Miles Before I Sleep (22 page)

“Andi… Andi, open your eyes.”

Her pale blue eyes opened wide, darting about to get her bearings. Her face scrunched up as realization dawned on her.

“I fainted.”

“The doctor and Ruth will be here in a moment.”

She tried to sit up, but Miles placed his hand on one shoulder. “Just rest until they get here.”

A small amount of blood rushed to her face, staining her pale cheeks. “You are making a fuss over nothing. Women sometimes faint if they overexert when wearing a tight corset. I have fainted from it before, that’s why Papa forbade me.”

Miles dabbed at her face with a wet cloth again. He needed to touch her—reassure himself that she was all right. “I can see why he did. It’s rather terrifying to have someone you—you care for, fall unconscious mid-sentence.”

“I’m quite recovered,” she said. “I fainted in the garden once with no one about. When I woke up, I sat for a moment, and then went about my business. No one ever knew.”

“Criminy, Andrea.”

“I don’t need a doctor. Although, I hope Ruth arrives soon. I’m dying to get out of this deuced thing.” She pushed away his hand with the cloth. “Please, stop. You’re making me feel clammy.”

Miles crossed the room to the basin and spread out the washcloth to dry. “Andrea, I need to ask you something,” he said with gravity. “It’s vital that you answer honestly.”

She grabbed his second pillow and put it behind her to help her sit up. “I’ll try.” She bit her lip, her eyes wide.

He stood across the room from her, his expression unyielding. “What was wrong with the food?”

She looked at him a moment until the wide smile spread across his face and she realized he was trying to make her laugh.

“Nothing I know of. I didn’t eat it.”

“You don’t like curry?”

“It’s not even a matter of liking it or not. I have eaten curry at least three or four times and I have gotten sick every time. No one else got sick, just me.”

He moved to sit on the edge of the bed. “Please, tell me you are finished with that man.”

“I doubt he’d ask again, but if he does, I’ll tell him to go to Perdition.”

Miles noticeably relaxed. He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear as he smiled compassionately at her. “If I was unkind, I’m sorry. I cannot prove it, but I believe that first time he approached you, he sent me the note about the engine. I asked everyone and no one had sent it. I also think he had his valet block Ruth’s view of you, so she wouldn’t follow you.”

“It doesn’t surprise me. I didn’t want to drink that third glass of sherry, but he badgered me into it.”

“I was more frightened for you that night, than I was just now when you fainted.”

She placed her hand over his. He turned his hand over and held hers, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Thank you. I should have listened to the little voice in my head about him. He kept saying odd things, things that didn’t seem normal, but all I could think about was his title and how pleased Mama would be.”

“Your mother doesn’t have to live with him the rest of her life. You do,” he said. “You need to stop trying to please her.”

Miles could sense her sudden withdrawal. “Mama wants what’s best for me. Father has the means to offer a dowry large enough to ensure I am well cared for all my days. I do not need to marry for money. You just don’t understand how my children would benefit from an advantageous match.”

Miles stood up and began pacing the room. “A title will not make you happy in the long run. Your sons will ultimately inherit your father’s business. They do not need to possess a title to be powerful men. A title will not ensure your children’s happiness or character. Your children will grow up to be like you and your husband. If he is a pompous lazy philanderer, that will be the example set forth for your children.”

Andrea slid her legs over the edge of the bed and stood up. “Possessing a title does not make a man any of those things. I have met many titled gentlemen who ran successful farms and businesses. And many who had happy marriages with wonderful children. You are just so blinded by your desire to see me marry your cousin that you will say anything.”

Miles threw his arms in the air with frustration. “You couldn’t be more wrong! I want to see you happy. Nothing more. You are focused on the wrong things. If a man you could love stood waving his arms in front of you like this,” he said, making wide sweeps of his hands, “you wouldn’t notice.”

“There is no such thing as love,” she said softly as a knock came at the door. “If you’ll excuse me, I am quite recovered.”

