“Alex, you ask so much of a woman. First of your Jessica and now of me. If you want Jessica to love something other than the physical side of you, how will jealousy help?”
“Spend some time with me. Jess only comes near me when there’s a child that needs attention or when she’s hurt. Maybe if she saw another woman, a beautiful, intelligent, wise woman who liked to spend time with me, perhaps she’d be curious.”
Sophy laughed. “I think I might love Alexander, even if she doesn’t. Of course I haven’t seen you as the Raider. Are you terribly dashing and romantic?”
“And fearless. There is no danger too great for the Raider to face. Except Jessica, of course. Say you’ll stay and help me.”
“All right.” Sophy sighed. “Perhaps I feel the woman should sense that her husband is also her lover. I’ll help you make your wife jealous.”
Chapter Nineteen
JESSICA,” Eleanor was saying, her voice straining to remain calm, “that woman is making a fool of you.”
“She’s making Alex happy.”
“Very happy. Don’t you care that they spend hours locked together in his room?”
“Our room,” Jessica snapped. “The room belonging to Alexander and me.”
“Ah, then, so you do care.”
“Eleanor, what would you do if a woman flirted with that big Russian of yours?”
“Remove any part of her body that I could reach.”
Jessica played with the food on her plate. “But the countess is really such a nice lady. Yesterday she took care of Samuel all afternoon.”
“And thus freed Nathaniel to get into mischief. Do you know where he got that dory?”
“What dory?” Jess asked listlessly.
Eleanor took a seat across from her sister at the table. “You are concerned about that woman, aren’t you?”
“Absolutely not. You know Alex and I don’t have a real marriage. He said he…”
“What?”
“He said he loved me, but I guess that was before he remembered his love for the countess.”
“Jess, why don’t you fight her? Why don’t you go to Alex and tell him you love him and that you’ll set fire to that woman’s hair if she isn’t out of your house in thirty seconds.”
Jessica stood. “Me in love with Alex? What a preposterous idea. He whines and complains and he—”
“Saves your life and waits up for you and takes care of you and—”
“Yells at me all the time. Where’s the countess now? Maybe I can get rid of her another way.”
“Sitting by the kitchen garden, the last I saw. Jessica, what are you planning?”
“To help my country,” she said before leaving the house.
Jessica wasn’t about to let Eleanor or anyone else see how the countess’s presence bothered her. When in the world had she fallen in love with Alexander? She thought love was that wild beating of the heart. Love was closer to what she felt for the Raider—or at least once she’d thought so. But lately she’d been much happier to see Alex than she’d been to see the Raider.
Twice the Raider had come to her window since the night she’d been wounded, but each time she’d felt less inclined to leave with him. She knew she’d have a wonderful night in his arms but that was all. In the morning she’d wonder what had overtaken her and she’d look forward to Alex’s company.
Since Alex had returned to Warbrooke, they had spent a great deal of time together, and it seemed to Jess that she’d never cared much about Alex. At first she’d resented the way he always wanted her near him, but gradually she’d come to enjoy him. And, now that she wanted to be with him, he wasn’t there.
Jess couldn’t blame the countess for wanting to be with Alex—after all, he could be charming. He could read sea stories with such gusto that you felt the wind on your face, and he could read romances in a way that made you blush.
Slowly, he was repairing the damage Pitman had done to the Montgomery fortunes. In the few weeks of their marriage, she and Alex had been able to put the Montgomery household in order. Together, they’d been a good team.
But now here was this countess, hanging on Alex’s every word, looking up at him with big eyes that told him how strong and wonderful he was. And Alex acted as if all the Taggerts had disappeared. His attention was now solely on the beautiful Italian woman.
Jess stood at one end of the kitchen garden and watched. The countess was sitting under a tree, a thick shawl about her shoulders, a book open before her. Jess wanted to tell her to get out of Warbrooke and to leave her husband alone, but she couldn’t do that. First of all, Alex would laugh himself to death if she did something that foolish. And later, he’d never let her live her jealousy down. He’d gloat and brag and do all the obnoxious things men do when they think they’ve won.
No, she had to be more clever than that. There had to be a better way to get rid of the countess.
“Hello,” Jess said and the woman lifted her pretty face. “I hope you’re enjoying your stay in Warbrooke. I haven’t had much time to look after you, but perhaps Alex has been caring for you.”
“Yes,” the countess said cautiously. “He has been caring for me quite well, thank you.”
Jess smiled and sat down on a low wall near the countess’s chair. “Has Alex told you about what is going on in Warbrooke? About the opression we’re under?”
The countess’s eyes widened. “No, not really. I’m sure he mentioned it but…”
Jess leaned forward and the countess moved back sharply, as if she thought Jess might strike her. “I wondered if you might help me,” Jess said. “You’re so very pretty and I need help from a pretty woman.”
“Oh?” the countess asked, obviously interested. “Help doing what?”
“You’ve heard of Admiral Westmoreland? He was sent here by the English to stop the Raider, but so far he hasn’t succeeded.” Jess smiled. “The Raider’s had some help from a few of us.”
