An American Lady

by Emma Brady

  “I don’t think she knows that. To her, this is the only way she can help you.”

  “That’s ridiculous.”

  Sinclair let out a long sigh. “You spent her whole life telling her that the only thing a woman can do is make a good marriage. She believes it’s the only skill she can use.”

  It made Lucas feel unsettled that his sister might give up the rest of her life to make him happy. That was not what he intended when he encouraged her to find a husband. The reason he went into business was to make sure she wouldn’t have to be forced into a marriage she didn’t want.

  “That’s not what I intended.” Lucas said.

  “No, but that’s what she heard. Perhaps you should try saying something else.”

  “What did your father tell you?”

  A shadow fell across her expression and Lucas regretted his question. It was clear that Sinclair was still hurting from the loss of her parents and he shouldn’t have mentioned them. He watched her eye get glossy with tears she wouldn’t want to shed in front of him. He wished he could take it back, but it was too late.

  “He told me to be smart. Listen to my head and not my emotions. Be more like a man.” Her voice cracked at the end of that and he knew she struggled to stay in control.

  Before he knew what he was doing Lucas reached out to comfort her. They were alone in the far corner of one of the exhibit rooms, with just enough privacy to hold each other. It wasn’t anything sexual, just offering her a place to lean against when she needed it. It felt good to have her trust in that way, so he didn’t try to push for anything more as she tucked her head under his chin. She cried softly against his coat while he stroked her back.

  “I hate women who cry.” She pulled away to compose herself again. He offered her the handkerchief from his chest pocket and smiled when she blew her nose loudly with it.

  “It’s perfectly natural.”

  “For a woman, you mean. I doubt you have ever cried in public.”

  “I cried when I learned that my parents had died.” Lucas didn’t know why he told her this, since it was something he had not told anyone. “I was at school, finishing my last year of studies. The headmaster came to visit me in my rooms and I thought it would be about an exam I had failed. Instead he informed me that my parents passed away and I was needed at home to care for my sister.”

  “That would be a lot for a young man.”

  “Yes. I remember the other boys watching me and I tried so hard not to cry in front of them, but I couldn’t help it.”

  Lucas hadn’t thought about that day in years. He was excused from the rest of his classes and his teachers passed him out of sympathy. When he arrived home he found Charlotte ill from the same fever that had taken his parents and at first he thought he would lose her too. He didn’t and that was when he vowed to do everything he could to take care of her. A vow he still intended to keep.

  “It is the only time I have ever cried in public, but I’m no less of a man for it.” Lucas took back the cloth that was wet and shoved it into his coat pocket. “I think you have shown a great deal of restraint with you emotions. Most women would be constant watering pots.”

  “Why would anyone want that?”

  “They use it to lure in men. Damsel in distress I believe.”

  Sinclair let out a snort and Lucas knew that she was no longer going to be crying. The emotional moment had passed. It was a relief to them both.

  Chapter 12

  A night at the theater was something that Sinclair could get excited about. In Chicago her parents had taken her to see shows often. It was the only social activity where she didn’t feel uncomfortable around people. No one looked at the audience while everyone was focused on the stage. She liked the way it made her feel like part of the larger crowd.

  The theater in London was not that much different, aside from being on a much larger scale. It still had the luxurious upper boxes for the wealthy and the open floor level for the middle class. She could see the men in suits and women in their nicest gowns waiting for the actors to begin. She sat with her grandparents in their box, which had an excellent view.

  “I haven’t seen you this lively in weeks.” Her grandfather commented. “If we knew you enjoyed it this much we would have brought you earlier.”

  “I didn’t think about it.” The truth was Sinclair felt a little guilty for enjoying herself while she was still in partial mourning.

  “You look lovely when you’re happy.” James gave his granddaughter a pat on the shoulder.

  They were shortly joined by Lucas and Charlotte, who often used the duke’s box. Their family hadn’t been able to afford a space of their own for a long time and now that they could, they still enjoyed the company. Lucas was quiet in his seat, but Sinclair could feel him watching her. It made her skin tingle beneath the silk of her gown. He looked handsome in the dark suit and crisp white shirt, contrasting to the tan of his skin at his neck. That was the subtle reminder he wasn’t as much of a gentleman as the rest of them.

  During the performance, Sinclair tried to ignore him and was moderately successful. It wasn’t until the curtain fell that she noticed he leaned in closer than he did at the beginning of the show. It startled her and she jumped in her seat when the gas lamps came back on. Lucas responded by moving back into his chair again.

  “That’s usually my seat.” Lucas mumbled. “I was trying to get a better view.”

  “Of me or the stage?” Sinclair asked

  “Only the actors interest me.”

  She knew he was a good liar, but the glint in his eye gave him away. Her blush grew warm in her cheeks. Lucas spotted someone down below and waved at the man, who wore a good suit for someone in the middle class. The man waived back and Sinclair recognized him as merchant with a large amount of business in London. He was on the list of people she had sent introduction letters to, but he hadn’t responded yet. This might be the perfect chance for her to encourage him to meet with her new partner.

