Temptation: 3 (Timeless Series) (11 page)

“No. None yet.” Winters shook his head as he sat. “The duke’s brother was headed north. I’ve only found this out hours ago. In response, I sent my men to the duke’s holdings outside Newcastle upon Tyne to do more digging. I’m leaving on the morrow. I delayed my trip to talk to you.”

“Of course.
I should’ve looked there first.” The earl leaned his head against the chair, absorbing the news. “Most likely he’s keeping her there. Or maybe she’s staying at her parents’ estate, hiding in plain sight. Both seem logical steps.” He snorted. “How stupid of me. I could have even passed them on my return trip. Good work, Winters. Your plan is a good one, with one small change.” His smile turned menacing. “I’ll be accompanying you. It’s time I headed north myself.”

The gentle sounds of the water splashing against the ship floated up and calmed Penny, even as the sun’s rays warmed her. The ordeal of Parker’s scrutiny at breakfast had taken its toll.

When a shadow blocked the warmth, it didn’t take a genius to figure out who loomed.

She turned and squinted, noting his roguish attire. The wind whipped his hair and she could well imagine him a pirate if he’d existed in an earlier century.

When Mr. Davis sat down next to her, she inhaled a steady breath, tamping down annoyance. Her vexation over the ill-bred man who’d departed the table so smugly that morning only grew.

“I see you’re wearing a locket. Is it from your intended,” he asked, eying her with an amused grin plastered across his face.

Penny’s hand covered her locket, fingering the heart-shaped piece of jewelry encasing small miniatures of her parents, her only memento of them. Unable to hold an intent gaze that saw too much, hers strayed to the water, and she shook her head no.

He chuckled. “I didn’t think so.”

Her back stiffened. “It was a gift from my father,” she said curtly. “My most prized possession.”

“You should drop the pretense.” His sharp tone drew her focus and she was stunned to see anger in his eyes. “There is no intended, is there?”

She searched his expression, looking for meaning.

“I don’t know who you are, Miss Penny Layton,” he replied to the implied question she flashed with her eyes. “And though you kiss like an angel, you’d not be so quick to do so if you did indeed love another as you claim.”

He would have to remind her. Hating herself, she closed her eyes as more shame filled her, if that were possible. She
had
enjoyed his kiss. The breath she took was deep. She let it out slowly to quell her nerves, and said with more serenity than she felt, “Then you would be wrong because I do plan on being married and I do love him.”

His smile mocked her. She jutted her chin out and maintained eye contact without blinking. “It’s the truth,” she finally said.

His gaze narrowed, and still grinning, he nodded, which only added to her discomfort.

“Why this sudden interest?”
Exasperated, she threw up her arms. “Why not just leave me be and I’ll leave you be, like you suggested last night?”

“I have too many unanswered questions.”

“That’s your problem, not mine.” She tucked a strand of hair that was blowing in the stiff breeze behind her ear. “We’re strangers on a ship bound for a new world.”

“Are we?” He chuckled and his amused glint was back. “Just strangers who kiss in the night?” he whispered as shivers crept along her spine. “That’s all?”

He held her stare. The entire time her insides did somersaults.

Then he shook his head, breaking the spell. “No, I doubt it—just as I believe there’s more to your travel on board this ship. I’ll find my answers, Miss Layton. Of that you can be sure.”

“No. Please.” Now she shivered for a different reason. “There is nothing to find.” She stood. “I think it’s time I went inside.” She then turned and ran, vowing to stay far away from him, too afraid of what his questioning might uncover and of her reactions to the man.

~~

Penny stepped onto the deck three days later, needing fresh air after hiding from Parker all morning in her stifling cabin. She walked over the railing and heaved a sigh of relief. Thank God there was no sign of him. Still, no matter how careful she tried to be in avoiding him, it usually wasn’t enough. Anytime she came on deck, she could only enjoy her solitude for a scant few minutes before he’d usually appear out of nowhere.

“Ah, there you are, Miss Layton.”

She groaned. Obviously this morning was no different. She smiled and nodded in greeting. “Mr. Davis. What a surprise.”

Parker stalked toward her, tsk-
tsking. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re avoiding me.”

“Of course I’m not avoiding you,” she replied in a sardonic voice that belied her claim.

