The Ransom (6 page)

“Have you heard word of Abilene?”

Lady Anne’s nose pinched. A red hue stole up Miss Margaret’s face, while Miss Ashton looked away.

“Why would
we
have heard from her?” Lady Anne finally said, her tone ripe with disdain.

“Because she was our friend,” Juliana snapped, her anger simmering, “and she is now in a bad way.”

Miss Ashton snorted. “Is that what you call it?”

Ignoring her, Juliana continued, “I went to The Cat and the Fiddle last night looking for her, but she was nowhere to be found.”

“Forsooth! You went to that haven of pirates?” Lady Anne shrieked, though her tone brimmed more with excitement then fear. “By yourself?”

“My footman was with me but he … he … got lost.”

“Lost? My dear, how utterly terrifying!” Lady Anne took the last gulp of wine and set down her glass. “Were you accosted?”

Eyes full of anticipation sped toward Juliana as if they all wished it were so, if only to relieve their boredom.

“Nearly, but someone … a man came to my rescue.”

“A man?” Margaret asked.

“A pirate, if you must know. I believe he might have been the Pirate Earl.”

“Do say!”

“This is most exciting!”

Miss Ashton leaned toward her, a twinkle in her eye. “I hear he’s quite handsome.”

Juliana stared at the silly woman, aghast. “He’s a
pirate
. What does it matter if he’s handsome?”

They all frowned at her declaration. She wouldn’t tell them that he was, indeed, very handsome—dangerously handsome.

“Oh, dear, you do have such grand adventures.” Lady Anne sighed.

Too many adventures to Juliana’s way of thinking.

“Miss Dutton, I couldn’t help but overhear.” Captain Nichols stepped beside her, drawing quite a few gazes—feminine gazes. Juliana had to admit, the man was dashing in his blue cambric coat with gold braid, white breeches stuffed in tall black boots, and his cocked hat atop a curled brown periwig. Yet his face was anything but handsome at the moment, as his brown eyes were aflame with incredulity. “You encountered that scurrilous Pirate Earl all alone? He is a reprobate of the fiercest kind!” He seethed, barely acknowledging the other ladies. “’Tis unheard of! A lady wandering the streets at night. Does your father know of this?”

Juliana opened her mouth to tell him ’twas none of his affair, when he shook his head in exasperation. “We shall address this later. Lady Stevenson is asking where you are. She wishes to dance a minuet with us.” Without awaiting her response, he took her hand, forced it on his arm, and escorted her back into the ballroom. As they passed the entryway, an odd awareness brought her gaze up to see Lord Munthrope in the midst of regaling his sycophants with some embellished narrative.

His stark blue eyes followed her every move.

Chapter 5

Lord Munthrope finished his parody with mock precision, sending the crowd into a tumult of laughter.

“Munny, you are too much, too much, I say,” one of the bystanders announced, hardly able to contain himself.
The fatwit.
Pasting on a smile, Munthrope bowed elegantly and excused himself, much to everyone’s dismay.

In the ballroom, his eyes grazed over the pearl-laden coiffures and plumed castors, seeking the object of his interest, Miss Juliana Dutton. He’d noticed her the minute she’d entered the room on the arm of that buffoon, Captain Nichols. He’d watched her as she’d ducked away from the man and hid in the corner, saw her join her goose-brained friends, and then he’d followed her onto the portico. Why? He couldn’t say. Mayhap because her skin glowed like amber amongst the pasty white faces of her powdered friends. Mayhap because her golden waves warmed him like sunshine. Though it could be because when he’d gazed into those blue-green eyes of hers that reminded him so much of the sea, he’d found courage and kindness.

Yet ’twas more likely because he hadn’t been able to force her from his thoughts after he rescued her last night. And now, from the look on her face, she was in dire need of rescuing again.

He stopped before Miss Wilson, whose flirtations could finally be put to use. After asking her to dance, he swept her onto the floor beside Miss Dutton and that pompous whiffet, Nichols. When she saw him, the corners of her fair eyebrows knit together in the most adorable way, but then the music began and Munthrope was forced to enter the circle with the other men, prancing and hopping like a dizzy court jester. If he must behave like a senseless goose, he might as well entertain his audience. He gave an exaggerated dip of his hand here, a kick of his toe there, and a lift of his arms in a swirling flourish.

