An Agent for Claudia

by Marie Higgins

  “Perhaps.”

  The men roared with laughter again. “I would certainly love to see you try,” Adam said. “In fact, I’m willing to place a bet on this.”

  She gasped, quickly covering her hand over her mouth, hoping they hadn’t heard.

  “A bet, you say?” the stranger asked.

  “Yes.” Adam’s high-pitched laugh unnerved her greatly. “I bet you a month’s salary that you won’t be able to charm the Ice Queen.”

  The other men gathered around voiced their agreement toward the bet. “I’m not sure,” said the stranger. “I’m low on funds as it is.”

  “Ah, come now. You’re a handsome, strapping young man. I think you should at least give it a try. You never know, you might win.”

  How she’d like to throttle her so-called friends right here and now. Yet a part of her wanted to side with the stranger, even though she knew he’d never win. But more than anything, she’d like to show those others that she was not an Ice Queen.

  Then again, perhaps she was. She wanted only one man – her soldier.

  The men’s laughter faded with their retreating footsteps. Good. They were gone. Now she could come out of hiding. She peeked around the edge to see how far they had walked. Frank, Henry, Adam, and the other man headed toward the river’s edge. She tiptoed from behind the hedges, keeping her eyes on them. Who was that man with them, anyway?

  When the group laughed again, the stranger turned his head, allowing her to see his profile. She sucked in a quick breath. Mr. Bentley. He was the stranger Phillip had told her about. No wonder he’d studied her so intently during her dance with Phillip.

  How very interesting.

  As she watched them, she bunched her hands into fists. If only she could teach them a lesson for spreading false rumors and being so vicious.

  Ideas swirled in her head and she grinned. She was not a malicious person by nature, but after what she’d overheard, she wanted to get back at them in some way. It might be the only way she could repair the damage done to her heart.

  Coming to a decision, she grinned. She would have fun at their expense and perhaps make some money herself. That would be the perfect revenge.

  TWO

  “Oh, there you are, Claudia.”

  Her grandmother’s voice made Claudia’s wayward thoughts come to a complete halt. She turned to face the older woman, cane in hand, scurrying out of the house. Grandma-ma wore a green gown today which Claudia thought leached the color from her face. Thankfully, her cheeks held a tinge of pink due to her excitement. She dared not ask what her grandmother found so joyous since the tiniest things delighted her.

  “Yes, I’m here, Grandmama.”

  “Good. I’d like to talk to you.”

  Claudia nodded. “All right.”

  Her grandmother hooked her arm around Claudia’s and pulled her toward the door in a leisurely stroll.

  “I really don’t like to have this conversation with you, because I know how much it bothers you, but—”

  Inwardly, Claudia groaned. This was not a good way to soothe her already frazzled nerves.

  “I fear we must discuss your future.”

  Claudia’s sudden stop made her grandmother trip, but the older woman righted herself quickly with the cane and stared at her with wide blue eyes.

  “Grandmama, I think I know what you are going to say, and you might as well save your breath. I don’t want to discuss my future.”

  “But we must.”

  “Why must we?”

  “Because I’ve heard some disturbing news.”

  Claudia cocked her head and folded her arms across her bosom. “Such as?”

  “Phillip was telling me—”

  “Oh, the news came from Phillip, did it? Well, then it has to be disturbing, but you cannot believe everything he says.”

  “Claudia Marie Cummings,” her grandmother snapped. “I beg you to stop interrupting me. That’s very ill-mannered.”

  “Forgive me, Grandmama.”

  “As I was saying, your cousin has heard that our family’s reputation may be ruined. Because my dear daughter and her husband have passed away, leaving you an orphan, our very lives will be threatened as there is no male authority running the cotton fields. Mr. Meyers from the bank—”

  “Yes, Grandmama. Phillip told me about Mr. Meyers.” Claudia rolled her eyes as they proceeded into the house. “Obviously, Phillip is trying to scare you. I have everything under control. Our cotton fields are not in any danger, I assure you. I learned from Father how to run a plantation, or have you forgotten what a tomboy I used to be? I don’t need a man to be in charge of the fields when I can do it.”

