Signs of Love and Deliverance

by Tracy Kay

  “Ah, women fighting each other, what a sight,” Nicholas pronounced sarcastically as he walked towards them from the house. Maxine and Deirdre stopped their practice and looked at him.

  Deirdre blustered in exasperation at her brother. “Why are you being impossible, Nicki?”

  “Because I want to be and I think it is ridiculous for you to learn how to fight,” he answered irritably.

  Maxine grunted in irritation at him, but Deirdre had more to say. “You don’t want me to be able to defend myself?”

  “That is not what I said,” he mumbled.

  “Yes, it is.” Deirdre put her hands on her hips, ready to challenge her much larger and older brother.

  “No, I said you don’t need to learn how to fight,” Nicholas replied testily. He couldn’t believe his little bit of a sister was standing up to him. She had never done such a thing before.

  “It is the same thing,” Deirdre argued, raising her voice.

  “That is enough from both of you,” Maxine reprimanded. “Deirdre, we are done for the day. Why don’t you go get some rest?”

  Deirdre nodded and gave her brother a scathing stare before walking into the house.

  Maxine scowled and turned to Nicholas. “You don’t need to be so difficult, you know.”

  Nicholas grumbled, “I wasn’t being difficult. I simply don’t see the reason behind my little sister needing to learn how to fight. She is a lady for god’s sake, not some . . .” He trailed off, averting his eyes away from Maxine, not wanting to make eye contact with her.

  “Someone like me,” Maxine filled in, hurt showing in her eyes.

  Nicholas groaned with self-loathing. He couldn’t say or do anything right these days. He was annoying everyone, including himself. “That wasn’t what I meant.”

  “Yes, it is. You don’t approve of me, Nicholas, because I am unconventional. I am not a lady. I wasn’t brought up as one and I don’t have the title to be one,” Maxine declared boldly, being true to herself and who she was. Her life hadn’t been an easy one, but she didn’t sit around bemoaning it. Instead, she made the best of what she had and stood on her own two feet. And she didn’t need anyone to help her do it either. She had proven that enough times.

  Nicholas considered her for a long moment. “You may not have been brought up as a lady, Maxine, and you may not have the title, but you are a lady. If I implied otherwise, I apologize.” Nicholas reached a hand out to brush away a stray, black hair off her brow. Maxine took a step backwards before he could complete the act. Nicholas dropped his hand and sighed. “Please, Maxine, a truce?”

  “Are you going to stop drinking? As far as I can see that is all you have been able to do.” She stared at him meaningfully.

  Nicholas glanced away and took a deep breath before looking back at her. “I am done drinking, Maxine. It was a fool thing to do, but something I did and I am not proud of it. I have been an ass and I know it.” Nicholas ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “I apologize, Maxine. You didn’t deserve how I treated you. I don’t deal well with grief, it seems.”

  Maxine gave him a half smile. “No, you don’t.” She put out her hand to him. “Truce.”

  Nicholas gave her a lopsided grin in return and took her hand. “Truce.” He reluctantly let her hand go. “Now, I have to go pay a very overdue visit.”

  Maxine considered him curiously. “To whom?”

  “Lady Gretchen. I had promised Raven I would check in on her and I haven’t. She is going through her own grief, I am sure. Not to mention that with Madeline’s absence, she is probably at wits end.”

  “May I go with you?” Maxine requested. “I would like to meet her.”

  Nicholas raised his eyebrows in surprise. “I suppose, if you wish.”

  Maxine grinned. “I do.” She had noticed Raven’s recent attention to the Malanys, and before he left, he had asked her to check in on them as well. He had shown her the painting Gretchen had given him and he seemed so proud of it. His new interest in the Malanys, Gretchen in particular, had her curious. “I will need to change.”

  Nicholas smiled dubiously back at her, uncertain of her reasons for wanting to visit with Gretchen. “I will meet you in the foyer in an hour?”

  Maxine nodded and went into the house.