Laughter ensued, followed by clapping as Munthrope skipped around a scowling Captain Nichols. When the men twirled back to the women, Munthrope purposely bumbled toward Miss Juliana instead of his own partner. He winked at her, injecting pink into her cheeks and flaming red into Captain Nichols’s as the man shoved between them and took Miss Dutton’s arm, all the while giving Munthrope a look of scorn.

Munthrope’s innocent shrug, followed by a repeat of the same mistake in the next set, caused further jocularity amidst the watching crowd as well as further curses from the poor captain, who dragged Miss Dutton from the floor as soon as the dance ended. Handing Miss Wilson off to an interested gentleman, Munthrope followed the couple down the grand stairway onto the nearly vacant foyer below and finally out onto a private balcony overlooking the gardens.

He slid behind a large potted fern outside the doorway before they could glance his way.

“My dear lady, what an atrocious man. I do hope he didn’t ruin your dance,” Nichols said.

“Nay. I found him somewhat entertaining, albeit a bit ostentatious.”

Munthrope smiled.

Miss Juliana drew a deep breath and gazed over the dark garden. “What are we doing here alone, Captain? ’Tis hardly proper.”

She turned to leave, but Nichols grabbed her arm. “I bid you, grant me your ear for but a moment, Juliana.”

“Miss Dutton to you, sir.”

Nichols let out an exasperated sigh and moved to block the doorway.

Munthrope’s fingers itched to teach the man a lesson in chivalry.

But the lady took charge and jerked from Nichols’s grasp. “What could you possibly have need to speak to me about alone, Captain?” Her jittery voice betrayed her as her gaze took in the garden, no doubt seeking an escape.

“Miss Dutton.” Nichols came to attention as stiff and purposeful as if he were standing before an admiral. Munthrope suppressed a smile at the poor man’s nervousness. “I have concluded that you and I are well suited.”

“Concluded?” She gave an uneasy laugh. “Have you been conducting some sort of experiment, Captain?”

“Nay, beshrew me!” He looked down. “But I—”

“If you mean we are suited as dance partners, I concur, sir.” Juliana said rather hastily as she turned to make a quick escape. Nichols leapt in her path, a mere foot from where Munthrope hid.

He pressed against the wall. Was this the poor fellow’s attempt at courting the lady? A dead fish could perform the task better.

“You mistake me, Miss Dutton. What I meant to say—”

“If this is about my venture down to the docks last night,” Miss Dutton interrupted, eyes nervously glancing toward the now empty foyer. “I promise to be more careful in the future. Not that it is any of your affair.”

“Why wouldn’t it be my affair, dear lady?” Nichols took her hand. “Surely you know my feelings for you.” The tune of a lively country dance trickled down from above.

“You have always been an agreeable friend.” Miss Dutton tugged her hand away. “Now, if you don’t mind.” Once again she tried to leave.

Once again Nichols forbade her.

Munthrope could take no more. But how to relieve both him and Miss Juliana of the oaf’s company? “The Pirate Earl! The Pirate Earl!” He charged onto the balcony, pointing his cane at the surrounding gardens.

Captain Nichols dashed toward the railing and peered into the darkness. “Where? Are you quite sure?”

“Indeed!” Munthrope exclaimed. “While your focus was on the lady, the ruffian appeared in the garden, cutlass drawn, staring at you both as if he would run you through where you stood. A horrifying sight, I tell you. Most horrifying.” Munthrope threw a hand to his heart and winked at Juliana, who stared at him aghast.

“My dear.” Nichols addressed Juliana, his voice charged with purpose. “He has no doubt come seeking you to finish the job from last night.” Turning, he gripped the hilt of his service sword, eyes aflame. “That rogue! I’ll not let him slip through my fingers again.”

Nichols faced Munthrope. “Milord, will you help me dispatch this villain?”

Munthrope gave an incredulous chuckle and lifted a jeweled hand in the air. “I fear I have not wielded a sword in years, Captain. Hence, I leave the murdering to you.”

