Brazen Temptress (16 page)

"I suppose not," he said. It seemed as if he was going to say more, but he shook his head and looked away.

The silence between them was almost as uncomfortable as the memories of the kiss they'd just shared. "How did you know about my father?" she asked.

"He told me. When I was aboard the
Forgotten Lady.

One night after you went to bed, he told me he'd been in the Royal Navy. That he'd been court-martialed."

"Why would he tell you?" Her question held an unspoken second part.
Why would he tell you, and not me?

"I don't know."

"Did he tell you anything else?"

He shook his head. "Not much. Just that the Lord Admiral had been instrumental in bringing the charges and testifying against him. What I've been able to learn since is that your father was convicted and sentenced to life on a prison hulk. As far as the world is concerned, Ethan Hawthorne died there."

"But he didn't die there," Maureen said, more to herself.

Between them lay the obvious. Ethan Hawthorne had died later. Died by another's treachery.

An uneasy silence filled the carriage.

After some time he said, "I can help you. I'll find your men. And save your ship from the block as well."

Maureen felt it was akin to taking blood money to accept his help.

But she knew if anyone could locate her men, it was Julien. And he'd do it with the necessary speed. By the time she could gain access to that information, they'd be scattered to the four winds, trapped until their deaths in the British Navy.

She couldn't let that happen. They were her men. It was her fault they'd been taken off Sheerness, and she would do anything to see them safe.

Even bargain with the devil.

But the
Retribution?

"You told me back there my ship couldn't be taken," she said. "How do you propose to steal it away from the Navy?"

"I don't intend to steal it. I intend to buy it."

"Buy my ship?" She nearly came out of her seat.

He shook his head at her. "Stubborn as ever. And what do you propose, to buy it back yourself? I'm sure the Lord Admiral will approve of that."

He had her there. She crossed her arms over her chest and told him, "You'll not buy my ship."

"You don't have any other choice. I won't let you lose the
Retribution.
I owe you that much." He paused for a moment. "She looks fast and trim. Good for smuggling. Probably even privateering."

"She gets me where I need to go," she said. Looking up, she caught him smiling at her, for there was no doubt he'd noted the pride in her voice. "Why should I trust you? Why do you want to do this for me?"

"You know why I want to do this for you."

"It won't change how I feel."

He nodded. Carefully, he drew back the curtain and gauged their progress. After he let the fabric slip back into place, he looked up at her.

"In the meantime, Reenie, do we have to spend every moment we have together locked in a battle over the past?"

"That's all you left me." Well, almost, she thought. There was more, but not anything she would share with him.

Never.

"Have you considered it was all I left myself as well?

That everything that died for you that day died for me as well?"

Maureen wished she could close her ears off to the regret in his voice, the gut-wrenching guilt.

As fast as she could, she closed her heart to the impossible.

He hadn't lost anything that day, she told herself. He'd gained everything he wanted. He'd made his name, started his fortune, all at her expense.

How dare he claim to have lost anything!

"Say what you will," she told him, matching his gaze with one she hoped showed only the iron in her will. "I'll nevertheless turn you in."

"I know. And I don't blame you. But I've still got some time to change your mind on that one as well."

"Not much. I can't keep the Lord Admiral at bay forever. And he's not a man to suffer fools gladly."

Julien nodded. "It will take me at least a week to find and free your men. I'll get them to a safe port on the coast, one I've used from time to time. By then I'll have your ship there as well."

"A week?" She shook her head. "You don't need a week. What have you to gain by that much time?"

"Your heart?"

It was her turn to laugh. "Mark my words, de Ryes. I'll give you a week. For once I have my ship and my crew, you'll be hanging from the front steps of the Admiralty, and you'll have no need of my heart."

Maureen found climbing back into her room as easy as it was climbing out — until she turned around from the windowsill and found a wide-eyed Lucy watching her.

The always-garrulous serving girl didn't stand gaping for long. "Miss Maureen, you could break your neck out there. Hasn't anyone shown you the back stairs? 'Tis a fine sight easier to sneak out from than down the drainpipe." With that the girl grinned.

