by Bobbi Smith
“What a disappointment that something didn’t develop between you,” Margaret grumbled good-naturedly. “You’re so much more attractive than Eve, and you have so much more to offer a man.”
CC breathed a deep sigh of relief that she’d managed the awkward situation so well. CC knew that if she could convince her friends of her disinterest in the man, she could convince anybody.
“Well, I thank you for the compliments, Margaret, but Lord Kincade is really not my type.” CC wanted to scream the last in denial.
“And John is?” Caroline was quick to ask. “I noticed you spent a lot of time together last night. Are you becoming more serious about him? He is a wonderful young man.”
“John is very dear to me.” She kept her reply deliberately vague. “But surely you both must know by now that I have absolutely no intention of marrying anyone, any time soon.”
“Of course.” They sighed, disheartened that they hadn’t learned any exciting news from CC.
“More tea?” CC offered.
“We’d love to stay on and visit some more, dear, but we do have to be going. We’re meeting Marianna for luncheon. Would you like to join us?”
“I appreciate the invitation, but I’m still a little tired from last night. I think I’ll just stay home today and rest.” She accompanied them to the front door, carefully disguising her relief that they were finally going. Caroline and Margaret were her good friends, but they were very discerning, and it wasn’t always easy to keep one’s feelings from them. She was glad that she had managed to this time, for it wouldn’t do for anyone to suspect that something had happened with Noah last night.
“Maybe next time.”
“I wouldn’t miss it,” CC assured them. “Tell Marianna I said hello.”
“We will.”
When they had gone, CC made her way back to the quiet of the parlor and closed the double doors behind her. CC moved slowly across the room to stare out the wide, heavily draped window that overlooked the gardens. She could see the summerhouse in the distance, and her heart lurched agonizingly as she remembered all that had passed there.
Shaking herself mentally, she knew she had to get a grip on herself. Caroline and Margaret’s idle chatter had hurt more than she cared to admit, and she wanted nothing more than to put all thoughts of Noah Kincade and Eve Woodham from her. What did it matter if he, after having had his way with her, went home with Eve? Why should she care if he’d bedded her, too? Kincade meant nothing to her. What had happened between them had been an accident that would not be repeated. As Margaret had said, he was a rake and a womanizer, and last night he’d certainly lived up to his reputation.
A shiver of disgust wracked her as she thought of Eve wrapped in Noah’s arms, sharing his passion and being totally possessed by his hard, driving body. The vision was devastating to CC even as it angered her. Kincade might be a nobleman, but there was absolutely nothing noble about him.
Gilbert answered Noah’s knock at the front door. “Lord Kincade, come in!” he greeted enthusiastically, ushering him inside. “It’s a pleasure to see you again, sir.”
“Thank you.”
“Mr. Demorest was called away for an unexpected meeting this morning, but he told me to be certain that you were made comfortable if you arrived before his return. He was positive that he would be here by the noon hour, and it’s almost that now,” the butler quickly explained as he guided him toward the parlor. “Would you care for a drink while you wait?”
“No, thank you. I’ll be fine,” Noah declined.
“Please make yourself at home here in the parlor,” Gilbert told him as he opened one of the parlor doors to admit Noah to the room. He thought it odd that the doors were closed but dismissed it as unimportant, for he knew that Miss CC’s company had left a short time before.
“I shall. Thank you.” Noah strode easily into the seemingly empty room.
“Yes, sir.” The butler withdrew, closing the door after him as he went.
At the sound of someone opening the door, CC had turned from her tormented vigil by the window to stare aghast as Noah came striding into the room. For a brief instant CC was frozen into immobility by the sight of him, but the moment soon passed, and she found herself totally, irrationally infuriated. Kincade! In her home! How dare he? She couldn’t prevent herself from venting her outrage.
“You!” she hissed venomously as she glared at him. “What are you doing here! I thought I told you to stay away from me!”
