by Janet Woods
Rage filled him at the thought of someone physically hurting her.
Seth’s clothes were damp and he was cold – too cold to be the gentleman, since the bed was large and there was room for him on the other side of it.
Shedding his outer garments, he draped them over the chairs in the other room where the heat from the fire would dry them and went back to the bedroom, leaving the connecting door open. Carefully, he slid in beside her.
He’d just got settled when she turned again. Her arm slid around his waist and she murmured something incoherent as she snuggled against his back.
His smile was one of pure pleasure as the warmth of her moulded against him – as her breasts pushed soft and silky against his back, leaving very little to the imagination. There was an infinitesimal thinness of fabric between him and her, but it made sleep impossible for him now.
There was her hand too, resting warmly against his stomach. It was a mere span away from his genitals, which reacted instantly, rearing up inside like a snake from a basket to perform for its charmer. ‘Down, boy,’ he whispered.
He adjusted his position slightly, trying not to wake her in the process. Forces were against him. Her nubs hardened against his back, then her palm closed gently around him and she murmured sleepily against his ear, ‘Alex, my love.’
Seth’s balls hardened and he suddenly wished his mother had named him Alex. It was tempting to allow her to believe he was her dead husband, but he knew she’d never forgive him if he did. He reached out and turned the lamp up. ‘Joanna, it’s me. It’s Seth,’ he whispered. ‘For Christ’s sake, unhand me, else I won’t be responsible for what happens, and we’ll both regret it in the morning.’
For a moment there was no response, then his words seemed to get through to her for her whole body stiffened. The hand was withdrawn. Her eyes flew open and she said with a false sort of menace, ‘What the hell are you doing in my bed?’
‘It’s my bed, Joanna. We’ll have to share it.’
At least she didn’t scream for help, or try to kill him, both of which he’d half expected. She simply gazed at him and said casually, ‘Mr Geevers told me you’d gone to Portland to see me, and he said I could wait here for you. How did you get back to London so quickly?’
‘Jack and Robbie Dunn’s boat.’
‘Ah yes, no wonder you smell of fish and brandy.’
He felt ashamed. ‘I’m sorry. Should I bathe?’
There came a gurgle of derisive laughter. ‘You’re not my bridegroom. Move over, would you, you’re too close for your own comfort, and mine.’
‘Now, that’s interesting,’ he said and moved closer.
‘Believe me, there is nothing the least interesting about the smell of dead fish or the fumes of brandy on a man’s breath.’ She dragged the pillow from under his head and placed it between them. The small chuckle she gave sounded more like a purr. ‘The brothers are a pair of rogues. You didn’t buy any brandy from them, did you? They fill kegs with cheap stuff and sell it to strangers as rare smuggled brandy.’
He grimaced, saying loftily, ‘Do you think I’m a man who can be so easily taken in?’
‘Of course not.’ Her voice sounded forlorn when she stated, ‘I lost my boy, and I couldn’t think of anyone else to help me to get him back. You will help me, won’t you?’
He grimaced at the backhanded compliment. ‘That’s why I’m here.’
Her fingers touched his face. ‘What if they kill him, Seth? What then?’
Taking her hand he pressed a kiss in the palm. ‘Why would Durrington kill him when he wants him for his heir?’
‘I’m scared . . . so scared.’
He put an arm around her and, discovering his need to protect her was greater than his need to ravish, eased her head against his shoulder. Tears dampened his skin. ‘Hush, my dear,’ he said. ‘Try to sleep.’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘For what?’
‘Mistaking you for Alex. I’m embarrassed, too. You could have taken advantage of me.’
‘I was tempted to, believe me.’
‘Poor Seth. You’re too much the gentleman.’
‘Circumstances are against seduction at the moment, but I’ll keep your advice in mind for a later date.’ He kissed the top of her head. ‘I’m going to count to ten. For my own comfort I want you to turn on your side and go to sleep, while I turn the other way and do the same. One . . . two . . .’
