Captive Pride (37 page)

Geoffrey stiffened, his face growing pale in light of Noah's remark. “Kincade, perhaps your defense of the revolutionaries is because you're one of them!” he challenged. He had not meant to reveal any of what he knew, but his temper was flaring over Noah's remark.

“I beg your pardon.” Noah arched one brow in question, his mocking look causing Radcliffe to flush.

“I said, perhaps you're one of them. You've certainly been most vocal in their defense tonight.”

A collective gasp escaped those present. Eve was distressed as she realized that the damning evidence Geoffrey claimed to have against Noah must be proof of his involvement with the rebels.

Noah's smile was strained. “I don't think there's anyone here who could possibly question my loyalty to the Crown.”

“I do,” he snarled viciously, driven on by his embarrassment.

Noah's expression was stony as his gaze rested on the other nobleman. Before this night, he had had little feeling one way or the other toward the man. Now, however, after listening to him, Noah knew that Geoffrey personified everything he despised about the English ruling class. He was a fop and a spoiled bounder. Noah had met many men like him during his years on the
ton
. They were a useless, ornamental breed, dedicated solely to their own pleasure….

The thought abruptly occurred to him that, in a way, not too long ago he had been one of them. The realization jarred him, and he knew an instant of true soul-searching as he tried to understand why he was suddenly so disdainful of British society. Hadn't his whole existence, up until now, centered on reclaiming his lost fortunes so he could return to their midst? He frowned slightly as he suddenly realized that he didn't care about being accepted by them any longer.

“Geoffrey.” Eve noticed Noah's expression and thought that trouble was about to erupt. She tugged on his arm, hoping to draw him away from what was developing into an ugly confrontation. “I'd like a cup of punch now.”

Radcliffe shook off her hand, his eyes glowing with an inner fervor. “Oh no, my dear. I'm not quite through yet.”

“Geoffrey…please.” Eve was suddenly very worried. She knew of Geoffrey's reputation as a swordsman and did not want to think that Noah might be hurt, or even killed, in a useless confrontation between them.

Her defense of Noah only served to infuriate Geoffrey more and revived all the earlier jealousy he'd felt toward the other man. “Shut up, Eve,” he silenced her cruelly. “You can't protect him.”

“I hardly need protection,” Noah said sarcastically, “female or otherwise.”

“Ah, but I say you do,” Geoffrey sneered insultingly, suddenly wanting to force him into a duel. Before he'd left England, he had been renowned for his swordsmanship, and the thought of running Noah through gave him immense pleasure. With him dead, he would finally be sure of Eve's affections.

“Then that is your sadly mistaken judgment of my character,” Noah answered smoothly, refusing to take his bait. After his bloody, deadly duel with Geoffrey's brother, James, months before in England, he had sworn never to cross swords over an insult again.

Fury gripped Geoffrey as Noah's evasive answer left him the fool before Demorest, Winthrop, and Thornhill, not to mention Eve. Out of control in his anger, desiring only to redeem himself before these colonists, he backhanded Noah viciously.

A sudden hush fell over the ball as all attention was riveted on them.

Noah flinched at the blow, and his eyes glittered dangerously at the direct challenge. Still he held himself in check, staring at Geoffrey in frigid silence. “As I said before, the dissident colonists are not the dullards here in Boston. If you will excuse me?” With a small, formal bow, he turned his back on Geoffrey and walked with dignity from the ballroom and the house, leaving the other nobleman red-faced and helpless in his outrage.

Edward looked to both Percival and Harley in confused disbelief over what had just happened as Geoffrey shook with rage.

“He refused my challenge!” Geoffrey bellowed in bewilderment. “You saw him! He's a cowardly—”

“You were goading him and trying to push him into it.” Edward defended Noah. “He merely refused to be drawn into your deadly game.”

“But he's involved with the rebels!” Geoffrey blustered, hoping to salvage something by besmirching Noah's reputation.

“Do you have proof of your accusation?” Harley asked quickly.

“Nothing positive, but I'm sure of it!”

“Thinking something is true is one thing; having definitive proof is another,” Winthrop added.

“You shouldn't make statements you can't back up, Lord Radcliffe. Besides, I am certain that Lord Kincade would do no such thing. I personally will vouch for his integrity,” Edward told them.

“You're wrong, Demorest!” Geoffrey countered heatedly as he found himself cornered. He longed to tell them about Matthew Kincade's connection, but he wasn't certain that he could produce any witnesses to back up the charge. The information Bartley provided, while it might be accurate, could not always be substantiated by reliable testimony.

