Kiss of the Spindle

by Nancy Campbell Allen

  “Allow me to show you to the inn,” he said when he reached them. “There is a formal restaurant attached and two taverns across the street. We shall see you settled in, and I’ll locate my contacts for introductions. Employment for each of you begins as soon as you would like.”

  “Captain, again, I cannot thank you enough.” Bonadea extended his hand to Daniel. “I and my family are forever in your debt.”

  “Agreed,” Quince echoed and sniffled. “My family is safe from their association with me, and spending the rest of my days doing horticulture research is a boon I never expected.”

  “The pleasure is mine, truly.” Daniel nodded. “I am in town at least four times per year, and I hope you will contact me if you have need of anything. Now, if you would gather your belongings, we shall be on our way.”

  Quince and Bonadea walked to the stairs and disappeared, and Lewis extended his hand to Daniel. “Goes without saying, my friend, but I owe you my life.”

  Daniel clasped his hand. “As you once saved mine.” A muscle worked in his jaw. “I’ve never forgotten it. Will never forget it.”

  Isla’s ears perked up. She was curious but couldn’t very well say, “What’s this? When did he save your life?”

  Monkey pulled the fastening cord that held her braid, and Isla scowled. “Give me that,” she muttered. “No, no.” She used both hands to refasten the cord but needn’t have worried Monkey would fall; he clung to her like a vine. “We shall have a tangled mess on our hands if I lose this.”

  He chattered at her, a mix of chagrin and irritation.

  “I shall find you something else to play with, but you leave this alone.”

  Lewis had left the deck, and Daniel turned his attention to her. “We shall need a nanny for that thing, I suppose.”

  Isla laughed. “Can you imagine? Wanted: a nanny for one very furry toddler. Has tendency to swing from trees.”

  He smiled, but it seemed rather halfhearted. “Will you allow me to reserve a suite of rooms for you next to mine at the inn? I customarily stay ashore when I’m in town. I’ve become so accustomed to your presence as my neighbor I don’t know how I’ll sleep otherwise.”

  She smiled. “Or could it be you’re worried something untoward will happen to me at night? I would be happy for your assistance in finding a room, but truly, though, you needn’t worry. I have lived with this for nearly a year. I am very careful.” She grimaced. “Well, apart from losing track of time on my birthday.”

  “Which was my fault.” He took her elbow. “Come, let’s get your things.”

  Despite her insistence that she could manage her portmanteau, Daniel carried it for her from the ship and to a large ’ton-driven auto-carriage. They all climbed into it, even Nigel. When Daniel settled onto the seat next to Isla, Monkey glared at him.

  “Stop that,” she whispered and bounced the creature on her knees. “If you cannot behave, you’ll go to bed without dessert.”

  Quince laughed, and Bonadea eyed Monkey with resignation.

  “Does the inn allow wildlife?” Nigel looked at Monkey with distaste, and Monkey scowled.

  Daniel sighed. “I have some influence. He is a menace, though. Bonadea, I hold you responsible.”

  “I hold myself responsible,” Bonadea said. “At least he doesn’t chatter incessantly.”

  Daniel snorted. “You didn’t hear him last night.”

  Isla shook her head. “Wonderful. He will bother the other guests, and if I set him loose outside, who’s to say he won’t camp outside my window and be even more of a nuisance?”

  “Chloroform.” Nigel’s voice was flat.

  Bonadea raised a brow with a reluctant nod. “I suppose that is an option. Too much would kill him, though.”

  “I’m certain Mr. Crowe was only teasing,” Isla said, narrowing her eyes at Nigel. “Weren’t you.”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Oh, look!” Quince gazed out the window at a cluster of red and orange blossoms that climbed a thick vine into a towering tree. Isla leaned closer to Daniel to see the vibrant colors splashed amidst the green scenery. It was a floral feast, and Quince was clearly in heaven. “I have much to research.”

  “It’s stunning,” Isla murmured. “So beautiful.”

