In Bed with a Rogue (30 page)

He kissed the tip of her nose, then her chin before settling at her breast again. “I’ll be returning to London today, but you should stay with your sister. You enjoyed each other’s company last night. I think Pearl would like to keep you a bit longer.”

Her stomach plunged. Had his proposal been true? Surely he wouldn’t stoop to lies to bed her. “You could stay, too.”

He aimed a smile at her. “Believe me, I am tempted, sweetheart.” He nuzzled her breast again then circled the peak with his tongue.

She sighed, dissolving into the bedding when she should be on guard. But it was too difficult when he touched her like this.

He released her nipple and winked. His tousled hair lent him roguish appeal. “I could stay, but you promised to marry me. Delaying our nuptials any longer than necessary is disagreeable to me, so I plan to see to Gracie’s passage from Ireland and purchase a special license. Then when you return, we will marry.”

She giggled, sounding more like a girl than a woman, but it seemed fitting since the last time she recalled being this happy was when her mother was alive. Her fears slipped away. “Sebastian, you are marvelous.”

“And I don’t want you to forget it while we are apart.” He returned his attention to her breast and caressed between her legs.

“I cannot forget,” she murmured. “Ever.”

“Good girl.”

Twenty-six

To say the London docks were chaotic was an understatement. At least to an outsider like Sebastian upon first glance. Wagons with creaky wheels and weighed down with barrels and crates arrived simultaneously. They passed within inches of each other as they clattered over the wooden walkways. Shouts echoed on the air, some orders, others curses. Men hustled to and fro, parting to allow the wagons to pass. Miraculously, no one was run down in the process.

The ships were oddly still, like slumbering giants, while seamen swarmed the decks outfitting them for the next adventure. A group of rough-looking men had formed a queue outside the shipping office, a sprawling wooden structure that was neither fancy nor impressive. Sebastian would call it solid, serviceable. And it reinforced how he should approach the man inside.

Captain Daniel Hillary was honest. Some said appallingly so. He didn’t put on airs and had embraced his grandfather’s bourgeois origins with no care for what Society thought. This made him the only man Sebastian would trust with the truth about Helena.

When he had left Helena yesterday morning, she informed him that she would remain behind only one more day without him. Secretly he had been pleased by her assertion. He never wanted to come between her and her sisters, but it meant a lot that she was eager to reunite with him.

Sebastian shouldered through the group gathered outside the shipping office door and entered a large room that spanned the entire width of the building. A prim little man sitting at a table in the corner looked up from a pile of papers on the surface. “How may I be of assistance, sir?”

The seaman standing at the table swung around to gawk. Apparently, Sebastian was out of place.

“I am seeking an audience with Captain Hillary. His manservant on Curzon Street said I could find him here. I am Lord Thorne.”

Placing the quill aside, the man stood and came forward. “I will see if the captain has time to speak with you.” He disappeared behind a door, his voice muffled as he announced Sebastian’s unexpected arrival.

A hearty laugh carried from the other room. “By all means, show in Lord Thorne.”

The door swung open and Sebastian was gestured to come inside. When he entered the sparse office, Captain Hillary was on his feet. “If it isn’t the man who humiliated Ben. Well done, Thorne.”

Sebastian’s brows shot up. He hadn’t expected such an enthusiastic welcome. “Humiliation wasn’t my original intention, but sisters have a way of interfering at times.”

The captain’s crooked grin grew wider. “I have a sister. I well know the trouble they can cause. Fortunately, Lana is her husband’s problem now.” Despite his words, his eyes lit with merriment when he spoke of his sister. Perhaps Sebastian and Captain Hillary weren’t so different from one another. “What can I do for you, Thorne?”

Sebastian took the seat offered to him and spotted a boy for the first time. He was sitting at a smaller desk in the corner, quiet as a ghost and engrossed in a drawing. He looked no older than Gracie.

Hillary’s gaze followed Sebastian’s. “This is Rafe, my wife’s brother. He is learning to become a seaman. I expect he’ll have his own ship by next summer.”

The boy glanced up with a coy smile. “I will only be twelve. I must be a man first.”

The captain went to him and ruffled his dark hair. “That’s correct. Your sister would demand my head if I sent you off too early on your own.”

