Stormy Persuasion (2 page)

When asked why he would agree to something so out of character for him, James had
said, “It kept me from having to kill them, which would have made George quite annoyed
with me.”

True, they were George’s brothers, after all, and James hadn’t actually been joking,
either, about killing them. George was Jacqueline’s mother, Georgina to be exact,
but James insisted on calling his wife George because he knew her brothers would hate
it, but truth be known, even her five older brothers called her that now on occasion.
But that promise James had made had kept an unspoken truce in effect all these years
with his five American brothers-in-law. Which had been needed, considering they’d
once tried to hang James Malory.

“I’m not going to marry until you do,” Jacqueline assured her cousin, “so don’t
you
be in a hurry to either. We don’t need to be following the pack and getting married
our first Season, even if our mothers are expecting us to. This year is for fun, next
year can be for marriage.”

“That’s not going to stop you from sailing off without me,” Judith said forlornly.

“No, but we still have a couple of weeks to come up with a solution. We’ll talk to
our parents as soon as we get back to London. It’s
your
parents that have to be convinced. My father would be glad to have you along, but
when Uncle Tony said no, Father had to side with him. Brothers, you know, and those
two in particular, always stick together. But if I tell them that I won’t go to America
if you can’t come with me, they’ll see reason. And why
did
your father say no? It’s not as if he’s looking forward to your come-out. He’s been
a veritable ogre with it approaching.”

Judith giggled. “My father is never an ogre. A bit terse and snappish lately, yes,
but—you’re right, he’d be quite happy if I never marry.”

“Exactly, so he should have jumped at the chance to send you off with me, prolonging
the inevitable.”

“But is marriage inevitable, with fathers like ours?”

Jacqueline laughed. “You’re thinking of Cousin Regina’s being raised by the four Malory
elders after their sister Melissa died, and how none of them could agree on a man
good enough for their niece, and she had to go through numerous Seasons because of
it. Poor Reggie. But, remember, back then, the Malory brothers didn’t have wives who
could put their feet down as they do now. D’you really think
our
mothers won’t do exactly that when love shows up for us? Wait a minute, that’s it,
isn’t it? It was Aunt Roslynn who said you couldn’t go and Uncle Tony just agreed
with her to keep the peace?”

Judith winced as she nodded. “She’s
so
been looking forward to my come-out here, much more’n I am. She’s even got her hopes
set on one man in particular she thinks will be perfect for me.”

“Who?”

“Lord Cullen, the son of one of her Scottish friends,” Judith replied.

“Have you met him?”

“I haven’t seen him since we were children, but she has. She’s assured me he’s rich,
handsome, a great catch by all accounts.”

“I suppose he lives in Scotland?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Then
he
won’t do! What’s your mother thinking, to pair you with a man who’ll take you away
from us?”

Judith laughed. “Probably that she’ll buy us a house in London to live in.”

Jack snorted. “We don’t take chances like that, especially with Scots, who can be
stubborn. Wait a minute, is
he
why she won’t bend?”

“She
is
worried he’ll get snatched up by someone else if I’m not here at the start of the
Season. So, yes, I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s the real reason she’s refusing
to let me delay my debut for a trip to America.”

Jacqueline rolled her eyes. “You silly. We just haven’t tackled this together yet.
We’re much stronger when we do. Mark my words, you’ll be sailing with me. I never
had the slightest doubt.”

Chapter Two

J
udith lay in bed with her eyes wide-open. Jacqueline had promptly fallen asleep, but
Judith remained awake because she’d realized she might be married the next time she
visited her cousins in Hampshire. Not to Ian Cullen, but to a man she simply couldn’t
resist. Although she and Jacqueline didn’t want to fall in love right away, certainly
not this year, Judith had seen what had happened to her older Malory cousins. Love
had a way of interfering with the best-laid plans. And as soon as she married, she’d
probably forget about her ghost.

