by Jane Charles
Nate frowned. “To which gentleman does he have an objection?”
“Wingate,” she answered on a sigh. “Used to be Stalter, but now is Wingate.”
Nate just nodded, then smiled as if he knew something she didn’t. “Well, it’s not as if Danby has any control in Barbados. You might come across your future husband and Danby will have no say.”
There were a number of plantations in Barbados owned by English gentlemen like Samuel and his good friend, the Duke of Roxburg. If she found her husband here, she might never need to leave. Except, most English owners were also absentee owners, so there might not be many gentlemen to meet on this island.
Besides, her heart wanted Wingate. Or, at least it had last spring.
Oh, if only her mother hadn’t been so difficult, then the issue of her marriage might have already been decided and she’d be living quite blissfully.
“There you are!” Jillian stepped out on the terrace. Beside her, stood her brother, the new Duke of Eldridge.
“You left hours ago,” Isabella called. “We had thought you’d return by now, and I must admit, I’d become worried.”
“The docks were very busy this morning and then we stopped off at Roxburg’s and had a pleasant visit. I’m sorry to have worried you.”
In that instant, Hannah recalled her surroundings and quickly stepped from the water and let her skirts drop. It wouldn’t do for her ankles and calves to remain exposed in the presence of His Grace.
“I’ve asked that refreshments be served on the terrace since it’s such a beautiful day,” Jillian called.
“It’s always beautiful,” Isabella laughed as she made her way toward the path leading back to the plantation house.
“I’ll be along in a moment,” Hannah said as she took a seat on the bench where she’d left her stockings and shoes and waited until everyone had turned from her before she sat and quickly brushed the sand from her feet. Not all of it would come off, but one couldn’t attend tea in bare feet, especially when a duke she barely knew was in attendance.
She’d suffered a slight sun burn the first days after her arrival, but now the skin was darkening, much like Sam’s face and arms. The same could not be said for the rest of her as she did wear a bonnet whenever out, allowing her face to be exposed to the sun for only the briefest amounts of time. Further, these winter gowns her mother insisted on packing didn’t allow much skin exposure and Hannah wished she had her spring and summer gowns so that she didn’t bake in the heat. Jillian had taken her shopping shortly after her arrival and with any luck, the new gowns, made of a much lighter material, and not covering her from neck to wrist, would be delivered this afternoon.
She glanced over his shoulder as Sam joined her family at the table. Eldridge was rather handsome with his blond hair and blue eyes and there was certainly a resemblance to his sister. Where Jillian was beautiful, Eldridge was handsome. Furthermore, if she recalled correctly, he was only nine and twenty. However, he wasn’t nearly as handsome as his cousin, Lord Wingate.
Hannah inwardly sighed. It was a shame Wingate hadn’t joined His Grace, then Hannah’s holiday would indeed be perfect, and she’d have the opportunity to undo any damage her mother may have caused last spring.
His Grace stood as she approached, but neither Nate nor Sam bothered to do so. Hannah would need to remind Nate how a gentleman behaved before they returned to London because he’d become rather lax since coming to Barbados.
“It’s a pleasure to see you, Lady Hannah,” Eldridge smiled politely.
She nearly ground her teeth at the correctness of it all. Where Nate and Sam were far too relaxed, Eldridge reminded her of what she did not miss of Society—the cool, restrained civility.
“Likewise, Your Grace.” She settled into her seat and Eldridge followed suit.
“Did you have an enjoyable crossing?” she asked.
“Tedious,” he finally answered. “I should have planned better, as there is only so much walking on a deck and staring out at the ocean one can do.” Then he chuckled and shook his head. “I’ll pack a trunk of books for the return trip. Though my companions did offer some entertainment.”
“Your companions?” Hannah asked.
“The Marquess of Wingate and his sister, Lady Eve. They are guests at Roxburg’s plantation.”
Hannah’s heart skipped. Lord Wingate was in Barbados?