“Alexander told me about your participation in what he called a raid. The English soldiers—” She halted at the look on Jess’s face. “He didn’t tell me much.”
So! Jess thought, Alex told you about that night, did he? She kept smiling. “Yes, we do what we can to help the Raider. Since that raid the admiral has been punishing Warbrooke by seizing cargo. Once, a man’s ship was taken and I’m afraid that’s about to happen again. I need your help to find out.”
“Me?” Sophy asked. “What can I possibly do?”
“The admiral is boarding with Mrs. Wentworth and she has invited me to tea. Yesterday the admiral received a sealed document from England and I’d like to see what’s in that document.”
“But where do I fit in?”
“The admiral likes pretty women and you are beautiful. I want you to keep his attention on you while I search his office.”
Sophy smiled at Jess’s flattery, then her face changed. “What if you’re caught? What if this man realizes I was helping you?”
“We get hanged.”
“Oh.” Sophy took time to digest this.
“Sophy, if I may call you that, you can do it. Look at what you’re doing with Alex.”
“What could you possibly mean by that? Alex and I are old friends.”
“Yes, and I’m so glad he has you. Alex is my friend, too, and I like my friends to be happy.”
“You aren’t, perhaps, jealous?”
“Not at all. He deserves any happiness he can get. He has so little.”
“Maybe there’s another man you’d be jealous of,” Sophy said. This time, she was the one leaning forward.
“Alex is my husband.”
Sophy smiled. “What of this Raider I hear so much of? Is he really so virile and handsome as people say?”
“More so.” Jessica grinned. “Would you be willing to help us with the admiral?”
“The Raider isn’t at all like Alexander?”
“Not even remotely. If you’re frightened, say so. I’ll understand. If I’m caught, I
’d never tell on you.”
“Mmmm. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could combine Alexander’s intelligence with the Raider’s virility? You’d have yourself quite a man.”
“There is no such human. You either get brains or beauty. Not both. Do you want to help or not?”
Sophy gave Jess a critical look. “Only if we have a suitable gown made for you. What must that husband of yours be thinking? Haven’t you a single decent dress?”
“Alex gave me all his mother’s clothes.”
The countess said something emphatic in Italian.
“Alex did once promise me a red dress.”
“Did he? And you never got it? Come along, Jessica, we have work to do. We must find the six best seamstresses this town has to offer.”
“Six?”
“The better to get the work done quickly. When do we go to tea to meet this admiral of yours?”
“At four tomorrow afternoon.”
“Difficult, but not impossible.”
As Jessica and Sophy went through the common room, the countess chattering a mile a minute, Jess winked at her sister.
* * *
“What have you done to Sophy?” Alexander demanded of Jessica.
“I have no idea what you mean, Alex,” Jess said innocently. “I merely invited her to tea at Mrs. Wentworth’s. I know you don’t trust me, so I thought your pretty lady could act as a chaperone.”
“No, I don’t trust you and with good reason. And I don’t think Sophy should be allowed out under your care. There’s no telling what will happen.”
Jess widened her eyes. “I have no idea what you mean. I merely invited your guest to a social event, nothing more.”
Alex squinted his eyes at her. “I don’t trust you.”
“What a terrible thing to say to your own wife. Have you seen the dress Sophy’s having made for me? It’s red silk.”
Alex was rubbing the back of his neck where, as usual, sweat and powder were making an itchy paste. “I’m going with you.”
“What!?” Jessica gasped. “I mean, how good of you.”
“You’re up to something, Jess, and I’m going to be there to prevent your participating.”
Thirty minutes later, Jess was asking Sophy, “Can you keep both the admiral and Alex occupied?”
“Of course,” the countess said with confidence. “I can sustain a roomful of men.”
“Good,” Jessica said, breathing a sigh of relief.
But the countess had not bargained on Jessica. After Sophy’s maids finished arranging Jess’s thick hair and dressing her in the low-cut red dress, there was the possibility that no other woman would be noticed.
Jess went to show herself to Alex. “Do you like it?”
Alex didn’t say a word.
“Alexander?” Jess said. “Are you feeling all right?”
Alex sat down.
“Come along, Jessica, we’ll be late.” Sophy pushed Jessica toward the door, then turned and hissed at Alex. “Control yourself and don’t act like a fool. She is your tiresome wife, remember?” Sophy looked at Jess standing in profile just outside the door. “Beauty like hers could inspire hatred. I will never allow my husband to meet your wife. Come on, now, control yourself. Celibacy is your choice. No wonder you have no strength in your legs.”
* * *
Jess had some difficulty at Mrs. Wentworth’s tea. For days, Alex had hung on every breath Sophy had taken but now he didn’t seem aware that she existed. He watched his wife’s every movement with a glazed expression that she found quite annoying. Sophy was telling one amusing story after another, but Alex seemed oblivious to her presence or anyone else’s—he just kept staring at Jess.
Jessica gave Sophy a look of exasperation, nodding her head toward Alex.
“Alexander!” Sophy said sharply. “Why don’t you tell the story about fishing in the canals in Venice?”
