An American Lady

by Emma Brady

  “That was the most barbaric thing I’ve ever seen.”

  “I was simply trying to express my feels on the matter of celibacy.” Lucas said.

  “It’s not celibacy when you find another woman to occupy your time.”

  “You will encourage me to take a mistress? You prefer that to me coming to your bed?”

  He was simply trying to rile her up with that comment, which worked too well. Before he realized what she was doing a pillow knocked him upside his head.

  “You may have as many as you wish, as long as they keep you away from me.”

  “You did not seem to find me repulsive last night, against the garden wall.” Her blush proved that the memory was as fresh in her mind as it was in his. The brightness of her eyes lit up her face, glowing heat into him.

  “That was the result of a traumatic experience, nothing more.”

  Slowly, like a predator, Lucas moved towards her. Leaning his body over her, Sinclair was forced to lay back on the bed to keep eye contact with him. The width of his chest blocked out the light from the fireplace that was cast over her features. Her breath became short and ragged as she stared into his eyes. He had once been told that his green eyes sparkled when he seduced a woman.

  “So then you wouldn’t respond if I kissed you now?”

  She shook her head. The scent of rich coffee surrounded him, its warmth invading his sense. He watched her lick her dry lips, aware that her focus continued to be on his face. Her lips parted and he captured her sigh with his mouth. Beneath his mouth she d to burst with passion that shocked him. Her lips parted and she was begging for him to give her more.

  When he could hold back no longer, he swept his tongue along hers, reveling in the strong sweetness of it. Her tongue brushed against his, petting him into a heated frenzy. The feel of his blood swelling one part of his body compelled him to break away.

  “You do not hide your passion well.” His voice was strained, “Celibacy might prove to be more difficult for you than you imagine.”

  Looking down at her swollen lips and lust-filled eyes, Lucas raged against the need to kiss her again. Using every ounce of control he possessed, the earl managed to leave her alone in the bed. Feeling painfully unfulfilled, he chose to drown his pain in the brandy kept in his study.

  Chapter 18

  Sinclair’s sleep was restless that night, filled with vivid dreams. That kiss haunted her, making her want things she only had vague ideas about. What they had started in that garden was now just outside her reach and he was skilled enough to remind her of it. If only she could trust him to be as good with her heart as he was with her lips.

  By the time the sunlight peeked through the window, she couldn’t stand to be in that bed a moment longer. Dressing quickly, she went in search of Charlotte.

  The girl was not in her room or the dining room. One by one, Sinclair looked everywhere for her, until the only room left was Lucas’s study. Hesitating at the door, Sinclair prayed he would not be home. She couldn’t face him so soon after last night.

  “Looking for someone?”

  Frederick’s voice stopped her just as her hand reached for the doorknob. Without turning to face him, she answered in a whisper.

  “I was just hoping to find Charlotte. She wasn’t in her room.”

  “She’s visiting with her friends at Ms. Burrow’s residence.”

  “I wonder why I wasn’t invited.”

  “Most people would think newlyweds want to sleep in.”

  “Of course, she wouldn’t want to disturb us.”

  “I doubt the earl would have been disturbed, having slept in the study.”

  Of course Frederick would know that the earl hadn’t spent the night with her. That infernal man seemed to know everything. It had been that way for the entire ten years Frederick had been with her family. At fourteen he was annoying, by now the habit was becoming a nuisance.

  “Are you giving marriage advice now? I don’t think you have any experience in that area. It was never on your list of job duties.”

  “You don’t know everything about me. I’m more than just a servant in your home.”

  That made her pause, because she had never thought about Frederick outside his role as her butler. She knew that he got two afternoons a week off, her mother had insisted, but she never asked where he went during those hours. In truth, she hadn’t asked Frederick much of anything about his life and now she found she wished she had.

  “I know it’s not my place to comment, but I want to make sure you are fine.”

  “Of course I’m fine. When have I ever been anything else?”

  They both knew she was good at being fine on the outside, regardless of her feelings on the inside. Frederick nodded and quietly slipped away down the hall. She knew she should just turn around and leave the earl to his sleep. He was the last person Sinclair wanted to see. She could slip away now and spend the entire day without him.

  Then a snore could be heard through the door and she lost her resolve to leave. Bracing herself, Sinclair opened the heavy wooden doors. The fire was barely burning in the fireplace, while the room held a slight morning chill. Heavy drapes blocked out the sun from the windows. Stepping quietly, Sinclair moved deeper into the room.

  In front of the fireplace, Lucas had fallen asleep in a large leather chair. His feet were propped up on a stack of books and a glass had fallen from his hand to the carpet. The strong scent of brandy lingered in the air around him.

  “I wonder why he chose to sleep here,” she mumbled to herself, “This house must have a guest room. More than one, I would think.”

  The strong line of his jaw seemed soft while he slept. His face was calm and serene. Without thinking, Sinclair reached up to brush a lock of dark hair away from his forehead. It was silky between her fingers. Fearing what might happen if he woke up to find her there, Sinclair left the room as quietly as she’d entered it.

  “Did you find what you were looking for?”