  Madeline sat on a high stool in the galley, swinging her legs back and forth while humming a tune and peeling potatoes. They had been at sea for several days, and after a day with nothing to do other than read and stare at the ocean, Madeline sought something to do. When she asked Tylib for something more challenging than tying knots and splicing rope, he guffawed at her and tweaked her nose as if she were a child. After asking several other people for work and being laughed at again, she headed for the galley. Although she was not experienced in the kitchen, she could at least help clean up or chop something, which was why she was peeling potatoes and humming a little sailor’s ditty the cook had taught her. Honestly, the lyrics were quite rude, but the tune was catchy and she liked humming it.

  Madeline paused at her task and watched André LaRue quickly dice an onion. He was a wonderful cook in her estimation and why he wasted his talent on a ship, she did not know. André was able to take the barest ingredients and make something magnificent. He was full of energy and loved his work. André was a young Frenchman, younger than she, with light, curly, brown hair, pale blue eyes, a friendly disposition, and he always had a smile for her. When Madeline had approached him, he welcomed her with open arms, giving her easy tasks and teaching her the fundamentals of cooking. She loved it. She never knew cooking was so much fun until she met André.

  Looking over at her, André pointed his knife at the potato in her hand. “You going to finish peeling that?”

  Startled out of her reverie, Madeline blushed and finished peeling the potato in her hands. “I am sorry, André, I guess my mind wondered.”

  “Thinking about him again, hmm?” André wiggled his eyebrows referring to Damon.

  “Actually, no.” Madeline blushed again. “I was trying to think of something else besides Damon Spencer.”

  “Having any luck?”

  Madeline exhaled dramatically and picked up another potato. “No, not really. André, I don’t understand why he avoids me. The only time he has anything to do with me is at dinner and then Tylib is always with us.”

  “I would like to tell you that it is because he has no time to spend with you, that the running of this ship takes all his time, but I can’t, chéri. This ship practically sails itself, it is so well manned. Now don’t get me wrong, there is always plenty of work to be done, but not so much that the Captain can’t spend time with you.” André gazed at her sympathetically. “I am afraid, chéri, that the Captain is avoiding you, but I do not think it is because he does not care for you. Most likely, it is because he cares too much.”

  “Then why does he ignore me?” She whined.

  “Loyalty, chéri. He is very loyal to your brother and he made a promise to protect you, not seduce you.”

  “Then I will have to seduce him, myself,” she exclaimed desperately.

  “And do you know how to seduce a man, chéri?” André asked, smiling at her with humor twinkling in his eyes.

  “No,” she said deflated. “André, what am I going to do?”

  “Try getting his attention,” he suggested.

  “I tried that and it didn’t work,” she pouted.

  André pointed his knife at her. “Try again and keep trying until you do.”

  “I suppose I could try again,” she sulked forlornly as she peeled another potato. “How many of these do you want, André?” Madeline asked, referring to the potatoes as Damon entered the galley.

  “Speak of the devil,” André mumbled under his breath.

  Startled at Damon’s unexpected arrival, Madeline’s knife slipped and cut her thumb. “Oh!” She exclaimed in pain as her thumb began to bleed.

  Damon quickly strode to her side, took a handkerchief from his pocket and
wrapped her thumb. “If you are going to use a knife, Madeline, you need to be more careful,” he admonished.

  Pushing him away, Madeline scowled. “Stop fussing, Damon. It is only a little cut.” Madeline stared up at him from her perch. “Did you want something, Damon?” Madeline asked coolly.

  “I couldn’t find you and became worried. I was unaware you were down here until Tylib told me you were spending your days in the galley and not in our cabin. I wish you had told me, Madeline.” He was not pleased he hadn’t known of her activities. It was his own fault. He wanted to put a little distance between them in hopes to lessen his desire for her. He had assumed she was spending her time in their cabin when he hadn’t seen her on deck. He would not make that mistake again.

  “I was bored. There isn’t much anyone will let me do, so I asked André if I could help out. He said I could,” she explained with a pout.

  “As long as you are staying out of trouble, I suppose it is all right.”

  Losing her temper, Madeline glared at him through narrowed, green eyes. “That is all you care about, my staying out of trouble. I am nothing but a duty to you.”

