Sea Scoundrel (23 page)

“Your Aunt Harriette would lend the necessary propriety.” Patience choked on her tea. When she caught her breath, she tried to laugh. “She might teach them al to pray, Captain, but she won’t find them husbands. The idea is absurd. I promise you, she’d begin by saying it couldn’t be done. Her warnings would fil a book.”

“My dear Lady Patience—”

Patience tossed her napkin atop her uneaten breakfast.

“Lady Patience and the Captain, how utterly ridiculous after last night.”

His turn to choke.

Good. “Have I offended your sensibilities, Captain St.

Benedict?”

“Stop trying to change the subject. We are talking about bringing your Aunt to London.”

“No, we are not.”

He cut a piece of kidney with slow precision, put it into his perfectly formed mouth and chewed thoughtful y. “Do you suppose that Lady Caroline Crowley-Smythe—”

“She’s not speaking to me.”

“I suspected as much. Her direct cut is only the beginning.

Your Aunt is your only chance, Patience. Else send your not-so-innocent misses back to their parents, because their husband-hunting is finished.”

Patience tried to form a scathing rejoinder but she could think only of his perfect mouth ... on her breast. Delicious tingles invaded her limbs and a tel tale warmth crept up her face. She went back to the window. “I’l think on it.” The advent of the girls became a welcome distraction.

Grant sat back and sipped his coffee watching them chatter with Patience. Look at them, magpies the lot of them, like any normal family at breakfast, ful of tidings to share. And, Patience, young as she was, personified the mother figure.

He respected her for that. She cared deeply about them, and he believed that, in the end, she would do what was best for them.

There was something about her that made it downright urgent he get her settled and himself back to sea. His dreams had been playing tricks on him, throwing the two of them together, whenever he closed his eyes. “Not bloody likely!”

Silence settled like a mantle on a nest of jackdaws.

Everyone stared at him. Had he spoken aloud? He groped for sanity, cleared his throat. “I’d like to address a subject I neglected to mention last night.” He tried to ignore expressions that said,
Oh, no, not again,
and expel ed his breath. “It seems that the Honorable Oliver Trahern and his cronies placed several disgraceful bets at White’s concerning the five of you.”

Patience stil ed. “Bets?”

Sophie’s brows furrowed. “Wagers?”

“Judging you, correctly,” Grant said, “As Colonials with no notion of how to go on, they bet they could incite you to several specific and scandalous exploits.” He took another bite of kidney, which tasted suddenly like mud, swal owed with effort, and placed his fork by his plate. “No bet was won, though. You were more outrageous than they bet you’d be.”

“Thank you, Captain,” Patience snapped. “Your revelation is reassuring. We al feel better for your having shared it.” Grant wiped his mouth with his napkin and sat back.

Ignoring the charm in Patience’s scowl as he examined the other four. “To place you squarely back into Society’s good graces, I wil need your ful cooperation. You must learn the rules and fol ow them without question. Do you agree to do this?”

They nodded. “Wil that be enough, after everything?”

“Ah, Rose. I did not have an opportunity to address you last night since you were
indisposed
, but I must remedy the situation now. You may not be aware of this, but it is in bad form to assault a peer before two hundred witnesses.

He couldn’t help his smile and damned himself even as his chuckle escaped. “There was a redeeming result of your outburst, however unexpected. Seems you gave Garwood the most female attention he has enjoyed in an age. I hear he boasted of the event for the remainder of the evening.

With a little encouragement, he might forgive you. Wagging tongues wil take longer to stifle.”

Rose lowered her eyes.

“To get back to your question as to whether improved adherence to rules is enough, it is not. The way I intend to lend you society’s stamp of approval is to bring Patience’s Aunt Harriette to London to stand as your chaperone. Lady Wilson told me Patience’s aunt was a darling of society at her debut. Her very presence might wel make the four of you
appear
respectable.”

Patience, red-faced as he’d never seen, stood slowly. “I told you, I absolutely refuse to bring Aunt Harriette to London.” She looked at the girls and pointed a stern, but London.” She looked at the girls and pointed a stern, but lovely, finger at him. “You think that toad lectures? Wait until you hear my harridan of an aunt prose on. She’l have us on our knees praying for society rather than entering into it.

