“That didn’t sound like a sigh of contentment.” Evan’s voice rumbled in her ear.
Prudence rolled over. She layered her hands against his chest and set her chin on them so she could look into his face. “It’s not you that brought about that sigh. It’s Simon.”
“You’re thinking about another man?” His gray eyes were teasing.
“Of course not. I’m just concerned that we haven’t seen the last of him.”
Evan sat up in bed, and Prudence lay on her side, propping her head against the palm of her hand. While the discussions had turned serious, she couldn’t resist playing with the line of dark curls twisting down the center of her husband’s stomach.
“You need not worry about him. We’ve seen the last of him.”
Prudence sat up fully, pulling the sheet against her naked breast. “Did you do something?”
“Nothing he didn’t deserve.”
“Oh, Evan. You didn’t kill him, did you?”
Evan’s eyebrows drew together. “Of course, not. I did not hurt a hair on that man’s balding little head.”
“How much did it take?”
“How much?”
“Well, if you didn’t hurt him then I assume you bribed him. Although Richard probably handled that. He’s gotten quite adept at determining a man’s price to look the other way.”
Evan snorted. “If only that worked with Manley as well as it did with his predecessors. No, that man’s obsession is greater than his greed.”
“So how did you get rid of him?”
“I bribed his superiors. It turns out they needed an officer on the western frontier managing the interactions with the Indians. Someone with Simon’s…zeal will fit the bill nicely.”
Prudence shuddered. From what she had heard, the Ohio Territory was not a civilized place. Simon would either lose his imperiousness or be dead in a week.
“I don’t suppose we ever will see him again,” she whispered. “At least now, we can rest easy.”
“I don’t think so.” The seriousness in Evan’s tone had her searching his face. He gave her a reassuring smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Simon may have had an unhealthy obsession with you, but he’s not the last customs officer we’ll see. The Ashcroft name is too well known, too prominent. You will always be a prime target for the next zealot appointed by the governor.”
“I can take care of them. You saw the support we had at the trial. There is no way—”
“Yes, there are plenty of people in Rhode Island who see things your way. I hate to think what kind of trouble you could get yourself in if I leave you to your own devices. I’ll come back to find you rioting in the streets or trying to burn one of the revenue ships to the waterline. I’ll just have to take you with me.”
“I would never—Wait. What?” The meaning of his words penetrated Prudence’s indignation.
“Ever seen the French West Indies?”
“No, but I’d like to. You’d actually take me with you?”
“It would be my pleasure.” He gave her a slow smile that hinted to a hidden meaning. “But there is one small thing you should know.”
“What’s that,” she asked, skepticism in her voice.
“Ashcroft is yours. But on my ship, I am in charge.”
“I agree.” Prudence gave him the same sweet smile she had used to placate her lawyer.
Epilogue
Young Patience Ashcroft Foster had the lungs of a banshee. At least that’s what her mother thought as she dragged herself out of bed in the wee hours of the morning.
In these last few weeks of night feedings, there were times when Prudence would have given anything for the custom of a wet nurse to come back. But then she knew she really couldn’t bear to give up time with her daughter.
As she neared the nursery door, her daughter’s wailing turned into a contented coo.
Prudence opened the door to find Evan tousling his daughter’s shocking red curls.
“How’s my little heiress?” he whispered.
The little girl reached chubby arms up to her father, clearly expecting to be picked up. Evan complied immediately, and Patience laid her head against her father’s broad chest and stuck her thumb in her mouth. Evan bounced her gently in his arms.
“You know, I think you’re getting bigger,” he whispered against the top of her head. “One day soon, we’ll be sending you off to school. Then I am going to get you into college.”
“Good luck with that,” Prudence said from the doorway.
“They’ll accept her. Times are changing, and women like you and Patience will lead the way.”
Prudence laid a hand on her husband’s shoulder and smiled down at her daughter. “That’s fine, but she should get married, too.”
“Why would you need anyone but your papa?” Evan asked the little girl, a pout in his voice.
Patience’s heavily lidded eyes closed, and she released her thumb to give a contended sigh.
Prudence grinned. During the long months of her pregnancy, she had been worried about what would happen if she continued the Ashcroft tradition and gave birth to a daughter. Evan would hide his disappointment well, but she expected to see it nonetheless. Instead, the birth of his daughter had turned her strong, handsome husband into a fool, one that made her heart swell with love.
