Trade Winds (Choc Lit) (23 page)

‘I ... I asked if you would marry me. That’s the only way I’ll let you continue with this … this game.’

‘I may be wrong,’ he drawled, ‘but I was under the impression that I was supposed to do the asking.’

Jess felt herself blush to the roots of her hair and looked away. This had been a bad idea. A very bad idea. She’d never felt so embarrassed or ashamed in all her life. ‘I know, but I’m desperate,’ she whispered. It was the truth, but guilt clawed at her insides. She shouldn’t involve him in her problems, especially not in this underhanded way.

‘You like me that much, do you? Well, that’s gratifying.’ The teasing note was back in his voice, and this helped her regain some of her composure. At least he wasn’t completely outraged by her proposal and he hadn’t yet refused.

‘No, no, that’s not why I asked, although of course I like you well enough. It’s just that I need a husband …’ She floundered, realising this didn’t sound very flattering.

He chuckled. ‘Let me get this straight. You want me to marry you because you need a husband, not because you particularly want it to be me?’

‘Er, something like that. I’m sorry, I know I shouldn’t have said anything. It’s just, I really am desperate.’

He frowned. ‘Why? Are you with child?’

‘No! I told you, I’m not that kind of girl. I mean, I’ve never …’

‘Calm down. I didn’t think you had. Just thought I’d make sure. What is it then?’

‘I’m afraid my stepfather won’t ever let me marry. I told you what happened when Mr Adelsten proposed, but I didn’t tell you that he’d already refused two other suitors on my behalf. And now I’m going to be stuck here again for goodness knows how long. For ever maybe.’

‘So you want me to marry you and take you away from here?’

‘Well, that is the only way I can escape his control. I simply have to marry someone, it doesn’t matter who. If I don’t, he’ll soon find another use for my dowry and I’ll be forced to stay a spinster all my life. You … you’ve made me realise I couldn’t bear that.’

Killian closed his eyes as if this was all too much for him to take in, but when he opened them again they seemed be seeing all too much. Jess turned away, even more ashamed now. She had thought it would be so easy to trick him into marriage, once he’d had too much to drink. Apparently that wasn’t the case and it had been appalling of her to even contemplate such a thing.

‘Jessamijn?’ He put his hand on her cheek and made her face him once more. ‘How do you know I won’t squander the money instead? You thought I was a hardened gambler. As your husband, I would have the right to do whatever I wished with it.’

‘Well, I was going to ask you to sign a document giving me the right to half my dowry. I can invest my share in the China venture perhaps. I don’t care what you do with the rest. As long as my stepfather doesn’t get it, it doesn’t matter who does. I hate him!’

He was silent for a moment, then he said, ‘Very well, why not?’

‘I beg your pardon?’ Jess was confused now. Killian was swaying again and nodding, then a chuckle escaped him.

‘I agree to your proposal. Go fetch some paper and write out your agreement, I’ll sign it.’

‘You … you will?’ It was Jess’ turn to blink. He ignored her and closed his eyes again, leaning back against the settee, smiling like he hadn’t a care in the world. Jess looked at him, then saw that he was drunk after all, and probably didn’t know what he was saying. Her plan had succeeded. She vacillated for a moment, guilt at taking advantage of him warring with the urge to jump at this chance while she could. Filled with sudden determination, she jumped up from the sofa. It really was her last recourse. If she didn’t act now, she was doomed to eternal spinsterhood. She threw Killian one last look, but he clinched the matter for her.

‘Go.’ He flapped a hand at her, lazily, and smiled. ‘I’ll wait here. The room is spinning again.’

Jess hurried away before he changed his mind.

Killian watched her leave the room from under lowered lashes. As soon as she had gone, he sat up and rubbed his face with both hands, while taking a deep breath. He’d always been able to hold his drink and was nowhere near as inebriated as she appeared to think. It just suited him to let her think so.

