The Heiress He's Been Waiting For

by Kaitlin O'Riley

  “How are my two beautiful girls doing over here?”

  Her father’s voice startled Sara from her musings of Alexander’s kisses.

  Captain Harrison Fleming stood beside her, his eyes moving between his wife’s face and his daughter’s, assessing the situation with concern. He was a tall, handsome man, his tawny hair tousled by the wind and his skin golden from years at sea.

  Juliette Fleming gave her husband a rueful smile. “Well, Harrison, I managed to prevent our daughter from throwing herself overboard.”

  Harrison looked at Sara with disappointment in his eyes. “Drowning?” He shook his head in disbelief. “Quite honestly, Sara, I expected better from you.”

  A sting of embarrassment flooded her cheeks. Disappointing her father was definitely not something Sara was used to doing. She adored him and was inordinately proud of him, and in turn he was immensely proud of his only daughter and doted on her.

  He was a self-made man, her father. Born into hellish poverty in the slums of New York City, Harrison Fleming survived a brutal childhood with hard work and determination. He made his way up in the world, becoming a successful and wealthy shipping magnate. After he married Juliette Hamilton, the three of them spent a great deal of time sailing around the world on his clipper ship, the Sea Minx. Oh, how Sara had loved that ship! She knew every inch of it by heart, from its lofty sails to the polished railings. This new steamship was lovely to be sure. But it wasn’t the same as the clipper ship.

  Sara and her father enjoyed a close bond, and when she was a child, he had always indulged all of Sara’s whims, even against her mother’s wishes at times. He used to let her run wild about his ship, from climbing the rigging and chatting with the sailors to sitting beside him at the helm. He’d even had a little captain’s hat specially made for her to match the one he wore. Sara was the captain’s daughter and loved every minute of it. She and her father had had many adventures, as her family traveled the world together.

  But in spite of everything, Sara wasn’t ready to forgive him for what he’d done to her this day. She was still far too angry with him.

  “I didn’t truly intend to jump,” Sara protested coldly. “Mother is exaggerating.” And to be perfectly honest, when all was said and done, Sara was more than likely not going to throw herself into the ocean, and her mother did have a tendency to overstate the facts of any situation.

  “I know you’re angry and hurt, Sara,” her father said, not unkindly. He placed his hand under her chin, forcing her to look up at him. “And I understand why you’re upset with us, but your mother and I only did what we thought was best for you.”

  She had heard that before. But they didn’t know what was best for her. It was infuriating to be told that she didn’t know what she wanted. That she couldn’t decide for herself what was best. In their eyes she was simply a silly little child who couldn’t think for herself, not a grown woman who knew her own mind and heart. She pulled away from her father. “Well, you are both quite wrong on this account.”

  Her parents exchanged a secretive glance between them.

  Sara was used to that behavior. Her mother and father were still ridiculously in love with each other, even after more than twenty years of marriage. Often it felt as if they spoke a different language that only the two of them could understand. It was simply a part of who they were. Sometimes Sara felt a little left out by their connection to each other, slightly jealous even. She’d always longed to find the kind of love her parents shared.

  And she believed that she’d found such a relationship with Alexander Drake. The way he treated her, the words he whispered in her ear . . . Sara knew he loved her. And she loved him. Everything about him was perfect.

  But now her parents had destroyed it all in one fell swoop. Or so they both thought.

  “I just don’t understand why . . .” She gazed at them. “What has Alexander done that is so terrible? Can you at least tell me that much?”

  “We shall tell you when the time is right,” Harrison said in a tone so firm that Sara knew it was fruitless to pursue the answers now.

  For whatever reason, her parents had made up their minds that Alexander was somehow a threat to her and yet Sara knew without a doubt that they were wrong. “How long are we staying in London?” she managed to ask, desperate to change the subject.

  “As long as it takes.” Juliette looked at her with unflinching frankness and there was no mistaking her meaning. Her parents intended to keep her captive on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, far out of reach, until Sara forgot all about Alexander Drake.

  Sara took a deep breath, the sea air bracing and invigorating her, as it always did. Once again she turned her eyes to the horizon. So this was how it was going to be. Her mother and father thought this was over. That they had won.

