Miss Lavigne's Little White Lie Page 20

  She beamed as if he had paid her a real compliment, such as bestowing upon her the designation of an Incomparable, which she was to him at least. He had never known a woman like her, and he possessed no desire to seek out another to test his hypothesis.

  “Perhaps my newfound skills will be of benefit on our next voyage,” she teased. “I could assume the position of first mate.”

  He whispered in her ear, “You may assume any position you desire.”

  Lisette playfully swatted his arm. “You’re impossible.”

  Not wishing to reveal his plans to ensconce his wife safely in England rather than dragging her around the world, he changed the subject. “Did you visit Mr. Baptiste today?”

  “Oui. Monsieur Timmons thinks his ribs have almost healed. Either way, Monsieur Baptiste offers no complaints, not that he ever has.”

  Perhaps not within his wife’s hearing, but Daniel thought the man whined more than a colicky infant. He disparaged his lodgings, despite the fact the infirmary on the Cecily had to be far superior to the brink on Reynaud’s ship. And he criticized the food, which set Daniel’s teeth on edge. For a man surviving as a direct result of Daniel’s generosity, Mr. Baptiste possessed a giant set of brass ballocks.

  He’d even lamented his lack of freedom to wander the decks at will, but no one who had spent days confined on his enemy’s vessel would be granted any freedoms on Daniel’s ship. It meant nothing to him that the man was a prisoner and the victim of atrocious abuse. Mr. Baptiste was not to be trusted without proving himself worthy of such an honor.

  Lisette trailed her fingers along Daniel’s forearm. Her touch sent tingles along his skin. “I think Monsieur Baptiste is well enough to join us for dinner this evening.”

  Daniel withheld his opinion of the man’s company. He’d not take pleasure in extending an invitation to his table, but Lisette did harbor affection for the old codger.

  “If it pleases you, then I will ask him to join us.”

  She stood and slipped behind his chair before wrapping her arms around his neck. Her heated cheek grazed his ear. “I would be well pleased.” Her lips touched his temple, marking him with a kiss.

  Daniel squeezed her hand then reluctantly extracted himself from her embrace. If he was to speak with Mr. Baptiste, he should do it now before he changed his mind and instead carried his wife back to their bedchamber.

  “Then by all means, allow me to extend a personal invitation.” If the man’s ribs no longer pained him, laudanum wouldn’t addle his mind any longer, and Daniel might be able to gather more information on his enemy.

  He sauntered out of the great cabin into the bright sunlight and shaded his eyes with his hand. His crew continued with their duties, paying him no mind. The cooler air washed over his exposed skin as he strolled along the deck. It was a welcome reprieve from the Caribbean heat.

  The season would be ending soon, but perhaps they would arrive in time to attend a ball or two. Daniel had never cared much for the tedious affairs, but he was eager to present his wife to society. Perhaps Lisette would form associations and acquire invitations to the country to keep her occupied while he returned to sea. He could always encourage his sister’s friendship with Lisette, and she would have Amelia and Serafine for companionship too.

  A pang vibrated in his chest. If Lisette had companionship, he wouldn’t worry about her suffering the same loneliness he would experience being parted from her.

  He ducked his head as he went below deck, blinded for a moment when he moved from the brilliant light into the dim bowels of the ship. When his eyes adjusted, he stalked to the infirmary to find Mr. Baptiste and gather whatever reconnaissance he could on Reynaud.

  Although there had been no more sightings of the Mihos, Daniel had read the blackguard’s determination in his expression. Reynaud hadn’t abandoned his original objective.

  Daniel flung aside the curtain and barged into the infirmary. Mr. Baptiste fumbled the book he held, dropping the tome on the floor with a resounding smack. Daniel nodded to Timmons, who glanced up from his game of Patience then returned his attention to the cards.

  “My wife informs me you are healing, sir.”

  Baptiste eyed Daniel as he retrieved the book from the floor. The Iliad, from Amelia’s collection. She had read every page aloud after dinner on the voyage to Port Albis. He would place a bet that Lisette had provided the man with this source of entertainment.

  Baptiste coughed into his fist and winced. “I’m still sore, but my injuries no longer pain me when I breathe.”

  Daniel grabbed a vacant wooden chair, swung it around, and plopped down. Resting his forearms on the seat back, he slouched to give the appearance of not having a care in the world. “And yet it’s often preferable to the alternative.”

  The gentleman cocked his head. “The alternative, sir?”

  “A cessation of breath versus a little pain upon inhalation to remind you that you are indeed still alive.”

