Regency Scandals: Touch Me, Tempt Me & Take Me Box Set

by Lucy Monroe

  It wasn’t that he thought her father justified in his actions, but perhaps the man was not as horrible as Thea’s mother had painted him.

  She gasped. “You are defending him. I thought you understood. You said yourself he lacked integrity.”

  “People are imperfect, Thea. Your father has his flaws, but that doesn’t mean he does not love you.”

  And if the man didn’t love his daughter, Drake would make sure they spent little or no time in one another’s company. He wanted her to be happy. He wasn’t convinced that her insistence on never meeting or acknowledging her father was the course that would bring her the most joy.

  “What about your father? Don’t you think him settling money on you when you reached your majority was his way of showing his love?”

  It was not the same thing at all. His father had not wanted him, had never acknowledged his existence. Thea knew her father wanted her, at least as a child, even if he had no longer wanted her mother.

  “You don’t know what you are talking about.”

  “That is convenient.” She snapped her parasol open and used it like a shield between them. She spoke from the other side of the umbrella membrane. “When you wish to harangue me about my family, you are omniscient, but when I point out a fairly obvious conclusion, I am completely ignorant. I thought you were different from so many gentlemen that believe a woman cannot have a brain in her head.”

  Her criticism irritated him. He knew she was intelligent, but that didn’t mean she was right. His father had given him money because that was the way things were done in the ton. It said nothing of any tender feelings the man had toward his son.

  They arrived at Merewether Shipping at that moment and Drake was saved from having to answer her accusation.

  ******

  As he drew the curricle in front of a large brick building with a modest sign that proclaimed it to be Merewether Shipping, their argument ceased to exist for Thea. Each passing mile had eaten away at her confidence that she could unmask the thief. London was a vast city, entirely different from her small island home.

  Even Merewether Shipping looked too large, too impressive to be her little company. Until now, the size of her company had been limited to ledgers and bank drafts. Faced with the prospect of entering the huge brick building, finding the person responsible for the attacks on her life as well as the thefts seemed impossible.

  She lowered her parasol and shifted her gaze to Drake. Gratitude that he had promised to help her overwhelmed her.

  “Thank you.”

  His eyes widened a small fraction. “Why?”

  “For helping me.”

  Drake tossed a coin to a boy and told him to hold the horses, then turned to face her.

  He placed his hands on either side of her cheeks. “We will find the culprit.”

  She put her hands over his, drawing on his assurance and his strength. “We must. Uncle Ashby’s safety depends on it.”

  “So does yours.”

  “It’s not as important.”

  He leaned his head down until their lips were almost touching. “It is to me.”

  Then he kissed her, just once and very softly, but it impacted Thea right down to her toes. How could she even think of living her life without this man?

  Ignorant of the shattering realization his small kiss had precipitated, Drake jumped blithely down from the carriage. He came around to help her down. She placed her hand in his, allowing the feeling of safety that always accompanied his touch to wash over her.

  He kept her firmly tucked into his side as they walked toward the building. They stopped in front of the shipping office to get their bearings, as if by mutual consent, though neither said anything.

  “I grow weak in the knees at the thought of you attempting this investigation alone.”

  She smiled at the image of Drake weak in the knees. Still, she understood his concern. The docks were teeming with tough looking sailors and dirty children hawking everything from meat pies to penny press papers. Bawds dressed in garments that did not completely cover their rouged nipples leaned against the walls of warehouses on either side of Merewether Shipping. One woman’s petticoats were dampened to show off the curves below her waist. Thea shivered in sympathy for her.

  England’s cold had not come as a complete surprise, but the way it seeped into her very bones did. And the smell. Thea wrinkled her nose at the odor emanating from the Thames. Garbage floated on the surface in places, but for all that, the river and docks were an impressive sight. Feelings of inadequacy and ignorance of the City’s ways pressed in on her.

  She shivered again, but this time at the thought of her own naïveté in believing she could have conducted the investigation alone. Uncle Ashby’s life would be better served in someone else’s more capable hands, but she was all he had.

  Then she smiled. And Drake. Uncle Ashby had Drake on his side as well, though he didn’t know it.

  She pulled toward the building. “Let’s go inside.”

  Drake gently restrained her. “What’s the matter?”

  She looked up into the brown depths of his eyes and they glowed with concern.

  “It’s just that I realized how foolish I was to believe that someone raised on a small island, like me, could accomplish such a heavy task in this place.” She waved her hand toward the brick building and the busy docks. “I had not realized the immensity of it all. Without your help I… I’m not sure what I would have done. It’s just all so overwhelming.”

  “I have no doubt that you could do all that you set out to do.”

  She stared at him. “Truly?”

  He nodded. “You are a resourceful and intelligent woman, Thea.”

  “Thank you.” His confidence in her soothed the feelings of inadequacy that plagued her.

  They entered the shipping office through a large and heavy door. As it closed behind them, the sights and sounds of the busy docks were cut off. The hallway in which they stood felt a world away from the busy activity outside. It was lined with doors, all of them closed. Not even a stray voice filtered out to lessen the feeling of isolation.