  Taken aback by her anger, Damon became defensive. “That isn’t true, Madeline. I care about you. I want you out of trouble because I don’t want you hurt.”

  “Honestly?” Madeline’s green eyes glittered and sparked with her temper. “You know what I think, Captain Spencer? I think you don’t want me hurt because you are afraid of what my brother will do if I am. I am simply a burden to you, one you will gladly get rid of when the opportunity presents itself.”

  “I am sorry you believe that, Madeline, but you couldn’t be farther from the truth.” Damon brushed back the hair from her flushed face and grasped her chin firmly with his fingers. He stared into her eyes for a long moment. “Yes, you are my friend’s sister, and yes, it is my responsibility and duty to protect you, but you are also very important to me.” Stepping away from her, Damon ended the argument. “If you wish to help André, that is fine, but be careful using the knives.” Turning to André, he ordered, “Don’t let her do more than she can handle.”

  “Aye, Captain,” André answered and watched Damon leave the galley. When he was gone, André let out a long, low whistle. “Chéri, that man definitely wants you.”

  “He has a strange way of showing it,” Madeline grumbled, flustered by Damon’s touch but annoyed by his words.

  “Give him time,” André advised, reaching for her hand. “Let me see that finger. We don’t want it getting infected, do we?” Madeline shook her head and complied.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  “Gretchen, honey, please reconsider Lord Ruxford.”

  Gretchen looked sharply at her oldest brother. “I am not marrying Lord Ruxford, Simon.” Gretchen stood and walked to the window, tired of having the same discussion with her brothers. It was the same every time. A beau of hers would request one of her brothers for her hand in marriage without bothering to ask her opinion, and then, she would have this dreadful conversation once again.

  “Warren tells me he has a good reputation and he is well titled.” Simon was becoming frustrated with his sister’s refusal to marry. Since her coming out, she had had dozens of offers and she had turned them all down. Simon was beginning to think he would have to make this decision for her and he would much prefer that she make her own choice. He wanted her to be happy, which was why he had been so patient and had indulged her.

  “Simon, I don’t care about titles or reputations. I don’t want to marry and that is that,” Gretchen responded resolutely.

  Simon sighed as he moved behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. “You don’t mean that, honey.” He caressed her hair lightly before bringing up the sensitive subject he had been avoiding, but couldn’t avoid any longer. “Is your reluctance because of the marriage bed, honey?”

  Gretchen bent her head, brushed away a wayward tear and swallowed back her emotion. “No, Simon, it isn’t that.” If only it was as simple as that. She knew what happened between a man and woman. She bred horses for goodness sake, and her aunt had explained what to expect, in a way. Simon had requested her aunt to have that discussion with her some years ago, and well, it wasn’t as clear as she would prefer. It had been a very embarrassing conversation for both of them. Although she had her misgivings regarding the marriage bed, the truth of the matter was that she was terrified of her own temper and that she would hurt someone with it.

  Simon turned her around and lifted her chin with a finger. “Then what is it?” he inquired with tenderness in his voice.

  “My lord and lady?” Gracen interrupted. Simon released Gretchen and shifted his attention to the butler. Gretchen exhaled in relief. “Pardon the interruption, my lord, but Lady Gretchen has some callers, the Earl of Kylington and Miss Maxine Stuart. Shall I show them in, my lord?”

  Simon nodded. “Yes, Gracen, send them in.” He turned to Gretchen and smiled slightly. “We will finish this later, Gretchen.”

  Gretchen mumbled under her breath. “I am sure we will.”

  Simon chuckled as Nicholas and Maxine entered the room. “Nicholas, so good of you to stop by.” Simon extended his hand to Nicholas.

  Nicholas smiled and grasped Simon’s hand. “It was overdue. I promised Raven I would check in on Lady Gretchen.” He turned to Gretchen and briefly kissed her hand in greeting. “You are beautiful as usual, Lady Gretchen.”

  “Lord Nicholas,” Gretchen murmured timidly in return.

  “I have noticed Raven has been coming by quite a bit lately, and he has taken a liking to my Gretchen.” Simon regarded his sister closely. “Seems to me, the man has developed a fondness for you, honey.”