  Her grandmother patted Claudia’s arm. “My dear, Phillip knows what he’s talking about. We need a man around the house, someone to protect us and our good name.”

  “Fiddle-dee-dee. We’ve been just fine since my parents died.”

  “I know you want to marry your soldier, Mr. Evans,” Grandmama Ruth said in a solemn voice, “but I fear he’s not coming back for you. I’ve heard rumors that he was killed in the war.”

  Tears pricked Claudia’s eyes and she blinked them away. “You know I won’t marry a man I’m not in love with.”

  “My dear, sometimes love doesn’t come until after the marriage. Your grandfather and I were not in love when we married yet look how well our family turned out. I can honestly say I was madly in love with him by the time your mother was born.”

  Claudia’s stomach churned. She knew where this conversation was headed, and she didn’t like it one bit. She turned her back on her grandmother and pretended to pick the dead leaves off the planter sitting on the small upright table in the hallway.

  “I believe Phillip would be the perfect man to marry, Claudia. He knows how to run a plantation. People listen to his authority and they don’t talk back.”

  Panic tightened her throat and made it hard to breathe. “Then I suppose I’m the only one in this town who doesn’t listen to him.” She swallowed hard, trying to stop her anger exploding. They were still surrounded by gossipmongers since many people lingered in her home. She had to maintain a calm serenity even though her head felt like a volcano ready to erupt.

  “My dear, I told Phillip we would consider his offer.”

  Claudia pivoted toward her grandmother. “What offer?”

  “Marriage, of course.”

  Claudia had to leave. Now! “Grandmama, I will never marry him. I cannot give into his wishes. Forgive me, but I need to get some fresh air before I lose what’s in my stomach.” She pulled away and flew out the double doors, ignoring the people trying to greet her as she hurried toward the gazebo in the back corner of the gardens.

  Tears stung her eyes, and emotion clogged in her throat. She wouldn’t cry. All she had to do was think of a way to convince her grandmother how ill-suited Phillip was for marriage. Her stomach lurched, and she placed her hand over her mouth as she reached the gazebo. Taking deep breaths, she held onto the wooden wall and tried to calm herself.

  Phillip would be the one to ruin her family’s reputation, and at the same time, allow the plantation to go under. Even before the war, he had mismanaged his own family’s finances. If the war hadn’t taken away his father and brothers, Phillip’s family would have lost everything, anyway.

  She’d do anything and everything to stop Phillips from getting his way.

  Oh, Johnny! Where are you? Perhaps she should hire someone to search for the man she loved and couldn’t let go.

  Boot steps resounded on the boardwalk behind her, and she turned to meet the wide eyes of Mr. Bentley who’d been coming inside the gazebo.

  “Oh, forgive me. I didn’t see that the gazebo was occupied.”

  Forcing a smile, she slid her palms down the sides of her dress and slowly released the pent-up anger inside her. “Then you must have been lost in thought, because I assure you, my yellow dress attracts attention wherever I go. In fact, I’m quite certain it can be used as a beac
on to signal ships at night.”

  He chuckled as his gaze traveled over her body in a slow perusal. His eyes darkened and his smile widened. The rhythm of her heart thudded to a different beat.

  “I think ya exaggerate, Miss Cummings. The only reason ye’d draw attention is because yer beauty surpasses the other ladies at the party. And if ships happen to see ya, they’d only venture forth to make your charmin’ acquaintance.”

  Speaking of charming... he was doing a good job of it himself. She grinned. “I believe we haven’t been properly introduced. You seem to know my name, but I haven’t actually met you.”

  He took her outstretched hand and placed a kiss on her knuckles. Hot breath fanned her skin and tingles erupted inside her.

  “Forgive me, Miss Cummings. I’m Blake Bentley. My friends call me Bentley.”

  It took all her will power, but she pulled her hand away from his heated touch. “And what would you like me to call you?”

  His smile widened. “I’d love it if ya’d call me Blake.”

  “Then I shall, and you must call me Claudia.”

