Captive Pride (21 page)

Only the sound of Edward's carriage drawing up in front of the house stopped Noah. His body was demanding more, yet reality dictated that he release her, and quickly. With an abruptness that shocked CC, Noah dropped his arms and stepped away, turning his back on her as he struggled to bring his surging needs under control.

For a moment CC felt cold, almost lost, and in her heart she cried out for him to take her back into his embrace. It was only when she heard Gilbert in the hall greeting her father that she understood his action. She wanted to speak but could think of nothing to say. CC was embarrassed. Noah had known all along that her denials were ridiculous, and he had just proven it. She could not deny it.

His runaway passion at last manageable, Noah turned back to face her. He immediately read the distress in her expression. “For a woman who deals so much in intrigue, it amazes me that you haven't yet learned to disguise your emotions.”

His caustic words sliced through her, and her embarrassment turned to anger. “My emotions are none of your business!”

“Ordinarily I would agree with you completely. However, in this case, your father is about to join us, and you're still looking at me with eyes that are begging me to—”

“Shut up!” In a flurry of skirts, she marched away from him and threw the door open wide to go forth and meet her father.

Noah found himself smiling as he watched her go, and it took him a moment to realize the reason for it…. CC had not denied his claim. Feeling strangely elated, he started out to greet his host.

 

Geoffrey Radcliffe sat in his study, sipping a glass of wine. “Bartley, I have a job for you.”

“A job, m'lord?” his servant looked puzzled.

“Yes. It's rather out of the ordinary…something that only you and I should know about.”

“Of course, Lord Radcliffe, you know I am the soul of discretion.” Bartley's reply was stiff. He resented his employer's unspoken suggestion that he might have discussed his affairs with others.

“Yes, yes…” Geoffrey waved away his mood. “What I need is confidential information about someone else.”

“Oh, I see. Please tell me how I can be of service to you,” he asked earnestly, always eager to do his bidding.

“I need to know everything there is to know about Lord Noah Kincade,” he explained in deadly tones.

“Lord Kincade, sir?” Bartley raised his eyebrows in surprise.

“Lord Kincade,” he answered grimly. “I don't care what it costs. Just do it.”

“Shall I undertake the endeavor myself or hire others to do the footwork?”

“Do as you wish. Just remember that I want no one, absolutely no one, to know that I am connected with this. Do you understand?” There was an underlying menace to his words.

“Of course, m'lord.” Bartley nodded firmly as a shiver of fright skittered up his spine. “Will there be anything else?”

“No. Just be sure that you get this for me as quickly as possible. I have plans to make.”

“I shall do my best.” The servant left the room, wondering at Radcliffe's interest in the other nobleman.

When Bartley had gone, Geoffrey smiled thinly. Soon, very soon, he would find something about Kincade that was damaging, and when he did, he was going to use it to destroy the man. He thought of Eve and Kincade, and his fury increased. There was no way he would allow the other man to take what was his. No way.

As Faith and Ruth looked on, Ben Hardwick, their faithful longtime friend, agitatedly paced the length of the parlor. At well over six foot, Ben was a bear of a man. Though many found his size intimidating, the Hammond women did not. If anything, they found his presence comforting, for, since Robert Hammond's death, he had been their one stable connection with a far more pleasant past.

A sworn bachelor because the woman he loved had married another, Ben had been Robert's friend from childhood, and he had even been with him the night of his murder at the hands of the British soldiers. Before that night, Ben had been less than fully committed to the colonial cause. After that devastating, deadly encounter, he'd become an active member in the Sons of Liberty and a very outspoken supporter of Sam Adams's call for independence from England. His hatred of the English ran deep, and he trusted very few of them.

A middle-aged tradesman of limited means, Ben helped Ruth and Faith when he could and often took advantage of their standing invitation to join them for Sunday dinner. Unbeknownst to anyone, Ben cherished the time he spent with them. He enjoyed those sparse, yet tasty meals in their company more than he would have the finest of gourmet fare with anyone else.

“I can't believe you invited an English lord to dinner.” He stopped his pacing to look at Faith, his shaggy dark brows arching in disbelief.

“I owe Matthew my life, Ben,” Faith said with quiet assurance.

“I'm not arguing that,” he replied, looking to Ruth. “I just don't know how you can accept him into your home.”

Faith gave her mother no time to enter into the conversation. “Matthew's been perfectly wonderful to me…to us. When he came to see me yesterday and discovered that I had reported the assault, but that no action had been taken, he was outraged. He admitted that he hadn't understood the reasons for all the unrest when he'd first arrived in Boston, but that he did now and he was on the colonial side. I find your questioning him very insulting.”

Ben was caught by surprise by her spirited defense of the nobleman. He knew for a fact that she harbored no great love of the English, and he found himself growing more and more intrigued by this Lord Matthew Kincade. The man had certainly managed to make a favorable impression on Faith. That being the case, it stood to reason that he certainly had to be someone special.