That was a sad thought. Whimsically, she didn’t want to forget such an exciting encounter
or never see her ghost again. Which was when she got it in her mind that the ghost
might reveal himself to her if she entered his house alone, and
that
thought wouldn’t let her sleep.

She finally gave in to temptation, donned a hooded cloak and slippers, headed downstairs
to find a lantern, then ran across the back lawn. But when she reached the dark, old
house and tried to get in the front door as she’d done before, she found it locked.
Not stuck, actually locked. Had Derek done that? But why, when many of the windows
were missing their glass and were easy enough to slip through?

She set her lantern on the floor inside one window and climbed through. She’d seen
no light from outside, but still headed straight for the room where she’d found the
ghost before. Boards creaked under her feet. If he was in there, he’d hear her coming—and
disappear again.

She thought to call out, “Don’t hide from me. I know you’re here. Reveal yourself.”

Of course he didn’t. She chided herself for thinking a ghost would do her bidding.
She’d surprised him last time. And she’d foolishly lost the element of surprise this
time. Nonetheless, she was determined to check that room again before she gave up
and went back to bed.

She opened the door. It didn’t squeak this time. Had it been oiled? She held her lantern
high to light the room. It looked different. A lot different. The cobwebs were gone.
The old sofa was no longer dusty. And a cot was in the corner of the room with a pillow
and a crumpled blanket. Was someone other than the ghost staying here? A real trespasser
now? Even the windows in this room were covered with blankets, so the light of her
lantern wouldn’t be seen from outside—and was why they hadn’t seen the ghost’s light
in so long. He was probably furious that some vagrant had moved into his house and
he’d been unable to scare him away.

But the vagrant wasn’t here now. Maybe the ghost still was. She was about to tell
her invisible friend that she could help with his vagrant problem when a hand slipped
over her mouth and an arm around her waist. She was surprised enough to drop her lantern.
It didn’t break, but it did roll across the floor—and extinguish itself. No! Utter
blackness and a very real man with his hands on her.

She was about to faint when he whispered by her ear, “You picked a lousy place to
do your trysting, wench. Is your lover in the house, too? Is that who you were talking
to? Just shake or nod your head.”

She did both.

He made a sound of frustration. “If I let go of your mouth so you can answer, I don’t
want to hear any screaming. Scream and I’ll gag you and tie you up and leave you to
rot in the cellar. Do we have an understanding?”

Being bound and gagged didn’t frighten her so much and was even preferable to anything
else he might do to her. Jack would find her in the morning because she would guess
exactly where she’d disappeared to. So she nodded. He removed his hand from her mouth,
but his arm still held her tightly to him so she couldn’t run. Screaming was still
an option. . . .

“So how soon before the other half of this tryst shows up?”

“I wasn’t meeting anyone,” she assured him without thinking. Why hadn’t she said “Any
minute now” instead?! Then he’d leave—or would he?

“Then why are you here and how did you get in? I locked the bleedin’ door.”

“
You
did? But what was the point of that when some of the windows are open?”

“Because a locked door makes a statement. It clearly says you aren’t welcome.”

She humphed. “Neither are you. Don’t you know this place is haunted?”

“Is it? I’m just passing by. If there are any ghosts here, they haven’t made an appearance
yet.”

“Passing by when you keep a cot here?” she snorted. “You’re lying. And you weren’t
here a moment ago. Did you come out of the wall? Is there a hidden room connected
to this one?”

He laughed, but it sounded forced. She had a feeling she’d guessed accurately. And
why hadn’t she and Jack thought of that before? Even the ducal mansion had hidden
rooms and passageways.

But he placed his chin on her shoulder. “Quite the imagination you have, darlin’.
How about you answer the questions instead? What are you doing here in the middle
of the night if you’re not meeting a lover?”

“I came to visit the resident ghost.”

“That nonsense again?” he scoffed. “There are no such things.”

It would be
so
nice if her ghost would show up to prove him wrong right then. The vagrant would
be distracted long enough for her to escape and bring Derek back to get rid of him.
But then she realized the room was too dark for her to see the ghost even if he did
show up. Frustrated that this trespasser was ruining her last chance to see the ghost
again, she just wanted to go back to bed. She tried to pull away from him but he tightened
his hold on her.

