, the one thing he didn’t need. Evidently, Colette had done a good job of spreading the rumor. Now that the subject had been brought up, perhaps someone here might know Jewel’s identity.

Adam cleared his throat. “As chance would have, I did find a young woman near death. I think she must have been washed overboard the night of the terrible storm. It really was a miracle she survived at all.”

“Who is she?” asked the earl.

“That, gentlemen, I wish I could say. She seems to have developed a temporary loss of memory.”

“Do you suppose she was a bonded slave?”

“No!” Adam said, a bit louder than he had intended. “Or at least, I don’t think so. Her first name is Jewel—that much we do know. So far she has been unable to tell me much about herself. Have you gentlemen heard of anyone that could be missing? She’s petite with black hair and brown eyes.”

Captain Percy spoke first. “I did hear Captain Lee comment when he heard that you’d found someone. It seems he lost a girl overboard on his ship. Perhaps you can speak with him. It could be a lead.”

“Yes, Captain, it does seem so. Where can I find this Lee?”

“He’s sailing on a small mission for me, but will be in port the end of November or the beginning of December.”

Adam nodded. “Good, I shall see him then.” The conversation drifted on to lesser matters. Adam didn’t know Captain Lee personally, but had met him on a couple of other occasions. He’d seen him enough to quickly form an opinion. He thought Lee to be a sneaky bastard. Yet Adam would put his feelings aside just in case Lee did know something about Jewel.

Colette walked over to the group. “Adam, darling, it’s time for dinner, and I know you must be starving after your long journey from Cornwall.”

Adam frowned at the interruption. But he realized he had accompanied Colette tonight, and he probably couldn’t gather any more information, so he held out his arm and escorted her into the dining room. The rest of the evening was spent listening to her chatter.

What a shallow woman thinking only of herself, Adam thought as he sat back and listened to her endless talk of parties and teas. Again, he wondered why he had ever been attracted to her.

Later that night Adam sat in his library, staring into the fire. The cool night brought a chill to the room. He grabbed another log and threw it in the hearth. Sparks rose, then spiraled up the chimney. He warmed his hands a few moments before returning to his chair, where he picked up a lead-crystal glass. He took a swallow of brandy, feeling the warmth spread its magic. The tension in his shoulders began to ease as he watched the fire’s hypnotizing vibrant red and orange colors. A black-haired beauty danced among the flames, her face soft and radiant. Liquid brown eyes spoke of their trust, and soft lips beckoned him. “Damn,” Adam swore. He swallowed the fiery liquid in one gulp, immediately regretting his action as tears sprang to his eyes.

He rose to pour another stiff drink, berating himself for acting like a young pup in heat. It had only been this morning when he’d seen Jewel, and here he sat daydreaming of her. This time he took a slower sip of brandy before turning back to the fire. He’d be damned if he would let the girl get under his skin.

Yes, he wanted her, and the quickening in his loins told him just how much—but he’d overcome it. After all, he was thirty-five, not a young chap of eighteen who couldn’t control his emotions or his life. Come January, he would leave, and he wouldn’t see Jewel again.

So it was best he forget her now!

Forcing his thoughts to business matters, he let his mind wonder over the tidbits of information he’d heard. He most certainly was pleased with what he had learned tonight. He looked forward to his meeting with Percy; however, the information about Captain Lee was a different matter. Could Jewel have been on his ship? And worse, could Jean be a seaman aboard Lee’s ship?

Adam stood, picked up his glass, and moved over to his desk. A shifty-eyed devil, Lee was not someone Adam would turn his back on. Opening the desk drawer, Adam retrieved a sheet of white paper and laid it in front of him, then reached for his quill and dipped it in the India ink. He scribbled a note asking Lee to meet him upon Lee’s return. He powdered the ink before folding the slip of paper and sliding
it into an envelope. Holding his seal, he dripped wax on letter and placed his royal mark on the envelope.

This encounter could prove to be very interesting.

Chapter Ten

When Adam arrived at Captain Percy’s, he found a group of men sitting around a massive table. An unfolded map was the center of everyone’s attention.

