The Wild Belle (4 page)

“No.”

“Now see here. You have no idea who I am—”

“You’re that Earl. I’m Andi by the way,” she interrupted.

He closed his eyes and took a slow controlling breath. He opened them and watched as she swirled the water with her foot. His eyes traveled up her well-toned calf to her knee. He noticed that her pants were rolled up to avoid touching the refreshing water.

“Andi? Why on earth would you have a male name?” He held up his hand to halt her answer. “Never mind. I think you should leave now, Andi, because I have no intention of helping you ease your curiosity about the male body.”

She tilted her head sideways, looking at him. Careening her neck to give the appearance of trying to see him though the water, she said, “You will.”

He turned slightly to keep her prying eyes from viewing his body. “Will I?”

“Yes. Ya see, you’re floatin’ right overtop of Ole Cecil.”

“Who, pray tell, is that?”

“A gator.”

“A gator?”

“Yeah, most don’t like these cold waters, but not Ole Cecil—he likes ‘em. Either way I’ll see ya naked. Whether you’re alive or dead.”

Michael looked into Andi’s eyes and couldn’t tell if she was joking or not, but he wasn’t taking any chances. He let out a faint curse and began swimming towards the shore. This was one of the few reasons why he hated these trips—the women, in one form or another. There were either not enough of them or too many, but never had he had any be so bold . . . until now.

“Swim faster, he’s after ya’,” Andi hollered at Michael, with urgency to her voice. “Go! Go! Go! He’s about ta get ya!”

He kept his current pace. If there was an alligator after him, he could not outswim it. As he neared the shore he turned, allowing his body to stay submerged in the shallow water. His eyes scanned the water for the alligator.

“He’s right there!” Andi yelled excitedly. She stood, bobbed up and down in an excited manner and pointed several feet out in front of him.

“Damn it to hell,” Michael mumbled as he stood and walked out of the water.

Andi’s eyes grew wide at the sight of his naked body. As she studied his well-toned, muscular body, a funny feeling arose deep inside her, as though her body were becoming consumed by flames. Try as she might she just couldn’t tear her eyes away from his magnificent physique. He was perfect! His chest was broad and muscular. There was a dark patch of hair in the center. Her eyes followed the dark hair downwards until it reached his manhood. Her eyes grew wide at the sight. Never had she imagined that it would look like that or be that large! She swallowed nervously. Old Amos’s shout broke the spell that held her eyes in place. She tore her eyes away and quickly climbed out of the tree. Grabbing her discarded shoes, she untied Comet. She was on the horse’s back in an instant and disappeared into the brush.

Michael turned toward the voice.

“Mr. Michael?” Old Amos appeared. Amos took in the younger man’s naked form and a small smile crossed his face. His “tee hee” laugh was followed by, “You expectin’ someone?”

Michael looked to Old Amos, then to the tree, then back down at his naked form. “No. I thought I saw an alligator.”

Old Amos slowly shook his head. “There ain’t no gators in these waters. It’s too cold fer yer pod, sa ya know it’s too cold fer gators.”

A small chuckle escaped from Michael. “Yes, I suppose so,” he replied, turning to look at the live oak again, agitated, realizing that Andi had gotten her wish.

“Better put yer clothes on,” Old Amos told him. The older man walked over to the bench and tossed Michael’s clothing at him. “Don’t wanna give Miss Mandy the vapors when she sees that,” he said, pointing at Michael’s well-endowed manhood.

Michael gave Old Amos an exasperated look and quickly dressed. Once finished, he took one last look at the large tree at the back of the lake looking for the pixie named Andi. He followed Amos back to the house wondering how he would find her.

Chapter Five

When Michael returned to the plantation home, he was greeted again by Amanda. She apologized profusely for her prior behavior and then escorted him up the grand staircase to his room.

Michael walked over to the floor-length window, pulled back the curtains and opened the large window. The room was in the back of the home facing the river, and he was greeted by a cooling breeze. He took off his waistcoat and tossed it onto a red velvet chair. Turning, he walked to the glass-covered door beside the window, opened it and walked out onto the veranda. Looking to the left and right, he realized that one could walk around the entire house without interruption from here.

His thoughts returned to the beautiful pixie in the tree. Where had she come from? Who was she? She obviously knew who he was; she had called him by his father’s title. But how did she know of his background? One thing Michael knew for certain was that she was not one of Ott’s daughters. Daughters of wealthy men did not behave so brazenly.

Michael drew his brows together. But didn’t his sister, Madison, behave in such a way? True, but she was a child then, and she outgrew those antics, which led Michael to the conclusion that his first assessment was correct . . . Andi was not from a wealthy family.

Michael walked back into the room. Sitting down on the small settee, he took off his black boots. He leaned back, stretched his feet out in front of him and crossed them at the ankles. Leaning his head back on the wall, he closed his eyes. Sleep was about to find him. Suddenly he was startled awake by an object landing in his lap. Michael shot upward quickly and saw a cat in his lap. The cat nudged his hands, demanding attention.

“How did you get in here?”

The cat answered with a purr and Michael rubbed its gray head. He looked around the room and noticed the door was cracked open. As he picked up the cat and placed it gently on the settee, he noticed her large abdomen.