Edward eyed him distastefully. “Speaking hypothetically, Lord Radcliffe, if what you say is true, then why would Lord Kincade be selling a shipment of war materials to the Crown?”

Geoffrey was left speechless by the news.
How could it be?
Everything he'd managed to find out about Noah had pointed to his being involved with the rebels. Yet Demorest was now saying that Noah's business interests were all legal and aboveboard….

“Geoffrey, why don't we…” Eve broke in, wanting to distract him from his anger, but he would have none of it.

Embarrassed and feeling decidedly emasculated before those he'd lorded himself over, he glared at her malevolently, and then he, too, stalked from the house, vowing silently to himself to have revenge upon Noah.

Eve knew a moment of true consternation as she tried to understand what had just happened. One moment the conversation had been pleasant, and then the next, Geoffrey and Noah had been insulting each other. Her ego was such that she could only allow herself to believe that, beneath all the open exchanges about “rebel involvement” and such, she was the true reason for their heated words. A small, self-satisfied smile curved her lips as she envisioned the two handsome noblemen vying for her favors.

“If you gentlemen will excuse me, I think I'll mingle a bit,” Eve said sweetly as she moved away from the three remaining men.

“Of course, Eve,” they answered with little real interest.

CC had been standing alone at the refreshment table when Geoffrey had slapped Noah. She had been unable to hear any of the conversation that had preceded it, and she wondered what had been said to precipitate the exchange. In dismay, she watched as Noah turned coolly from Geoffrey and strode purposefully from the house. Before she could hurry to her father's side to try to find out what had happened, Caroline joined her.

“Did you see that?” Caroline was in a dither as she touched CC's arm in barely concealed urgency.

“Didn't everyone?” CC replied a bit sarcastically as she noted all those present watching Geoffrey with open interest.

“What
were
they discussing that could have caused such trouble?”

“I can't imagine,” she responded honestly, and then both women tried to keep from gaping as Geoffrey stormed off then, leaving Eve alone with the other men.

“You don't suppose they were quarreling over
her,
do you?” Caroline was obviously distressed at the thought. She thought Eve obnoxious enough without having the two aristocrats fighting over her.

CC's heart ached at the possibility, and she answered in a low voice, “Lord, I hope not.”

“Me, too! Go find out from your father,” Caroline urged as she glanced back to where Margaret and Marianna were still sitting. “We're just dying to know the truth of it.”

“Yes…all right…” CC had not wanted to think that Noah might have been arguing with Geoffrey over Eve, but now that the question had been raised, she had to know the truth. Leaving Caroline at the refreshment table, she hurried to her father's side just as Eve moved off to mix with the other guests. “Father…what happened?”

Edward took his daughter's arm and guided her slightly away from the others. “I'm not sure.” He was truly puzzled by Radcliffe's personal attack on Noah. “We were discussing the rebel movement, and then suddenly things got out of hand….”

“What do you mean? Why would they argue about the revolutionaries? They're both loyal Englishmen….”

“That's what's confusing. Radcliffe was incensed over the dumping of the tea, and he was calling for retribution against the entire city. Lord Kincade remarked, in so many words, that it would be a stupid thing to do. Radcliffe took exception to his statement, and one thing led to another….”

“They weren't arguing over Eve then?”

Edward chuckled, “Eve was trying her best to prevent the argument, but Radcliffe would have none of it. In fact, her defense of Kincade only made him angrier.”

CC sensed, in irritation, that Eve was the primary cause of the whole thing, even while nothing had been openly said. “Are they going to duel?” CC's eyes reflected her worry as she stared up at her father.

“Amazingly enough, no,” her father informed her.

“He refused the challenge?” She was truly shocked, for such behavior was unheard of.

Edward nodded. “Lord Kincade walked away, even though Radcliffe had accused him of being involved with the rebels.”

“Radcliffe accused him of that?” CC was stunned. Had Geoffrey been jealous of Eve and Noah and subsequently had Noah followed? “Is there any truth to it?” she asked with forced innocence.

Again Edward gave a confident, manly laugh. “No, my dear. I vouched for Lord Kincade myself. I imagine the closest he's come to being involved with the rebels was the discussion we had that first night he joined us for dinner.”

CC felt her stomach lurch at that news. If the truth about Noah's double-dealing was ever found out, it was possible her father would be ruined. She forced a pleasant smile, even as her thoughts were troubled.

