Stormy Persuasion (14 page)

Chapter Twenty-One

T
he timing was horrible on all accounts. Nathan had just opened up, answering questions
without asking any of his own. That could have gone much further if they weren’t interrupted.
But Judith didn’t need to be told to hide. She was hurrying toward the crates when
Nathan’s arm hooked around her waist and she was pretty much deposited on the floor
behind one. At least she had room to hide there because none of the supplies were
placed close to the hull since it needed to be checked regularly for leaks. It was
one of Nathan’s jobs as the ship’s carpenter—when he wasn’t being interrogated by
the captain’s niece.

She crouched down behind the crate with a few moments to spare before she could distinguish
her father, just entering the hold, saying, “. . . answered too readily, without a
single pause. Didn’t have to think about it even once.”

“And your point?” James replied.

“Thought that would convince you the lad is telling the truth.”

“I never called him a liar, Tony. He can be exactly who he says he is and still have
an agenda other than the simple one he claims. Telling us nothing but the truth doesn’t
mean he hasn’t left out some pertinent details.”

It almost sounded as if they were talking about Nathan, but Judith knew better. They
were discussing Andrássy, although Nathan might not guess that. And why hadn’t he
left yet? She could still see him standing between the two crates by his tools, his
back to the entrance, and less than two feet from her. He was providing her with more
concealment, but she could tell from the aggressive set of his wide shoulders that
he was tense. Did he expect a confrontation? Or just expect he might have to protect
her from one? Decent of him, but she wouldn’t let it come to that.

As if she weren’t anxious enough, she felt dread when it occurred to her why her father
and her uncle had come down here. To use the new ring. They wouldn’t be leaving soon,
which meant she couldn’t leave either. It also meant they’d hear Jack calling for
her when she didn’t see her on deck, and that would be anytime now. She could even
imagine her father initiating a search of the ship by everyone on board.

James’s voice had sounded farther away, as if he’d already gotten into the ring. Judith
didn’t peek around the crate to find out for sure. But once they started sparring,
they might be distracted enough for her to slip out of there. She’d have to crawl
most of the way behind the supplies, but that would be easy enough to do in her britches.

“My nephew’s wife has hair like yours,” Anthony said in a deceptively affable tone.

Judith’s eyes flared wide. It sounded as if her father was standing right in front
of the crate she was hiding behind! But she knew he was talking to Nathan.

“Be a good chap and tell me you
aren’t
related to the Hilary family.”

“Never heard of them,” Nathan replied cautiously.

“Good.”

Judith didn’t have to see it to know her father had just punched Nathan in the gut.
The sound was unmistakable. But
why
? And not just once. She winced with each blow that followed. She knew how brutal
her father could be when it came to landing punches. Was Nathan even trying to defend
himself? She was afraid to look. She couldn’t
not
look.

Nathan ducked the next blow. He’d maneuvered the fight so Anthony’s back was to her.
James was facing her from his position in the ring, but his eyes were on the two men
below him and his tone was quite dry when he said, “You’re allowed to fight back,
Mr. Tremayne. My brother won’t be satisfied unless you do.”

Nathan blocked a blow to his face and followed it with a right jab that caught Anthony
in the chin and snapped his head back slightly. She winced for her father now, yet
she wondered if he wasn’t secretly pleased that he wasn’t going to win easily. He
loved a good fight. There’s wasn’t a Malory who didn’t know it. But if he appreciated
that Nathan
wasn’t
flat on his back yet, he gave no indication of it. He continued to deliver blow after
blow, concentrating on Nathan’s midsection, while Nathan got in two more punches to
Anthony’s chin and cheek.

James finally said, “Enough, Tony. I don’t want him damaging his hands on you. He
needs them to do his job.”

“Someone else can do his bloody job,” Anthony replied in a snarl.

“Actually, they can’t,” James rejoined. “We only have one carpenter aboard.”

“
He’s
the one found your hidden miscreant last night?”

“Yes.”

One more punch. “Very well, I’m done. I shall consider us even—Tremayne, is it? Unless
you do something to tip the scales again.”

“Your idea of
even
stinks—my lord.”

Judith groaned to herself at that less than conciliatory answer, but Anthony merely
seemed to be amused by it and quipped, “On the contrary, dear boy. You’re still standing,
aren’t you?”

James offered magnanimously, “If you need to rest up after your exertions, Tony, I
can wait another day to test out this ring.”

“Bite your tongue, old man. That was just a warm-up.” Anthony proved it by joining
James in the ring.