Alex was reluctant, but Sophy leaned forward toward the admiral, showing off her cleavage, and the admiral asked Alex to tell his story. As soon as Alex began, Jess excused herself to Mrs. Wentworth and headed in the general direction of the outhouse.
Once she was out of sight of the guests, she went upstairs and into the admiral’s room. She knew she had only minutes to search, so she tried to be as thorough as possible. She was about to give up when she saw a corner of white protruding from between books on a shelf. She pulled it out, glanced at it, and started to open it when a voice sounded behind her.
“I knew I would find you.”
Jess whirled to see one of the admiral’s lieutenants standing in the doorway.
“When you took so long to return, I knew you were waiting for me.”
Jess held the paper in her hand, concealing it in the folds of her dress. She didn’t remember having seen this man before, but he seemed to be convinced she desired him. Jess bit her tongue on a sharp comment about the vanity of men and, instead, smiled at him.
“I was on the way to the necessary and saw this window was open. It looked like it might rain, so I came in here to close the window.”
The lieutenant was across the room in seconds. “We need have no secrets between us. You have wanted me for a long time. I’ve seen the way you look at me when we meet on the street. I’ve seen the longing in your eyes. You must hunger for a man after being married to that weakling husband of yours.”
Jessica moved away from him, backing around the desk, the lieutenant getting closer by the second.
“Tell me where I can meet you.”
Jess’s hand fumbled for and found a letter opener on the desk. She wasn’t going to let this man touch her.
“I will make you the happiest woman on earth. I will give you what that husband of yours cannot.”
“I will do my own giving, thank you,” came a voice from the doorway.
They turned to see Alex leaning against the door-jamb. He was wearing a pink coat and his wig that went down to his shoulders, but for all his soft appearance, his eyes were hard.
The lieutenant backed away from Jessica. “Sir, I meant no disrespect to the lady.”
The expression in Alex’s eyes didn’t change and Jess could see sweat beginning to trickle down the side of the lieutenant’s face.
“I should get back,” the lieutenant murmured, edging around the desk and toward the door.
Alex stepped aside to let the young man pass, all the while never taking his eyes off him.
Jess was across the room in seconds. “You sure scared him, Alex,” she said. She tried to get past him and into the hallway, but he put his arm out and halted her.
“What are you doing in here?” There was no humor in Alex’s face.
“The window was open and I—”
Alex grabbed her arm, lifted it and removed the letter opener she still held. “Don’t lie to me, Jessica. Were you in here to meet that man?”
Part of her was startled, but part of her was relieved. “He’s handsome, isn’t he?”
Alex put his hand on her upper arm and squeezed. “If I ever catch you with another man I’ll—”
“You’ll what? Spend more time with the countess? Would you mind removing that?” she asked, looking down at his belly blocking her way. How dare he suggest she was doing what he’d been doing all week?
“Jessica,” Alex said, but she pushed past him and left the room. When she got to the foot of the stairs, she stuffed the document she held crumpled in her hand into the bosom of her dress and then went back to Mrs. Wentworth’s tea party.
That evening, at the Montgomery house, Sophy cornered Jessica while she was doing the accounts. “Whatever did you say to Alex? He’s been a regular bear all evening.”
“While I was in the admiral’s office, some fresh young lieutenant came in the room and tried to arrange a meeting with me. Alex arrived before it went too far, but then Alex accused me of encouraging the man. As if I didn’t have better things to do than run off with some silly English soldier.”
“Jealousy is
good in a man,” Sophy said. “You should dress like that every day.”
“Dig clams in a red dress? The clams would laugh at me.”
“There are other things a lady can do besides dig clams.”
“Such as sew and flirt with handsome young men and scheme behind her husband’s back?”
“I’m glad you don’t scheme,” Sophy said sarcastically. “Jess, may I borrow your black cloak? I must make a trip outside.”
“Of course,” Jess said, not looking up from her ledger.
Sophy slipped the cloak over her shoulders, pulling the hood up over her head. She was halfway to the necessary when, out of the darkness, came a shadowy figure. An oddly accented voice she didn’t recognize said, “I have waited for you.” Immediately, Sophy knew this was the notorious Raider and she knew he’d mistaken her for Jessica. Even though she knew this man was actually Alexander in disguise, it was difficult to remember. His eyes, hidden in the depths of the black mask, sparkled at her in dangerous glints.
She opened her mouth to explain the mistake but then felt a sword point at her throat.
“Not a word,” he said, his voice rumbling and sending chills through her body. “Remove your clothing.”
Sophy started to protest, but he pressed the sword deeper into her skin.
“Don’t fight me tonight, Jessica. Tonight I take what is mine.”
The way he said it made Sophy eager to obey him. She looked into his eyes and she knew she wanted this man.
With trembling hands, she began to untie the laces of her dress. She had forgotten that she was not the woman he wanted. Her dress was unfastened to her waist before Alex realized his mistake.
“Sophy!” he gasped, taking his sword away from her throat.
The countess didn’t know when such an overwhelming anger had flooded her before. Here this fabulous man was one second making delicious demands of her and the next he was sounding as if he were a naughty boy caught by his mother.
“Alexander!” she said in the same tone. “Whatever are you doing out there, skulking about in the dark?”