“Well, at least they're not coming to any violence.”

“Radcliffe, I'm sure, wanted to fight him, but Lord Kincade would have none of it.” Edward frowned. “It does seem rather odd, though, that a nobleman would ‘turn the other cheek,' so to speak. Still, Kincade doesn't seem the cowardly type.”

CC quickly found herself defending Noah. “I'm sure he's not.”

“Well, whatever else, they've certainly given us something to talk about for the rest of the evening.”

 

Harley looked at Percival, his expression troubled. “I've never seen anything like it….”

“Neither have I,” the other military man agreed. “If a man's challenged publicly, it seems he should take up the fight.”

They both fell silent for a moment as they took deep drinks of the whiskey they'd just procured from a passing servant.

“You don't suppose there's any truth to Radcliffe's accusations, do you?”

Harley shook his head in mild confusion. “Heavens, no! He's a peer of the realm, and with Edward's testimony to Lord Kincade's business dealings…well, I most certainly would think not. What bothers me is Lord Radcliffe's charges. Why in the world would he accuse him of such treasonous misdeeds?”

“Perhaps there's more to this than we'll ever know.” Percival let his gaze drift pointedly in the direction of the beauteous widow as he remembered Eve's defense of Kincade, and Radcliffe's reaction to it. “If you get my meaning.”

Harley gave a low laugh. “Indeed, you may very well be right.”

CC lay upon her bed much later that night, frustrated and unable to sleep. Her plan to approach Noah at the ball had been foiled when he had departed early, and she was now desperately trying to decide what to do next. Time was of the essence where the arms deal was concerned. She knew the only way she could still accomplish her goal to help the cause was to go to Noah at the inn. A firm resolve took hold of her, even though she readily admitted to herself that she was frightened to face him so boldly. Girding herself, she threw off the blankets and hurried to her armoire to search for her boyish garments. Only a short time later, she was racing, unnoticed, through the night-shrouded streets of Boston on her way to the Red Lion Inn.

 

Noah sat alone at a secluded table in the taproom of the inn. His thoughts were troubled as he wondered what repercussions might result from his unsavory confrontation with Geoffrey this evening. Noah was glad now that Graves had insisted upon the extra precautions regarding their dealings. He felt reasonably sure that his business connections were still unknown. Certainly, if Geoffrey had had proof positive of his involvement, he would have used it tonight in the presence of the military officers. As it was, Geoffrey had ended up looking the fool for flinging “unfounded accusations” at Noah in an effort to goad him into a fight. Noah smiled grimly at the thought of having bested the other man with words, and he dismissed as unimportant any aspersions cast upon his character for refusing the challenge. His reasons for refusing were his, and his alone, and he truly didn't care what anyone thought about it.

The only good thing that had come out of the evening was the fact that he now knew who was responsible for his being followed. He had no doubt that it had been Geoffrey. The
why
of it was less than clear, yet he tended to believe it was all somehow related to Eve. Certainly Geoffrey had responded viciously when she'd tried to divert their clash, and he sensed that perhaps his slight flirtation with her had been the cause. Eve looked to be warm and willing, but he seriously doubted that she was worth dueling over.

Sighing, Noah drained his tumbler of whiskey and glanced up around the room. A good-size crowd still lingered despite the lateness of the hour, and though he was surrounded by people, he knew a moment of intense loneliness. He didn't like being so isolated…so alone.

Polly gave a throaty laugh as one of the other customers pulled her onto his lap, and Noah suddenly thought of CC. A scowl creased his brow. Damn, but the vixen haunted him! The memory of how lovely she'd looked at the ball flitted through his mind, and he wondered where she was right now. Was she with another man, making love, or home with her father, all safe and sound? He hoped for the latter, and then cursed himself for even caring. Calling out abruptly to Polly, he ordered another drink. His attention focused on the buxom barmaid. He did not notice as a youth entered the dimly lit taproom and crept undetected up the staircase to the second floor.

CC darted around the corner of the second-floor hall, out of sight of the lower level, and drew a deep, ragged breath. She had not thought that many people would be belowstairs in the taproom at this time of night, and she hoped no one had noticed her. Her breathing steadied, she moved on silent tread down the hall to the room she knew to be Noah's.