Chuckling, he said, “You never answered my question. Why would you travel all the way to Northumberland to journey to America, if you started from London?”

“Will you cease with your endless questions?” She offered her back and crossed her arms, holding in frustration and resisting the urge to stamp her foot. The man was forever vexing her with his maddening presence, asking his infuriating questions, taunting her with his amused gaze that seemed to miss nothing, and annoying her with his outwardly unaffected demeanor. During dinner last evening, his nosiness had been especially pointed. Her unwillingness to talk caused many uncomfortable moments at the table, but Parker didn’t seem to notice or care because he never stopped.

And here he stood again, asking more and grinning in the same manner she quite determined she hated.

“I’ll stop when my curiosity is satisfied and not until then.”

“I have nothing to say to you,” she practically yelled, hurrying toward the portal leading to her cabin.

The sound of his amused laughter echoed as she ran to the only place with any amount of privacy. At the door, she halted. Uncurling her fist, she took a steadying breath before going inside.

When Mindy looked up and smiled, Penny rolled her eyes, moaning inwardly.

Even this bit of privacy had drawbacks because Parker Davis was all Mindy could chat about. Mr. Davis had befriended her ex-maid in the last few days, but his actions hadn’t fooled Penny. Oh no! He used Mindy as a tool to ferret out information. She had no doubts Parker Davis knew how to worm secrets out of people, and Mindy was surely easy prey for any information she possessed.

“Please, Mindy. Don’t forget I’m keeping my past private,” Penny said, closing the door. “You can’t breathe a word of my true identity.” Despite imparting the same warning too many times, Penny desperately feared her friend would give her away somehow. She sensed it was only a matter of time before Parker discovered something useful.

“Don’t worry,” Mindy said smugly. “I can keep your secret.”

“This is not a game.” Penny stepped in front of the small bureau and poured fresh water into the basin. “It’s my life. I don’t think you realize how important this is.”

“Of course I do.” Indignation spread across her face. “I would never say anything about who you really are.”

“I know you’d never say anything intentionally.”

“Or unintentionally. I’m getting used to Penny Layton, though truth be told, she isn’t much different from the Lady Penelope Lytton I once knew. In these past weeks I’ve seen my childhood friend return from a world of grief and fear. Do you think I want to take that away from you?”

Feeling a little churlish, Penny offered a half smile. “I’m sorry for doubting you. It’s just that I’m afraid of Parker Davis.”

Mindy shrugged. “We only discuss silly things, mostly my family. His farm isn’t far from my sister’s, and we have much in common. Sometimes he tells me stories about his sisters when they were growing up. He thinks I should meet them once we’ve landed.” Mindy then added solemnly, “He doesn’t ask any questions about you. And if he did, I wouldn’t betray you.”

“I don’t trust him. He seems too tenacious. Lord only knows what would happen if he discovered I’ve run away from my guardian. Captain Davis is the duke’s business partner. Word would surely get back to the duke, and based on his comments when we last spoke, His Grace thought Gerald the perfect match for me. He’d insist I return to the earl.”

“I can’t believe the duke was so taken in by that horrid man.”

“Gerald hides his cruelty behind smiles and charm. There’s only one way to keep out of his control, and that is to make it to America without anyone knowing about my past. Once I make it to those shores I’ll be safe. After all, from what I’ve read, English earls don’t carry the same weight in America as they do in England.” Penny wiped a refreshing wet towel over her arms and face, easing some of the unbearable stuffiness of the cramped, heated room. She placed the damp cloth on the hook. Then heaving a huge sigh, she padded to the edge of the bed and sat. “Maybe I’m going about this all wrong.”

“All wrong?”

“Yes.” Too much pent-up energy flowed through her veins for her to sit still. She jumped up and began pacing. “I’m running from the man’s presence, which appears to amuse him no end.”

Mindy nodded. “He does seem to delight in pulling a reaction from you.”

“It’s payback.”

“What?”

“For my behavior in those first few weeks of sailing.”
Penny halted. Glancing at Mindy, she shrugged and confessed, “When I’d try and do the same. I admit, I enjoyed goading him.”

“No?” Mindy sat up straight and leaned forward, her eyes growing wider in scandalized excitement. “Do tell!”