‘Well, this is a surprise and no mistake,’ he muttered. He’d realised she was up to something when she plied him with
snaps
, and had waited with interest to see what she was about. But a proposal? That was the last thing he’d expected.

Marriage.

It wasn’t something he’d ever seriously contemplated before. Certainly not for gain, but it couldn’t have come at a better time. His half of her money would be very useful indeed when added to the rest of his hoard and invested in the East India Company. The way she’d made him feel today had also shown him clearly that being married to her wouldn’t exactly be a hardship. In fact, if he had to marry at all, why not to Jessamijn?

She was pretty enough, had a neat figure, even better than he’d thought as he had discovered that afternoon, and was intelligent and resourceful. In short, she should make an admirable wife. There was something else too – she evoked feelings of chivalry inside him that he hadn’t known he possessed. For some reason he wanted to protect her, keep
 her safe and pay Fergusson back for his mistreatment of her.

He shook his head and smiled. It had taken courage on Jessamijn’s part to propose to him. He was astonished that she was prepared to go to such lengths in order to stop her stepfather from dominating her. He could only hope she accepted a husband’s control a bit more meekly, although personally he would prefer a wife with spirit.

Killian frowned and wondered how Fergusson would react to this scheme. If the man had somehow cheated Jessamijn and used money which was rightfully hers, he wouldn’t be too pleased. No doubt Killian would lose his job, but since he was leaving with Campbell soon anyway, it didn’t much matter.

His thoughts returned to Jessamijn and her drastic measure of marrying a man she didn’t necessarily want. He smiled to himself. Oh, but she wanted him all right. She just didn’t know how much yet.

Desire stirred inside him again, but he quelled it. This wasn’t the time or the place. Much as he had enjoyed dallying with Jessamijn, he wasn’t going to seduce her tonight. But once they were married …

He heard footsteps and hurried to lean back once more, pretending to be asleep. Jessamijn came to a halt in front of him and shook his shoulder gently. ‘Killian? Wake up, please. I want you to sign this, then you can go to bed.’

‘Hmm? What’s that?’ He focussed his gaze on her in myopic fashion. ‘Oh, it’s you. What’s that you’ve got?’

‘Just a piece of paper. You promised to sign it, remember?’

She looked very anxious and Killian had to hide a smile. Did she really think he was so drunk he’d sign an important document without reading it? She must be incredibly naïve. He struggled to sit up and squinted at the agreement she had drafted. He scanned it quickly, while pretending to have difficulty reading her handwriting. She had written down a set of rules which gave her complete control of half her fortune, while he was free to dispose of the rest as he saw fit.

He had to agree to marry her and stay married for at least three years. She also stipulated that the marriage should only be consummated if she so wished. His eyebrows rose at that, but he quickly hid his annoyance. So she thought she could keep him at arm’s length, did she?
To hell with that
, he thought. He’d soon persuade her otherwise and it wasn’t worth arguing over now. Besides, this agreement wouldn’t be worth the paper it was written on because it wasn’t witnessed. He would stick to most of its terms because they were fair, but as for the rest ... He grabbed the quill she was holding in one hand.

‘Very well, where do I sign?’

‘Here, please.’ She pointed at the bottom, and he signed with a flourish.

‘There you are. Now, can we go to bed?’

She snatched the agreement out of his hand and danced away. ‘I’ll send the maid in to show you to your room,’ she called out over her shoulder. ‘Goodnight.’

He shook his head and smiled after her retreating back. ‘Goodnight, little wife to be,’ he muttered. ‘Sweet dreams.’

Chapter Nineteen

Killian woke up with a pounding headache and cursed the Swedish
snaps
. He may not have been very drunk, but the wretched stuff had terrible after-effects. To make matters worse, the room he was in was so cold the water in the hand-basin was frozen. He had to bash it with the ewer in order to be able to wash and it wasn’t a pleasant experience. Shivering, he dressed in a hurry and went in search of warmth downstairs.