  “I would have to agree,” Daniel whispered in Isla’s ear, and she felt herself blush to the roots of her hair. With any luck, her sunburn would hide it.

  She straightened in her seat, trying to decide if she wanted to look at him with reproach or crawl into his lap. The man could tempt a saint.

  The next ten minutes passed with comments on scenery that was almost too vivid to be real, and a debate between Quince and Bonadea about which was more fascinating—the flora or fauna. Lewis was quiet, gazing out of his window, and Isla wondered what he was thinking. He occasionally lifted his mouth in a partial smile at something one of the other passengers said.

  “I do believe I shall miss this,” he murmured. “They’ve quite grown on me.”

  “Do you have family who will visit?” Isla asked him. She’d attempted to draw details from him during the voyage, but he’d remained vague, a closed book.

  He shrugged. “One never knows.”

  “One certainly doesn’t,” she said, curious and fairly frustrated.

  He smirked at her without malice, more as though he recognized her gentle prying and the myriad approaches she’d used to engage him in conversation about his life.

  “Here we are.” Daniel looked out his window as the vehicle came to a stop. The driver climbed down from his perch and opened the door, and Isla gaped in surprise at the inn.

  “This is an inn?” It was enormous, three stories high with wrap-around porches and balconies on each level. It was constructed of white stone, and the path leading to the front steps was lined with tall palm trees and orchids twice the size Isla had ever seen. A placard at the base of the steps indicated that this was, indeed, the Port Lucy Inn.

  Daniel appeared to be fighting a smile as he directed three ’tons who emerged from the lobby to unload the carriage and await his instructions regarding delivery.

  Lewis shot a flat look at Daniel. “This rivals Shepheard’s in Cairo.”

  Daniel shrugged. “And?”

  “You’ve been holding out, friend.”

  “Nonsense.”

  Isla looked at Lewis in surprise. “You’ve been to Cairo?”

  “I thought I’d mentioned it.”

  She scowled. “No. No, you did not. To think of all the time we spent in the lounge discussing everything under the sun and not once did you mention Cairo.”

  He laughed. “We still have time. I’ll tell you all about it over dinner.”

  Daniel grasped her elbow. “Let’s get you settled.”

  Isla thought she caught Lewis smirking at Daniel, but he turned and walked with the others to the wide front steps. Daniel muttered something that sounded like “trying to force my hand,” and shook his head slightly with a ghost of a smile.

  Isla hesitated at the door. “Should I wait out here with Monkey until you do whatever it is you think will entice the managers of this beautiful establishment to let me bring in a wild animal?”

  He must have heard the doubt in her voice, because he winked at her and put his hand at her back. “It will be fine, fret not.” He ushered her inside, and she forgot about Monkey as she took in the soaring ceilings, marble floors, and a vast array of colorful plants and flowers so bright and heavily scented she was nearly dizzy.

  A woman in a tailored, light-colored linen ensemble approached them, a smile on her face. Her clothing seemed so much more suited to the climate that Isla felt a true pang of envy and decided to move “find a local boutique” to the top of her priority list.

  The woman herself was lovely; she appeared to be a native to Port Lucy, tall with beautiful skin, a
wealth of black curls atop her head, large brown eyes and thickly fringed black lashes, and possessed of a beautiful smile and perfect white teeth. She walked with a purpose, and Isla wondered if she were the proprietress. Perhaps she wouldn’t be upset about Monkey.

  “Daniel,” the woman said with a honey-smooth, lyrical accent. She extended her hands and clasped his, moving in close with that beautiful smile. Her body language spoke of comfort and ease of familiarity. “We were expecting you days ago, of course, but received your message about the delay. Your suite is ready, as always, and at your request, the adjoining one is available.”

  “Thank you, Lia. Efficient and organized as always. The inn is pristine—I see the whitewash on the porch has been finished.” Daniel smiled at the woman and gave her hands a squeeze.

  Isla’s eyes narrowed.

