Lady Overton's Perilous Journey (Honorable Rogue Book 1)

by Vikki Vaught

  This news set the tone for his day. “Excellent! I didn’t expect the Intrepid to be ready until the middle of September. With this new prospective date, she could be ready for her first run by the beginning of September. I’m sure you’re anxious to take her out on her maiden voyage.”

  Pride glowed in the man’s bright blue eyes as he replied, “Indeed, Captain, I look forward to it with great anticipation. She is a beautiful ship. I want to thank you for entrusting her to me. I promise you will not regret it. I believe if I have good weather, I might very well surpass your record.”

  Alex laughed at his boast. “Do that and there’s an extra bonus in it for you. If that’s all, Captain, I will let you return to the ship. I shall await your next report on Wednesday, as usual. Dismissed.”

  With a formal salute, Merryweather left Alex’s office. Once his newest captain had departed, Alex rubbed his hands together. Now, if only the rest of his life would fall into place so well. His mother hounded him each day over why he had not gone back to Alexandria to check on Anissa. This irritated him to no end, because he was trying very hard to keep her out of his mind.

  During the day, he had been successful, for the most part. However, the nights were hell. His dreams were plagued with images of her lying beneath him as he thrust into her tight womanhood. Every morning since that fateful night, he awakened hard as steel. He went to see Carla again, but it did not do any good. Alex could not even contemplate being with another woman.

  Pushing thoughts of Anissa out of his mind, he worked for several hours on his ledgers. At noon, he met some of his friends at the Harbor Inn and dined on a wealth of fresh crab legs and shrimp served over yellow rice and grilled asparagus spears.

  When he returned from dinner, his clerk met him at the door. “Captain, you have a visitor. He’s some fancy gent from England. I showed him to your office, sir. I hope I did the right thing. He insisted on waitin’ for your return.”

  Alex had a very good notion who the man was. Evidently, Lord Howard had arrived. He must have discovered the name of his ship and their destination sooner than he had expected.

  “You did right, Maynard. I’m not to be disturbed while I talk to the gentleman.”

  When Alex opened the door to his office, a portly man with bushy gray hair stood up, and without preamble, started talking. “Captain Hawks, I am Lord Howard. I understand you are the captain of the Renegade. I saw my nephew’s wife on your ship as it left the dock in Plymouth. She had my great-nephew with her. She had no right to take him out of the country. I demand you tell me where she is immediately. The woman is unhinged and not a fit mother for the child. As his legal guardian, I fear he is in grave danger.”

  Alex decided to keep secret the name Anissa had chosen to use. It would make it harder for Lord Howard to find her if he did not know that information.

  “Do you mean Lady Overton, my lord? She did indeed travel on my ship. And she did have a small child with her. She seemed desperate to leave England. I saw you standing on the pier when my ship pulled out, but Lady Overton told me you were an overzealous admirer of hers. She did mention she wanted to go to America to get away from you. She never mentioned your name.”

  Lord Howard spate out, “Preposterous! See, I told you she is deranged. Now where is she, and where is my great-nephew?”

  Alex tried to emote utter boredom in his voice as he drawled, “I imagine she’s in Boston. When my ship docked, I helped her procure a coach and driver, and heard her tell him she wanted to go there. That’s the last time I saw her, and good riddance. Both she and her son were a royal pain in the ass the entire trip. I couldn’t see the last of her soon enough.”

  Looking disgruntled, Lord Howard swore, “Damn it all to hell, are you sure she said Boston? I just traveled from there myself, and a longer, more miserable trip I have never had. So you are telling me I am going to have to make the trip again?”

  With derision in his voice, he retorted, “I’m not telling you anything, but I imagine if you want to find Lady Overton, that is exactly what you’ll have to do. Now, if you will excuse me, I have work to do. And since I can’t help you, you need to leave.”

  “Oh, I shall leave all right, but you had better be telling me the truth. If you send me off on a wild goose chase, I will make you pay.” After having his say, Lord Howard slammed out of the door, cursing in a loud voice.

