Engagement of Convenience

by Georgie Lee

  ‘Anything you say, Captain.’ She took the coins, then walked off, her large hips swaying.

  He sat down next to Julia, noticing the wary mistrust in her eyes. ‘You seem quite practised in the art of charming women.’

  ‘Better a woman is your friend than your enemy.’

  ‘What am I?’

  ‘Much more than a friend.’ He reached for her hand under the table, but she pulled it away.

  ‘Don’t.’ She leaned back in the chair, watching the room from under her hat. James missed her easy trust and wondered how he could regain it. He wanted to reveal his true feelings, but this was no place for such an intimate conversation.

  Very soon the harlot hustled back to them. ‘Your room is ready, milord.’ She dangled a key in one dirty hand while the other held a candle in a pewter holder.

  ‘Not milord, just Captain.’

  ‘Is that what she calls you?’ She threw back her large head of red hair and laughed, the gravelly sound barely carrying over the din. James nodded for Julia to rise and they followed the wench up the stairs and down a pokey hallway to the back of the inn. The stench of unwashed bodies and stale beer increased, as did the heat, laughter and other assorted sounds from all the people packed into the small space under the eaves.

  ‘Here ya are. The best we have.’ The harlot threw open the door and James held up another coin.

  ‘Your help is very much appreciated.’

  ‘My pleasure,’ she purred, taking the coin from his hand and sliding it over the flesh of her breasts and down the front of her dress. ‘Ya wouldn’t be needin’ me to help you and the lad, would ya?’

  From beside the harlot, James saw Julia’s jaw fall open. ‘Thank you, but we couldn’t possibly intrude on your hospitality any longer.’

  ‘Well, ya know where to find me if you change your mind.’ She handed James the candle, then sauntered off down the hall.

  ‘Did she just ask if...?’ Julia gasped.

  ‘Yes, she did.’ James nudged her into the room, not wanting to linger in the hallway or explain any more about the proposal than Julia had already grasped.

  He closed the door, placing the candle and key next to the chipped china bowl on the battered washstand near the door. Julia approached the narrow bed situated against the wall and pulled back the thin blanket with her thumb and forefinger to inspect the sheets.

  ‘Does it meet with your approval?’

  She jumped back, almost knocking over the rickety chair under the window. The room was tight, with little space for two people to walk around. He stood over her, keenly aware of her warm body so close to his.

  ‘Yes, I suppose it will do.’

  ‘What do you think of your adventure now?’ The tightness in his voice caught him off guard and he realised he’d only been alone with her like this once before. The memory of it made his body ache with need and he busied himself removing his gloves.

  ‘It keeps getting stranger.’ She took in the small, dingy space, her hat shadowing her nervous eyes. ‘Where are you going to sleep?’

  ‘The floor.’

  ‘The floor?’

  ‘It’s only appropriate.’ Disappointment flashed across her face before she sat down to pull off her boots. ‘Leave your clothes on and keep your coat and boots nearby in case we need to make a hasty retreat.’

  Her eyes lit up. ‘Really?’

  ‘Yes, now get some sleep.’ James slid the coat off his shoulders and a bolt of pain shot through him. He sucked in a quick breath, waiting for it to pass.

  ‘What’s wrong?’

  ‘Nothing. I overworked the arm perhaps.’ He grimaced, working to slide off the coat without making the pain worse.

  ‘Let me help you.’ She reached up to assist him, but he pulled away.

  ‘I can manage.’

  ‘Please, I insist.’ She took the coat by the collar and gently pulled it down his arms. Once it was off, she draped it over the back of the chair. The tender move touched him and he knew, despite everything that had happened tonight, she still cared for him.

  ‘Thank you.’ He started to rub his sore shoulder, but she pushed his hand away, massaging his aching flesh with her slender fingers. The nearness of her teased his senses and clouded his mind.

  ‘If it bothers you too much, I can sleep on the floor and you can have the bed,’ she offered.