  “It looks lovely, does it not?” Lia agreed. “Would you like to speak with the staff right away? I’ll gather them whenever you’re ready.”

  Isla’s brow knit. Gather the staff?

  “Later in the afternoon will be fine. And this evening I’ll review the books with Shelton. He will be in later?”

  “Yes. Wife and baby are doing well, and Mrs. Shelton’s mother finally arrived. Shelton has been here in the evenings, but now that she’s in town, he will resume his regular schedule. ’Tis good to see you, Daniel.” She turned her attention to Isla, who made an effort to smooth over her expression.

  “We’ve not met.” Her smile really was stunning, and her warmth seemed genuine. She extended her hand, and Isla shook it, noting the firm grip. Isla wanted very much to hate her.

  Daniel rested his hand again on Isla’s back. “Lia, this is Dr. Isla Cooper. She’s in Port Lucy on business. Isla, Malia Francisco manages the Port Lucy Inn and keeps the whole of it operating like a well-oiled machine.”

  Lia waved a hand in dismissal. “’Tis easily enough accomplished when the owner supplies everything I request.”

  “I can imagine,” Isla said.

  “And who is this little one?” Lia asked, holding her hand unthreateningly toward Monkey, who examined it and then grasped her finger. The traitor.

  Daniel smiled. “This is Monkey. He is fond of the good doctor and cannot be enticed to leave her side, so we are temporarily accommodating him.”

  Lia scratched Monkey under the chin. Monkey leaned into the caress as though he’d never felt anything better. “I shall have the chef send up a special plate of plantains and berries.”

  “He will be euphoric, I’m certain,” Daniel said drily. “Too much of that treatment, and he’ll be unbearable. Best include a stack of nappies with the food.”

  Daniel and Lia looked at Isla, and she knew they expected her to fill the conversational gap, but her head was spinning. All she could manage was a nod. Not only did Daniel apparently know and have fondness for the beautiful island goddess, it seemed he owned the entire hotel.

  “We’ll take the lift up,” Daniel said. “I’ll show Dr. Cooper to her suite.”

  “Wonderful.” Lia beamed at Isla. “Welcome to Port Lucy.”

  Isla was silent until they exited the lift on the third floor and were out of earshot of the lift operator. When they were alone, she looked up and down the hallway and then stopped. “You own this?”

  “Yes,” he admitted slowly. “You are angry.”

  “I am not angry.” Her nostrils flared. “I am . . . irritated. You might have told me, rather than let me stew about whether the management would throw Monkey out into the street.”

  He squinted, puzzled. “I thought I implied it wouldn’t be an issue.”

  “Yes, because you own the place!” She threw her arms wide, which looked amusing because Monkey clung to her without support. “I do not . . .” She broke off again. “I do not like not knowing things. I do not expect to be privy to the details of your life, but we are friends, and this seems like something a friend might mention.”

  He studied her and then motioned down the hall. “Allow me to show you to your suite, and we can talk. I wouldn’t have you think that I have been keeping anything from you intentionally.” It seemed an odd thing for her to be so irritated about, and he wondered if the stress of her upcoming task was finally affecting her.

  He unlocked the door to her suite and opened it wide. She stepped forward and looked around silently. The interior was bright, with whitewashed walls, lush area carpeting over stunning dark hardwood, and handcrafted dark-wood furniture adorned by bright cushions, seats, and pillows. The adjoining door to the bedroom was open, and she slowly wandered to it to peer inside. He knew it was decorated in similar fashion to the sitting room, with a large bed, sumptuous bedding, and a diaphanous white canopy that doubled as mosquito netting draped over it. There was an adjoining washroom with hot running water for the bath and a personal toilet.

  He had built the inn from the ground up, and it was somehow important that she approve. He waited in silence until she had walked around, looking out windows and running a hand along the smooth finish of a finely-made end table. He could stand it no longer, and said, “Well?”

  “This is beautiful. Stunning. Absolutely incredible, and I cannot believe you didn’t tell me you had real estate here, that you had a connection other than the fact that your fleet provides England’s only air transportation here.”