“Stop wiggling, or I’m going to think you want some attention of a different sort.
Do you, darlin’? I’ll be happy to oblige.” She sucked in her breath and stood perfectly
still. “Now that’s disappointing.” He actually did sound it. “You smell good. You
feel good. I was hoping to find out if you taste good, too.”

She stiffened. “I’m ugly as sin, with boils and warts.”

He chuckled. “Now why don’t I believe that?”

“Relight the lantern and you’ll see.”

“No, the dark suits us. I’ll call your warts and boils and raise you a lusty appetite.
I think I’m going to win this hand.”

Despite the warning, and warning it was, she still wasn’t expecting to be flipped
around so fast and kissed before she could stop it from happening. She didn’t gag.
His breath actually smelled of brandy. And for a first kiss it might not have been
so bad if she’d wanted to explore it. But she didn’t. Her hand swung wildly in the
dark but she got lucky with her aim. It cracked against his cheek and got her released.

He merely laughed. “What? It was just one quick kiss I stole. Nothing for you to get
violent over.”

“I’m leaving now, and you will, too, if you know what’s good for you.”

A sigh. “Yes, I’ve already figured that out. But let me get you out of here safely.
I don’t want it on my conscience if you fall through the floor and break your neck.”

“No! Wait!” she cried as he picked her up in his arms. “I know this house better than
you do!”

“I doubt that,” he muttered, and carried her out of the room and across the main room
to the nearest window, which he shoved her through. “Say nothing about seeing me here
and I’ll be gone before morning.”

“I didn’t
see
you. You made sure of that.”

And she still couldn’t. A little moonlight was on the porch, but he stepped away from
the window as soon as he released her, disappearing into the blackness inside the
house. She didn’t wait for a response if he’d even heard her, just ran all the way
back to the ducal mansion and up to her room.

She almost woke Jacqueline to tell her about her little misadventure but decided it
could wait until morning. It still nagged at her, how a poor vagrant could afford
French brandy. The tariff on it was so high, only the rich could afford it. That was
why it was the prime cargo of smugglers. . . .

Chapter Three

“W
hy do
you
look like
I’m
in trouble?” Boyd Anderson wondered aloud as he entered the dining room to join his
sister, Georgina, for lunch.

His voice was teasing, his grin engaging, but he was quite serious given the frown
he saw on her face. Brother and sister both had identical dark brown eyes, but his
brown hair was shades lighter than hers. She was dressed today to receive company
in a pretty coral gown, but she wore her hair down, as she often did when she only
expected to entertain family.

Boyd was the youngest of Georgina’s five brothers, and the only one who lived permanently
in London. It had been his decision, and a good one since he was the third Anderson
to marry into the Malory clan. His wife, Katey, was Anthony Malory’s illegitimate
daughter, a daughter that Anthony hadn’t even known he had until Boyd began to pursue
her. Newly discovered as Katey was, the Malorys, and there were many of them, would
have been quite up in arms if Boyd had tried to sail off to America with her despite
her having been raised there.

Georgina tried to give Boyd a reassuring smile, but didn’t quite manage it. “Sit.”
She pointed at the chair across from her. “I’ve asked the cook to prepare your favorite
dish. It wasn’t easy to find white clams.”

“Bribery? Never mind, don’t answer that. It’s Jacqueline’s trip, isn’t it? What’s
wrong? Did something happen with the boys?”

“No, they’re happy to stay at school. They’re not interested in their sister’s come-out.”

“I thought you were in agreement that she could go?”

“I am. I know you and our brothers only want the best for Jack. And this momentous
trip has kept the peace in my family—even if it was forced down our throats.”

Boyd winced. “Must you put it like that?”

“Yes, I must, since it’s true.”

He sighed. “I know we were rather emphatic when we insisted she have her come-out
in America—”

“Very.”

