“We’ll wait here in the study. No doubt —”
“No, Mallory, not in there,” Lady Alistair cried.
The captain froze, and I peaked over his shoulder to see what had caused the upset. Before him must have been his worst nightmare: at least ten women of all ages gathered together, and, no doubt, having just heard the door open, all presently silent and looking at him enquiringly.
Lady Alistair quickly collected her wits and swept in the room, very admirably making introductions as though she’d planned it all along.
“It’s unfortunate, of course,” she said to the captain, “but we were just breaking up now. If you and Miss Madera would like to wait in the library, I will be with you shortly.”
The captain bowed, and I almost followed suit until I remembered it would have been inappropriate. And since I would never dare attempt my first curtsy in such publicity, I simply did nothing.
We would have withdrawn then, but a woman I guessed to be in her thirties moved in her seat and said with a smile I can only describe as wicked, “Lady Alistair, we had no idea you were connected to the
honorable
Captain Mallory Tucker. What a secretive creature you are. Why didn’t you tell us?”
There were some snickers disguised as sniffles behind lacy kerchiefs.
I felt the captain stiffen next to me.
Lady Alistair smiled. “It’s no secret. His late mother was my good childhood friend.”
“You don’t say.”
“How very exalted.”
“And, if you please Mr. Tucker, clear something up for me. I understand you are a captain on the high seas, and yet reliable sources report you deal in horses. Which is the case?” And then, very pointedly, she looked at me.
Outright giggles erupted.
I took a step forward, and Lady Alistair said, “Well, I never …!”
But we were both silenced by the captain himself who, though initially stunned, seemed easier now. “Of course I’ll explain, Mrs. …?”
“
Baroness
Breckner.”
He smiled. “Baroness then. You are referring to my unfortunate nickname? ‘The Equestrian.’ I’m afraid it’s because of my regretful tendency to stride along and not pay as much attention to my surroundings as I ought.”
The Baroness seemed very interested and nodded her head as though she was fascinated. I wanted to slap her face.
But the captain remained calm, even seeming more at his ease as the conversation progressed.
“It’s necessary on the ship,” he continued, “but unfortunate on shore, as many are well aware.” And then he looked down at me affectionately, “Isn’t that right, darling? Isn’t that what the duke was just saying?”
There were audible gasps, but no one interrupted. The witch’s smug smile disappeared instantly. “The duke?”
He looked at her. “His Grace, Charles Dubois, Duke of Norcross. Do you know him?”
Her eyes narrowed, though ever so slightly. She said she didn’t have the pleasure.
“Well,” the captain said, lifting one shoulder slightly before adding with indifferent regret, “He does travel frequently. And with his work at the embassy, it makes him rather difficult to be introduced to.”
“And we’re supposed to believe that the Duke of Norcross is an acquaintance of
yours
? It is His Grace’s habit to mingle with sailors and their
un
-chaperoned, dubious company?”
“Oh, and Lady Alistair,” he said, turning to our hostess, “he was rather sorry that Miss Madera could not join him for dinner tonight. So we took the liberty of inviting him to call on you. He seemed very eager, and we didn’t want to disappoint him. I hope you don’t mind.”
Lady Alistair looked at the captain with amazement. She shook her head. “The Duke of Norcross? Here? My goodness. No, I don’t mind. Not at all.”
The captain and I left soon after, turning down inducements to remain at the gathering, and even an invitation to dinner, on our way out. No, terribly sorry. We could never presume to intrude. Please take your time, Lady Alistair. Attend to your guests. Don’t rush away on our account.
We made our escape, my hand on his arm, and disappeared into an adjoining room.
I picked up a pretty pillow and threw it on the floor as soon as the door was closed behind us. “How dare she talk to you like that!”
“For heaven’s sake, lower your voice,” he demanded.
I paced the floor. “Oh, the notes I’ll write about her,” I seethed, shaking my fist. “Let her have her trivial, fleeting triumph at present, for I’ll ensure her shame is
immortal.
Where is my pencil? I’ll do it immediately.” I reached into my pocket.
“Stop it, Rachel. It doesn’t matter anymore.”
“Despicable shrew … pretentious, conceited, calculating bi —’” I stopped and scratched it out. “Well, that may be going a
little
too far, I think. Let’s not forget we are professionals.”
Suddenly my hand was caught up and kissed, though it was nothing like the way the duke had done it. I still held my pencil, for one thing, and so he only kissed the side of my fist, and his lips were ungentle, full of feeling and relief. And when I looked up at him, remarkably, he called me darling and thanked me and moved closer.
I was about to ask him what he was thanking me for when the door opened and Lady Alistair appeared. The captain dropped my hand when she entered, but I knew she had seen it.
Her eyes went to me curiously as she came towards us, this time scanning me with care as opposed to the first time she saw me.
“If I ever encounter that woman again, I won’t be answerable for the consequences,” I told her darkly.
She laughed. “No. She won’t be invited into my home again. I never did like her. The Baroness is notoriously offensive.” Lady Alistair turned to the captain and said with a sigh, her eyes taking in his face, “Mallory. How many years has it been? I’m only sorry my poor George isn’t here to see you again. And for heaven’s sake, bend down properly and let me kiss you.” The captain obeyed.
When he straightened, she continued to look at him thoughtfully. “You handled yourself extremely well. I’m sorry it had to happen.”
“No harm done,” he said mildly.
She watched him contemplatively. “You’re so different from what I remember. You’ve changed somehow, and more than simply growing older.” Again, she glanced and me.
She invited us to sit, and we did. “And now,” she said. “You’ve come for a reason. Let’s hear it. No point in throwing effort away on small talk. It’s so tiring.”