“I chased him a bit.” She grinned. “And he took great pains to avoid me.”

“I don’t know, Penny.” She shook her head and practically clucked her disapproval. “I’d not goad a man like him, if I were you. He’s nothing like Geoff, who you’ve always been able to sway with a few words or a look. I don’t think Mr. Davis is so easily swayed.”

“Humph, don’t I know it.” Stomping her foot, she hit a fist to her palm in frustration before continuing to pace and to think. She had to do something to stop the man. “I know he’s not immune to me.” Maybe she could use the fact against him. Use his own game to thwart his attempts.

“I know that look in your eye.” Mindy’s gaze narrowed.
“And that scheming expression.”

Penny gave an unladylike snort. “There’s no such look. No such expression. I’m merely coming up with a plan.”

“Your plans always backfire. If I were you, I’d put whatever you’re thinking totally out of your mind.”

“Oh, Mindy, don’t be such a goose.” Penny laughed. “I’m not going to goad him. I’ve learned my lesson.” She rubbed her arms, remembering his warning about riding tigers.

“Somehow that doesn’t ease my mind.” Mindy’s worried glance as well as the hint of concern in her voice added weight to her statement.

“You’re being a worrywart. My plan is simple. I’ll not avoid him anymore. And you can help.”

“Me? What can I do?”

“Nothing.
I plan on being present whenever you’re with Mr. Davis. That way, I’ll be solving two problems with one solution.”

“You aren’t going to annoy him, are you?” Mindy
warned, her glare accusing.

“No, of course not.”
Penny threw her shoulders back and winked. “I plan on being a model of decorum. He’ll have nothing to complain about.” Grinning, she said conspiratorially, “But if it annoys him, then all the better.”

“Hah!” Mindy placed her hands on her hips. “I know you. You’re never a model of decorum.”

Stunned, Penny gaped. “How can you say that?”

“Because it’s the truth and I know you.”

“I can be.” She held her head high. Noting Mindy’s skeptical expression, she inched her chin higher. “You just wait and see.”

“It’s a horrible idea,” Mindy said, her tone pleading. “You’ll only make him angry.”

“Well, what would you propose? I’ve tried everything else.”

“I don’t know. Just keep away from him.”

“How?” She crossed her arms and tapped her foot. “The man never lets me avoid him.” Her temper flared just thinking about it. “My only alternative is to stay inside this cabin for the rest of the voyage. That, I simply can’t do. It’s too confining. Too stifling.” Penny added more heatedly, “I refuse to hide any longer. If I use you as a buffer and you’re always around, there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

“I only hope you know what you’re doing.” Mindy exhaled a resigned sigh.

~~

“How much longer before we reach the shores of America?” Penny asked excitedly and set down her spoon. The seaman’s specialty was always delicious. Still, she couldn’t eat another bite of stew filled with various abundantly available fishes. Jacques told her it also contained potatoes, leeks, onions, and spices from places he’d visited.

Parker hadn’t asked any annoying questions thus far, so she began to relax her guard. She stretched out her legs, feeling quite satisfied.

“We’ll be pulling into the Chesapeake in four days, unless we encounter a storm,” Lucas replied, lounging in his chair at the head of the table and puffing on his pipe.

“This has been a wonderful trip. I love sailing.” Penny looked directly at Parker, her grin turning mischievous. “Mindy said you were teaching her how to play chess. I take it you know the game well?”

Startled out of his thoughts and clearly not expecting her question to address him specifically, Parker hesitated a moment. “You assume correctly, Miss Layton.” He bestowed on her one of his engaging smiles.
“How about you? Do you play?”

“A little.”
She lifted her shoulders in an innocent shrug. “Would you mind if I watch?”

“No, I don’t mind. I’ll even challenge you to a game.” Parker sat back, eyeing Penny with interest. “Chess is a good way to alleviate the boredom of sailing,” he finally added, still observing her.

“I’d love nothing better than a game of chess. But I should warn you, I haven’t played in a while.” She smiled smugly, all but laughing. Her attention returned to her empty bowl. Her plan was already working. He clearly wasn’t expecting her to horn in on their chess game. Ha! She’d show him. Her smile widened.