  “Don’t you have anything better to do than sneak around like that, Frederick?”

  “I was coming to bring the earl his morning coffee. I thought it might cure his headache.”

  “He has a headache?”

  “He will.”

  “I doubt he will appreciate being woken up.”

  “Of course, Miss, I was only trying to help.”

  Frederick continued to stand there with the tray of coffee in his hand. His face remained passive but there was a twinkle in his eyes. Sinclair knew he waited for her to say something.

  “I think I’ll have that cup of coffee,” she stalled, reaching for the warm cup.

  “Of course, Miss,” the butler said.

  “Frederick, please stop calling me that.”

  “I apologize, Ma’am.”

  She shot him her best glare while sipping her coffee. He continued to look at her without expression, but there was a bit of humor twinkling in his eyes.

  “Have the cook fix him something to settle his stomach and ease his head,” she said.

  “I thought you didn’t want me to wake him?”

  “The wife of an earl can change her mind if she likes.”

  Sinclair suspected Lucas would be in a foul mood when he woke up, so she decided not to be home for it. She had set a meeting for Brown shipping with a man who used to know her father in America. He thought he would be meeting with Mr. Gates, but Frederick would be busy dealing with Lucas. Hopefully the American man would be open to her stepping in.

  At the hotel she told the front desk who she would be meeting with and found the man was in the dining room, enjoying his lunch. When she approached the table he stood and greeted her with a warm smile and a firm handshake. The man was younger than she expected with sandy blond hair and vivid blue eyes. He wore a light colored suit with a napkin tucked into the top of his shirt. She was early, so he was a little surprised.

  “I’m afraid my partner has been detained, so he won’t be able to join you for lunch.” S
inclair said as she moved aside her skirt to sit across the table from him.

  “I was hoping to meet him, but this isn’t a disappointment. I remember you perfectly.” Said Jack McDonald. “You used to visit your father at his offices. That was when I was still working for him as a clerk. You are still the spitting image of your mother.”

  Now it was her turn to be surprised. “You worked for my father?”

  Jack laughed. “Taught me everything I know about business. Even encouraged me to go out and start one of my own.”

  As hard as she tried, Sinclair just couldn’t remember seeing the man’s face at her father’s office. She thought she had gotten to know everyone. Now she blushed as she admitted she didn’t remember him.

  “I was much younger then. I tried to stay out of notice, but no one could forget you.” he said. “Your father was always so proud when you came to visit. I remember him showing you every inch of the place. You asked so many questions.”

  That was true. Sinclair wanted to know as much as she could about the business her father built. Even as a young girl, she wanted to be just like him. Often it felt like he was the only who truly understood who she was. Being at his office was like being where she belonged.

  “When I heard that the company would be continuing on, I wanted to be involved. I am just now in the process of expanding my trade across the ocean.” Jack grinned at her now. “I’m hoping to be one of your first clients in the new location.”

  “It doesn’t bother you that I’m involved in the business?” Sinclair was prepared to use Mr. Gates if he said it did.

  “Of course not. I expected your partner, but I know where the real brains are.” The man gave her a wink.

  Sinclair smiled back at him, feeling relief for the first time in weeks. Jack might be the answer she was looking for in her dilemma. If he didn’t mind her involvement, than perhaps other gentlemen would follow suit. If she could convince Lucas too think more like this, she might be able to get rid of Mr. Gates.

  “What business did you decide to go into for yourself?” she asked.

  “Spirits. Brandy and whiskey mostly.”

  “Made in America?” she remembered how fond her father was of a good drink in the evening before bed.

  “Yes, but now I have orders coming in from Europe, so I need a reliable shipping company.” For a moment his smile faltered. “I had hoped to approach your father about it when the time came, but...”

  Instinctively Sinclair reached out to touch the young man’s hand. It still pained her to think about her parents but there was something comforting in sharing the grief. “He would have been proud of what you’ve accomplished.”

  “This is the best business meeting I have ever had.” said Jack.

  “Then let’s get to the business part.”

  HIS HEAD FELT LIKE a melon that had just been split open. The empty decanter lying on the floor mocked his pain. Frederick was not being delicate as he arranged a tray on the desk a few feet away. One steamy cup held coffee, but the other was a mysterious concoction he was afraid to try.

  “Sir, I prepared you my special tonic for your headache,” The butler cast him a weary glance.

  “I do not need any such thing.”

  “The lady asked that I bring it to you.”

  It surprised him that Sinclair would think of his needs. He felt terrible about the way they ended things last night. It should have been a wonderful experience for her, but he let his pride overrun his better judgment. He would have expected her to rise against him this morning.

  “Where is my adoring wife?” Lucas reached for the glass.

  “Sir, I believe she is visiting with friends.”

  “Most likely discussing things only women understand.”

  Frederick’s expression hardly changed, except for the thin smirk on his face. Irritated, Lucas gulped down the murky cup of medicine, then motioned for the butler to leave. The young man ignored him and proceeded to pull back the curtains in the study. Light pierced his eyes and Lucas let out a string of curses.

