Unconquered (17 page)

“Who is this captain?” was her twin’s first question.

“The Lathams wouldn’t tell me, but they feel he’s reliable.”

“What if he isn’t? We could be ravished, and sold into slavery. I hear there are plantations in the West Indies that breed white slaves, and they’re always looking for beautiful women to … to use.”

“Good Lord, Amanda! Whoever told you a thing like that?”

“Suzanne, of course. A young girl in the village where their country house is located was accused of stealing a squire’s horse. She hadn’t really, she’d only borrowed it on a dare, but the squire pressed charges and she was sentenced to be sold as a bondslave in the West Indies. When she finally was able to smuggle a letter to her family two years later, she told of being forced to mate with certain white slaves in order to produce other slaves for their master. She already had one child, and was expecting another.”

Miranda shuddered. “That is disgusting,” she said. “I am appalled at Suzanne’s repeating such a tale. I am sure it is not true at all. And besides the captain Eli has in mind is an English nobleman. Perhaps he even knows Adrian.”

“Have you told Mama yet?”

“No, and I shall not until it is all settled.”

They were at dinner that night when Jemima appeared, pursing her lips with disapproval, and announced in a tart voice, “There’s a man here to see you. I put him in the front parlor.”

“Do not disturb us,” said Miranda, rising from the table and hurrying out of the room. She smoothed her fair hair as she went, and brushed crumbs from her sapphire gown. Placing her hand firmly on the parlor doorknob, she turned the handle and walked confidently into the room.

A man of medium height with wavy ash-brown hair styled, amazingly, in the London fashion stood by the fireplace. He turned and came toward her smiling a sweet smile, and she noticed how perfect and white his teeth were. He appeared to be a little under thirty years old, and his dark blue eyes sparkled with good humor.

“Mistress Dunham, I am Captain Christopher Edmund of the
Seahorse
, out of London. I’ve been given to understand that I may be of aid to you.” His dark eyes quickly took in her youth, her unusual beauty, the expensive gown with exquisite hand-made cream-colored lace at its high neck and at the ends of the long, tight sleeves. The cameo brooch at her throat was magnificent, of the best workmanship.

“Captain Edmund, how do you do.” She offered her hand, he kissed it politely, and then she waved him to a chair. “Pray be seated, sir. May I offer you a brandy?”

“Thank you, yes, madam.”

She walked slowly to the table that held the decanters and glasses, poured the amber liquid into a Waterford snifter, and served him. He sniffed and his eyes widened in appreciation. She smiled. Putting the liquid to his lips, he sipped, and then said, “Now, ma’am, how can I be of service to you?” He had the speech of a highborn English gentleman. Relaxing a little, Miranda sat down across from him in a matching cream brocade chair.

“I need immediate passage to England, sir, for myself, my sister, and my mother.”

“I am not a passenger vessel, ma’am.”

“We
must
get to England!”

“Why?”

“I am not in the habit of discussing personal business with a stranger, Captain. Suffice it to say that I will pay you double the usual passage, and supply our own provisions and water.”

“And I am not in the habit of taking a beautiful woman aboard my ship without knowing a bit more than ‘I must get to England.’ I repeat, ma’am, why?”

She threw him a furious look, and he almost laughed, for he could see she was trying very hard not to lose her temper. He liked her spirit. Sighing, she said, “My sister is scheduled to be married the twenty-eighth of June to Adrian, Lord Swynford. Because of this stupid blockade we cannot get to England, and if we don’t—”

“The dowager dragon will use it as an excuse to marry young Adrian to another heiress.”

“How do you know that?!” Slowly, comprehension dawned. “Christopher Edmund! Pray, sir, are you by chance related to Darius Edmund, the Duke of Whitley?”

“I am his brother, ma’am. The second brother. There are two after me. Surely you know the silly rhyme they have about us. ‘One for the title, one for the sea, one for the army, the last’s the clergy.’ ”

She laughed. “I have heard it, but I have met your eldest brother, sir. He was one of Amanda’s suitors last season. But, of course, there was no one but Adrian from the moment they met.”

“My brother was quite disappointed, I know, but your sister is better off with young Swynford.”

“How disloyal of you, sir!” she teased.

“Not at all, ma’am. Darius is ten years my senior, a widower of rather eccentric habits. Were he of a more winning nature I’m sure your sister would have chosen to be a duchess rather than a simple lady.”

“My sister is marrying for love, sir.”