  But it wasn’t even close to being over.

  As soon as she got to London she would secretly send a message to him, informing him of what happened. Letting him know where she was. Alexander Drake would come for her. And he would come right away, she knew that much. It was merely a change of plans, that’s all. They would be married in London instead of New York. For of course he would still want to marry her. She believed that with all of her heart.

  No matter what her parents thought they had accomplished or believed they had changed by taking her to London, this was far from over.

  Sara knew how to weather a storm. She wasn’t a captain’s daughter for nothing.

  2

  All Ashore

  There was a flurry of activity at Devon House when they arrived in London and Sara knew immediately that they were not expected. So her parents’ abduction of her was not quite the well-planned plot she assumed it was. If Aunt Colette was not aware they were coming to stay, perhaps her parents had made the decision to take her away quite suddenly?

  “What a marvelous surprise! It’s simply wonderful to see you!” Colette Hamilton Sinclair exclaimed in utter delight. She wrapped them both in warm embraces. Pretty and petite, her aunt looked remarkably similar to her mother. “Where is Harrison? Did he come with you? Why didn’t you let us know you were coming? I would have had everything ready for you!”

  Juliette’s eyes met Sara’s briefly. Then she hugged her sister. “Oh, we wanted to surprise you,” she said airily with a wave of her hand. “Harrison is still down at the dock making sure everything is in order. You know how he is when he’s with his ship, checking every last detail, but he’ll be along shortly. Sara and I just couldn’t wait to see you! Besides, everything is always perfectly ready at Devon House!”

  Footmen dressed in the Devon House livery were busy taking the trunks and baggage up the wide staircase to their rooms. It had been two years since Sara was last at Devon House, but the beautiful white marble mansion had not changed a bit. Elegant and imposing, it was the family town house of her uncle, Lucien Sinclair, the Marquis of Stancliff. Fond memories of playing with her cousins in the many rooms and along the long corridors flooded her and she couldn’t help but smile. Devon House was like a second home to her. Sara hugged her aunt Colette tightly.

  “My goodness, Sara, you’ve grown into a beautiful woman! You remind me of your mother at that age.” Colette turned to her younger sister. “Truly, Juliette, your daughter is the exact image of you at twenty.”

  “She does look a little like me, doesn’t she?” Juliette agreed, a note of motherly pride in her voice.

  “Most definitely. I’ll send word to the girls that you’ve arrived. They will be just as surprised and thrilled as I am that you’re all in town.” Aunt Colette gave detailed instructions to the butler. Then Sara’s pretty and stylish aunt ushered them down the wide hallway. “Well, your timing is excellent nonetheless! Phillip and I were just sitting down to tea! Come to my drawing room. Lucien and Simon are out this afternoon, but Phillip is here and has a friend with him.” She turned to Sara with a sparkle in her eye. “Oh, this is wonderful! Phillip’s friend is quite handsome, Sara. Do you h
ave a beau?”

  “As a matter of fact, I d—”

  “No, she doesn’t,” Juliette said smoothly, cutting her daughter off before Sara could properly answer and say she did indeed have a beau.

  Anger and annoyance surged within her again, overwhelming the initial joy she felt at being back at Devon House. Sara gave her mother a sharp look. Her aunt was already trying to play matchmaker and she hadn’t been in London a day! Sara was not interested in meeting any Englishman, no matter how handsome.

  Her heart was already taken by Alexander Drake!

  Sara gave a heavy sigh, reluctantly following her aunt and mother down the stately corridor. She was certainly in no mood for this, but she pasted a smile on her face.

  “Well, if you’re staying for the Season, which I can only assume that you are, we can certainly remedy that situation! We shall have men fighting over you, Sara!” Colette said with a knowing glance.

  Juliette said softly, “We’re not sure yet exactly how long we’re staying in London.”

  “Well, you know you’re welcome to stay at Devon House as long as you like, but you must promise not to leave at least until Yvette and Jeffrey’s annual masked ball next month! You haven’t attended one in years, Juliette! And now Sara is old enough to attend!” Aunt Colette was fairly bursting with excitement, as she ushered them into her large and elegant drawing room. Two gentlemen were seated in comfortable chairs at a table.

