The Infamous Bride (23 page)

Her breath caught, as if she thought he might kiss her, despite the unwelcome audience. After a few moments, when he did not, she teased. "There is little privacy, or even room to hear oneself think aboard this ship, except in our cabin. And I trust you remember that I am yours to command in those few hours you give me your undivided attention."

* * * * *

Two weeks was swift in the world of ocean travel, but still too long for her. There were times when the gentlemen surrounded her, plying her with compliments, that she could almost forget that she was a married woman. She recognized the danger in such forgetfulness, even without R.J.'s warning. If she did not behave in a dignified manner, there would be nothing but unhappiness for everyone.

Every time she chanced to glance around, no matter whether she was reading, taking a stroll, or playing a game of cards, she would see Annabel watching her. No doubt R.J.'s stepmother thought that Juliet would have an affair with one of the men who seemed to enjoy her company. But did R.J. share her fears? Did he truly not trust his own wife?

She stood on the deck, grateful for the calm weather that allowed her to be alone with her thoughts for a few moments.

"Will you take breakfast?" Susannah grasped the railing next to her and peered down into the lifeboat that hung there. "You are not unwell, I hope?"

"Just impatient to set up my own home in my new country," Juliet confessed, knowing Susannah would understand.

"I shall help, and so shall Mama and Father."

"If your father is much like R.J., I do not expect he will have time to leave his business to help me with mere domestic duties."

Susannah laughed. "He is worse than R.J., if you can believe it. He wishes to be respected by the Brahmins like the Lowells, though. No doubt he will think the sister of a duchess may help in that regard."

"The Brahmins?"

"They are old families, and they stick to themselves. Father wishes to court their business, but has not been successful so far. I believe that was one reason that I was sent to find a titled husband."

"Does R.J. also wish this connection?" A chill danced down her spine, more than the wind. Had he intended to seduce her for business reasons? No. She could not credit it.

"Do not think it! R.J. was not considering business when he courted you."

"My thoughts are too clear if you know what I feared. But I agree, there was nothing in his manner that suggested he wished to bring the sister of a duchess home as a prize. Will your father mind that your hopes for a titled lord were disappointed?"

"As for my hopes for a title, I had none. Those were all Mama's dreams. I fear she may presume upon the duchess to sponsor me for a season next year, if I cannot convince her I do not wish it."

"Do not worry, I will speak to Miranda on your behalf, if your mother does wish you to return." Juliet remembered that she had, after her sister's wedding, wished there were an eligible duke for her to marry, so she could be a duchess like Miranda. Instead, she had married an American, who would could never make her a duchess of any sort. She glanced at Susannah speculatively. "Is there someone in Boston who has your heart?"

Susannah closely examined a spot of soot on her glove. "There is no man I wish to marry, but neither do I wish to be hastened into a union with a stranger." She looked up, horrified at her words. "I do not mean…you…and R.J."

Juliet waved her hand. "I take no insult. There are no secrets between us, after all. Do you suppose R.J. will tell your father all the truth?" Juliet did not like to think of it.

"If he does not, Mama surely will."

"Surely your father will not be unreasonable. We are married and any hint of scandal left behind."

"Father will come to understand and approve, I am certain of it." Susannah, however, did not look certain.

Briefly, Juliet imagined a future where R.J. would be disinherited by his father in a quick, but not too painful, scene upon the Boston docks. Then they would be free to return to England.

The duke would offer him employment somewhere. The man had proved himself to have a good head for business. Half the lords in London had sought out his advice on the matters of import and export. And half the gentleman on the ship seemed to do so. But those gentlemen, she noticed, were not so busy that they could not spend some time paying attention to the ladies.

To her great chagrin, despite their compatibility in the bedroom, all her compliments since the day of her marriage had come from gentlemen other than her husband. R.J. seemed insensible to what she wore, did, or — sadly — thought. He even left her to breakfast alone. Or rather, with the rest of the passengers.

