An Inescapable Attraction (The Defiant Hearts Series, Book 3)

by Sydney Jane Baily

  Now, she headed into the dragon's den, as she'd come to think of Charlotte's home, protected by Reed and his family, too—all strong women who dearly loved Charlotte, according to Thaddeus. And here she was with a reluctant knight, who would no more defend her against his sister than wear a lady's corset and pigtails.

  Trying to rest, Eliza tossed and wriggled, unable to get comfortable on the narrow bed in the sleeper car, certain she'd never sleep. However, when she opened her eyes, her cabin was light with early morning sun and Thaddeus was bending over her.

  She clenched her hands into fists to stop herself from reaching up and pulling him down to her for a kiss. Thaddeus Sanborn had been the man of her dreams since before he was really a man, and the man, himself, was so much better even than her fondest dreams.

  However, she wouldn't make the same mistake she'd made days earlier. He'd dismissed her declaration of love as though she were a confused child—even after he'd been intimate with her in the hotel room. Apparently, he remained the unreliable gadabout that her father had warned her of, though she'd always believed he was so much more.

  He was never going to fall for her or commit himself, not when he had women like that flamboyant Josephine no doubt waiting in towns all over the country. They represented excitement and variety. She couldn't possibly hope to tie him down to a life with only her.

  How could she blame him? She'd tried to be as interesting as he was, traveling, gambling, finding adventure, but she would never be truly comfortable as a drifter. As much as she'd wanted to get out of Spring City, mostly because Thaddeus was somewhere out in the world and because Riley was in love with Sophie, she now wanted to go home.

  Regrettably, that was the one thing she couldn't do, not with Stoddard coming after her, ready to claim her holdings as his own. He could so easily ruin the lives of the people she'd grown up with, and no matter what they thought of her, she couldn't let him take over Spring.

  "We're almost there, darlin'."

  Thaddeus kept his verdant gaze on her eyes until she stretched, and she saw it dart to her breasts, then to her lips. A frisson of longing streaked through her.

  "How did you get in here? I locked the door. I know I did." She had heard the satisfying click when she'd secured her compartment for the night.

  He offered her a wry smile and shrugged, implying the train's security was no match for him.

  Struggling to sit up, she yawned and put her feet over the edge.

  "Did you sleep well?" she asked him.

  "Not as well as you, it seems. I have a crick in my neck that only a hot bath will fix."

  "I told you that you could share my sleeper car," she reminded him, then wished she hadn't mentioned it. He'd turned her down on this train as he had on the previous one to Philadelphia. For some reason, he had decided to play the perfect gentleman, and she guessed it had to do with her rash declaration of love.

  She blushed. "I mean, we could have taken turns lying down here."

  He shrugged again and pulled open the curtains. They were already rumbling into Boston.

  "I'll be fine as soon as we get to Charlotte's," he said. "They live in an old sea captain's home, but it has all the modern comforts and then some."

  Ellie nodded and tried to produce a little enthusiasm.

  "Hey," he grinned at her. "You look as though you're paying a visit to the dentist for an aching tooth."

  She almost wished she was.

  He touched her chin. "It'll be fine. You'll see."

  * * *

  But it wasn't fine. They got out of a cabriolet in front of the Malloys' house on India Wharf, and a middle-aged Frenchwoman whom Thaddeus called Jeanine ushered them in. Moments later, Charlotte appeared and stared, wide-eyed, from her brother to Eliza, visibly gobsmacked.

  After she got over her initial shock, Charlotte closed in on Thaddeus and hugged him hard. Then, still holding his hand, she beheld Eliza with a frank gaze. Twice, Charlotte opened her mouth, then closed it again as though she had no words.

  Eliza was struck by how much Charlotte looked like her brother, with the same rich chestnut-colored hair and green eyes, eyes that were clearly puzzled by Eliza's presence. Even more than puzzled, vexed perhaps.

  Thaddeus spoke into the awkward silence. "Charlie, I brought Ellie here because she's in some trouble, and I think Reed can help."

  "Ellie?" Charlotte repeated, as if he were speaking another language, while she continued to gape at Eliza, clearly stunned to have her in her front hall. "Reed should be home any moment."

  They stood in silence again.