Nathan should have left, but instead he sat on the crate that Judith was still hiding
behind. She was sitting cross-legged now, facing the hull, her back against the crate.
She assumed Nathan was just catching his breath, watching the action in the ring.

So she was surprised a few minutes later to hear him say in a low, if incredulous
tone, “How does he do that at his age and after what I just meted out to him?”

He was talking about the punches her father and her uncle were doling out to each
other in the ring. She whispered back, “Don’t equate age with skill. My father has
had years of conditioning, not to mention frequent matches with his brother like the
one you’re watching now.”

Nathan snorted quietly. “I gave you the opportunity to leave—why didn’t you?”

She didn’t answer that and instead asked, “Did he hurt you?”

“What d’you think?”

“How badly?”

“I might survive.”

She started to frown until she recognized the teasing note in his voice. There was
something else she wanted to know. “What did you do to provoke his anger?”

“I have to be at fault?”

“I know my father. I can tell when he holds a grudge against someone. Why?”

“I might have knocked him out on the London docks before we sailed.”

She gasped. “How? The only one he
ever
loses to is my uncle James.”

“Caught him by surprise, you could say. But you heard him. We’re even now.”

She almost said, “Don’t count on it,” but she didn’t want him to turn leery of talking
to her because of her father. That might happen anyway now, but she wasn’t going to
help it along.

Then he added, “Go now while they’re distracted. Stay low.”

“You should leave as well.”

“Not a chance. People have to pay to watch fights of this caliber. Besides, don’t
take it wrong, darlin’, but I want to see your old man lose.”

That
infuriated her, enough to make her hiss, “You won’t see it today. Mark my words,
my uncle is going to
let
him win that bout.”

“Why would he do a fool thing like that?” Nathan sounded surprised.

“Because those two are very close. It might not always seem like it, but they are.
And because it will soothe ruffled feathers, even put my father in a good mood—which
might help him to forget about you for the duration of the voyage. Just don’t expect
my uncle to do you that favor after we dock and you’re no longer working for him.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

“I
prob��ly should have mentioned this sooner, but someone’s caught my eye,” Judith
told her cousin.

They were sitting in the middle of the double bed in Jacqueline’s cabin, both cross-legged,
cards in hand, more cards on the blanket between them. Jack was barefoot and wearing
her ship togs, which she would probably wear every day until they docked. Judith still
preferred not to wear them and even more so after seeing Nathan’s reaction to them.
She was outfitted in a simple, blue day dress with short-capped sleeves.

They often played whist by themselves, despite its being a four-person game. They
merely skirted the rules with each of them playing an extra hand. It was not as exciting
with only one player to worry about instead of three, but it passed the time for them,
and Judith found it more fun than a game of chess, which Jack
always
won.

But Jacqueline didn’t even glance up at Judith after her statement, which Judith found
rather disappointing because it had taken her several days to get up the nerve to
make it. But she was still tense. Normally she’d be bubbling with excitement when
she shared something like this, but she was too worried that she’d inadvertently reveal
too much.

“In London?” Jack asked as she picked up her extra hand to play a card from it.

“No, on board.”

That got Jack’s immediate attention and a laugh. “Good God, not Andrássy! I know he’s
quite handsome, but he’s our cousin.”

Judith found the mistake amusing enough to point out, “Too distant to count, actually.
What would you add to it, that he’s our fifth cousin, sixth, tenth, when they usually
stop adding numbers after second? But no, it’s not Andrássy.”

“Who then? There’s no one else aboard except common sailors—oh, no, you don’t!” Jack
made a sound that was half gasp, half snort. “It’s a good thing you mentioned it so
we can nip this in the bud
right
now. Your parents will never let you go to a man who doesn’t have at least
some
prospects!”

Judith rolled her eyes. “Are you forgetting what happened when I turned eighteen?
Half my inheritance from my mother was turned over to me, more money than any one
family could ever need. Prospects, I believe, won’t be an issue.”

“That’s beside the bloody point and you know it,” Jack was quick to stress.

“You’re being a snob.”

“I am not! Just realistic. Of course if you intend to elope instead of getting permission,
then I won’t say another word.”

Judith started laughing, couldn’t help it. This was not how she’d expected this conversation
to go. But at least her tension was gone for the moment, thanks to Jacqueline’s overprotective
nature.