Noah was caught off guard by her presence, and the atmosphere in the room was suddenly charged as their gazes met. At the sight of her, a flicker of an unidentified emotion flared in his eyes, but Noah was quick to mask his feelings. Though his senses came alive at her very nearness, and the wildfire of desire that had possessed him the night before threatened to rekindle, Noah kept his expression cool as he fought against his disturbing reaction to her.
“Why, CC…what a pleasant surprise,” he drawled, his lips curving into a mocking smile. “How nice to see you again.”
“Get out of my home!” CC stalked across the room toward him, her hands resting belligerently on her hips.
Noah ignored her obvious upset and sat down on the sofa with an easy male grace. “I’m afraid that’s not quite possible, my dear.”
“Why, you! I’ll call Gilbert and have him throw you out!” she declared, his arrogant, commanding attitude pushing her past control.
In a huff, CC started toward the doors to get the butler. She had to get away from him. He was so very attractive, and her reaction to him was so strong. Why, just the sight of him and the sound of his voice had set her pulse racing.
There was no doubt in her mind that she hated him and never wanted to see him again; yet from the moment he’d entered the parlor, she’d been flooded with memories of the heat of his mouth on hers and the rapture that had come when he’d taken her to the peak of pleasure. The realization of the power of her response to him only served to make her more desperate.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Noah remarked, and his words halted her flight toward the door.
“And just why is that?” she demanded.
“Because it just might prove embarrassing for you.” Noah casually adjusted his cuff as he covertly watched the betraying play of emotions that crossed her face.
“I don’t see how my asking Gilbert to escort you from the house would embarrass me.”
“Personally, it doesn’t matter to me what you do.” Noah’s smile was feral. “Go ahead and have me thrown out if you wish, but since your father invited me here today—”
“My father did what?” She couldn’t believe it.
“Your father invited me for luncheon today, and I’m sure he would find it most strange if I were to depart so unexpectedly. Certainly he would want to know my reason, wouldn’t he?”
CC gritted her teeth in frustration as she glowered at him, her expression stormy. “If my father knew what kind of traitor you were…”
“And just who is going to tell him? You?” he challenged, leaving her momentarily at the disadvantage. “I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone as free with condemning labels as you are, my dear,” Noah said harshly as he came to his feet and walked toward her. “You brand me ten times the lowlife, and yet you are no better. Isn’t it rather like the pot calling the kettle black? I find it highly hypocritical of you to call me a traitor for dealing with the rebels while you continue your secret support to the very same group. How can there be any difference?”
“The difference is motive, Kincade!” she seethed. “I support them because of the injustices I’ve seen and lived with, while you’re dealing with them purely out of greed. You don’t care about the very real problems here in the colonies. All you care about is making money.”
“You’re right.” His gaze was glittering as he stood before her. “That is all I care about—making money, and making it as quickly as I can.”
“You’re despicable,” she whispered, and there was a tremo
r in her voice as she gazed up at him. She suddenly felt as if she was seeing the real Noah Kincade for the first time.
“I don’t care what you think of me, CC, and what difference does it make as long as we can use each other to achieve our mutual ends?” Noah asked, reaching out to touch her cheek.
CC slapped his hand away, “I hate you, Kincade!”
“You didn’t hate me last night,” he taunted.
“Last night was a horrible mistake!”
“I didn’t notice that you thought it was so horrible at the time.” Noah found himself suddenly compelled to force her to admit that she’d enjoyed their encounter.
“You bastard! You’re cold and unfeeling. Nothing like your brother. Matthew would never have forced me the way that you did.”
The urge to throttle her was great, but Noah curbed it. His laugh was a sharp, derisive bark. “Force you? My dear, I’ve never had to force a woman in my life, least of all you. You wanted me, and you can’t deny it!”
“I couldn’t stand your touch!” she lied.
Her words provoked him, and Noah suddenly needed to prove her wrong.
Before she could react, he reached out and grasped her arm, dragging her forcefully against him. Excitement, hard and powerful, surged through him.
“Tell me how you can’t stand my caresses, CC,” he snarled as his mouth moved to claim hers.