Mr. Handley-Brown was the first gentleman to remark upon her looking well each morning. She was certain R.J. took note only of the cost of the materials of any garment she wore. If pressed, she doubted he could name the color or style of cut.

However, Mr. Handley-Brown always made mention of how well the color complemented her complexion. Or how the lace at her throat made the delicacy of her neck evident. Annabel would sniff and mutter over her needlework, but Mr. Handley-Brown took no note. Juliet would not give her the satisfaction of appearing to be ashamed of speaking to a gentleman other than her husband. After all, they were in public. Annabel sat not five feet away.

Knowing that R.J. prized a connection, Juliet decided that she must deliver the man for her husband. But how? At first, she had not known how a married woman should react except that she could not encourage him as a suitor. There would be no more suitors for her. She settled for treating the gentlemen as she did her sisters' husbands. Mr. Handley-Brown she decided to treat as she did her brother Valentine.

Annabel gave her warning looks all the day long. R.J., however, did not object again. She supposed that meant that she was doing nothing untoward for a newly married woman. But she did not dare ask him outright. She would not want him to tell her that she should shun the attention she received. Not unless he was willing to spend more time with her.

Some of the men, she noticed, tired of her when they realized that she would not entertain more than friendship and went on to the courts of other ladies aboard ship. Mr. Handley-Brown remained faithfully friendly. As they chatted about their homes and their families and the flowers he raised, however, she learned Mr. Handley-Brown's secret. He harbored an unrequited fondness for Miss Tincton, a single lady traveling as companion to a wealthy widow.

In only a few days, Juliet had his confession. She teased him, hoping to push him out of his timidity. "Why do you spend so much time with me when you prefer to hear another's dulcet tones?"

He blushed, then looked to ensure that no one else had heard her comment. "She has been nothing but proper toward me."

"Don't you know a lady can show her favor by the utter unwavering attention to the propriety of her actions?" Juliet herself had rarely had the self-discipline to use that tactic. But she had seen many young women do so successfully.

"How so?" He leaned toward her eagerly.

She laughed. "If she calls you by name often, it is a sign of affection."

He straightened in indignation. "She would never use my Christian name."

"Of course not. But how often does she manage to say Mr. Handley-Brown when she speaks to you?"

His eyes lit up. "Quite often. At least twice, even in the shortest exchange of pleasantries."

"Well, then." Juliet leaned back with a smile of encouragement.

His glow of pleased comprehension faded slowly as he contemplated what she had told him. "But what ... How can I be absolutely certain she wishes my attentions? That I am not being forward?"

Juliet did not wonder how Mr. Handley-Brown, no matter how sweet or well-off a man, had attained the advanced age of thirty-four without a wife. "I suggest you ask her to stroll upon the deck."

He seemed shocked by the idea. "How forward. And what if her employer does not favor my request?"

"Choose a time when her employer has gone below for a rest. She does settle in for a nap about this time of day, and Miss Tincton comes back to the deck for a cup of tea and a little fresh air before her employer rises again. That would be the perfect time."

"What if — "

"She may say no, Mr. Handley-Brown, there is no doubt of that." Juliet sighed at his look of dismay and hurried to add encouragingly, "But remember that if she does so, it may mean nothing more than she is tired or that she has much on her mind. Take courage man, and offer her a stroll."

"I shall." In a burst of affection, the man leaned down and planted a brotherly kiss upon her cheek. "I must thank you, Mrs. Hopkins. I have not known how to begin, and I feared the voyage would be over before I found a way to speak to her."

"Good luck, Mr. Handley-Brown." Juliet watched him go as she struggled not to laugh. Poor man, such a tizzy over a simple enough conversation. She would not like to see him when he decided to propose marriage.

She hoped her advice would give him the push he needed to be happy. If not with Miss Tincton, then someone else who would appreciate a man who knew how to worship the ground their loved one trod on. Unlike R.J. Hopkins. She sighed. At least Mr. Handley-Brown should be better disposed toward business dealings with him.

Juliet pushed away thoughts of her own discontent as she sipped her tea and watched the progress of Mr. Handley-Brown's courtship.

