Becoming A Lady

by Marie Higgins

  He stepped closer, and on impulse, she stepped back. The mood between them had changed, and the excitement pounding in her chest frightened her, only because she was afraid she’d want to fall against him and have him hold her in a very improper embrace.

  “I have changed my mind, Dorothy.”

  He stepped closer, and once again she stepped back, but a large crate kept her from going any further. She raised her hands between them to keep him from coming any nearer, but all her palms seemed to want to do was rest against his chest. His heartbeat thudded in a fast rhythm, matching the pace of hers.

  “W—why did you change your mind about me?” Good heavens! Was that her voice? If so, why did it sound so sultry?

  “Perhaps it’s because I’ve had the privilege to see how you’ve blossomed since we first met.”

  His gaze swept over her face, his fingertips following as they brushed her forehead, her cheeks, and across her bottom lip. His eyes remained on her mouth even though his fingers moved over her chin and slowly down her neck.

  Cotton took up residence in her throat, making it impossible to tell him to stop. Her mind insisted she put a halt to this insanity, yet her body urged Calvin’s exploration, and her lonely heart enjoyed the way he made her melt. There was no way she could stop him now, even if the ship sank.

  “Dorothy, you’re breathtaking,” he whispered and leaned his face closer.

  Unwilling to push him back, she closed her eyes and offered her mouth for his taking. He covered her lips with his own as his arms wrapped around her, pulling her body against his. She clutched his jacket, hanging on before her legs gave out beneath her.

  His soft mustache stroked her skin in a sensual way. She mimicked the tenderness he showered on her mouth. Surprised over the tingles cascading through her, she gasped, but he took the opportunity to deepen the kiss.

  Never had spirals of heat blazed through every nerve in her body, making her burn with passion. She shivered, but not from the outdoor elements. Instead, desire flooded her every sense, igniting a greater sensation to flow inside her body.

  Calvin kept the kiss soft as his gentle lips moved over hers. She slid her palms up his chest and around his neck, but this only made it possible for her to feel his muscular chest that much better. Instead of being uncomfortable, the warmth from his body gave her an odd feeling of comfort and security.

  Since these feelings rushing through her were so foreign, she should be frightened, yet she felt more at ease with him than she had with any man. They were pressed together so closely she should be having difficulty breathing. Instead, her breaths came deep and fast, as did his.

  Silently, she prayed that nothing would stop this incredible feeling.

  * * * *

  Calvin couldn’t get enough of this passionate woman. Her response to his demanding kiss was better than he’d anticipated. He’d kissed enough women to know which were innocent and which were not, and Dorothy was innocent despite of the way she’d been reared. It pleased him to know she’d never been kissed this way—and that she enjoyed his attention.

  Her body melted against his as he devoured her mouth; only his frame and the crate behind her kept her standing. And because she responded so well, he couldn’t stop his hand from wandering to her waist. So small. So soft. Somehow she had captured his heart, and he didn’t care.

  It hadn’t helped matters when she’d become concerned for his injury…wanting him to be comfortable. She hadn’t acted like his deformity made her skittish in the least. Usually women didn’t want to discuss his injury because it made them feel unsafe. Dorothy was the first woman to act as if he were a whole man instead of an invalid child who needed a nursemaid. He didn’t know if this was the reason why he wanted to kiss her or not. Right now, all he knew was how perfect she fit in his embrace…

  He brought his mind to a quick halt. What was he thinking? She could not be perfect in his arms! She was Longdale’s granddaughter. Calvin could not have any passionate feelings for her whatsoever.

  Reluctantly, he broke the kiss and stepped away. She swayed as if she’d fall to the deck, but then quickly righted herself. Deep blue eyes, dark with desire, searched his face in confusion. Within seconds, passion left her gaze. Hurt and embarrassment replaced it.

  “Forgive me,” she muttered. “I didn’t mean…” Her voice trembled.

  His heart broke and he shook his head. “No, Dorothy, it wasn’t you—”

  “I must be going. Miss Peabody is probably worried.”

