Lady Pirate

Page 14

 

  Valoree stiffened, her face paling to a deathly white as he continued.

  "Jeremy never would have set footina place like that. Not unlessen it was for business. And then he wouldhave left the minute business wasdone, andfound a more respectable place to relax. Butyou!You've gotsomething to prove, don't ye? And what is it exactly, I wonder? That youcan crawl in the mudwith the restof the scum? "

  Valoree wincedathis words, then lifted herchin. "Richard and Scratchy were in there. They are not scum. "

  "Nay, they're not. But they ain't nobility either and nevercan be. You are. And that life is justwaiting forye. Why are ye so afraid of it? "

  Panic suffused her briefly; then shewhirled onher heel and strodetoward the carriage. "I ain'tafraid ofnothing, " shesaid with asnarl.

  "I know ye're notafraid of death or pain, " Henry called as she stomped backto the vehicle. "But it sure seems to me yer afraid of living!"

  Chapter Six

  Her face was hot. Not just hot, but burning. It also itched something fierce. The discomforthad startedshortlyafter Meg hadfinished putting that glop they hadbought today on her face.

  Valoree had beendoingher bestto ignore the fiery itch for what seemed likehours, butreally shewasbeginningto think it would drive her mad - if all the fawning women around her did not manage tofirst.

  The Thurborne ball was certainly a different beast than the Beechamparty had been. Theirhostess, Lady Thurborne herself, hadgreeted them upon their arrival, been most gracious, then taken it uponherself to introduce themaround. There were no snickers behind fans or gloved hands, nor malicious messages being sent from cold eyes. Everybodyhad been most pleasant.

  Valoree wouldhave liked to have believed that itwas because Megwas doing allthe talking and that theolderwoman, much to heramazement, carried herself, looked, andsounded exactlyas a lady should.

  Truly, her performance was impressive. She carried each conversation withapparentease and grace, leaving Valoree and Henry to smileand nod politely. Butthat explanation just didn't wash. These people were up to something, Valoree decided grimly. There was noother explanationfor theway thewomen had suddenlycrowded around her, cooing and pleadingthat she attend this ballorthat dinner. They werefawning overher asif she were royalty, and it was making Valoree nervous.

  Her gaze slid to Henry, andshe saw the same suspicion she felt reflected inhis eyes. He, too, had noticed the difference. No doubthe had also noticed that, while they were presently the center of anevergrowing circle ofpeople vying for her attention, there was not a single man among them. . . . Well, except for Thurbornehimself, but Valoree didn't really counthim. She had already ticked him off her list of possible husbands, so his presence was easily discounted.

  Nodding politely in response toyetanother younggirl's plea thatsheattendsome functionor other, Valoree turned her face awayfromthegrowingcrowd. Annoyed, she dabbed at thesmall bead of sweat that was trickling down the side of her face.

  Despitethe crowds and theheat in the room ofso manybodies together, Valoree wasn't really hot enough to be sweating. At least not fromthe neckdown, but that stupid wig that Meg had insisted she wearwas irritating her scalp something fierce. Since she'd arrived, sweat had begun gathering at her hairline and trailing down her face. Valoree kept discreetly dabbing at it, trying to minimizethe damageto her makeup, but really, all she could think wasthat this was all terribly uncomfortable and a blasted waste oftime.

  Why, she wondered, wasshe allowing herself to sufferthrough this when every single man but Thurborne was keeping himselfat a safe distance? Watching the frufarau curiously, but not approaching? Valoree could almost have believed she was wearing her shirt and breeches, and that the women all thought her a man, by the way they were gatheringaroundher. Except that She had never been this uncomfortable in herregular clothes.

  "Would you care to dance? "

  Valoree gavea start and glanced over to see Daniel Thurborne.

  The man had a small bruise on his left cheek, but otherwise looked none the worse for wear. "Nay. I do not dance, " she answered irritably, then gaspedin surpriseas he suddenly took herarm andturnedher away toward the dancingcouples.

  "Comenow, you shall have to come up with a betterexcuse than that, " he chidedgently as heled herunwillinglyforward.

  "Everyoneknowshow todance. "

  "Aye, well, Idonot, " Valoree insisted, giving a uselesstug on herarm.

  "Then I shall be pleased to teach you, " hemurmured sweetly, pausing to drawher around to face him and settling thehand he held onto his shoulder, even as he snatchedup her otherin his own and setout to dance.