“How refreshingly novel, ma’am. And did you also marry for love?”

“Is that information necessary to obtain our passage, Captain?”

He laughed. “
Touché
, ma’am! Well, despite your sister’s cruel treatment of my older brother, I shall be happy to give your family passage. But I sail on tomorrow night’s tide. It’s becoming far too risky hanging about your coast.” He grinned mischievously. “Besides, I’ve traded off all my goods, and my hold is just about chock full of American merchandise. I am now ready to sail home, make a fat profit, and spend the next few months enjoying the gaming halls, and the charming Cyprians of London. On my way home, I shall more than enjoy the company of three elegant ladies of the bon ton.”

Miranda was elated. It had been so simple, and she was sure now that Jared was merely being difficult in refusing to take them to London. Captain Edmund was obviously not concerned about danger. “If you think it safe, Captain,” she said, “you may anchor your ship in Little North Bay below the house. It’s a deep but well-sheltered harbor, and you can fill your water casks here on Wyndsong. I regret it is too early in the year for me to offer you any fresh produce, but only daffodils grow here in early April.”

“Most kind of you, ma’am. I shall certainly take the opportunity to bring
Seahorse
into the safety of your bay tonight under cover of darkness.”

Miranda rose. “I should like to introduce you to Mama and Amanda now. Will you take coffee with us?”

He stood. “Yes, ma’am. Most kind.”

She jerked at the bellpull, and Jemima nearly fell through the door. Miranda took a quick breath so she wouldn’t laugh, and said in a cool, level voice, “Please tell my mother and sister that I would like them to join us here for coffee.”

Taken aback by Miranda’s tone, Jemima bobbed a curtsey and
answered in a subdued voice, “Yes, ma’am.” She backed out and closed the door.

Miranda wished to know more about her rescuer.

“So you are one of four brothers, sir?”

“Four brothers and three sisters. Darius, of course, is the eldest, and then came the three girls, Claudia, Octavia, and Augusta. Mama finished her classical period with the girls, and the three boys that followed have reasonably English names—Christopher, George, and John. John, by the way, was at Cambridge with Adrian. He’s to be the clergyman, and George is the soldier. Prinny’s regiment.”

“You seem to be well taken care of. I was not aware that Whitley was such a wealthy dukedom.” Miranda stammered, realizing too late that she was being rude.

“It isn’t really. Darius is just your usual well-to-do peer, and much of that is due to his first wife. Our mother, however, had three brothers, all titled, and all bachelors. Each uncle was given a younger Edmund as a godson, and we were each named heir to our godfathers. I’m the Marquis of Wye, George is Lord Studley, and young John will one day be a baron, though I imagine he’d prefer a bishopric,” laughed Christopher Edmund. He liked this friendly young woman, and hadn’t at all minded her remark about his family’s wealth.

The parlor door opened and the captain rose to his feet as Dorothea and Amanda entered.

“Miranda, who is this gentleman?” demanded Dorothea, attempting, as she sometimes did, to regain her old authority.

Miranda ignored her mother’s tone, saying smoothly, “Mama, may I present Captain Christopher Edmund, the Marquis of Wye. Captain Edmund has agreed to give us passage to London aboard his ship, the
Seahorse
. We sail tomorrow evening and, with good winds and no storms, I imagine we should make England by the middle or the end of May—in plenty of time for Mandy’s wedding. Captain Edmund, my mother, also Mistress Dunham. I think that to avoid confusion it would be permissible for you to address me by my given name in private.”

“Only if you will return the compliment and call me Kit, as all my friends do.” He turned to Dorothea and, bowing elegantly, took her hand and kissed it. “Mistress Dunham, I am delighted, ma’am. I believe my mama had the pleasure of taking tea with
you last season when my brother Darius was so smitten with Miss Amanda.”

Totally taken aback, Dorothea gasped. “Indeed, sir. Very cordial, your mama.”

“And Captain, my twin sister, Amanda, who is soon to be Lady Swynford.”

Again Kit Edmund bowed. “Miss Amanda, having met you at last, I must pity my poor brother Darius his great loss. But I congratulate you on your good sense in turning him down.”

Amanda’s two dimples appeared as she smiled. “La, sir, how naughty you are.” Then she became serious. “Are you really going to take us to England?”

“Yes, I am. How could I refuse your sister’s plea, and how could I ever face Adrian Swynford again if I didn’t take you?”

