“I beg your pardon, Mar—” Kitty’s gaze flickered to the foyer, met his, and a flush rose to her cheeks so swiftly that even her quick palms could not cover it in time for Leam’s sake. Air filled his lungs for the first time in days. He bowed. The corner of her mouth tipped up, and Leam knew that returning had been his most foolish decision yet.
He would be a man twice damned, it seemed. He would throw himself beneath the wheels of the carriage and suffer the consequences.
Chapter 14
“Lord Blackwood!” The master of Willows Hall came from the corridor, followed by a surly Worthmore, his points drooping. “And Mr. Yale.” Lord Vale bowed with pretty grace. “Welcome back. How did you find the road in this dreadful weather?”
“Passable, sir, only in that it brought us quickly here,” Yale replied, casting a meaningful look toward the banister where his
Lord Vale was all smiles. “Do go wash that mud from your boots and then join us in the parlor.”
He gestured toward the stair. “I have had a visit this morning from an acquaintance of yours, it seems.
A Mr. Seton of Liverpool. He has been most happy to wait upon your arrival, although we only hoped you would return so soon, and is now in the library.”
Leam ascended the steps and found himself facing the woman whose lips tasted like wood smoke and cherries.
“My lord,” she said smoothly, only a hint of pink remaining on her porcelain cheeks, “we did not expect to see you again so soon, or indeed at all.”
“The whelp needed tending.”
Her wood-smoke cherry lips twitched.
“Lady Marie Antoine.” Yale bowed deeply, peering around Kitty’s shoulder. “You are as lovely as ever.”
“Oh, be quiet. My mother and father and that fish-troll man have gone already.”
“But I must speak the truth, nonetheless.”
“You are abominable.”
“Your gratitude touches me deeply, ma’am.”
She narrowed her gaze. “You now expect I owe you something in return, don’t you? I had that thought while you were gone.”
“The lady spares a thought for me. Be still my heart.”
Lady Emily whirled about and with quick, firm steps disappeared along the corridor.
Kitty glanced after her. “I believe she is beginning to think you truly intend to offer for her.”
“I am all humility,” he replied with perfect amiability.
“Yes, I’d thought so. But she is a bit concerned.”
The Welshman’s mouth curved into a grin. She studied him for a moment.
“Sir, you have broken your promise to me. You said you would not tease her.” Her voice had altered, a hitch amid the smoothness. “Honestly, I do not know why I trusted you.” She turned her wide gray gaze on Leam. “I don’t know you from Adam, after all.”
Beneath the scrutiny of the thunderclouds, Leam’s throat went dry. She passed him and hurried down the stairs. For once, Yale did not utter a word.
As Leam crossed the library, Jinan stood and came toward him with a handshake.
“It’s been too long, Jin.”
“I trust you are well, Leam?” Jin settled back in a chair, at ease in the sumptuous apartment yet still slightly alien to it. The foreign, aristocratic cast of his sun-darkened features was at odds with his plain clothing, and his light eyes held sharp intelligence. Several years shy of Leam’s age, Jinan Seton had had the rule of himself before Leam had even learned English.
“I am as well as can be expected with Colin still nosing into everybody’s business,” Leam said, sitting as well.
“Yes. He sent me word shortly before you left London.”
“
“Rather, about what?” Yale said, entering. Jin stood but the Welshman waved off the formality and headed toward the sideboard.
Leam shook his head. “Goddamn it, Wyn, did you know Colin had been in touch with Jin already?”
“Did I know that our friend the viscount told a little white lie to get you involved in whatever business Jin has come to chat about with us? No. But I’m not surprised. Colin Gray always gets his man.”
Leam turned to the privateer. “Colin knew where you’ve been all along?”
Jin nodded. “Apparently he did not share that information with you. He did, however, send me interesting news and told me you would be coming my way.”
“You may as well let Jin tell us, Leam. Colin will find a way to get you involved later if you don’t at least appear to be curious now.” Yale filled three glasses with claret and carried them over.
Jin set his on the table. “The Home Office has had word from two separate sources that recently a merchant ship intended for Calcutta disappeared after leaving the port at Newcastle Upon Tyne.”
“Quite close to the Scottish border.” Yale lifted a brow. “Pirates or rebels?”
“As yet the owners of the vessel have not come forward with an insurance claim, so the cargo has yet to be disclosed. The informants seem to think Scottish rebels took it because they believed it carried cargo of particular value.”
“Cargo that could finance an insurrection against the British crown, presumably,” Yale supplied.
“Those pesky insurgents. What cargo of that value could be on its way to Calcutta? English woolens seem unlikely.”
“Rather, intelligence on British tactics in Bengal traveling under cover of commerce to disguise it,” Jin replied. “It is sometimes done to protect sensitive information also sent in duplicate on naval ships.”
“Aha.” Yale leaned back in his chair. “This intelligence is something that the French in the East Indies might be happy to have, I take it? What a pretty little circle of amity. Scottish rebels seeking French assistance and willing to trade English secrets abroad to assure that assistance.” The Welshman sipped his drink sparingly now. While working, he rarely indulged.
“Our director asked the Admiralty that I be given permission to board all ships, British and otherwise, in search of information,” Jin said.
“Did the Admiralty oblige?”
The sailor nodded. “The
“I thought you’d quit too, Jin.” Yale eyed him.
“I quit the Falcon Club.” Jin finally tipped his glass to his mouth, a thick ring set with a bloodred ruby winking on his hand. “Not my livelihood.”
“As though you need any more gold. Rich as Midas.”
Jin’s lean cheek creased. “Short on funds again, Wyn?”
“Gentlemen.” Jaw tight, Leam stood. “As none of this concerns me, I must take leave of you now.”
“Leam—” The door clicked open. Kitty entered and glided across the room. The others came to their feet. She held out her hands and put them into Jin’s.
“Jinan, it is a pleasure to see you.” Her smile was genuine. “If I had known you were here earlier, I would have sought you out.” She released him.
“Hello, Kitty. How do you come to be in this country?”
“I have come here with my friend, the eldest daughter of Lord and Lady Vale. But tell me, how is your ship?” The thunderclouds sparkled with sunshine in the dim chamber, dancing with affection like Leam had never seen, her complexion high from familiar warmth rather than discomfort. Her elegance was radiant, and it struck him full force in the gut.
It was for another man, and Leam did not like it.