  She pushed past him. He grasped her arm to keep her still so he could explain, but she yanked her limb away and ran away from him. He should have gone after her, but he knew she wouldn’t listen now anyhow. Hopefully, she’d let him explain later. He’d rather see her smile than her expression of agony.

  Chapter Seven

  The next week passed slowly for Dorothy. She didn’t leave Miss P’s side for a moment, because Dorothy knew Calvin wanted a word with her. She didn’t want any words with him, the scoundrel! How dare he make her feel like a real lady, so passionate and desirable? Indeed, she was turning out like her mother—close to being swept away by a sweet-talking nobleman.

  Dorothy blamed her curious nature for what happened between them that wonderful afternoon. If she hadn’t wondered what it would feel like to be held and kissed by him, she wouldn’t have encouraged him for a moment of privacy.

  Now she knew, and she’d never let it happen again. She couldn’t allow it happen. She couldn’t let her life turn out like her mother’s.

  Miss Peabody instructed Dorothy to sit at the small table in their room as she explained the importance of mealtime. Each utensil had a purpose, and even each glass. Each serving dish was brought in at different times for a reason, Miss P explained. Not only that, Dorothy was shown the proper way to sit at the table—keeping her elbows off at all times—with her back straight and chin erect.

  Dorothy rolled her eyes. Good grief, these British people couldn’t possibly be serious. This was a meal, not a test in school.

  But Miss P was quite serious in her lessons. Apparently, the nobility took this kind of thing very seriously as well. No wonder Calvin had been so appalled the first time he they had dinner together.

  A knock sounded on the door, and Dorothy jumped. Her heart climbed to her throat as her limbs froze. It had to be Calvin. She took a deep breath, trying not to appear upset.

  Miss P sashayed the best she could in the small room toward the door and opened it. Just as Dorothy suspected, Calvin stood in the doorway, looking as handsome as ever.

  “Mr. Seton. What a pleasure it is to see you,” Miss Peabody said sweetly.

  “Miss Peabody, forgive me for intruding upon your lessons, but I came by to see how you both were faring.”

  “I thank you for your consideration, but we are doing quite well.” The companion grinned.

  Calvin met Dorothy’s gaze from across the room. “And how are you faring in your lessons, Miss Paxton?”

  “Very well,” she answered softly.

  Dorothy didn’t enjoy the look of sadness in his gaze. He must still have the need to speak to her, which of course she couldn’t allow.

  “Another storm has come upon us, and I fear it’s worse than the last one. I thought to check in on you before retiring for bed,” he stated.

  “It’s worse?” Miss Peabody flattened her hand on her chest and breathed deeply. “I absolutely abhor the rolling waves.”

  “As I had suspected, Miss Peabody, which is why I came to check on you.”

  Since Calvin kept his gaze on Dorothy, she wondered why he was even conversing with Miss P at all. Dorothy shrugged. “No need to worry, Mr. Seton. We can hardly feel the waves at all.”

  “Good to hear.” His smile looked forced.

  “Although,” Miss Peabody said, then paused, turning her eyes to the wall. “I do hear the rain, and it sounds very heavy.”

  “Indeed, you do.” Calvin nodded, finally moving his attention to the com
panion. “It’s coming down in sheets, I fear.”

  “Oh, dear.” Miss P wrung her hands against her middle. “I really do not like storms.”

  Dorothy sighed loudly. “I love the rain—love the smell, and the way it cools the air, and the pitter-patter on the roof that makes me drowsy. It’s a pleasant way to spend the day, cuddled up by the fireplace, listening to the raindrops hit the window.”

  Calvin cocked his head. “Pray, Miss Paxton, what would you cuddle next to during a time such as this?”

  She heard the hint in his tone, and without wanting to, she blushed, damn him. “I would cuddle with a blanket, of course.”

  He grinned. “You are a woman after my own heart, because I also love a good rainstorm.”

  There he went again with those sweet words. Dorothy really wished he’d stop it.

  “Then I must be different, because storms frighten me.” Miss Peabody pouted.