  “Look who I found on our doorstep!” Colette announced with a flourish.

  “Why, it’s Aunt Juliette! And Cousin Sara!” A good-looking young man of twenty-three or so immediately stood and hurried across the room to greet them. A wide grin lit his face and his green eyes sparkled. There was a bit of the Hamilton look about him, but he clearly favored his father, with his dark hair and broad shoulders.

  “Phillip!” Sara and her mother both cried in unison. He hugged and kissed his aunt and then turned to Sara.

  She squealed in delight as her eldest cousin wrapped her in a hug and then twirled her around in excitement. They had been fond playmates from an early age and adored each other. Sara more often thought of Phillip and his younger brother, Simon, as her very own brothers. As an only child she often wished for siblings and clung to her beloved Hamilton cousins to fill that void. Her terrible mood evaporated instantly upon seeing her beloved cousin.

  Phillip Sinclair, who was also the Earl of Waverly, put her down and Sara cried, “I’d have recognized you anywhere, Phillip! You look just as handsome as ever.”

  “And you!” The exuberant young man paused to take in the changes in his younger cousin over the last two years. “And you, Sara . . . But my Lord, it’s hardly possible but you have grown even prettier since I saw you last!” he commented with his usual, easygoing charm, his smile lighting up his face.

  Sara simply laughed at his words. Phillip always had that way about him. He could captivate anyone and lighten the mood in any situation. Sara always felt happier just being in his presence.

  Turning his attention to the other gentleman in the room, Phillip said to him, “Did I ever tell you about my pretty American cousin from New York? Sara, let me introduce you to my good friend, Christopher Townsend, the Earl of Bridgeton. This is my aunt, Mrs. Harrison Fleming, and her daughter, Miss Sara Fleming.”

  Sara glanced toward the gentleman who stood somewhat uncomfortably in the presence of this unexpected little family reunion. He was much taller than average, with jet-black hair and the deepest brown eyes she had ever seen. Aunt Colette was quite right when she mentioned that Phillip’s friend was handsome. This Christopher Townsend, the Earl of Bridgeton, was very handsome, indeed. Sara was not so despondent over Alexander Drake that she couldn’t admire a fine-looking gentleman. Of course, she preferred Alexander’s golden-blond, boyish looks to this man’s dark and commanding appearance. Admittedly, Lord Bridgeton’s height was impressive, as was the cut of his clean-shaven jaw, and the quiet power of his presence. His handsomeness was thoroughly different from that of Alexander Drake’s. Sara almost wished she could study the two men side by side to do a proper comparison.

  Phillip’s friend stepped toward her, and taking her hand in his, said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Fleming. And no, Waverly never mentioned he had such a beautiful American cousin.”

  “Why, thank you, Lord Bridgeton. It’s nice to meet you also.” She gave him a mischievous smile. “But I must admit I’m a bit suspicious of your character if you’re friends with the likes of my cousin.”

  Lord Bridgeton laughed heartily. “I couldn’t agree with you more, Miss Fleming. You’re quite right to be suspect, but he has his good qualities too. As do I.” He turned to Juliette. “Mrs. Fleming, your daughter is very charming.”

  Her mother laughed. “Sara can be very charming when she wishes to be.”

  Joining in their laughter, Phillip stated, “I’m giving you fair warning now, Bridgeton, you’re out of your league with my cousin Sara.”

  Sara gave both men a playful grin, one she’d used countless times on her many admirers back in New York.

  “Let’s all sit and have our tea, shall we?” Colette suggested, indicating the sofas and chairs as they took their seats. “They are bringing more of everything, including the tea cakes.”

  “It’s wonderful that you’re here, Sara,” Phillip said some time later after they’d exchanged more pleasantries and answered questions about her family’s crossing of the Atlantic. “There’s so much happening in town and so many parties coming up. And Aunt Yvette’s masked ball is in a few weeks! You’ll have a wonderful time here in London with us. You must join us tomorrow evening. We’re attending Lord and Lady Abbott’s ball, and we’ll escort you and show you off to everyone, won’t we, Bridgeton?”

