Pleasures of a Tempted Lady (27 page)

Unfortunately, though, he wasn’t a suitor. And Jessica didn’t have the first idea how to make him one. It might prove difficult if he really did despise her as much as his scowls and mumbled single-syllable words directed toward her might indicate.

Today, he and Jonathan were in the drawing room, discussing Caversham and Millbridge. Apparently, Caversham and his ship had disappeared a few days after Jonathan and his companions had rescued Serena. Briggs had stifled his urge to chase after the man and had instead continued his search for information in London.

Jessica had just served them tea and was hovering in the background like a servant instead of going upstairs and embroidering with Beatrice, who was expecting her. Jonathan looked up and gave her a pointed look, but she just frowned back at him. Sighing, he ignored her and went back to his conversation.

“It appears that Millbridge is using at least some of the funds to raise an army,” Briggs was saying.

“What for?” Jonathan asked.

Briggs shrugged. “That’s the question, my lord. No one knows. He has a large warehouse in the docklands packed to the gills with explosives.”

“Good God, wouldn’t the customs officials be aware of such a thing?”

“They’ve been known to turn a blind eye, especially when presented with enough blunt to quiet them.”

Jonathan took a thoughtful drink of his brandy. “You make it sound like he’s building an army to take over the country, or some such madness. But of course, he’d never succeed.”

“No, he would not.”

“And we cannot forget that one of his closest friends, the Duke of Cumberland, is a member of the royal family.”

“Third in line to the throne, in fact,” Briggs mused. “Perhaps he intends to use the weapons against a smaller entity?”

“Such as?” Jonathan asked.

Jessica thought hard. What would a man like the Marquis of Millbridge want to destroy? She knew from listening to previous conversations that Millbridge was extremely ambitious. But to what end?

It was all very confusing. In the end, she didn’t care. She just wanted them to find enough evidence for the brothers to hang, so they’d leave her sisters and poor little Jake alone for good.

The men concluded their meeting, and Briggs promised to bring Jonathan any information he might find in the next few days. As he was leaving, he paused at the door.

“I’ve written to the captain. I think it might be best I continue my investigation in Cornwall. I believe I’ve reached a dead end for information here in London. There is more evidence to be found where Caversham and his ships have been located most often, and that is in the West Indies and in Cornwall.”

“And he won’t go to the West Indies now, not when he knows his son is somewhere in the United Kingdom,” Jonathan said.

“True. I might encounter him in Cornwall. If I do”—Briggs paused—“I will be ready for him.”

“It sounds like you ought to go, if you’ve exhausted your sources here in London. I’m certain Langley will agree.”

“I’ll wait to hear from him, then.” With a nod to Jonathan, and pointedly ignoring Jessica, Briggs went out the door.

Anger flushed within Jessica, and she strode after him, ignoring Jonathan’s soft warning. “Jessica—”

She shut the door against him and hurried down the passageway after David. “Wait!”

He stopped, hesitated, then slowly turned to her. He gave a formal half bow. “Miss Jessica.”

She stopped in front of him, looking up into those lovely, stormy blue eyes. “You may call me Jessica. Forget the ‘miss’ part.”

He raised a brow, said, “I don’t think so,” and began to turn away.

She grabbed his arm. “Wait!”

She heard the soft whistle as he released a breath through his teeth. “What is it?”

Her heart was about to pound right out of her chest.
She licked her lips. She was brave, always had been. She wouldn’t falter now.

“I like you,” she said in a soft voice. “But I promise to leave you alone, if you tell me to my face that you despise me as much as you pretend to.”

His face relaxed from its unbreakable mask. “Jesus,” he mumbled, looking up to the ceiling as if asking for deliverance.

They stood there for a long, silent moment, as he slowly leveled his gaze to hers.

“I don’t despise you,” he finally said on a near growl. He glanced over his shoulder and down the corridor beyond her. Apparently finding no one to overhear, he leaned toward her and murmured, “Damn it, Jessica. I can’t stop thinking about you.”

A warm flush of pleasure washed through her. So his behavior, the constant annoyance directed at her, was all an act. She’d known that, somewhere deep inside. She’d known he liked her. She grinned. “Why try?”

