Sea Scoundrel (27 page)

That’s a big burden for a child.”

Grant knew Shane expected to be upbraided later but his brave brother didn’t seem to care.

Shane kissed Rose’s hand. “I’d seen enough of your mother to know she wasn’t what a baby needed. I know she’s your mother, but you didn’t make out in the mother area any better than we did.”

“My father left her for another woman. She turned hard and hateful. I have good memories.” She kissed her daughter’s downy cheek and took the sleepy infant from Shane’s arms.

Sighing, she leaned back into his warmth and encouraged him to continue his story.

“I worked on the Connecticut on the way to get Amy. Grant paid for the voyage back. A sailor doesn’t have time for a baby and a nursemaid has less time for sailing.” He looked at Grant. “Which reminds me. I have a few complaints about what passengers have to put up with on one of those ships, and a few ideas on how to make a passenger’s voyage more comfortable.”

Grant chuckled. “So do I, little brother. I’ve been thinking about building a line of passenger ships. We’l talk.”

“Good,” everyone said together.

Rose kissed Amy’s dark curls. “Though words are so very insignificant, Captain, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart, for sending Shane for my daughter.

She’s the most precious gift imaginable. I’l be grateful al my life for what you have done for us. Amy wil thank you someday.”

Uncomfortable with Rose’s gratitude, Grant stood and made for the brandy. Pouring a glass he asked if anyone else wanted one.

Patience hated that he sought brandy when he was upset; she’d seen him do it often enough. Though he drank little other than that, as far as she could see.

“We’l al have one,” Shane said.

Like Patience, Rose set her glass aside without drinking.

“How did you convince mama to let you have Amy?” Rose asked.

Shane looked at Grant. “You were right about persuasion, Grant. She took the gold wil ingly enough and handed Amy over.”

“She sold my baby?”

“Not quite. I carried a letter with an official seal from the
Knave’s Secret
, signed by Captain Grant St. Benedict, outlining the reasons why she could go to jail for stealing your child. A list of American officials, friends of our il ustrious Captain, added weight to the document. She was so mad, I thought she’d say no just to be difficult.” He squeezed Rose’s hand. “You know how she can get. But the gold turned her resistance. I took Amy and re-boarded within a day.”

“I didn’t know a Captain carried any official weight with the law,” Patience said.

Shane and Grant chuckled. “It was a bluff, pure and simple.

But it worked. I must say brother, you have a mind for deception.” Shane saluted. “I would never have realized.” Grant shoved his hand through his hair and went to gaze at the winter-sparse garden outside.

Rose stood. “As much as I hate to let go of my precious girl, I think I should put her down.”

“Shane, since Amy is so comfortable with you, why don’t you stay here until she gets to know her mother again,” Patience suggested. “The room next door to Rose is empty and you’re welcome to stay.” She hoped it would give Rose a chance to tel Shane there was going to be another.

“I think that’s a good idea, if Rose doesn’t mind?” Rose’s slight blush was evident, as was her pleasure.

Together, they took Amy upstairs.

Patience looked at Grant, his back to her. “How many barrels of good French brandy did you trade for Shane, Captain?”

His reluctant smile appeared.

“You made me so mad when I thought you sent him away.

Did you
want
to make me hate you?” He captured her hands. “I looked forward to the day you would show your appreciation. Now, be a good girl and thank me properly.”

Patience wondered what he would consider a proper show of thanks. Perhaps a kiss. A quick brush of the lips and a thank you. Or one of those lovely long kisses that fil ed her with a surfeit of need.

Emotion played across Patience’s face, as if he could see the thoughts dancing in her lovely head. He wondered what she considered proper thanks but decided to make things more interesting. Sliding his hands into her hair, he pul ed out every last pin until the careful y coifed mass tumbled to her shoulders in a disarray of seductive copper curls.

Patience took him by the hand and brought him to the large bay window fronted by a green velvet window seat. She urged him to sit with his back against the side pil ow and lifted his legs to rest along the seat. He crossed his ankles and arms and waited to see exactly what she would do next.

