Sea of Desire (20 page)

From there Franklin launched into a
discussion on the merits of privateering. In spite of herself,
Merideth found the topic of interest. Apparently Dr. Franklin made
a study of maritime escapades; at least he seemed to know all about
Captain Blackstone. The captain, contrary to the arrogant
impression she had of him, appeared embarrassed by Franklin’s
praise. Merideth found the emotion endearing till she reminded
herself they were discussing victories over her own countrymen.

Besides, with his dark sardonic looks, the
captain was not someone who would be described as endearing.

“Does your brother share your passion for the
sea?” The question seemed innocent enough, simply part of the
conversation, but Merideth noticed the stiffening of the captain’s
broad shoulders. His hand, holding a fork balanced in his long
fingers, stilled.

“My brother is dead, Dr. Franklin,” he
answered, and Merideth thought his voice unusually husky. She had
the odd desire to reach out and cover his hand resting on the lace
covered table. But, of course, she didn’t. Why did she constantly
have to remind herself they were enemies? Especially when he shed
his arrogant veneer and appeared vulnerable. Like now. She had a
hard time remembering she was his captive. It was almost as if they
were friends.

Pushing aside those foolish thoughts,
Merideth decided it was time she took matters into her own hands—at
least as much as she could. Franklin’s two grandsons had finished
their tea and wandered into the small building, to work on today’s
edition of the single-sheeted newspaper Franklin published.

“Dr. Franklin,” Merideth began, setting aside
her napkin. “I do appreciate your hospitality, but I believe we
have some important matters to discuss.” She saw the captain’s head
jerk around, but she ignored him. “By his own admission, I was
kidnapped by your countryman. A man, I might add, who, I repeat,
was to be hanged for killing my father. Now, I realize you feel
some loyalty to Captain Blackstone; however, as a humanitarian you
must feel some compassion for my plight.”

“I do, sweet child. My sympathies are with
you.”

“There is more to this situation than that,”
Jared interrupted.

“Now Captain.” Franklin held up his hand,
palm out. “Let us give Lady Merideth a chance to speak her
piece.”

The captain didn’t like it—Merideth noticed
the stubborn jut of his jaw—but he sat back, arms crossed, and held
his tongue. If Franklin noted Captain Blackstone’s reaction, he
made no comment before again facing Merideth. “What do you propose
be done at this point?” he asked, as the breeze caught a lock of
his long frizzled hair.

“It’s quite simple. I should be returned to
my home at Land’s End. As for Captain Blackstone... before he began
this... this wild adventure, he was sitting in a cell awaiting the
hangman.”

“Now wait just a minute!” Jared leaned
forward, hands on knees. Only Franklin’s placating hand kept him
from leaping up.

“Are you suggesting Captain Blackstone should
be returned to that cell?”

“Well...” Merideth swallowed. “He was
convicted of the crime.”

“The hell you say!”

“Now Captain.”

“With due respect, Dr. Franklin, I cannot sit
by and listen to her advocate I voluntarily hang for a crime I did
not commit.”

“I am simply trying to ascertain what Lady
Merideth thinks is fair. She has been through an ordeal.”

Both Merideth and Dr. Franklin pretended not
to hear Jared’s derisive snort.

“Lady Merideth.” Franklin took a sip of wine
and leaned back into the cushions of his chair. “Do you feel
Captain Blackstone killed your father?”

The question was succinct and to the point,
surprising coming from a man who appeared to be completely relaxed.
“Well, I...” What did she think? At the time, Merideth had been
convinced of his guilt. Now...? “The constable and court thought
so.”

“But the question is, do you?”

She couldn’t help it; her eyes strayed to the
captain’s, drawn in a way she couldn’t explain. He stared at her
with those green eyes as if he could see clear to her soul and was
privy to her thoughts. But that was ridiculous.

She cleared her throat, forcing her attention
back to Franklin. “What I think is immaterial. Captain Blackstone
did come to my home at night, uninvited. I did find him in the
library with my father. He held a pistol, a discharged pistol. He
was wounded, and my father was... was dead,”

Merideth lifted her chin and took a deep
breath. When she recounted the circumstances, it certainly appeared
that the court was correct in their verdict.

“I didn’t kill your father.”

How could one softly spoken denial counter
all she knew? But it did. Had she lost her mind?

“So, Captain, you deny Lady Merideth’s
claim.”

“Aye. To begin with, I was invited to
Banistar Hall. At least Lord Alfred expected someone. Whether you
wish to know of a spy in your midst or not, Lord Alfred had the
name of one. And he was very willing to exchange that information
for gold.”

“He didn’t!” Now it was Merideth’s turn to
object to what was being said.

“You’re right there. He was killed—and not by
me—before he could give me the name.”

“Aren’t you going to repeat your preposterous
notion that he said I knew the name?”

Jared said nothing. He merely crossed his
arms and leveled his ice-green stare on her till she swung her head
around, spilling golden curls over her shoulder.

“It appears we have ourselves a quandary.”
Franklin templed his finger tips and peered through his spectacles
at both young people. “I tend to believe Captain Blackstone—now,
wait till you hear me out, Lady Merideth. I tend to believe that he
didn’t kill your father. You yourself appear to doubt his guilt
there, unless I’m mistaken.”

Merideth wanted to but could not deny his
assumption. She said nothing, and moments later Franklin continued.
“As for the question of a spy, I really have no thoughts. Since I
have no funds to purchase a name, even if I wished to do so, it
seems to be a moot point. Lady Merideth”—Franklin smiled sadly—“I’m
very sorry for your loss, but I will not attempt to return Captain
Blackstone to a fate I doubt he deserves. You, however, must be
returned to your home, with all haste.”

“I shall see her returned safely,” Jared
said. Damn, when he got his hands on Daniel, he’d throttle him
soundly.