  Her handsmoved with him;her arms did too, but Valoree's feet stayed plantedfirmlywhere they had settled, her legs bracing automatically againsthispull as if she were astride the Valor's, deck during rough seas. Startled, Daniel halted abruptly and peered down at her feet, then up at her face.

  "You really do not know how, do you? " he asked quietly.

  Encouraged by somethingin his eyes, Valoree sighed and shook her head. His gaze drifted briefly; then he straightened his shouldersand nodded. "Then I shall teach you. Now, you just - "

  "I really do not think that would be a good idea, " Valoree interrupted, turning awayto head right back towardwhere Henry and Meg still stood surrounded by women. She came to a dismayedpause, however, upon seeing that every single personin the grouptheyhad just left seemed to be watchingher. There was nothing like a littlepressure to make thingseasier.

  "Well, I think itwould be a verygood idea, " Thurborne argued, taking advantageof her pause to draw her back around to face him. "After all, it will be very difficultto find yourselfa husband if you donothave the proper skills, " he argued. Ashe did, he replaced her hand at his shoulder andtook the other up in his own again.

  "What makes you thinkIam lookingfora husband? " Valoree askedsharply.

  "Isthat not every woman'saim? " he asked with amusement.

  Then, seeing that she was not amused, and neither was sheabout tolet the question go, hesighedand admitted, "All right, Whister told me the first time you andI metathis office. "

  "Whister, " shemuttered disgustedly. "If he is notcareful, he willfindhimselfwithout histongue. "

  Daniel bithis lip in amusement atherdisgruntled words, then nodded, indicating thatshe should peerdown. "Watch my feet; you are going tofollow me. "

  "Follow youwhere? " Valoree asked suspiciously.

  "In thedance. Youwill followmy steps. It is easy. The same steps are repeated over and over. Watch. " He stepped back, waiting patiently for herto follow, thenstepped to the side. She followed and he stepped tothesideagain. "Youshould not be too upset with Whister, " he said afterhe had led her slowlythrough the routine twice. "He onlytold me becauseI am in muchthe same situation. "

  Her eyes met his. "What situation? "

  "Imustmarry togain my inheritance as well, " he admittedwith distaste. Valoreeshook herheadinpatent disbelief.

  "You already possess your title and estate. You inherited Thurborne estateand a dukedom from your father some years ago, " she announced. Hiseyebrows rose, and Valoreecouldhave kicked herself. It was Megwhohad passed onthat littletidbit of news, and Valoree should never have let on that sheknew it.

  "Aye, "he admitted now. "Howbeit, I have not yetinheritedthe wealth necessary to keep it running. "

  Valoree blinked. "You inherited the land and title, but no wealth? How is that possible? " Howsimilar wasthis man'splight toher own, shefound herself thinking.

  Daniel hesitated, then sighed. "Ah, well, it isnot something any one of those women or their mamas who have been hanging about all night could not tellyou. My father inherited land and title onhis father's death, but hadto marryfor wealth. "

  "Your mother? "

  "Aye. Her familyhadagreat deal of wealthbutno estate or title. It was a perfect match. Mother had avery generous dowry when they married thathelpedtokeep things afloat, but
bythe timemy father died, it had been exhausted. WhatI wasleftwith was a nice title, a lot ofland, and a mountain of debt. "

  "Hmmm. Andthiswealth that you have notyetinherited? "

  "My grandmother, my mother's mother, died this lastspring. "

  "Iam sorry, " shemurmured, hergaze sliding to the dancers movingaround them.

  "So am I, " Daniel murmured. "She was a grand lady. A wonderful sense of humor. " He grimaced slightlyashe said that last bit, then smiled wrylyand said, "She helped outwith some of the worst of thedebts while she wasalive. "

  Something in histone madeher glance back, andshe could see hisirritation at making thatadmission. Valoree knew instinctively that he had never asked for the old woman's help, and that accepting it hadprobablybeen the hardest thing in the world for him. She couldunderstand that. She hated to ask forhelp, too, andwould nearly kill herself tryingto do things onher own rather than give in, speakup, and admit she could useassistance.

  "She sounds . . . nice, " Valoree finishedlamely, wishing wistfully thatshe'dhad someonesimilarin her own life after Jeremy had died.

  "Nice? " Daniel gave a short laugh. "She was an oldharridan.

