Rebel Dreams (6 page)

Not understanding why he did so, Alex nodded his acceptance
and gestured for Jacob to follow him.

Alex scowled at the angry slashes of ink on the letter from
Evelyn’s uncle. Folding the expensive vellum, he shoved it into his pocket, and
lowered his chair in the
Minerva’s
cabin.

“I don’t think the brandy’s entering England by legal
channels,” Alex told his captain, heading for the gangway. “I’ve written a
letter to Cranville and Maclean asking them to trace it on their end. When I go
through the warehouse’s files I’ll have a better idea of what else needs to be
traced. Whoever’s doing this knows that as an English merchant I’m much less
likely to be searched than a colonial.”

Jack Ruggles walked with him up to the deck. The heat had
broken, but the stench of raw fish and sewage still permeated the air. There
were few ships in the harbor, and the normal clatter and hammer of shipbuilding
was ominously quiet. Ruggles pulled a pipe out of his capacious pocket.

“You think someone’s using us to cover a larger operation,”
he concluded.

Alex nodded. “As I understand it, the Maclean’s smuggling
operation used to deal with people he knew. He unloaded in secluded coves,
avoided customs, and left the problem of storage to his buyers. The Navigation
Acts would have put him out of business if he tried that now. Now, smugglers
need to obtain ownership papers through customs. They have to use honest
merchants who have proper papers to store goods. Once they have those, with a
little forgery, a switching of crates, or whatever, they can move anything. A
really large operation would need a warehouse and easy access to both legal and
illegal shipping. It’s more complicated than before, but still profitable.”

Ruggles nodded. “You saw that grand house on the hill? That’s
Thomas Hancock’s. You want to see what kind of profits a little evasion of the
laws can net, you take a good look at that place. These Yankees ain’t dumb. You’d
be better off turning the whole thing over to the court and sailing out of
here. It ain’t none of your affair.”

Alex set his mouth in a tight line as he recalled trusting violet
eyes and innocent kisses. If he could believe Evelyn’s complicity in this
operation, he would sail away without a second thought. Until he had met his
cousin Alyson, he had been incapable of believing innocence in a woman. Now, he
was forced to be fair.

He stared over the water to the clutter of houses and shops
along the harbor. If Evelyn were truly innocent, she was in way over her head.
She was a fighter, but she had little chance of winning on her own. He’d run
away from fights before; he wasn’t the heroic type. But he was easily bored,
and this promised to be an entertaining puzzle. With the tantalizing prospect
of a grateful female wrapped in his arms as the prize, the challenge could be
rewarding.

With passionate kisses to look forward to, Alex climbed down
into the dinghy. Bent on self-destruction, he signaled the sailors to begin
rowing. He had a damn good notion why George Upton was summoning him. He’d best
have all his defenses ready.

***

Alex’s defenses didn’t last much longer than the sight of
Evelyn’s tear-ravaged face in Upton’s ostentatious library. Someone had turned
that striking beauty into washed-out shadows and hollow angles, and rage built
before anyone said a word.

He turned a cold gaze on the bewigged and garishly garbed
gentleman behind the desk. “There is some explanation for this?” Alex threw the
vellum summons on the desk.

If he thought to intimidate Upton, he failed. The man didn’t
even look at the scrap, but boldly returned his gaze. “Were you any gentleman
at all, you would have been here without my summoning you. I demand to know
your intentions toward my niece. “

Evelyn’s husky voice lost none of its seductiveness even
through tears and anger. “Please ignore him, Mr. Hampton. He has no right to do
any of this. He is related to me only by marriage. We neither of us owe him any
explanation.”

Alex turned to her skeptically. “Then why are you here?”

“Because she knows what’s good for her, by Jove!” The man at
the desk brought his fist down with a force that sent his quill flying. “Evelyn,
leave the room. I will deal with Mr. Hampton.”

“I will leave with Mr. Hampton and not a moment sooner.”

Her belligerent tone answered Alex’s question. She had
stayed to protect him! He would have been amused had the situation been less
grim. Realizing their escapade in the barn had become gossip, Alex prepared for
a siege. Without permission, he appropriated what looked to be a comfortable
leather chair, sat down, and propped his shoes on the edge of the desk.

