“Where are they this morning, anyhow?” Pepper put in as she stirred sugar into her tea.
“Annis is back at her house. Liam never came home last night.”
“That’s because home to him is the ship,” Kieran offered. “If you want to find him, look to Sandpiper, where he’s probably sleeping off a night of overindulgence.”
“You mean a night of trying to forget Annis by drinking too much,” Rosalie amended.
Again, the helpless and increasingly exasperated silent exchange between Kieran and his father-in-law.
What use is there in even trying?
None.
“So how are we going to get them back together?” Susannah asked. “Annis isn’t likely to come back here to the house as long as Liam’s in town and she knows there’s a chance of running into him. She’s got too much pride. And I can’t see Liam seeking her out because Polly the maid told me she overhead what was said in the garden between them from an upstairs window when they retreated there yesterday. Oh, what will we do?”
Kieran bent his head to his hand, rubbed at his brow, and slanted a sideways look to his mother-in-law. “You mean the maids are involved in this as well?”
“Well—”
“Of course they are,” muttered Angus, interrupting. “They’re female, aren’t they?”
“They weren’t involved until Pepper and I asked them to be,” Rosalie said without missing a beat. “And you have to confess, Kieran, you want to see them together as much as we do, you just don’t want to admit it.”
“Of course I’d like to see them together, but I’m not going to connive to bring that desired end about.”
“Fine. You watch from the afar, then, and leave the conniving to us.”
A door slammed somewhere and a few moments later Liam was there, poking his head into the room.
“Hi, Liam!” chirped Rosalie, as though they all hadn’t been discussing him just moments before. “Come on in!”
“Sit down, Liam!” Susannah said, indicating an empty chair. “Have you had breakfast?”
Kieran, watching him, saw the quick but discreet glance he cast about the table, the sudden disappointment shadow his eyes before his friend took one of the empty seats. “I haven’t,” he said. “Smells like heaven. Yes, if ye please,” he said, nodding as a servant approached with coffee. “Table’s incomplete, though. Where is she?”
There was no need to ask who the she of his question, was.
There was only one she who wasn’t present.
Kieran bent his head to hide his amusement. The women’s shock and confusion at this sudden declaration was palpable.
“Well, that makes things a damned sight easier,” Angus said, exchanging a look with his own wife.
Liam adjusted his chair and picked up a napkin. “What are ye talking about?”
Kieran sighed and covered his cup with his hand to indicate he’d had enough coffee for the morning. “Seems you arrived too late to witness what I can only describe as Machiavellian efforts to get you and Mrs. Cutter together.”
“Don’t need Machiavellian efforts. Figured I’d stop by first and arm myself with a good breakfast, then find her house and pay her a call.”
“That’s my Liam,” murmured Kieran under his breath.
He was rewarded by a discreet kick under the table from Rosalie, who shot him a look that told him to keep his mouth shut and let the females handle this.
“Just don’t let her stubbornness put you off,” Rosalie said sweetly, ignoring Kieran. “My aunt is a proud woman.”
“Yes, make sure you go there with hat in hand,” Susannah added.
“And take her for a drive. Let her show you the city so you’re forced to sit right next to each other,” Pepper put in. “She likes to be out and about. And she’ll like it even more if she’s seen by her friends and acquaintances on the arm of a suitor, especially a mariner, even if he is rather ol—”
“Pepper!”
“She’s right,” Liam said, shrugging, and tucking into a slab of ham with gusto. “I am old. But as another young lady back home told me, not dead. Pass the syrup, would ye, Kieran? I’ve a mind to pay a call on a certain Baltimore beauty, and I need all the sustenance I can handle.”
Chapter 7
Annis was at her dressing table, affixing a choker of pearls around her neck and critically studying her reflection in its mirror when she heard a knocking on the door downstairs.
She paused, fingers on one smooth pearl, hopeful and disgusted with herself all at the same time.
