Desire In His Eyes (23 page)

“You can be terribly cold, Juliette,” Jeffrey shook his head in disdain.

The door to the parlor opened unexpectedly and both Jeffrey and Juliette froze. Maxwell Dunbar poked his gray-haired head in the room. His beady eyes moved quickly between Juliette and Jeffrey, attempting to assess their situation. “Christina and I thought we heard voices raised. Is everything all right in here?”

Juliette pasted a bright smile on her face, “Oh, we were simply disagreeing about when to return to Eng land. We are absolutely fine. I am terribly sorry if we disturbed you.”

“Yes, I’m afraid I possess rather a loud voice.” Jeffrey smiled as well. “May we have another moment, please?”

Maxwell considered them both suspiciously before nodding his head in agreement. “I shall be directly outside the door if you have need of me, Miss Hamilton.”

“Thank you.” She cast him a brilliant smile. When the door was closed once again, Juliette rolled her eyes in frustration.

Turning his back on her, Jeffrey walked to the window. A long and tense silence grew between them.

“Melissa was also quite saddened by your sudden departure,” Jeffrey said in a considerably softer voice.

Juliette’s heart began to race wildly at the thought of Harrison’s sister. “She isn’t, that is—she hasn’t done anything—”

He turned from the window and faced her again. “No, she has not done anything dangerous,” Jeffrey informed her. “At least as far as I know. When I left, she was still in her calm mood.” He shuddered. “Eerie girl, that one.”

Melissa definitely had her problems, but Juliette had found a sympathetic friend in her. Almost a kindred spirit. Oddly enough, Melissa, in her own tortured inner world, understood Juliette as no one ever had. Meeting Harrison’s sister had been an eye-opening experience for Juliette. Relieved to hear that Melissa had not done anything to hurt herself, Juliette relaxed somewhat.

“Judging from your rather sudden departure from Fleming Farm, I take it that you are ready to have your little adventures come to an end?”

“For now,” she murmured resentfully. Yes, she would be returning home, and yes, it was more than likely a wise decision, only because she needed to get as far away from Harrison Fleming as she possibly could. However, she would never cease to give up her dreams to seek adventure and freedom in her life. She just needed to go in a different direction was all. Yet on some level, she could not help but feel that she was returning home to her family in failure and disgrace.

Jeffrey’s voice was clipped and cold. “Then I shall take the liberty of booking passage for us both on the first ship for London.” He gave her a sharp look. “Unless, of course, you plan to stay here in New York and allow Maxwell Dunbar to fondle you.”

“I shall leave with you,” she murmured low, somewhat subdued by their fierce encounter. Even as angry as she was with him, she did not like the tension between her and Jeffrey. She managed to choke out, “Thank you.”

“Just remember, Juliette,” Jeffrey cautioned her before he left. “Not everything in this world revolves around you.”

Juliette watched him leave with a heavy heart.

Jeffrey had not visited her at the Dunbars’ house again nor had they repaired their friendship by the time they left New York a few days later. After a tearful good-bye from Christina, Juliette found herself aboard the
Oceanic
, the White Star Line’s newest, fastest, and most modern steamship on her way back to England. Matters between Jeffrey and her still felt awkward when they boarded the steamship. Unusually quiet and withdrawn, Jeffrey immediately retired to his cabin.

An unexpected pang of homesickness washed over her as they sailed away from New York and America. Somehow she felt defeated and sadder than she had ever been in her life. Juliette spent most of the first day in her cabin, not in the mood to socialize with the other passengers. She would be back in England in no time. In some ways it felt as if she had been gone for years instead of only weeks.

The ship was quite elegant and she had a lovely cabin, but the
Oceanic
was not as exciting and special as the
Sea Minx
. It lacked the grace and beauty that only a clipper ship possessed. Granted, this was only her second transatlantic crossing, and Juliette had more nautical knowledge after having sailed with Harrison, but on this journey she did not have free rein of the ship. She was simply another one of the many passengers.