  After the man stormed out of his office, Alex sank down in his chair and rubbed a shaking hand across his eyes. Even though the air hung heavy from the intensely hot day, ice ran through his veins. Lord Howard was a dangerous man, and he would stop at nothing to get what he wanted.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Damn it!

  Alex would have to go to Alexandria and tell Anissa that Lord Howard had arrived. That was the last thing he wanted to do, but he had no choice. While this information would frighten her, she needed to know he had followed her, and sooner than they had hoped.

  He spent the rest of the afternoon tying up loose ends so he could leave the next day for Meadow Grove. Thank God he did not have any pressing matters he needed to handle before next week. After giving Maynard instructions, he closed his office and headed home at five o’clock.

  When he arrived at his house, his mother stood on the porch. As soon as he walked up the steps, she asked, “What’s wrong, Alex? You look worried. Is there trouble with the shipping company?”

  Alex did not want to get into this yet, but he had to tell her something. “No, Ma, nothing like that. It has to do with Mrs. Carlson. Let me take care of Blazer and then after supper, I’ll tell you what’s going on.”

  Alex led his mount around the side of the house and took him to the barn. He unsaddled him and brushed him down, then filled his bucket with oats and headed back to the house.

  God, I’m not ready to see Anissa.

  Alex had just started to get a handle on his feelings regarding his last visit and his dastardly behavior toward her. The last thing he wanted was to see her and have those feelings get out of control again. Every time he remembered how he had taken advantage of her vulnerability, he cringed. Far worse were the...feelings he had, feelings he very much feared were love. All the reasons why he should not get involved with her still remained: his inability to trust another woman with his heart, and the fact that he lived in America, while Anissa needed to return to England with her son to fight for his inheritance.

  Dear Lord, I hope she can forgive me for forcing myself on her.

  He never should have run out on her that way. She must hate him for sure, after what he had done to her. Since he could not avoid seeing her, he would have to get through it some way. Perhaps he should ask his mother to come with him. If she came along, she could be a buffer between him and Anissa. He would ask her after supper.

  After they finished the evening meal, he followed his mother out onto the porch and sat down on the swing.

  Georgia turned to him and gave him a look that meant she expected straight answers. “Now, tell me what’s going on with Anissa.”

  He told her Lord Howard had shown up and that he needed to go to Alexandria to warn Anissa. “Listen, Ma. I’ve been thinking. Perhaps the three of you should come with me. I’m sure Anissa would love to see y’all. What do you think? Will you come?”

  Georgia gave him a penetrating stare. “Did something happen between the two of you? You haven’t been yourself since you returned. Now you want me, Kathleen, and Melanie to come with you? Son, tell me what happened.”

  Looking down, he hesitated before answering. His mother could read him like a book. “Something may have happened. That’s why I don’t want to go there without you and Kathleen. Please Ma, come with me?”

  Disappointment flashed across his mother’s face. “Alex, no. She depended on you to help her, not cause her more trouble. I’m hoping it didn’t go as far as I suspect it did. She’s a respectable widow, not some hussy you can play fast and loose with. I taught you better than that. If you had relati
ons with her, you have to marry her. It’s the honorable thing to do.”

  “Ma, I’m sure she hates me,” he muttered, “I’m the last man on earth she would want to marry. Anyway, how are we supposed to make a marriage work since she’s from England and needs to go back, and I’m from America and have a company to run here?”

  “Alexander Bartholomew Hawks, please tell me you did not force your attentions on her!” Her voice rang a tirade over his head. Then she narrowed her eyes and continued, “Oh, Lord, I can see it in your eyes. You did, didn’t you? How could you!”

  He hung his head in shame. “I got drunk and let things get out of control. I thought she wanted it as much as I did, but afterwards, she acted horrified. I saw it in her face before she ran out of the room. The next mornin’—well, I felt it would be better if she didn’t have to see me, so I left a note under her door and left.”

  “Oh, son, this keeps getting worse and worse. What a mess. Never in a million years would I ever have thought you could do something this despicable. I’m not helping you dig yourself out of this hole. I don’t care how you do it, but you’re going to convince her to marry you if it’s the last thing you do. The rest will have to work itself out.”