“You are getting
so
far ahead of yourself, Jack. I didn’t say I’ve found my future husband. I’m just
highly intrigued by this man and want to get to know him better, perhaps find a few
moments alone with him when we could speak freely. And he’s not just a common sailor,
he’s a carpenter.”
And my ghost,
she wanted to add, but instead mentioned what Nathan had told James about his stolen
ship.

Jack grinned, which brought forth her dimples. “Alone with him, eh? Are you sure you
won’t be too nervous to say a word, let alone have a conversation? You’ve never been
alone with a man who isn’t a relative.”

“I think I can manage. And we’re on a ship. It’s not as if he can hie off with me
or one of your father’s sailors or servants wouldn’t be within shouting distance.”

Jack chuckled. “Point taken. And he does sound quite interesting. His name?”

“Nathan Tremayne.”

Jack raised a golden brow so like her father’s habit. “I even like the sound of it.”
But then she speculated aloud, “Judith Tremayne. Judy Tre—”

“I
told
you I’m not—”

“Yes, yes. And
we’re
not getting married for at least a year. Doesn’t mean you can’t take that long to
get to know this chap. Besides, options are good things to have, and you’ll want lots
before the time comes to choose a husband.” Then Jack scooted off the bed, scattering
their cards and pulling Judith with her.

“Where are we going?”

Jack tossed her some shoes, but didn’t bother getting a pair for herself. “I have
to meet this young man of yours for myself. Let’s go find him.”

Judith wasn’t about to protest when she hadn’t actually seen Nathan for two days.
And she’d looked for him each time she came on deck. But short of sneaking around
and looking for him, which she had decided she was never going to do again, she hadn’t
been able to find him and had concluded that his job was keeping him busy elsewhere.

They found him in the first place Jacqueline looked, in the carpenter’s storeroom.
Jack knew exactly where it was, but then she’d explored every inch of this ship the
last time they’d sailed on it. And learned every aspect of running it, too. Of course,
she hadn’t given up yet on her goal of being a pirate back then. She’d even tried
to teach Judith everything she was learning, but Judith, not sharing the same interest,
had only listened with half an ear.

The room was smaller than their cabins, but big enough for one man to work in. Materials
weren’t stored here, but in the hold. Only a long workbench and a wide assortment
of tools were kept in the room. And the narrow cot Nathan had mentioned, replete with
rumpled bedding to show he’d been using it.

He was standing at his bench twisting apart old ropes to make oakum from the fibers,
which was typically applied between planks in the hull to keep them from leaking.
Judith vaguely recalled Jack’s mentioning the process. His white shirt was tucked
in, half-unbuttoned and sweat stained, the sleeves rolled up. The door had been open,
but the room was still hot. His hair wasn’t quite long enough to club back, but he’d
tied a bandanna across his brow to keep the sweat from his eyes. Some of his shorter
locks had escaped it. It made him look roguish, and far too masculine.

Jacqueline, having pulled Judith into the room with her, was definitely caught by
surprise, enough to whisper, “You forgot to mention he’s a bloody Corinthian and so
handsome it hurts the eyes.”

Judith’s cheeks lit up instantly, but Nathan didn’t appear to have heard the whisper.
As he turned toward them, he merely stated, “You must be Jack.”

“Judy mentioned me? Yes, of course she did. And did she tell you that neither she
nor I am getting married this year? Shopping, just not buying yet. Keep that in mind,
Nate.”

He laughed, that deep rumble Judith had missed hearing. “Has anyone ever told you
that you’re a little too outspoken for your age?”

“Wouldn’t matter if they did,” Jack retorted. “Malorys don’t adhere to golden rules,
we create our own.”

He glanced at Judith. “Is that so?”

She rolled her eyes. “For some of us.”

Jacqueline nodded toward the rope still in his hand. “That’s something you could do
on deck where it’s cooler. Why aren’t you?”

“Maybe I was avoiding meeting up with the two of you,” Nathan replied with a slight
grin.

“Why? I don’t bite—without reason.”

“He’s just teasing, Jack. I’m beginning to recognize the signs.”

Jacqueline glanced between them. “Just when did you two get so well acquainted?”

“We’re not,” Judith replied with only a slight blush. “We’ve only spoken a few times.”

Jack nodded and told Judith, “I’m going to find Andrássy and see if he actually knows
how to use that sword he carries. Don’t be too long in joining us on deck.” Then Jack
actually smiled at Nathan. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Nate.” But she ruined the
cordial remark by adding, “Nothing inappropriate happens in this room or I’ll have
to gut you—if her father doesn’t beat me to it.”