For a moment, as he stood before the stiff-spined woman who had captured his heart, she was afraid she had sent him into the lion's den by mistake. But then Miss Tincton's cheeks pinkened in shy pleasure as she rose to join Mr. Handley-Brown at his most politely delivered invitation.

One good deed done on the voyage, at least.

"My dear, I think you forget you are a married lady." Annabel never made a comment that was not thought out, so Juliet knew that she was to take the words as warning. But warning of what?

She turned to greet her husband's stepmother and sister. "I have not. I have my husband to remind me every day. Our cabin is quite small, I confess I could not misplace him if I tried."

Susannah, stepping in with alarm when Annabel's expression grew furious, added, "R.J. has made no complaint, Mama."

Annabel frowned at her daughter until the girl looked away with a blush. Then R.J.'s stepmother turned her glare on Juliet again. "The way you encourage those gentleman, you would think you were looking for a husband rather than newly married. But I can well believe that you do not understand how unfortunate your conduct has become."

"I believe I know what constitutes proper behavior."

"Of course. Kissing a man upon your balcony for all to see. I find that behavior completely innocent."

Juliet knew defeat when she saw it. And her own defeat was implacable in Annabel Hopkins's features. But she was certain her behavior during the voyage was nothing to talk of. The gentlemen surely knew she was merely teasing them.

In London a lady was not expected to cease all friendly conversation with the opposite sex upon her marriage. Was America so very different? She sighed. Being married was much harder than she had thought it would be. Miranda and Hero made it look so easy. Just do what you would normally do during a busy day — kiss your husband several times a day, laugh at his jokes, blush when he looked at you with adoring eyes. Unfortunately, she did not know what to do when her husband didn't look at her at all.

Unlike the dozen or so gentlemen eager to spend time with her, her husband kept himself busy with matters of business rather than pleasure. Only at night did he become the man she had been swept away by. Only when they were alone in their stateroom did he treat her as if she made his blood sing and his heart fly.

"Gentlemen do not always make such fine distinctions. That is why a lady must unfailingly conduct herself with decorum," Annabel said with a tight smile. "Accepting a kiss on the cheek from a man who is no relation is in no way decorous."

"He meant nothing — " Juliet saw that the other women in the saloon were pretending not to listen, but smiling in approval of her set down by Annabel. Natterers.

But Annabel was not interested in Mr. Handley Brown's courtship of Miss Tincton. "I'm afraid I must tell R.J. of this. Perhaps your husband can explain the dangerous waters you tread," she said smugly.

"I think more likely he will tell you that there is no need for me to wrap myself in mourning cloth simply because I am now married." Juliet forced herself to be calm. He would understand. Wouldn't he?

* * * * *

R.J. had been waiting for this moment, although he hadn't realized he had until the moment came. She had allowed a man to kiss her on the cheek? Worse, that man was Samuel Handley-Brown. What had she been thinking?

"Thank you, Mama Annabel. I will speak to her at once." He could not bear to look into his stepmother's triumphant face any longer. She knew how her unwelcome news would affect him. He would be damned before he would allow her to see she was right.

"I cannot answer for your father, if you ignore — "

"I will speak to her. Never fear. I will be vigilant against any further scandal." He rose and took her arm, sweeping her out of his cabin.

He rubbed his hands into his temples as he decided what to do. Juliet was bored. Had she tired of the game of being his wife so soon? Annabel had practically accused her of having an affair. He did not believe it. Not when she came to him so willingly, so passionately, each night. But he could not ignore the matter, either.

When she returned to the cabin to dress for dinner, he took her aside. "I have ordered dinner in the cabin tonight."

She froze, a look of guilt turning the corners of her mouth down. "Why? What has Annabel said?"

His stomach knotted. Had he been mistaken in her? He spent a moment struggling with his own sudden doubts. Surely she could not be so passionate with him if she had already developed an affection for another man. No, he refused to believe that. She did not have that kind of heart. "Have you been flirting heartlessly, my dear?"