“So it seems we are both at your disposal, Mr. Upton. What
can I do for you?”

His insolence caused Upton’s face to take on a purple hue
beneath the perspiration. “Your arrogance in this matter does not help your
cause, Hampton. Perhaps you can get away with your rakehell manners at home,
but not here. Wellington is a respected name in Boston, and I intend for it to
remain that way. Rumors of your dalliance with my niece will halt upon
announcement of your engagement. As a gentleman, you must recognize there is no
suitable alternative.”

***

Evelyn watched in terror as Mr. Hampton shrugged his broad
shoulders. He was unpredictable, and she could not presume to guess his reaction.
She prayed it would be sensible. Judging by the calm look on his dark
countenance, he wasn’t exceedingly concerned by her uncle’s hysterics.

“I don’t remember introducing myself as a gentleman, Mr.
Upton.”

Evelyn almost sputtered at this unexpected response.
Admittedly, she had to concur with his assessment. No gentleman would have done
what he’d done this afternoon. Of course, neither would a lady have returned
his kisses.

“On the contrary, I have made no pretense at being any other
than what I am,” Hampton continued. “Had you made any inquiries at all, you
would have been well apprised of that fact. I have no intention of marrying
your niece over the exchange of one or two kisses. Are there any other
questions?”

Evelyn sucked in a breath of relief that he was supporting
her, humiliating as his reaction might be. She was curious to know what made
him believe he would not be regarded as a gentleman in these provincial
quarters, but that was inconsequential to the matter at hand. Uncle George’s
furious explosion burned her ears.

“You have ruined my niece, sir! Were I a younger man, I
would call you out for that. As it is, gout prevents me from giving you the
thrashing you deserve. Perhaps you think I am powerless in this matter. I can
assure you I am not.” Under Hampton’s contemptuous regard, he visibly calmed
himself. “Let us be reasonable about this. Evelyn is of excellent and
well-respected family here and in England. You may know of the Adrian
Wellingtons in Somerset, an old family, high in the king’s favor. She will
bring you no shame. Her father left her a rich dowry. The sale of the warehouse
will more than double that amount. You have chosen well, and the advantage is
all yours.”

Evelyn clenched her fingers around her handkerchief. Uncle
George was selling not only her but also her brother’s livelihood! She had
always known him to be a fool, but she had not recognized the depths of his
treachery. She would not complain if Hampton ran him through with a sword right
now.

Unfortunately, she realized Hampton never wore a sword, and
she wondered again about his claim of not being a gentleman.

It was impossible to gauge Hampton’s thoughts by his
expression. She had never seen him smile, but she was aware he possessed a
humor of sorts. Surely a man who owned a ship like the
Minerva
would not
consider her dowry a plum. She could see only the profile of his face, framed
by the thick coarseness of his black hair. The muscle over his cheekbone had
tightened, but his words were as cool as she could desire.

“You mistake me, Mr. Upton. Miss Wellington’s very
respectable family would scream in horror should they hear of her betrothal to
me. I cannot imagine you would wish to sell your lovely niece to a rake and a
bankrupt. Let us forget this conversation ever came about. I will apologize for
being the cause of any rumors. I promise to treat your niece with all due
respect in the short time I remain here. I’m certain Miss Wellington’s name and
behavior are so far above reproach that no one will lend credence to any
further tales.”

Evelyn would have smiled had she not been so fascinated by
these revelations. Bankrupt? Even she found that hard to believe. But he was
being more than reasonable, and for that she was grateful.

She met Hampton’s appraising glance on her and felt a jolt
as his long-lashed eyes darkened, reminding her of their impetuous passion.

The cynicism in his look shook Evelyn more than her uncle’s
threats. Surely he did not think she was responsible for this imbroglio! Of all
the conceited, arrogant . . . Of course, he did!

Rising before her uncle replied, she straightened her skirts
and started toward the door. “I told you that, Uncle George, but you wouldn’t
listen to me. You are not being quite rational about this. Will Black saw
nothing but what was in his own dirty mind. Now, if you will excuse me, I’ve
been humiliated enough for one day. Mr. Hampton, are you ready to leave? I’ll
accompany you and extend my apologies for this scene.”