Noah seemed so angry that CC had expected him to be rough, but the play of his lips across hers was soft and subtly seductive. CC was torn. She wanted to get away from him, but her body was responding to his kiss despite all her logic. Like a flower blossoming before the warmth of the sun, her senses craved more of this man. When he wanted to deepen the exchange, she could not deny him. A low moan escaped her as her will was vanquished.
Noah smiled to himself as he felt her resistance weaken. She wanted him. In spite of all her previous denials, there was no way she could disguise the depth of her attraction for him. He knew a moment of triumph as he realized that he could take her, right then and there, and she would not fight him. The fire of his passion flamed anew, and he brought her full-length against him as the wildfire of his desire threatened to burn out of control.
Only the sound of Edward’s carriage drawing up in front of the house stopped Noah. His body was demanding more, yet reality dictated that he release her, and quickly. With an abruptness that shocked CC, Noah dropped his arms and stepped away, turning his back on her as he struggled to bring his surging needs under control.
For a moment CC felt cold, almost lost, and in her heart she cried out for him to take her back into his embrace. It was only when she heard Gilbert in the hall greeting her father that she understood his action. She wanted to speak but could think of nothing to say. CC was embarrassed. Noah had known all along that her denials were ridiculous, and he had just proven it. She could not deny it.
His runaway passion at last manageable, Noah turned back to face her. He immediately read the distress in her expression. “For a woman who deals so much in intrigue, it amazes me that you haven’t yet learned to disguise your emotions.”
His caustic words sliced through her, and her embarrassment turned to anger. “My emotions are none of your business!”
“Ordinarily I would agree with you completely. However, in this case, your father is about to join us, and you’re still looking at me with eyes that are begging me to—”
“Shut up!” In a flurry of skirts, she marched away from him and threw the door open wide to go forth and meet her father.
Noah found himself smiling as he watched her go, and it took him a moment to realize the reason for it…. CC had not denied his claim. Feeling strangely elated, he started out to greet his host.
Geoffrey Radcliffe sat in his study, sipping a glass of wine. “Bartley, I have a job for you.”
“A job, m’lord?” his servant looked puzzled.
“Yes. It’s rather out of the ordinary…something that only you and I should know about.”
“Of course, Lord Radcliffe, you know I am the soul of discretion.” Bartley’s reply was stiff. He resented his employer’s unspoken suggestion that he might have discussed his affairs with others.
“Yes, yes…” Geoffrey waved away his mood. “What I need is confidential information about someone else.”
“Oh, I see. Please tell me how I can be of service to you,” he asked earnestly, always eager to do his bidding.
“I need to know everything there is to know about Lord Noah Kincade,” he explained in deadly tones.
“Lord Kincade, sir?” Bartley raised his eyebrows in surprise.
“Lord Kincade,” he answered grimly. “I don’t care what it costs. Just do it.”
“Shall I undertake the endeavor myself or hire others to do the footwork?”
“Do as you wish. Just remember that I want no one, absolutely no one, to know that I am connected with this. Do you understand?” There was an underlying menace to his words.
“Of course, m’lord.” Bartley nodded firmly as a shiver of fright skittered up his spine. “Will there be anything else?”
“No. Just be sure that you get this for me as quickly as possible. I have plans to make.”
“I shall do my best.” The servant left the room, wondering at Radcliffe’s interest in the other nobleman.
When Bartley had gone, Geoffrey smiled thinly. Soon, very soon, he would find something about Kincade that was damaging, and when he did, he was going to use it to destroy the man. He thought of Eve and Kincade, and his fury increased. There was no way he would allow the other man to take what was his. No way.
Chapter Thirteen
As Faith and Ruth looked on, Ben Hardwick, their faithful longtime friend, agitatedly paced the length of the parlor. At well over six foot, Ben was a bear of a man. Though many found his size intimidating, the Hammond women did not. If anything, they found his presence comforting, for, since Robert Hammond’s death, he had been their one stable connection with a far more pleasant past.
