Page 27 of The Lost Lord
“We’ll talk later,” Howard grunted, and stomped away.
Richard had been appalled to discover that slavery was still practiced, even heartily endorsed, in his adopted country. Here in New York slavery was illegal. The African men and women he encountered going about their business were, to the best of Richard’s knowledge, free. As there was little he could do about America’s cruel laws, he generally tried to avoid thinking about the subject. Yet it had just stared him in the face, three pairs of frightened eyes peeping at him.
There was no avoiding it now.
The children were silent in their box in the hot sun. Richard decided to take a break and sat on the ledge of the wagon waiting to take away its precious cargo. He brought with him a canteen of cool water. Now that he was closer to the box, he could smell the scent of unwashed bodies.
“I’m going to leave this here,” Richard said to no one in particular.
“This side,” someone whispered. A loose board flipped open. Casually Richard reached behind him and set his drink next to it. The child’s hand emerged, snatched the canvas handle and tugged it into the crate.
What in the hell was Howard up to?
Momentarily, the board jostled again. The tin sat gleaming in the hot afternoon sun. Only its light emptiness proved there were children in the crate behind him. Richard leapt off the back of the cart as if nothing had happened.
Richard rejoined the warehouse crew. Though his shoulders ached, he put his back into the business of unloading the rest of the ship. The more time he spent here at the warehouse, the less opportunity Lizzie had to waylay him. When he went to check on the children in the crate, it was gone. Disappointed, Richard returned to his work, only to discover a scuffle had broken out where the dockyard led into the street.
“This is no place for women,” a man shouted grumpily. Two slender, feminine outlines, one tall and garbed in pale fawn with blue trim, the other of middling height and clad in black, stood firm.
“Our business will be brief. We want to see Lord Northcote.”
The hair on Richards neck and arms rose like antennae. It couldn’t be. Miriam would never come here. He’d done the right thing in acceding to Livingston’s wishes. Though it made Richard’s black heart shrivel into a hard knot of despair, the knowledge that he acted in her best interests instead of his own—for once—soothed the ache of losing her.
The crowd parted. Howard waved him over. Reluctant, Richard strode to his side. His gaze never wavered from Miriam’s face. When she glanced up it was like an arrow pierced him. Shy sadness mixed with determined shown in her delicate beautiful features.
“Miss Walsh,” he acknowledged, his voice hoarse because he had given away his water. “Mrs. Kent.”
Richard glanced down. Hours ago, he had removed his shirt, as some of the dock hands had done. Now, he stared self-consciously at his naked torso. Though manual labor had carved away the paunch his drinking had formed around his midsection, Richard was keenly aware of Miriam’s appreciative inspection. A high blush stained Miriam’s cheek. Her gaze flickered to him and away to the ceiling, then back again. Embarrassment flooded Richard. He smelled. His skin was crusted with salt. The trousers at his waist where ten times better quality than any other dockhand’s but no one would know it for the quantity of dirt encrusted on them.
Miriam did not appear to care. Richard’s brother burst into his memory.Come home, Edward had asked. What would happen if she did finally meet his brother? Would she feel she had settled for the lesser man?
The lady in question’s eyes widened.
“Your lordship, we did not expect to find you here. Naked.” Miriam whispered the last word in a sultry, greedy hiss. Richard’s cock, dormant since the night Lizzie had tried and failed to awaken him, twitched with interest.
“Fair enough,” Richard responded after a long moment. “I did not expect to receive guests. Had I known you were coming I would have attired myself appropriately. State your business and then be gone. As Howard says, this is no place for ladies.”
“You haven’t come to see me,” Miriam said in a rush.
A slow smile crept over Richard’s lips. Miriam’s blush deepened.
“Have you a death wish?” he asked in astonishment. Around him, the dock workers howled encouragement and taunts. They strained to hear his words. Richard knew they interpreted everything he said in the most salacious way possible. He was a novelty, a curiosity who hadn’t yet earned his place within their pecking order. Richard occupied a strange place between Howard and the lowest of their rank.
“Get back to work, you louts,” Howard demanded, waving them away.
“I…” Marian swallowed. “I have missed you greatly. If you would favor me with a visit, I should be most obliged.”
“The last time I favored you with a visit I nearly killed you,” Richard pointed out, his teasing levity gone. “I won’t take the risk again.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” Miriam blurted stubbornly. “It was an accident.”
“A preventable accident,” Mrs. Kent interjected.
Richard hesitated. In his world, young ladies did not venture out to find men. They tempted. They hoped. But most of all, they waited. Richard thought briefly of the young women he’d given false hope to over his years in London. A casual flirtation to him had monumental consequences for their futures. He fervently hoped no young ladies had pinned their hopes on him. He would have made a terrible choice of husband. Although perhaps no worse than other lords.
The self-congratulatory thought burst the instant it formed. He would be a terrible husband. There was no past-tense about him. Richard remained selfish and vain enough to experience a swell of masculine satisfaction every time Miriam’s gaze landed on his chest and drove her blush deeper, from rose petal pink to crimson. Satisfaction curled low in his belly.
There was only one reason to continue courting her. He wanted Miriam. If he had to marry her to keep her safe, surely that consideration outweighed any of Lizzie’s scheming. He wanted this innocent woman who kissed like a goddess and stirred feelings Richard didn’t know how to manage.