Between bal s, we’l read psalms.”

She’d cal ed him a toad!

Grant watched her walk away, head high, four chattering girls in her wake. Exhausted from lack of sleep, he made his way to the library to await the result of the animated discussion he could hear in the next room and settled himself in a chair by the fire.

An hour later, Patience entered the library and shut the door. The room was silent but for the gentle snore of a beast at rest. She gazed into the glowing ashes of the hearth. Her girls depended on her, and it was important that she do her best for them, more important than gaining her independence. She sighed in resignation. Therefore, she would bring her aunt to London. Aunt Harriette did seem the only answer to redeeming them in the eyes of society.

And damn the snarly beast for pointing it out. She looked daggers at him as he slept, the adorable, soft, warm fool.

His head lol ed on his hand and on his face played an idiotic smile. She wanted to kiss him awake, and her wanting was stronger than her anger. Blast, what attracted her to such a man? She couldn’t believe he suggested she bring her aunt here. And for him to suggest it to the girls after she’d said no, was unforgivable.

Patience marched over to his chair and nudged Grant’s supporting arm out from under his head with great satisfaction.

With quick, muddled movement, he regained his balance and regarded her with sleepy confusion, looking more dear than ever.

To hide her weak-kneed response, she crossed her arms, turned and looked out the window while he regained his wits.

“Patience?”

Damn. He even
sounded
slumberous and cozy. Taking a breath to fortify herself against his wiles, she turned, but his look of vulnerability nearly became her undoing. She tried to ignore the pul , but stepped forward, despite herself. “You win. I wil ask my Aunt to act the chaperone. For the girls. If not for them, I’d consign you to perdition for your underhanded tactics.”

He gave her a melting perusal with heavy-lidded eyes.

“Come here.”

Patience took a step closer, her legs like mint jel y, tingly-cool and trembly-weak.

Taking her hands, he lowered her to his lap, tucked her face into his neck and settled her into his spicy warmth.

And, oh, Lord, wasn’t this the most wonderful place in the world?

“This,” he said, as he kissed her cheek, “is my favorite place for you to be.”

She sighed. “I have the backbone of a garden snail.” He twisted a curl around her ear. “For agreeing to bring your Aunt to London?”

“For agreeing to sit on your lap.”
And for liking it so much.

“If it’s any consolation, my own determination not to let you use your womanly wiles on me has gone the way of your backbone.”

“I weaken so easily where you’re concerned. Must be a character flaw. Aunt says I have many. You’l hear al about them in the days ahead.”

“I’l probably agree with her.”

“No doubt. I can hardly wait for the happy event.” He kissed her nose. “We’l make the trip to Arundel tomorrow. Where are the girls? I’d like to speak to them before I leave.”

“Rose isn’t feeling wel . She went back to her room. I told the others to wait in the drawing room.”

“Then let’s go.”

With regret for leaving her warm, safe shelter, Patience stood.

Grant, looking as reluctant to end the peaceful moment, stood also and took her hand. He kissed it then indicated that she should precede him from the room.

After making their plans known to the girls, Grant admonished them not to leave the house, nor be in to cal ers the fol owing day while their chaperone was away.

Sophie moaned about remaining in seclusion. Angel saved them by proposing they be al owed to visit Gresham’s Lending Library that very afternoon, with Patience’s escort, and the Captain’s, if he pleased.

Grant agreed that reading would give them something to do for the rest of today and for their day at home tomorrow.

Sophie and Angel, excited by the prospect, climbed inside his carriage. Rose said she would enjoy any penny novels they brought back, and Grace whispered her secret love for the newly-popular, Gothic mysteries. “Bring back dozens,” she cal ed as their carriage pul ed from the curb.

At the library, having left Sophie to the Perils of Penelope, and feeling positively wicked, Angel unobtrusively moved through the rows of books until she came to the section on Shakespeare. She pul ed a book down and opened it to hide her face, then she moved the book in one direction, or another, while she scanned the rows nearby.

“Why don’t you just wear a sign that says, ‘I’m having an assignation?’“

Delight fil ed her. “Dickie.”