  The fury and anguish in his mother’s voice brought him to his knees. He deserved every word she said. Standing up, he leaned against the porch railing and clenched it, trying to gain his composure.

  “There’s no excuse for what I’ve done. I never should have left without apologizing in person. When I took off, I truly thought it would be easier on her if she didn’t have to see me. By the time I arrived here, I realized I’d made a colossal mistake. The guilt has been crushing me ever since I returned. I can hardly sleep. Whenever I close my eyes, all I can see is her tear-stained face, after she comprehended what we’d done.”

  “At least I’m relieved to hear you feel remorse over what happened. Have you thought about what Anissa is feeling? What if she’s with child? It’s a very real possibility, and the poor woman is here without a soul she can confide in. Oh, Lord, perhaps I’d better come with you. She needs someone she can depend on. I don’t want Kathleen knowing anything. She can stay with her friend Regina while we’re gone.”

  “What about Melanie? Should we take her with us, or should she stay at Regina’s as well?”

  “No, we’ll take Melanie. She’s been missing Harry something awful. At least someone will be glad to see us. Well, son, if I’m leaving in the mornin’, I’d better get moving. You’d best be thinking of what you’re going to say to convince Anissa to marry you.” Giving him one last disparaging look, Georgia marched into the house.

  Alex watched as his mother hurried away. Deep waves of remorse swept over him and guilt lanced his heart. Not only had he disappointed his mother, he would have to live with what he had done for the rest of his life. For a day that had started out so promising, it had certainly turned into one of the worst days of his life.

  * * * *

  On the morning of the twenty-second, Anissa woke up feeling slightly nauseated. By the time she made it downstairs and smelled the bacon cooking, she had to dash back upstairs to her room. She barely made it to the chamber pot before she lost everything in her stomach. If she still had any doubt over whether she was increasing or not, they were gone now.

  Oh, Lord, what am I going to do?

  How could life be so cruel?

  If she could go back to that night, she would never have gone down to the library for a book. Then she would not be in this situation.

  After rinsing her mouth and brushing her teeth, she went back downstairs. Lucy put a plate in front of her filled with bacon, fried eggs, and grits, and her stomach rolled. “Umm, Mrs. A, I...I’m not terribly hungry this morning. All I want is some dry toast, if it is not too much trouble.”

  “No trouble at all, ma’am. I’ll jus’ take this back t’ th’ kitchen, and I’ll have ya some plain toast right quick. You do look a bit green. I hopes ya ain’t takin’ sick. Nothin’ worse than bein’ sick in th’ summer.”

  Trying to smile, but failing miserably, she replied, “Thank you, Mrs. A. I appreciate that. I’m sure whatever is causing me discomfort will pass.”

  The pitching settled down in her rolling stomach after she drank a cup of hot tea and ate the dry toast. That was all she could keep down in the morning for the first three months when she had been increasing with Harry. Evidently, toast would be her morning meal with this child as well.

  Anissa spent the morning tutoring her son. He kept tapping his fingers against the tabletop and kicking his heels on the hard wooden floor. She had to hold her tongue several times to keep from biting his head off. He would not understand if she yelled at him, because she never did. It was not his fault her raw nerves had her patience running thin.

  To keep her thoughts at bay, she took Harry and Freddie to the pond so they could fish and swim. After a couple of hours, she could not take the heat any longer. She gathered up the boys and headed back to the house. As they rode along, she realized her son’s riding skills were coming along nicely.

  Since she had no idea if Alex planned to visit any time soon, she supposed she should write him and tell him of the babe. She worried about how he would receive the news. She certainly hoped he had heard from Barrington, so she could go back to England before winter. Of course, how she would explain her condition escaped her.

  After they left Freddie at his house, Anissa led the horses around to the stable and noticed a vaguely familiar carriage in the drive. Her heart dropped to her feet. She fervently prayed it was not Alex’s, but it certainly looked like the one they had traveled in when he brought her to Meadow Grove. After she had Buttercup and Sir Lancelot brushed down and fed, she rushed to the back door and entered the kitchen.