All the way to the inn, she had debated with herself the best way to handle this, and she still had formulated no plan. Stiffening, she swallowed nervously and raised a hand to knock softly at the door. CC waited tensely for his answer to her summons, but none came. Inhaling deeply, she knocked again, this time with a little more force, but still there came no answering response. Annoyed, frustrated, and fearful of being discovered, CC knew she couldn't stand in the middle of the hall forever. Boldly, she reached down and tried the doorknob, and to her surprise, it opened. She thought Kincade the fool for leaving his room unlocked, but at the same time thanked her lucky stars that it had been. Quietly, she slipped into the room and closed the door behind her.

The glow of the low-burning fire in the fireplace cast heavy shadows in the chilly chamber. With her hands on her hips, CC stood in the middle of the room, pondering what to do next. Obviously Noah had not yet returned to his room from the ball, and she couldn't stop herself from wondering where he'd gone. Was it possible that he'd met Eve somewhere? The thought sent a shaft of pain through her heart, and she quickly put it from her, knowing it would do no good to dwell on such possibilities.

CC paced the room nervously like a caged beast as she tried to decide what to do. She had expected Noah to be here and now was at a loss as to her next move. What did a woman do when she was out to deliberately seduce a man? Should she approach it as a business arrangement or try a more subtle, more feminine tactic? Somehow, the feminine method seemed more likely to succeed. Noah had accused her the last time they were together of being less than womanly, and he had responded excitedly when she'd let her feelings for him run wild. Tonight, again, she would set aside her inhibitions and go to him as a warm and willing woman…a woman who wanted him and no other. That part of her plan did not trouble her, for it was the truth. What bothered her was the part after they had made love…the part where she would agree to be his wife if he would sell the arms to the rebels at a lower price. She hoped she could be convincing, and she hoped he really wanted her enough to go along with it.

A shudder of nervousness left her slender limbs quaking, but driven by her determination not to fail, CC pushed all negative thoughts away. A man's lover, she decided, would no doubt greet him in bed. Hurriedly, she discarded her hat and stripped off her clothing. Pulling the pins from her hair, she combed her fingers through its silken length, letting it tumble to her shoulders in tousled disarray. The chill in the room was a frigid caress, and she was shivering as she slipped naked beneath the covers. CC was tense and more than a little frightened, for she wasn't sure just how she would be received. The blankets pulled up to her chin, she lay huddled there in the darkness awaiting Noah's return.

It was almost an hour later when CC heard the heavy sound of his footfalls in the hall, and she swallowed nervously at the sound of the door being opened. With all the bravado she could muster, she adjusted the blankets lower until they barely covered her bosom and then posed in what she hoped was a seductive position.

Noah had been drinking continually since he'd left the ball. He had hoped that the liquor would help him forget CC and all that had happened tonight, but instead of easing his worries, he'd become even more immersed in them. Angry with himself for still caring about the chit and missing Matthew more than he could ever admit, he entered his room in the lowest of moods, shutting and locking the door behind him.

“Noah…I'm so glad you're here….” CC murmured seductively.

Her greeting stunned him, and he turned quickly from the door. Silence hung between them as he stared at her in disbelief. His mind reeled at the sight of her in his bed, willing. Mesmerized, a man possessed, he started toward her.

CC grew worried when Noah didn't respond to her greeting, and she wet her lips nervously as she watched him slowly cross the room in her direction. His expression was unreadable in the semidarkness of the room. “Noah…I've been waiting for you,” she told him in a strained, husky voice.

Noah could not take his eyes off her as he moved ever closer. CC was here…in his bed…naked and obviously willing. She looked glorious. Her burnished hair was a cascade of caressing curls as it fell softly about her shoulders and lay teasingly against the curve of her blanket-covered bosom. Her expression was inviting, her lips moist and slightly parted as if ready to be possessed by his….

As much as Noah would have liked to cast aside his doubts and take his fullest enjoyment of CC, the cynic in him wondered at the reason for her being there. It was pleasant to think she had wanted him so badly that she was willing to risk everything to come to him, but Noah knew better. When last they'd parted, CC had made no secret of how she felt about him. She had refused his proposal. Noah seriously doubted that her passion was the driving force in her coming here tonight. Though his body was commanding him to take her and not question his good fortune, Noah felt sure that she had to have an ulterior motive.

“Noah?” CC was sounding more nervous now as he drew nearer. Desperately, she was wondering if she'd made a drastic mistake. Did he hate her now since she'd refused his offer of marriage? Would he welcome her or throw her bodily from his room? The latter had not occurred to CC before, and she knew a moment of panic at the thought.