  He stepped further into the gazebo. “Thank ya kindly.”

  His masculine spicy scent surrounded her, and his nearness created excitement in her bosom. In a flash, the conversation she’d overheard with him and her so-called friends passed through her head. This was the man the others had bet couldn’t charm her. This was also the man she wanted to win.

  Ridiculous. She shook the thought away. She wasn’t about to give her heart to a man she barely knew, and who had a scandalous reputation to boot.

  She motioned him to sit on the bench, which he did as she sat across from him. “Tell me about yourself, Blake.”

  “What would ya like to know?”

  “Where are you from?”

  “Texas.”

  “Why are you in Charleston?”

  “I’m here lookin’ for work, if ya must know.”

  She arched an eyebrow. “Work? What kind?”

  “Anythin’ I can get my hands on.”

  “What is your specialty?” she asked. After she’d said it, she realized the answer was staring her right in the face. His good looks and charm were his specialty. His smile could influence a rattlesnake, and she would bet good money his touch could melt an iceberg. In fact, Henry had considered her an iceberg. Did that mean Mr. Bentley would melt her with his touch?

  Heat climbed up her neck to her face, and she frantically wondered where she’d placed her fan. She must have left it inside the house on the upright table by the planter.

  “I’m actually pretty good with a pistol.” He winked. “Not only that, but I was raised on a cattle ranch, and I’m darn good with animals. I’m not afraid of hard labor.”

  “A cattle ranch? Yes, I’m sure you are very good at those things.” She couldn’t stop gazing over his muscular body in a slow inspection and imagining him riding a horse. Nice. Very nice.

  Catching the direction of her inappropriate thoughts, she jerked her attention away from him and out the gazebo toward the lawns. The figure of a man stood at a distance with a crowd of people, his head moving back and forth as if looking for someone. Without a doubt, Phillip was looking for her. That man kept watch on her constantly. How she loathed him. If only she could find a way to stop his ridiculous idea of marrying her...

  An idea struck her, making her swing her gaze back to Blake. He needed money. She needed help. Could they work out a bargain? She could hire Blake to be her pretend beau. Then maybe Phillip would give up on the notion of becoming her husband.

  Dare she let this handsome stranger know about her very indecent idea?

  THREE

  The longer Blake conversed with the lovely Miss Cummings, the wider his grin grew. Her friends had called her the Ice Queen, but so far, he detected nothing of the sort. In fact, from the interested way she’d been studying him, he wondered if he might have a shot with her after all.

  Today had turned out better than he thought when he first arrived at her birthday celebration. Nobody knew the real reason he was here, and he wanted to keep it that way.

  He rubbed his chin. He hadn’t completely been honest with her. In fact, he downright lied to her and the others he’d conversed with at the party. Even his accent was fake. Of course, undercover Pinkerton agents who were on assignment didn’t want people knowing their true purpose, especially when they were so close to catching a criminal.

  Blake had been following his target for two weeks now, and his gut feeling told him that the jewel thief would try to sneak into Miss Cummings’ bedroom and take her jewels sometime this evening. He’d come to the gazebo because it had the perfect view of her bedroom window, which was the way Blake figured the thief would escape since it was on the side of the house away from the guests at the party.

  Or was the pretty miss part of the thief’s plans to distract Blake? Because right now, her beauty was extremely distracting... as were his thoughts.

  Not more than ten minutes ago, he’d overheard the conversation with her and her grandmother. So apparently, the old woman wanted Claudia to marry Phillip, which was very distasteful, according to Claudia’s actions and tone of voice when she talked about her cousin.

  Blake felt the same way about the man. He wouldn’t trust the underhanded Phillip Matthews as far as he could spit.

  “Blake? Have you ever worked on a cotton plantation?”

  He snapped out of his thoughts and concentrated on their question and answer session. “Yes, ma’am. A few, in fact.”

  She smiled and lifted her chin. “I was watching you this afternoon, and I must say you have impressed me.”

  He paused in thought. She’d been watching him? His instincts took over and he suddenly become wary. “I have?”