28

Andrea was relieved to get an invitation from Captain Bloodworthy to join him at dinner. She had resigned herself to the fact that Miles did not want her. He had his revenge, and now he was trying to foist her off on any man on the ship who might be willing to marry her. In the days that followed her disastrous dinner with the Marquess of Ironwood, Miles had paraded nearly every respectable man aboard in front of her. It became apparent that everyone had heard that Clyde Sully forced his way into her room and knew of her escapade with Miles in the crow’s nest. As a result, the gentlemen whom she might like to meet were not interested in meeting her. And the ones who wanted to pursue her, only did so for base reasons, or because they were interested in her dowry.

Defeated, she had no choice but to wait for her parents to fetch her home. She no longer had delusions of having a season—if nothing else, running away from home had no doubt caused such a scandal that she was going to be the subject of the foulest speculation society could muster. Gossips would say there was a man, or perhaps even a baby. No man would want her now. Andrea might as well accept it; she would grow old as a spinster unless a desperate impoverished man would take her for the money. Society had a long memory—one that would not soon forget her escapades. Her downfall lay at her own feet.

She was thankful for the dinner invitation from the captain. Facing Miles and his endless line of unmarried men, was extremely hard to endure. She had decided when she saw him next, she would ask him to stop inviting the potential suitors to dine with them. Her pride could not bear any more humiliation.

Miles arrived at the dining room early. He always looked forward to seeing Andrea. She had been rather distant since the day he had taken her up to the crow’s nest and invited Walter Garson to dine with them. Mealtime became the only occasion he was assured of seeing her. Wearing her beautiful lavender gown, she arrived at the maître d’s podium. A slight smile graced his lips when Miles spied her, and died moments later when the maître d’ escorted her to the captain’s table.

Andrea felt his eyes on her from the moment she entered the dining room, but she saw no reason to acknowledge his presence. The maître d’ ushered her to a chair next to a large blond man. Both he and the captain stood as she was seated. If she thought it odd that the captain introduced her to Martin Ness and no one else, she did not mention it.

Andrea could not help but notice how attractive the man was. His hair was a lighter shade of blond than hers and very shiny, as if the sun had bleached it. His skin was tanned and his eyes were a light shade of brown with golden flecks in them. He was unlike the men she met so far who were pale and soft muscled. Martin Ness was a man accustomed to physically demanding work.

“Miss James, I am pleased to meet you at last,” Martin Ness said, extending his hand.

His smile was friendly and contagious and for once Andrea did not feel uncomfortable meeting a man. She smiled widely at him, genuinely.

“I haven’t seen you around before,” she said, knowing that she would have remembered his tall wide shouldered physique if she had seen him on deck or in the saloon.

He laughed. “That’s because I’m not a passenger.”

“You’re not?” she blurted. She was confused now. He was obviously not a common sailor as the sailors would never be invited to dine with passengers and he did not wear any type of uniform like the officers.

“I’m an engineer.”

“Did you design the engine?” she asked, her interest immediately sparked.

Martin laughed at her enthusiasm. “I’m afraid not. I supervised the build. I am here to see that the engine is performing the way it should. Until I have the men trained to maintain and repair it, should anything go awry, I will stay with the ship.”

“How exciting.”

Martin laughed again. “I suppose all men like to hear themselves talk, and instructing others in the mechanical issues, does give oneself an inflated sense of intelligence.”

It was Andrea’s turned to laugh. “I meant working with steam engines. I grew up thinking hot water was only good for bathing and cooking, and now it’s carrying this whole ship across the ocean faster than any ship with sails. Mr. Huntington was going to show me the engine, but he never got around to it.”

“Perhaps you would allow me after dinner.” Then as an afterthought, he turned to Levi. “With your permission, of course.”

Levi spared a quick glance at Miles before he acquiesced. “Aye, as long as her chaperone is with you.”

Andrea felt like asking,
which one
? Miles was never too far away. At times when she strolled on deck with potential suitors, he strolled with Ruth a few paces behind. Most of the time, she’d rather be walking with Miles than the gentleman who accompanied her.

“Is your father as interested in the future of steam as you?”

Andrea looked thoughtfully at Martin Ness, only mildly surprised to find out he knew her father.

“I know he believes there is a future in steam, but he’s waiting to see if his competitors change over first. Wind is free. With steam, you have to pay for fuel, be it coal or wood, which will eat into his profits. He’s afraid he cannot stay competitive if he pays for fuel.”

