HisLadysKeeperfinal.wps (8 page)

She walked over to her window, and stared down at the gardens below. Biting her lip, she looked back over toward her wardrobe. The night was so beautiful.

Moonlight dappled the ground, and a slight mist shrouded the landscape, giving the night an ethereal glow. She could almost hear the faeries singing and dancing.

“You look quite fetching standing there in the glow of the moonlight,” his deep throated voice made her skin prickle with anticipation.

Her heart stopped. She whirled around, then suddenly her heart started to beat so fast and hard she feared it would fly right out of her chest.

“What the bloody hell do you think you’re doing in here?” she demanded

breathlessly.

“I think I’m looking at the loveliest lady in Scotland,” he answered solemnly.

She swallowed. Her mouth had grown inexplicably dry. Her hands went

clammy, and she pressed them against her skirt to still the trembling that had erupted in them.

“You speak with quite a silver tongue for being such a beast.”

“A beast? Well, you’ve called me so many colorful names, that I’ll just add that one to the quickly growing list of insults.”

Narrowing her eyes, she walked toward him. “How did you get in here?”

“It wasn’t too hard, actually. In your haste to escape me you forgot to shut the door properly. It was ajar, so I just slipped in here. I didn’t think you’d mind … I thought you’d left it open in a silent invitation.”

“Silent invitation? You are mad! This is my family home, for heaven’s sake! I shouldn’t be expected to barricade the bloody door to my own quarters. When my HIS LADY’S KEEPER Marly Mathews 36

mother arrives, and hears of the grief Mallory has brought to my door, she will have a good tongue lashing for him.”

“From what I understand your mother is a formidable woman.”

“She is. And, she’s definitely one woman that my brother always listens to, if he knows what’s good for him.”

“So, she has the fire breathing dragon temper of yours too, I assume.”

She planted her hands on her hips and converged on him. “I will not trouble myself to respond to that sort of ill humored remark.”

“You just did.” He chuckled, making his way toward her so she could feel his hot breath on her face.

“Remove your person from this room, this instant. I command it!”

“I don’t feel like it.” His eyes sparkled. “The house is going to bed, you should to.”

“I should like to. The only problem is I have an infidel in my abode.”

He waved his hand in dismissal. “Soon, you’ll be quite accustomed to welcoming me into your bedroom and your bed. Quit fighting your burgeoning attraction for me, Gemma. I recognize that look in your eyes. Despite yourself, you’ve already lost your heart to me. Don’t worry, I’ll keep it safe.” He gave her a roguish grin. She sighed.

“I’ve never met such an egotistically stubborn man in all of my days.”

“Oh, I think Mallory could probably give me a run for my money when it comes to stubbornness and size of ego. We are both single minded when it comes to achieving our objective. That’s what made us such formidable pirates.”

She gasped. “Don’t say such a despicable thing in this house. I will not hear you blacken my brother’s name in that manner! The Crown does not tolerate piracy, my brother has always been a loyal subject of the King!”

“Indeed he has. We never attacked English ships. We only stole from other countries … something I’m sure the King wouldn’t object to. Come to think of it, he’d probably clap Mallory on the back for a job well done.”

She turned her back to him, staring out the window. “You are not worth the time or effort.”

“Oh, I’m quite worth the effort, why don’t I show you just how much I am

worth.” In an instant, he’d crossed the distance between them, turning her so she faced him. She didn’t know why but she didn’t shrink away from him—or try to fight him.

She quite simply went with it.

He extended his hand and gently caressed the side of her cheek. She shivered at his feathery and electrifying touch. She couldn’t help herself. Every time he touched her, he made her feel the most unusual sensations. She had to admit that he made her blood boil more than Kilworth ever could.

“This is insanity, Hart. You are not meant for me. We are two passing ships.

You must sail on to the next harbor. I won’t be your safe passage in the night!”

“I assure you, Gemma … I want you for the rest of my life, not just for one night.”

