Sea of Desire (3 page)

She wasn’t going to argue with him. Merideth
was certain it would be a waste of time. But she knew what she saw,
and she knew, too, that she didn’t trust Mr. Blackstone. Never mind
that his smile transformed him, making her wonder why she ever
thought he looked dangerous.

With a dimple flirting with his cheek, and
the show of fine white teeth softening the harsh contours of his
face, he was handsome. Sinfully so.

But that was of little consequence. There was
no point remaining, since he refused to tell her the truth about
his reason for coming to Banistar Hall. Whatever he wanted from her
father, she would find out soon enough. Papa was never able to hide
his indiscretions for long.

She stood, obviously considering their
discussion closed. Jared hoped he’d alleviated some of her
suspicions, though by the look she shot him as she brushed a strand
of hair from her cheek, he doubted it. Her hair was light, a soft
honey gold that went well with her blue eyes and pale skin. Now
that the heat from the fire had dried it, her hair curled wildly
about her face. She looked like his perception of an angel.

But he couldn’t allow her appearance to fool
him. She was going to cause trouble if he stayed here much longer.
Following her to the door, Jared decided to return to Lord Alfred
as soon as she left. There was no need to delay further. And
afterwards, as soon as the storm passed, he’d return to his ship
and put this behind him.

Merideth’s hand rested on the brass doorknob,
and she turned. Mr. Blackstone, following her closely, now loomed
over her. He smelled of sea and storm. She swallowed, forcing
herself not to be intimidated by his size and obvious strength.
“How long did you say you planned to stay with us?”

“I didn’t,” Jared said with an arch of his
brow. “But I imagine I shall be gone in a few days.”

“Back to London?”

“Back to London,” Jared confirmed with a
smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. She might be lovely, but
she wasn’t the soft, pliant female he was used to. Jared expected
her to call him a liar. From her expression it was apparent that
was what she thought. Instead she simply opened the door and walked
down the hall, her carriage—despite her damp, rumpled gown and
tangled hair—regal.

Merideth slammed into her room, the
simultaneous crash of thunder drowning out the noise. The fire in
her hearth was lit, but dying, and with a sigh Merideth moved
toward it. There didn’t seem to be anything she could do about the
stranger tonight, but in the morning she intended to send word for
the village constable to pay a visit to Banistar Hall.

For now, she would change from her damp
clothes, then return to the library. If she knew her father, he had
drunk himself senseless by now and would need help finding his
bed.

Shadows shrouded the stairs as Jared made his
way back to the library. The few sconces that were still lit burned
low, their flames sputtering in pools of melted wax. Jared glanced
about when he reached the huge entrance hall. There wasn’t a soul
about. Actually, he hadn’t seen anyone since entering Banistar Hall
except Lord Alfred, the servant Thurston, and, of course, Lady
Merideth. It seemed odd for a house this large to have so few
people around.

But then that was hardly the only unusual
thing about the place. The Banistar family had obviously fallen on
hard times. He knew the gold hidden in his waistcoat wasn’t near
enough to restore the family to prosperity, but it provided a
motive for Alfred’s treasonous venture.

Not that Jared considered lack of funds
justification for becoming a traitor. But it did provide a motive
where until tonight Jared couldn’t fathom one. After all, for a
British lord to contact an emissary of Dr. Franklin’s in Paris and
offer to reveal the name of a well-respected American who was in
truth working for the British intelligence was at least suspicious.
And that suspicion was part of the reason Jared had come ashore at
night.
And
wanted to be done with this quickly.

As Jared knocked on the library door, he
wondered briefly if Merideth Banistar knew of this intrigue. She
hinted broadly that she took charge of her father’s affairs. Did
those affairs include spying? It wouldn’t be the first time a
beautiful woman had used her wiles to discover secrets. But though
Lady Merideth was undeniably beautiful, Jared couldn’t see her
steeped in subterfuge.

It appeared that if Merideth Banistar wanted
to know something, she asked—or, more accurately, demanded.

Shaking his head, Jared entered the library.
He had neither the time nor the inclination to ponder the
daughter’s personality. It was Lord Alfred and his secrets for sale
that should be occupying his thoughts. Getting the secrets and
getting the hell back to his ship.

Jared shut the library door with a soft
click, then turned, a scowl darkening his features.

“Now, I know what you’re thinking, my boy,
and believe me, i’ ‘tisn’t true. I’m not too drunk to transact our
business.” Alfred Banistar lifted his glass toward Jared in a
wavering salute.

“As you say.” Jared’s voice was tight. “Then
may I suggest we conclude our transaction as quickly as
possible?”

“Ah, yes. You would be the one who chafes at
delays.” The final word was cut short as Alfred took another gulp
of wine. “The interruption because of Merideth was unavoidable. We
can’t have her here when we are discussing the fact that her father
is a... a... What would you call me, Mr. Blackstone?”