Martin Ness sat back in his chair and nodded. He strummed his fingers on the table as he thought about Sebastian James’s point of view. “Has he factored in the savings of his labor cost?”

“Labor cost savings are countered by the space taken up by the engine and fuel. There would be less room for cargo.”

Martin laughed again. “Build a bigger ship.”

“I have a feeling we could go back-and-forth like this all day,” Andrea said with a smile.

As their meal progressed, it became apparent Martin Ness and Captain Bloodworthy knew each other as they spoke of mutual friends.

“So, how do you know each other?” Andrea asked.

“My father served aboard Levi’s brother’s ship for many years.”

“My brother, Jackson, is married to Morty’s cousin, Charlie.”

“Charlie?”

“A girl named Charlie,” Levi explained. “Charlie and Jackson are actually some of your father’s competitors. Have you heard of the Sinclair-Kirk Shipping Company?”

“I have not, but I would imagine my father has,” Andrea speculated. “Would I be too forward if I asked you why you work for Mr. Huntington instead of your brother?”

Levi took a drink from his water before answering. “I’ve been at sea most of my adult life working for Charlie. I just wanted a new challenge. My wife likes that I will be home regularly and I find this steamer has many challenges that hold my interest.”

29

Martin Ness escorted Andrea to the engine room after their meal. Andrea didn’t need to worry about her dress, because Martin did not let her go further than inside the door. He shouted over the noise, explaining how the steam engine worked. They watched for only a moment as the stokers shoveled coal into the firebox of the furnace below the boiler.

As they left the engine room, Andrea felt strangely sad. She had wanted to be there with Miles, questioning him about his hopes and dreams for the future of this new engineering. Although Martin had done a good job of explaining how it worked, she wanted to hear it all from Miles, see the way his eyes lit up and his smile widened.

Andrea saw Ruth positioned discreetly about ten steps behind her as they strolled, and Miles walked a few paces behind her.

“He’s like a little puppy following you around,” Martin said gently. “It must be true love.”

Andrea sighed. “I wish it were. He just worries about my safety after what happened with Clyde Sully.” She wrapped her hand around his arm. “If he was interested in me, he would have made an offer rather than helping me look for a husband.”

Looking out over the ocean, she could not help but feel sorrow tug at her heart. “You’re not looking for a wife, are you?”

“I’m not the one you want.”

She sighed again. “No,” she said, and heard her voice cracking slightly.

Martin patted the hand resting on the crook of his arm and leaned his head closer. “Then let’s make him jealous,” he said quietly.

Martin stopped, turned to her, lifted her chin and kissed her for several long seconds until her maid cleared her throat.

“That was very nice,” he said as he pulled away. A moment later, his arms went around her, and he maneuvered her in such a way that his back was to Miles, blocking his view of Andrea. He lowered his head, but did not kiss her again. He inclined his head one way and then the other so from Miles’s vantage point, it looked like they were in a passionate embrace.

When Martin Ness began to moan, Ruth verbally protested to part them.

“Miss James, Mr. Ness, please.”

“Whatever you do, don’t look at him,” Martin whispered as they separated.

She could not help but giggle as they began strolling again. “Oh my, but it is warm tonight,” Andrea said, her mood suddenly bolstered.

“Miss James, I think I should walk you to your cabin before I do something stupid.”

As they approached the door to her stateroom, the two sailors flanking the door crossed their arms over their chests. He picked up her hand and kissed it.

“Good night, Miss James. Sleep well.”

“Thank you, Mr. Ness. You as well.”

After Andrea entered her room with Ruth, Martin backtracked the way he came, and as expected, ran into Miles.

“Twenty-four hours, Miles.”

Miles eyed his engineer cautiously. “What do you mean?”

“You have twenty-four hours to propose to Andrea or I will. I’m sure her father’s millions would salve any wound I would have over my wife being in love with another man. I trust you can keep your feelings for my future wife to yourself.”

Fifteen minutes later, Martin Ness was in Levi Bloodworthy’s quarters.

“How did it go?” Levi asked with a wide grin.