“Don’t get any ideas of having your kittens in here. I can assure you that I do not wish my belongings soiled by your litter,” he told the cat. She answered his request with a loud meow and began licking her paw.

Michael walked over to the door and pushed it closed, only to find that it cracked open again. He pushed it closed again, and again the door opened. He bent down and examined the doorknob and noticed that the latching mechanism was not working properly. He moved the handle back and forth several times and the latch came out. He closed the door, but the door opened again. This time, Michael closed the door and jiggled the handle, and it stayed closed.

When he turned to return to the settee, there was a faint knock on the door. He opened it and noticed Ott standing outside.

“Beggin’ your pardon, Michael, but Mandy forgot to mention that supper will be served at six.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s nothing formal, so please do not feel inclined to dress as such. What you had on earlier will suffice. We won’t be having a more formal dinner until Saturday.”

Michael nodded his head in understanding and closed the door as Ott left, this time remembering to jiggle the doorknob. He looked around and noticed the gray cat had made herself comfortable in the center of his large four-poster bed. She was happily bathing herself and her loud purring echoed throughout the room.

Michael spotted his sea chest in the corner of the room and walked to it. His belongings had already been unpacked for him and placed in the large wardrobe beside it. He mumbled under his breath. He didn’t like others going through his belongings; that was how things would mysteriously disappear. After a quick inspection, he realized that all his belongings were intact.

A small mantel clock chimed indicating that it was five-thirty. He sighed and looked at his attire. His clothing wasn’t soiled, but it was not clean enough for dining either. He quickly changed into a dark green dining jacket and brown pants. He donned his boots and walked out the door.

As he descended the steps, he could hear voices. He followed the voices to a room beside the study. Entering, he found Amanda talking to another woman. When the women noticed him, their conversation stopped.

“Michael, please come in. I would like to introduce you to one of my daughters, Ashton,” Amanda presented.

Michael bowed, picked up Ashton’s hand and placed a gentle kiss upon her knuckles. “Pleasure.”

Ashton batted her eyes flirtatiously at Michael. “Why, it’s so nice to meet you, Mr. St. John,” she purred in a seductive tone.

Michael was taken aback by her bold nature. He studied her for a moment. She batted her eyes at him again and licked her sensuous pink lips. He watched as she adjusted her posture to make her breasts stand out and tilted her head to give her neck a more elongated appearance. She was a very attractive woman. She had the poise and features that many women would give anything to possess. She was as pretty as an angel, but she was definitely not one. Michael knew instinctively what type of woman she was, and she was far from being innocent. If Michael had to guess, she had many suitors who came to visit at all hours of the day and night. He would have to remember to lock both doors in his room with her around. It wouldn’t surprise him if he woke up one night to find her in his room, offering him a sample of what she had to offer.

He turned to Amanda. “Am I early?”

“No, not at all. You’re just in time. The others should be down momentarily,” Mandy replied. She took Michael’s arm and walked him over to the large oak dining table.

“Now, Mandy,” Ott said from the doorway, watching his wife escort Michael to the table. “Don’t you be matchmaking our guest just yet. He hasn’t even had time to get settled in.”

“Ott Craycraft! I would do no such thing!” Mandy fumed at her husband.

“Just making sure,” he said with a small chuckle. He looked at his guest’s shocked expression. “Don’t worry, Michael, I was just teasing. But with four single daughters, I had to get the notion out of her head.”

“Understandable. But I can assure you that marriage is the furthest thing from my mind.”

“Really?” Amanda gave him an incredulous look.

“Yes. I travel almost year round. If I were married, my wife would be subjected to months, even years alone.” Seeing Amanda’s mortified look, he elaborated, “I am quite happy being a bachelor. Besides, I have yet to find a woman who interests me enough to even consider marriage.”

Ott could sense that Amanda would belabor Michael’s chosen lifestyle. He quickly changed the subject. “So, where are my other girls?”

“Oh, Pappy,” Ashton began. The beautiful blond walked over to her father, making sure as she walked to overly sway her hips in an attempt to tantalize their guest. “You know Alyssa, she’ll be down promptly at six and Abigail is making sure her appearance is acceptable just in case Stephen drops by. Annabel and Ben will be by as soon as she can get her brood together, which will be say . . . midnight,” she said with a flirtatious laugh.

“What about Andrea?” Ott asked.

“Who knows with a girl like that,” Ashton seethed with hatred, flipping her wrist outward in a dismissive manner.

“Ashton,” her mother scolded. “We have guests.”

“Sorry, Mammy,” she said, looking flirtatiously over her shoulder at Michael. “Andrea is tending to Nellie.”

“Oh, did her rheumatism flare up again?” Amanda asked, the concern apparent in her tone.

“How should I know,” Ashton replied with obvious annoyance. “She’s just a slave. I really don’t know what all the fuss is about.”

Before Amanda could reprimand her daughter again, the voices of her other daughters echoed from the hallway.

Michael heard a female voice say, “Hurry up, Alyssa.”

Followed by, “What’s your hurry, Abigail?”