  ‘I’m not weak enough to kick a lady out of her bed.’ He laughed, but it came out choked. He stood, removing her hands from his shoulder to keep from losing all self-control. Did she know how she affected him? He wasn’t sure, but he couldn’t take advantage of her innocence, no matter how much hesitant yearning filled her eyes. He’d never win her back if he gave in to the desire raging through him. ‘I can leave if you prefer and try to find another room.’

  Her hand clasped his tighter. ‘No, I don’t want to stay here without you.’

  He glanced at her chest, the linen shirt barely hiding the gentle curve of her full breasts rising and falling with each fast breath. He stepped closer, a desire deeper than lust driving him forwards. He wanted to smash all the obstacles between them and feel her in his soul. Did she want the same thing? ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘Yes.’

  Pulling her to him, he covered her lips with his.

  * * *

  Julia slipped her hands around the captain’s neck, heady with the heat of his body so close to hers. She knew she should stop, but she couldn’t. She’d already abandoned good society tonight. Now she wanted to give in to her desire and curiosity and experience everything she’d been denied the night he’d first touched her in Paul’s room. In the morning she could regret again.

  His free hand slid up under the shirt, cupping her breast and she moaned softly as his thumb made her nipple hard. With his other hand, he pushed the linen from her shoulders and she pressed against him, dizzy with need. He kissed her neck, then lowered to take one pert nipple in his mouth. Her legs went weak when his tongue traced wet circles around the tender point, his breath on her damp skin making her sigh. Scooping her up, he laid her on the bed, then stood over her, removing his breeches and revealing his desire. A twinge of fear filled her for she knew something of what came next, but wanting drove all other thoughts from her mind.

  He pulled his shirt off over his head, dropping it on the floor before settling down next to her in bed. Perched on one elbow, he admired her body, the hot desire in his eyes making her shiver. She reached for the sheet to cover her nakedness, but he stopped her.

  ‘Don’t.’ His hand traced the curve of her stomach, heightening the need coiling within her. She grasped his arm when his fingers slid into her moist depths, his gentle caress bringing her closer and closer to her passion. Then he stopped, withdrawing his touch.

  ‘No,’ she pleaded, wanting him to fill the emptiness and lead her to the same ecstasy she’d experienced the other night.

  ‘We shouldn’t,’ he whispered, but she was beyond reason or caring about anything except being close to him.

  ‘Yes. Please.’

  His knees nudged open her legs and he settled his hips between them. The heat of his manhood touched her thigh and she trembled in anticipation. He covered her mouth with his, his member probing her depths, sliding, stretching her until she opened to take him in. She gasped at the pain, but it quickly disappeared, replaced by a sensation of fullness as he rocked within her.

  His thrusts were slow at first, caressing, teasing, but grew more frenzied as she tightened around him. Clinging to his back, she moved her hips to match his pace, thrilling at the sound of his heavy breath in her ear while he continued to push into her, deeper, harder until the spasms of her pleasure exploded through her. Inside she felt his body quiver before he collapsed on top of her, panting with his own release.

  Julia stroked h
is back, their heavy breathing subsiding as they clung to one another. The thump of someone stumbling down the hallway accompanied by a wench’s throaty laugh reminded Julia of where she was and why.

  ‘James?’ she ventured, wanting to know what this all meant to him and them. Did he love her? Did he care for her or did he think her no better than the harlot who’d showed them to their room?

  He withdrew, kissing her forehead, then cradling her against him. ‘Tomorrow, everything will be clear,’ he whispered as if sensing her questions. ‘Tonight we need sleep.’

  Julia closed her eyes, his damp skin on her cheek, his beating heart soothing her worried mind. Yes, tomorrow they’d deal with everything and one way or another it would seem right. Or would it? She didn’t know. Snuggling into the crook of his arm, she closed her eyes, fatigue pulling her into a deep sleep.