Excitement bubbled in her belly. If she were here and Wingate were here, and both Danby and Mother were in England, there was no one to hinder her. Not only would she have the opportunity to spend time with Wingate, but she’d thwart the Duke of Danby in the process. Something few have ever managed to do.
Chapter 3
The last thing Ashton was in the mood for was supper at Samuel Storm’s home, but the invitation had already been accepted before he saw what remained of his inherited plantation—a once stately home, still standing, but scorched and blackened by fire, and the fields and lawn left to decay.
“Ashton,” Jillian called as he entered the sitting room. “I’m so happy that you could join us.”
“It is my pleasure. Thank you for the invitation.” He glanced around and noted that everyone was present except for his sister. “Where is Eve?”
“She’s out walking with Lady Hannah.”
Everything within him stilled for a moment and he turned to Nathaniel Storm, a question in his eyes.
“Didn’t anyone mention that my sister is also visiting?” The side of Nathaniel’s mouth quirked as if he knew Ashton’s inward reaction. Ashton had met with Nathaniel last spring to find out why Lady Hannah’s mother found him so unacceptable. Nathaniel had also encouraged Ashton to court Lady Hannah, not that he was ever given the opportunity.
“No, I hadn’t been told.” Thank goodness he hadn’t gone to Danby Castle for Christmas. The only reason he’d been tempted to do so was because he wished to reacquaint himself with Lady Hannah.
If Ashton didn’t have matters weighing heavily on him, this would be a most pleasant holiday, indeed. In fact, this would be the perfect opportunity in which to court Lady Hannah, as her mother was halfway across the world and unable to claim that her daughter was not at home or yank a dance card from Ashton’s hand before he could write his name.
Except, he was assuming her mother was in England. “Is the rest of your family visiting as well?” He held his breath and waited for a response.
“No, only Hannah.”
“Dinner is served,” a footman announced at the entry.
“Samuel, could you please inform Eve and Hannah,” Jillian asked sweetly.
“Allow me,” Ashton insisted as he started for the doors open to the veranda.
It took him a moment to locate his sister and then the lady who had possessed many of his thoughts from the moment he’d first seen her, and Ashton nearly sucked in a breath at the vision. The breeze off the ocean pushed the light-yellow gown against her lush body and until that moment, Ashton hadn’t realized Lady Hannah was so perfectly formed. The fashions of the day revealed so little as to a woman’s body, with the exception of the fit of the bodice and he was quite pleased that the rest of her was perfect. Ashton’s desire rose as it had done so often when he’d spied her in London. He’d fantasized about those breasts. Now he’d imagine so much more.
Lady Hannah and Eve had their heads together in conversation and he wished to know the topic, given Eve’s look of determination in contrast to Lady Hannah’s laughter and smile.
My God, Lady Hannah was more beautiful than she’d been last spring, and admittedly, Ashton wished it were him with Lady Hannah instead of his sister.
Mentally he cursed his father. The precarious financial situation in which he’d left the estates made it impossible for Ashton to pursue anyone. However, that shouldn’t keep him from renewing his acquaintance and if he managed to find solutions, Ashton might once again be in a position to court Lady Hannah come spring. It would take a miracle for that to happen, but he wasn’t will
ing to give everything up as lost either. Not when the only woman he’d ever wanted to court was so very near and still unattached.
Hannah was happy to reacquaint herself with Lady Eve. They were of the same age and had often found themselves with the same grouping of misses in search of a husband. As the years passed, their numbers had dwindled, and it seemed that Hannah and Lady Eve were the only two not in a rush to the altar. It seemed as they were alone in their belief that their lives wouldn’t be over if they became spinsters. Not that Hannah wished to be placed on the shelf for life, but she also wasn’t going to settle simply to marry. However, Lady Eve had confessed that she had no desire to ever marry and as the lady had shown absolutely no interest in gentlemen over the years, Hannah was beginning to believe Lady Eve’s vow.