The captain quickly explained my situation, telling Lady Alistair that on their journey home he and his men had fished me from the water half drowned.
She tisked sadly, her eyes going to me. “What an ordeal, poor child,” she said. “To fall overboard like that. So you need financial help to return to your family? Is that it?”
The captain shook his head. “No, I’m afraid it isn’t as easy as that, is it Rachel?” He looked at me, and I stared at him wide eyed, wondering how he was going to explain something that he himself didn’t understand.
“What is it, dear? What’s the problem?” She leaned forward.
“She did not fall overboard, Lady Alistair. Her ship sank.”
“Oh, no,” Lady Alistair cried.
“And all of her family, all her worldly goods, are gone forever. She is the sole survivor, and now she is alone. I would never think to intrude on you like this if her situation wasn’t desperate.”
“Goodness! How tragic.”
“Yes it is,” I said, trying to look sad.
She watched me reflectively, and not without suspicion. “Who was your family?” she asked.
As I floundered with an answer, the captain spoke for me. “The Maderas are a prominent Colonial family. Her great-grandfather made his fortune in shipping. Surely you recognize the name?”
Lady Alistair paused, then said, “Oh, yes. Of course. The Madera Family.” She looked at me with uncertainty. “Then surely you have bankers.”
The captain shook his head. “Much of the fortune was lost in unfortunate business ventures, and all that they had left was on the ship. Now she has nothing, Lady Alistair. Could we possibly impose upon you for a period until we decide what is best for her?”
“Well, I ….” She carefully scanned me from head to toe. Then she looked at Mallory reflectively.
“And what about you, sir,” she asked him.
He looked at her in surprise. “Me?”
“Yes. What are
your
plans?”
He blinked and shook his head. “You mean … with regards to her?”
“If you like.”
His brows came down. “Just what are you …?”
“Oh, Mallory. Stop it! That blustering doesn’t work with me. Never has. I’m sure you’ve been nothing but honorable with Miss Madera, but I couldn’t help but notice ….” She looked at me and sighed, and then turned back to him. “Well, have you thought about …?”
“No I haven’t,” he interjected sternly.
She leveled a look at him and spoke steadily. “Have you seen the city? The corruption grows worse every day.”
He nodded.
She spoke more gently, “I’m sure it would take time. But George, rest his soul, had always said you were born for ….”
“Forget it,” he answered shortly.
“There
is
somebody. I have a friend in Parliament. He could ….”
Mallory stood up, tense and rigid. He went to the fireplace and stared darkly into the fire.
“Mallory,” she chided gently.
He didn’t look up. Finally he said in a strangled voice, “I’ve already attempted it. Don’t you remember? How can you ask me to go through that again?”
“But ….”
“The discussion is over,” he told her firmly, looking at her, “All I want to know is, will you help my friend or not? If not, then we need to go and find another alternative.”
She stood, too, and replied with dignity that of course she’d help. “Come child,” she told me, urging me to rise. “I’ll have Betsy show you to a room. Would you like anything to drink?”
I shook my head.
“Well then,” she said, and rang for the maid who appeared instantly and received her instructions.
“By the way, Mallory,” she said, a gleam in her eye. “Do you really know the duke?”
“Yes,” he answered shortly.
She tried to suppress a smile. “And is he really going to call?”
He glanced at me before answering grimly, “I believe so.”
Lady Alistair put her hands together, looking pleased, and turned to follow the maid.
The captain sighed, and then looked down at me with gentleness, but also with an odd sort of tension underneath it all that I did not like. “There you are,” he said. “You’ll be alright now.”
“Captain?”
I was directed to the door, and he followed. The maid waited for me when I stopped at the foot of the stairs, still looking at him.
“Do as Lady Alistair says. She’s shrewd and wise, and she’ll know how to direct you.”
“Captain ….”
“I’m afraid I can’t linger. I’ve been too long as it is. I must go.” He opened and closed his fist.
“Without me?”
He took my hand in a grip that hurt and said forcefully, “I must. It is the only way.”
“No! This is not the only way.” I grew more earnest as I saw the firm, steady look on his face. “This is erroneous,” I tried to explain. “I didn’t anticipate this turn of events at all.”
Still with my hand in his, he turned to our hostess and said with a tight smile, “If you’ll allow, I’d like to call tonight.”
“Of course,” she replied, smiling. “Come for dinner. We dine at seven.”
He turned back to me and swallowed. “There. We’ll dine tonight. It’ll be a chance to say farewell.”
I yanked my hand away. “Stop it! You’re not leaving, Captain. I thought you understood … or at least, I believed … that is, I ….” I rubbed the tip of my finger on my forehead and closed my eyes, trying to think.
But the captain only turned to our hostess and thanked her once more. He said he’d never be able to repay her for her kindness to me.
And then with one last look at me, and a clench of his fist, he turned and walked away.
I followed after him, speaking to him in the way I lecture my assistants. “Captain, I vehemently object. Plans have evidently gone awry. Perhaps I didn’t communicate properly. Now let’s review and discover where we went off course. You will aid me in the search and discovery of the pharaoh’s tomb, unearth it, and reveal it to the world, consequently gaining notoriety and acclaim the rest of our days. Now, do you understand me? Is there any confusion?”
He opened the door and walked out, then turned to me. “You’re unintelligible again, Rachel,” he said resignedly.
“No, I’m not. You’re not listening — !”
“Foolish child,” he interrupted with a note of sharpness in his voice. “The fact is, you’ll stay where I put you. You’ll find a nice, safe life for yourself here with a young man who can take care of you. You have neither the finances nor the connections to do any different. You have no choice now. Don’t you see?”