The Lucky One (Brethren Of The Coast #6) (3 page)

“How remarkable that you seize upon some of the precise missing items, as I said nothing of what the thieves pinched from my stores.” Dalton caught her in a steely glare. “Can you explain your extraordinary powers of divination, my dear?”

“Actually, my father has apprised me of the situation and the complaints.” So enthralled by his bold behavior, she almost betrayed the truth. “But no one has pursued charges, as their loss was minimal, and hunger thrives in these difficult times. Do you lack a measure of compassion for those less fortunate than yourself?”

“I take issue with your characterization, as these particular criminals are not so virtuous as you have been led to believe. Indeed, they stole a priceless family heirloom from my cabin, and I will not cease my hunt for the villains, until the item is surrendered to my custody.” In that instant, the curious agitator stood and rested hands on hips. “Do you condone such theft? Is lawlessness the standard in these parts?”

“No, of course not.” The implications of his words struck her as a bucket of icy water, and she shivered. “But—are you absolutely certain of your accusation? Perhaps you lost the item.”

“The invaluable bauble had rested on my desk.” At that moment, her mesmerizing guest produced a red velvet purse and held it for her inspection. “It was a lady’s brooch fashioned of solid gold, etched with a lotus and bearing a large oval sapphire and four rubies, and it was contained in this pouch, which the scoundrel dropped as he fled my ship. Given to my ancestors, for services rendered to the Crown, in the fourteenth century, it is more than a piece of jewelry. It is an irreplaceable part of our history, and I will not stop until the artifact is recovered and the unknown miscreants are captured, brought to justice, and punished.”

“Sir Dalton, you are angry, and I understand your ire.” Daphne prayed for calm, as her mind raced in search of a response to placate her new nemesis. Then she would confront the source responsible for the significant complication, reclaim the article, and somehow restore the precious gem to its rightful owner, without discovery. “But there is no reason to overreact, when I might intervene on your behalf, with favorable results. If you would allow me to make some discreet inquiries, I am positive I can retrieve your expensive keepsake.”

“You pose a compelling, if not altogether satisfactory, proposition, Miss Daphne.” Then Dalton lowered his chin, and she gulped. “What have you to persuade me not to notify the Crown of your father’s dereliction of duty and to accept your approach to our conundrum?”

“I do not comprehend your meaning, sir.” She would have taken issue with his unflattering and unfair assault on her father’s character, but she could ill afford to insult the unwelcome interloper. Lost in her musings, she started, as he drew her from the chair and escorted her to the window. Her first instinct was to run in the opposite direction. “What would you have of me?”

“You are blessed with the bluest eyes I have ever seen.” For a long while, he simply met her gaze, and the air sizzled with a foreign intensity she tried but failed to identify. But all of a sudden, he cupped her jaw in his hand, turned her left and then right, and his expression sobered. “Have dinner with me.”

It took her several seconds to realize he had spoken, and even longer to discern his overture, which left her wondering at his motives. “You, sir, are without doubt the most presumptuous man of my acquaintance.”

“And without doubt, I shall take that as a compliment.” Now he trailed his thumb to her lower lip, and some strange but alluring sensation unfurled within her, fanning comforting heat, spreading slowly, suffusing her muscles from the pit of her belly to her limbs. “And what a tempting mouth you possess. Really, it is a masterpiece, and what I would do with it, were you mine.”

“Upon my word, but you are too bold.” Myriad recriminations and rebukes formed in her brain. Yet, to her chagrin, Daphne burst into nervous laughter. “Oh, Sir Dalton, I wager you are a favorite among society ladies, but I am too wise to dice with you. So what do you require for your cooperation?”

“You know my terms.” Then he inclined his head. “Did you know that when the sun catches your blonde hair, you look quite angelic, as though you wear a halo?”

“I can assure you, Sir Dalton, I am no angel.” She couldn’t help but snicker at his absurd statement. “So you wish me to dine with you? Simple enough—”

“Unchaperoned.” He grinned, and his dimples all but beckoned her to accept his request.

“Are you planning to make advances?” She bit her tongue against further spontaneous conjecture.

“No.”

“Oh.”

“You sound disappointed.” He chortled.