  Within minutes his headache began to fade away and Lucas grew restless. Last night had been frustrating, but he regretted the way he handled things. Anxious, he decided to get some work done. Sitting down at his desk he found it hard to concentrate on the papers he tried to read. There was a subtle scent of her in the room, rich and earthy that shocked him. He loved how she didn’t smell flowery like other women.

  “Frederick, did my wife appear to be angry with me this morning?” Lucas asked after calling the servant back to the room.

  “I wouldn’t know, sir.”

  “You must have spoken with her.”

  “Yes, but I did not ask for her opinion of you.”

  The man was being evasive, which Lucas found amusing. He knew where the butler’s loyalties lay. It was obvious he had a unique relationship with Sinclair. If he had suspected anything romantic he might have been jealous, but it was clearly more like a sibling bond. Having a sister meant he could understand the man’s feelings.

  Before he had the chance to ask the butler any more questions, he heard the front door open. Hoping it was Sinclair he rushed out into the foyer but only found Charlotte. He didn’t want to let his sister know he was disappointed but she knew the moment she saw him and gave a smug smile.

  “Hoping I was someone else, big brother?” she asked, handing her hat and jacket to Frederick.

  “I thought Sinclair was out with you and your friends.”

  He watched as Charlotte and the servant exchanged nervous looks. It was clear they were communicating something, just not in a way that he could understand. Now he felt a sinking feeling in his stomach.

  “Which of her friends is she visiting with?” he addressed his question to Frederick.

  “I’m not sure.” The man looked him straight in the eye when he spoke.

  “Was it one of the ladies in town?”

  Now his eyes shifted away. “I’m sure it must be.”

  That was all the evidence he needed to know where his wife had gone. She was meeting with that partner again. Only a day after her wedding and she was running off to meet with another man. Lucas would bring her home at any cost.

  It wasn’t difficult for him to find her, even in the crowded dining room of the hotel. It didn’t matter how many people were around, his eyes always sought her. Sinclair glowed and he couldn’t look away. Then he saw the man she sat with and his mood darkened. He charged in their direction, watching as the startled young man got up from his seat.

  “Lucas, what are you doing here?” Sinclair’s eyes were wide with surprise.

  “Just trying to find my wife.” He made sure to emphasis the last word while glaring at the other man.

  To his credit the young man had the decency to blush. He was younger than Lucas expected and not as tall as he remembered. The suit he wore was more current and better tailored then the last. “Mr. Gates?”

  “No.” Sinclair spoke in harsh tones. “This is Mr. McDonald, one of our new clients. Mr. Gates was unable to attend the meeting and asked me to take his place.”

  Now that he was able to get a closer look he could see the differences between two men. Mr. Gates was taller and very lean. This young gentlemen was short and stocky, but with a youthful energy. He doubted Mr. Gates had that same kind of light hearted attitude.

  “You might have left some word and kept me from worrying.” Lucas said, ignoring the daggers she glared at him. “It is hard on a new husband to be parted from his bride.”

  Both of them knew he was lying through his teeth, but it didn’t bother him as much as it did her. Sinclair blushed a bright red and those blue eyes had sparks coming from them. Mr. McDonald was oblivious to the current being passed between them.

  “It’s an honor to meet you, Lord Westmore.” The young man shook his hand vigorously. “I have heard a number of good thing about Sutton Shipping as well. Before I knew Ms. Brown had moved to London, your company was the one I wanted
to approach.”

  That made Lucas grind his teeth. He suspected her father’s company would have a negative influence on his and now this proved it. “You have signed a contract with Brown already?”

  “No, but I plan to sign one soon.”

  That meant there was still time for Lucas to change his mind. Stealing a client from the competition wasn’t honorable, but this was business. He wasn’t above doing something underhanded when it came to business. If Mr. Gates couldn’t be here to handle his own, Lucas would take advantage of the situation.

  Mr. McDonald was polite enough to invite him to join them for lunch, so he did. Lucas ignored the dirty looks and sharp remarks Sinclair made while he told the young man about his own company’s attributes. She was clever enough to know what his plan was but not able to stop it. Lucas felt confident that Mr. McDonald was at least interested by the time they were finished, giving him hope that they might do business. He just needed to make sure Mr. Gates didn’t interfere.

  “That was rude of you.” Those were the first words Sinclair said to him as they rode alone in the hired hack home.

  “I was just having lunch with my new wife and her friend.” Lucas said.

  “You were poaching my client.” She jabbed a finger into his chest and he winced.

  “No, I was poaching Mr. Gates’ client.” Lucas rubbed his chest with one hand. “He should have been there to stop me.”

  “It’s my business, so that makes him my client. You had no right to interfere.”

  She was so angry that her body trembled, causing the feathered hat she wore to bounce around her face. He knew she tried to be intimidating, but the hat made it impossible to be frightened. Instead, Lucas struggled not to laugh. If he let even the slightest smile slip she would be furious.

  “You are my wife. That makes your business my business and Mr. Gates will have to fend for himself.” Lucas said. “I don’t want you out there meeting people on his behalf. The man will need to learn how to survive without you.”