He didn’t answer that and said instead, “I should talk to her.”
She realized suddenly that he hadn’t taken his eyes off of Georgina since he’d come into the garden. It made her try to see the woman as a man would see her. Georgina Malory was beautiful. Childbearing hadn’t disturbed her figure at all; it was nicely trim and curved where it should be.
Gabrielle became alarmed. “Be sensible, Richard. You said it yourself. Look who she’s married to. Do you really want that particular man after your blood?”
“He’d never know.”
“Richard!”
“And I’m not thinking of stealing her away from him. A single dalliance will do.”
That statement managed to infuriate her. Trust a man to think of taking his pleasure and then never giving the woman another thought. Richard intended to give in to his temptations.
She watched him move briskly through the garden to approach Malory’s wife. She should have stopped him, but she was sure he was going to be rebuffed, so it was better he find that out and put the lady from his mind. He had no time to be subtle about it, after all, since Gabrielle was going to be there only a few weeks herself, and he couldn’t come by every day without James’s noticing. So he’d have to forgo subtlety and get right to the point.
He sat next to Georgina. They talked for quite a while. She even noticed the lady laughing. Well, Richard was quite handsome and could be very amusing. But she’d been right. After a little warm-up, her friend must have got right to the point.
Even if she hadn’t seen it, the slap Georgina gave Richard was hard enough to be heard across the garden. She winced for her friend. She just wasn’t surprised. She hoped he wasn’t too disappointed, though. Actually, knowing him, he’d probably try again. But she was sure that he’d continue to fail. Georgina Malory wasn’t just a married woman. She happened to be a happily married woman who loved her husband, too.
“I suppose I should apologize to you.”
Gabrielle jumped, she was so startled. She groaned inwardly before she turned to face James Malory, who’d come up silently beside her. “Apologize?”
“I’m going to have to hurt your friend,” James said.
She was afraid he was going to say that. But he didn’t really sound or look angry. She just didn’t know him well enough to realize that his expression was never an indication of his true feelings.
“Must you?” she asked. “He’s really harmless. And Georgina has already dashed his hopes.”
“He’s trespassed. I’m afraid I can’t allow that.”
Richard, looking disappointed, started to walk back to her. But then he saw James standing with her and bolted in the opposite direction. It was almost funny, how quickly he went over the high wall that separated the garden from the neighbors’ property.
“Very wise of him,” James said. “I don’t climb walls.”
She would have been relieved, but she had a feeling Malory wouldn’t leave it at that. “Would it help if I gave you my word that he will never approach your wife again?”
He raised a brow. “While I don’t doubt your word, m’dear, I must point out that one person can never fully control another’s actions.”
“True, but what I will do is get his word. Once he’s given his word, he’s quite trustworthy.”
“Very well. That will suffice to keep me from tracking him down. But you might want to warn your friend, it won’t suffice if I ever see him again.”
She nodded, grateful for the clarification. And if Richard didn’t pay attention when she visited him this afternoon to warn him how close he’d come to dying, it would be on his own head.
Chapter 15
L ATER THAT AFTERNOON Gabrielle met the other Anderson brother who was visiting the Malorys. Actually she ran into him, since he barged out of his room upstairs just as she was passing it. The collision didn’t knock them over, but it drew an immediate apology from him, then a very telling pause as he looked her over.
Boyd Anderson was a surprise to her because he didn’t look anything like his brother Drew. He was shorter and a little stockier than Drew, and even his facial features were different from Drew’s. In fact, only the brothers’ hair color was the same—golden brown.
“Well, hell,” he said, leaning a hand against the wall, which pretty much blocked her from proceeding. “I can see I had a good reason to avoid you after all.”
She stiffened instantly. Was he going to be as insulting as his brother tended to be?
“Did you?”
“Yes,” he said. “You’re far too pretty. I could have gotten along just fine without finding that out.”
She relaxed, even chuckled. “And now?”
“I just may have to get in line.” He grinned. “How long is it?”
“Not long a’ tall.”
He seemed incredulous, then slapped his forehead. “That’s right, you’ve only been here a few days.”
“It’s not that,” she admitted. “There’s been ample interest, but only a few men who have piqued my own interest so far.”
“I’ll consider that a boon. What’s on your agenda for tonight?”
“The theater.”
“Really? I just happen to love the theater.”
The Malorys certainly did, they even had their own box on the upper level with a splendid view of the stage. She was to find that Drew loved the theater as well, at least that was the reason he gave for joining them that night, when he didn’t have to. Gabrielle didn’t doubt it was just an excuse. Obviously, he’d found out his brother was going. What wasn’t so obvious was why that would make any difference to him, but she was sure it did. The competition between them was subtle, but it definitely existed. And as the night progressed, it was as if Drew was determined to make sure Boyd couldn’t find a single moment alone with her, and vice versa.
When James and Georgina went to speak with some friends during intermission, leaving her alone with an Anderson brother on each side of her, she mentioned some refreshments. She actually was parched after laughing so much during the first acts of the comedy the theater was presenting tonight.