The next morning Juliette awoke quite early. She dressed and went above deck to get some fresh air. Not many people were up at that time of the morning, aside from the crew. As she strolled and watched the sunrise, she spied Jeffrey, leaning over the railing in an odd manner.

“Are you all right?” she asked him, concerned.

He turned to face her and she paused in shock. She had never seen Lord Jeffrey Eddington looking so disheveled and unkempt. With his tie undone and his clothes wrinkled, he was unshaven and his eyes were red-rimmed. “Why, Jeffrey!” she exclaimed in astonishment. “You are seasick!”

“Thank you for the diagnosis. I had no idea what was wrong with me,” he muttered miserably.

Juliette stifled a giggle. “I’m terribly sorry. I had no idea sea travel affected you this way.”

“Unfortunately, it does,” he moaned. “I shall remain this sickly shade of green until my feet are on solid ground once again.” He closed his eyes for a moment, then took a deep breath of air and focused his attention on the horizon.

“Can I get you anything?”

“Unless you can get me off this ship, no there is nothing you can get me. And do not, I repeat, do not even
mention
food. I cannot bear it.”

She could not get over the change in him. And she felt terribly guilty that she now knew that this was the second time he had endured this agony for her. “I’m sorry to see you this way.”

He looked at her with something akin to awe. “Do you mean tell me that the horrendous swaying of this ship has no effect on you?”

Juliette shrugged helplessly, feeling a tiny bit guilty at her natural born sea worthiness, as unexpected as it was. “Not in the slightest.”

Jeffrey gave her a pathetic glance. “It figures,” he mumbled.

“I am sorry.”

He continued to stare off in the distance. “It’s not your fault.”

“No not that,” Juliette began, “I’m sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused you.”

Jeffrey turned to look at her. “Go on.”

Seeing him this way, put into perspective all that he had done to see that she was safe. He dropped everything in his life to come after her and she had not taken any of that into consideration.

“I’ve been thinking that perhaps you are right,” she murmured low. “I am deeply sorry for behaving so recklessly and causing everyone, including you, to worry”—she gave him a sympathetic glance—“and suffer needlessly on my account.”

He said nothing.

“I don’t like for us to not get along, Jeffrey. We may not always agree, but I do value your opinion. You mean too much to me, and I’d hate to think that my behavior has been the cause of ruining our friendship.”

“You haven’t ruined it,” he said.

“Haven’t I?”

“No.” He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. He looked at her, his blue eyes intent on hers. “We are still friends, Juliette. I cannot stay angry with you either.”

“You accept my apology?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, feeling more relieved than she would have expected by his forgiveness. She reached up and hugged him. He hugged her back, holding her tightly.

Jeffrey released her. “I’m going to lie down now. If I die, toss my body overboard quickly and say a sweet prayer for me.”

“I take it I won’t see you in the dining salon then?” she asked with a teasing smile.

Jeffrey did not even attempt an answer. He glared at her before shuffling back to his cabin, leaving Juliette standing on the deck. She nodded politely at an older couple who strolled by, feeling incredibly lonely.

It felt strange to be on a ship without Harrison. She did not know what to do with herself. She could not very well join the crew and sing bawdy songs. She did not think the captain would appreciate her help with the sextant or chronometer. And she did not dare climb one of the masts!

She sighed, holding tight to the railing, and stared fixedly at the blue line of the horizon. The soft gleam of morning light stretched across the sky as the glowing sun climbed higher and higher. A new day was beginning. A new chapter of her life was beginning; the part of her life after meeting Captain Harrison Fleming. She would never be the same for having known him.

Knowing now that she might very well never see him again caused a sudden and heavy aching sadness in her heart.

Harrison could not stop thinking about Juliette Hamilton.

Even though he sure as hell had tried.

From Jeffrey’s note, which arrived at Fleming Farm that morning, he knew that the two of them had sailed for England on the
Oceanic
only the day before. That had been the final straw. He had secretly hoped against hope that Juliette would change her mind and return to him. That little dream was now just that. A dream.

He had never had a woman flee from him. Never.

