Captain Of Her Heart (20 page)

“You do?”  He could not ignore the shock in her tone.

“Indubitably.”  Jason grinned.  “It beats arguing.  By the by, is it safe to presume you are no longer angry with me?”

Before Alex could respond, Gertie entered the back parlor.

“And here is the water, along with a fresh pot of chamomile tea and some dry toast.”  After depositing the tray on the table, the housekeeper excused herself.

Jason wet the cloth and daubed Alex’s face.  “How is that, sweetheart?”

“Pure heaven,” she replied in a bare whisper.

“And how do you take your tea?”  He poured a cup of the steaming brew.

“Black with one sugar.”  She smiled and resituated herself in his embrace.  When he held the cup to her lips, she took a sip and hummed in appreciation.  “Delicious.  And it is much sweeter when you make it.”

Ah, she flirted with him.  “Imagine that.”

“And in regard to Miss Goodbody, you are forgiven.”

#

Alex, I have a surprise for you
.

The man must harbor a death wish.

Propped against the back of the new sofa in the drawing room, she traced the pattern on the navy damask, as Jason explained why he had again usurped her authority and hired another nanny for their children.  As she stared at her feet, which she could view because the standing, bent position that relieved the weight of the babes afforded her a clear vantage, she pondered how many various ways she could kill her husband and escape justice.

There was the ancient halberd in his study.  The nasty battle-ax would, no doubt, split his thick skull with incomparable ease.  Perhaps then Jason would learn not to meddle in the employment of servants, given that was her charge.

“Are you ill, sweetheart?”  The polished toes of his top boots presented a tempting target, as he ventured within striking distance.  “Shall I fetch a basin?”

“No.”  Damn fool man.  He would do better to don the ancient suit of chain-mail armor that occupied a prominent corner of the foyer and served as primary dust collector for the household.  As she stretched upright, she rubbed the small of her back.  “Give me a minute to digest your latest development.”

“Now do not be angry—”

“I am not angry,” she snapped.

“Evidence to the contrary.”  Jason snickered, and she met his gaze.  “Keep an open mind, darling.  I promise, you will love this candidate.”

Keep an open mind?  Had she done any less since his last disastrous turn at chatelaine?  Had she not been magnanimous, accepted his amends, along with his tempting kisses?  Oh, why had her husband been so damned agreeable?  It would have been much easier to remain vexed with an ill-tempered grouch or an insufferable boor.

No, she had married a blonde Adonis in skintight breeches, which left little to the imagination, and her naughty thoughts had run amok.  How could she defend herself against his licentious advances when she could not align her mind and body in a common cause?

“Come with me, love.”  Jason took her hand in his.  “Let us not dally.”

“Your new charge can wait till hell freezes, for all I care.”  Alex dragged her feet.

“Are you going to form an opinion before you even meet the poor woman?”  Her errant husband chuckled and gave her a gentle nudge.  “Let us away, my lady wife.”

“I require no such formalities to know she will not suit.”  As he steered her into the hall, she mustered a mighty scowl.  “I still recall your last hire.”

“You wound me, Alex.”  He cast her an inexpressibly disarming pout, and her knees buckled.  “Have you so little faith in me?”

“It is not a question of faith.  The truth is I know you too well.”  She snorted.  “Let me guess, this one is a redhead.”

“Now I resent that, Alex.”  Now he laughed.  “Really, I do.”

“I fret not for your feelings.”  How could he betray her, after she had invested the minutest amount of trust in him?

“You are going to regret that, when you meet her.”  The door to his study fast approached, as he relented not.

“I doubt it.”  She wrenched hard, yet he gave her no quarter.  “Jason Marston George Collingwood, she had better not be another local beauty, or so help me—”

“So help me—what?”  He stopped dead in his tracks and cornered Alex against the wall.  “Ah, I love it when you employ that
governessy
tone, and I savor this side of you, as you are rather feisty when jealous.  I find you quite arousing.”

“You do?”  Then she shook her head.  “That is to say, I am not jealous.”  How pathetic and interested she sounded.

“Are you sure?”  With the devil in his visage, her shameless captain grinned and slipped his finger, in an illicit rhythm, into her cleavage.  “Do you remember the afternoon you brought me to completion with your breasts?”

“Yes.”  She swallowed hard, as delicious memories revisited her in staccato flashes.  “How could I forget?”

