The Pirate Next Door (29 page)

The warm winds of June again blew through the garden, stirring the riot of roses that climbed the bricks of both houses. The fountain trickled a soothing melody, and a dozen sparrows began a cacophony of chirping in the tall trees. Alexandra reposed on one of the benches in the shade, tired, but happy. The smell of green things and earth and flowers wafted on the friendly breeze, refreshing and delighting her.

This was her first venture into the garden since her confinement. She had stolen this moment to bathe in wonder at her happiness. Her ordeal was over, her immediate fears assuaged, although she now realized that a mother never really put all fear behind her.

Mr. Jacobs had purchased Alexandra’s house and had moved in with Vanessa. During the intervening months, they’d pulled down the garden wall separating them, turning the green oasis into one large garden for all to share. Alexandra and Vanessa had planned and overseen the
installation of walkways, flowerbeds, benches, trees. Grayson and Mr. Jacobs had glanced at the piles of plans, glanced at each other, and fled.

Grayson and Maggie were upstairs now with the twins, no doubt gurgling and burbling at them. Charlotte, named for Grayson’s mother, had red hair and deep brown eyes. Alexis, named for Alexandra’s father, had hair of gold, and his eyes were blue, like his father’s. Grayson, ever since the hour he’d walked into Alexandra’s chamber and beheld his tiny, perfect daughter and son, had behaved like a man obsessed. He’d held them and talked to them and promised them all kinds of absurdities, and in short, behaved like a dazzled papa. This did not mean he ignored his first child, Maggie, whom he doted on without abandon. Maggie, for her part, seemed as besotted with the twins as he.

Motherhood and wifehood had made Alexandra’s life in the last ten months both harried and content. She supposed that happiness was all about mingling chaos and delight. The future could hold more darkness, but the bright times would exist as well. Life, in its complex array, would go on.

The shadows moved. Alexandra sat up and peered into the patch of darkness beneath the beech tree that stood near the far wall. Her pulse quickened, and she wondered if she should call for Grayson or Mr. Jacobs.

After a moment, she saw him. He stood in the shadows like darkness himself, his midnight blue coat, black hair, and swarthy skin nearly hidden in the lace-patterned shade. He did not move, only watched her with glittering eyes as she rose and glided to meet him.

Shadows closed about her, bathing her in soothing coolness. He had chosen the one spot that could not be
viewed by either house, and she knew he had not done it by chance.

She reached him. She looked into his ice-green eyes, so unchanged. His face was as hard, his mouth as severe, as they had been the previous year.

“I am pleased to see you, Mr. Ardmore,” she said softly.

He regarded her a long moment before he answered. “Are you?”

“I am,” she replied. “Grayson would be as well.”

“But I do not wish to see him. He will want to reconcile. I do not.”

She frowned. “Surely everything has been resolved between you. You should be friends again.”

The look he gave her held amusement. “Old friends make the best enemies, Alexandra. Grayson and I have seen too much of each other’s weaknesses, of each other’s cruelties. Those can’t easily be forgiven, even if the blame for the actual events lies elsewhere.” He paused. “It is much too complicated for a simple I’m sorry.”

She bit her lip. Ardmore’s voice held finality, telling her that she could plead until she was hoarse, and she would not move him. “I think you give up the chance of happiness too easily. But then, at this moment, I am adamant for everyone to be happy.”

He actually smiled, though his eyes did not warm. “You make a good match for him. Finley has always, even with the tragedies that have struck him, been filled with the joy of life.” The smile faded. “I, on the other hand, find no joy in it.”

His words made her heart twist. “You sadden me, captain. May I pray for you? Pray that someday, you will find someone who will bring you happiness.”

His eyes softened. “Pray all you like. I don’t mind.”

“May we at least be friends, then?” She offered her
hand. “Put everything behind us? Although I am still a bit angry at you for Joan. You might be happy to know that she married my footman and the two of them are setting up housekeeping in his father’s inn.”

