Rebecca Hagan Lee - [Borrowed Brides 01] (6 page)

Her eyes flew open to focus on the bedroom wall. The wallpaper was strange. The flowers on it were different from the faded flowers on her bedroom wall. And where was Joy? There was too much room in the bed. She could move around, even stretch, without touching the warm, little body that was normally sprawled all over her. What was going on?

The house smelled of coffee, real coffee, and it had been years since she’d been able to buy genuine beans.

Pushing the covers aside, Faith sat on the edge of the bed. She shivered with cold and looked around for her clothes. Her dress was nowhere in sight, but a dark, brown velvet robe lay across the foot of the bed. Faith slipped it on and padded across the cold floor to open the bedroom door.

She stopped dead at the sight of the two men seated on the sofa drinking coffee.

The memory of the evening spent in the company of Reese Jordan flashed through Faith’s mind and the warmth of a blush stained her face a vivid pink.

Reese lowered his coffee cup and focused on the vision before him.

David nearly dropped his cup. It wobbled on the saucer, sloshing hot coffee on his hand.

She stood in the doorway. Her dark hair had slipped out of its pins. It hung past her slim shoulders to her hips. Her gray eyes were wide; her lips were red and slightly swollen from sleep. She was engulfed by Reese’s brown, velvet robe, completely covered from her chin to the tops of her bare feet, yet Reese wondered if he had ever seen a woman look quite so desirable, so kissable. She looked as if she had just come from her lover’s bed.
His
bed.

“Good morning.” Reese greeted her in a voice that sounded remarkably normal. “Sleep well?”

“Yes, I suppose so. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Faith’s fingers tightened on the lapels of his robe as she studied her toes peeking out from under the hem. She was extremely aware of the intimacy of the situation, of Reese Jordan’s hot gaze, and of her threadbare shift beneath his robe.

David cleared his throat, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. “Coffee, ma’am?” He indicated the pot and extra cup.

Faith turned a deeper shade of pink. “Actually, I…um…”

“Down the hall, last door on the right.”

Faith managed a grateful nod and hurried out of the suite.

The door had barely closed behind her before David began bombarding Reese with questions. “She’s your lady friend? Your companion for the evening? You spent the night with her?”

“Not exactly. I spent the evening with her. But she spent the night here. With you,” Reese explained.

“And where were you?” David wanted to know.

“Downstairs at the bar. Drinking.”

“You left her here? Alone? With me in the next room?”

Reese nodded. “She was asleep. I figured she was safer alone with you than with me.”

David glared at his cousin. “Did you ever think your confidence in me might be misplaced?”

“You’re a gentleman, David.”

“That doesn’t make me a eunuch.”

“I know,” Reese told him. “That’s why I didn’t wake you when I brought her in. I thought she’d be a lot safer if you didn’t know she was here.”

“What about her reputation? She was here yesterday. I saw her in line with the other women.”

“I saw her, too, when I was standing in the doorway talking to you. She disappeared in the crowd.”

“But you found her at the British embassy? And brought her here?” David speculated.

“No, of course not,” Reese replied, then seeing David’s puzzled face, he began to elaborate. “I rescued her last night. She was walking to the train station when she was accosted by a thief. He knocked her to the ground and snatched her purse. I happen to see it on my way to the embassy. I jumped out to give chase.”

“So you brought her back here before you left for the bar?” David asked, wondering how he had missed them.

“I took her to dinner first. She hadn’t eaten all day. She was hungry and had no money. She missed the last train to Richmond and it was either bring her here or have her sleep on a bench at the train station.”

“I’m surprised she allowed you to bring her here,” David said.

“She didn’t have a choice. She fell asleep in the carriage after dinner.”

“You could have awakened her,” David pointed out.

“Not this one.”

“Why not?”

“Because, she’s a southern lady,” Reese replied, “and I don’t have a signed contract in my hands. Yet.”

“Then you talked to her about the job?”

Reese nodded.

“And she agreed?”

“She says she needs the job, but I get the feeling she doesn’t really understand what I want her to do.”

“How could she not understand? The ad was pretty clear.”

Reese stood up and began to pace. “Who knows what goes on in the mind of a lady?”

“I thought you did.”

Reese turned to look at his cousin. “What ever gave you that idea?”