  Her grandparents weren’t paying attention to her and were talking to Charlotte. Lucas appeared bored and was still watching the other people in the theater. Sinclair knew she could slip away unnoticed and didn’t hesitate to do so.

  “Mr. Harris.” Sinclair called out to the gentleman once she reached the open seats on the lower floor. “I thought that was you. I’m Sinclair Brown, I believe you knew my father?”

  She extended her hand to him and he stared at it with an open mouth. After a few uncomfortable seconds she decided to give up on that and pull it back to her side. He was still giving her a blank expression so she just continued talking.

  “I think you were discussing business with him before he passed away. Have you met the new man running the company, Mr. Gates?” She knew the answer was no.

  “I’m sorry?”

  Sinclair wondered how a man this slow could be so successful in business. “I asked if you had a chance to meet Mr. Gates yet.”

  “I know, but why?”

  This was not going as well as she hoped. “He’s my partner. I thought it might be nice to know you.”

  Something about that caused the man to blush and stutter. “That’s highly improper. I will meet with Mr. Gates when I’m ready, but to send a lady in to persuade me is terrible.”

  “I wasn’t planning any persuasion ...” That only made it sound worse so she tried again. “I was merely trying to be friendly.”

  “A lady isn’t supposed to be friendly.”

  Mr. Harris was offended by the idea and by her actions. Sinclair was confused, but desperate to fix the situation.

  “I’m sorry, I was only hoping to meet you. Please don’t think that Mr. Gates asked me to do this.” Sinclair didn’t want this to turn him against her father’s business. “He doesn’t need a woman acting on his behalf. I just act impulsively sometimes. He’s nothing like that.”

  Mr. Harris tilted his head from side to side as he thought over what she said. He gave a little nod. “Grew up with two
sisters, so I understand how women can be. I won’t mention it to the man when I meet with him.”

  Sinclair let out a sigh. At least she hadn’t ruined their chances at getting him as a client. Sinclair would have to figure out how to interact with gentlemen in a way that wouldn’t offend them. Social rules in London were much more difficult than in Chicago. Sinclair often met the men her father did business without a problem. She left before she did or said something else that would considered inappropriate.

  “You do know you aren’t supposed to be down here, right?” Lucas waited for her at the entrance of the theater, where the stairs to the private boxes was. “Charlotte made excuses for you when your grandparents looked for you and I offered to bring you home. You shouldn’t have wandered off alone, even for just a few minutes.”

  “I don’t see why not.” Sinclair felt flustered that she had been caught sneaking around. “The theater is open and there are no signs prohibiting entering the general audience.”

  “No, but this is where the common people watch the show. Not ladies and not the granddaughter of duke.”

  “There is no rule about it.”

  Lucas leaned against the railing of the stairs and just stared at her. He didn’t have to say anything but they both knew the truth.

  “Fine, but I don’t have to follow them. I’m an American, remember? We are barely civilized.”

  Sinclair tried to brush past him, but his hand wrapped around her arm just above the elbow and stopped her beside him. It was firm, but not enough to cause her pain. It was just enough to keep her from walking away from him.

  “Who were you talking to?” Lucas asked.

  “You couldn’t see? Perhaps your eyesight is going bad in your old age.” She gave her arm a jerk but it didn’t come free.

  “It looked like you were talking to Mr. Harris, a man I do business with. I can’t imagine what you would be talking about with a simple merchant.”

  From what she saw in the numbers, Mr. Harris was worth over a thousand pounds a year, a far cry from simple.

  “I’m supposed to be meeting eligible men and he’s unmarried, I believe.”

  “He’s not suitable for someone of your rank.” Lucas released her arm finally. “Your grandparents would be distraught if they thought you were going to marry beneath your class.”

  “I don’t see what that matters. My mother did and she was happy.”

  “True, but that doesn’t mean it should be done.”

  The man stood there insulting her parents with a smug look on his face. Sinclair wanted to wipe it of his face with the palm of her hand, but had learned her lesson about slapping men in public. The last thing she wanted was to make a scene in front of potential clients.

  “I don’t believe love should be held back because of a title or a lack of one. Any kind and decent man is suitable to me.”

  “Even Mr. Gates?” Lucas said the man’s name sharply. “Do you consider your new partner one of your eligible men?”

  Sinclair couldn’t help but laugh at that absurd notion. Aside from being fictitious, Sinclair would never want to marry someone she was in business with. That would be bad for the company.

  “Perhaps you hope that if you help him meet the right people, he can gain the social standing needed to court you. Then you get the business and the man to run it.”

  Lucas was so close to the truth and yet missed it completely. Sinclair could have set him straight with just a few words but she found she enjoyed his current state. The man was irritated that she might be involved with her partner. That amused her too much to put a stop to it.

  “I will be sure to mention that to him next time I see him.”

  “When might that be?” Lucas was glaring now.

  “Very soon.” She gave him a smile and went walking in the direction of the doors, knowing he would have no choice but to follow.