Noah stopped beside the bed and let his gaze roam over her. CC was the one woman he wanted. Still, skeptic that he was, he was not going to allow himself to have her until he knew the truth behind her presence. He would play along with her game for a little while, and then when the truth came out…Noah sat down and, without saying a word, took her in his arms and drew her near.

CC's nervousness eased at the discovery that Noah was not angry about her being there, and she went into his embrace almost eagerly in her relief.

CC's newfound submissiveness sent a shock of pure animal pleasure through Noah. He realized this response was what he had wanted from her since the beginning. He had wanted CC warm and willing and loving. His body responded heatedly to the difference, and his previous passion for her paled before the new emotion that surged through him. Noah recognized this emotion, yet fought against acknowledging it. He was shaken to the very core of his being by the unexpected discovery, and his mouth sought hers in a devastating exchange that left them both breathless and desiring more. With eager hands he pushed the blanket lower, baring the sweetness of her breasts to his gaze and caress. Noah pressed her back onto his bed, stripped the rest of the blanket from her, and followed her down onto the wide softness.

CC's arms encircled Noah's neck, drawing him to her, and she met him hungrily in another kiss, her small tongue darting boldly between his lips to duel erotically with his. As he lay fully upon her, the heat of his need pressed firmly against the soft flesh of her belly. She knew then that she had been fooling herself in thinking that she was doing this strictly for the revolution. She wanted Noah. She had never stopped wanting him and probably never would. He was the man she loved. She wanted to marry him and bear his children. The war supplies had merely been a justifiable reason to see him again, to love him and to share in the drugging glory of his passion.

As his lips left hers to trail fiery kisses down her throat and across her shoulders, her need overwhelmed her senses. CC didn't care about anything except Noah and the joy that came from pleasing him. Her nipples hardened as shivers of excitement coursed through her veins. She arched against the solidness of his chest, begging in mute testimony for the more intimate touch of his mouth upon her aching, throbbing breasts. When at last his lips sought out that tender flesh, CC cried out at the wonder of it and began to move beneath him as her hands caressed him in restless need.

“Noah…Oh, Noah, I love you….” She said it before she realized, and yet her passion was such that she didn't even care.

Noah, however, was surprised by her declaration and he paused in his lovemaking, his moment of the mindless passion lost.
She loved him
…. Over and over she had declared her hatred for him, yet now, tonight, she was telling him she loved him? It didn't ring true. His desire drained from him as he realized her presence here really
was
a lie.

CC, caught up in the wonder of his ardor, didn't notice the change in him immediately.

“What is it you want, CC?” Noah asked, the cynicism of his tone muffled against the softness of her breasts. He was tense as he anticipated her answer.

“You, Noah…only you,” she gasped, still in the throes of the feverish excitement he'd created within her.

It bothered Noah to discover that he wanted to believe it…that he wanted to be the one who held her heart, but he wouldn't allow himself even to pretend.

“CC…I want to know what it is you want.” He repeated his question sharply as he braced himself above her on his elbows and glared down at her.

“Noah?” CC blinked in confusion, her passion-dilated emerald eyes gazing up at him questioningly. She knew a moment of true apprehension as the smoky depths of his eyes turned to the impenetrable, steely regard she knew so well and hated so much.

“I want to know the real reason you're here, CC,” Noah demanded cuttingly. He watched the play of emotions on her face. She had never been adept at disguising her feelings, and Noah could read in her expression all the embarrassment that went with his calling her bluff. His heart sank as he realized that he had been right in his assessment. She was up to something. “Well?”

“I don't know what you mean….”

“Spare me your innocence, darling,” he mocked her as he moved away, needing to distance himself from her shapely unclad body. “I've told you before how bad you are at hiding your true emotions.”

CC shivered involuntarily and she wondered if her reaction was from the chill in the room or the derision in his tone. She answered simply, “I'm here because I want to be.”
The truth
…

Noah strode across the room and parted the drapes as he stood at the window. Keeping his back to her, he retorted, “CC…I find that very difficult to believe. The last time we were together you vowed your hatred for me and wanted me to stay away from you forever.” When she started to speak, he cut her off and kept on talking. “I complied with your wishes. I stayed away from you as you asked. Yet now you show up here in my bed, and you tell me that you love me. Do you really expect me to believe it?” Noah faced her. “Or are you the type of woman who always wants what she can't have?” His gaze rested heatedly on her lush figure. “Cover yourself, woman!” Noah barked the order.