Joanna left it until he reached nine, then kissed him goodnight for the next five seconds. Her lips were as smooth as silk, her kiss a warm and teasing promise that reached down to his toes and made them curl. She was all woman and her response boded well for the future of their relationship.
‘. . . Ten,’ he croaked, sighing with regret as she turned away from him. ‘Goodnight, Joanna.’
There was laughter in her voice. ‘Goodnight, Seth.’
I’ll never sleep now, he thought, watching the shadows leap and dance on the walls as the fire crackled in the grate.
He remembered the brandy. He must get up before her and hide it, before she saw it.
12
The next morning Seth bought a breakfast from the street stalls, a slab of cheese, a loaf of crusty bread and some hard-boiled eggs. There was a jug of hot tea to follow, supplied by his landlady, who smiled at Seth and barely offered Joanna a glance until he said. ‘This is Mrs Morcant, a client of mine. Joanna, my landlady, Mrs Spicer.’
The woman bobbed at the knee.
Ravenous, Joanna ate her breakfast with hasty pleasure, then sipped at the tea. She gazed at Seth with an apology in her eyes. ‘I haven’t eaten since Portland.’
‘I had a mutton pie on the boat, washed down with cider and brandy.’ A wry look came into his eyes. ‘I can’t remember much after that, though my head aches a bit.’
Her glance wandered to the spot where he’d hastily hidden the keg, behind the coal scuttle. She gave a faint grin. ‘How much did you pay them for the brandy?’
‘Too much, I imagine. They mentioned it was off a pirate ship.’
‘The Saggitario? I’m surprised you were taken in by them.’
He shrugged and his mouth twisted wryly. ‘Stop rubbing my nose in it, Joanna. I’ll have you know that your cousin Leonard directed me to them.’
‘I expect he gets a commission for every fool he sends their way.’
‘I shouldn’t be at all surprised. Tell me about Oliver.’
Startled, she spluttered out in surprise, ‘How did you learn about Oliver?’
‘Leonard told me the man was living with you.’
‘He is . . . at least, he’s living in the house with myself and his sisters.’ She allowed him a small smile. ‘It’s Captain Oliver Morcant. He’s my brother-in-law. Leonard must have given you the wrong idea.’
‘Deliberately, I imagine. Leonard doesn’t seem to like me.’
‘He doesn’t make friends easily, but he’s honest, and once he’s come to respect you he’ll always be there when you need him. When he sent you to the Dunn brothers, he placed you in the hands of the most experienced of the islanders.’
‘They were certainly that.’ He gave a throaty chuckle. ‘My head hasn’t cleared yet.’
His eyes caught hers, cool grey in the morning light. He didn’t look any the worse for drinking too much spirituous liquor the day before. In fact, Seth looked downright handsome with his hair still messy from sleep and his shirt open at the neck, so she wanted to run the tip of her tongue into the salty hollow at the base of his throat.
Instantly, Joanna recalled touching the hardness of him. There was an image of flesh pushing rampantly against a silky sheath of skin. The same desire she’d felt for him the night before rippled through her. She clenched her muscles as she experienced dampness, and a blush of heat attacked her cheeks at the thought of them together in that way. But her glance was speculative all the same as she wondered.
A grin slowly widened his mouth, as if he’d simultaneously read her
thoughts and recalled the incident too. It startled her to realize she had that close a rapport with him.
‘Say one word about last night and I’ll strangle you with my bare hands,’ she murmured.
‘Like somebody tried to do to you?’ He raised his own hand to her neck, his fingers gently caressing the bruises there. ‘If I ever run into the man who did this to you I’ll kill him.’
Joanna shivered, because Seth’s eyes were so hard and his voice merciless. Obviously he was not the easygoing gentleman she’d imagined him to be. Hastily, she changed the subject by looking around her. ‘This isn’t your home, is it?’
‘No. I keep this for business purposes, and use it as a hideaway. Very few people know where I live with Kate. It’s better that way.’
‘Someone would harm her?’
‘It’s possible. The circumstances of her birth embarrass my half-brothers. We don’t get on and they would have me get rid of her.’
She paled. ‘You mean they’d kill her?’