  LUCAS WAS ANGRY ABOUT the events at the theater and it was difficult remain silent during the ride to her house. Knowing that Sinclair was willing to risk her reputation in order to further her new partner’s ambitions infuriated him. The fact that Mr. Gates was willing to use her in such a way meant he wasn’t a decent gentleman. Lucas was convinced he needed to find the man and force him to leave London before Sinclair was too far gone.

  “Was your partner at the theater tonight?” Lucas asked, taking the chance to try and get more information from her while they were alone in the carriage. “Is that who you went looking for?”

  Sinclair wasn’t looking him in the eye, even though there was hardly any space between them. She kept turning her head to look out the tiny window. Then he would catch her glancing at him with those blue eyes. She wanted to see him but there was something she didn’t want him to see in them.

  “No. Mr. Gates doesn’t go to the theater.” She finally said.

  “Not a supporter of the arts?”

  “He never has the chance to go.”

  “Always working?”

  “Yes.”

  The man sounded less and less agreeable. Lucas enjoyed his work as well, but would never choose it over spending time with a woman like Sinclair. Nothing could be that important.

  “I’m surprised you have not introduced him to society.” Lucas said.

  “He’s not comfortable around those types of people. They tend to make him feel like a servant.” There were her eyes, darting back and forth from him again. “He doesn’t have a title and comes from a modest background.”

  “A lot of men in America started out that way.”

  “Including my father.”

  Lucas knew that what he had said earlier about her parents had wounded her. It wasn’t his intention to belittle her parent’s relationship. From what he knew, it was a happy and loving one, something his own parents didn’t have.

  “Not all men who are born to privilege are useless. A title doesn’t guarantee an easy life.”

  Lucas knew what it was like to have the name but not the money to sustain the title. One was worthless without the other.

  “Wouldn’t you rather be valued more for the hard work you do than by your luck of birth?’ Sinclair turned and for once her eyes locked with his. She wasn’t going to look away.

  “Yes.” Lucas decided to answer honestly in hopes she would do the same. “I wish more people thought my accomplishments were something to be proud of, but they don’t. I’m in business and that only embarrasses them.”

  “I don’t want to be simply someone’s wife or daughter. I want to be a person on my own, with my own accomplishments.”

  There was such earnestness in her eyes. It reminded him of when he had started his own company. Against all the insults and negative opinions, Lucas had been certain he could build back his family’s fortune. That’s what drove him to work harder and be smarter every day. Without it, he might have proven them right.

  “Is that what he has promised you? Independence?”

  “Promised me?” Her eyebrows came together. “Why do you think he has promised me anything?”

  “There is no other reason you would be putting so much trust in him.”

  “He’s like family. Don’t you trust family?”

  Lucas found it hard to trust anyone, but Charlotte was one of the few. The duke and duchess were also on the short list and he would call them family. His father was blood but he wouldn’t have trusted him in the least.

  “How close are you to him?” Lucas asked, getting to the question that burned through him.

  “Very close.”

  Nothing in her expression gave away the deeper meaning to those words. It was impossible for him to determine if they had a romantic relationship or not. It shouldn’t matter to him, but he wanted to protect her. This man was clearly using her to get his hands on the company and to further his own ambitions. That was the only reason Lucas wanted to know if she had feelings involved. A man could easily manipulate a woman if he could gain her affection.

  “When will you introduce him to
your real family?” said Lucas.

  That must have struck a chord because she shifted her eyes away from him again. He could see pink starting to creep up from the low neckline of her gown. Even in the shadows dark of the carriage, it was hard to miss against the pale cream of her skin. At least he didn’t have to worry about her keeping secrets from him since she was this easy to read.

  “He won’t be in London more than a brief stop, so he might not have time to meet them. This isn’t a social trip for him.”

  She seemed irritated when she said that and he wondered if she hoped her partner would want to be involved in more than just the business. Lucas searched her face to see if he could tell what she felt emotionally. It could have been longing for the other man, but he wasn’t sure. He needed a closer look.

  Lucas reached out with one hand, hooking her chin and turning her head to face him. Her eyes grew wide but she didn’t protest. He waited for her to tell him to let go but she never did. She just sat there staring at him until he lost his control in the bright blue depths. Then they closed as her drew her in for a kiss.

  It was madness for him to be kissing her in his carriage when he was supposed to be looking after her. The trust her grandparents had in him should have been enough to keep him away but those soft pinks lips were too much to deny. One their mouths touched any restraint he might have had disappeared and he could only think of devouring her.

  “More.” Sinclair said, when he pulled away. She should have been telling him to stop and that slight bit of encouragement was more than he needed.

  It was a small space and he was a large man but he ignored that as he pressed her against the seat. The vehicle rocked, tossing him back into his own. It was the jolt the two of them needed to come to their senses and regain some composure. They were both breathing heavily and staring at each other with hunger in their eyes. Lucas felt like a madness had taken control of him.

  “I’m sorry.” He watched her adjusting the wrinkles in her dress, feeling gilty. “I don’t know why I did that.”

  “Of course you do, the same reason I let you.” She sounded calm, although her cheeks were bright red and her hands were shaking. “Clearly there is an attraction between us. We just need to make sure we stop letting it continue to happen.”