Perched primly at the edge of the bench, facing him, one knee raised for balance, she leaned forward. Sliding her hands under his waistcoat to his shirt and wetting her lips, she leaned forward and examined his face. Coming nearer stil , she paused close enough for him to lick her lips, himself. “Is a kiss sufficient thanks for such a noble deed?” she whispered.

“Thanks be damned, kiss me before I perish.” He captured her and her lips. Starved for more than a week, Grant gloried in the reunion, and if Patience’s response was any indication, so did she.

Voices outside the door caught his attention, hers too from the look on her face when she pul ed away. They waited to see if they should jump from the spot. The voices faded, so did his forbearance. He mumbled an oath, hauled her on top of him and slid the curtains closed, effectively sealing them in a cocoon. He settled Patience on her knees straddling him. “I like you just here,” he said, sitting straighter. Winding his arms around her, he kissed her with greedy enthusiasm.

Patience relaxed and settled on his lap. She pul ed from the kiss and wiggled against him. “You want me.” Her smile was smug.

“Always have. You simply didn’t know. You’ve had this effect on me since the beginning.”

“I have?” She looked delighted. “In the beginning, when? I know; after the storm.”

“Definitely after the storm.” He trailed a finger down her chin to her neck. “Sooner than that, though.” He grazed his knuckles lower and stopped where skin met bodice.

She watched, and looked up at him, wide-eyed.

He took her mouth again.

After a while, she sought breath. “When you gave me your clothes?”

A fond memory, he thought, teasing below her breast then he treated the palm of his hand to its gentle swel . Passion darkened her emerald eyes. They closed. He hardened.

“When I took Paddy’s clothes off you, I wanted you badly, but sooner stil .”

He teased a nubbin as she touched her brow to his and breathed deeply. “Danced, when we danced?” She shuddered. “Did you want me then?”

“No, yes. Sometime in the beginning.” He couldn’t remember now. He was too busy tormenting her as he throbbed beneath her. “The first week, maybe the first day.”

“When I pul ed your face into my skirts?”

“Between your legs, you mean? But it doesn’t matter, I can’t think for wanting you.”

“I want you too.”

This was the first time she admitted it. “Do you now?” He could do something about that.

The door creaked, jarring him to alertness.

“Patience, are you in here?”

They stopped breathing and stared at each other, stunned, alert.

“God’s truth I can’t imagine where that girl’s got to with that devil of a Sea Captain in tow.” Harriette’s voice faded, but the door did not close. They heard servants chattering in the hal .

Grant put a finger to his lips and quietly unlatched the window. Throwing the casements wide, he slipped outside.

Hands at her waist he lifted Patience out.

“It’s freezing out here,” she whispered on a shiver. The wind tossed her hair wild, a blaze of fire amidst the ice of winter.

“Cool air wil do us good right now. It was getting downright hot in our nest. We’re lucky we didn’t do something foolish.”

“I know,” Patience said.

Though he’d like to stop and soothe, and inquire as to what
she
thought foolish, he thought a brisk walk round the house best. “There’s the bal room. One of those French doors should get us inside.”

“Hurry. My feet are freezing.”

“Be patient.” He shook his head. “Never mind, I should know better.”

She elbowed him in the ribs.

“Ouch. Stop that!” After rifling three multi-paned doors, he found one unlocked and pul ed her in behind him. He chafed her arms, kissed her cheek, and combed his fingers through her hair, making her look more like she needed seeing to than ever. He sighed and ordered his eager body to calm. “Fol ow my lead and agree with whatever I say.” He could tel by her expression, Patience was about to argue.

“Just do it!”

Voices and footsteps got closer. He placed her arm on his and moved forward, giving them the appearance of a couple on a leisurely strol .

The gilded bal room’s doors were thrown open to reveal Harriette and the girls.

“Lady Belmont, girls! Just in time,” Grant said. “Patience has decided that the next bal you attend shal be your own.” Aunt Harriette beamed. “Why, Patience, what an absolutely delightful idea. It wil be a terrible crush, I’m certain.

Everyone wil come just to see what these minxes wil do next. A grand show we’l give, with our society manners and proper deportment. Let’s see, we’l need three, no, four weeks to prepare and send invitations. Grace, dear, do go and get your writing things. You can help with the lists.

