by Tracy Kay
“Perhaps,” Chameleon shrugged nonchalantly and without remorse. “But it buys us time to get Madeline and Damon married and back to London. It is going to take Farrington awhile to repair that ship, if he can, and no one is going to be willing to take him on as a passenger. I saw to that earlier today as well.”
“How did you pull that off, Cham?” Cassandra was astounded by her ingenuity.
She shrugged again. “I know people.”
“You have thought of everything.” Brandon studied her intently. He was concerned for Chameleon. She wasn’t acting her usual self.
“So it seems,” she replied nonchalantly and raised the glass of brandy she had yet to taste. “Let us have a toast to Madeline and Damon’s engagement and how about some dinner. I am starved.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
“It is so good to be home.” Madeline threw herself across her bed in her beautiful bedroom. She had missed her home, her family and friends.
She had loved her marriage ceremony. It had been so wonderful. Shortly after arriving at Morgan’s Island, she and Damon had the ceremony on the beach at sunset. Brandon had given her away. Cassandra had stood in as her bridesmaid and Raven had been Damon’s best man. The local priest, whom she would swear was a reformed pirate, had officiated. Chameleon, Conrad, Tylib, Jeremy, the crew of the Wayward Wind, and even some members from the other ships had attended the wedding.
After the ceremony, they had walked back to Morgan’s plantation where there had been the most magical celebration waiting for them. The grounds had been lit with hundreds of lanterns and the food and drink had been abundant. The music and singing had become more rowdy as the evening progressed. She had laughed until her sides hurt and danced until her feet ached. As the night turned into dawn, Damon had swept her up into his arms with hoots and hollers of encouragement from those still enjoying the celebration. Damon carried her up the stairs of Morgan’s large home and into a room that had been prepared for them. After placing her onto the bed, he undressed her, and slowly made love to her into the early afternoon until they fell asleep, exhausted and satiated. It had been a magnificent wedding and she had enjoyed the return voyage to England. She sighed from the memories, but oh, it was so good to be home.
Damon chuckled as he put down their baggage. “I am pleased you are happy to be home, honey.” He watched her with love in his eyes. He enjoyed making her smile and his decision to stay at her family’s home was a wise one. It would let her acclimate herself to married life, and it would give him an opportunity to get to know her family.
Madeline rolled over onto her back and lifted her arms up to the ceiling. “I am happy.” She sat up and crossed her legs to study her new husband. It was so strange being a married woman. “Oh, Damon, you have made me very happy. Thank you for letting us stay here and not on the ship or a hotel room.”
Damon sat on the bed, grabbing hold of one of her hands. “I want you to be happy, honey. And this is the safest place at the moment. Once this is all over, we will find our own house. Something nearby so you won’t be far from your family.” He kissed the palm of her hand. He knew she would be as safe, if not more so, at Raven’s townhouse or on the Wayward Wind, but he didn’t have the heart to keep her from her family. In a month or two, he would start searching for a house and that would be soon enough to force her to leave her family and start one of their own.
“Damon, I love you so much. You are perfect.” She stroked his face with the hand he had kissed.
He chuckled. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
“Well, I think you are.” She smiled and pulled him towards her.
“I know what is on your mind.” He chuckled again.
She smiled shyly at him. “I love loving you, Damon.”
He smiled back at her. “I love loving you too, baby.” He pushed back a stray lock of her hair. “But we have no time, honey. Brandon said for us to meet him downstairs. He is getting the family together to announce our marriage.” Damon was nervous about meeting her parents, but he was also anxious to get it done. He wasn’t quite sure how the duke and duchess were going to react to their daughter having married a common sailor, but it wasn’t going to be good.
She puckered her lips in a pout and sighed. “It is a shame Mother and Father were home. I could have used a few more days.” Her mother wasn’t going to be pleased with her marriage and she dreaded the upcoming family gathering.
“It is best to get it over with, honey.” Damon stroked her hair and placed a light kiss on her brow.