“You expect me to believe that your Lord Kincade is interested in the colonial cause—a cause that goes against everything he, as a nobleman, stands for?” The expression on Ben's broad face was skeptical.

“Yes.” Faith's answer was firm as she looked from Ben to her mother, Ruth. “Matthew is a very exceptional man.”

Ben scowled at her words, for he thought Faith too much the innocent and far too trusting a woman to be a good judge of this man's true character. True, Kincade had saved her from the soldiers. While the action had been a brave and heroic one, it did not necessarily recommend him for sainthood or win him automatic acceptance in his confidence. When all was said and done, Matthew Kincade was still an Englishman, born and bred. Faith had probably just been overly impressed by his title and timely kindness.

“But how can you be so sure that he isn't working for the Crown?” he challenged.

His suspicion angered her. “That's ridiculous! Matthew helped me when I needed help the most. How dare you accuse him of such dastardly behavior?”

“Darling, now don't get so upset. You know Ben is only trying to look out for our best interests.” Ruth spoke softly to her daughter.

“That may be true, but his charge is totally unfounded. There was no way that attack could have been premeditated. No one knew I would be going out at that time of night.” She turned to Ben.

“That's true enough,” her mother agreed.

“And apart from our friendship with Ben, there is absolutely no reason why anyone would think that Mother and I have any continuing connections with the rebels.”

“Except for your father…” Ben added gravely.

“That was years ago and—” Faith was interrupted by a knock at the door, and she got up quickly and hurried to answer it. “This must be Matthew now. Once you meet him, you'll both understand why I feel as strongly as I do about him.”

Matt stood just outside the front door of the Hammond house, anxiously waiting for Faith to answer. Though he had been constantly busy working with Noah and Lyle aboard the
Lorelei
since leaving her the day before, the time had passed slowly for him. Faith had been in his thoughts continually and, he found himself slightly bewildered by the strength of his emotions for her. Her kiss had been heavenly and he had not wanted to leave her. Matt knew that the frustration and anger he was feeling over his inability to right the wrongs that had been committed against Faith were justified, yet he also knew he could do no less than to heed her plea and let it pass. The necessity of accepting this mockery of justice did not sit well with him, but he vowed in his unspoken fury to see that she would never come to any harm again. That was one promise he fully intended to keep.

As the door opened, he looked up eagerly. “Faith…”

Faith felt her cheeks pinken as she met his avid regard. How handsome he was! She thought him even more so today, if that was possible. “Matthew, I'm so glad you're here. Please, come in.”

Matt wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms and kiss her, but he knew it was not the time or the place, for her mother was undoubtedly just inside. Instead he allowed his hungry gaze to feast upon Faith's delicate beauty, taking in her slim yet womanly curves beneath the worn, but attractive, deep green day gown. No woman clad in the richest of silks and satins and bedecked in the most exquisite of expensive jewels had ever looked more lovely to him. She was the woman of his dreams, the woman he wanted above all others. He stepped indoors and was forced to turn his full attention to the lovely older woman and the tall, burly man standing in the door to the parlor.

“Hello.” He smiled as he moved to meet them.

“Lord Matthew Kincade, this is my mother, Ruth, and Ben Hardwick, an old family friend. Mother, Ben, this is Matthew.” Faith made the introductions quickly after closing the front door behind Matt.

“It's a pleasure to meet you, Lord Kincade,” Ruth began, but Matt quickly interrupted her.

“Please, Mrs. Hammond, I'd appreciate it if you'd call me Matthew.” He bent over her hand in a courtly fashion as he flashed her his most engaging smile.

“Matthew…” Ruth was won over in that moment, and she returned his smile. No wonder her daughter had thought Matthew Kincade so wonderful; he was. His dress was exemplary, his style quiet, yet manly. It would be a hard-hearted woman who could resist his charming ways.

“Mr. Hardwick.” Matt turned to shake Ben's hand, meeting his penetrating gaze squarely, with no reluctance. “I'd be pleased if you'd call me Matthew, too.”

“And I'm Ben,” Ben replied, feeling that possibly Faith just might have been right in her estimation of this man. He certainly was unlike any nobleman he'd ever encountered.

Matt glanced from Faith to her mother and knew that there could be no doubt as to her parentage. Both women were petite and delicately beautiful, with the same striking raven hair. Ruth had drawn hers back into a sedate bun, but not Faith. She had only pinned up the sides of hers, drawing the thick, lustrous tresses away from her face and allowing the shining waves to fall about her shoulders in a gleaming cascade. Matt knew a sudden urge to run his hands through its silken glory, and he was forced to stifle the impulse with an effort.

“We're honored by your presence, Matthew. I'm so glad you could join us,” Ruth told Matthew sincerely.

It had come as quite a surprise to her when she'd returned home from her errand the day before and discovered that Faith had invited Lord Kincade to dinner. At the time she'd argued with her daughter over the wisdom of her invitation, but Faith had been adamant, insisting that it was the very least she could do for the man who had saved her life.