  Eliza didn't know what to say. She hadn't expected a warm welcome, but she had hoped to be invited in and not left standing in the entryway. On the other hand, though Charlotte wasn't overflowing with affection, at least she hadn't shown her the door. Yet.

  "You have a lovely home," Eliza managed.

  Just then, a toddler rushed in on unsteady feet and grabbed for his mother's skirts. Charlotte's face was transformed from one of cool restraint to unrestrained worship. She beamed.

  "Here's my little man." Before she could bend down to pick him up, however, Thaddeus scooped him into his arms and swung him high, making the boy squeal with laughter.

  "Ellie," he said, turning toward her with the boy she guessed to be about two, "this is my only nephew, Emory."

  "Maybe not your only nephew for long," came Reed's voice. He'd come unheralded and unheard through the front door and was already setting down a stuffed leather satchel. Shrugging out of his overcoat, he hung it on a wooden rack by the door and came forward, appearing unperturbed by the gathering in his foyer.

  Eliza's gaze flickered over the superbly handsome man, with his raven black hair and dark blue eyes, whom she'd encountered a few years earlier in Spring City. She'd thought she'd been successfully flirting with him back then—merely for the sport, of course, as she was engaged to Riley.

  However, Reed had been completely captivated by Charlotte, who now blushed profusely at her husband's brazen remark, though her winsome smile matched his.

  As if drawn by a string, Reed approached his wife and snaked an arm around her waist, tugging her close. Eliza felt even more of an intruder in their home, especially when they were discussing such a personal family event.

  "Another baby?" Thaddeus asked, boldly staring at his sister's figure. "But you don't look it."

  Charlotte laughed. "I'll show soon enough, dear brother. Maybe you'll get a niece this time. Girls are such fun, too."

  "Speaking of which, where are my little cousins?"

  "Not so little anymore," Charlotte said of her and Reed's adopted children, a girl and a boy, second cousins to Thaddeus and Charlotte. "They are at their grandmother's. You can see them tomorrow, either here or at Alicia's."

  Thaddeus grinned and turned to Eliza. "Wait till you meet my Grandmother Alicia."

  She felt the blood drain from her face. Wasn't this enough, facing Charlotte and Reed, without having to be paraded in front of extended family?

  "Dada," Emory piped up, holding out his little arms, and Reed took him from Thaddeus.

  "Why are we all standing in the front hall?" Reed wondered aloud. "Come in, let's get comfortable."

  Eliza glanced at Charlotte who hesitated, most likely reluctant to let Eliza any farther into her home than absolutely necessary. However, with cautious politeness, Charlotte gestured for them to follow Reed into the sitting room at the back of the house.

  "Reed, dearest," Charlotte addressed her husband, "Teddy and... and Eliza have a problem to discuss with you. I'll go ask Jeanine for some refreshments and tell Pierre we have two more for dinner."

  "If it's no trouble," Eliza said, finding her voice.

  Charlotte frowned at her. "Family is no trouble." And she turned and walked away.

  Eliza caught a glance between Thaddeus and Reed. She ought to follow Charlotte for a moment alone with her and apologize for some of her past behavior, but Thaddeus called her to his side.
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  "Let's get right to business," he said, gesturing for her to sit beside him on the sofa in a gracious but unassuming room overlooking the sea. "Reed, we need your expertise."

  At that moment, Reed didn't look like an expert on anything other than his son. Emory stood on his father's lap and jumped, up and down, up and down.

  "Just give him a moment, Thaddeus," Eliza said. "The boy wants his father."

  "No, no," Reed contradicted, "if we wait for little man here to stop bouncing, we'll never get to talk. But he's quiet, so let's begin. And Miss Prentice," Reed focused his dark gaze on her, "I didn't say it before, but it's a pleasant surprise to see you again and so unexpectedly far away from your home. I hope we can find a solution to your problem."

  She felt startled by his words of kindness. His tone seemed genuine. Didn't he know her history with his wife? She gave him her polished smile. "I truly hope so, too," she said.

  However, by the time Charlotte returned with Jeanine and a tray of refreshments in tow, Reed looked grim.