  Foreverlecturing me that Iwasnot getting anyyounger, and that Ishouldreallymarry andstartthenextline. I tried toexplain that, what withtrying to repair thedamage done at Thurborne, I really didnot have timeto look for awife. She always said, 'You will not havetime until you make time. '" He grimaced. "I found out that day inWhister'soffice thatShe had arranged itso that I wouldmake time. "

  "Marry and produce an heir, or noinheritance, "Valoreesaid with a smile. She doubted he had taken sucha stipulation any better than she herself had. No wonder hehad been shouting and stompingaboutintheoffice.

  "Aye. "He smiled wryly. "And whenI asked Whister where she hadgotsuch a ridiculousidea, he saidthatshe may haveheard it from him. That he had another client, a female, whose father had left a similar codicil in his will. And, in fact, that this female client was no doubt, at that very moment, waitingto see him.

  That she had an appointment with him, whereas I had just stormed to hisdoorstep the moment I arrived in town. "

  Valoree grimaced at the reminderof her own objective: tofind a husband. Not to inheritwealth, asDaniel hadto do - she had a greatdeal ofthat. Nay, she hadto find a husbandso that she mightbe able to claim land - land that was rightfully hers by birth. They weretwo opposites of thesame coin. "So you are here in search of a wife. "

  "Much to myeverlasting horror, itappears Ishallhave to take one, aye, "he agreed. "And mymother, of course, Godbless her soul, hasput out the news thatI am seeking one. "

  "Well, that explains the women. " Valoree chuckled. His expression changed to slight confusion.

  "What women? "

  "What women? " Valoree rolled her eyes. "The women all fawning upon me with pretended interest inbeingmy friend. No doubt it is just camouflage. Since you'vebeennearme, soare they. It's anexcusefor themto flock around you in hopes of being the 'chosen one. ' "

  Daniel gaveher a strange look, and suddenlyValoreebecame very self-conscious. "So why areyouwasting your time dancing with me? "

  Daniel's expression changedto a smile. "Soyou have noticed? "

  "Noticedwhat? "

  "Thatwe are dancing. Youare dancing. And quitewell, Imight add. "

  His words madeher realizethatshe was indeed doing just that, and had been for the length of theirdiscussion. He'ddistracted her with talk. She immediately stumbled, her feet suddenly forgetting where they weresupposed tobe going. Daniel drew her nearer to counterbalance her sudden awkwardness. "How is my dancingwithyou a wasteof time? "

  "Well, should you not be threshing out the chaff from the wheat among the eligible young women who are interested in marrying you? " she asked, forgetting her feet to glance up at him again.

  "Ah. "He nodded inunderstanding. "I supposeI should. And which are you? Chaffor wheat? "

  "Me? "She was surprised by the question, but not so much that she couldnot answer. "I amsugarcane, hard to cut. "

  "But sweet, "he teased. Herexpressionturnedgrim.

  "Nay. Notsweet. Nevermake the mistake ofthinking that, "

  she said solemnly. Then, while he was pondering that, sheadded thoughtfully, "So all your motherhadto do was announce that you were looking for abride, and theeligible women flocked to you like piratesto a keg ofrum? "

  Daniel gave heranotherodd look, then nodded. "Pretty much, aye. "

  "How interesting, " she murmured, then glanced up at him sharply. "Butyou stillhaven'tanswered my question. Why waste time with me, when youshould be sorting the offerings? "

  Daniel was silent for a moment, forin reality he had no idea whyhe wasdoing what he was doing withher. He didn't know why he had told his mother he wouldnot attend her ball, or any other function for that matter, unless Valoreeand heruncle were invited, or why he had asked her to dance. Oh, certainly, he was curiousas to whathad happenedto Jeremyonthe king'sbehalf, and to get to the bottom of the rumors about Back-from-the-DeadRed, but as curious as he was, he had not even touched these topics tonight. He had been too intent on makingher comfortable, teaching her todance, seeing her smile.

  He liked it when she smiled. He liked holding herinhis arms.

  She suddenly stopped dancing and staredat himsuspiciously, forcing him out of his thoughts. He raised his eyebrows questioningly.

  "You werenot thinking thatyouand I should - that we would . . . " Pausing, she shook her headand gavea halflaugh. "Nay, of coursenot. You would hardly be so silly. "

  Insulted, Daniel frownedat her asshe turnedtowalk offthe dance floor, dabbing at her cheek with her sleeve as she did.