Though she had acquiesced to her logic, Ruth had been expecting Matthew Kincade to be the typical English aristocrat and had prepared herself to deal with him as such. She was more than pleased to discover now that he was a gentleman above all else. She found, too, that Faith had been hedging a bit when she'd described Matthew merely as being handsome. Handsome wasn't the word for Lord Matthew Kincade. The nobleman was devastating. Staring up at him now, Ruth allowed herself to dream of a match between Faith and Matthew, for she could think of nothing that would please her more than to see her daughter betrothed to such a wonderful man.

“I'm glad to be here, Mrs. Hammond,” he replied respectfully, his eyes lingering on Faith even as he spoke with her mother, “and I thank both you and Faith for the invitation.”

Still unable to believe her good fortune, Faith smiled dreamily as she met his steady regard. As her gaze dropped to the firm line of his chiseled lips, turned up now slightly in the barest of smiles, her breath caught in her throat. Had the touch of his mouth upon hers really been that exciting? The memory of his kiss affirmed the thought, and she wondered if he would kiss her tonight should the opportunity present itself. The possibility thrilled her.

“Dinner is ready. Shall we go in?” Ruth suggested, directing the way into the small dining room.

The surroundings were not fancy; there were no servants to wait on them; the dishes were not of the finest china and the wine not the best, but Matt found himself enjoying the simple, yet perfectly prepared, fare more than any other meal he'd ever had. The conversation was pleasant, the mood convivial, and Matt felt perfectly content.

He put all troublesome thoughts from him during the dinner as he relaxed and enjoyed himself. At no time did he allow disturbing thoughts of the attack on Faith or of the state of his life in general to intrude. This was the moment he'd been waiting for, and he fully intended to make the most of it.

Occasionally as they dined, his gaze would lock with Faith's. All else would fade into the background as the image of their embraces the day before flooded through him in heated remembrance, and sent his blood racing through his veins. At those times it was only sheer willpower that enabled him to break off the contact and turn his attention back to the general conversation.

“How do you find life in Boston, Matthew?” Ben asked as they lingered at the table, the meal finished. He found his suspicions being slowly laid to rest, for he'd found nothing in the younger man's manner to indicate that he was being anything less than forthright with them.

At the question, Matt's gaze automatically swung back to Faith and he answered, “I've found I've fallen quite in love with Boston, Ben.”

His words sent Faith's hopes soaring. Was there hope that Matthew might stay here and forsake returning to England?

“You find Boston more appealing than London?” Ben wondered, a bit amazed by his statement.

“Boston is fresh and vital,” he explained, mentally comparing Faith with the city. “There's a sense of excitement here that I've never experienced before, not even in London.”

“Indeed, there is that,” Ben agreed.

“Matthew, I have never really thanked you for saving Faith from the soldiers or for summoning the doctor for me,” Ruth put in appreciatively.

“I wish I could have done more.” Matt's answer was rigid as unwanted thoughts of the culprits going free and unpunished assailed him. “Especially where the attack was concerned. If I'd been able to catch the two men, things would have turned out differently. They would have been brought to justice, as they deserved.”

Ben snorted in derision. “Don't fool yourself, Matthew. It wouldn't have mattered. Nothing would have been done, regardless.”

Matt's tone hardened as he thought of his helplessness in the situation. “I know. Faith explained it all to me, but mark my words, someday, somehow, I'm going to see justice done.”

“Matthew…” Faith interrupted worriedly as she sensed the sudden anger in him.

Ben, too, saw the undisguised outrage and determination in his expression. “Do you know much about the protests that are going on?”

“Not too much. Faith has mentioned a man named Sam Adams as being one of the chief leaders of the group calling for complete independence, but beyond that I know very little about it.”

“Would you like to learn more?” Ben asked, feeling that Matthew could possibly be an asset to their cause.

“I would,” he answered firmly. “From what little I do know, I find myself quite in sympathy with them. It was hard for me to believe at first….” Matt shook his head sadly. “And I ended up questioning my entire life prior to this. It took some time, but I'm now firmly convinced that certain powers have been, and are continuing to be, abused here. There have been some serious errors in judgment regarding the governing of the colonies, and it seems quite obvious to me that the colonists are not being treated with the same respect as other full English citizens. It's no wonder some of them are angry and are calling for a separate nation.”

“You're right.” Ben was quick to agree. “Feelings are running hot and high over this tea thing right now.”

“And well they should be. The imposing of the monopoly may prove to be the biggest tactical blunder of all.”

“There's a meeting of protest scheduled for later this week. It seems some of the ships carrying the tea are nearing port, and we're trying to determine exactly what to do about it. If you'd be interested in attending…”

Matt was instantly attentive, for he wanted to learn all he could. “I most certainly would be.”

Faith felt a momentary chill as she remembered her father's fate. She suddenly found herself worried over Matthew's involvement with the rebels.