  Calvin looked at the companion. “Miss Peabody, I believe most women think as you do.”

  Dorothy rolled her eyes. Maybe most women from England, but she highly doubted American women thought in such a boring way. When Dorothy met Calvin’s gaze again, his smile had widened. Obviously, he caught her reaction to what Miss P had said.

  “Well ladies,” he bowed slightly, “I bid you good evening. If you should need anything, don’t hesitate to come get me. I will be in my room reading this evening.”

  “We shall be fine, thank you,” Dorothy quickly answered.

  “Good evening, Mr. Seton.” Miss Peabody nodded as she closed the door.

  Expelling a deep sigh, Miss P frowned and walked to her opened trunk. She pulled out a book then flopped on her cot.

  “Are we done with my lessons?” Dorothy asked.

  “I suppose so. If the storm is growing worse as Mr. Seton says, there isn’t much we can do now except read a good book, just as Mr. Seton is going to do.” She motioned with her hand toward Dorothy’s trunk. “Feel free to read. This is another favorite pastime of most ladies of nobility.”

  Dorothy shrugged. Reading was better than this idiotic lesson—that was for certain.

  She pushed away from the table and picked up the book she’d been reading for a week now, when she got a few extra minutes, anyway. She situated herself on the cot with her back against the wall.

  After a few moments, the walls of the ship seemed to echo from the raindrops as it hit the wood. Miss P groaned and covered her ears. Poor woman.

  “Would you like me to fetch you some whiskey?” Dorothy asked the companion.

  “What?”

  The older woman’s eyes widened, but not in shock over the improper question. Instead, the look of excitement glittered in the companion’s gaze.

  “When I was a young girl, whenever I became upset my mother used to give me a swallow of whiskey to ease my nerves. I wonder if it would do the same for yours.”

  Miss P smiled, her cheeks turning red. “Well, I’ll admit my mother did the same thing. In fact—” she set her book down and scooted to the edge of the cot next to her trunk— “I brought my own bottle just in case.”

  Dorothy bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing as the old woman fished out her bottle, unscrewed the lid, and tipped it to her lips.

  Within minutes, the swallow turned into many, until the woman’s glassy eyes began to droop with fatigue. Dorothy pretended to read her book by the lantern light, but instead, watching her companion became more entertaining by the moment. A half hour later, the older woman’s chin touched her chest as soft snores came from her mouth.

  Shaking her head, Dorothy moved to assist the drunken woman by sliding off her shoes and throwing a blanket over her, helping her to lie down more comfortably. Dorothy peeled the bottle of whiskey from Miss P’s fingers then carried it to the trunk.

  For the next few hours, Dorothy tried to read, but the ship tossed her back and forth on her cot and made seeing the words nearly impossible. She wasn’t ready to retire for bed, yet there wasn’t anything else to do.

  As she took off her clothes and replaced them with her nightgown, her thoughts returned to Calvin. That irritating man! She shouldn’t have agreed to this ridiculous bargain, yet Jeremy’s health had greatly improved before she boarded the ship with Calvin. Still, it was hard not to imagine becoming a real lady and having her family look upon her as one. It had never bothered her before, but since the man from England strutted into her life and showered her with affection, she couldn’t help but think this way.

  She pulled a brush through her ringlet hair, removing all the work Miss Peabody had slaved over this morning. This was another thing she couldn’t understand. Why did women fix their hair so lavishly when they would only brush it out at bedtime?

  Although Dorothy knew she did not deserve to be treated like a lady, the praise from Mr. Seton and men of his standing, made her feel special. How long this would last, she didn’t know, and that worried her. For certain when her grandfather met her, he would probably be appalled by the way she was reared and send her away. But she wouldn’t worry about that until it happened. She must guard her heart and not allow her hopes to climb. That man had already denied her once, and she feared he’d do it again.

  Dorothy tied together the ribbons down her ruffled bodice before climbing into bed. As the ship swayed back and forth, she closed her eyes, but sleep did not come. Even if she was tired, Miss P’s snores would keep her awake.