“—and, yes, I know we’re all more often in England these days than in Connecticut
as we were back then. But there’s another more important reason for her to go to America
for her come-out.” He paused to glance at the door before he added in a near whisper,
“Your husband is absent from the house, I hope? I wouldn’t want him walking in on
this conversation.”

“Yes, James has gone to the dock to make sure all the provisions have been delivered
for the trip. But I wouldn’t be surprised if he drags Tony to Knighton’s first.”

“Damn, I wish they’d let me know when they do that. I do so enjoy watching fights
of that caliber.”

“You wouldn’t today. James is rather annoyed, so it’s bound to be brutal.”

“All the better! No, wait. Why is
he
annoyed? Because you’re upset—with someone?”

“I’m not upset with anyone, just worried. It’s Jack who’s having the bloody fit.”

“About the trip?”

“In a roundabout manner.”

“But I thought she wanted to go.”

“Oh, she did, but she thought that Judy would get to go with her. But that’s not happening.
And now Jack refuses to go without her.”

Boyd laughed. “Now, why doesn’t that surprise me? They’ve always been inseparable,
those two. Everyone knows it. So why can’t Judy go?”

“Her mother won’t allow it. Roslynn has been preparing for the Season here for months,
has been looking forward to it even more than our daughters are. She already knows
who will be hosting what parties and balls, has promises of invitations for them all.
She already knows who the most eligibles are, including a Scotsman she favors for
Judy because he is the son of a close friend of hers. She’s leaving nothing to chance
and thinks that Judy might miss a significant event if she sails with us.”

Boyd cast his eyes toward the ceiling. “But they will be back in time for the Season
here, might only miss a week or two of it. They’ll still have the rest of the summer
here. That
is
why we’re leaving now, in the spring.”

“But missing the beginning is what’s turned Judith’s mother stubborn, and she can
be very stubborn. And I even understand her reasoning, since the very beginning of
a Season
is
when attractions first spark, pairings get made, courting starts. To arrive even
a week late can make a world of difference, with all the best catches already taken.
Of course she’s most concerned about that Scotsman. She doesn’t want another girl
to snare Lord Cullen. So she’s making sure Judy will be here when he is, right at
the start of the Season.”

“Do you really think that will matter for the two prettiest debutantes this year?”

“It won’t matter for Jack. She’ll go after who she wants as soon as she claps eyes
on him, consequences be damned, this side of the ocean or the other.”

“For God’s sake, Georgie, you’re talking about your daughter, not one of the Malory
rakes.”

She raised a brow at him, a habit she’d gotten into soon after marrying James Malory.
“You’re surprised she’d take after her father?”

“Too much after him, obviously,” Boyd mumbled, adding the complaint “And that should’ve
been nipped in the bud.”

She chuckled at him. “There’s no nipping an influence that strong. But that’s beside
the point. Unlike Jack, who occasionally acts before she thinks, Judith is too kindhearted
and considerate of others to even come close to stepping on toes. And Roslynn knows
that about her daughter. Which is why she won’t budge on Judy’s not missing the first
ball of the Season here. I’m afraid if we can’t change Roslynn’s mind, we won’t be
sailing. Jack has simply
and
furiously declined to have a Season without her best friend beside her.”

“Damnit, Georgie, we’re three days away from sailing. It’s too late to cancel. Katey
has been looking forward to the trip.”

“D’you think I like this situation? We’re already packed.
The Maiden George
has been brought up from her dock in the south and a full crew hired. She’s anchored
in the Thames as we speak. We’ve been browbeating and cajoling Roslynn for months,
and now we’re down to the last few days and she’s still saying no.”

“But our brothers are all on their way to Bridgeport. And Amy will be there soon to
oversee the preparations. She sailed with Warren last week. They will all think something
horrible has happened if we don’t show up as expected!”

“James would sail anyway to let them know what’s happened, if it comes to that. They
won’t be left to worry. I’m sorry, Boyd. I know you and our brothers have been looking
forward to this. I just don’t want all of you to be angry if James doesn’t keep his
promise. It’s
not
his fault.”