  He scratched his ear and motioned to the seating area. “Please?”

  She acquiesced, and surprisingly, Monkey released his hold on her and hopped down to explore on his own.

  Daniel removed his jacket and laid it over the back of a chair. “May I take your hat?” he inquired solicitously. He set it atop his jacket and watched in envy as she ran her hands along her hair, tousling and smoothing and performing a task he would very much have liked to perform for her.

  He sat next to her on the sofa, unsure of the cause of her mood, for the first time since meeting her. She was a straightforward woman, not usually prone to veiled conversation or hidden meanings. She’d blackmailed him for a flight out of the country, for heaven’s sake, and admitted to him soon thereafter the reason for it. She had never prevaricated in communicating with him from the moment they’d first met. Why was she so upset with him now?

  “I don’t suppose it occurred to me you might be interested in knowing I owned this inn,” he said and faced her sideways, his arm along the back of the couch.

  “Why would I not?” She looked at him as though he were mad. “When did this happen? How long have you had influence in Port Lucy? I mean, it makes sense now that you would have so many good contacts for those you smuggle from England—you own the grandest hotel this side of Cairo, apparently.” She frowned. “There’s another one keeping secrets.”

  “Isla, I am not keeping secrets. I don’t know how it would have come up in conversation. ‘Are you aware I own Port Lucy’s largest hotel?’ You can see how that might sound awkward, at best.”

  “You could have mentioned it on the way over when I was worried about Monkey. Instead you were cryptic. ‘Don’t worry about it,’” she mimicked in a low tone that sounded nothing like his voice.

  “Nobody knew, and I didn’t want to explain it to everyone in the carriage.” He spread his hands wide. “I do not see the issue.”

  “Friends tell each other things. What else do you own here?”

  “In the hotel?”

  She narrowed her eyes. “Do not be obtuse. In Port Lucy.”

  He sighed. “Ten years ago, this place was little more than a swamp. I had just begun the airship venture and was touring to gain an understanding of the routes between countries and over oceans. I realized the potential of this locale and purchased large pieces of land for a steal. I continued to grow the air fleet and, over time, began building here. The municipality was organized at the time only in the loosest sense of the word, so I researched notable talent here and in neighboring islan
ds and worked with a few key individuals to establish a stable port, one that could grow and thrive. The Crown was supportive once they realized my intentions and made available moneys, resources. The beauty of it was it’s far enough away that I could establish the vision I’d created with my partners here without much interference from the government.” He smiled. “I named the port city for my sister, Lucy.

  “I served my military time in India, and kept in contact with my partners as best as I could. When I finished there, I was thrilled to see the progress they’d made, and it’s only improved since then. Some of the capital I saw from my investments here went into the air fleet and allowed me to branch into more advanced technology and provide finer craftsmanship, so Pickett Airships flourished as well.”

  He rubbed the side of his nose, not certain why her opinion mattered so much to him. “My father died when I was young, but left us with a fair amount of capital from his own investments in the early days of the railroad. I used much of my inheritance on the land here and in my first few airships. My success here has everything to do with timing and finding the right people.”

  She shook her head, her expression softening. “You minimize what was exceptional business acumen at a young age. You were twenty-four, twenty-five? And you recognized the value of this place. You infused it with cash, utilized the knowledge of people who lived here, and benefitted not only yourself but many hundreds, maybe thousands, of others.”

  Daniel didn’t think he had anything left of himself that would feel self-conscious or bashful, yet he felt a blush heat his cheeks at her praise. “I don’t say anything in casual conversation or in front of passengers about any of this because it presents itself as boastful. I also have learned to be cautious. The world is full of unscrupulous people who suddenly come out of the woodwork to claim a relationship.”

  She nodded and looked pensively at Monkey, who continued to examine every inch of the room. There was something about her disquiet that seemed elusive. “Is there something else on your mind? You’re irritated, and I have yet to reason it out.”