Alex rose, scraped a brief bow, and offered his arm. “I
sincerely apologize for the trouble I’ve caused you, Miss Wellington,” he said.
Taking the crumpled handkerchief from her hand, he wiped her tear-streaked
face, ruining his polite apology with his usual carelessness. “I’ve always
wanted to do that.”

She slapped his hand away at the same time her uncle came to
his feet. “I’m not through with you yet, you damnable cur! Evelyn, go on, and I
will take care of this.”

She turned and eyed her furious relative with curiosity. “I
really cannot understand what you are about, Uncle George. Mr. Hampton has been
more than patient, and I’ve already explained everything thrice over. There is
nothing more to be said.”

“There is this to be said.” He pointed an accusing finger,
looking at Hampton as if he were a bug in his soup. “You and the
Minerva
will not leave port until my niece is safely wedded. I have had a report that
you are carrying illegal brandy. The ship will be impounded and you will be
jailed until the matter is settled.”

***

Alex heard Miss Wellington’s startled gasp. He did not
turn to her but held his gaze on the wily devil behind the desk. With practiced
arrogance he answered coolly, “I need only write Cranville to have the matter
settled well above your head. I’d rather spend three months in jail than a
lifetime in the prison of marriage.”

He could have left it at that. Upton was turning purple
again, and although Alex could sense Evelyn’s tension, she was a lady of rare
mettle and uttered no protest. But even if she said nothing, they both knew
that the mention of the brandy spelled trouble. Before Upton could burst a
blood vessel, Alex continued, “But perhaps if you would give me some time to
discuss this with Miss Wellington, we can come to a more amicable conclusion.”

“Evelyn has naught to do with this. This is a matter between
the two of us. Let her go on, and we will come to terms.” Regaining control of
himself, Upton directed a commanding look to his niece.

Unfortunately, she did not obey but stared at her uncle in
incredulity.

“On the contrary, Mr. Upton,” Alex intervened, “marriage has
everything to do with Miss Wellington and
nothing
to do with you. If you will leave us, please, we have a few matters to discuss.”

Patting a handkerchief to his moist brow and adjusting his
sliding wig, Upton came out from behind his desk grumbling. “This is
unheard-of. I ought to have you thrown in jail immediately. Evelyn, if you give
me any trouble over this, I’ll take a switch to you. You will accept his
proposal, and that’s an end to it.”

He waddled out, shutting the door hard in irritation.

Alex caught her by the waist before she could flee to the
other side of the room. He needed to be reminded that they were in this
together. Her startled look at his action reminded him of more interesting
things, like the decided kissability of that full mouth now frowning at him.

“Your face will freeze like that,” he scolded, before
bending to sample the sweet wine he had decided worth fighting for.

She tried to shove away, but Alex held her firmly. He cupped
the back of her head, while his lips sought hers, stifling her gasp. She almost
succumbed. He could sense her surrender, her eagerness. Before he could
persuade her to more, she turned her head away and shoved against his chest.

“Mr. Hampton, this is serious. Can you think of nothing but
your own pleasure?”

“Give me some credit, Miss Wellington.” Alex amused himself
by tracing the delicate outer shell of her ear. “I am thinking of your pleasure
too. I would hate to see you leg-shackled for life if you could not abide my
touch. I am a man who enjoys the physical pleasures in life. I just wish to
assure myself that you do not find me repulsive.”

She looked up in shock, then shoved from his grasp. Hands on
hips, she glared at him. “I’m glad you’re so nonchalant about this. I trust
that means you have some solution to our predicament? If my uncle looks for the
brandy in the warehouse, we will both spend time in jail.”

The color was back in her cheeks, and she looked more
herself now. Glancing down at the enticing swell of her breasts beneath the
respectable black-and-brown plaid of her bodice and imagining the length of
lovely leg hidden beneath her skirts, Alex wondered if he were making a mistake
in avoiding marriage. He could see coming home to the likes of that for many
nights to come, if only she would hold her tongue. He regretted that
impossibility.