At first he had been so angry he decided that he would be quite happy if he never saw the infuriating, stubborn, reckless woman again. If she wanted to leave, then so be it. He had offered to marry her and she had rejected him. More than once. When Jeffrey left for New York to find her, Harrison refused to go along with him. He was done with her. He had had enough of Juliette Hamilton causing turmoil in his life. If she had wanted to be with him, she would have stayed at Fleming Farm and married him.

But she had not.

As the days slipped by with Juliette no longer in his life, Harrison had come to realize that something Melissa said to him was more than likely right. He had never
asked
Juliette to marry him. He simply told her that she would be his wife. Not that that excused her childish refusal, but it did explain her balking at the idea. He knew he could have handled Juliette better. She was too free-spirited and independent to succumb to someone else’s wishes so easily, let alone if she were ordered or tricked into it.

He did feel badly that she had found out about his and Jeffrey’s plan to coerce her into marrying him. Even though he had been desperate, he should never have made that an option.

All he had to do was ask her.

But he hadn’t and now she was gone.

And, God, he missed her.

He missed the sound of her laughter, the flashing of her blue eyes, her quick wit and untamed spirit. He missed the comfort she gave him, the feel of her body beside him in bed. He missed all of Juliette.

For the first time that he could recall he was at a loss of how to handle his emotions. He found himself moping around Fleming Farm, feeling like a fool and too restless to do anything of any substance.

“Captain Fleming?”

Harrison turned away from the window he had been staring out of. Annie stood in the doorway of his study. With a wave of his hand, he motioned for the nurse to come in. “Good afternoon, Annie.”

She smiled at him. “Melissa has a new painting that she would like you to see.”

His sister had been quieter since Juliette’s departure but had thankfully remained calm. She had spent most of her time painting, which he figured was therapeutic for her. He had feared that Melissa would fall apart after Juliette left. Much to his own surprise and chagrin, he was the one who fell apart. “Thank you. I’ll go to the studio now.”

“Her lunch will be ready shortly.”

“I’ll bring her back with me,” Harrison assured Annie.

Harrison made his way to his sister’s art studio, thinking about Melissa. He feared for her future and wished he knew what to do to help her. He opened the door to the studio and in the bright summer sun, the large, window-lined room was filled with light, which displayed her many paintings in brilliant color.

“Harrison! Over here!” Melissa called to him from behind a tall easel holding a rather large canvas.

“Annie tells me you’ve been painting quite a lot and you have something new to show me,” he said when he reached her side.

“Yes,” Melissa said, wearing a paint-spattered smock. “This is the one.”

With a flick of her hand, she gave a last touch of the brush to the painting of two men sitting on the patio. His patio. The men were depicted in silhouette, from the back. The rich detail of the star-filled sky, the gleam of their white shirts, and the faint smoke of their cigars illuminated the velvety darkness of the night scene. Her talent was nothing short of stunning.

Undoubtedly the two men were he and Jeffrey, the night Melissa overheard them planning to trick Juliette into marrying him.

“I gather you are no longer interested in painting landscapes?” Harrison quipped, unable to ignore her recent subject matter.

Melissa suppressed a giggle. “I’ve decided people are so much more interesting to paint than trees.”

“You are more than likely right about that.” Although he did not like to be reminded so vividly of that fateful evening, he could not deny the beauty of the painting.

“Do you like it?” she asked, her voice eager.

“It’s a wonderful painting, Melissa.” He paused for a moment, deep in thought. “Perhaps we should do something with your paintings.”

“Like what?” Her delicate brows furrowed in puzzlement.

He shrugged. “I don’t know that much about the art world, but maybe we could display them somewhere, even sell some.”

“Oh, no. I could never sell them!” she cried in a panic, her cheeks coloring. “They would laugh at me. No one would want to buy my silly paintings!”

“No one would laugh at you.” He glanced around the studio, at the myriad gorgeous canvases she had painted. “In fact, I am quite sure many people would want to decorate their homes with these beautiful paintings of yours.”