Patience, fix your hair; you look like a street urchin.” She swept the air with a shooing motion. “Come along, girls, we’ve plans to make.”

“Let’s go, Urchin,” Grant said, taking Patience by the hand.

“We’ve got to get to the drawing room and remove the evidence.”

When they got there, they found the curtains open and the window latched, everything as it should be. Shane leaned against the mantle, smiling. “On my way home to pack a bag for my stay here,” Shane said, “I discovered the ladies on a search.” He nodded toward the window. “I covered your tracks.”

“There is absolutely no way you could know—”

“Grant,” Patience warned.

Shane laughed. “I peered out the open window in time to see your skirt, Patience, as you disappeared ‘round the corner. Here...” Shane opened Grant’s hand, and dropped Patience’s hairpins into his palm. “You might want to try putting them back where you got them.” Grant left with Shane.

Patience’s face had stil been pink as he and Shane bid her farewel , Grant remembered as their carriage rumbled along the square. He thanked heaven Aunt Harriette had intervened. One of these days, her spitfire niece was going to muddle his good judgment beyond repair. It had been close too many times.

Not for the first time, he wondered why Patience was able to accomplish, with no noticeable intent, what so many other women had tried and failed.

No woman had ever enticed him into a compromising predicament, yet he’d come close too often with Patience.

Damned if he wasn’t the one at fault half the time for setting up the bloody situations. He must try to think more clearly where Patience was concerned. He couldn’t let himself get caught. Ever.

Wel , the bal would take care of everything. Patience would meet the Marquess of Andover and be finished with him after that.

Four more weeks and he’d go back to sea. He could do it.

* * *

Once Aunt Harriette fil ed the girls with self-confidence, she barreled into them with a vengeance. Everything they thought they knew must be re-learned. Walking. Dancing.

Greeting. Eating. Speaking—not speaking! Rules. Rules.

Rules!

Patience’s head ached.

“There are more rules to behavior in society than minutes in a day,” Sophie complained after a difficult day of lessons.

“Sometimes I don’t think we can do it,” Patience confessed to her aunt as they took after-dinner tea with the girls.

“Nonsense. There are only two weeks to go. With al the sparkle you have among you, you’l be ready to set the town ablaze. But remember, the things you must not do, are every bit as important as those you must. Perhaps more so.

And, while we are speaking of what we must and must not do, Patience, dear, I hate to bring this up. But I do think it’s important.”

Here we go again. “Certainly, Aunt. What is it?”

“It’s that naughty Captain, dear.”

Oh, dear
. “Naughty?” Patience chuckled to hide her agitation. “That’s a good description. Don’t you think so, Sophie?”

Sophie frowned suspiciously. “Why do you ask me?”

“Because I knew you would comprehend the word better than anyone.”

Sophie pursed her lips. “Hmm.”

The girls laughed.

“Patience you must face the fact that your Captain is not of your social standing.”

“And?”

“You must not see so much of him. Not see him at al , I should say.”

Patience crossed the room, her back to the group. “Why ever not?” Her aunt’s words disturbed her more than she liked.

“You are seeking titled husbands for your girls. You should move in only the most elite social circles. Your Captain is not of that company.”

Patience turned back to her aunt unable to mask her distress. “Why must you cal him my Captain? He is not my anything.”

“Of course, child. Whatever you say.”

“You don’t need to be patronizing. I was merely stating a point about which I feel strongly.”

“Clearly, I’ve distressed you. I hoped we could discuss—”

“This discussion is at an end, Aunt. I wil see you in the morning.”

Midway to her room, Patience changed her mind. She went down the stairs, cal ed for her cape and made a quick escape out the door, the doorman cal ing dire warnings should she venture out so late unescorted. She flagged down the first hack she saw and made her way to the Captain’s London quarters.

After pounding on the door for several moments, she confronted a sleepy-eyed Shane. “Patience what’s wrong?

Has anything happened to Rose or Amy?”

“Calm down, papa bear. They are as healthy and happy as they were when you returned to live here yesterday. Where is that ogre of a brother of yours? I need to speak with him.”

“I’m afraid he’s at his club. But I expect he’l be back shortly.