“I know.” She sighed again. “I better get changed. Mother would die if she saw me in this dress.” She looked down at the old, dark blue dress she wore. She loved the dress, but it wasn’t suitable for anything other than traveling.
Damon caressed her cheek. “You are beautiful no matter what you wear, my love.”
Madeline blushed. His compliments and love were still so new. He made her feel so cherished and so beautiful.
He wrapped his hand around her neck and touched her forehead with his. “You are my love and my life. You know that, right?”
“Hmm.” She nodded her head and wrapped her arms around him, too choked up to speak.
He kissed her deeply and drew her tight to him. “Everything will be fine. I promise.”
“Hmm.” She nodded again, letting herself soak him in and holding him close to her.
“You get changed, Madeline, and I will meet you downstairs,” he said as he let her go.
She could only smile shyly at him as he left the room.
Brandon stood in front of the fireplace, watching his family as they gathered in the parlor. He watched Damon help Madeline sit next to him on the settee. His brother, Nicholas and Maxine sat at the chess table toying with the pieces. Nicholas’ grief over Joselyn was passing away from him. Good. He knew Maxine would help him move on. Nicholas didn’t realize it yet, but he had only been infatuated with Joselyn. Not that he had wished Joselyn dead, but they never would have made a good match.
Brandon smiled as Stephen and Jared entered the room, deep in conversation over the new horse they had acquired that afternoon. And there was his beautiful, little Deirdre slipping into the room, trying not be noticed. She didn’t like attention on herself. As he watched his shy sister sit in a chair in a corner of the room, his father and step-mother arrived. He watched them closely and sensed the energy in the room change as they sat on the settee across from Damon and Madeline. Everyone looked up at the couple, their ease and joy with each other falling away, leaving behind a tension that was almost palatable. Brandon frowned. That was Elizabeth’s doing. She was hard on her children and made them all so uncomfortable. He would never understand her and why she resented her children. Once they were seated, Brandon faced his family. “I am glad you were all able to join me here.”
“You were very insistent, son, and you did say you had an important announcement,” Jonathan said, hoping that his son had finally decided to choose a wife.
Brandon knew what his father was thinking and he was going to be disappointed. Brandon closed his eyes for a moment to gather himself. He did not want to argue with his father today. When he opened his eyes, he met his father’s calmly. “Yes, I do have an announcement, among other things I need to discuss with all of you.”
“Then get on with it, Brandon,” Elizabeth snapped, incensed that she had to be here. She had better things to do than hear Brandon prattle on about something inconsequential. She hated these family meetings. They were a complete waste of her time. She couldn’t wait for the day all her children were married and had their own homes. She had no interest in her children and their ridiculous lives. She would do her duty, but beyond that, she washed her hands of them. She had married Jonathan because she had wanted to be a duchess, not a mother. After the first two children, she had thought she was done, but Jonathan had wanted a large family. He had argued with her that it was expected of him. His father had had many children and so would he. She had given him h
is children, but since she had never wanted them, she spent as little time around the bothersome creatures as possible. She was far more interested in her social obligations and traveling.
“I am, Elizabeth.” Brandon had to fight for patience. He knew this wasn’t going to be easy. “I requested you all to be here because I need to impress upon all of you the importance of taking care.” He gave Elizabeth a stern expression. “Farrington is after this family. He intends on harming us, and with his ship being destroyed, he is more dangerous now than he was before we left England.”
“I wish you had conferred with me on that, son,” Jonathan said. “There was no reason for you to drag my daughter to wherever it was you took her. I am sure Lord Brumley will be brought to justice for killing Lady Joselyn once the authorities take him into custody.” Although he had turned his children’s upbringing over to his son years ago, he still loved his children and tried to keep up with their busy lives. He was relieved when Brandon had taken on the business aspects of the family’s assets and estates, and dealing with most of his duties in Parliament. All the social responsibilities that came with the title of duke and his wife’s busy travel plans took up most of his time, leaving little for his children. Not spending time with his children and losing his eldest son’s respect was the biggest regret in his life. Jonathan knew his son would never see him as a good father and he supposed Brandon was right, much to his shame.