“A splendid idea,” Drew said, and stared pointedly at Boyd, making it obvious he wanted his brother to do the fetching.
But Boyd just stared back and even nodded a few times toward the door, making the same silent suggestion.
Gabrielle caught on to what they were doing and sighed. “Don’t get up,” she said dryly as she got up herself. “I’ll fetch something myself.”
Drew came instantly to his feet. “An even better idea. I’ll join you.”
“So will I.” Boyd jumped to his feet as well.
Gabrielle hid her smile and didn’t wait for them to follow. Downstairs, she was delighted to find the Honorable Wilbur Carlisle waving at her and she moved across the lobby to speak with him.
“How nice to see you again, Wilbur.”
“The pleasure is entirely mine, Miss Gabby. I tried to gain your attention earlier, but you were quite enthralled by the play—and the gentlemen with you.”
There was curiosity in his tone, or was it censure? But she realized he didn’t know who Drew and Boyd were. She glanced back to see that they’d temporarily lost sight of her in the crowded lobby, and were looking around for her. She wasn’t going to have long alone with Wilbur.
“I’m with the Malorys, Wilbur. The two gentlemen are Lady Malory’s brothers.”
“Ah, yes, I believe I’ve heard of them. In shipping, aren’t they?”
“Yes, her whole family is. But tell me,” she said, glancing up at him flirtatiously, “why haven’t you come by to call on me?”
He actually looked quite uncomfortable suddenly. “I wanted to, but, well, dash it all, I suppose I must confess that James Malory is the reason I’ve stayed away.”
“You know him?”
“Not a’tall,” Wilbur replied. “But I’ve heard so many things, well, that is to say, I’ve been trying, desperately, to get up the nerve t
o enter his domain, and I will. I assure you I will. I just need a few more days to remind myself that rumors are rarely true and that he’s likely harmless—”
“Not harmless at all,” James said behind them.
Gabrielle almost laughed, James was looking so aggrieved to have come upon two people discussing him, and not in a very positive light. She just didn’t know that under any other circumstances, he probably would have picked Wilbur up by the scruff of his neck and tossed him out the nearest window. But because of her, and because Wilbur was obviously one of her suitors, James Malory was determined to be on his best behavior. So the blades on his witty tongue were mostly sheathed for the evening.
Gabrielle noticed that Wilbur was blushing profusely. James noticed as well and said, “I was joking, Carlisle. Please feel free to come by to call on Gabrielle this week. As long as she has only good things to say about you, you’ll be welcome in my home.”
A warning and an invitation in the same breath. Amazing how Malory could do that. But Gabrielle was sure he’d extended the invitation just for her sake. And Wilbur didn’t seem to catch the warning. His fears somewhat put to rest, he thanked James and mentioned that he would be pleased to accept the offer before he hurried off.
“Not very brave, is he?” James remarked as soon as Wilbur rushed off.
“Is any man in your presence?” Gabrielle said in Wilbur’s defense.
James burst out laughing. “Touché, m’dear.” But his laugh had drawn Drew and Boyd’s attention, and with them both heading in their direction now, James added, “Except for those two, though I could wish it was otherwise.”
“You found her,” Boyd said, reaching them first.
“You lost her?” James replied.
“Not as disastrously as you lost Georgie that time in the Caribbean,” Drew replied as he came up on Gabrielle’s other side.
“I didn’t lose your sister, you ass, you sailed off with her.”
“Right under your nose, too.” Drew smirked.
“Careful, Yank. I never did get even for that.”
Gabrielle felt her body tense up. She was certain that upon seeing the expression on James’s face, any other man would have backed off and run the other way. But the two Americans just laughed at their reminiscing. They really weren’t afraid of James Malory. Because he was their brother-in-law? Actually, as they continued ribbing him, she realized it was because they’d tangled with him before and lived to tell the tale.
“Malory, you are, without a doubt, superlative with those lethal fists of yours,” Boyd said with some very real admiration.
“Don’t ever mention that in front of my brother Tony,” James replied. “He thinks he’s as good as I am in the ring.”
“Now, that’s a fight I’d love to see,” Boyd said. “And wasn’t Warren taking lessons from him there for a while?”
James nodded. “Your brother Warren was determined to take me on.”
“Did he ever get around to it, before he owned up that he was in love with your niece?” Drew asked curiously.
“Indeed. One of my fonder memories, too, that fight.”
“Warren was always pretty good with his fists. We rarely beat him, Drew and I. And you took him by surprise, that time you fought us all in our home in Bridgeport.”
“You have a point to make in all that rambling?” James asked dryly.
Boyd chuckled. “Just wanted to know how badly you wiped the floor with him in that last fight.”
“You don’t give your brother enough credit. He acquitted himself rather well.”
“But still lost?”
“Of course.”
“Who are you raking over the coals?” Georgina wanted to know as she joined them.
James refused to answer, merely raised a brow at her brothers. Boyd explained, and as James had probably guessed, she began scolding both brothers for discussing violent subjects in front of Gabrielle.
Drew, whether teasing or not, pointed out, “A pirate’s daughter would be used to hearing even worse subjects discussed. Isn’t that right, sweetheart?” he asked Gabrielle.