  "Fill me in," she said, and Eliza had to sit through the mortification of hearing her story a second time. By the end of it though, she noticed Reed now appeared more optimistic.

  "I'm fairly certain we can obtain a divorce and perhaps even a civil annulment, but by the sound of this Stoddard fellow, he's not going to take the loss of a fortune lying down, nor will he simply accept a judge's decision."

  "I'll make him accept it," Thaddeus said, surprising not only Eliza but Charlotte, too, or so it seemed by the stricken expression on her face. "If you get the legal work done, Reed, then one way or another, Stoddard's going to let her go free."

  Eliza blushed to hear Thaddeus championing her. If he thought her worthy of his assistance, that had to count for something in Reed and Charlotte's eyes.

  "Very well, then. Come down to my office tomorrow," Reed said. "I'll take down all the details and get started on your case, but I can't meet with you until two in the afternoon." He fixed his piercing gaze on Eliza, who'd kept silent as Thaddeus explained her sad situation.

  "Miss Prentice, we don't know each other, but obviously, you're a friend of Thaddeus and my wife—" Eliza felt her cheeks heat up at that mischaracterization of her relationship with Charlotte, never mind having no idea what to call her connection to Thaddeus "—and I will be glad to take your case. However, you'll have to trust me with the truth about everything that happened."

  She wished she came off looking better in the whole affair, but instinctively, she trusted this man, with his fierce blue eyes that radiated intelligence and understanding.

  She nodded her agreement. "I'll tell you everything."

  "Good." He gave her an encouraging smile. Then he turned to Thaddeus. "Why don't you catch up with your sister? I'm going to take Emory upstairs for a little while before dinner."

  Eliza watched Reed hoist his son to his hip with one arm and reach out his other arm to take his wife's hand in his. He brought it tenderly to his lips, his eyes locked on Charlotte's. She blushed under his gaze and smiled at him. He winked at her before disappearing up the stairs.

  It was so sweet, a shot of envy raced through Eliza.

  "It's his nap time," Charlotte said, taking a sip of tea.

  Thaddeus laughed. "Emory's a good lad."

  "No, I meant Reed. He'll take a nap, but only for a few minutes."

  Eliza couldn't help the unexpected giggle that escaped her.

  Charlotte continued, "Emory will lie down with him and, hopefully, shut his eyes, too. They'll both come down for dinner much refreshed."

  "Emory seems like a sweet and cooperative little boy," Eliza remarked, hoping her words would be well-received.

  "Thank you," Charlotte said, her tone barely warmer than before. "But after the jumping would have come the singing at the top of his lungs. Reed could tell Em was about to blow."

  Thaddeus stretched and yawned, snagging Charlotte's attention.

  "You look tired, Teddy. Maybe you'd like some shut-eye yourself before dinner." Then she looked at Eliza again. "Have you booked a hotel room, Miss Prentice?"

  "Charlie," Thaddeus cut in, as Eliza opened her mouth to speak. "I hoped we could both stay here."

  But Eliza had no intention of begging for a room.

  While Charlotte seemed to consider her brother's request, she stood up, feeling mortified. "I'm sure there are plenty of lovely hotels here in Boston," Eliza said. "Perhaps you can direct me to one close to your husband's offices."

  "Charlie," Thaddeus warned, and Charlotte narrowed her eyes at him for a second. Then she took a deep breath and stood up, facing Eliza.

  "If you don't have a hotel room reserved, then you're welcome to stay here for as long as you like."

  Eliza didn't feel welcome, not in the least. "No, that won't be necessary," she said. "I'll—"

  "Thanks, Charlie. We both appreciate it," Thaddeus said.

  Eliza glared at him. Charlotte crossed her arms, apparently enjoying Eliza's discomfort.

  Thaddeus stood up, stretching again. "I don't know about you, but I'm tired of hotels. I want a good meal and good night's sleep. We can get both of those here. Right, Charlie?"

  "Yes, of course, you can." Charlotte uncrossed her arms, relenting when asked by her only brother. "It might be a little cramped, but with the children away tonight, you can have two rooms... um, that is, unless you only want one room... for each of you or... Blazes!" she exclaimed, her green eyes flashing from one to the other. "Are you together?"

  "Yes," said Thaddeus.