A sworn bachelor because the woman he loved had married another, Ben had been Robert’s friend from childhood, and he had even been with him the night of his murder at the hands of the British soldiers. Before that night, Ben had been less than fully committed to the colonial cause. After that devastating, deadly encounter, he’d become an active member in the Sons of Liberty and a very outspoken supporter of Sam Adams’s call for independence from England. His hatred of the English ran deep, and he trusted very few of them.
A middle-aged tradesman of limited means, Ben helped Ruth and Faith when he could and often took advantage of their standing invitation to join them for Sunday dinner. Unbeknownst to anyone, Ben cherished the time he spent with them. He enjoyed those sparse, yet tasty meals in their company more than he would have the finest of gourmet fare with anyone else.
“I can’t believe you invited an English lord to dinner.” He stopped his pacing to look at Faith, his shaggy dark brows arching in disbelief.
“I owe Matthew my life, Ben,” Faith said with quiet assurance.
“I’m not arguing that,” he replied, looking to Ruth. “I just don’t know how you can accept him into your home.”
Faith gave her mother no time to enter into the conversation. “Matthew’s been perfectly wonderful to me…to us. When he came to see me yesterday and discovered that I had reported the assault, but that no action had been taken, he was outraged. He admitted that he hadn’t understood the reasons for all the unrest when he’d first arrived in Boston, but that he did now and he was on the colonial side. I find your questioning him very insulting.”
Ben was caught by surprise by her spirited defense of the nobleman. He knew for a fact that she harbored no great love of the English, and he found himself growing more and more intrigued by this Lord Matthew Kincade. The man had certainly managed to make a favorable impression on Faith. That being the case, it stood to reason that he certainly had to be someone special.
“You expect m
e to believe that your Lord Kincade is interested in the colonial cause—a cause that goes against everything he, as a nobleman, stands for?” The expression on Ben’s broad face was skeptical.
“Yes.” Faith’s answer was firm as she looked from Ben to her mother, Ruth. “Matthew is a very exceptional man.”
Ben scowled at her words, for he thought Faith too much the innocent and far too trusting a woman to be a good judge of this man’s true character. True, Kincade had saved her from the soldiers. While the action had been a brave and heroic one, it did not necessarily recommend him for sainthood or win him automatic acceptance in his confidence. When all was said and done, Matthew Kincade was still an Englishman, born and bred. Faith had probably just been overly impressed by his title and timely kindness.
“But how can you be so sure that he isn’t working for the Crown?” he challenged.
His suspicion angered her. “That’s ridiculous! Matthew helped me when I needed help the most. How dare you accuse him of such dastardly behavior?”
“Darling, now don’t get so upset. You know Ben is only trying to look out for our best interests.” Ruth spoke softly to her daughter.
“That may be true, but his charge is totally unfounded. There was no way that attack could have been premeditated. No one knew I would be going out at that time of night.” She turned to Ben.
“That’s true enough,” her mother agreed.
“And apart from our friendship with Ben, there is absolutely no reason why anyone would think that Mother and I have any continuing connections with the rebels.”
“Except for your father…” Ben added gravely.
“That was years ago and—” Faith was interrupted by a knock at the door, and she got up quickly and hurried to answer it. “This must be Matthew now. Once you meet him, you’ll both understand why I feel as strongly as I do about him.”
Matt stood just outside the front door of the Hammond house, anxiously waiting for Faith to answer. Though he had been constantly busy working with Noah and Lyle aboard the Lorelei since leaving her the day before, the time had passed slowly for him. Faith had been in his thoughts continually and, he found himself slightly bewildered by the strength of his emotions for her. Her kiss had been heavenly and he had not wanted to leave her. Matt knew that the frustration and anger he was feeling over his inability to right the wrongs that had been committed against Faith were justified, yet he also knew he could do no less than to heed her plea and let it pass. The necessity of accepting this mockery of justice did not sit well with him, but he vowed in his unspoken fury to see that she would never come to any harm again. That was one promise he fully intended to keep.
