by Laura Landon
“The bloody bastard,” Ford said through gritted teeth.
To his surprise, she laughed.
“I’ve called the cad similar names since I discovered what kind of man he was.”
“I’d like to say I’m sorry, but I don’t want you to interpret the words as pity, so instead, I’ll tell you that I’m gratified that you found out what kind of man he was before you married him.”
“So am I. But his betrayal taught me a brutal lesson.” She turned, and when her gaze locked with his, Ford saw a determined look that he knew couldn’t easily be softened. “In such a situation, a woman learns never to trust another man with her heart.”
Lady Calinda walked forward, and Ford walked at her side. When they reached a fork, they took the path that returned to the house. “So what do you do with your time if you don’t attend the usual round of balls and parties?”
“I help my grandfather, Admiral Barclave. He’s getting on in years, but he still controls half interest in Crown’s Shipping.”
“Of course,” Ford said in feigned surprise. “I should have realized the connection.” Ford stopped along the path. “Does your grandfather still receive guests?”
“Yes. In fact, we go to the docks every day. I doubt he’ll ever get over his love for the sea. Or for the ships that make their home upon it.”
“Dare I ask if Admiral Barclave would mind if I came down to visit with him, say tomorrow?”
A smile lit her face. “I’m certain he would enjoy it immensely. There’s nothing that amuses him more than talking about his time at sea.”
“I will see you tomorrow, then,” Ford said with an excitement that reflected both the fact that he’d successfully found a way to infiltrate Crown’s and that he’d get to see Lady Calinda again.
So why was he forced to battle a pang of guilt? It had never bothered him before when he’d had to use whatever unsavory means were necessary to achieve his goal. But suddenly the whole charade seemed unsavory. With a lovely woman at the center of the investigation who deserved more than to be scuttled when all was said and done.
Once inside, Ford bowed to her and handed her off to her family. She’d shared her story with him, something she’d not had the courage to do with those she loved most in the world. For a moment it shamed him, knowing he’d deceived her. And suddenly he was forced to admit how much it would matter to him if Lady Calinda Barclave were to discover his deceit.
CHAPTER 4
Callie checked the entrance to Crown’s office for the hundredth time. She was anxious for him to appear, while at the same time she dreaded his arrival. She didn’t know how she could ever face him again.
She’d never been so open, so bold, so revealing to anyone in her life. Especially with someone she had just met. How could she have shared with a perfect stranger secrets she’d only shared with her brother Frank?
She lifted her gaze to the outer office door, then back to the ledgers she’d been working on.
“Is something wrong, Callie?”
Callie placed the pen she’d been using into its brass holder and looked at her grandfather. “No, Admiral. Nothing’s wrong.”
“Then perhaps you’d like to tell me what’s so interesting about the office door.”
“There’s nothing interesting about the door.”
Her grandfather folded the charts he’d been looking at and placed them on the small desk where he was working. “Then perhaps it’s whoever you think might be walking through the door that has captured your attention this fine afternoon.”
Callie tried to place an innocent look on her face but knew she failed. She’d never been able to get by with anything where the admiral was concerned. “If you must know,” she started to say, but stopped when the door opened.
“Oh my,” Callie’s sister Margaret said as she entered the room. “That’s the most obvious look of disappointment I’ve ever seen on your face. Were you expecting someone else?”
“Don’t be a silly goose, Maggie,” Callie said as she rushed to her sister and held her in a tender hug. They both laughed when Callie could barely reach around her sister’s waist. “That babe you’re carrying must be another boy.”
“Randolph hopes so,” her sister said as she looked over her shoulder to the exceedingly good-looking man standing behind her. “But I’m hoping for a girl. I’d like to have one of each.”
Callie let her gaze shift to where her brother-in-law stood. “My lord,” she greeted, making an attempt to be cordial. The last thing she wanted was for Maggie to realize she wasn’t fond of her husband and want an explanation as to why.
Rumor had it that the mistress he spent a great deal of time visiting was also with child. Rumor also had it that there was a wager in the betting book at White’s on whether Lord Grantly’s wife or his mistress would deliver first. There was even rumored to be a wager concerning which one of them would give him another son. Or whether they both would.
In Callie’s mind, Grantly was just another example of the inability of handsome men to be faithful to one woman.
“Although I’m happy to see you, Callie, it was Grandfather I came to visit.” Maggie made her way across the floor as gracefully as her cumbersome body would allow. When she reached the admiral, she gave him a warm hug.
The admiral returned his granddaughter’s affection, then looked over Maggie’s shoulder. “I want you to take note that I still have what it takes to attract not one, but two good-looking women, Grantly.”
The Earl of Grantly laughed with Callie and Maggie at the admiral’s humor.
“I can see I’m no match for you, Admiral, so if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll go down to the docks and watch what’s going on. Is it true that the clippers have docked?”
“Night’s Lady is here and the Wayward is due in another day or two,” the admiral said proudly.
“I mustn’t miss the opportunity to see her showing off among the old traders, then,” Grantly said as he turned to the door.
“Don’t be too long, Randolph,” Lady Grantly called.