  "No," said Eliza at the same time.

  They glanced at each other. Eliza knew her cheeks must be turning red; Thaddeus, himself, looked flushed. Why had he said they were a couple?

  "Shall we try that again?" asked Charlotte, sounding more than a little amused. "One bed or two?"

  "One," ground out Thaddeus.

  "Two," whispered Eliza at the same time.

  They stared at each other again. Did he really want her back in his bed? She wanted that, too, but he'd embarrassed her on the train and then rebuffed her offer of the sleeper car. And now...

  "Oh, for goodness sake!" Charlotte exclaimed. "Teddy, take Eliza upstairs. You know your usual room? I want you to give that to Eliza, and you can take Thomas's bed in the nursery, or not. It's up to you two."

  With a chuckle floating back to Eliza's embarrassed ears, Charlotte disappeared down the hallway.

  "Jesus, woman, what was that all about?" Thaddeus demanded, rounding on her.

  "I don't want your sister and her husband thinking that I, that we... you know."

  "But we did 'you know'. And as far as my sister's concerned, we can continue to 'you know' here in her house."

  "I will not be humiliated any further in front of them. The way you described my so-called marriage and husband was bad enough."

  "And you think sharing your bed with me is humiliating?"

  She stared at him, chin raised, trying to look every bit like her formidable self despite the fact that he'd seen her at her worst. But her attempt at putting on airs had never worked on him before and had no effect on him now, except to spur his annoyance apparently.

  "Well, darlin', far be it for me to demean you any more today. Let me show you to your room, and then I'm going to grab some shuteye before dinner. If you can stand eating with me, that is."

  He started up the stairs. She rolled her eyes at the back of his head.

  "Thaddeus, that's not what I meant."

  He raised a hand to silence her without looking back. Shrugging, she followed him up to a pleasant room, in which he dumped her nearly empty carpetbag on the bed. Almost out the door, he turned to her.

  "You'd better ask Charlotte if she's got something you can wear tomorrow when we go to Reed's office. Or you can always wear your other gown." He strolled out, not even bothering to shut the door.

  Rat! He knew the only other dress she had with her was the outrageously unsuitable one from his whore. The sole reason
Eliza hadn't thrown it away was because she'd been left with nothing too many times lately to take a chance—though the idea of ever putting it on again made her shudder.

  Jo's voluptuous body had been clad in it at some point, and maybe Thaddeus had even been treated to the well-rounded, raven-haired beauty wearing the sheer violet gown. Why wouldn't he have liked it? Then Jo had forced Eliza, petite and slender, to put it on, probably knowing he would compare their bodies.

  However, she let her mind wander to the entirely agreeable memory of how Thaddeus had looked at her that night just before she'd removed Jo's dress and to what they'd done afterward. Maybe she'd keep the gown after all.

  Humming to herself, she picked up her bag and, after dumping out its contents, inspected the interior of it. She could feel the wad of cash sewn inside. Luckily, Stoddard hadn't discovered it before he'd carelessly given her bag to Jo.

  After dinner, Eliza intended to unpick the lining and extricate what money she had. It wasn't nearly enough to pay back Stoddard, not even close, just the winnings from a few other games before Thaddeus had found her. Combined with the pot she'd won from The Silver Dollar, however, her wealth was enough to buy a few dresses.

  After all, she was in Boston, and if it was anything like Denver or San Francisco, she knew she'd have no trouble spending all of it on clothing, probably by lunchtime.

  * * *

  To that end, Eliza rose early, or so she believed, but when she pushed open the kitchen door, she encountered not only the staff, but also Charlotte and Reed, who was leaving for work.

  "I'll see you and Thaddeus at my office later, Miss Prentice," he said, before giving Charlotte a thorough kiss on the lips and heading out the side door.

  "You're very lucky," Eliza said before she considered her words.

  Charlotte fixed her with a curious stare and then said, "I generally take my breakfast in here." She gestured to the oak table in the center of the whitewashed kitchen where the remains of Reed's meal still sat. "But if you'd prefer, then Jeanine can bring us our food in the dining room."

  "Oh, no," Eliza said, having had no plans to take a morning meal at all but now feeling as though she must or appear rude. "Breakfast right here will be fine."