HisLadysKeeperfinal.wps

by test

  “You need to get a hold of yourself, Mallory. I imagine you’re about to snap because you feel the sea calling to you. Well, you’ve made your choice. You are a family man now. You can’t go gallivanting around the seven seas whenever the fancy strikes you. Your wife and your daughter need you.”

  His face contorted. “I know that,” he rasped. “Don’t you think I know that?”

  “I think you’re struggling with an inner battle that none of us can quite grasp.

  You were used to being feared and admired all at the same time. As the nefarious Pirate Captain Morgan, I’m sure you are trying to figure out how to go on with a normal mundane life.”

  “I love Susan and Elizabeth,” he whispered fervently.

  “Indeed you do. But I know you, Mallory. Since the time you were old enough to see the visiting sailors and hear the tales of the English Sailors who gave this land so much, you’ve yearned to follow in their steps. You’ve yearned to be another Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh. You want to be like them with every fiber of your being

  … and during the war, you were like them, and some would say as Captain Morgan you were like them as well.”

  “Stop it!”

  “I know you did some covert missions in the service of the Crown.”

  “You always did have ways of finding out things that you shouldn’t be aware of.”

  Ann regarded him seriously. “You can’t go racing off for Gemma, in the guise of Captain Rafe Morgan. It wouldn’t look good for anyone of us.”

  “I have to go. I’ve already had this discussion with Elizabeth. She couldn’t persuade me, so don’t think you can, Ann.”

  “If I can’t convince you to let sleeping dogs lie, then, I’m going with you.”

  “Out of the question, you’ll get queasy on the ship.”

  “I’m not the sister with an aversion to water and the habit of getting seasick. That would be Gemma. If you stayed long enough at home before you married Elizabeth, you would have known that. Gemma and I are the watch guards of the family. Maud as the third born daughter was able to have a little bit more fun. Good thing too with the way her head is always in the clouds. As for the youngest ones they were able to just be little girls. Mother did a pretty fine job too when you were away. Who do you think had to scare away the unsuitable men before you flounced back into our lives? Not you. Oh, no! They thought that you were a dandy not even strong enough to throw a good punch.”

  His nostrils flared. “I happen to like my clothes, that doesn’t make me a pansy.”

  “True. And I’ve seen you in action—you are not a pansy, but you also left us alone with no male guardian for many years, we all had to compensate. Gemma and I filled that role while Mother made sure that no one from afar took advantage of us.”

  “You don’t need to rub my failings in, Ann. I also brought back enough money to keep this family going.”

  “True. But we were trying to help out in our own way.”

  “Humph.” He walked toward her. “I think you should move, Ann. I’m ready to go.”

  “You might think you are ready, but you look utterly ridiculous in that get up. I never could get used to the way you look as a pirate.”

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  “Privateer.”

  “Suit yourself. If you want to call yourself a privateer, that is fine with me. Far be it for me to change the way you look at yourself.”

  He inclined his head to the side. “Why are you wearing your traveling cloak?”

  “How very astute of you to notice that. I already told you, I’m coming with you.”

  “God give me strength.”

  “There is no need for you to pray. Either way, I’m coming with you. Mother is downstairs waiting to intercept you in case you gave me too much trouble.”

  “Mother should go back to doing her embroidery. I swear the walls have ears and eyes in this place. You all know what I’m going to do before I know what I’m going to do!”

  “You can be such an arse head sometimes.”

  He sighed. “Fine. To get you and mother both off my back, you can come with me. I shouldn’t think we will have the opportunity to get into a sea battle, but don’t come crying to me if the ship cannons have to be used, your ears will be ringing for a fortnight.”

  Mallory strode out into the hallway. She fell in step beside him.

  “So, when will you turn into the old Mallory I used to know? I’m banking you’ll go through a startling transformation once we hit the water.”

  He didn’t want to dignify that remark with a reply.

  “I’m right, if your silence always damns you, Mallory. You and Gemma both do that, you erect that unbreakable brick wall when you think you don’t want to argue anymore.”