“Nonsense, you are a persona non grata in
Lady Merideth’s neighborhood. I shall see our guest safely returned
through diplomatic channels. In the meanwhile”—Franklin stood and
brushed crumbs from his lap—“she can stay here with my grandsons
and me.”

“I couldn’t impose.”

“Don’t be silly, dear child. Look at his
place.” His arm swept toward the mansion. “The du Chaumonts afford
me too much room for just the three of us. Besides, it shan’t be
for long.”

It was decided.

Jared had his wish of having Lady Merideth
taken off his hands. He could return to his ship, which hopefully
was near to being refitted, and head for the open seas. It wasn’t
as if everything was the same. A man had been killed. And though
Franklin might believe him, and Lady Merideth might begrudgingly
admit his guilt was in question, the fact remained that he was
wanted for murder in England. But, then, he was also wanted for
piracy, a hazard of being an American privateer.

All things considered, he supposed he was
getting out of this debacle pretty well—certainly a lot better than
his brother had when he had dabbled in espionage. Then why couldn’t
he shake the mantle of despair that hung over him?

Lady Merideth.

The part of him that couldn’t wait to be rid
of her warred with the part that was fiercely attracted to her. It
had been this way since the moment he first saw her, and try as he
might, it hadn’t abated.

Leaving was by far the best thing he could
do. What self-discipline had failed to do, distance would surely
accomplish. So as soon as the decision was made that he would
return to his ship and Merideth would stay, Jared took his
leave.

Franklin arranged for the loan of a horse
from the du Chaumont’s stable. Jared’s good-byes to Lady Merideth
were brief, and done in the presence of Dr. Franklin. She seemed
satisfied with the arrangement, and so, Jared reminded himself, did
he.

Merideth watched Captain Blackstone ride down
the lane, his broad shoulders straight, and wondered why she felt
so dejected. She was rid of him at last. Safe with Dr. Franklin,
who promised her speedy return to England. Considering the
circumstances, everything had worked out as well as possible. Her
father was dead. Nothing would ever change that. But at least she
could now mourn him in peace.

At the foot of the lane, with the sun
dappling through the arched leaves overhead, the captain reined in
his horse and turned in the saddle. His wave was meant for Dr.
Franklin, she was sure, but it made her stomach flutter. With that
he turned the corner and disappeared from sight. And Merideth
sighed. She didn’t mean to, and ‘twas not a loud noise, but she was
certain Dr. Franklin heard it, for he chuckled softly.

Drawing herself up to her full height,
Merideth faced him, hoping her cheeks were not red. “I thank you,
sir, for your hospitality, but I should very much like to return to
my home as soon as possible.”

“Of course you would. I shall write a
correspondence this very afternoon to my good friend Lord Tinsly.
Together we should be able to arrange something.”

“I thank you, sir.”

“No need to thank me.” Franklin offered his
arm, and together they walked back through the garden. “It shall be
pleasant having a young lady about, even for a short while. My
grandsons miss the gentle ways of a woman, as do I.”

“Well, I shall be most pleased to offer what
assistance I can.”

Ben smiled and patted the hand resting on his
sleeve as they strolled along the brick path. “How very kind of
you. And now I think I shall send word to Madame Geaudaux. She is a
dear lady who lives very close. Do not breathe a word of this, but
I think she is enamored of me.” Ben laughed and Merideth joined
him. “At any rate, she is a wonderful friend and just the one to
help us.”

“Help us?”

“That is your only gown, is it not?”

Merideth glanced down to where the captain’s
cloak covered her dress. “Yes,” she admitted.

“And I gather, the way you keep it covered,
it is not to your liking.”

This brought another peal of laughter from
Merideth. “Hardly. The gown I wore when kidnapped was soiled, so
the captain had one of his crew purchase this for me.”

“Well, we must see that you get another. You
are far too pleasing to the eyes to keep yourself covered so.”

As much as Merideth longed for something else
to wear, honesty forced her to speak. “I haven’t any coin.”

“ ‘Tis naught to worry about.”

“You don’t understand. I can’t even pay you
back when I reach Land’s End. I’m afraid... there are debts.” She
couldn’t even imagine how those debts had multiplied since her
abduction from Banistar Hall.

Dr. Franklin seemed to ponder this a minute;
then he looked up, his eyes shining. “Have you ever considered
becoming a governess, Lady Merideth? No, no, of course you haven’t.
But I think you’d make an excellent one... if only temporarily. And
I know two boys who could use one.”

“But I—”

Franklin paused as they neared the small
garden building. From inside came the sound of young voices. “You’d
be doing me a favor and paying for your gown at the same time.” As
he spoke, the voices became louder, raised in argument.

“I shall tell Grandfather if you don’t.”

“I don’t care what you say. You think you are
so smart, just because you’re older.”

“Give me that or I’ll show you just how much
older and
larger
I am.”

“Grandfather! Grandfather!”

As Merideth watched, the boys exploded from
the building and rushed toward Dr. Franklin. He looked at her, a
wry expression on his face. “I think perhaps two gowns,” was all he
said before his grandsons surrounded him.

He had been summoned back to Passy.

The post, nestled snugly in the pocket of his
waistcoat, crinkled as Jared dismounted in front of the Hôtel de
Valentinois, the large estate where Franklin was staying. It had
been nearly a month since he’d ridden away. And, Lord help him, he
couldn’t suppress the thrill being here again created.

Was Merideth Banistar still here?

Benjamin Franklin hadn’t mentioned her in his
letter, the letter that had awaited Jared in Morlaix when he’d
returned from his latest foray into the channel. Franklin had
simply stated that he needed to see Jared about a matter of great
importance, and could the captain possibly call on him at his
earliest convenience.