“Just get in there,” Abigail replied all the while shoving Alyssa through the door. Abigail smiled sweetly and then said, “Hello all,” as she entered the room behind her sister.

Alyssa gave her sister a heated glare, straightening her posture. As Michael studied Alyssa, he couldn’t help but see the resemblance she had to his pixie. It must be a coincidence.

Before greetings could be said, there was a loud commotion in the doorway and another woman entered, followed by two men and three small children.

“I’m soooo sorry we’re late. Wait, are we late?” The flustered woman looked to Amanda, then flipped her wrist. “Never mind, we’re here, finally. You just won’t believe what I’ve been through to get here. First, Johnny ripped his clothes, then the twins decided to play hide-and-seek in the hog lot
after
I had already given them a bath. So Annie and I had to bathe them again. The dog buried Timothy’s shoes in my rose garden and then something tore a hole in my new dress, then—”

“Annabel, please,” Ashton complained.

“Oh, I’m sorry! I’m doing it again, aren’t I?” At her family’s nod, she continued. “I apologize. It’s just when the only conversations I get to have are with two four-year-olds and a two-year-old, I get excited to speak to adults.”

“And you do a splendid job at all you do, my dear,” the man beside her replied as he patted her hand.

“Well, now that
almost
everyone is here,” Ott said, his irritation with Andrea’s lateness apparent in his voice, “I’d like everyone to meet Mr. Michael St. John. His family owns a shipping company and they are interested in transporting our fine cotton to England.”

“Splendid!” said one of the men who had entered with the woman. “I’m Benjamin Newkirk.” He extended his hand to Michael and gave a firm handshake. “May I introduce my wife, Annabel, and our three boys, the twins, Timothy and Edward, and the youngest, Johnny.”

Michael gave a small nod in their direction. “A pleasure.”

“Likewise, Mr. St. John. But I’m going to warn you right now, from the start, that Benny is getting into politics, so don’t let him talk you into doing something you’ll regret,” Annabel replied as she shooed one of the twins away from the table.

“Now, Annabel, I would never dream of that. Well, not yet, I’ve only just met the man,” Benjamin replied with a chuckle and patted Michael’s shoulder. “Allow me to introduce the rest. Little red over there in the corner is Alyssa. The blushing blond beauty with her is Abigail.” He leaned over and whispered, “And the young buck sneaking her way is her fiancé, Stephen. Watch Mandy, she won’t let him within two feet of Abigail. She’s afraid he’ll try something ‘inappropriate’. Like someone would do something as foolhardy as that with her around. Hell, she’d blast a hole big enough in them to drive a carriage through.”

“I imagine so,” Michael replied. With comical interest he observed the couple mentioned. Stephen bowed and greeted the women, but was not allowed within reach of Abigail. Stephen smiled at Abigail. Amanda made a very unladylike sound as she gave him a heated glare.

“Let’s sit. I don’t know about the rest of you but I’m starving,” Ott said. He pulled a chair out at the head of the table for Amanda. Once his wife was seated, he motioned towards the other end. “Michael, you sit here with the rest of us men. We’ll let the ladies have the other end of the table.”

“Now, Ott, you know we can all participate in everyone’s conversation. Besides, the table only seats eleven since one of the chairs is broken,” Amanda said.

“And who is the reason the chair broke,” Ott asked with sarcasm to his voice.

Mandy flicked her hand, dismissing her husband’s accusation, and continued, “It’s a good thing that Andrea is not here then or we’d all be cramped in here with that extra chair.” Amanda pointed at a large armchair in the corner of the room.

After they all had sat down, the slaves began bringing in the food. It was a wide assortment of fresh vegetables, wild greens and quail. The men began talking business. As they talked, Michael could feel something on his leg. He turned his head and stared at the woman seated beside him. Of all the luck! Ashton had sat herself down to his left. She was looking directly at him and rubbing her foot up and down his calf. He extended his leg out in front of him to escape her brazenness, but she chased after it.

“Michael?”

“Hmmm?” Michael said as he turned back to the conversation with the men.

“I said, tell us about your family,” Benjamin replied.

“Oh. Let’s see. I have one sister and seven, no, now eight brothers. My father is the Earl of Hydington and his business partner is the governor of Eleuthera.”

“Did your mother have another child?” Mandy asked.

“Well,” Michael began, drawing his brows together, not sure why he had brought his illegitimate brother up. “No, I actually just met him before I sailed here. He would be the oldest.”

Annabel sucked in her breath and her eyes grew wide. Before she could open her mouth and stick her foot in it, Mandy shoved a biscuit into her open mouth. “So are all your family members in the shipping business, as well?” Amanda asked.

Annabel began choking on the dry biscuit. Alyssa handed her a glass of water and smiled nervously at Michael.

Michael gave them a curious glance. “Yes. My oldest legitimate brother, Eli, handles the financial aspects. His twin, Jacob, is a captain of his own vessel. Then Matthew runs our London office. Nathan and Noah are also captains. And my youngest brothers, Oliver and Owen, twins also, are carpenters, although Owen prefers to build ships rather than repair them. Madison, my sister, married the governor’s son.”