  When she saw Lucy at the stove, she asked, “Whose carriage is that? It looks like the captain’s, but I have received no word he planned to come for a visit.”

  “Oh lordy, ma’am,” Lucy exclaimed, “It’s th’ cap’n all right, an’ he’s brung his mama wit’ him an’ his little girl. She’s a cute little thing. I ain’t never seen her afore. I showed ‘em t’ a bedroom upstairs, jus’ a few minutes ago. Miz Georgia usually sleeps in th’ room yor in, but she tol’ me not t’ worry, she’d be fine in th’ back bedroom. Ya might want t’ get cleaned up. I ’spect y’all be wantin’ some cool lemonade an’ dem lemon cakes o’ mine. Good thing I made a batch this mornin’.”

  This was not good news. While she wanted to see Georgia and Melanie, she did not want to face Alex yet, especially without having time to prepare. “I wasn’t expecting them. I thought the captain would write before he came back. Oh, dear, I must look a fright. I took the boys to the pond. Did Harry bring you the trout he caught?”

  Grinning, she replied, “He shor nuff did, ma’am, and proud as punch when he handed ’em t’ me. I promised I’d fix ’em foh his supper tonight. I shooed him on upstairs t’ get cleaned up. You’d best be getting’ upstairs yorself. I’ll have supper ready at six o’clock as usual.”

  With her heart beating a mile a minute, she hurried upstairs. At least she had some warning Alex had returned. She wondered why he brought his mother and Melanie.

  After entering her room, she went to her washbasin and stripped down to wash the dirt and sweat away. She did not want to see Alex without looking her best. After washing thoroughly, she donned her lilac muslin gown, brushed out her hair and put it in a top knot. The thought of seeing Alex again sent shards of anxiety rushing through her body. How could she look him in the eye after what had happened?

  Taking a few deep breaths to calm her nerves a bit, she went next door to her son’s room, but he wasn’t there. She hoped he had washed off since he had reeked of fish. As she descended the stairs, she heard excited children’s voices coming from the front porch. When she stepped outside, she saw Harry and Melanie chattering away. Obviously, they were pleased to see each other again.

  When Melanie looked up and saw h
er, she came running over. “Did Harry really catch a bunch of fish? My daddy takes me fishin’ sometimes, out on a boat. I’ve come for a visit. The trip took a long time. I didn’t think we would ever get here.”

  Kneeling in front of the little girl, Anissa smiled. “Harry did catch quite a few trout. Mrs. A is going to prepare them for supper. I understand your grandmother came with you on your long trip. It is good to see you again, Melanie. I’m going to see if I can find your father and grandmother. Please stay in the yard.”

  “We will,” the children answered and went back to chattering again.

  After she entered the house, she stepped into the parlor, and Georgia looked up. “It’s so good to see you again, honey. Don’t you look pretty as a picture? I hope you haven’t been too lonely here by yourself. I know from your letters that you’ve met several of the ladies in town. I’m sure they welcomed you.”

  “Oh, yes, everyone has been lovely. Mary Lou and Melissa are wonderful. So are the ladies at church. I’m so pleased to see you again. Did Kathleen come with you?”

  “No,” Georgia replied, “she’s staying with her friend Regina. Dear, you look a bit tired. Have you been ill?”

  Fighting back tears, Anissa answered with a tremor in her voice, “I t-think the heat is g-getting to me a bit. It is much hotter here than in England. I understand the captain is with you. Will he be joining us?”

  Georgia’s compassionate look had her heart galloping at an alarming rate. Surely she could not know of her and Alex’s indiscretion.

  “He’s in the study, Anissa. He’s waiting for you there. He has quite a few things he’d like to say to you.” As she stood there twisting her hands, Georgia lightly touched her arm. “Go to him, my dear. Everything will be fine, I promise.” Anissa nodded and left the room.

  Oh, Lord, did Alex tell Georgia?

  Her heart thundered, her palms grew damp with sweat, and her breathing labored in her chest as each step brought her closer to the study. She paused in front of the door.