Voices.
She strained her ears to listen. She wasn’t expecting anyone, though she’d planned to make some calls of her own. A visit to the dressmaker’s. Some shopping to pick up some gifts for Ian and his family. A visit to the McCormacks, because really, she was not going to let Liam Doherty’s presence keep her from her family despite her brief faltering last night.
The voices grew louder. Her servant Gertie’s. A man’s booming baritone.
Liam Doherty.
What?
Annis closed her eyes, her heart fluttering in her chest, her fingers against the pearl. She grabbed her fan to direct air toward her suddenly warm face. She had dressed in smooth cream silk, a cobalt ribbon at the waist, expensive ruffles at the capped sleeves, and a splendid sapphire brooch drawing the fabric together between her breasts. A few coppery curls peeped from beneath a turban that matched the sapphire and set off her eyes. Statement making, she thought. Elegance and pride, status and self-sufficiency. Clothing was an armor of sort, and Annis was dressed for battle.
But Liam was downstairs.
Liam was here.
Bugger it, really.
She had been outmaneuvered and now she must regroup, recover, and plot an alternate move.
She was just fastening a pearl to her earlobe when the door opened and Gertie was there, announcing her caller.
“I know, dear, I know,” she said, trying to moderate the sudden tension that crept into her voice. Her eyes met her servant’s in the mirror. “Tell him I’ll receive him in the parlor. And please offer him refreshment.”
Gertie left, and Annis calmly affixed the earring’s mate to her other ear, cursing her fingers which were not only suddenly clumsy, but trembling just a little bit.
What did Liam have to offer her by coming here? An apology? An attempt to rekindle a fire that had died the moment he’d told her that he’d made a choice, and that choice was a family that wasn’t really his own?
Annis saw it for what it was.
An excuse.
He liked his bachelorhood, liked it too much to court a woman with any seriousness. But he was a man, and he desired her. Wanted something from her, probably. Something she wouldn’t mind giving, really, if doing so wouldn’t crack her heart right in half and leave it in pieces.
It was as simple as that.
She fastened the clip behind her earlobe, tucked a curl beneath her turban, adjusted the feather that gave the head-covering a jaunty air, and got to her feet. Part of her wondered if she should keep Liam Doherty waiting. If she should let him stew like a rabbit in a pot, let him become uncomfortable and a little bit worried while she made him wait. But there was a fine line between a man being uncomfortable and becoming impatient, and no line at all between impatient and likely to leave, and that was a line that posed considerable risk, once crossed.
Better to err on the side of caution.
Annis took a deep breath and picking up her fan, headed for the door.
* * *
She found him standing by the window, looking out between the damask drapes to the street outside. Her approach had been quiet, and she was afforded a few minutes to study him before he noticed she was even there.
His thickly curling hair, gray with age, a hint of ginger still lingering in a few strands at his temples and nape. His neatly trimmed whiskers accenting the strength of his face in profile, the cut of his jaw. A brushed, well-cut coat spanning broad shoulders.
He was burly, strong, formidable and seasoned, no young pup who still had a lifetime of mistakes to make, no eager swain who would fumble over his words or his intentions. He was an Atlas, a Hercules, his physical prowess undimmed by years but only made all the more dignified by them, and Annis found him heartbreakingly handsome.
He turned then, and saw her. She expected to see contrition or even sheepishness in his gaze, perhaps even wanted it as penance for the hurt his bald honesty had brought her yesterday, but there was no contrition or sheepishness in those bright, merry blue eyes, just deviltry.
He bowed to her.
“I would have thought,” she said evenly, “that you and I had reached a conclusion of sorts yesterday, Mr. Doherty.”
“That was yesterday. Today’s today.”
“And how has anything changed?”
“Well, it’s a new sunrise. A new spot on the calendar. Figured we ought to make use of it.”
“Even if we have no future together?”
“Maybe we don’t. But we have this morning, and it’s a fine one.”