“I don’t think my label for you is
important.”

“Ho.” Alfred’s laugh was short and not very
jolly. “But I already know what you consider me, as do you. For a
spy, you aren’t very adept at hiding your feelings of
contempt.”

“Distaste for your duplicity is closer to the
truth,” Jared said as he shook his head at Alfred’s silent offering
of wine. “And I am not a spy, simply a courier.” And an unwilling
one at that, Jared added to himself.

Alfred brushed the difference aside with a
wave of his hand, spilling amber liquid on his already stained
waistcoat in the process. He didn’t seem to notice the mishap, and
Jared sighed in frustration. His Lordship was obviously
skunked.

Jared moved closer to the chair where Alfred
sprawled. “If you will give me the information, or tell me where I
can find it, I’ll give you the money and take my leave.” Waiting
out the storm in the cave off the beach seemed preferable to this.
Then he could leave at first light to reboard his ship. The longer
the
Carolina
stood anchored off shore, the greater the
chance of being spotted by a British cruiser. For tonight, with the
rain still lashing and the thunder booming, his ship was safe
enough, but come tomorrow...

“I’ve always admired you colonials. Did you
know that?” Alfred’s words were slurred, and he completely ignored
Jared’s suggestion that they move forward with the transfer. “I
even spoke in Parliament once about giving in to some of your
demands. Not too vehemently, you understand. It wasn’t a popular
sentiment. But I for one was distressed with the onset of this
war.” He paused long enough to upend his glass. “Nasty business,
war. Of course, you have no chance of winning this one, but still I
hate to—”

“The name, Lord Alfred! I need the name.”

His eyes owlish, Alfred stared up at Jared.
The younger man was losing patience, and it didn’t help when Alfred
began laughing uncontrollably.

“Don’t have it. I—”

“Damn your bloody hide.” Jared grabbed Alfred
by the front of his waistcoat and hauled him up. “You said—”

“Not me. Merideth,” Alfred sputtered. “Too
dangerous for me to keep, but no one would suspect Merry. She has
the name.”

Jared’s fingers loosened and Alfred sank
bonelessly into the chair. Hell, he should have discussed this with
the daughter from the beginning. So much for his assumption of her
innocence. Blue eyes and an angel face did not a pure heart
make.

“Wh... where are you going?” Alfred leaned
forward, reaching for Jared, who’d retreated toward the door. “I
want my money.”

Jared paused and turned, his expression dark.
“You won’t see a single penny until I have the information I came
for. If I have to get it from Lady Merideth, I shall.”

“But the money is mine. You must give it to
me. She doesn’t even—” Alfred sucked in his breath. His
heavy-lidded eyes, focused on a spot behind Jared, widened in
shock.

“What the—” Jared jerked around, but only
caught a glimpse of scarlet before blinding pain exploded in his
head.

Good Lord, he hurt! Jared moaned and the
sound amplified the drums pounding in his head. He tried to move
his hands, to cradle his aching temple, but he couldn’t move them.
What the hell? He tried again, this time forcing his eyes open.

He’d obviously died, for there staring down
at him was the most beautiful angel. His eyes narrowed. Hell, that
was no angel. It was Lady Merideth Banister, and he was...

Memory crashed down on him and he fought
against the pain to sit up. Rough hands grabbed at him, knocking
him back to the floor.

“Ye aren’t going nowhere,” came a voice from
behind him. Jared twisted but could only catch a glimpse of
thick-soled boots.

At the same time, he realized his hands were
tied. “What’s going on here?”

“I’ll tell ye what’s going on. Yer going to
hang.”

“Hang?” This time Jared struggled to sit up,
but the boot slammed into his shoulder, flattening him. His head
landed on the worn carpet with a thud. “What the hell for?” Jared
managed after the bolt of pain subsided a bit. Had they discovered
why he was on British soil?

Jared’s gaze sought Merideth’s. She still
stood over him, and she took a deep breath, her bottom lip
trembling before responding. “Why did you do it? I would have
gotten you the money... somehow.”

“Do what?” Jared tried to keep the panic from
his voice. But he was in so much pain he could barely think
straight, he was trussed up like a Christmas goose, and it felt
like an ox was standing on his shoulder.

“Murder him,” Merideth sniffed. “Why did you
murder my father?”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“That’ll be enough outa ye.” The boot ground
harder into Jared’s shoulder as he strained to sit up. He tried to
see past the black dots that swam before his face. “Her Ladyship
done sent for the constable, she did. He’ll take care a the likes a
ye.”

Jared’s eyes met Merideth’s and followed the
slight shift in her gaze to the motionless form on the floor, not
ten feet away. Even though it was covered with a sheet, one didn’t
need much imagination to know it was a body. And it didn’t take her
accusing words to know it was her father. Tears shimmered in her
eyes, and she seemed barely able to keep them from pouring down her
cheeks. While he watched she took a deep, quivering breath.