  * * *

  Julia awoke with a start, struggling through thick sleep to recognise her surroundings. The dirty walls and rough sheets on her bare body brought the events of the night before rushing back. Emotions collided: betrayal, love, pleasure, heartache—all plagued her as powerfully as the exhaustion pulling at her muscles. Wrapping the sheet tighter around her neck, she sank back into the bed, snuggling close to James, eager for more sleep, but it eluded her. His steady breathing reminded her just how far she was from Knollwood and good society, and she had no idea what would happen when he awoke. For a brief moment he’d made her forget his unfaithfulness and the reason she’d first set out for London. Paul.

  Her eyes flew open. Outside the window, the orange glow of the inn’s lantern mixed with the grey morning light. Muffled snoring punctuated the silence, the other patrons deep in either their travel-weary or ale-laden sleep. She gazed at James and the way the dim light outlined his features. Reaching up to stroke his cheek, she stopped, afraid to wake him. She’d trusted him with her body, savouring the pleasure and hope in his touch, but she couldn’t trust him with her heart. Under different circumstances, perhaps they could be happy together, but not with his infidelity hanging over them. There was no use continuing the journey with him or torturing her mind with what could never be. If she left now, she’d have the beautiful memory of their lovemaking instead of the awkward scene of facing him and listening to his lies and explanations. He’d surely follow her, but with a head start, he’d never be able to find her in the crowds of London.

  She slid from the bed, careful not to disturb him. Gathering up her clothes from the pile on the floor, she dressed, anxious he might awake, but his breathing remained steady. Tying back her hair, she tucked it up under her hat. She grabbed the boots, unlocked the door and slipped into the hallway, closing it behind her. She didn’t pull on her boots until she reached the top of the stairs, then she descended into the common room, noting the few people asleep at the tables or stretched out on the wooden benches. One man remained awake. He sat in the corner, a tricorn hat pulled down low over his eyes. She sensed something familiar in the cut of his jaw, but she could not see his features clearly through the heavy shadow covering his face. Having no desire to be recognised dressed as a man in a coaching inn during the early hours of dawn, she didn’t linger, but hurried across the room and out of the door.

  A few stars still twinkled in the grey sky, but the horizon glowed lighter with the approaching sunrise. The stable was empty except for the horses and, walking along the stalls, she found Manfred, who greeted her with a nervous toss of his head.

  ‘Steady, boy. It’s only me.’ She reached up to caress his nose, but he pulled back, his dark eyes wide. Only then did she hear the sound of boots crunching the hay on the floor behind her. Turning around, she expected to see the groom or James and let out a scream when the man with the tricorn hat flew at her.

  He grabbed her by the throat, pinning her up against the wall, his hands cutting off her scream. His hat toppled off and she recognised Wilkins’s man, the one who’d challenged her about the fight.

  ‘I thought it ’twas you. How lucky for us to meet when I’m on me way back from London,’ he sneered, pressing his body against hers. ‘Not so high and mighty now, are ya?’

  ‘Get away from me,’ she choked, scratching at his hand, but his grip on her neck remained tight.

  ‘Oh, no, me minx, now you’ve shown yer true colours, old Mark’s going to have a reward. I sees you and I thinks to myself, what would a proper lady like yourself pay to keep me from spreading this around the whole county?’

  ‘You’ll get nothing from me,’ she spat, her throat burning with the effort to breathe.

  ‘Oh, I think I shall have something.’ He leaned closer, his ale-laden breath stinging her face.

  A large shadow rose up behind him, pulling him back. The fingers around her throat released and she dropped to the ground, gasping for air. James slammed Mark against the opposite wall, his sword pointed at the scoundrel’s throat.

  ‘Please, governor, I meant no harm,’ he pleaded, his eyes wide with terror. ‘I only wanted to help the lady, her being a good neighbour and all.’

  ‘You have a strange way of helping,’ James growled.

  ‘Please, sir, I was helping. I can prove it. I know about her brother, the one in London.’

  Julia was next to James in an instant. ‘What do you know?’

  ‘I know where he is.’

  ‘How? Where?’ Julia’s heart leapt with hope.

  Mark hesitated and James brought the edge of his sword up against Mark’s neck.

  ‘Answer her.’

  The servant started to shake. ‘Giltspur Street Compter.’

  ‘Debtors’ prison?’ Julia cried.