He found Jessamijn alone in the dining room, looking nervous and jittery.

‘
God morgon
,’ he said cheerfully. ‘How is my betrothed this morning?’

‘You remember then?’ she said, frowning and looking around as if she was worried someone would hear their conversation.

‘Yes, of course. Why, have you changed your mind?’

‘Er, well, no, but the thing is, I think we should keep this to ourselves for now.’

Killian poured himself some ale and took a healthy swig, hoping it would cure his sore head. ‘Why?’ he asked.

‘If Robert should find out, he’d be furious and he’d do everything in his power to stop us. Surely you know that?’ Jess scowled into her bowl of porridge. ‘We can’t risk it.’

‘True, but he’s not here and it might be a bit difficult to get married without telling anyone,’ he commented. ‘Besides, don’t we need your stepfather’s permission?’

‘In theory, yes, but as far as I know the marriage would be legal even without his approval. He might decide to withhold my dowry though. I’ve heard of other cases where that has happened and there was nothing the bride and groom could do about it.’ Jess sent him an anxious look. ‘Then you would have married me for nothing.’

Killian thought for a moment. ‘Let’s just present him with a
fait accompli
. If he kicks up a fuss, we’ll threaten to tell the world he’s so greedy he wants to keep all your father’s assets for himself. We can hint we know he scared off your former suitors by offering them only a fraction of the dowry he was supposed to give them according to your father’s will. I doubt he’d want his peers to know he’s been trying to do you out of what’s rightfully yours.’

‘But that would be blackmail!’

Killian shrugged. ‘So? It’s no worse than what he’s done to you.’

‘I suppose.’ Jess stood up and began to pace the room, chewing her bottom lip in concentration. Killian found it an endearing sight and a longing to kiss away her worries swept through him, taking him by surprise. He realised the prospect of marrying her actually excited him, although at the same time it seemed like a huge and frightening step to take.

Jess stopped next to his chair and frowned down at him. ‘What if he still refuses? You’d be stuck with me and have nothing to show for it.’

Killian grabbed one of her hands and pulled her round to face him so that he could look in her eyes. ‘I’m not a complete pauper, you know. It just means we’ll have less money to invest in the China venture, but I’m sure it will still be enough. I thought your main goal was to escape from under Fergusson’s thumb? Although it would be annoying if we can’t make him pay out your dowry, it’s not the end of the world. Now stop fretting. All will be well, you’ll see.’

Jess didn’t look entirely convinced and flung away from him to start pacing again. ‘That still doesn’t solve the problem of how to go about it without Robert finding out.’

Killian mulled over their options. ‘How old are you exactly?’ he asked.

‘I turned twenty-one a few weeks ago, but that’s neither here nor there, is it?’

‘No, but most people would consider you old enough to make rational decisions, so no one could say I took advantage of you. How well do you know the local minister?’

‘Very well. He’s always been very kind to me, especially since Papa passed away.’

‘So if you tell him we have Robert’s permission to wed, is it likely he’ll believe you?’

‘Maybe. He’d have no reason
not
to.’

‘Than let’s speak to him. We should be able to persuade him to marry us straight away. If necessary you’ll have to hint there are circumstances which make it imperative we marry quickly.’

Jess stopped abruptly and her eyes flew to his. ‘What? No!’

Killian grinned. ‘It’s not uncommon for couples to, er … anticipate their marriage vows.’

Jess’ cheeks turned an interesting shade of pink and she threw herself down on a chair, refusing to look at Killian.

‘But even if we manage it, what about the banns? Mrs Forbes goes to church every week. Although her Swedish isn’t very good, I think she’d notice if
Mr Ekman read our names out loud three Sundays in a row.’

Killian sighed. ‘Very well then, we’ll have to go back to Gothenburg and go sailing.’

‘How would that help?’

‘I’ve been told that out on the open sea the captain of a ship has the right to perform the services of a minister if there isn’t one to hand. I know a captain who’d be willing to marry us.’