When would Wingate arrive? Hannah was told that he would be joining them but had yet to make an appearance.
“I can’t stand to be cooped up in a house when the setting is so lovely here,” Lady Eve remarked as they looked out over the ocean. “I can understand why Roxburg is in England only when necessary. If I had a home in Barbados, I might never leave.”
“In that, I am in complete agreement.” Hannah sighed as she closed her eyes, inhaled deeply and felt her body relax. The waves were gentle as they rolled onto the shore and gulls cried above.
“Then we must endeavor to remain.” Lady Eve’s eyes glinted with mischief.
Hannah threw back her head and laughed. Truthfully, a day hadn’t gone by since her arrival that she hadn’t mirrored those very thoughts. But, how to remain here, in paradise?
“Perhaps my brother will allow me to reside at his estate, once it’s repaired of course.”
“Wingate has a plantation in Barbados?” Why hadn’t that been mentioned to her?
“I’ve not seen it yet, but it’s been left unattended for a year and a half.”
There was only one reason a plantation would be left for that length of time. “Since the revolt?” she asked quietly.
Lady Eve nodded as her smile slipped.
“How long will you be visiting?” Hannah found herself asking to take her mind off the state of so many who weren’t born to a family such as hers and guilt seeped into Hannah’s conscience when she considered how frivolous her problems were in comparison to those who were enslaved on this island.
“At least through January.”
Hannah smiled. Two months to undo any damage her mother might have caused and just maybe, Wingate would consider her with fondness, if not more, before the holiday came to an end. And, if he’d forgotten her, Hannah had every intention of helping him remember. “Then we must endeavor to enjoy every moment, if we are unable to remain,” she insisted. Though, if all went as planned, did Hannah really wish to remain in Barbados after Wingate sailed for England?
“This is where you’ve gone,” a gentleman called.
The ladies turned and Hannah sucked in a breath. Was it possible that Wingate was more handsome now than he’d been in London? His hair was blonder as it danced in the breeze, and his face darker from days in the sun. She suspected he’d spent many hours on deck during his crossing, as had Lady Eve, who had developed the loveliest golden tone to her features. Hannah was still as pale as she’d been in London because Jillian insisted she continue to wear a hat when out.
Slowly, Wingate smiled as he approached, warmth deepening in his blue eyes as if he were quite pleased to see her and Hannah prayed that it was so.
“Lady Hannah, I was just told that you were visiting your brothers.”
“Lord Wingate,” she greeted. Blast! Couldn’t she think of something more charming to say? Except, Hannah believed herself lucky to have formed any words in his presence. As it was, all she could do was stare up into his blue depths, robbed of any further speech as her pulse sped. Such a state should be a concern, yet she wasn’t alarmed.
Wingate also returned her gaze, the corner of his mouth cocked at an upward angle, his full lips making her wonder what it would be like to be kissed by him.
Eve cleared her throat drawing Hannah’s attention. Wingate’s sister looked from her brother to Hannah and back to Wingate again, eyebrow arched.
“Forgive me,” he laughed. “Supper is served.” With that, he turned and offered an arm to each lady to escort them back to the house.
In that moment, Hannah knew that this was undoubtedly going to be the best holiday she’d ever enjoyed.
Chapter 4
As they entered the dining room, Ashton found that everyone else had already been seated. Eve moved to take the only vacant seat beside Jillian and Ashton escorted Lady Hannah to the two remaining open chairs on the opposite side of the table, quite pleased with this turn of events and that they’d be seated side by side.
Conversation continued around the table and throughout the meal, though he had little opportunity to speak directly to Lady Hannah on any particular subject, or at any length because of interruptions. This was unlike any supper he’d attended in London where formality prevailed. In the Storm household, there apparently was no formality, especially since the two dukes who were present weren’t even placed near the head of the table, and neither seemed to mind in the least. Of course, if one drew on separate connections, they were all family in one way or another. Thank goodness Lady Hannah was only related to him through his cousins’ marriages.