“How excellent for them.” He took her hand, but instead of shaking it, businesslike, he clasped it softly. “I had come today to beg for your forgiveness. I hurt you. I never meant to. I had to leave England last year before I could tell you that. The fact that you are now happy-even with a man like Finley-pleases me.”

“You hurt Grayson, too.”

He laughed softly. “You may have noticed that Finley bounces back with astonishing resilience. How long did it take him to recover from our last adventure?”

“Um—perhaps a day.”

“You see? He doesn’t need my prostration. And I’ll be damned if I give it to him. We both hurt each other. We’re about even.”

She tried to withdraw her hand, but his grip, though loose, did not release. “At least, if you cannot be friends, you should put it all behind you. Go on with a new challenge, new adventures. Will you at least do that?”

He gave her an ironic look. “You take the clichĂ of turning over a new leaf to its utter limits, my lady. To reassure you, I am not skulking about London brooding over my lost friendship with your husband. I am here on completely different business, and took the chance of finding you. I have already begun new adventures, new challenges.”

She regarded him skeptically. “Are these challenges some our Admiralty would approve of?”

“Very possibly not.” He at last disengaged his hand from hers. “I ask that you do not run to your husband or
the Duke of St. Clair until I have the chance to clear England.”

She decided not to answer that with a promise. “How is Mr. Henderson?”

The flicker in his eyes indicated he had not missed her evasion. “Henderson will recover. He has had many things to occupy his attention.”

“You forgave him then? For trying to turn against you?”

“Let us say that I need him. I might forgive him later.”

“Tell him—” She stopped, casting about for something that would not be hurtful. “Tell him I am grateful to him for his help. And tell him good-bye.”

Ardmore inclined his head. “If you wish.” He stopped for a moment, then reached down and took her hand again. He pressed it to his lips. “Good-bye, Mrs. Alastair,” he said softly.

She started at the use of her old name, but just then, Grayson’s voice boomed out from the house. “Alexandra!”

She withdrew her hand, turned, and hurried back into the sunshine. The June air chased away the chill of the shadows, as did the sight of Grayson emerging from the house, a bundled baby on his arm. He wore no coat, just his shirt and breeches and boots, the same as the first day she’d met him. Maggie trailed behind him, crooning something to the babe she carried.

“There you are, love.” Grayson crossed the grass to her, leaned down and kissed her lips. The kiss was no less fiery for little Alexis’s coo of protest. “They missed their mama. So we came to find you.”

Alexandra accepted the bundle from him. She dropped a kiss to Alexis’s downy head. Maggie stopped beside them. Grayson draped an arm around his first daughter’s shoulder and teased his second daughter’s fist with a
scarred finger. Charlotte opened her hand, seized his finger, and squeezed tight.

“Gooble, gooble, gooble,” Grayson said.

Maggie gave him a look of thirteen-year-old dignity. “Papa, please.”

Grayson tweaked Maggie’s nose. “Gooble, gooble, gooble.”

“Papa!”

Grayson’s gaze moved past Alexandra to the shadows of the trees. His eyes narrowed. But she sensed, without turning, that James Ardmore had gone.

Grayson’s gaze met hers again, the blue undimmed. His eyes held knowledge. He looked at her for a long moment, then smiled, warm and dazzling. “We are having fine weather,” he said. “Why don’t we take the Majesty out for a short voyage? Around the Channel to Cornwall?” He wriggled Charlotte’s hand. “The twins need to gain their sea legs.”

Maggie laughed. “They cannot even walk yet, Papa.”

“Never too early to learn. Besides, my crew is getting lazy. A nice run won’t hurt them.”

Alexandra smiled into his eyes. “I would like that.”

Their gazes met, held. His look told her he’d guessed every moment of her encounter with Ardmore. It also told her he loved her, and that his old rivalry with Ardmore would never change that.