His blue eyes narrowed. “Are you mad?”

“Not at all.”

“You are a lady. Untouchable.”

“Oh, that’s not true. I’m quite touchable indeed.” She didn’t mean to flirt, truly she didn’t, but she couldn’t help it.

His eyes were slits now. “Don’t be stupid,” he grated out.

“I’m not stupid, either. You should know that by now.”

“You’re nineteen years old,” he whispered harshly. “You’re liable to catch some earl or duke, like your sisters have done. You’re the youngest, most beautiful, most eligible Donovan sister. Trust me, you don’t want to ruin all that by being compromised by a man like me.”

She stared at him, appraising. Was this an example of a man being noble? If so, she liked it very much.

She wanted to tell him, “Oh, yes, I certainly do want to be compromised by a man like you,” but that would sound too flippant—even though it was the truth.

So she simply nodded. Raising her hand, she touched his cheek with her fingertips. “I like you, David Briggs. More than I like any duke or earl. And that’s not going away. I may appear to be frivolous and superficial, but when I decide to go after something, I am loyal and constant, and I never give up.”

He shook his head. “Your family would never approve.”

“Nonsense,” she said. Although it was partially true. Her mother and aunt would both have fits and probably swoon repeatedly from the disgrace of her being associated with a—
gasp!
—sailor. Her sisters and brothers-in-law, though they would be supportive, would worry for her.

“You’re leaving for Sussex in a few days.”

Pressing her lips together, she nodded. Even though Caversham had disappeared, Jonathan still thought it would be better for the family to retreat to Sussex. She hated the idea.

“And I’ll be doing my duty for my employer, far away from Sussex. Give it a week, Jess. You’ll forget about me once you’re in the country.”

Jess
. Only her sisters called her that. But she liked how it emerged from his mouth. So smooth. So masculine.

“I won’t forget,” she whispered. “Will you forget about me when you’re at sea?”

“Never.”

They stared at each other for a long moment.
Looking into those blue eyes, studying that rugged face, Jessica decided that he was truly the handsomest man she’d ever known.

Then, with a brief nod, he turned and left, leaving her standing alone in the corridor.

Chapter Sixteen

W
ill was determined to end Caversham’s reign of terror over the woman he loved, and soon, before the damage the pirate caused was irreparable. Meg lived in fear, and it was tearing Will apart. She was so easily frightened. It had become so pervasive that if he, or anyone else, made an unexpected move, she’d jump in alarm.

Yesterday, she hadn’t allowed Jake to go out riding with the servants. That had resulted in a temper tantrum that surprised Will—he’d never seen Jake react so strongly to anything. He’d punched and kicked and screamed, and Meg had just held him, serenely saying no, it was too dangerous. The boy hadn’t understood, and it seemed like hours had passed before she was able to calm him.

Will had spent two full days in Liverpool, talking with the man in charge of the construction of the
Endeavor
, hiring sailors experienced with steam-driven vessels and outfitting the ship with all the supplies they’d require
for a journey of unknown duration. The days were long and busy, and tonight when Will arrived at the house in Prescot, it was past midnight and the house was dark.

He led his horse into the small stables at the back of the house and brushed it down, murmuring to it as he did so. When the animal was comfortable in its stall, Will trudged back to the house, exhaustion settling over him. He hoped Thomas wouldn’t thrash too much tonight. The boy was a wild sleeper—usually, Will either woke with the child draped over him or with his toes in his face.

Just inside the front door, a lit lantern awaited him. He took it gratefully and carried it upstairs to his room. He entered, seeing the still form of his son in his bed, and proceeded to undress, stripping off his coats and shirt, then lowering himself onto the edge of the bed to remove his boots.

There was a soft mumble as he depressed the side of the bed, and Will glanced over at Thomas, making sure he hadn’t awakened the boy.

“Hm,” he murmured in surprise.

Jake lay beside Thomas, one little arm flung over the older boy’s torso.

Will was sitting, boots off, contemplating his options, when a soft knock sounded on the door. He opened it to Meg standing in her nightgown with a thin robe pulled over her shoulders.