“There was no time for me to ask your permission, Father, even if I was inclined to do so.” Brandon met his father’s gaze for a long moment until Jonathan averted his eyes. “Since we were the only ones to witness the murder and Farrington has claimed it was an accident, a misunderstanding, there will be no trial and no justice.” Brandon was frustrated with the authorities and their willingness to look the other way. He was sure that Farrington had paid them off or threatened them. “Farrington is a real threat to Madeline. Already, he has tried to kill her and I have no doubt he will try it again. I believe he would have no issue killing other members of this family as well. Therefore, no one leaves this house unescorted, particularly the women and Jared.”
Jared sat up straight in surprise. “Me? What would he want with me?”
Brandon grimaced, knowing his youngest brother was about to get his feathers ruffled. “Because you are young, Jared, and I don’t think you can handle Farrington on your own. Nor are you to be an escort for our sisters. You won’t be able to protect them.”
“I can protect them,” Jared said indignantly. “I can fight if I need to.” The young man sat up straight, trying to present himself as an imposing man. He didn’t want his older brother to see him as a boy.
Brandon smiled gently, hoping to ease the blow. “I know that, Jared, and if it wasn’t for the present danger, I would be fine with it. But not right now, you aren’t experienced enough. In a few years, you will be, but for the present, you aren’t. And neither do I want you going out alone or with your friends. I want Nicholas or myself with you.” He gestured towards Stephen. “That goes for you too, Stephen.”
“What? Why do I need an escort?” Stephen said incredulously. “I can handle myself.” He was not a wet behind the ears boy as Jared was. He was a man and he was irritated that Brandon didn’t see him that way.
Brandon moved to where Stephen was sitting and gave his shoulder a squeeze. He knew his easy going brother could handle himself when he needed to, but he wasn’t sure how he would do up against Farrington and his thugs alone. “I know you can handle yourself, Steve, but humor your older brother, will you. No one is safe until the threat Farrington poses is removed, and that includes Nicholas and myself. We all need to be diligent and alert.” Letting go of his brother’s shoulder, he walked over to Damon and Madeline to stand behind the settee where they were seated.
“This is ridiculous,” Elizabeth said, turning to her husband. “Jonathan, I have social obligations. I am the Duchess. I can’t be cooped up in this house with this . . .” She gestured at Brandon. “This . . . this . . . barbarian you call a son.”
“Elizabeth,” Jonathan said helplessly.
Brandon laughed out loud at the name Elizabeth called him. “Elizabeth, you may think I am a barbarian, but I am only looking after your safety. Despite our differences, you are still a member of my family and you are my responsibility, like it or not. As for your obligations, you may still attend your social activities, but you must have an escort. Father will do fine, I am sure.” Brandon had faith that it was unlikely Farrington would go after his father. Jonathan was, after all, a duke and murdering him or Elizabeth would not go well for Farrington.
He looked around the room at each member of his family. “I don’t want to have to go rescuing anyone, so please do as I ask.” After every one nodded or said yes, Brandon continued. “I am sure many of you are curious as to why Damon is here, and for some, who he is.” Brandon smiled encouragingly at Damon before introducing him. “This is my good friend, Captain Damon Spencer.”
“I was wondering who my daughter was allowing to paw at her,” Elizabeth interjected nastily, vaguely remembering Damon as the man who had escorted Madeline to the Malany ball. “Really, Madeline, your behavior is unacceptable. A sailor, Madeline, an American, really,” she said with distaste and wrinkled her nose as if she had smelled something rotten. That daughter of hers had always found ways to embarrass her. “No wonder you can’t find a husband. You are acting like a harlot.”