  ‘You’re lying.’ James pressed the sword deeper against Mark’s flesh. A small drop of blood slipped out from beneath the blade and Mark’s eyes widened, his fingers clawing at James’s hand.

  ‘No, I helped put him there. Mrs Wilkins told me to do it. She saw him when we was in London. Mrs Wilkins knows one of his creditors, so she sent me to fetch the man and he had me fetch the bailiff. It’s why I’m back from London so late.’

  ‘Why would she have Paul arrested?’ Julia asked, trying to make sense of it all.

  ‘To spite you both for wanting Cable Grange and for putting Mr Wilkins in debt to Captain Covington at the race.’

  ‘But Paul had nothing to do with it.’

  ‘The loathsome woman doesn’t care. If she can strike a blow, she’ll do it, no matter who it hurts.’ James released Mark, who slumped to the ground, clutching his bruised neck. ‘Mrs Wilkins paid you well for this?’

  ‘Yes, sir.’

  ‘I’ll pay you better for your silence.’ James tossed a few sovereigns at Mark’s feet. Forgetting his sore throat, Mark snatched up the coins. He stretched to reach the last one, but James stopped him with his sword, resting the shiny blade against his cheek. ‘I hear one whisper of either Paul’s story or Miss Howard’s and you’ll regret it. I know a press-gang boss who’d gladly take a man like you for a ship. Do I make myself clear?’

  ‘Yes, sir.’ He cowered back, clutching the money to his chest.

  James hauled Mark to his feet, shoving him at the stable door. ‘Now get out of my sight.’

  The servant stumbled before running off into the morning.

  James sheathed his sword, fixing Julia with hard eyes. ‘Why did you run off?’

  She turned away from him, her shaking hands fumbling with Manfred’s saddle. ‘I don’t owe you any explanations.’

  He stepped up behind her, his body vibrating with anger. ‘Do you know what could have happened if I hadn’t found you?’

  She knew exactly what she’d have suffered if he hadn’t followed her. Having come so close to danger, she wanted to cry from fear, throw herself into his arms and let him comfort her, but she didn’t have the courage to face him.

  ‘Don’t ever s
care me like that again.’ He walked to his own horse, throwing the saddle over its back in a noisy clank of stirrups and buckles. Tears burned at the corners of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall, determined not to cry in front of him.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The sun crested the horizon, glinting off the tightly packed roofs and wet streets of London. Smoke rose from the thousands of chimneys, joining the voices of ballad singers, fishwives and hawkers beginning their day. Despite the growing tightness in her stomach, Julia followed James into the sprawl of farmers, dyers and the like crouched outside the city proper and spreading into the surrounding countryside. The stench of rot and filth grew stronger the closer they got to town, the smell instantly taking her back to her Season in London and conjuring up the feelings of loneliness and inadequacy she’d suffered then. She wondered at the odd circumstances bringing her back here today. Was this her future, the rank air of London instead of the clean air of Cable Grange?

  James sat rigid atop his horse. They’d barely spoken since leaving the inn and if he didn’t want her before, she felt sure he couldn’t wait to be rid of her now. How tired he must be of chasing after a hoyden with a knack for getting in trouble. He’d probably leave her the moment they found Paul.

  She buried her nose in the wool sleeve of her jacket, noting how James seemed impervious to the odours. ‘How can you stand the smell?’ she asked, unnerved by his continued silence and eager to reclaim the easy familiarity between them.

  ‘Compared to a few months at sea with filthy men, bilge water and dead rats, this smells positively charming.’ He sounded almost jovial and her shoulders relaxed, glad to see he’d lost some of his irritation. The feeling disappeared when his eyes went stern. ‘Here, just as in the inn, do as I say.’

  Julia nodded, rubbing her sore throat.

  They manoeuvred their horses down the wide streets, dodging carriages, carts and various workers going about their morning business.

  ‘How do you know where it is?’ she asked.

  ‘This isn’t the first time I’ve had to bail a fellow officer out of debtors’ prison. Though I never thought I’d be doing it for Paul Howard.’