Page 11 of The Truth About Lord Stoneville
No, but he’d gain nothing by letting her realize it. “I’m merely pointing out that you’ve given me no reason to believe you. I imagine that America is little different from England in certain respects: ship company owners have a station to uphold. And since I assume that your father was wealthy—”
“Oh, yes,” Freddy put in. “Uncle Adam had pots and pots of money.”
“Yet his daughter could not send someone to find her fiancé, like any respectable female would do?”
“I was worried about him!” she cried. “And . . . well, right now Papa’s money is all tied up in the estate, which can’t be settled without Nathan.”
Ah. Better and better. “So you’re here virtually alone, with no money, despite your claim to have a rich father and a certain station in society.” He fished for more information. “You expect me to believe that the daughter of a wealthy ship company owner—who would be taught to keep quiet, do as she is told, and respect the proprieties—would go sailing across the ocean in search of her fiancé, looking for him in a brothel, attacking the first gentleman who dares to question—”
“Oh, for pity’s sake,” she snapped. “I told you why I did all that.”
“Besides,” her companion put in, “Uncle Adam isn’t . . .wasn’tlike other rich gentlemen. He started out a soldier in the Marine Corps. He never put on airs. Always said he was born the poor bastard of a servant, and he’d die the rich bastard of a servant, and that was better than being a rich ass.”
She groaned. “Freddy, please, you’re not helping.”
“So you see, sir,” Freddy went on, to Oliver’s vast amusement, “Mop— Maria isn’t like other women. She’s like her father. She doesn’t listen to those who tell her to sit still and keep quiet. Never has.”
“I noticed,” Oliver said dryly. It was a point in her favor. “And what of her mother? Did she not teach your cousin to behave?”
“I’ll have you know, sir—” Miss Butterfield began.
“Oh, she died in childbirth,” young Freddy explained. “And anyway, she was only a shopkeeper’s daughter herself, like Ma, her sister. Uncle Adam took us in after Pa died, soMa could raise Maria. That’s why I came here with her.” He puffed out his chest. “To protect her.”
“You’re doing a fine job, too,” Oliver said sarcastically.
“Leave him be,” Miss Butterfield said, her eyes alight. “Can’t you tell he wasn’t trying to steal anything? He went in forme, to check the satchel and see if it had the right lettering on it—that’s all.”
“And was caught running out of the place with it. That’s why those men out there want him hanged.”
“Then they’re fools. Anyone can tell that Freddy is no thief.”
“She’s right about that,” the dull-witted Freddy put in helpfully. “I’ve got two left feet—can’t go anywhere without running into something. That’s probably why they caught me.”
“Ah, but in cases like this, the fools generally prevail. Those fellows out there don’t care about the truth. They just want your cousin’s blood.”
Panic showed in her face. “You mustn’t let them have it!”
He stifled a smile. “Icouldput in a good word for him, soothe their tempers and get you two out of this with your necks attached. If . . .”
She instantly stiffened. “If what?”
“If you accept my proposition.”
A fetching blush spread over her pretty cheeks. “I shan’t give up my virtue, even to save my neck.”
“Did I say anything about giving up your virtue?”
She blinked. “Well . . . no. But given the kind of man you are—”
“And what kind is that?” This should be amusing.
“You know.” She tipped up her chin. “The kind who spends his time in brothels. I’ve heard all about you English lords and your debauchery.”
“I don’t want your virtue, my dear.” He flicked his glance down her delectable body and suppressed a sigh. “Not that I don’t find the idea tempting, but right now I have more urgent concerns.”
And no man of rank was fool enough to seduce a virgin—that was the surest way to end up leg-shackled to a schemer. Besides, he preferred experienced women. They knew how to pleasure a man without plaguing him about his feelings.
“This may surprise you,” he went on, “but I rarely have trouble finding women to join me willingly in bed. I’ve no need to force a pretty thief there.”