  A young man, wearing a coat and pantaloons cut in the latest fashion came out of one of the offices. His blonde hair curled around his collar. He looked up from a sheaf of papers in his hands and made a small noise as if startled. “May I help you?”

  “We are looking for Emerson Merewether.” Thea pulled off her gloves as she spoke and tucked them into her reticule. She raised her gaze to the young man. “Would you please show us to his office?”

  The man smiled. “Certainly.”

  He turned and headed back the way he had come, stopping at the first office on his right. He opened the door and leaned in. “Mr. Merewether, some people here to see you.”

  Drake led Thea into the room and she could not help smiling. It looked very much like Uncle Ashby’s office back home, only it was missing the little haven of tea table and chairs. Every available surface was covered with papers or shipping crates. The man sitting behind the desk looked up to greet them. She felt as if she were seeing a young version of Uncle Ashby. Emerson had the same rounded build and jovial expression on his face.

  She stepped forward and put out her hand. “Hello. I am Thea Selwyn and this is Mr. Drake.”

  Emerson Merewether took her hand and shook it. “Miss Selwyn? Uncle’s partner?”

  She nodded, extracting her hand from his grasp. “Yes. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Merewether.”

  “I had no idea you were planning a trip to England?” He asked it as a question, clearly expecting a response from the man behind her.

  “It’s a surprise to me as well, Mr. Merewether.”

  “Thea’s decision to travel to England was rather spur of the moment. None of us had much notice of her intentions,” Drake said.

  He made it sound as if they had known each other a long time. As if he would have been aware of her plans. What was his intention?

  “I’m s
orry. Mr. Drake, is it? Would you and Miss Selwyn care to take a seat?” Emerson had certainly adjusted quickly to the unexpected arrival of one of his employers.

  Drake looked around him and undoubtedly saw just what she did. There was no available surface to sit on. The blonde man rushed into the room and began moving papers. Soon two wooden chairs facing Emerson’s desk were free. Drake escorted her to one before taking the other.

  Emerson looked up at the blonde man. “Barton, see about having some refreshments brought, would you?”

  Laying her reticule and parasol across her knees, she said, “That won’t be necessary. We are here for a short business meeting.”

  Barton stopped at the door. “Would you like me to stay then, Mr. Merewether?”

  Emerson shook his head. “That won’t be necessary. I’ll call you should I need anything.” He turned his attention to her and Drake. “Barton is my assistant.”

  Thea nodded her understanding. “As you said, his presence should not be required for now.”

  Barton left and the room went silent for a moment. How was she to introduce the topic of searching the current ledgers? Drake took care of it for her.

  “Mr. Merewether, I am considering expanding my shipping company by going into partnership with your uncle and Thea.”

  Emerson’s face registered much more shock at this statement than at her arrival. “I just received a letter from Uncle Ashby and nothing was said. Had I known Uncle was looking for another business partner, I should have purchased my way into the company myself.”

  Oh dear. The hurt in Emerson’s voice was unmistakable. Thea rushed to soothe him. “I assure you, Mr. Merewether, we had no intention of excluding you.”

  “I need to write Uncle Ashby. This is a most shocking development.”

  Thea felt their plan unraveling before her. She did not want Emerson writing his uncle.

  Drake’s laughter shocked her. She turned her head to see his face.

  His smile was directed at Emerson. “You misunderstood the nature of our partnership. Thea and I are engaged and as part of the marriage settlements, her portion of Merewether shipping will come under my control.”

  She swallowed her gasp of surprise. She would take Drake to task later for his lie. Right now, she would go along because at least it would discourage Emerson from writing his uncle.

  Emerson’s smile returned. A smile so like Uncle Ashby’s that feelings of longing for her life back on the island overwhelmed her. “I did not realize you meant that sort of association. May I offer you my deepest felicitations?”

  Thea summoned a weak smile. “Thank you.”

  Drake inclined his head to acknowledge the sentiments. “In order to prepare for the marriage settlements, I would like to spend some time looking over your books.”

  Emerson drew himself up. “That is quite impossible. Those ledgers are confidential, sir.”

  Thea cleared her throat delicately and Emerson shifted his affronted gaze to her. “As acting partner, I will of course oversee Drake’s perusal of our books, Mr. Merewether.”

  She stressed the words “acting partner” and “our” to remind Emerson just who was ultimately in charge in this situation.

  He had the grace to blush. “Yes, of course. I’m sorry if I offended you, Miss Selwyn. I have come to think of the company as a family venture, you see. I am very protective of your and Uncle Ashby’s interests.”

  She smiled her understanding. He really was a dear man.

  “I should like to take the books with me today. We will return them in the next week or so after I have extracted the information I need for our marriage settlements from them,” Drake said.

  Emerson frowned. “Surely whatever information you need could be procured here in the offices. We need our ledgers for reference. In fact,” Emerson’s frown turned to a smile. “Barton could compile whatever numbers you require and deliver the papers to your townhouse.”

  She understood Emerson’s unwillingness to let the ledgers from his sight.