Alexandra touched her husband’s hard and handsome face. “Once the twins gain their sea legs, then perhaps we can sail farther?”

He lightly kissed her fingers, his lips warm. “Where did you have in mind?”

“Tahiti.”

Maggie stared up at her, wild hope in her eyes. Grayson looked amused. “‘Tis a long and dangerous voyage.”

“But we will have the great Captain Finley to guide us. He can sail anywhere.”

He tried to look modest. “True.” He gazed down from his height at his two ladies and the two infants. “Very well, then, we’ll sail for Tahiti.”

He gathered Alexandra into the circle of his arm and kissed her, long and warm and loving. Alexis made a happy noise, and Charlotte followed suit.

Grayson chuckled. “Every sailor on the seas feared one Finley before,” he said. He smiled into her eyes. “Now, they must face
five.
”

Thanks go to my editor, Kate Seaver, and my agent, Bob Mecoy; to Patrick for his button magic; to Nancy, whose music sparks my own creativity; to Gary for being such a loyal fan; to Chris, Elizabeth, and Lizzie for their continued belief in me; to my parents, who gave me my first typewriter as well as much encouragement; to Forrest for his unconditional love and support; and to Hannah, who continually brings me back down to earth.

“Tain’s story is powerful, sensual and extremely exciting.The magical paranormal world created with the Immortals series is phenomenal. Absolutely fabulous!”

—Fresh Fiction

“The always inventive Ashley continues to refine her magicsteeped Regency Nvengaria series, and in this sexy romance, she gets it exactly right.”

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Booklist

“With excellent style and passion, she gathers the plot threads and weaves them into a spellbinding climax.”

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Romantic Times BOOKreviews

“Deftly mixing dangerous adventure, dark magic, and a surfeit of scorching chemistry between her hero and heroine, Ashley creates an addictively readable romance, the first in a marvelously original new paranormal series that is bound to cast its own bewitching spell over readers.”

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Booklist

“Ashley has hit her stride, and her vibrant voice reverberates through a humorous, smart, sexy romance with just enough ingenious paranormal overtones to hook you and keep you captivated. Best of all, you’ll believe in the magic that is true love.”

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“The magic of Ashley’s latest is in not only the spellbinding plotline but also her impressive writing style and engaging characters involved in a grand adventure. This is a very special, highly satisfying read.”

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Romantic Times BOOKreviews

“
Confessions of a Lingerie Addict
is a truly addicting book; I could not put it down. It has humor, romance, and scenes so HOT that I had to turn on the air conditioner.”

—Romance Junkies

“Wit combines perfectly with sizzling sensuality and exhilarating adventure…Ashley has fine-tuned the pirate romance with her rapier storytelling talents.”

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Romantic Times BOOKreviews

“Readers who relish deliciously tortured heroes and spirited heroines who can give as good as they get will find much to savor in the latest bracing mix of sexy romance and treacherous intrigue from the consistently satisfying Ashley.”

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Booklist

“A witty and splendidly magical romance.”

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Booklist

“Deliciously fun, delightfully entertaining. Featuring impeccably crafted characters and laced with both humor and danger, this historical romance is simply superb.”

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Booklist

JUST ONE SIP
(Anthology)

CHRISTMAS CARDS FROM THE EDGE
(Anthology)

CONFESSIONS OF A LINGERIE ADDICT
PERILS OF THE HEART

The Immortals Series:

THE RECKONING THE REDEEMING
THE GATHERING THE CALLING

The Nvengarian Series:

HIGHLANDER EVER AFTER
THE MAD, BAD DUKE
PENELOPE & PRINCE CHARMING

The Pirate Series:

THE CARE & FEEDING OF PIRATES
THE PIRATE HUNTER
THE PIRATE NEXT DOOR

A LEISURE BOOK
^®

October 2003

Published by

Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc.
200 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016

Copyright © 2003 by Jennifer Ashley

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