“Dust off your Bible. They’ll need your services in a couple of days.”

~*~

Miles fumbled with the lock on his stateroom door waiting for Ruth to return to her room after tending to Andrea’s needs. When she was gone, he dismissed the two sailors standing guard, telling them to let the mate know that they did not need to watch her door any longer.

When they too were gone, he took a deep breath and knocked.

“Mr. Huntington?” She glanced around and realized the sailors were gone. “Where…?”

“I didn’t think you’d need them any longer. Was I wrong?”

“I bow to your judgment,” she said in her most refined accent.

“Would you care to come over to my cabin and visit? I missed you at dinner.”

Andrea put her arms behind her back and rocked back on one foot. “I don’t know if I should. I’ve already sent my maid away for the night.”

She looked straight at him, her pale blue eyes revealing nothing.

“Are you still mad at me?” he asked with a slight grin. She was not standing tall and rigid with that pleasant smile that she used to cover up when she was upset, so he was reasonably certain she was willing to visit for a while.

“I was more hurt than angry with you. And more angry at myself than with you.”

He held out one hand to her. “Maybe we should go talk about it.”

Andrea looked at his proffered hand and then lifted her gaze to meet his. With a soundless sigh, she put her hand in his palm. Andrea knew she could never say no to him. If he asked her to accompany him into the crow’s nest again, even if they had to climb up there in full view of everyone aboard, and even if she knew they would spend the night up there, she knew she would comply.

As soon as she stepped out into the passageway, Miles closed her door and locked it using the key from his pocket.

“It’s the master key. Both Captain Bloodworthy and I have one,” he explained at the look of alarm on her face. “I would never use it to enter anyone’s cabin except in an emergency situation.”

“I never thought you would.”

As Miles closed the door to his suite, Andrea took a seat on the Duncan Phyfe sofa.

“Would you care for something to drink, Andi? I have water or sherry.”

“May I have a glass of sherry?” she asked. She was going to do it, she suddenly decided. If he could not be compelled to ask her, she would ask him. She could not forget how easily she spoke her mind to him when she imbibed the first time.

“Did you enjoy seeing the engine?” he asked, handing her the glass and joining her on the sofa. He left only a foot of space between them and they each turned and sat facing each other.

“It was hard to see anything from the doorway, but Mr. Ness did a good job explaining the rudimentary workings in a way that someone when no knowledge of engines could understand.”

Andrea noticed the way his brow knitted at the mention of Martin Ness. Was he jealous? Andrea knew the answer. No. Miles had been trying to find her a husband and he no doubt only wanted a report on how she felt about this suitor. A moment later, he confirmed her supposition.

“Did you like Mr. Ness?”

“Oh yes,” she said cheerfully. She did not brighten her tone to hurt him or make him jealous, but merely because it reflected her enjoyment of the engineer. Martin Ness was easily the most genial person she had met since boarding the ship. “He’s quite funny and I enjoyed his company.”

Andrea noticed the way his shoulders sank slightly as she spoke. Was he deflated, or did he relax because he thought she might have settled on a potential husband.

“Is he the one, then? Do you need me to arrange another meeting?”

Frowning, she downed half her glass. “Miles, may I speak honestly with you?” Andrea tilted back the glass again, draining it before she set it down.

“Of course, Andi. I thought you knew you could say anything to me.”

“I liked Mr. Ness. He is handsome and amusing. I even found his kiss…nice. If he were my only choice, I would marry him if he offered. But he could never consume my thoughts during the day or my dreams at night, the way you do.”

At a total and complete loss as to how to respond, Miles stared at her. He had been trying to figure out how he was going to propose and she had just opened the door. Yet his tongue seemed unable to speak.

Suddenly, Andrea stood up and smoothed down her skirt. She had completely lost her nerve. “I suppose I should go back to my room.”

“No,” he said, snapping out of his stupor. “Please stay.”

He noticed then that her eyes were awash with tears. “If you don’t have feelings for me, Miles, I would prefer that you leave me alone. Sitting at your table every day, while you parade potential husbands in front of me is incredibly painful. I cannot imagine this horrible anguish I feel is love, because love is supposed to feel good. I don’t know what it is, but if you don’t want me, please be honest and tell me right now, because I need to either go forward or quit hoping and forget you.”