As the ladies departed to take tea, Storm served rum along with cigars and then shut the door to keep their conversation private.
“I understand you toured your plantation today.”
Any lightness Ashton enjoyed from being seated next to Lady Hannah disappeared in an instant. “Yes. The work that needs to be done is overwhelming.”
“The question is,” Samuel began, “what do you intend to do?”
“For that, I do not yet have an answer.” He didn’t even know how a sugar plantation functioned and had intended to learn. What he had not anticipated was starting from the beginning.
Returning the plantation to its former glory would take time. Even if Ashton could remain in Barbados for months on end, he didn’t have the funds to reinvest in the property. As much as he would like to keep an island home, it wasn’t feasible and after he toured the plantation one more time, he would probably begin entertaining offers of purchase.
Ashton took another sip of his rum. It wasn’t something he’d drank prior to coming to Barbados as he usually enjoyed brandy at home. However, he was now finding that he enjoyed the rich taste and would see that a case accompanied him home.
“Who produces this rum. I find I quite enjoy it.”
Both Storm and Roxburg smiled. “We do,” they answered simultaneously.
“It’s one of the reasons why we are interested in your intentions as to your estate.”
“I don’t understand.”
Roxburg leaned forward. “There is nearly as much profit in rum as there is in sugar, and they come from the same crop.”
Ashton had no idea how rum was made but was intrigued all the same.
“Rum is made from the byproducts of sugar cane. Instead of destroying what can’t be used, we make rum.”
“I had no idea,” Henry said aloud what Ashton had been thinking.
“Yes, well, we could produce easily twice what we do now, and increase profits for all if we had access to more sugar cane,” Roxburg stated. “We approached your father, but he refused.”
Ashton pinched the bridge of his nose and rubbed tiny circles to stave off a headache. Why would his father turn down something that could have brought needed funds to their dwindling coffers?
Perhaps it’s simply that his father made poor business decisions, which was evidenced in every property Ashton now owned, and the reason bankruptcy could become a reality.
“What do you propose?” Ashton asked.
“If you wish to sell your plantation, we’d like to purchase it,” Storm answered. “If you choose not to do so, we suggest a partnership in the rum and sugar trad
e.”
“I don’t even have crops and the plantation is all but destroyed,” Ashton reminded them.
“Clearing the fields will take time, but not as much as you believe,” Storm assured him. “Though it also depends on if you intend to use slave labor as that could alter how Roxburg and I decide to go forward.”
“I will not continue that practice,” Ashton answered with the same vehement tone often used when discussing the same subject with his father.
Except, Ashton didn’t have the funds to pay workers either, especially since there were no earnings coming from the plantation.
Not even his brothers knew of their dire straits and perhaps he should just sell to Storm and Roxburg and wash his hands of the plantation.
“In a few years, you should have an excellent crop,” Roxburg assured him.
A few years? “How long does it take to grow sugar cane?” If he were going to invest, that return needed to be much sooner than a few years.
“Sugar cane can take fourteen to eighteen months to mature. It grows best from June to November then ripens in January to May. We stagger our cultivation so that we don’t have crops maturing at once,” Roxburg explained.
As this was October, was it too late to start the growing process? The fields weren’t even ready for planting, which meant they couldn’t begin doing so until June, eight months away, then another year, at least, before it matured. “I’ll need to give it some thought.” It was the polite answer, but given the circumstances, selling was likely his only option.
“Are you gentlemen going to remain in here all evening?” Jillian asked as she opened the doors.
Samuel chuckled. “No, Darling.” He tipped back his glass and drained rum as he snuffed out his cheroot. “I believe our conversation has been concluded, gentlemen.”
A conversation that helped Ashton make the decision he’d already decided upon.