  “Just hush up, Ann. I thought Gemma never ceased her prattling—I forgot how much worse you can be when you’re in a dither about something.”

  “A dither? Where do you get off? You are such a big jerk. I pity Elizabeth.”

  “Don’t. She rarely sees this side of me.” He gave her a chilly look. Sighing, he continued, “Elizabeth knew what she was getting herself into when she decided to stay with me.”

  “Too bad. If she’d seen a bit more of this side of you, she might have avoided herself a lifetime full of misery. On the other hand, you didn’t give her much of a choice in the matter, the way you took her against her will. Some would say you rank right up there with Hart. The two of you each kidnapped your brides.” She chuckled.

  Their mother came to meet them as they neared the entryway.

  “I hope that you don’t make things worse, Mallory. I prayed that you’d see some sense, but upon my word, driving sense into you was always a difficult task. You are much like your father in that regard.”

  “I’m nothing like my father.”

  “If you like to think so.” She glanced over at Ann. “Do take care of your brother, Ann. Make sure he doesn’t kill Gemma’s new husband. If he did that, she just might never forgive him.”

  “I will, mother.” They each embraced their mother before turning to leave.

  “God bless you and watch over you,” their mother murmured.

  “Don’t you want to kiss Elizabeth goodbye?” Ann asked, giving Mallory a

  curious glance.

  He squared his jaw line. “Elizabeth and I are at an impasse. I’ll kiss her hello HIS LADY’S KEEPER Marly Mathews 117

  when I return.”

  “You shouldn’t part when you’re still angry at each other.”

  “If I waited for her to cool down on this subject, I’d never be able to leave. And, just so you know, Ann, if I really wanted to kill Hart, don’t think you could get in my way,” he grumbled, as they walked out of Mallory Hall toward their carriage.

  HIS LADY’S KEEPER Marly Mathews 118

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Gemma and Hart walked back toward their bedchamber, only stopping when they heard a large crash.

  “That sounds as if it came from the front hall. Stay here.” Hart looked at her, handing her the candelabrum he held.

  Speeding forward, she watched him disappear into darkness.

  Fear coiled around her heart, when she only heard silence.

  “Bugger this. No one is going to leave me behind.” She moved forward, tracking Hart’s path.

  Urgent whispers met her ears.

  “I have to have some more money, Hart. Come on. You know I don’t have many funds available on the isle. Have a heart.” Laughter erupted from the man talking.

  “You should have thought about that before you started rutting that whore again!

  God damn it, Richard, you really need to learn to keep that prick of yours buttoned up!”

  She heard Richard let out a large grunt. “Well, at least I’m getting some. You aren’t even getting close to bedding your wife. She’s frigid to the core, isn’t she?”

  “Shut the hell up, Richard. She’s just had a fever. She’s still re
cuperating. So, just keep your gob shut.” Hart growled.

  “Can’t. I’m drunk and high on life. My tongue is all lubed up and I’m ready to speak my mind. You, dear brother, are leg-shackled to a woman that wouldn’t know what to do in bed, let alone allow you to take her there, willingly. Does she bathe with her clothes on as well?” He laughed almost hysterically.

  “Keep talking about Gemma that way, and I’ll be tempted to pound you a good one!”

  Richard’s derisive laughter faded away. “Holy Fuck. I think I took too much opium at the Widow Baker’s party. I’m seeing triple. Whoa. You look real funny as a three headed man.”

  “You came back from a party or an orgy?” Hart asked, sighing.

  “Well, you can just say I wasn’t just gorging on fruit nectar. But it was wet and wild.” He sniggered again.

  “Oh, shit, Richard. You need to learn how to control yourself. If you don’t, your addiction to over indulging is going to be the end of you.”

  “Well, I’m not bloody well going to jump off a cliff like my dear old mom did.”

  He laughed, finally sobering up. “Oh, hell. I am going down the same path aren’t I? As soon as I start talking to myself and trying to murder a love of the Widow Baker’s let me know, eh?”