Somehow she dredged up a smile for him. “Oh, certainly. We don’t thrash our victims with fists, we gut them with swords.”
She walked away before he realized he’d insulted her, and she was gratified to hear Georgina begin to chew his ear off for using that word again. But he’d already used it an awful lot tonight, without Georgina overhearing. To get a rise out of her? Or to remind Boyd of her background? It was hard to tell. But she wasn’t going to forget the conversation she’d overheard the other day in which Boyd had said, “When I do settle down, it sure as hell won’t be with a wench whose father is a pirate.”
While Boyd seemed not to share Drew’s aversion to marriage, he did seem to harbor more resentment against pirates. Not that it mattered. She might find him quite handsome, and he seemed to be taken with her despite his feelings for pirates, but he didn’t cause any fluttering in her stomach like his aggravating brother did.
She was still having fun, despite the little annoyances. And she didn’t care why Drew was there, she was just glad that he was. Actually, she was glad Boyd was, too. In their bickering and in trying to outdo each other for her benefit, the brothers inadvertently were revealing things about the Andersons and the Malorys that she might never have heard of otherwise.
She learned that one of the Malory ancestors had actually been a gypsy. This was apparently a rumor that had circulated for many years, but the brothers confirmed it was true. They called James an ex-pirate, but it was said in jest, so she didn’t believe it. They implied the head of the Malory clan, Jason Malory, Third Marquis of Haverston, had married his housekeeper! She didn’t believe that either. Drew and Boyd talked about their three other brothers and mentioned that they were straitlaced New Englanders, though Boyd teased that Drew certainly didn’t fit that mold. She had no trouble believing that.
She was also able to begin her campaign to end the animosity between her and Drew. Not a single sour look crossed her countenance, and she managed to control her sensitivity to Drew’s teasing. Even when he told his brother earlier in her hearing, “Stop apologizing for every ‘blast and damn’ out of your mouth. Pirates win hands down when it comes to vulgarity,” Gabrielle had managed not to pay him back in kind, though she had to grit her teeth to keep her mouth shut.
The rest of the play was just as amusing as the first two acts. It was a story about an English family trying to marry off their daughter. She didn’t relate it to her own situation at all and wouldn’t have if Drew didn’t lean close during the last act to whisper, “Who do you think the heroine is going to choose? The safe, proper young lord, though damn, he’s clumsy, isn’t he? Or the blackguard she keeps swooning over?”
She shouldn’t have answered him. Really, it wasn’t a serious question. He was merely rubbing it in, her own situation, since he obviously related it to the comedy they were watching.
Without really thinking, she said, “The suave blackguard will win hands down.”
She heard his softly indrawn breath before he asked, “Why?”
“For the obvious reason. She loves him.” And then she grinned. “Care to bet?”
He sounded annoyed now when he answered, “No, you’re probably right. It’s a comedy, after all. The silly chit is being portrayed as not having any sense, and certainly not enough to realize she’d never be happy with a rogue.”
“Nonsense,” she disagreed. “She could go through the rest of her life without realizing what a blackguard he is, or she could find out and not care. Happiness is a matter of the heart, after all.”
“Is it? You think you’ll be happy when you fall in love?”
There was no longer any pretense that they weren’t discussing her. And while they’d been whispering, and leaning a little closer to each other to do so, she hadn’t looked at him once, had kept her eyes on the stage. But she turned to look at him now and gasped when she saw he was closer than sh
e’d thought. Their lips nearly touched and his gaze was so intense, it nearly mesmerized her.
But she answered him, rather breathlessly now, and just as softly, “I know I will be.”
“How do you know, Gabby?”
“Because if the man I love loves me in return, then nothing will stand in the way of our happiness. It’s inevitable. And besides, I can always make him walk my father’s plank if he doesn’t make me happy.”
Drew burst out laughing. Fortunately, so did the audience just then, so no one knew his humor had nothing to do with the play.
Later that night, while Margery helped her prepare for bed, Gabrielle evaluated her own performance that evening. That’s what it had been. She’d had to resist countless urges to upbraid Drew severely for his careless remarks, teasing or not. But she’d persevered and merely smiled at him. She was going to change his opinion of her—if she didn’t clobber him first.
Chapter 16
G ABRIELLE WENT TO BED THAT NIGHT with a smile on her lips, quite a change from the night before. She felt the evening at the theater had gone splendidly, all in all. There’d been a few rough moments, at least where her patience was concerned, but in the end, she’d accomplished what she’d set out to do, which was let Drew know that their little war was over as far as she was concerned. Now, if he’d just draw in his own cannons…
Gabrielle and Margery went downstairs at midmorning the next day to meet Georgina, who was going to accompany them to the solicitor’s office. She wasn’t looking forward to the meeting with William Bates, or explaining to the disagreeable fellow why she had disappeared three years ago when he had wanted to shackle her with that reprobate guardian. She wanted Georgina there with her in case he got nasty about it, or tried to deny her her inheritance because she had flown the coop, as it were.