Jack left as quickly as they’d arrived. Judith peeked around the door to make sure
her cousin really was going up to the main deck.

“That was a little too direct,” Nathan said.

Judith turned back to him. “That’s just Jack being Jack. She’s very protective of
me, well, of everyone in the family, actually. It’s a Malory trait we all share. But
I think she’s annoyed with me now that I didn’t mention you sooner.”

“You weren’t supposed to mention me at all.”

“No, your condition was to refrain from saying we’d met before and I’ve adhered to
that. I told her nothing other than what you said to her father. But all that sneaking
I was doing behind Jack’s back was far too nerve-racking to continue. As you can see,
it’s no longer necessary.”

“Yes, but how did you manage that?”

“By convincing her that I was interested in you.”

He grinned. “That must have been hard to do.”

“Yes, it was,” she gritted out.

He abruptly tossed the rope in his hand on the workbench and reached for her. She
gasped, but he was just setting her on the bench. Deliberately disconcerting her again?
He must have remembered how easy that was for him to do. It did put her closer to
him, right in front of him actually, and he didn’t move away to correct that.

Flustered, she demanded, “
Why
do you keep setting me down on things?”

“It’s up, actually, and because you’re a half-pint.” But he leaned a little closer
to add, “And maybe because I like touching you.”

She blushed and jumped down to put some distance between them, only to feel his hands
on her waist again. He put her right back on the bench, he just didn’t let go as quickly
this time. His hands lingered on her waist. And those pleasant sensations were showing
up again that had nothing to do with anything except him. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t
think, waited . . .

“So you like my touch, do you?”

“No—I—”

“Then maybe you’ll stay put this time?”

She snapped her mouth shut. How bloody high-handed of him! And he did let go of her
now, but too late. She was of a mind to leave but didn’t doubt he was persuading her
to do just that with his manhandling tactics. Had he hoped her interrogation was done
when she didn’t seek him out these last two days? Wanted to assure that it stayed
that way? Too bad. She was too stubborn to let him manipulate her like that or to
give up on getting at the truth.

She was angry now. Not because he didn’t kiss her just then as she’d thought he was
going to do, but because it appeared he was trying to renege on their agreement.

Not having seen him the last two days, she’d had plenty time to dwell on him and had
realized that none of her questions to him had been about smuggling. She’d merely
questioned him to satisfy her curiosity about his personal life. So she’d accomplished
nothing so far other than to nearly get caught hiding in the hold. By her father no
less.

“I’ve missed you.”

She blinked. The anger simply drained away and too quickly, making her realize he
could be doing it again. Saying things designed to distract her.

And he wasn’t done. “I thought I caught your scent a few times.” Then he laughed at
himself. “Kept glancing behind me, expecting to see you. I even opened a few doors
I was so sure I could smell you nearby. Just wistfulness on my part, I guess.”

Her brows narrowed suspiciously. “You know I don’t believe a word of that.”

He grinned. “I know.”

He moved farther away, over to the cot to sit down. She was surprised he hadn’t sat
next to her again, but guessed the workbench wouldn’t support their combined weight.
She caught the wince, though, as he sat, making her wonder if he was still in pain
from that fight with her father.

“Everything I say is going to be suspect,” he continued. “Because you don’t know me
well enough to know when I’m telling you the truth. If you come over here and sit
on my lap, maybe we can change that.”

She snorted to herself.
That
didn’t sound as if he were in pain. Or he simply knew she wouldn’t be doing anything
like that. It didn’t even warrant a reply, it was such an outrageous suggestion.

Instead, she asked, “How bad was the bruising?”

“Black.”

“Still?”

“I think he ruptured my stomach. I can’t keep anything down.”

Her eyes flared, but she quickly realized he had to be teasing. “Nonsense, you’d be
dead by now if that was so.” Then she smirked. “Maybe you’re seasick. Now
that
would be hilarious, wouldn’t it?”

He snorted. “No, just absurd.”

“But you’ve never been at sea this long to know, have you?”

“I was just exaggerating, my way of letting you know what I think of your father.”

“Oh.”

A compliment to Anthony’s prowess in the ring, or a slur? It was unusual to see someone
at odds with her father. Her instinct was to defend her parent, but she held her tongue,
recalling how rough that fight had been. She supposed Nathan was due a little grouching
about it, at least until he was fully recovered, even though by the sound of it he’d
started the animosity in the first place. Of course, she didn’t know what that had
been about. Yet.