“You’re a slowtop, but I guess I don’t care. It’s always been you, Angel.”

She beamed and dared a quick kiss, which Dickie seemed pleased to receive. “What’d you bring
him
for?” he asked nodding toward the sitting area where the Captain sat, face in the London Times.

She shrugged. “Have you been free to come here often?”

“The past few days. I have a plan. Here, write your address on this paper.”

Her feeling of delicious wickedness leaning slightly toward guilt, she did so.

“I’l get in touch with you when I have everything settled,” Dickie said. “I’ve got to get out of here before the old tar sees me.” He looked about, stole a kiss and slipped away, leaving Angel bemused and happy, and determined to ignore her niggling doubts.

Back at home, Patience watched her girls eagerly sort Gresham’s bounty. Other than a book by Hannah Moore she had chosen, Angel and Sophie brought back a score teeming with romance and intrigue, which Grace and Rose perused with delight.

Her arm in his, she walked Grant to the front door.

“I won’t see you this evening,” he said. “I have an appointment at my club. I’m thinking of investing in a gas association to light the streets of London. It’s an exciting prospect.”

“I’ve read about it,” Patience said. “A lot of people think its nothing but hocus-pocus and can’t possibly work.”

“Oh, it’l work al right. Already does in Pal Mal .”

“What are you most excited about, Captain? Gas lighting for London? Becoming part of the annals of history, in the event it works, or a new business venture?” He laughed and kissed her on the nose. “Yes.”

“Do you enjoy trade more than the sea?”

“I enjoy many things, Lady—” He sighed. “Patience. There is much you do not know about me.”

“Like my girls,” she said, “I too enjoy a good mystery.

Perhaps someday I wil uncover the secret of Captain Grant St. Benedict.”

“No doubt you wil . I fear, however, you wil find the truth less exciting than speculation. Until tomorrow.” He tipped his hat.

“I’l be ready,” Patience said, sorry to say good bye, chiding herself for the fact.

It was a good thing no one else could imagine one’s dreams, she thought as she dressed the next morning.

More than likely, Aunt Harriette would take one look at her and know al the wicked things she and the Captain had done, in and out of her dreams.

Later, contentment flowed through Grant as their closed carriage meandered through the sleepy English countryside. For breakfast, they had stopped in Horsham at the Traveler’s Jump Inn. Now Patience was trying to come up with a reason to abort the journey, and her attempts were entertaining the devil out of him.

“I can’t believe I let you persuade me to this course,” she wailed. “The woman has positively hated me since the day my parents died. She’l frighten the girls, I tel you. Oh, Grant, let’s turn back. I don’t expect you to stay and help me. I’l send them back to America, whatever’s best for them, real y. Just don’t make me go to my Aunt.”

“Is this the Patience who was left stranded, penniless, in a foreign land and came about? The one who saved a ship, its crew and passengers from certain death? Who—”

“Enough.”

“Patience, I can hardly credit you, frightened of an old woman? From the stories I’ve heard, I’d think you would like her. She was quite the catch in her day.”

“If she was such a catch, why didn’t anyone keep her?

Answer that if you wil . Probably because she’s like a big old fish. They throw ‘em back, you know. Good sport, but they’re tough and stringy. Who wants ‘em anyway?” She made him laugh. There was something of the child in Patience that would always appeal. “Let’s talk to her. If I don’t think it wil work, I won’t introduce the subject. We’l make a short visit and return to London.” Patience pouted. “She’l say finding them husbands can’t be done and she’l refuse.”

“You hope.” He shook his head. “If she does refuse, then it’l be finished. But if I think you’re wrong about her, I’l broach the subject, Patience, and you wil ask.”

“Fine, but can you not simply introduce us to the Marquess of Andover, then go back to sea and forget us. I’l manage.

Truly I wil .”

“When your aunt is ensconced as chaperone, and you are respectable ladies again, I’l introduce you. Not a minute before.”

“If you judge my aunt to be unacceptable, then what?”

“Then I’l introduce you to the Marquess, as I’ve promised.

Though, Patience, I must warn you not to place your hopes in that quarter. It won’t work.”

“Is he in town? You weren’t sure if he would be.”

“He is.”

“How old is he?”