Hillary’s fondness for the boy increased Sebastian’s hope that he would hear out Sebastian. “I am to marry soon, which is what brings me here. I have a favor to ask, although I realize you owe me no debts.”

“But my brother does.” The captain sat and leaned back in his chair, regarding Sebastian with a gaze that likely made others cower. Not Sebastian.

“Your brother has made things right for my sister, but he can never atone for the hurt he caused.”

Hillary nodded. “I hope you don’t expect Hillary Shipping to make amends. Ben may be part owner, but this business is my pride. I wouldn’t allow my pride to be trampled.”

“I have no ill will against you or your business. The favor I ask is significant, but I will pay you for your trouble.”

The captain’s eyes narrowed. “I have a family to protect and anything untoward threatens their well-being.”

Perhaps Sebastian’s plan wouldn’t work after all. He supposed he and Helena could try to hide Gracie at Mr. Mason’s home for the appropriate length of time for her to have traveled from Scotland, but it seemed riskier. There would be ship records in Scotland too, and Gracie’s name wouldn’t be on any of them. He didn’t know how to explain her sudden appearance.

He met the captain’s fierce scowl. “I am protecting mine too. My betrothed has a sister, and I need to book passage from Dublin for her and a maid.”

“Why didn’t you say so?” Hillary’s good humor returned and he leaned his elbows on the desk. “You didn’t need to come to me to book passage. My man could have helped you.”

“I am afraid that is where you are mistaken. My affianced bride’s sister won’t actually be on ship.”

If Sebastian didn’t require the man’s assistance, he might jest about the captain needing to close his mouth before he accidentally swallowed a fly. Instead, he explained the situation, leaving out no detail. Hillary probably would sense if Sebastian withheld information. He struck Sebastian as that type of man.

When he concluded his tale, the captain made a steeple with his fingers. “If anyone finds out about your betrothed’s past, it would cause quite the scandal.”

“I expect it would, but my family and I have withstood scandal in the past. We would survive it again.”

A corner of Hillary’s mouth tipped up. “Yes, I do recall something about a scandal at my brother’s hands. Of course, I pay little notice to gossipmongers or care about providing entertainment for them.”

Sebastian suppressed a frustrated sigh. It appeared he would get no help from the captain. Helena would return this afternoon, and Sebastian hated to disappoint her, but he wouldn’t give up until she had everything she wanted.

“I will need the girl’s name,” Hillary said as he grabbed a sheet of foolscap and dipped his quill in ink. “And that of her maid.”

Sebastian gave a start. “Gracie Kendrick and Edith…um…” Damn, he should have thought to ask Edith’s surname.

Hillary smirked. “Perhaps something Irish would be best.”

“Gallagher?”

“Gallagher it is.” He scrawled their names on the paper then returned the quill to the holder. “I have a ship returning from Dublin at the end of the week or early next week. I will send word as soon as it makes an appearance.”

“Can your men be trusted?”

“I don’t surround myself with men I cannot trust. You have no cause for concern. The gossipmongers must look elsewhere for their entertainment. The Hillarys and Thornes haveprovided enough.”

Sebastian couldn’t agree more. He rose and shook hands with the captain to seal the agreement.

***

Helena hadn’t been back in London more than half an hour before Fergus announced Olive’s arrival at the door. Wickie’s cousin burst into the drawing room where Helena was enjoying a cup of tea after the long day of travel.

“Helena, where have you been? I stopped by yesterday when you didn’t attend the Mayfair Ladies’ meeting, and the town house appeared deserted.”

Helena winced. “I forgot about the meeting. Forgive me, Olive.”

She hadn’t had time to concoct an excuse to explain her absence, although she hadn’t realized she would need one. Foolish woman that she was. Of course Olive would notice she was missing.

Helena stood and made her way to the bellpull. “I will have another cup delivered and perhaps the cook has more of those ratafia cakes you love.”

Olive pursed her lips as she tugged off her gloves and removed her bonnet. “If you think you can distract me with sweets, you are mistaken.”

Fergus popped into the drawing room.

“Another cup for Olive. And a ratafia cake.”

“Or two,” Olive said, holding up two slim fingers.

“Yes, madam.”