“Well it would have been nice, not to mention flattering, if you had exhibited the tiniest bit of interest.” Her spirits flagged. “Then again, I am not sure I would have recognized it, if you had.”

“Is there no local dandy to pay call on a lovely woman, such as yourself?” To her delight, though she could not explain why his action thrilled her, he trailed a finger along the curve of her cheek. “And who says I am not interested?”

“Now you compliment me, but I am not fooled by your feigned blandishments.” She gazed at the horizon. “My cousin has expressed a desire to wed, but it is only because he seeks my father’s office and presumes I present the shortest path to that goal.”

“That does not speak well for the swains of Portsea Island.” Again, he scrutinized her, and she bore the weight of his attention as a sumptuous down counterpane. “Then it is safe to assume you remain unspoken for and are, therefore, unattached?”

“Yes.” Not entirely true, but she could pretend, if only for a few days.

“Then I insist you accept my invitation.” In play, he tapped the tip of her nose. “And I will brook no refusal.”

“Has any woman ever refused you anything?” Despite her earlier apprehension, she would give an untold bounty to know him better, to revel in the comfort and security of an estimable specimen of means and persist as his lady. Had she ever savored such stability and happiness more, in her lifetime? Then again, such men often eschewed monogamous relationships, as had her father, in regard to her mother, and Daphne would settle for nothing less.

“Not that I can recall.” The rake rocked on his heels, and in that simple gesture she discovered his lure. The boyish innocence coupled with the confidence of an elder proved a potent appeal, as he evaded her usual stalwart defenses.

“Then who am I to buck the popular trend?” They strolled to the door, and to her chagrin, she rued his departure, as he provided fortuitous distraction.

“Wonderful.” Now he steered her into the hall. “Since I have taken a suite at the inn, I shall book a private dining room for tomorrow night, at seven.”

“I look forward to it, Sir Dalton.” They paused in the foyer. “And what is the attire?”

“Formal, of course.” In the grand entry, he again brought her knuckles to his lips, but then he surprised her, when he flipped her hand and pressed a kiss to the inner side of her wrist. “Until next we meet, I would have you think of me with fondness.”

Daphne’s knees buckled. “I shall endeavor to fulfill your expectations and would bid you the same, of me.”

“No worries, angel.” He released her. “As scarcely a second will pass that you do not occupy my thoughts.”

His declaration, which she suspected was more facetious than serious, touched her more than she was willing to admit, to herself or anyone else. “My, what an elegant coach.”

“I summoned my traveling equipage from London, when I estimated the extent of the damage to the
Siren
.” A liveried footman leaped to open the door. With one last glance over his shoulder, Dalton saluted and said, “I shall send my rig to collect you, tomorrow.”

“And I will be ready.” With a light heart, she curtseyed and ran into the house. Giggling, she hugged herself. Then she jolted to reality, when it dawned on her that Dalton posed the greatest threat to her secrets and, thereby, her family. In a flash, Daphne glared at the landing and marched up the grand staircase. On the second floor, she veered left, navigated the passageway, and charged into the third room. “All right. Which one of you stole the brooch?”

“What brooch?” Robert, her nineteen-year-old brother, dropped a model ship to the floor and jumped to his feet. “I gave you my rucksack, and you know I took only some ham, cheese, and bread.”

Huddled on the carpet, Richard, the youngest, at ten and seven, lingered in uncharacteristic quiet. When he refused to meet her gaze, Daphne’s spirits plunged to heretofore-unimagined depths. Until that moment, until that very instant, she had clung to some scrap of hope that Dalton’s accusation had been unfounded, and her brother’s were innocent.

“Richard, where is the brooch?” She knelt at his side and took his hand in hers. “Please, you must give it to me. Whatever your reasons for taking it, the owner visited me, just now. It is a precious family heirloom. If I do not restore the item, posthaste, he will notify the King of father’s absence, and I cannot allow that.”

“But I thought we could sell it, to buy more food. And the captain had very fine things, so I thought he could spare it.” Richard lifted his chin and cast a watery stare. “I am always hungry.”