  He sighed heavily. “I think I need to sit.” She heard him thud as he most likely missed a hall chair and fell instead on the floor.

  “Here. Let me help you up. You’re so hammered you can’t even stand. How did you get home?”

  “Courtesy of a new friend. She drove me home in her carriage, and gave me a HIS LADY’S KEEPER Marly Mathews 119

  good old-fashioned blowjob too, as a way of an informal introduction. Oh, yeah, my pecker was happy to see her. Hence, the reason why I need money.” He yawned. “Oh, cripes, I don’t feel so good.”

  All hint of his Spanish accent he’d put on for her when he’d been at Mallory Hall disappeared. Richard was obviously not as Spanish as she’d originally believed. Now, he sported a refined Scottish Accent, not as thick as Hart’s brogue but quite noticeable nonetheless.

  “I’ll go out and pay her after I get you upstairs. I can’t believe the fix you’ve gotten yourself into.”

  “At least I’m in one piece. Oh, shit. That’s right, I am supposed to be at a duel at sunrise.”

  “You’ll have to miss that appointment. You won’t be able to stand up let alone shoot straight until at least midday.”

  “Oh, no! I can’t do that. He might come here looking for his revenge.”

  “If he does, I’ll shoot him in the arm for you.”

  “You would?” Richard sighed. “You’re such a devoted brother. I really couldn’t ask for better little brother.”

  “I’m bigger than you, Richard.”

  “Aye, but I’m three years your senior.”

  “Richard, do me a favor and shut up. Dragging your ass up the stairs is going to be a world of fun.”

  “Just don’t hurt yourself. I could always sleep in one of the rooms on the main floor,” he offered drowsily. “I like the Adams sofa in the library .…”

  “And have the maids discover you like this? I don’t think so! It would shame our family. We’d be the talk of the entire British Empire!”

  Shuffling footsteps moved toward Hart and Richard’s location. She hoped she was hidden away so no one would see the glow of her candles but she couldn’t be sure.

  “Your Lordship?” The sleepy butler’s voice echoed through the entryway.

  “Nothing is amiss, Pettigrew. You can go back to bed.”

  Pettigrew yawned. “Thank you, sir. Are you certain you don’t require a few of the footmen to help you out? I could get Lord Richard’s valet up .…”

  “Never mind. Leave everyone where they are. They’ll need their rest for

  tomorrow. Just don’t wake me up for anything unless it’s an emergency.”

  “Yes, your lordship.” She could almost see Pettigrew bowing to Hart before

  shuffling back to the servants’ quarters.

  “Uh, Hart … I think I want to go to bed now. I have the beginnings of a roaring headache. Soon, I’m going to start seeing green little men and women asking me if they’d like me to come along to the Leprechaun Paradise.”

  Gemma heard Hart grunt as he hoisted Richard up.

  She couldn’t let him try to get him up the stairs by himself. If nothing else, he’d require the extra light along with the candles already lit. Surprisingly, she didn’t feel as worn out from the fever as she’d expected. She must have slept most of it off. And Maeve’s healing broths and tonics evidently were worth their weight in gold. To be fair, the fever hadn’t been as bad as some of the ones she’d had in the past. She’d lived through some pretty harrowing ones in her time.

  She walked cautiously out toward them, hoping that Richard was so foxed that he HIS LADY’S KEEPER Marly Mathews 120

  wouldn’t notice her presence.

  When she finally caught up with them, Hart already had Richard supported and he was literally dragging his limp form toward the stairs.

  Hart caught her glance and winked. She smiled. Fixing her gaze on Richard, she noticed that he’d already passed out.

  “It won’t take long to get him settled for the remainder of the night.”

  “How often do you do this sort of thing?” she asked softly, careful not to raise her voice too high lest she awaken Richard.

  “Usually, whenever Richard is in residence here on the island. He’s notorious for this sort of shite. Mother hates seeing him like this, so I try to get him to his bedroom as soon as I hear him. Fortunately, mother either doesn’t hear him, or she pretends she doesn’t hear him so I can get him put to bed unnoticed.”