As soon as they were alone, Olive persisted. “Where were you? Did you leave Town?”

Helena sighed. It was clear her husband’s cousin wouldn’t leave without some story, so she would tell her one that was true and would surely distract her. “Please, have a seat. I have exciting news to share.”

Olive sat primly on the edge of the settee and folded her hands in her lap. Helena took her seat and smiled.

“Lord Thorne and I are to be married soon. He proposed and I have gladly consented to become his wife.”

Olive’s jaw had grown slack the moment Helena mentioned marriage, and she still wasn’t speaking.

“I realize this may be a bit of a shock, but I am
happy
, Olive.” Helena’s face flushed and a ridiculous smile spread across her face. “Overjoyed, in fact. I hope you will wish us well.”

Fergus reentered the room with a cup and saucer in one hand and a plate of sweets in the other. Helena accepted both with her thanks and poured a cup of tea for Olive. Her hand shook as she held it out to the older woman. Helena’s mother had been gone for ten years, and although she and Olive hadn’t known each other overly long, there was a paternal-like bond between them. Olive had taken Helena under her care at once, for which she was thankful beyond measure.

The other woman sipped her tea and regarded Helena over the gilded rim. With care, she placed the cup and saucer on the low table in front of the settee, her expression giving nothing away. “Are you certain about the baron, my dear?”

“Yes, I have never been so sure of anything. I know your opinion of him has been low, but I love him.” She hugged herself, reveling in the sound of those words. “And he loves me.”

The lines around Olive’s mouth softened. “I have nothing against Lord Thorne, aside from the fact he and scandal are far too familiar. I wouldn’t want you to suffer because of him.”

Helena’s gaze dropped to her lap. If anyone was likely to suffer from scandal, it was Sebastian. Olive had no notion of how scandalous Helena was. Or how scandalous her marriage to Wickie would seem if anyone learned the truth about her.

“But,” Olive said in a suddenly cheerful voice, “if the duchess and her family can survive a scandalous elopement, surely we can rise above whatever trouble the handsome scoundrel brings our way.”

Helena’s head lifted, her eyes misting. “Oh, Olive! Thank you for understanding.”

Olive reached for a cake with a smile. “We have much planning to do. There hasn’t been a wedding breakfast at Eldridge House since the former Lady Eldridge hosted one after Lord Eldridge and I married. When our sons married, the ladies’ mothers insisted on hosting.”

“A wedding breakfast isn’t necessary. Besides, we will be marrying by special license in a few days. Lord Thorne was to purchase one at the Doctor’s Commons yesterday.”

Olive’s eyes flew open wide. “A special license? What will people think when they hear?”

Likely that Helena was increasing, but Sebastian had lost his fiancée once before while waiting to marry. She wouldn’t put him through the anxiety again. She smiled sweetly at Olive. “I suppose we will have our chance to rise above scandal from the start, no?”

“Impudent girl,” Olive grumbled, but broke into a smile all the same. “A few days doesn’t give me much time, but you and Lord Thorne will have an exquisite celebration. The best this town has seen all Season.” Setting her cup aside, she rose and snatched her bonnet and gloves. “I really have much to do. Will you forgive me for dashing off?”

“Of course. Thank you for calling. It was a lovely surprise to see you.”

They exchanged a hug and Olive bustled from the house without remembering to badger Helena about where she had been for two days.

She had just settled with her cup of tea when Fergus came in again. “The watchmaker had the baron’s watch delivered. It’s as good as new.”

He held it aloft by the fob. It spun around glittering in the light. She had forgotten about the broken watch, but she suddenly had an idea. “I realize the jeweler just returned it today, but would you mind too much taking it back to request an engraving? As a wedding gift for Lord Thorne.”

Fergus crossed his arms and frowned. “Take it back? Do you mistake me for an errand boy?”

Her heart dropped to her stomach. “No, I swear I’ve never thought of you as an errand boy.”

He flashed a grin. “I’m teasing, lass. But I willna do it for you. I will do it for Laird Thorne. He’s a decent sort, for a Sassenach.”

Her hand covered her heart; her throat ached with unshed tears. He was giving his blessing and it was a most precious gift. “Thank you, Fergus.”

Twenty-seven