"You won't tell on me, will you, Lucy?" Maureen asked, brushing her dirty hands over her rough trousers.

"Lol, Miss, if I was to tell on you, how would that make her ladyship feel?" Lucy put the bundle of laundry she held atop the bureau and started to put away Maureen's freshly cleaned unmentionables. The girl glanced over her shoulder. "She's happier since you arrived than she's been in years. She doesn't mind a bit iffin I don't get the silver polished or the ironing is behind. You've been a godsend to this house, that you have." She winked at Maureen from beneath the white lace of her mobcap and then started to leave.

Before she got to the door, she turned and said, "Himself, her ladyship, and
that man
are downstairs. Have been most of the morning. They've asked for you. I told them you were indisposed, but now her ladyship is insisting you come down. What should I tell her?"

Maureen didn't need to ask who the third party waiting for her in the salon might be — considering Lucy's tone, it could only be the Lord Admiral. "Tell them I'll be down presently."

Lucy bobbed her head.

"And, Lucy," Maureen said after the departing maid. "Thank you."

The girl shrugged her shoulders. "I'll be back in a few minutes to help you get into that day dress Lady Mary insisted you have. I think it is a fair sight better for company than what you're wearing now, if you'll pardon me saying it." Lucy closed the door behind her.

Maureen let out a sigh of relief and set to work getting cleaned up. She'd have a hard time explaining to her hosts and their guest why she smelled like the docks.

With Lucy's help she was brushed and dressed in no time, and as she came down the stairs, she heard the Lord Admiral's voice rising in agitation from Lady Mary's salon.

"Will, I tell you, this girl has to find de Ryes and find him fast."

Maureen's ears perked at the sound of desperation in the man's voice. It seemed he needed her as much as she needed him. She moved closer to the salon, careful not to give her presence away.

"Whatever is the hurry, my lord?" Captain Johnston was asking. "Mary's got the girl sailing every highblown event in town. She'll find this pirate, but it might take time."

"I don't have time."

At this Maureen moved right to the edge of the door. If she was going to believe Julien and trust him to help her, she needed another week, time the Lord Admiral obviously was not about to allow.

The lofty man cleared his throat and then lowered his voice, though Maureen could still hear his confession.

"This is highly confidential, William. I wouldn't tell you this if I didn't trust you. But you have to see the importance of finding this man, if it means you and Mary escort that chit to every soiree, musicale, and ball I've managed to secure invitations to. The
Bodiel
sails from Portsmouth the end of next week. It must be underway by then if it is to get across the Atlantic undetected."

"The
Bodiel,
eh?" Captain Johnston said. "Captain Frey has that command. Good man. But the
Bodiel
'tis hardly a ship anyone would look twice at taking. Just a regular packet. What could be so important that she has to sail with so much secrecy?"

"She'll be carrying the officer's pay for the American blockades, as well as enough gold to pay all the naval suppliers in Halifax. There's been rumbling by the merchants there that they won't provision any more ships until they are paid. And paid in gold." The Lord Admiral snorted. "Impertinent devils, but they have to be kept mollified, or they may just up and join their Colonial cousins to the south of them."

Maureen stepped back from the doorway, the impact of this information staggering her imagination.

A payroll ship. A privateer's dream come true.

It was well known that the British Navy sent out packets nearly every day to all four corners of the world. The little vessels carried mostly administrative missives and mail, nothing to tempt a privateer or other ship. But occasionally, these nondescript, usually routine sailings also carried payroll. Gold enough to make the average privateer — and every man aboard with a stake in the prize — a wealthy man for life.

Not that most could catch them. Packets were deliberately stripped to carry minimal crew and arms, for they relied purely on their speed to outrun any pursuit, making them nearly impossible to catch on the open seas.

But coming out of a harbor — now, that was a different matter.

Maureen gulped. No wonder Julien wanted another week out of her. He must have heard rumors of a payroll being sent and was trying to find out from where and when it would sail.