  Filling her mind with images of what it would be like to meet her grandfather and family, Dorothy concentrated on other things, but the companion’s snores grew louder. Even Calvin’s deep voice in her head bothered her. She really wished he wouldn’t put such ideas into her mind. No matter what he said, she could never be a lady. Her family would never accept her!

  Grumbling, she threw off the blanket and stood. She slipped into her wrapper and tied it tight around her waist before marching to the door. Even though she didn’t want to talk privately with Calvin for fear of letting her temper show, she must do it now. She must tell him her thoughts and let him know how he wasted good money on this trip.

  Out in the hallway, she paused and listened for any voices, but there were none. She hurried towards Calvin’s room, hearing Miss Peabody’s snores from this far away. Squaring her shoulders and building up courage, she knocked on the door. Within a few seconds, Calvin opened it. Seeing him so relaxed without his over-jacket, waistcoat and cravat, made her mouth dry.

  His eyes widened and he grasped her wrist. “Dorothy, is something wrong?”

  “Uh…no, not exactly.”

  He poked his head out of the doorway and looked down the hall. “Where is Miss Peabody? Is she ill?”

  A chuckle sprang from her throat before she could stop it. “She’s not ill now, but I fear she will be in the morning.” Confusion filled his expression, so she explained, “She had a few too many sips of her whiskey tonight. Apparently, she really doesn’t like storms.”

  Calvin laughed, which made her grin widen.

  “So why are you here?”

  Her mind went blank for a moment before she remembered why she was here. She frowned and folded her arms. “Because I need to talk to you.”

  “I have been trying to talk to you all week as well.” He motioned to his room. “Would you like to come in?”

  Dorothy arched an eyebrow. “Mr. Seton, you surprise me. I thought it wasn’t proper to be alone with a man in his bedroom.”

  Guilt reddened his cheeks. “It’s not, but neither is standing in the hallway where everyone can see you to spread ugly rumors.”

  She nodded. “Point taken.”

  Once she entered the room, he closed the door then leaned against it, folding his arms. “So what is on your mind tonight?”

  “You!”

  He smirked a grin. “Me? And this is a bad thing?”

  Grumbling, she marched up to him and pushed her finger into his chest. “I do not want you on my mind at all. I want to return to the way I was before you
entered my life.”

  “You are going to stand there and tell me you don’t enjoy wearing lovely dresses and having your hair done up pretty?” He stroked a lock of hair hanging over her shoulder. He straightened, which pulled him away from the door and closer to Dorothy. “And you really want me to believe you don’t appreciate having men look at you as if you’re the loveliest creature they’ve ever seen?” His hand dropped from her hair and rested on her shoulder where his thumb gently caressed.

  “Stop it.” She stomped her foot in irritation. “I would like you to cease telling me these things. I’ve never had a man gaze upon me in such a way, except when he was drunk. I’m not used to men of nobility thinking I’m pretty. Mr. Seton—”

  “Please, call me Calvin,” he whispered huskily.

  “Fine…Calvin. You are putting thoughts and images into my head, and I don’t like it one bit. I don’t want to think I can have a better life, because one of these days it’s going to be snatched away, and I’ll be miserable. At least before, I was ignorant in my misery.”

  He took her hand in his, still keeping it to his chest. “Why do you think this life will be snatched from you?”

  “Because…” Her chest clenched with pain. “Because things like this don’t happen to women like me. It didn’t happen for my mother when she fell in love with a nobleman, and it’s not going to happen to me.” She scowled. “I had to see the agony on my mother’s face when a gentleman passed through town and showed her a little interest then walked away just as fast as he’d entered. I remember the years of hurt my mother went through knowing the grandfather of her only daughter would treat us like outcasts.” She took a breath. “Calvin, you’re putting ideas in my head and I want you to stop.”

  “Are you certain you want me to stop?” He lifted his hand to her cheek and caressed.

  “Y—yes. And I want you to stop trying to charm me with your pretty words. I am not a beautiful woman, and I am certainly not desirable, as you tried to tell me the last time we were together.”