“I’ll return shortly, my dear.” Grantly smiled at his wife, then closed the door behind him.
“What brings you here?” Callie asked, pushing a chair close so her sister could sit.
“Actually, it was Randolph’s suggestion. I was complaining this morning that it had been forever since I’d left the house, and when the babe arrives it will be longer still before I’ll be able to get out. He suggested we come to the docks for a short visit since we were sure both you and the admiral would be here.”
“That was thoughtful of the young man,” the admiral said, squeezing his granddaughter’s hand.
“Yes, it was,” Maggie said. “I’m very fortunate to have such a wonderful husband.”
Callie couldn’t bring herself to look at her sister. Instead, she busied herself making a pot of tea from the kettle of water they kept hot over a small woodstove. When the tea was ready, she handed her grandfather and Maggie their cups, then took hers to her desk and sat down to listen to her sister’s innocuous ramblings.
Maggie talked about everything, yet nothing in particular, for the next several minutes. Then, true to his word, Lord Grantly returned, and Callie’s sister announced she was more than ready to leave.
“Next time I see you, Admiral,” Lady Grantly announced as she gave her grandfather a clumsy hug, “it will be to present your newest great-grandson or great-granddaughter to you.”
“I look forward to seeing the new addition to our family,” the admiral said.
Callie gave her sister a hug, then returned her to her husband, who stood ready to offer his arm. They walked across the office, but before they reached the entrance, the door opened.
Callie’s world shifted at the sight of the man who filled the doorway. She tried to ignore the tripping of her heart, but how could she when every nerve in her body was on fire?
“My lady,” Captain Ford Remington said on a bow.
“Captain.�
�� Callie turned to face her family. “Maggie. Lord Grantly. May I introduce Captain Fordham Remington? Captain, my sister, Lady Margaret Grantly, and her husband, the Earl of Grantly.”
“Lady Grantly. Grantly,” the captain said in a voice that was as deep and rich as she remembered.
“Captain,” her sister and brother-in-law greeted.
“The captain is here to see Grandfather. They have a military bond, you see, and Captain Remington asked if he might speak with the admiral. He also wants to see the clippers.”
“We won’t keep you, then,” Grantly said. “There’s nothing the admiral enjoys more than reliving his time during the war. And you’ll soon discover how proud he is of the clippers.” Lord and Lady Grantly said their final goodbyes, then the earl led his wife out into the teeming street.
After Callie closed the door behind them, she turned to face the man whose presence had caused her heartbeat to speed and her palms to dampen. “Come in, Captain,” she said.
Callie led the captain into the office, then across the room to where her grandfather sat in the comfortable leather wing chair positioned so he could look out onto the docks and watch the ships load and unload.
“Grandfather, may I present Captain Fordham Remington. The captain was an officer in Her Majesty’s 6th Dragoons. Captain, my grandfather, Admiral Barclave.”
Admiral Barclave placed his paper on a table by his chair and struggled to rise.
“Please, Admiral. Don’t get up.”
“Nonsense, Captain. If I don’t get to my feet every once in a while, I’ll become a permanent fixture in this chair, and they’ll have to put wheels on the legs to roll me about.”
Captain Remington met her grandfather’s attempt at humor with a broad smile. When her grandfather rose to his feet, the captain greeted the admiral with a salute.
Callie’s heart warmed when her grandfather returned the salute. She stepped closer to her grandfather. “When Captain Remington discovered that you and I had a connection, he asked if he could visit with you.”
“Did you warn the captain that I can talk about my time in the Royal Navy until his ears fall off?”
“Yes, Admiral,” Callie said. “I warned him. Now, please sit down and get acquainted, and I’ll bring you something to drink.”
“None of that warm colored water for us, Callie,” her grandfather said when he was seated. “There’s a bottle of whiskey in the cupboard. I’ve been saving it for a special occasion, and I can’t think of anything more special than an opportunity to relive the best years of my life.”
Callie filled two glasses with the whiskey her grandfather wanted, then handed them each a glass. “I’m going back to work on the books. Call if you need anything, Admiral.”
Callie turned to leave them, but before she could take her first step, Captain Remington’s gaze caught hers. There was a lively glimmer in his dark brown eyes, and a rush of heat washed through her. They looked at each other for a prolonged moment, then Callie broke the contact and made her way back to work on her ledgers.
She stared at the figures written on the lines in the open book but couldn’t seem to concentrate on them. She kept her eyes lowered though she found it impossible to ignore the conversation passing between her grandfather and the captain.
The longer her grandfather talked, the more animated and alive his voice became. She couldn’t remember the last time he’d enjoyed himself as he seemed to be doing, or the last time someone had taken such an interest in what the admiral had done during the war.
She found herself warming to the captain despite her resolve to distrust and dislike any man with handsome features such as the captain had in abundance.
“Would you care to join us, Callie?”
Callie was startled by the mention of her name and lifted her head to see what her grandfather needed. “What?”
“I told Captain Remington that the Night’s Lady has docked, and he wants to see her. We’re going to walk down to the pier. Would you care to join us?”
Callie glanced at the books she’d hardly worked on and started to refuse. The captain changed her mind.