“Thank you, sir! I know it’s dangerous for you, but—”

“Dangerous? Nonsense! Nothing to it. Britannia rules the waves, y’know.”

“We are most grateful, sir.”

Jemima flounced in bearing the coffee tray. “Where do you want it?” she demanded.

“Captain … Kit, would you set up the tea table by the fire? Thank you so much. Put it there, Mima, then you may go. Mama, will you pour? Oh, dear, no, you can’t, can you? I can see you’re much too overcome by our good fortune.” Miranda seated herself calmly at the tea table and, lifting the silver coffeepot, poured some of the velvety dark liquid into a dainty porcelain cup. “Give this to Mama, please, Amanda,” said Miranda sweetly, gazing innocently over at Dorothea, who had collapsed in a sidechair.

“Will your father and husband be accompanying you, Miranda?” asked Kit Edmund conversationally as she handed him his coffee.

“Papa passed on some months now, Kit. And unfortunately, my husband cannot come due to the press of business.”

“Miranda!”

“Mama?”

Dorothea was rapidly recovering. “Jared has forbidden this trip!”

“No, Mama, he has not. He has said only that there are no ships because of the blockade, and that he does not choose to
risk one of his own vessels. At no time did he say that we could not go.”

“Then why this unseemly haste? Wait until Jared returns.”

“Captain Edmund cannot wait a week or more, Mama. We are fortunate to have found a ship at all, and I am extremely grateful that Kit is willing to take us.”

“I shall not accompany you! I will not be party to your unseemly behavior,” snapped Dorothea.

“Very well, Mama, we are then faced with a choice. Amanda and I can cross the ocean
unchaperoned
, which will, of course, seem very strange to our family and friends in England. Or,” here she paused for effect, “or Amanda can go to live with you and your new husband at Highlands. I doubt, however, that either Mynheer Van Notelman or his ugly daughters will be overly thrilled to have such a beauty in their midst, stealing all the beaux. The choice, Mama, is yours.”

Dorothea narrowed her gaze, looking from Miranda to Amanda. Both wore angelic expressions. She turned to Captain Edmund, who quickly lowered his blue eyes, but not before she’d caught the gleam of amusement dancing in them. There was really no choice, and both she and her daughters knew it. “You really are a bitch, Miranda,” she said levelly. Then, “What sort of accommodations can you offer us, Captain Edmund?”

“Two connecting cabins, ma’am, one relatively large, the other small. I can’t allow you much space, for I’m not really set up to carry passengers.”

“Do not worry, Mama. And we shall all have brand-new wardrobes in London.”

“You seem to have an answer for everything, Miranda,” said Dorothea tartly, standing up. “I will bid you good evening, Captain, as I find suddenly that I have a great deal to do in a short time.”

Christopher Edmund rose to his feet and bowed. “Mistress Dunham, I shall look forward to having you aboard the
Seahorse.
”

“Thank you, sir,” said Dorothea. Without so much as a glance at her daughters, she left the room.

“You are a hard opponent, Miranda,” remarked the Englishman.

“I want my sister happy, Kit.”

“
Has
your husband forbidden you this trip?”

“No. It is as I said.”

He laughed softly. “I somehow think that what your husband forgot to say is, nevertheless, what he intended.”

“Oh, please, Captain!” begged Amanda. “You must take us!” Her blue eyes glittered with crystalline tears.

“I have given my word, Miss Amanda,” he replied, envying young Adrian Swynford more as each minute passed. Perhaps he’d do well to stay in London next season and find a sweet young thing. Perhaps he needed a wife.

“Amanda, please don’t cry. You have quite stricken poor Kit helpless already. He could not possibly refuse you now.” Miranda laughed. “Run along, and see to your packing while I complete the financial arrangements.”

“Oh, thank you, sir,” replied Amanda, a small smile beginning to turn up the corners of her rosebud mouth. She curtseyed prettily, and flew from the room.

“What a perfect nobleman’s wife she’ll make,” sighed the young captain.

“Indeed,” murmured Miranda, her sea-green eyes dancing with amusement. It was happening all over again. Strangely, the hurt she might have felt a year ago at being so blatantly overlooked was gone. Jared had been right. Jared! She felt a twinge of guilt, which she pushed quickly away. She
was
going to London! Moving to the desk, she opened the secret drawer at the center and took out a small pouch. “This should more than cover our passage, I believe,” she said, handing it to him.