“I treasure that reminiscence, as it saw me through my lengthy mission.”  Jason bent his head and trailed his tongue across her lips.  “And I feared I might go mad from wanting you.”

“Yet you rejected me.”  Alex had uttered the assertion before she realized she had spoken, and that elementary statement brought his licentious behavior to a halt, much to her disappointment.  But for the first time in her marriage, she wished she could rescind her declaration.

“You have not forgiven me, and I cannot blame you.”  Her captain rubbed his nose to hers.  “But allow me a measure of acknowledgement, as I am trying to restore your good opinion.  Will you do that, for me?”

How earnest he appeared, as she mulled his request.  Despite the fear nipping at her heels, Alex decided, then and there, that she needed to believe in her husband.  And she required his heart, to survive.  So she found herself perched on the banks of another Rubicon.  On her last outing, she had drowned in a sea of rejection.  If he failed her again, he would kill her.

“All right.  I will not fight you.”  In that second, Jason rewarded her with a breathtaking smile.  “But I would prefer you consult with me on employment matters, as I am chatelaine of Stratfield.”

“Alex, you may have whatever you wish, as you have made me very happy.”  And then he bestowed upon her a searing kiss, which left her dizzy.  “Now, for your surprise, which I vow shall please you.”

With that, Jason opened the door to the back parlor, as she smoothed her skirts.  When she glanced at the candidate for nursemaid, Alex was...elated.  “
Molly
.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“I arrived yesterday afternoon.”  Molly poured two cups of tea.  “Cap’n installed me below stairs and bade me keep out of sight, until he could surprise you, this morning.  I hope you are pleased.”

“Dear friend, I am overjoyed, but I had no idea you wished to be a nanny.”  After fluffing a pillow, Alex reclined on the
chaise
in the back parlor.  “I thought you intended to continue in service as a charwoman.”

“Well, that was my original plan.”  The onetime housemaid averted her gaze and picked at her sleeve.  “I had hoped Mr. Penniman and I would take employment in a grand household and work for a single family, for the remains of our days.”

“And what of Mr. Penniman?”  A pang of guilt settled on her shoulders, as Alex recalled her advice doomed her friend.  “You had renewed your acquaintance prior to my departure from Plymouth.  Did you never resolve your differences?”

“We spent some lovely Sunday evenings, just talking.”  With a wistful expression, Molly emitted something between a sob and a sigh.  “But he wanted the girl he once knew, the Molly who existed before I met you.  And I find it impossible to revert to that person, as you changed me.”

“What have I done?”  Not only had Alex ruined her life, but also she had wrecked Molly’s future.  “I was wrong to meddle in your affairs, as you were content with your situation, until I spoiled it.”

“No.  You are mistaken, as you were right about me.”  With tear-filled eyes, Molly smiled and shrugged.  “I was too naïve and trusting, and I had no confidence.  But I like the way I am now.  Yes, it cost me Mr. Penniman, but I have hope that I might enjoy a marriage with a strong man who adores me, as Cap’n does you.”

“Do not emulate me, as I am a poor role model.”  Alex offered her handkerchief.  “Your nose is running.”

“Thank you.”  After a healthy blare, Molly giggled.  “Captain Collingwood is a prime catch.  And when I think of what you did to land him, well, I do so admire your courage.”

“Your admiration is seriously misplaced.”  If only she could travel back in time and undo her actions.  She would not have ventured to Plymouth.  She would not have seduced Jason.  But then she would have no babes growing in her belly, and that she would never regret.

“Now why do you blush?”  Molly chuckled.  “I wish I had your courage, given what you enjoy.  Cap’n loves you just as you are, else why would he have married you?”

Because he got me with child, and my brother would have killed him, otherwise
.

“Jason required a chatelaine to manage his properties, and we are compatible.”  As she summarized the truth of her relationship with her husband, her heart fractured, and Alex wanted to cry.  “And my family’s connections are impeccable.”

“And now you have a blessed event to anticipate.”  Molly squeezed Alex’s fingers.  “You have it all, brave Alex.  A perfect existence.  What more could anyone want?”

“Indeed, I am very fortunate.”  She could have swallowed her tongue.  “Molly, I must ask you never to speak of what happened in Plymouth.  What I did—”

“My lady, I would never do so.”  The former charwoman compressed her lips.  “You may rely on me, as your faithful confidant and servant.  And when the babes arrive, I will guard them with my life.”