Miles was on his feet before she finished and picked up her hands. “It doesn’t work,” Miles said softly. “I’ve tried and tried to forget the young woman I met at a ball. It turned out she was just a girl and I tried to forget her. I couldn’t.”

“Me?”

“Of course you,” he said with a chuckle. “I’ve waited five years for you to grow up. I knew you never had your first season. I didn’t want you to feel you were never given a choice. If you had been allowed your season, I would’ve been in England to court you.”

Andrea blushed and cast her eyes down. “I would have liked that.”

“Me, too,” he said, putting his finger under her chin and tilting her head up. As his head began to lower, there was a sudden urgent knocking at the door.

“Come back later,” Miles called.

“Open this door this instant, Mr. Huntington.”

A mild expletive escaped under his breath at the sound of the captain’s voice. “Do you want to face him with me or hide in the other room?”

“Huntington!” the captain shouted angrily.

“Hide,” she whispered hearing the captain’s tone. She made a move toward the open bedroom door, but Miles did not release the hand he was holding. She turned and met his eyes.

“Andi, will you marry me?”

“Yes,” she whispered loudly, urgently.

“Hurry, before he lets himself in.”

She lifted her skirts and ran into the bedroom. As soon as Andrea shut herself in, a wide smile crossed his lips. He knew the moment Levi Bloodworthy heard that he had dismissed her guards that he would be knocking at his door. Even if Andrea changed her mind, her fate was sealed when she stepped into his suite. He knew Levi was not going to allow him to tarnish her reputation again. He knew it was underhanded of him, but frankly, he was not sure of her answer to his proposal.

Miles tried to school his expression, but it was difficult in light of her acceptance. It was not going to help Levi’s temper for Miles to be smiling like a cat with its lip white with pilfered cream. It did not work. Miles was still grinning when he finally opened the door. The two sailors he had dismissed glared at him as they moved back into position in front of Andrea’s door.

“Dammit, Miles! What game are you playing at?”

“Me? I don’t know what you mean.” He tried to feign innocence.

“Is she here?”

When Miles did not answer, Levi Bloodworthy crossed to the bedroom door and opened it. He crooked his finger at her, bidding her to join them.

Miles was shocked when she emerged. She had pulled the pins from her hair and had unbuttoned the top two buttons of her dress. She immediately crossed the room to him and put her arms around him. He looked down at her completely baffled, but his arm went around her and he pressed a kiss against her temple. He knew she had intentionally made it look as if they had been caught
in flagrante delicto
. Apparently, she did not intend to take any chances either.

“When do you want to get married, Andi?” he asked, not waiting for Levi to force the issue.

“No,” Levi said forcefully. “I’ve had enough of this tomfoolery. The only choice I’m giving you, is whether you marry her privately or publicly. By heavens, you will be married within the hour.”

Miles pulled her more firmly to his side. “That’s unfair to Andrea. She needs time to get used to the idea.” More accurately, he suspected, she needed time to get used to the idea of what would come after the wedding.

“It’s fine, Miles,” she whispered.

He suspected she did not want to wait because a delay would give her fears about making love time to build. Miles was acutely aware of how fast Andrea breathing. No doubt if he lifted her hand, he would find her trembling.

“Are you sure, Andi? Just because Levi demands it, doesn’t mean we have to comply,” he said, sparing a quick glance at his captain.

“Please, I don’t want to cause any more trouble.”

“Go change into your prettiest dress, and I’ll take care of everything else. I’ll get Ruth to help you fix your hair.”

“Can Ruth come to the wedding?”

He smiled gently at her. “Of course”

“And Phillip?”

“Phillip?”

“He’s always kind to me when he brings my meals.”

“I’m sure he can be excused from his duties.”

“Wouldn’t it be fun to get married in the crow’s nest?” she said with a mischievous spark.

“Absolutely not,” Levi bellowed rolling forward on the balls of his toes.

“He’s afraid of heights,” Miles said in a stage whisper.

Andrea laughed and hurried out of his suite.