‘I shouldn’t think they’d go that far. They’d probably change her name and place her in a school somewhere, where she’d be conveniently forgotten.’
‘You should take her abroad to live, where she can grow up without fear. Tell me about her circumstances, Seth.’
‘She’s the result of an assault on my sister when she was barely out of the schoolroom. Out of shame, Sarah fled, and she died giving birth to Kate in impoverished circumstances. The affair broke our father’s heart and he died shortly after Sarah did.’
‘And your mother?’
‘Already gone. She’s buried with her first husband.’ He hesitated. ‘He was an earl.’
Which explained why his half-brothers found the thought of Kate’s existence distasteful. She leaned forward, covering Seth’s hand with hers. ‘Your sister was lucky to have you as a brother.’
‘I feel blessed to have Kate to remember my sister by. She looks very much like her mother.’
‘Thank you for trusting me with her story.’ Guiltily, Joanna wished she’d been able to find it in her heart to tell Seth the whole truth about her first marriage – to tell him she was leaving. The Joanna Rose had been at her berth yesterday when she’d arrived in London. She was due to set sail in a few days and if Joanna found Toby she could still sail on her. But she needed to sell her jewellery. Perhaps James Stark would sell it for her.
‘Do you have a hairbrush? There’s someone I need to go and see and I need to tidy myself up first.’
He bristled with alarm. ‘The last thing you must do is make your presence known to anyone. If Durrington gets wind of your presence he might take off abroad.’
‘But I need to sell my jewellery.’
‘I know someone who will give you a good price. Will you trust me with its disposal?’
She nodded, saying bitterly as she pushed the bag towards him, ‘The man who waylaid me took the wedding ring from my finger.’
‘He left you with something far more precious. Your life.’ He rose, throwing her a cloak he picked up from the chair. ‘Come on, let’s go. Pull the cowl over your hair and face.’
‘Where are we going?’
‘To my home. There should be a hackney carriage waiting outside for us, since I ordered it earlier. You’ll be able to see to your grooming once we’re there. I’ll find you something else to wear, too. No doubt Kate will be glad to see you. She hasn’t stopped talking about you.’
‘I don’t want to be a nuisance, Seth. I just want my son back.’
‘Much as I’d like it, I can’t be with you all the time, Joanna. You’ll be safer there.’
He pulled her to her feet and, gazing into her eyes for a moment, said, ‘I’m humbled that you trust me enough to place this matter in my hands. I’ll do all I can to find Toby for you.’
There was no doubting the sincerity in his voice. She felt a sudden stab of fear for his safety, for she’d remembered Bisley. ‘Be careful then, Seth.’
‘I’m always careful, and it’s not often that someone can slip under my guard.’ He kissed her on the forehead. ‘You have.’
His caution was something he demonstrated as they left. ‘Follow me out,’ he told her and, after looking both ways, he slipped into the carriage and held the door open for her. Joanna headed swiftly after him.
Seth’s luxuriously appointed house came as a surprise to her. Kate greeted her like a long lost friend, and the servants treated her like a revered guest, despite her unkempt appearance.
The room she was taken to was decorated with pretty wallpaper sprigged with cornflowers. Lace curtains hung at the windows, which had an outlook over the garden at the back of the house.
A fire was lit, a bath made ready. A maid called Dimity was appointed to look after her.
Immersed to her neck in the warm water, Joanna relaxed as best she could, considering her uneasiness over Toby.
Kate wandered in, distracting Joanna’s mind from her troubles, chatting to her about everything and nothing in the uninhibited way children have. Then she said, ‘Uncle Seth told me somebody has stolen Toby from you, but I’m not supposed to tell you I know, in case you get sad and start to cry.’
‘You should be doing your lessons, Miss Kate,’ the maid said, bustling in with fresh water with which to rinse Joanna’s hair.
‘Uncle Seth said I may talk to Joanna.’
‘But not all day, and not about that.’
‘It’s all right, Dimity. I don’t mind. Yes, I am sad, my dear. He’s so small and I miss him. I love him so much.’