  “Yes.” She moved from her seat to sit beside him. He held his breath, wondering what her intentions were. Trying to let her see his reservations, he gave her a lazy smile.

  “I also want you to know,” she continued, “that I overheard you and the other men talking about me by the tall hedges not too long ago.”

  He sucked in a surprised breath. What exactly had she heard of the conversation he’d had with the other men? “Ya did?” he asked in a raised voice before quickly clearing his throat. “Ya overheard the conversation we were havin’ about...”

  “Yes, the one about me.”

  How embarrassing! But he supposed if he could eavesdrop on her and her grandmother’s conversation, she could listen to his, no matter how improper the topic had been. “Claudia, I must apologize for—”

  “And,” she interrupted, covering his hand with hers and squeezing, “I want you to win the bet.”

  Blake’s tongue nearly dropped out of his mouth. A bug must have flown in his ears, because he was sure he hadn’t heard her correctly. Shock vibrated through his body, not believing she actually admitted to listening in on the conversation, and especially that she wanted him to win.

  He snapped his open mouth closed long enough to moisten his dry throat with a swallow. Hoping he didn’t appear as stunned as he felt, he smiled. “Claudia, I’m not sure I understand ya very well. Did ya say you want me to win the bet?”

  A delicate pink flushed her cheeks, making the few freckles sprinkled across her nose stand out. She was absolutely adorable.

  “Yes, you heard right,” she said softly.

  He shook his head. “Then perhaps ya didn’t quite understand the bet that was made.”

  She fidgeted, dropping her gaze to her lap as she played with the lace on the overskirt at her waist. “Blake, I assure you, I heard and understood correctly.” She inhaled deeply before meeting his stare. “The topic was based on how cold-hearted I was. Frank, Henry, and Adam bet you a month’s salary that you couldn’t... umm... charm me.”

  Embarrassed, he pushed his fingers through his hair and released a slow breath. Never in his life had a woman made such a proposition or talked this way. Yet, he liked her bold personality. Although she appe
ared prim and proper, sitting next to him with a straight back, hands resting in her lap as mischief etched her expression, he couldn’t help but become enchanted with this particular Southern Belle.

  Uncomfortable with her stare and not knowing what to say, he stood and paced the small confined space in the gazebo. Her lovely blue eyes stayed on him. A few times, he witnessed her gaze sliding over his chest, and he enjoyed her curiosity. But he couldn’t figure out why she would want him to charm her. From what he’d heard about her, she already had a beau... or at least she was waiting for one. No, there had to be something missing from her story. Women just didn’t go about asking men for these types of favors unless they were harlots. From what he’d learned about Miss Cummings, she was not one of those women.

  Pulling back his shoulders, he stopped and faced her. Her eyes were wide, and her cheeks were highlighted pink. “Pardon my silence, Claudia, but yer shockin’ confession threw my mind into a whirl.”

  “That’s understandable.” She nodded. “I’m not used to being so bold with my thoughts, either.”

  “As for yer answer...” He swallowed again, harder this time. “I find it difficult to believe that ya really want me to win the bet.”

  She lifted off the bench and stood directly in front of him, bringing his pacing to a halt. She was a small woman; her head barely reached his neck. Why hadn’t he noticed this before? He could swoop her into his embrace and her body would fit perfectly against his...

  He mentally shook away the indecent thought. Indeed, she was a major distraction from his important assignment.

  “Blake, I do want you to win, because I want to show those other men that I’m not the kind of woman they think I am. I do not have a cold heart.”

  Nodding, his mind began to wander, but not far from their topic. She was trying to help him and yet it was for a slightly selfish gesture. Perhaps he could do the same with her and her dilemma with her cousin and the problems that man was giving her.

  For the past six months, Blake’s supervisor who was in Denver, Colorado, had been urging Blake to take a promotion... but in order to get this promotion, he had to marry a lady agent and train her. Marriage was in name only and saved the woman’s reputation since she’d be with him all day and all night. However, Blake was not ready to do this, because he didn’t want just any woman to train. Being a rogue by nature, he had his own set of rules...