It could be the only explanation for his determination to stay in London.

The gold the
Bodiel
would carry would likely tempt any man to flaunt his neck before the hangman. Even make him go as far as to trust a wife bent on revenge.

Do anything to convince her that he was trustworthy, offer her anything, including his treacherous heart.

"Ah, Maureen, my dear girl," Lady Mary called out. Lucy trailed behind her, bearing an overladen tea tray. With the Lord Admiral's largesse, Lady Mary had also seen to restocking her larders.

No more stale cakes in this house, Maureen had heard her mutter more than once.

She turned from the door and forced a smile to her face. "Yes, Lady Mary. I'm sorry I delayed you and your guest. I was rather tired this morning."

"So Lucy told me," Lady Mary said, with a dismissive wave of her hand. At her ladyship's feet the ever-present Baxter trotted along, his curly tale wavering as he sniffed at Maureen's hem. His little flat nose twitched in dismay as he backed away from her so quickly, he nearly upset Lucy and her tea tray.

"Baxter!" Lady Mary scolded. "Whatever is wrong with you?"

The dog sent an accusing glance at Maureen, then turned back to his mistress, whimpering at her reprimand.

Maureen wondered if the fussy little dog could smell the stench of the Thames on her, though she'd done her best to wash it away.

She smiled down at the traitorous little pug. At least Baxter couldn't betray her.

"Now, where were we?" Lady Mary said, turning her attention back to the matters at hand.

"My health?" Maureen prompted.

"Ah, yes, you poor girl. I thought turning in early would be so relaxing for you, but I can see you barely slept a wink." She swept into the room. "Look who I found, Peter. Our dear Maureen. Quite fatigued this morning with all you are putting her through." The lady sent a significant glance at the Lord Admiral. Not waiting for the man's response, Lady Mary continued into the parlor, directing Lucy where to put the tea tray, as if the shabby room had a surplus of side tables.

Maureen followed and, after bidding her salutations to Captain Johnston and the Lord Admiral, settled onto a stool next to Lady Mary's chair — the only piece of furniture left unoccupied.

"Mary, my girl," Captain Johnston said, after his wife had finished serving the tea. "Peter needs you to put all your wits into this venture of his." After a nervous glance toward the Lord Admiral, he continued hastily. "I'm sure Miss Hawthorne would agree that it is in everyone's best interest to see this business concluded as quickly as possible, wouldn't you, lass?"

"Yes, sir," Maureen told him. "I want to see the last of London as soon as possible, and I am sure my crew is of the same sentiment." She turned to the Lord Admiral. "My crew is being well cared for, aren't they?"

The man had the audacity to look affronted. "Of course they are. I promised you myself they would be seen to, and they are awaiting your return in living conditions far better than those of many a good honest sailor in his King's navy."

She blew on her tea and looked up at the man as she asked, "Aboard the
Retribution?"

"Why, of course," he said. "Where else would they be?"

She smiled. "I can't imagine. Though it will make it so much more convenient when I sail out to have my full crew at hand." She paused for a moment. "Would it be permissible for me to visit them? As their captain, mind you, I can't help but be protective of them. See to their welfare. I'm sure as one captain to another you'd agree."

Much to her chagrin, Lady Mary intervened before she was able to force the wily man's hand.

"Go down to the docks? Have you gone mad, Maureen?" she said with the same scolding tone she used on Baxter for his frequent indiscretions on the carpet. "Why, it is not only unseemly, but out of the question."

"Lady Mary, this really is up to the Lord Admiral," she told her.

Her guardian was not about to let that stop her. "Peter, I do protest. I will not have this girl mucking about the docks undoing all my hard work. Why, five minutes down there and she'll be as wild and unmanageable as she was when you brought her here. No, I won't stand for it."

The Lord Admiral nodded to the lady, only too willing to defer to her judgment in this matter. "If you say so, Mary. You know more about these things than an old sailor like myself would know." He turned to Maureen. "You'll be with your men soon enough. Just find de Ryes, and you'll get exactly what you've earned."