“You did,” David said quietly. “You’ve always been such a ladies’ man.”

“I don’t deal with ladies, David. I deal with prostitutes, tarts, whores, and the occasional neglected mistress. I don’t deal with ladies anymore.”

“Then, damn it, Reese, why advertise for one? Why not let one of your tarts have your child?”

“Because, dammit, my son is going to have a heritage he can be proud of. He’s going to be respected.”

“Then marry someone and do this the right way.”

“Out of the question,” Reese said.

“There are plenty of nice women—”

“Yes, there are,” Reese agreed, “but not for us. We’re mixed bloods, David, and while we’re proud of our heritage, most nice women are horrified.”

“All women aren’t like Boston society debutantes.”

“Only the proper ladies,” Reese sneered.

“I never realized your experience at Harvard had made you so bitter,” David said thoughtfully as he refilled Reese’s cup with coffee.

“I’m not bitter,” Reese told him. “I’m realistic.”

“You think this plan of yours is realistic?” David asked.

“Of course it is,” Reese said. “With enough money you can buy just about anyone or anything.” Reese broke off at the light tap on the door. He walked to the door and pulled it open.

Faith stood in the hallway clutching his robe tightly against her.

“Come in and have some coffee.” Reese’s voice was a soft, rumbling purr. “You must be freezing.” He frowned at the sight of her bare toes curling against the cold floor. He should have remembered to leave a pair of socks on the foot of the bed along with his bathrobe.

“I don’t want to intrude on your conversation,” Faith said.

“It’s no intrusion,” David assured her, “We were just passing the time while we wait for the breakfast tray.”

Faith’s eyes sparkled. “You’ve ordered breakfast?”

Reese smiled. “There should be enough for a small army. Will that be sufficient?”

Faith’s cheeks colored with embarrassment. “Don’t go to any trouble on my account. You bought my dinner last night. You’re not under any obligation to purchase my breakfast.” She looked at the floor to keep from meeting his gaze.

“My cousin was teasing.” David stepped into the breach. “I apologize if he embarrassed or offended you. Reese is always ill-tempered before breakfast.”

“I’m not offended,” Faith admitted. “And I would appreciate breakfast.”

“Then it’s settled,” David pronounced. “Think nothing of it. Come in and join us in the wait. Allow me to introduce myself. I’m David Alexander, Reese’s attorney, business partner, friend, and first cousin.” He offered Faith his hand as Reese ushered her into the room, then closed the door behind them.

“I’m Faith Collins,” Faith said. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Alexander, but I really shouldn’t intrude on your breakfast.” She headed for the safety of the bedroom.

“Nonsense.” Reese took her elbow and led her to the sofa. “Sit down, Mrs. Collins, you aren’t intruding.”

“But I’m not properly dressed,” she protested.

“You look fine. Besides, it’s early. You don’t have to be completely dressed to eat breakfast.” He flashed his wickedly handsome smile once again.

Faith wanted to point out the impropriety of dining alone with two men, but found herself unable to utter the necessary words. Something about Reese Jordan’s devastating smile affected her sensibilities. Her logical protests vanished. She smiled back at him as she graciously accepted the cup of coffee he placed in her hand. “Thank you, Mr. Jordan.”

“You’re very welcome, Mrs. Collins.” The teasing light in his dark eyes matched the warmth of his smile. Reese looked as if he might elaborate, but the single, sharp rap on the door interrupted him. “That must be breakfast.”

“I’ll get the door.” David walked to the door to admit the waiter.

“Mr. Alexander, I must speak to Mr. Jordan about the impropriety of this situation immediately.” Howard Clegg, manager of the Madison Hotel, pushed his way past David and into the Presidential Suite. The waiter, pushing a cart laden with breakfast, followed in Clegg’s wake as a small crowd of curious women filled the doorway.

“I knew something unsavory was going on up here!” The hotel manager crowed triumphantly. “I knew it as soon as the night clerk reported seeing you, Mr. Jordan”—he pointed his index finger at Reese’s nose—“carrying this…this…
woman
up here late last night.” Clegg spat out his last sentence and directed his accusing finger at Faith.

Faith gasped aloud and stepped back to avoid Mr. Clegg’s pointing finger and the malicious gleam in his tiny eyes. David made a move in Faith’s direction as the meddlesome group of onlookers pushed farther into the room, but his cousin was quicker. Reese stepped between Faith and the hotel manager, using his body to shield her from the accusatory faces of the crowd.