“I see.” She moved to the settee and sat, carefully arranging her skirts around her and hoping they hid, at least a little, the span of her hips. Reflecting on the constant battle to keep that span at a minimum and remembering how narrow these hips had been not five years past, before her body had gone as insane as a Bedlamite into an entity she no longer recognized, reminded her of something she’d been trying to ignore. She was hungry, damn it all, and the tray of hot rolls, butter and peach jam that Gertie had brought in caused her stomach to growl like a caged lion. She ought to be embarrassed, but the sound broke the awkwardness of the moment and she couldn’t help but laugh.
Liam, taking his cue from her, grinned.
“Guess you should eat one,” he said. “Or two.”
“Guess you should join me.”
“I had breakfast, but I don’t mind if I do. Especially as I was hoping you’d be there at the McCormack’s, and you weren’t. I missed ye, I did.”
“I told you, I have packing to do.”
“Still need to eat breakfast.” He grinned, the deep creases fanning out from his eyes only emphasizing their remarkable blueness. He took a chair across from her, dwarfing it, the low table between them. “Packing’s a hard job. Best to keep up one’s strength.”
She glanced at him, trying to discern whether or not he was teasing her, saw the sparkle in his eye and decided that he was doing just that. Trying to make up for yesterday, aren’t you, you rogue? “And just why are you here, Lieutenant Doherty?”
“Well, now....” He shrugged, and his grin spread. “I made a mess o’ things yesterday, and I wanted to start over.”
“For what reason?”
He just looked at her, and made a helpless little gesture with his shoulder combined with a half-smile. “Because I enjoy spending time with you. You seemed to enjoy spending time with me. Does it have to get more complicated than that?”
Actually, put that way, no, it didn’t, and she said as much.
“’Twould be nice if two people who like each other’s company can enjoy it while they can,” he continued. “Without any expectations. Just taking it as it comes. What d’ye say, Annis?”
She glanced out the window. It was a nice day. And it felt churlish, the idea of sending him away because she wanted something he couldn’t give. Because she’d built up hopes that were really quite unfounded. Hell, why not? He was right. What harm was there in spending the day together, as long as each knew where the other stood, as long as neither had any expectations?
No expectations would mean no misunderstandings.
No misunderstandings would mean no hurt.
No hurt would mean an enjoyable day.
Hell, why not.
She grinned and leaning forward, pushed the tray toward him. “Very well then,” she said. “Have some breakfast, Lieutenant Doherty.”
“Lieutenant Doherty,” he mimicked, grinning. “I thought we were past formalities, Annis.”
“That was yesterday. As you so correctly pointed out, today is today.”
“I’ve got some ground to make up, I see.”
“Indeed. But, should you care to enjoy some tea and rolls with me, your company would be ... tolerated.”
“Tolerated?”
“I’m a busy woman.”
“Right. That packing.”
“And shopping. I have things to buy before my trip. Much to do.”
He raised a questioning brow. “Maybe I should come back later. But I was hoping ye could show me some of Baltimore. Not much for shopping, though. Do you want me to come along, or should I go pester Kieran and Rosalie instead?”
“What would you like to do?”
His gaze went to the sapphire between her breasts, lingered, and warmed. Answering heat rose in her blood. “I’d like to spend the day with ye, if I could.”
“So that you can pester me, instead?”
“You’re far better company than Kieran and Rosalie.”
She laughed. “You’re impossible.”
“Aye. So I’ve often been told.” His mouth curved in an even wider smile, and she saw an endearing gap between his front teeth that only added to his look of devil-may-care innocence. She wondered if he considered it a flaw, as she did the changes in her own not-so-young body.
She wondered if he cared.
But then, did men ever care the way women did?
“Well, I wouldn’t mind your company, Liam. In fact, I might even find it enjoyable as long as you don’t complain while I do my shopping. If that isn’t to your liking, you should probably go do something else.”