When Damon would have jumped up with indignation, Brandon placed a hand on his shoulder, pushed him back down, and shook his head. “Elizabeth, please refrain from your abuse and your interruptions,” he said harshly, but stayed calm despite his rising anger. “As I was saying, this is Damon Spencer and he is the newest member of our family. He and Madeline were married during our voyage.” Brandon took a deep breath and waited for the reaction. He did not have long to wait.
“What?” Jonathan said stunned.
“Who is this man?” Elizabeth yelled, jumping to her feet.
“Brandon, you didn’t.” Nicholas tilted his head with disbelief.
“Fabulous,” Maxine grinned with amusement.
“Oh, I say, congratulations, Maddy,” Jared stated, startled by the news.
Stephen was speechless.
“I am so happy for you.” Deirdre got up to give her sister a hug before returning to her seat.
“I won’t have this. You can’t marry my daughter off to some . . . some . . . some . . . barbarian like you!” Elizabeth shouted and stomped her foot, her face turning bright red with her anger. Her daughter couldn’t have married a commoner and an American at that. She wouldn’t have it. She would be a disgrace. The gossip she would have to endure. It was unbearable.
Brandon regarded her calmly. “It is done, Elizabeth.”
“Well, undo it!” She demanded, stomping her foot.
Madeline stood up, pushing Damon’s hand off her to face her mother. “Mother, I am married to Damon. I love him and there is nothing you can do about it.”
“You will live in poverty.” Elizabeth turned to Brandon and glared at him. “Do you really expect her to live beneath her station, Brandon? When she can’t have her expensive gowns or trinkets, what then?”
“I assure you, Elizabeth, that Damon is more than capable of providing for Madeline and buying her anything she needs or wants,” Brandon placated. Brandon knew for a certainty that Damon could easily support Madeline and her expensive tastes. Damon lived simply, never gambled, and spent his money wisely. Despite his modest claims of only being a sailor and have nothing to offer Madeline, he had acquired a large fortune over the years with his partnership in Ravenleigh shipping and his other investments. He was a very wealthy man and Madeline would want for nothing.
“I will have it annulled,” she exclaimed and stomped her foot again in frustration.
“No, Mother, you won’t. I am enceinte.” Madeline didn’t know for sure that she was pregnant, but her mother didn’t need to know that. Sh
e gazed down at her husband who was watching her, took his hand, and smiled with a slight shake of her head, letting him know she was lying. He gave her hand a squeeze and winked at her, acknowledging her lie. “And there is nothing you can do to change it, Mother,” she said smugly.
“Oh, dear god,” Elizabeth said and covered her face with her hands. “You are ruined. You have disgraced our family.”
“I don’t think it is that bad, Mother,” Madeline said in annoyance and sat down next to Damon when he pulled at her hand.
Brandon cleared his throat, having noticed Madeline and Damon’s exchange. “Pregnant or not, Madeline and Damon are married and they will remain that way. As you are all aware, based on Jonathan’s predecessor’s wishes, who was his father and our grandfather, and with the crown’s approval, upon Madeline’s marriage, her husband will assume the title Earl of Warbrooke, along with all the obligations and duties that entails, and Madeline the title of Countess. They have now the responsibility of Warbrooke Estates, along with the remainder of Madeline’s dowry which is substantial.” Brandon turned to his father. “Father would you like me to go over Damon’s new responsibilities or would you prefer that duty?” Although Brandon would review Damon’s role as Earl with him, Brandon wanted to give his father the opportunity to build a relationship with his new son-in-law.
Jonathan stared at his daughter and Damon, his new son-in-law. Madeline was married to a sea captain and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it. He couldn’t help but feel he had failed her. He should have been the one to decide her future, encourage her to marry a man of status and means. But Brandon married her off to this man. He hoped his son knew what he was doing and that his daughter would be happy with such a man. Jonathan decided he would make the best of it and learn for himself why Brandon chose Damon for Madeline. “Actually, son, I would like to assume that duty. It will give me a chance to spend time with Damon and get to know him a bit. If that is acceptable for you, Damon?”