  “Of course, we will,” Lord Bridgeton agreed.

  Sara still found it difficult to reconcile the fact that she was not in New York with the man she loved. Instead she was in a drawing room in London having tea with her family and a handsome stranger who looked at her with intent, steady eyes.

  While trapped on her father’s ship for a week, Sara had plenty of time to consider her unusual situation. She had calmed down after her initial upset and then weighed her options. She simply had to bide her time, until Alexander came to rescue her. And he would come for her.

  She had written a letter to him ready to be posted the first chance she could escape her mother. Sara wasn’t foolish enough to ask one of the servants to do it, either on the Captain’s Daughter or here at Devon House. Even her lady’s maid, Leighton, couldn’t be trusted not to tell her mother. If Sara acted agreeably enough and didn’t show her anger and didn’t mention Alexander Drake or New York, her parents would believe she had forgotten about him. They would lower their guard, never suspecting that Sara was planning to elope with Alexander.

  She had it all figured out. She would simply play along with them. By being the obedient daughter, and doing all her mother and father asked of her without a fuss, they couldn’t question her behavior. She had hidden her anger and her hurt feelings from them under a cool façade of calm, which left an icy cold silence between them now. So much so that Sara wondered if things would ever be the same between her and her parents again.

  But Sara smiled brightly at her cousin Phillip and Lord Bridgeton, ignoring the watchful gaze of her mother. “That would be lovely, Phillip. Of course, I shall be happy to accompany you both tomorrow evening. How could I refuse an offer from two such handsome and charming gentlemen?”

  At that moment the drawing room door burst open and before Parkins, the Devon House butler, could announce their newest guest, a petite blonde flew into the room. Sara jumped to her feet in delight at the sight of her cousin, Lady Mara Reeves. Seeing Mara’s sweet face again almost made the trip to London worth it. Her heart filled with affection for her dearest friend, the two girls hugged each other amidst joyous squeals and laughter.

  After another round of greetings and introductions,
they all sat back down.

  “We just got word that you arrived,” Mara explained to everyone, her slight Irish accent lilting her words. “You nearly missed us. Mother and I were leaving for Ireland in the morning! She’s home now, rearranging our plans, for of course we shan’t be going now. She’ll be over as soon as she can to see you, Aunt Juliette. She’s just as excited as I am at your visit, but I simply couldn’t wait another moment to see you! So I rushed right over.”

  Phillip exclaimed with excitement, “Well, now I can escort my two beautiful cousins to the Abbotts’ ball tomorrow night. For surely you’ll join us as well, Mara, won’t you?”

  “Oh, yes, please do!” Sara cried, urging her reticent cousin to join them. “It will be so much more fun to have you there with me!”

  Her mother and Aunt Colette encouraged her as well.

  With a shy glance, Mara smiled, unable to refuse her aunts’ and cousins’ request. She replied a bit hesitantly, “Well, I suppose that would be all right.”

  “Then it’s all settled,” Phillip declared. “The four of us, and Simon too, will attend the Abbotts’ ball together tomorrow evening. This shall be a fun Season after all, won’t it, Bridgeton?”

  For the briefest instant Sara caught the glance of Christopher Townsend, the Earl of Bridgeton. His brown eyes glinted and he smiled enigmatically. “Yes, it will indeed.”

  * * *

  Later that evening, Sara Fleming and Lady Mara Reeves sat curled up on the large, cushioned window seat upstairs in Sara’s lovely guest bedroom at Devon House.

  “It’s the most romantic story I’ve ever heard.” Mara stared at her cousin with her wide, gray-green eyes. “Truly, Sara, it has all the markings of a great romance.”

  “It is rather romantic, isn’t it? I hadn’t thought of it that way before . . .” Sarah said quietly. “I’ve been too upset.”

  It was so nice to finally talk about what had happened to her. She had been alone aboard ship with her own thoughts for too long. How grateful she was to have a sympathetic ear! And even better that it was Mara here with her now, listening intently to her travails and completely understanding her plight.