Boyd gave Georgina a pointed look. “Since when does Jack rule the roost? I’ll get
her on the ship myself if you and James are reluctant to insist.”

“You’re missing the point, Boyd. There
is
no point to this trip if my daughter spends the entire time miserable. None of us
expected Roslynn’s opposition. We’ve all tried to change her mind. But she won’t budge.
She’s a Scot, you know, and she’s lost her temper more’n once, with all of us trying
to change her mind.”

“Then don’t count on Jack’s ever marrying,” Boyd said flatly.

Georgina shot to her feet. “Excuse me? You take that back, Boyd Anderson!”

He rose as well, his brow as furrowed as hers. “I will not. I told you there is another
even more important reason for Jack to have her come-out in America. You know she’s
going to have a much better chance of finding love with a man who isn’t familiar with
your husband’s reputation. The young men here are going to be scared to death to approach
her because of him.”

Georgina dropped back into her chair but was still bristling on her husband’s behalf.
“Jack isn’t worried about that happening and neither are we.”

“Then you’re deluding yourselves, because it’s human nature. There isn’t a man who
knows him, or who has even merely heard the rumors about him, that would risk having
James Malory for a father-in-law—that’s
if
James doesn’t kill him before they get to the altar.”

Georgina gasped, even sputtered before she said furiously, “I now agree with Jack.
In fact, I’m not going either. I wouldn’t be able to bear weeks at sea with someone
as pigheaded as you!”

Boyd lost his own temper, snarling on the way out of the room, “I won’t let my niece
throw away a golden opportunity just because
you
don’t know when to put your foot down!”

“How dare you!” Georgina yelled, and threw a plate at him.

The plate missed and shattered in the hall. The front door opened before Boyd reached
it, and Jacqueline remarked wide-eyed, “Is she breaking dishes on you again?”

Boyd snorted and took Jack’s arm to lead her back out of the house. “She never did
have good aim.” And then sternly: “Do you know how much trouble you’re causing?”

Jack grinned cheekily, not the least bit repentant. “It’s all part of my plan.”

“To drive us crazy?”

“To get Judy on the ship with us.”

“I’ve a better idea. Come on, we’re going to find a certain Scotsman and arrange a
little accident for him.”

“Really?!”

“I’m definitely in the mood to, but I suppose we can try to reason with him first.”

“Reason with a Scotsman?” Jack started laughing.

Boyd tsked. “Just tell me he’s in town. I don’t want to kill a horse riding to Scotland
and back in three days.”

“He is here on business, actually. Arrived a few days ago and has been calling on
Judy each day. I’ve had a devil of a time making sure she’s not home to receive him,
hoping he’ll get the hint and just go away. But Aunt Ros guessed what I’ve been up
to after Judy found the nerve to tell her that she’ll have no Season a’tall if she
can’t have one on each side of the ocean.”

“Did that work?”

“No, not yet, but it has to eventually. For now, Aunt Ros is sure Judy will come around
once our ship sails without her. She is calling me a bad influence, though,” Jack
ended with a grin, rather proud to be called that.

“So Judy hasn’t even met Lord Cullen to know whether she would like him or not?”

“Not since he was a boy. He, on the other hand, has seen her in recent years and is
quite besotted. But she’s in no hurry to find out what the man is like. She’s supposed
to be meeting him right now in the park. Roslynn was taking her. But Judy’s going
to pretend to be sick.”

“Then let’s meet him instead. We can use his infatuation to good purpose, tell him
he’ll be doing Judy a favor if he cooperates and claims he’s had an accident that
will prevent him from joining the Season for a few weeks. As long as he agrees to
assure Roslynn of it, so she’ll no longer have a reason to object to Judy’s coming
with us, I won’t actually have to break any bones.”

Jacqueline grinned. “You realize you sound like my father?”

“Bite your tongue, Jack.”