“She may not need anyone to help her run the business, but she will need to carry on the family tradition someday. She’ll need to produce a daughter of her own.”
Evan lay Patience back down in her bed. The little girl’s limbs slowly relaxed, and her thumb drifted from her mouth although her lips still moved as though she were sucking.
“You know I don’t believe in curses.” Evan gave Prudence a look she knew well. One that was quite different from the look he had on his face moments ago.
“You still want to try for a son?” Prudence searched his face for a sign he was disappointed.
“Son? While I’d love to have a son, I’d be just as happy if we filled this big old house with daughters. Surely one of them will be tame enough to settle down and carry on the Ashcroft tradition while her sisters manage the business. That way, the burden won’t fall to Patience alone.”
“I don’t know about that. Marriage isn’t such a terrible burden.” Prudence laced her arms around Evan’s waist. “Not once you get used to it.”
Historical Notes
Dear Reader,
Historical romance novels should never be confused with history books. The emphasis in a romance novel is and should always be the relationship between people. Events of the day, fascinating as they are, add color and context, but are never the story.
That said, for all those who love the history as much as I do, here are a few historical notes related to the time in which Willing Love is set that I thought you might find interesting.
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Rhode Island—This little colony has fascinated me ever since I learned it was the last to ratify the Constitution and did so quite reluctantly in 1790 by only two votes. Rhode Island really was referred to as “Rogue Island” as Mr. Pettigrew refers to it in chapter twelve.
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John Hancock—One of my favorite Founding Fathers, Hancock would only have been twenty-seven in 1764, but he was already a full partner at House of Hancock, his uncle’s merchant business. The House of Hancock served as a loose inspiration for Ashcroft & Sons. When I asked my history-minded friends which historical figure they would look to if they wanted to learn more about smuggling, John Hancock was the man they all pointed to.
In 1768, Hancock’s ship Liberty was seized in what has become known as the Liberty Affair. Hancock was accused of offloading a shipment of Madeira wine to avoid paying import duties. Liberty served as a revenue boat for the tax collectors until angry Colonists burned it to the waterline. Historians argue whether Hancock was ever really involved in smuggling as he was never convicted—although his ship was never returned—and historical evidence seems to be scant at best.
It is one of history’s intriguing mysteries.
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Navigation Acts—These were a series of Acts enacted as far back as the 1650s that limited the importation and exportation of goods to and from the American Colonies. The essence of these acts restricted American trade so all goods had to be transported between English ports. Of course, this gave the crown the opportunity to levy duties on imports, and tax the Colonists at least indirectly. It also gave rise to the rampant smuggling that was so common in the Colonies in the years leading up to the Revolution.
When Evan Foster travels to Martinique to negotiate for a shipment of rum, it isn’t the product that is illegal, but the port. Martinique at the time belonged to the French.
~*~
Writs of Assistance—Writs of Assistance are much like search warrants, but with a few major differences in colonial times. First of all, the holder of the writ didn’t need to justify the need for the writ. Second, they didn’t expire. When Simon Manley had his men search Prudence’s home under the authority of the writ, he had no need to convince a judge of probable cause. It’s very likely his office came with a general writ that allowed him to search anyone’s property at any time and for any reason. Just imagine how this might rankle the revolutionary-minded Colonial!
~*~
John Adams—I hope that more than one reader picked up that Prudence’s lawyer was none other than a young John Adams. I have to admit that my image of John Adams was greatly influenced by A&E’s portrayal of him. However, he did once describe himself to Thomas Jefferson as “obnoxious, suspected, and unpopular.” His writings and other historical notes lead me to believe that he might be one of the few people able to accurately assess his own personality
Nevertheless, Adams is another one of my favorite historical figures. And he started his career as a maritime lawyer. So many people know of his role in defending the British soldiers after the Boston Massacre, but he also represented Hancock in the Liberty Affair.
A word about the author...
Mary Jean Adams has been writing romance since she was in middle school—a fact her English teachers didn’t always appreciate. She also loves history and telling the stories behind the stories of the founding of America. Today, she lives in North Dakota with her husband and two children.
http://www.maryjeanadams.blogspot.com
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Other Mary Jean Adams titles
available from The Wild Rose Press, Inc.:
Le Chevalier
Caution to the Wind
Thank you for purchasing
this publication of The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
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