“What a stupid thing to do, and now we could all be exposed.” Robert folded his arms and huffed in unmasked disgust. “You should be spanked—”

“I know, darling.” With a sharp wave, she silenced Robert, given she could withstand anything but Richard’s tears, and she framed his cheeks to offer a modicum of comfort, as his intentions were honorable. “But we cannot save our family based on the misery and misfortune of another, and the brooch is not ours to barter. I promise, come what may, I will find a way to fill our pantry. Now, bring me the bauble.”

“What are you going to do with it?” Richard frowned. “If we are in trouble, then I am to blame, and I should face the consequences.”

“Worry not, little one.” When her youngest sibling jumped up and ran to his armoire, she stood. From one of his coat pockets, he produced the expensive piece of jewelry. “I will take care of it.”

“How?” With a furrowed brow, Robert appeared skeptical. “If you give it back, they will know we stole it.”

“Then I shall figure out a course of action to return it, with none the wiser.” In truth, Daphne had no idea how she would accomplish that feat, but she would not burden her brothers with that none too little snag. “I will see you at dinner.”

“What are we having?” Richard inquired, with a grimace. “Can we eat some of the ham and cheese, as I have had my fill of toast?”

“Yes, sweetheart.” Turning the ancient trinket in her palm, which fit Dalton’s description to the letter, she pondered the possibilities. “If we forgo lunch, or consume only mutton broth, we may indulge ourselves, tonight. And I have a bit of good news. I sold the furniture from the last guestroom, so I will purchase some chickens, which should provide eggs, on a regular basis.”

“What of father’s monthly stipend?” Robert shifted his weight. “Have you already spent it?”

“I used it to pay down some of the debt.” Yet it was nowhere near enough, and April could prove the most arduous challenge, to date. “Next I will broker a trade with Mr. Barker, for my cedar chest, as it should fetch a decent sum.”

“But grandmother left that to you, when she died.” Richard sniffed. “Are we to barter everything?”

“And have you considered my suggestion of securing a commission in the Army?” Raking his fingers through his hair, a nervous habit he had exhibited almost from infancy, Robert paced. “As I could earn steady pay and send home every penny, for you and Richard.”

“No, and I will not, as I refuse to risk your life to save mine.” And if she grew desperate, she could always cede the fight and marry their cousin. “I cannot, in good conscience, allow you to make such a sacrifice.”

“Would you rather we were condemned to the workhouses and you to debtor’s prison?” Her oldest brother halted and smacked a fist to a palm. “Do you find that solution preferable, because I protest. And you may be the firstborn, but I am the man in this household.”

“Robert, I have never loved you more than I do now.” Daphne splayed wide her arms and flicked her fingers. Together, the three huddled. “But it will not come to that, I swear.”

“Well I will not permit you to wed cousin Harold.” Robert scowled, even as he hugged her. “That is a fate worse than death.”

“Thank you.” Perched on tiptoes, because Robert was much taller than her, she kissed her staunch protector’s cheek. “We will survive this difficult time, brothers. And we will be far stronger for having endured, integrity intact. Somehow, some way, we will persist—I must believe that. And if all else fails, there is always the odd chance that a grand knight in shining armor shall ride to our rescue.”

How long had
it been since a young woman had captured his interest with such uncontrollable ferocity? Given his potent response to the inimitable Miss Harcourt, and a night spent drifting amid a haze of lusty dreams, involving the singular blonde’s luscious body and judicious use of his tongue, it had been too long. In the oval mirror that hung on the wall, Dalton checked his appearance, straightened his cravat, and consulted his timepiece. Behind him, in the private dining room, a waiter lit the candles on the table and adjusted the silverware placement.

“Will that be all, sir?” the servant inquired.

“Yes, thank you.” Dalton buttoned his coat and pondered what he had learned of the Harcourts, just that morning. “We shall serve ourselves.”

“Very good, sir.” He bowed, opened the door, and almost trounced the guest of honor. “I beg your pardon, miss.”

“No, it is my fault.” The governor’s daughter blushed. “I should have knocked.”

“Come in, Miss Daphne.” The thrill of the hunt burned in his loins, as his prey, and she was his prey, though she knew it not, unbuttoned her pelisse, revealing a satin gown of deep burgundy. “Your timing is perfect. And may I take your wrap?”