With a grunt of disgust, Nichols sped away, shouting for assistance as he made his way to the front door.

Miss Juliana took a step back from Munthrope, the hint of a grin on her lips. “If I were to take a guess, milord, I’d wager the Pirate Earl is not here at all.”

The sight of her showered in moonlight nearly stole his breath. He recovered with a smile. “Oh, I assure you, he
is
here.”

She studied him, her eyes suspicious. And for a moment, Munthrope worried she saw through his disguise. But how could anyone see through the glittery garishness that transformed the Pirate Earl into Lord Munthrope?

“So what now, milord?” she asked. “You have chased away the wolf but have replaced him with a lion.”

“A lion, you say?” He chortled. “You flatter me, milady. As you can see I am naught but a sheep. A sheep who is but your servant.” With foot outstretched, he swept a bow before her.

“You wish to be my servant, is it? In all the festivities we’ve both attended, you have ne’er said a word to me.”

“To my own sorrow, milady.” And indeed, it was. He’d been enchanted with Miss Juliana Dutton since the first night he’d seen her more than two years ago. But the lady’s obvious repugnance and repeated dismissals had prevented any conversation. A gentle breeze swirled about them, sending a wayward strand of gold dancing across her forehead.

She narrowed her eyes. “Why do you address me as titled?”

“I find it suits you.” He feigned a look of nonchalance, though inside he chastised himself for the mistake.

“Hmm.”

Captain Nichols’s excited shouts drew her gaze to the garden, where he and several men spread out in search of the nefarious pirate.

“Regardless, I thank you for liberating me from the captain.” She clutched her skirts and started to leave.

“I have a proposition for you, Miss Juliana.”

She halted, her sharp eyes assessing him as disgust shadowed her delicate features.

“Begad!” He forced a look of shock. “Not that sort of proposition, I assure you. Oh, what you must think of me.” Pressing a lace-covered hand to his chest, he leaned toward her and whispered. “I speak of a bargain that benefits us both.”

“You have nothing that would benefit me, milord. Return to your fawning coterie.” She forged past him in a whiff of vanilla and cherry that brought back pleasant memories of the night before.

“Ouch, miss. I am sorely wounded.” He fell into step with her.

“You will no doubt recover in time,” she quipped as she appeared to be searching for someone among the few people loitering in the foyer.

Ah, such wit!
Munthrope stopped beside her. He must find a way to tame this wild cat. “I beg you—allow me to escort you home, Miss Juliana? I believe Captain Nichols will be otherwise engaged for quite some time.”

“My brother is here somewhere.”

“He left with Mrs. Blanesworth, I believe. Her husband is abroad, you know.”

Her mouth twisted in a knot.

“My footman will join us,” Munthrope urged. “It will be entirely proper, I assure you. Do hear me out, I beg?”

“Begging does not become you, milord.” Finally the semblance of a smile curved her mouth.

“I cry pardon! The lady has discovered me.” He laughed. “Upon my oath, there will be no more begging this night.” He lifted one gloved hand toward her and raised his painted brows in a ridiculous attempt to appear harmless.

It elicited yet another smile from Miss Juliana. “Very well. But I assure you, milord, if you seek a tryst, you will be sorely disappointed.”

Disappointed?
Munthrope doubted it. Nothing about this woman disappointed him.

Not even when she refused to look at him in the carriage as it ambled toward her home. Though small in stature, this was no frail lady. Straight back, shoulders lifted, she sat with dignity as she gazed out the window at the passing scenery. A warm breeze danced among the soft waves of her coiffure and sent one golden strand dangling again across her forehead. How he longed to touch her porcelain skin, if only to see if it felt as soft as it looked. With a gloved hand, she brushed the lock away. Passing streetlamps sent wavelets of golden light over her, drawing his gaze to the healthy blush of her cheeks, and the silvery fringe of her neckline, rising and falling beneath each strong breath. He wondered if she was frightened of him, but thought better of it. She had not shown fear the night before when faced with the dreaded Pirate Earl, why should she be alarmed in the company of such a dainty nincompoop?