  It was really quite natural, but rather annoying. “I’m afraid Drake is a rather independent and stubborn sort of person. He will not trust the numbers compiled by anyone but himself.”

  “Thea is correct. I prefer to do my own accounting. My man of business finds my ways quite tiresome as I insist on double checking all financial transactions for my company.”

  Emerson’s face started to show signs of Uncle Ashby’s temper. “I assure you, Barton is above reproach. Any numbers he supplies you with will be accurate to the pence.”

  Drake smiled and her heart did a small flip at the charm oozing from him. “Nevertheless, as Thea so sweetly put it, I’m rather independent and stubborn. I should like the ledgers.”

  “Couldn’t you at least do your checking here?”

  Really, it was a reasonable request and Thea was about to agree when Drake shook his head. All charm had vanished and his face took on that impassive expression she had come to think of as rather dangerous. Standing, he extended his arm to her. She took it without thinking.

  Leading her out the door, he spoke over his shoulder. “Have the ledgers brought out to my curricle immediately. Thea and I have promised Lady Boyle we will be in attendance for tea.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  I have discovered an aptitude for business. Ashby wanted to let me invest in the shipping venture, but my funds are limited. I offered to keep his books. At first, he refused, believing such a position would be beyond a lady. I proved him wrong. Now, I keep track of all inventories, accounts and yesterday, I negotiated my first shipload of cargo. It was a most amazing experience. One I look forward to repeating in the future.

  July 15, 1801 Journal of Anna Selwyn, Countess of Langley

  “Really, Drake. You did not need to be so abrupt with poor Mr. Merewether. I think you offended his dignity.”

  He flicked the reins, setting the horses in motion. Thea grabbed the side of the curricle as it lurched forward rather quickly. The ledgers, stacked between her and Drake, shifted and she put a restraining hand on them.

  “To hell with his dignity. He is your employee and had no business arguing with your fiancé.”

  “Well, as to that. Do you think it was a good idea to tell him we are engaged? Word is bound to get out.”

  “Word will get out any way. Once the ton learns of our close association aboard The Golden Dragon, you will have no choice but to become engaged to me. Like it or not, you have been compromised.”

  She didn’t like the implacable tone of his voice. “That is silly. A few visits to my stateroom surely cannot require marriage.”

  “We did a lot more than just visit, or had you forgotten?”

  Her cheeks heated in embarrassment, but she could not deny the truth. “I remember. The moments I spent with you are the most wonderful of my life. I am not likely to forget them.”

  He swore savagely. “Then why refuse to marry me? No. Don’t answer that. I know why. You think I’ll turn into a cruel monster like your father. Has it ever occurred to you that he wasn’t such a monster? That your mother’s view of events was skewed by her own feelings and perceptions?”

  “You don’t understand.”

  He flicked the reins until the horses were going much faster than the rest of traffic. “No, I don’t. If your sainted mother, as Melly is so fond of calling her, were alive, I would have a few things to say to her.”

  His sudden anger confused her. “You don’t mean that. You’re angry for some reason, but don’t take it out on my mother. She lost more than you could possibly know and my father is the cause. He deserves my disgust, not your championship.”

  Drake came within inches of another carriage. She should say something about his neck or nothing driving, but one look at his set features changed her mind.

  “How do you know?” he demanded. “Don’t you think he at least has the right to tell you his side of the story? Maybe you don’t want to hear that your perfect mother might not have bee
n so perfect after all.”

  Moisture burned Thea’s eyes. “You don’t know what you are saying.”

  Drake was forced to slow the horses as they entered the thicker traffic of London proper. “Thea, you have an entire family here in England. People that would love you if you gave them the chance. Are you content to deny them all for the sake of your mother’s memory?”

  He knew his arguments had as much to do with convincing her to stay in England with him as they did with believing she should reconcile with her family. He would use any means to convince the stubborn woman by his side that she belonged in England, with him.

  “I don’t have to deny them all, just my father.”

  He sighed at her insistence on that particular point. If she were going to make her permanent residence in England, she had to come to some sort of understanding with her father.

  “Don’t you think that will make life a trifle awkward for them and for you? What are you going to do? Have Lady Upworth introduce you as her niece, but refuse to tell anyone who your father is? They’ll figure it out, you know. I doubt that many of her nephews had their wives abandon them.”

  “My mother didn’t abandon my father. He abandoned her.” Thea’s outrage fueled his frustration.

  There was no doubt that her father had misused her mother, but that didn’t mean that the man was a complete monster. For all she knew he had mellowed with age. Stranger things had happened and he didn’t like to see Thea’s generous heart torn in pieces by bitterness toward the man.

  He tried reason one more time. “She took you to the West Indies and hid from him. What do you call that?”

  “Survival.”

  The one word said a great deal. Dread snaked in his gut. Had the man been violent? If so, he certainly understood Thea’s certainty her father was a monster. Maybe she wouldn’t be able to affect reconciliation with the man. Drake would not allow her father to threaten her. He would protect her. No matter what or who posed her danger.