“Please do, Lady Calinda,” he said, stepping to the desk. “You’ve hardly taken your eyes from your work the entire time I’ve been here. I can’t imagine you don’t need a rest from your labors.”
His smile was her undoing. “Very well. I enjoy watching the activity on the docks as much as Grandfather does.”
The captain held out his hand and Callie took it. They waited for her grandfather to lead the way, then she and Captain Remington followed. Callie didn’t want to admit how glad she was she’d agreed to come. She didn’t want to acknowledge how special she felt walking on the arm of a handsome man. Or how good it felt to be in a strong gentleman’s company. She’d been alone for so long, she hadn’t realized how solitary—how empty—her existence had become.
Callie was spared having to carry on a conversation. Thankfully the admiral was more than eager to tell Captain Remington everything about the ships getting loaded and preparing to sail.
Callie could walk in silence at the captain’s side and even enjoy herself.
CHAPTER 5
Ford took such pleasure in his visit with Admiral Barclave that more than once he forgot he was on assignment. To actually be able to sit down with a boyhood hero and listen to him talk about the battles he’d fought during the war against Napoleon was the thrill of a lifetime. Ford would have been content to listen to the admiral speak well into the evening, but when Admiral Barclave told Ford he wanted to show him the Night’s Lady, Ford couldn’t refuse.
They left the shipping office and made their way to the waterfront.
The distance wasn’t so great that it was taxing for the admiral. For a man who’d passed his seventieth year, he still walked with a spry step that belied his age, and his sharp mind gave no indication of decrepitude.
“Have you received the loading manifests yet, Callie?” the admiral asked over his shoulder.
“No, Admiral. I’ll ask for them when we see Captain Fletcher.”
Lady Calinda’s grip tightened on Ford’s arm. Something about the admiral’s question alarmed her.
“Where have the ships returned from?” Ford asked.
The admiral was eager to explain. “The Night’s Lady has just returned from China. Her cargo, as you know, is mainly tea. The Wayward will dock within a fortnight. Captain Palmer will bring silk and spices from India, as well as half her hold filled with China tea. The clippers are the fastest ships on the seas, and that’s important. Fresh tea brings more on the market than older tea.”
“You said Crown’s has a third ship,” Ford remarked.
“Yes, the Argos. She should arrive within the month. She’s not a clipper, so she sails to the islands. She’ll be loaded down with sugar and coffee, as well as rice and other goods.”
Ford couldn’t help but be impressed. “Are you in charge of the scheduling?” he asked the admiral.
“I used to be. But now—”
“No, Grandfather. You are still in charge. I only help when I can be useful.”
“Which is most of the time,” the admiral said with a wink over his shoulder.
There wasn’t time to say more. They’d reached the area where the Night’s Lady was docked.
Ford had been to the Surrey docks more times than he could count, and each time he had to stand in wonder at the grandness of the traders. But nothing compared to the clipper ships. They were magnificent. Their towering masts soared high above their sleek decks and surpassed anything he’d ever seen.
He looked out on the Night’s Lady, and his breath caught. He often wondered how different his career might have been had he joined the Royal Navy instead of the Queen’s Dragoons.
“He has that look in his eyes, Callie,” the admiral said with a broad grin on his face.
“He surely does, Admiral.” Lady Calinda returned her grandfather’s smile.
Ford looked from gran
dfather to granddaughter. Their grins turned to laughter, then Lady Calinda lifted her gaze to his.
“It’s a look of wonder we see only on certain people’s faces when they stand before a clipper.”
“She is magnificent,” Ford said, letting his gaze feast on the sleek lines of the ship before him.
“I think you have the makings of a seaman,” the admiral said. “But let’s not waste our time admiring the Night’s Lady from shore. If we’re fortunate, Captain Fletcher will give a landlubber such as yourself permission to come aboard.”
Ford and Lady Calinda followed the admiral aboard the Night’s Lady. The moment Captain Fletcher saw them, he stopped what he was doing and came near.
“Admiral,” he greeted with a salute.
“Captain Fletcher. I want you to meet Captain Remington, formerly of Her Majesty’s 6th Dragoons.”
“Captain,” the naval captain greeted, and Ford greeted him the same.
“Although the captain spent his service with the heavy horse, Lady Calinda and I decided there’s hope for him. He had that look the second he laid eyes on the Night’s Lady.”
Captain Fletcher laughed. “The admiral swears he can tell a born seaman by the look in his eyes when he sees one of these beauties.”
“Laugh all you want, Captain. But I haven’t steered you wrong yet, have I?”
The captain shook his head. “No, you haven’t, Admiral. I’ll give you that.”
The admiral paused to watch the sailors push wooden sleds of cargo down the gangplank. “Did you come back with a full load?”
Captain Fletcher nodded. “Our trip was a success.”
Ford saw the pleased look on the admiral’s face. When he turned to Lady Calinda, her expression indicated relief more than pleasure.
“The Night’s Lady sailed to China with bales of textiles, copper, iron, and lead,” Lady Calinda explained, as if she knew that was a question he was ready to ask. “They also took with them tobacco, sugar, and dyes from Britain’s colonies in the West Indies.”