“Then it appears I have a nanny, for as long as you wish to fill the position, dear friend.”  And Alex was grateful for the support, as she cherished Molly’s companionship.  “So are you comfortable in your quarters?”

“Yes, indeed.”  Bouncing in her seat, Molly nodded with unabashed enthusiasm.  “Miss Phipps gave me a lovely room just off the kitchen.  This morning, I woke to the aroma of fresh-baked scones.”

“Then perhaps you might assist me in decorating the nursery, given the designer arrives today.”  Alex checked items on her imaginary to-do list, a habit crucial to her ruthless organization.  “And we should assess the room next door, as it adjoins the nursery, and I would prefer you reside there, once the children are born.”

“Of course.”  The nanny inclined her head.  “I am at your disposal, and—”

A knock at the door interrupted Molly, and Miss Phipps entered the back parlor.  “Excuse me, your ladyship.  A gentleman has arrived about a position.”

“That must be the designer.”  Alex tapped a finger to her chin and then scooted to the edge of the
chaise
.  “Show him to the drawing room, and I shall be right there.  Molly, please refresh the tray, and join us, as I would appreciate your opinion regarding fabrics and paint colors.”

“Yes, ma’am.”  The nursemaid collected the tray.

With her usual rocking motion, Alex waddled down the hall.  When she strolled into the drawing room, she was nonplussed to discover a somewhat rugged, but altogether quite handsome, young man waiting.

Blessed with unruly black hair, green eyes, and chiseled cheek bones, he would have set many a heart aflutter in the
ton’s
ballrooms, if not for his dusty, well-worn overcoat.  No, he had not fit her expectations of one of London’s most prominent and popular designers.  And he carried no portfolio.  Instead, an old trunk, which had seen better days, rested just inside the door.

“Mr. Harper, I presume?”  She extended her hand.  “I am Mrs. Collingwood.”

“I beg your pardon?”  He retreated a step.

“You are Mr. Harper, the designer I employed to decorate the nursery?” Alex inquired.

“No, ma’am.”  He shook his head and shuffled his feet.  “I am here about the listing for a stablemaster.”

“My mistake, as I expect someone else.”  She laughed.  “But the stable is my husband’s responsibility, so you must speak with Captain Collingwood.  If you would follow me, I will show you to the study.”

“What about my things?”  He shifted his weight and blushed.

“You may leave them here.”  And then she whirled about and made for Jason’s study, with the curious applicant, in tow.  At the door to her captain’s domain, she rapped her knuckles on the oak panel and then entered.  “I apologize for the intrusion, but there is someone here to see you.  He wishes to interview—”

“Tom?”  Recognition dawned in his expression, as Jason stood, rounded his desk, sidestepped her, and exchanged a vigorous handshake with the young man.  “What in bloody hell are you doing here?”

“Jason, my friend.”  The interesting stranger rocked on his heels.  “I understand you need a stablemaster.”

“You know each other?” she asked, given their informal exchange.

“We do,” her husband replied.  To Tom, Jason said, “Are you serious?  I thought you intended to remain in Plymouth.”

“I did, but my plans changed, which is why I am here.”  The prospective stablemaster rubbed the back of his neck.  “Must I explain?”

“No.”  Jason chuckled.  “I believe I get your meaning, and the job is yours, as I count myself fortunate to have you.”

“I am grateful.”  Tom grinned, when Jason chucked the stablemaster’s shoulder.

And then Jason faced her.  “Darling, allow me to introduce Tom—”

“Beg your pardon, Captain Collingwood, but her ladyship requested the nursemaid deliver refreshments for the interview.”  Phipps set the oak panel wide and bowed.

Carrying the tray loaded with a teapot and a plate of sweets, Molly entered the study.  When she glanced at Tom, the nanny sobbed and dropped the tray.

“Molly, what is wrong?”  Alex stumbled to avoid the hot tea.

“What is
he
doing here?”  A look of sheer horror marred her lovely features.

“He is the new stablemaster.”  Alex attempted to comfort her friend, but Molly wrenched free.

“No.”  The nursemaid crossed and uncrossed her arms.  “Not him.  Anyone but him.”