“You’re home,” she whispered.

Home
. He liked that word coming from her.

Taking the lantern, he stepped out into the small landing separating their two rooms and shut the door behind him quietly so as not to awaken the boys. “Yes. It was a long day.”

She nodded. “I waited up for you. I can’t sleep until I know you’re home safe.”

He gestured toward his room. “Jake?”

“He had another one of his tantrums today.” She sighed. “About my not allowing him to ride. As a concession, I told him he could sleep with Thomas for a little while. I’ll go get him.”

She made to walk around him, but on impulse, he reached out, grabbing her arm. “Wait.”

She gave him a questioning look.

“Will you… stay with me for a while?”

She didn’t hesitate. “Of course. Come into my room. Should I go downstairs and fetch some wine?”

“Yes, wine sounds very good.” Maybe it would loosen his knotted muscles and help him to fall asleep.

She took the lantern from him, and as she went downstairs to fetch the wine, he walked into her room, rolling his tight shoulders. There was only one chair in here—in front of her dressing table—so he sat on the edge of the bed.

She returned in a few moments, holding a wine bottle and two glasses. He took the bottle and poured while she held the glasses for him. When he finished, he set the bottle on the floor while she nestled close to him on the bed.

A sensation—new but already familiar—flushed through him. He knew it for what it was. Love.

Now, he had to heal her so that she could feel it in the same way he did. He needed to banish the fear from her heart and mind forever. Without the fear, she’d be able to trust him completely. Without the fear, she’d marry him.

He slipped his arm around her shoulders.

“Tell me about today,” she murmured.

“I hired fifteen men. Sailors, all, and familiar with steam. I’m still looking for a first mate, though. Finding someone with the right kind of experience is proving difficult.”

“How much of a crew will the
Endeavor
require?”

“At least twenty for a skeleton crew. I’d prefer thirty, though.”

“Does the ship appear to be ready? You don’t think the steam engines will break down, do you?” Under his arm, she shuddered slightly, and he knew she was picturing them adrift at sea.

“I don’t think anything will break; however, if it does, I’ve hired an engineer who knows the ins and outs of repairing these kinds of engines. And if that doesn’t work, there’s always the option to sail.”

The
Endeavor
was a side-paddle steamboat, with two masts and sails for use under ideal wind and sea conditions or when the boilers were unusable for any reason.

She smiled up at him. “I’ve seen steamships from afar, but I’ve never actually been on one.”

“Well, you will be in a few days’ time. I think you’ll find it less disagreeable than you might suspect.”

“I hope so.” She hesitated, and her eyes shone as she looked at him. “I like this.”

“What do you mean?”

“Being here with the boys. With you. At times it feels…
real
. Like we’re a family.” She blinked hard. “But it’s all an illusion, really.”

“We
will
be a family.” Playing idly with one of her curls, he leaned over and kissed her cheek. “You’ll be free of him soon, Meg. I promise.”

He gazed down at her. The swell of her breast peeked
from the neckline of her nightgown. That plump, soft curve of skin evoked an instant reaction in his body. He took the wineglass from her hand and set it on the table by the bed, then returned to her side, this time lying down and pulling her against him. She came willingly and wrapped her arms around him. It was almost as if she wanted him as much as he wanted her, but he couldn’t quite believe that. He still sensed that hint of reserve erecting that insidious wall between them.

Once Caversham was gone, that wall would evaporate. If it didn’t… Will didn’t know what he’d do. He loved her too much to consider failure.

He drew her in closer, feeling the soft press of her breasts against his chest, his cock a hard rod against her thigh.

“I want you,” he whispered into her hair.

Her answer was simple. “Then take me.”

They undressed slowly, almost languidly, their fingers gliding over each other’s bodies as each item was removed. This time, there was little worry that the servants might hear or the boys might return from their ride. The household was fast asleep.

He lay over her, propping himself up on his hands to gaze down at her. She stared up at him, her eyes sparkling silver in the dim light.

“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured in a cracking voice, struck with awe at the way the lantern light played across her honey-colored skin. She possessed such a wholesome beauty. Such purity. There was truly no one like her.