  “He is most irresponsible,” she muttered, eyeing him warily out of the corner of her eyes.

  “How are you doing? Do you feel faint? Maybe you should hold the banister as we walk up.”

  She chuckled. “I’m fine. If I start to feel lightheaded, I’ll grab for the railing.

  Thank you for your concern,” she murmured smiling.

  He grinned at her in the dim light.

  Richard started to snore. Loudly.

  “How can he fall into such a deep sleep so quickly?”

  “It’s a talent of his. He can nod off wherever or whenever, no matter what sort of conditions he’s under.” He snorted.

  “That must serve him well in hard times.”

  Her mind whirled. If he slept as soundly and fell into a deep sleep as quickly as he did, someone could have surely fooled him when it came to Joseph being shot.

  “Do you know anything about Belladonna and its hallucinogenic uses? It can be drunk in tea to go into what some call a living dream … What if they used it to put Richard into a living nightmare?”

  “Belladonna. Shit, Gemma. I know I don’t want to allow you into the herbal cellar anytime soon. Don’t go and start getting too friendly with Maeve.”

  “I’m not thinking about poisoning you.” She sighed. “Not yet, anyway,” she added, chuckling. “Just be sure to stay on my good side as long as I have access to deadly nightshade.”

  Hart sighed. “I know that Richard said some nasty things about you back there, but you have to understand that he is thoroughly stoned beyond sensibility.”

  “I realize that,” she murmured, grimacing. Recalling what he’d said about her wasn’t something she wanted to relive so soon after hearing it straight from his mouth. “I am simply trying to think of all of the things that could be slipped into a drink of Richard’s that would obscure his memory and recollection of Joseph’s death.”

  “Not this again, Gemma. Joseph is dead. Long gone.”

  “I don’t believe he is. He’s out there somewhere with no memory of you—or if he has a memory someone is keeping him from contacting you.”

  “Nothing would stop Joseph, short of hellhounds from getting to us when he

  really needs us.”

  “Then, pay no heed to
my crazy mutterings.” She cast her eyes downward,

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  watching her steps carefully as they reached the top of the stairs.

  “I can understand why you’re clinging to the dream you had with Andrew in it, Gemma. But it is just that, a dream. No one’s spirit, least of all Andrew’s spirit came to you in your fever. It was the delirium working its mirage like magic on you.”

  She regarded him thoughtfully, remaining silent. He quickly turned in the

  direction of the East Wing. Richard had taken up most of the rooms in that particular wing of the castle. As they walked down the hallway, a Spanish tapestry caught her eye.

  She inhaled deeply, looking at the intricate details of a Spanish knight and his lady.

  Moving on, she stopped dead in her tracks.

  “Is that … Good lord! That’s a tapestry with Catherine de Medici in it, isn’t it?”

  He nodded his head. “Come on, you can explore these halls later when I’ve

  gotten Richard to bed! He’s a real dead weight, you know.” He expelled another rush of air. “He might be shorter than me, and look smaller, but bloody hell he’s as dense as a rock.”

  She walked quickly in front of him so she could open Richard’s door for him.

  “It’s locked,” she announced, stunned.

  “I’ve got to get him in and then I have to go and pay that little tart he’s left waiting in her carriage. Just give me a minute.” Placing Richard so that he was slumped against the wall, Hart started searching his pockets. He pulled out a snuffbox, a purse, a watch, a small box of candies, and then finally, keys. “I swear he carries everything he can possibly stuff into his pockets. Stand aside, Gemma.” Quickly, he unlatched the door and pushed it open.

  “Come on you little bastard, let’s get you all snug and warm in your bed.”

  He grunted, heaving Richard up again. “I always say this, but I’m done with carting your ass around, brother mine.” He walked over to the four-poster bed and dumped him on the mattress. Richard’s head knocked against the one poster. “Whoops.

  Sorry about that, Richard. If you’re head hurts in the morning, it’s all your fault.” He sniggered, turning back to her where she stood waiting in the doorway.