  Gretchen blushed shyly. “As I have for him. Raven has become a dear friend.”

  “Raven is a good friend to have,” Maxine stated, drawing attention to herself.

  Remembering his manners, Nicholas gestured to Maxine and made the introductions. “Maxine, this is Simon, the Marquess of Morelyn and his sister, Lady Gretchen. Simon, Gretchen, this is Maxine Stuart, a friend of the family.”

  “A pleasure to meet you, Lord Morelyn,” Maxine greeted and extended her hand to his.

  Simon took her hand and brought it to his lips for a light kiss. “The pleasure is all mine, Miss Stuart.” There was something familiar about her, as if he had met her before, but he was sure he hadn’t. His unusual feelings perplexed him. When Maxine drew her hand away, he reluctantly let it go.

  Maxine smiled at Simon before turning to Gretchen. “Raven tells me that you paint.”

  Gretchen blushed again. “Yes, a little, but I am not very good.”

  “Not good?” Maxine exclaimed in amazement. “Darlin’, I saw the painting you gave him. It is beautiful, damn it.”

  “It was nothing, a simple, little thing,” Gretchen shrugged, making light of her ability.

  “Lady Gretchen, you are being modest.” Maxine looked at her in surprise. “Your painting is magnificent and Raven thought so too; otherwise, he wouldn’t have it hanging over his bed in his cabin.”

  “Oh, he didn’t.” Gretchen blushed brighter, mortified over the attention her trivial painting was bringing her.

  Maxine grinned. “Oh, but he did. He goes on and on about your paintings. I would love to see them.”

  “I am truly not that good,” Gretchen said timidly with a good dose of embarrassment. She hadn’t known Raven had been talking about her.

  “Please, Lady Gretchen, let me see them,” she pleaded with soft, gray eyes, and an impish grin.

  Gretchen nodded reluctantly, puzzled by the interest in her paintings, and her willingness to allow a stranger to view them. Her studio was her sanctuary after all, and she rarely allowed anyone other than her brothers and closest friends to enter. She was surprised at herself for permitting Raven, and now Maxine, to be there. “They are upstairs in my studio. Gentlemen, if you don’t mind?”

  “Not at all.” Simon smiled at his sister’s shyne
ss over her paintings. He had never paid much attention to her paintings, perhaps he should. He was a little confused at the fuss Maxine was making over them and Raven’s obvious concern for Gretchen. He needed to learn more about Raven’s interest in his sister, and he wondered if Raven would be a suitable husband for her. Raven was the first man Gretchen had admitted having a fondness for other than her brothers. He was the only man besides her brothers she had allowed in her studio and the only one to whom she had given a painting. Yes, he definitely needed to learn more about this new relationship.

  As the women headed towards the stairs, Maxine inquired, “I would love to purchase one of your paintings, Gretchen, if you are selling them.”

  Gretchen stared at her in amazement. “I am not selling them Miss Stuart, but I will be happy to give you one if you like.”

  Maxine put her hand on Gretchen’s arm. “Please, call me Maxine. And I would love to have one of your paintings and to be your friend.” Maxine decided she liked Gretchen. She liked her a lot and she had no idea why. Usually, it took Maxine some time to like someone, and she rarely made the first overture of friendship, let alone willingly touch someone she had recently met. She couldn’t explain it, but she felt as if she had known Gretchen and Simon all her life, as if a missing part of her had fallen into place, and as if she had come home after a long journey. Briefly closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, Maxine suppressed the foolish and unusual feelings.

  “Maxine, I would be happy to have you as a friend. And as friends, you can refer to me as Gretchen minus the lady.” Gretchen smiled warmly at Maxine and led her to the studio.

  Simon watched the women until they were out of sight before turning back to Nicholas. “I hadn’t known Gretchen’s paintings had become so popular.”

  “I think you need to start paying a little closer attention to Gretchen, old chap. There is a lot more to her than you think,” Nicholas advised sagely. He had always been partial to Gretchen, even if she did talk Madeline into mischief.