‘So do I, even though I saw him only once.’ Kate smiled at her with ingenuous charm. ‘Can I spend all day with you?’
‘Only if your uncle says so.’
‘He will if you ask him. But he’s not in.’
‘Very convenient.’ Joanna stifled a chuckle and emerged from the bath smelling sweetly of scented soap.
There was a gasp when the maid saw the purpled flesh on her side. ‘Oh, my goodness. Did you have a fall, miss? Can I get something to put on that?’
Kate’s eyes widened. ‘I had a bruise once, on my arm.’
Dimity told her sharply, ‘You shouldn’t be in here with Mrs Morcant in her altogether. Turn your back, young lady.’
Kate did as she was told, but continued chatting. ‘Poor Joanna. Does it hurt?’
Joanna wrapped the bath sheet around herself. ‘Not any more. Where are my clothes, Dimity?’
‘Mr Adams said they had to be laundered. He bought you some new ones, went out and got them himself.’ Dimity tried to stifle a giggle when she picked up a froth of white lacy petticoats to wear under the sedate ankle-length blue skirt. The matching bodice was trimmed with lace and ribbon. There was a paler blue shawl fashioned from the softest wool, for warmth.
‘Right, you can turn back now, Miss Kate.’
As her hair dried before the roaring fire Joanna brushed it, using a silver-backed hairbrush she found on the dressing table. Afterwards, she quickly braided it. Then she realized she had nothing to secure the braid with.
‘I have a blue ribbon you can have,’ Kate told her. ‘Shall I fetch it for you?’
Joanna kissed the girl’s cheek. ‘That’s kind of you.’
‘What shall we do after? Would you like to see the house? I can show you.’
Setting aside the niggle of guilt she felt at duping this friendly little soul, she whispered, ‘I’d like that very much.’ At least she’d be able to satisfy herself that Seth wasn’t still working for Durrington, and he didn’t have Toby hidden here.
Although Seth had kept the place under surveillance for a week, there was no sign of an infant having taken up residence in Charles Durrington’s London home.
Nothing out of the ordinary had occurred. The peer came and went as usual, sometimes with Bisley in attendance, sometimes not. There was the normal number of domestic suppliers using the tradesman’s entrance – including a couple of Seth’s own. Questioning the house staff revealed nothing untowa
rd. Seth reached the conclusion that the child wasn’t there.
He questioned Joanna again. ‘Is there anything you haven’t told me, however unimportant you consider it to be?’
‘It happened so quickly, and events were confused.’ She shook her head from side to side in despair. ‘Perhaps Toby’s dead. Bisley might have killed him and thrown him into the sea.’
‘You mustn’t think that way. Bisley wouldn’t harm Toby while Durrington is still alive. Let’s go through it again.’
So they did, Joanna’s forehead furrowed with anxiety while she tried to relive the moment when her child was snatched from her. Seth appreciated that she was doing her best to stay calm. But he sensed her emotions were on a knife edge, for there was a nuance of desperation in her voice.
Suddenly, she said, her eyes full of the horror she felt at the thought, ‘There was no sign of Toby’s carriage when I woke. It might have been thrown over the cliff.’
He kept his voice as calm as possible. ‘Or it might have been kept for Toby to sleep in. A man wheeling a baby carriage is unusual, so somebody would have seen him. Durrington might have hired an accomplice in Portland. Can you think of anyone who would harm you?’
‘On the island? No, why should they?’ For a moment she hesitated, as if something had teased a thread from the edge of her memory. Then she shook her head – obviously the thought had slipped away again. She gazed at him. ‘Has the Joanna Rose sailed yet?’
‘That’s the third time you’ve asked me that question this week. Do you think it’s possible that Toby might be hidden aboard?’
‘God no! Captain Staines was loyal to the Darsham and Morcant Shipping Company. He wouldn’t do anything to harm Toby.’
‘But he’s working for Durrington now.’
Her chin lifted. ‘Not for much longer, the clippers are to be sold and Edward Staines laid off. This next voyage is to be his last Australian run. I was going to—’ Her lips pressed tightly over the remainder of the sentence.