She threw her hands up in the air. “Do you honestly know how foolish you are being? What sort of debt do you owe Mallory to be willing to marry me? This will change your life forever, and it will change mine as well … I’m not so certain I like the way that it will change my life. Marriage isn’t something to be taken lightly—to marry HIS LADY’S KEEPER Marly Mathews 37

me would be sheer madness!”

“Oh, I beg to differ. I think it would be one of the sanest decisions I’ve ever made. You might be spoiled, you might be headstrong, but underneath all of your mule headedness you have a pure and loving heart. Passion boils within you—all I need to do is ignite that flame. As for your brother, I owe him my life. He saved it once, and I haven’t had the opportunity to repay him in kind.”

She laughed. “Oh, I see. He saved your life during one of your looting and pillaging adventures.”

“No. He saved my life from a French man’s blade.”

HIS LADY’S KEEPER Marly Mathews 38

She cut her laugh short. There was nothing that sobered her better than the mention of the war. She’d made her peace with the French. After all, the St. Martin’s still had distant family in France, but whenever someone mentioned the Wars, she could only think of Andrew. They had made so many plans, she’d been so looking forward to his nuptials to his fiancée Mary, who was a dear friend of hers, and then, he’d been killed, and the bond they had shared had died with him. She and Mallory had never been particularly close, probably because she was too much like Mallory to get along with him. Now, Mary had moved on, she’d built a good life for herself, but Gemma resented that. She resented the fact that Mary had found the ability to love someone else, and she resented the fact that Mary had figured out how to live for the future rather than living in the past. The past was safe, the present was precarious, and the future was frightening.

She knew she lived with ghosts, and she knew she had to move on, the trouble was, she didn’t know how.

“Gemma? Are you quite well? You look rather pale and, well—distant. Return to me, my love.”

“That’s just it. You can’t love me! You can’t possibly fall in love with someone you’ve only known for a day. It’s not likely. You aren’t living in a true reality … no one could love me so quickly. I’m not the sort that you just fall in love with at first sight.”

“I disagree. I’ve known a lot of women in my time, I’ve been infatuated with quite a few of them, and yes, I’ve had many ports to take my ship into, but I’ve never felt so passionately about a woman like I feel for you. I’m willing to take you despite your stubbornness, your high airs, and your ability to push me away at every opportunity. You try to use that somewhat barbed tongue of yours to turn me off, and yet, I keep coming back to you. Aye, I owe a life debt to Mallory, but I don’t have to do this if I don’t want to … I’m sure that Mallory will have other times where he’ll need my help.” He grinned.

She lost herself in that carefree smile. Clearly, he’d endured hardship and trials of the spirit beyond her comprehension. She could tell that by the hardened glint that sometimes entered his eyes. However, whenever he looked at her that steely glint vanished. Perhaps, he was being truthful with her. Had he actually fallen for her?

“Hart, I think you should go to your own rooms. I don’t know why you’re doing this. I can tell you’d never hurt me, I might think you’re a big pain in the arse, but you’re not the sort of man that would take me against my will.”

His visage softened. “You know me better than you want to admit.”

She was taken aback by the endearing expression entering his eyes. She could really lose her heart to that particular look.

“You don’t actually want to marry Kilworth, do you? From the tales Mallory has regaled me with, he sounds like a letch of the foulest sort.” His breath tingled against her neck. He made her feel safe—and wanted.

“I will marry Kilworth because I handpicked him.”

“What happened to force you into that decision? Surely, there are other more HIS LADY’S KEEPER Marly Mathews 39

suitable men in the
haut ton
that could strike your fancy.”

“Alas, you don’t understand the men of the
haut ton
. They ran from me like I was holding a smoking pistol in my hand. They didn’t want to have anything to do with me—I tried to tell myself that it was Mallory that had turned them off … but it wasn’t. I know better than that. It was
me
. Most men don’t know what to think of my unconventional ways. No one but Kilworth would approach me at the grand balls. He was the only one that didn’t look at me with a glint of wariness in his eyes.”