“Shopping might be to my liking as long as I’m with you.”
“Are you flirting with me, Liam Doherty?”
“I might be.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re pretty and I think you like it, even if you do pretend to be annoyed.”
“What makes you think I’m pretending?”
“Your lips are twitching.”
She made a little sound of exasperation and leaned forward to pour the tea, the early morning sunshine throwing the shadow of her turban’s feather across the tray. At least he was honest, confident in his own skin, and light-hearted. And he was fun, even. Likable. How she wished she could keep him around. They could have fun together, if nothing else. But he was here. He’d sought her out. It was a start, wasn’t it? No expectations, just a day spent in each other’s company.
“Do you mind?”
She poured him a cup of tea, poured some for herself and cradled it in her hands, relishing the warmth of the brew through the fine porcelain. Her gaze met his over the top of the cup as she brought it to her mouth. “If you have to ask, you are not as sure of yourself as you come across, Liam.”
“You make me feel like a young man again. Been years since a woman got under my skin the way you do.”
“And am I the reason you came to Baltimore?” she asked boldly. Bravely.
“Well-l-l-ll—”
“The truth. You won’t hurt my feelings one way or another.”
He reached out and took one of the hot rolls. “Aye, I did want to see you again, Annis. But I’m torn, ye see? I don’t want to lead you down a road I’m not willing to travel. I’m not of a mind to settle down. Too old for that. Got my promise to Brendan to honor and it’s not fair to you or any other woman as long as that’s standing in the way.”
“Hmm.” She sipped her tea. “I suppose the idea of settling down, living with someone after a lifetime of being a bachelor is quite frightening. There would be a lot of adjustments to make. Difficult ones.”
“Well, I’m not sure frightening is quite the right word,” he protested, reddening slightly.
“No?”
“As I said, I have my promise to Brendan to think about.”
She raised her gaze and looked at him for a long searching moment, her head slightly cocked, her eyes sparkling. “Your promise to
look after two grown men who are quite capable of taking care of themselves. That one?”
“Are ye teasing me, lass?”
She laughed and took a roll, taking her time to butter it. “I wish I could meet this Brendan of yours, as I suspect he’d have plenty to say about your clinging to this notion that his children need minding at their ages. And knowing Kieran as I do, I suspect he’d resent it. But you know him better than I, and for far, far longer. Does he enjoy or appreciate your protection?”
“God almighty, lass, you make it sound—”
She raised her brows, her eyes sparkling with humor. “Go on.”
He sighed and looked away. “All right, if ye want the truth, then yes, the idea of settling down is ... well, frightening. I’m an old sailor. Getting tied up with a woman, especially at my age, is a leap of faith. A risk. I’m set in my ways. I’m happy, set in my ways. Aren’t you?”
“Oh, very.”
“I had a long-time love, but that was years ago and we never tied the knot. I wouldn’t know what to do with a wife.”
“Who’s talking about marriage?”
“Aren’t you?”
“No. I was talking about your child-minding obligations.”
“My—”
“To Kieran. And what was the other boy’s name?”
“Connor, and he’s not a boy, he’s got thirty years behind him, a wife and two little girls.”
She just looked at him, one brow raised. He glanced away, a muscle tightening in his jaw, his somewhat heated response ringing in the air between them.
Annis said nothing, and took another bite of her roll.
Liam sat back in his chair, the delicate legs creaking beneath his weight. “I do sound a bit ridiculous, don’t I?” he finally asked, one corner of his mouth turning up in a sheepish smile.
“Just a bit.”
“Still want to spend the day with me?”
“Still want to go shopping?
He finished the rest of his tea, plucked another roll off the plate, and eyed her warmly. “If going shopping is the price I have to pay for spending the day with the most beautiful woman in Baltimore, I’ll gladly pay it.”
Never Too Late For Love (Heroes Of The Sea Book 9) Page 4