Reese Jordan stared disdainfully down at the thin, insistent finger jabbing him in the chest, then looked the loathsome little ferret behind it in the eye.

“I suggest you remove your finger from my chest before I take the liberty of removing it for you.” Reese spoke quietly, smoothly, as if he had casually suggested opening a window or hanging up a hat, but that deliberately soft voice carried a definite warning.

“Are you threatening me, sir?” Howard Clegg’s face reddened and his voice rose in pitch, but he was wise enough or wary enough, to remove his finger from the middle of Reese’s broad chest.

“I assure you, Mr. Clegg, that I would never threaten you,” Reese said as he made a show of polishing the onyx stud in the center of his shirt.

Clegg smiled and straightened his shoulders to make himself appear taller.

“I will, however, warn you against making further accusations or maligning the lady’s character,” Reese continued softly, watching as the expression on the hotel manager’s face changed from exultation to fury.

“Why, you—” Clegg stepped forward, but was brought up short by David Alexander’s firm grasp on his arm. “You can’t waltz in here under the guise of business and proceed to hire these…these…soiled doves…these…whores!” He flung out his arm to indicate the crowd of women.

“Who’re you callin’ whores, mister?” came a shout from the angry women.

“Gentlemen! Ladies!” David stepped in to soothe the tempers of the antagonists and prevent a full-blown brawl. “Calm yourselves.”

“Calm ourselves?” another woman shouted. “How can we be calm when that little weasel stands there bold as brass and calls us whores?”

Yeah,” agreed the woman standing closest to Reese and Faith, “we ain’t the whores around here. She is. He’s the one tryin’ out the candidates and she’s the one that let him. Look at her standing there in nothing more than a dressing gown. A
man’s
dressing gown.” She eyed Faith jealously as she spat her vile insults in Reese’s direction.

“Ladies.” Reese spoke through clenched teeth. “You misunderstand the situation. Mrs. Collins is the woman I selected yesterday for the job. She has graciously accepted the position.”

“I’ll bet,” sneered someone in the group.

“You didn’t select her yesterday,” someone else accused. “I was in line way ahead of her and I didn’t even get to talk to Mr. Alexander. You might’ve done some selecting, but you didn’t do it yesterday afternoon.”

The woman standing closest to Reese stepped around him and grabbed Faith by the lapels of the velvet robe. “You might say she slept her way into this job ahead of time.”

“Well, since sleepin’ with the boss is the job, who can blame the tart for usin’ her talent to get it?” The accusation hung in the air before a series of malicious chuckles filled the room.

Faith gazed with contempt and pity at the woman holding onto her, then grasped the woman’s wrists and pushed them away.

The women turned their attention to Faith, waiting for the explosion, but Faith Collins surprised them. She turned with great dignity and walked away from the crowd and into the bedroom. They tensed, waiting for the slam of the door, but again she surprised by quietly closing it behind her.

“Out!” Reese’s shout echoed through the stillness. “All of you—out! Except you.” Suspending the hotel manager’s retreat with a dark, angry stare, Reese uttered a soft promise. “I’ll deal with on a personal level later. David, will you show Mr. Clegg to his office and keep him there?” Reese issued his orders, then followed Faith’s path to the bedroom door, his long legs rapidly closing the distance.

Reese tapped at the door. Silence answered him. Turning the doorknob, he opened the door and stepped inside. The sight of Faith Collins standing beside the bed stopped him in his tracks.

She was wearing only a threadbare, cotton chemise and pantalets as she struggled with the long laces of her corset. His brown velvet robe lay in a puddle around her bare feet. She turned as he entered.

Reese’s heart thumped hard in his chest. He drew in a breath. She was crying. She didn’t utter a sound, but huge tears fell from her gray eyes and rolled down her cheeks. The pain and the humiliation in those tears was so evident, Reese could almost smell the salt and taste the bitterness.

Faith looked away in embarrassment and resumed her fumbling efforts with her corset strings. Reese moved behind her and took the laces from her hands. She sucked in her breath as he approached her and shivered when he grazed the sensitive flesh of her inner arm with his fingers as he gathered the stray laces. Pulling her corset closed, he began to tie the strings.