“I’m not one of those men.”

“Yes, that’s true. You probably wouldn’t know what to do at one of the
haut ton
soirees … seeing as you are well, raised in the wilds of these rugged highlands.”

“So says a lady that is living in the lap of luxury in the so-called wildly rugged highlands.”

“My family has a certain affinity for Scotland, I’ll grant you that,” she relented, sighing.

He turned away from her.

“You have exquisitely fine taste, that’s far warmer than I thought you’d have.”

“Thank you. I think, even though that was a veiled compliment. I’m not certain if I should be rebuffed, since it could be misconstrued as an insult. You just intimated that I’m a cold bitch.”

He walked over to her bed and perched himself on the edge of it. “Cold bitch isn’t something I’d call you—trust me, I’ve met far more frigid women than you. I just didn’t envision you having such a homely private abode.” He sighed. “You might be interested in knowing that your brother has sent out a rider to intercept Kilworth’s carriage. He has plans to tell Kilworth that you are otherwise indisposed and that you won’t be able to accept his hand in marriage. I must say, when your brother decides to do something, he’s a man of action. When he puts his mind into a task, there’s no stopping him. That’s why I admire him so much.”

She let out a scream of frustration. She knew she sounded like a spoiled brat, but at the moment she couldn’t help herself.

“He can’t do that. I’m going to go and tell him—”

“Oh, I don’t think he’ll be in his rooms to see you. You see, a messenger arrived with an urgent missive, calling him, Elizabeth and Susan away. Charles begged to stay behind. He definitely has his heart set on building that tree house of his dreams. Seamus is going to help him … and right at the moment, he and the indefatigable Mrs. Grant are getting a little steamy in the kitchen. It would seem that their animosity toward each other has transformed into terms of endearment.”

“Where did my brother and his wife go?”

“I didn’t ask.” He flicked a piece of lint off of his jacket and then gave her a supremely pleased with himself look.

“You had a cunning hand in this, didn’t you?”

“I might have done. I don’t know. My memory is a little sketchy, I think I partook of too much spirits tonight … plus, I’m a bit inebriated with thoughts of you.”

“This is a set up. I’ve been had.” She began pacing the length of her chamber.

She couldn’t seem to stay in one place, something was making her restless, and loathe, as she was to admit it, she didn’t think it was Hart.

“Not yet, but maybe soon. Besides, I’d rather make an honest woman of you first.

HIS LADY’S KEEPER Marly Mathews 40

Call me old fashioned that way. I’m all for sex before marriage but not with my wife.”

“Oh, I don’t think so. You can dance in hell before I tie myself by way of marriage to you. What did you think you were going to do, drag me off to Gretna Green?”

“You should read this, before you make anymore hasty decisions.”

He reached inside of his jacket and pulled out a letter. She could tell by the wax seal and the fine fragrance emitting from the linen pressed paper that it was from her mother.

“How long has Mallory been planning this? He must have been at this for

months, ever since I announced—”

“Your engagement. You are correct. As soon as Mallory found out that you were going to marry that
thing
, he sent for me, and mobilized his extensive resources. Taking you to Mallory Hall was the finishing touch to his campaign.”

“I don’t believe it.”

“Oh, you should, it’s the God’s honest truth. Why don’t you read that letter and then we’ll see how you feel?”

“I will feel the same way. I know my mother might side with Mallory, after all, he’s the one pulling the purse strings.”

“No, he isn’t. Didn’t you know? Mallory has given all of the money your mother had before your father lost it to that card shark, Caulfield, back to her. Your mother is a very rich woman … all of the wealth she had before was restored to her. You forget your dear mama was a formidable heiress in her own right when she married your father—

that’s why your father’s loss at the gaming tables hurt her so badly … not only did he lose his own money, he lost hers as well. Mallory House isn’t exactly a St. Martin legacy, but then, you would no doubt know that.”

She responded to him with coolly detached silence.

“Then, mama isn’t under Mallory’s thumb.”