“Gentlemen.” Adam nodded his greeting before moving over to take his seat.

Captain Percy waited a moment, then continued on with the meeting, pointing to the chart. “I believe you will all recognize this as a diagram of New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico. We have decided that it would be most beneficial for England to take control of New Orleans. Thereby, we would gain access to the Mississippi River.”

Adam shook his head. “The land is treacherous territory, and will be rough sailing. If you are not aware, New Orleans is surrounded by bayous, small streams, and swamps. Men have entered there never to be seen again. The area is a maze that few can navigate,” he pointed out. “How do you hope to overcome this?” Adam hoped to discourage Percy, though what he said was true. Only fools would venture into those swamps.

“Precisely what I thought when I first heard this plan,” Captain Percy said, nodding in agreement with Adam. “As you know, there is a cluster of islands about sixty miles off the coast of Louisiana that are controlled by a group of outlaws. We have heard they would sell their own mother if the price was right.”

“So you plan to offer them money?”

“That’s correct, Your Grace. A good sum of money, too. I’ll send Captain Lockyer and Lieutenant Williams to make Lafitte an offer.”

“And what will that offer be, Captain? That is, if you are at liberty to say,” Adam asked.

“By all means, Your Grace. After all, we are all loyal British subjects. My men will offer Lafitte forty thousand dollars, land, and a British citizenship.”

Adam rubbed his chin. “Your plan sounds good, Captain. I’ve never known a pirate yet who could refuse money.” He managed a brief smile. He had his doubts about the money, but Jean Lafitte would laugh outright at the offer of British citizenship. Lafitte wasn’t an ordinary smuggler. He was a gentleman’s pirate with his own set of morals. Adam really didn’t think his friend would take the offer, but Adam wouldn’t take the chance. “When will you carry out this scheme, Captain?”

“Our plans are not complete. There are still some arrangements to be made. We’re training new troops, and of course that will take time. I hope to send two ships,
The Brig
and
Sophie,
to Barataria in about eleven months. At the moment, we are planning for a departure date of September 3, 1814.”

Good, Adam thought. He would have time to sail home and warn General Jackson. He also wanted to talk to Lafitte. It had been a long time since Adam had seen his friend. And they needed to talk.

The rest of the meeting proceeded smoothly. Percy shook Adam’s hand warmly as he left the house and stepped out into a foggy London night. Adam signaled for his carriage to go on ahead. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he preferred to walk along the Thames and do some thinking.

Mentally, he ticked off a list of supplies he’d need for his ship and then composed a letter to Jackson. As he climbed the steps of his town house, the excitement of returning home surged through him. Gripping the brass doorknob, he opened the great mahogany door, and the scent of a house seldom occupied rushed out to meet him. It would be grand to see Four Oaks and his sister again, but he had to admit there were a few things here he’d miss—such as Annie, Jonathan, and Jewel. He could shut his eyes and almost feel Jewel within in his arms and smell the scent of ... of her hair. What was he going to do with his little sea treasure?

Jewel ran her hand over the indentation in the pillow where Adam’s head had lain. Closing her eyes, she caught his scent on the covers, and secretly wished he would be next to her when she looked again. It didn’t work. The bed was as empty as before.

She was still alone.

Adam had been so tender the night before. Of course, before that he’d been cold and unfeeling. He seemed to keep her on the brink of insanity. She was truly perplexed by what the man thought of her. At times, it seemed nothing more than pity, and she didn’t want his pity. She wanted him to see her as a woman, and a small part of her wanted him to care. She would miss Adam while he was gone. Tears started to form, and threatened to spill over her bottom lids. Slowly, she wiped them away. Crying wouldn’t help; she must learn to stand on her own two feet. Adam would be sailing for America before long, and then she would be without him forever.

And still the question of what she’d do haunted her. She couldn’t stay at Briercliff forever. She must have had some kind of life before she arrived here. But from the glimpses she’d remembered so far, she wasn’t too sure she wanted any part of the other life.