“Oh, Harrison, do you truly think so?”

The hope and excitement on his sister’s pretty face, now smudged with paint, made Harrison vow to have her paintings sold. If that would make her happy, then he would see to it that it was done. “Yes, I think so.”

“That would be lovely!” she whispered.

Again Harrison looked at the paintings surrounding him. They were quite remarkable, and he wondered why he had never noticed before. Then he realized that it was Juliette who brought the beauty and talent of Melissa’s work to his attention.

“I think your paintings would be in such high demand that—” Harrison suddenly froze at the sight before him.

Melissa’s exquisitely detailed painting of Juliette rested on the table beside him.

Seeing the portrait almost brought him to his knees. The ache and longing at the sight of Juliette’s beautiful face overwhelmed his rather raw emotions. Unconsciously he reached out his hand and touched the canvas. She had been gone only a few days, yet it felt longer. Much longer. He could think of nothing but Juliette.

“You miss her,” Melissa whispered, standing next to him.

Harrison could not deny his sister’s simple statement. “Yes, I do,” he admitted.

“I thought you were going to marry her from the first minute I met her.”

Puzzled by her declaration, he looked sharply at his sister. “You did?”

“Yes. That first afternoon, I even asked her if she was going to marry you.”

Harrison held his breath for a moment. “What did Juliette say?”

Melissa sighed. “She said no, but I knew she did not mean it.”

“Why would you think that?”

“I just sensed that the two of you belonged together and that you would marry.”

He had believed he would marry her also. He cleared his throat. “Well, it seems you were wrong.” He pulled his eyes away from Juliette’s painted face.

“Go after her, Harrison.”

He turned to his sister. “She ran from me, Melissa. Twice.” He could not help but add, “With no thanks to you.”

Melissa laughed lightly at him. “Oh, she didn’t leave here because of anything I did, Harrison. Oh, no! You have no one to blame but yourself that she is gone.”

His sister was right, but Harrison did not want to admit that. He said, “She has made it painfully obvious that she does not want me.”

“She’s in love with you.”

Harrison’s heart began to race. “Did she tell you that?”

“She didn’t have to. I could see it in her eyes when I met her.”

He stood motionless, taking in that bit of information.
Juliette was in love with him?
If that were true then…Then what? What would he do?
Would he go after her?

“If she has gone home to London,” Melissa said, “then you should go get her. You will never find anyone who is more perfect for you than Juliette.”

He knew that Juliette was perfect for him. It had been all he had been able to think about since she left. “I wasn’t planning to leave you or the farm so soon. I just got home.”

“I will be all right if you go.”

He stared at his beautiful, tormented sister. Usually she hated when he traveled or was away from her for any great length of time, and his absences frequently coincided with her darker moods. Now here she stood, suggesting he leave! Had Juliette truly made such an impact on both of them? He paused. “I don’t want to leave you alone, Melissa. Why don’t you come to London with me?”

Melissa looked aghast at his suggestion. “Oh, I couldn’t. I couldn’t possibly.”

“Yes, you could,” he insisted, taking her hand in his.

“No, not now.” She shook her blonde head and smiled sweetly at him. “Perhaps I’ll go another time. I would only slow you down. I shall still be here when you return with Juliette.”

He hesitated.

“You could lose Juliette for good if you don’t go after her now, Harrison.”

He had the strangest feeling that Melissa was right in her prediction and he wondered how and when his sister became so insightful.

“Go get her,” she urged with a smile, her jade green eyes alight with excitement. “If you don’t, you will never know for sure and it will haunt you forever.”

Less than two days later, Harrison had his crew assembled again and was sailing the
Sea Minx
back to England. Filled with a sense of well being that only the sea could give him, Harrison stood at the wheel, feeling better than he had since before Juliette left.

“What are we headed to England for this time, Captain?” Robbie asked, a cheery grin on his face.

Harrison gave him a cryptic smile. “I need to retrieve something very important to me.”

“So are we in a hurry?”

“Yes,” Harrison admitted freely. “I want to make the trip to London in record time.”