  Baptiste hadn’t relaxed his posture since Daniel entered the space. His knuckles flashed white where he gripped the book’s spine. “I suppose it’s all in one’s perspective, and you make a compelling case.”

  Daniel rapped lightly against the seat back twice as if their meeting neared the end. “Very well. You seem fit enough to attend dinner in the great cabin. I’ll expect you this evening.”

  “Wait,” Baptiste blurted as Daniel stood. “What about my own quarters?”

  “I have no other lodgings available.” Daniel’s voice came out steady and low, daring the other man to challenge him. “And if you’ll recall, you didn’t pay a fare.”

  Baptiste’s eyes darkened. “Indeed, you’ve bought and paid for me. I suppose I’m at your mercy.”

  “That you are, sir, and I ask so little in return. Tell me what you know of Reynaud.”

  The older man shrugged. Without bruises distorting his face, he looked distinguished. Perhaps he was someone’s father, brother, or uncle.

  “Reynaud is a criminal. That’s all I know of him.”

  “Tell me of his criminal tendencies then.”

  Baptiste scoffed. “It’s not as if I’m a member of his group of thugs. What information do you expect me to provide?”

  “Something to convince me you are indeed friend rather than foe. Then I might be willing to locate a cabin for you.”

  “I see.” Mr. Baptiste’s shoulders drooped, and his defeated gaze dropped to the floor. “Ask me what you wish to know, and I’ll try to answer to the best of my ability. But as I have already stated, Captain, I know very little about Louis Reynaud.”

  “You didn’t want Lisette to marry him. You must have had some reason to oppose the match.”

  Baptiste’s dirt-brown eyes sought out Daniel. “The girl deserved better. Reynaud wanted to get his hands on her dowry and then to live off Master Rafe’s inheritance.”

  Daniel sank back to the chair. “How would he have accomplished the feat when Rafe has a guardian in England?”

  “Xavier Vistoire has sent no word from England for a long time. No one believes he intends to return to America or fulfill his guardianship duties. Reynaud has associates in prestigious governing positions. He intended to use his connections to push through his petition for guardianship of the boy.”

  Baptiste hadn’t told him anything Daniel didn’t already know. “Is there still a chance of him gaining control of the Lavigne estate through his government associations?”

  “I don’t see how that would be possible unless…” Baptiste shook his head.

  “Unless what? Finish your thought.”

  “Unless Reynaud is able to convince everyone he did indeed marry Miss Lavigne. Couldn’t he have an entry in his log stating he had married her? He could pay witnesses to support his claim, and who would oppose him?”

  “Would he be believed with no bride?”

  Baptiste shrugged. “People die at sea all the time, Captain Hillary. Who is to say Miss Lavigne and Master Rafe didn’t succumb t
o illness on the journey?”

  Indeed. “Then the property should revert to the next of kin.”

  “There is no other next of kin. If Reynaud married Lisette, he would be the only family she has left. Reynaud associates with the type of men who can forge Mr. Vistoire’s death certificate, then he would face no opposition. And if Mr. Vistoire ever returned to New Orleans, he would indeed be a dead man.”

  With a sigh, Baptiste placed the book beside him on the cot and reclined, showing the first signs of dropping his guard. “Captain, if I may be so bold as to offer my advice, forget about Reynaud. Allow him to have Master Rafe’s properties and money. Your wife and her brother will have a full life with you in England.”

  It would be a bloody cold day in Hades before Daniel allowed Reynaud to steal from his family.

  He bounded from the chair. “Thank you for your cooperation.” Now he could better develop a countermove before he returned to America to deal with the blackguard.

  Twenty-five

  Lisette, Rafe, Serafine, and Monsieur Baptiste hugged the ship’s railing as the Cecily maneuvered along the Thames. All except Rafe wore matching expressions of awe. The river traffic was obscene in comparison to the Mississippi, where they had gone days without seeing another ship. Nearing London, Lisette feared they might collide with another vessel.

  Every size imaginable clogged the waterway. Rafe called out each ship or boat class as they passed as if he had observed the scene a thousand times and grown bored of it all.

  Carriages raced across the bridges spanning the murky water, making Lisette’s head whirl. A dank fog hovered over the crowded buildings as far as she could see, and the soured stench of the vast city offended her sensibilities. It was true New Orleans almost rivaled London in unpleasant smells, but she missed the fresh air at sea. Hopefully, they wouldn’t be long in London.

  Monsieur Baptiste clucked his tongue. “I’ve heard the fog is so dense at times pedestrians stumble into the river and lose their lives.”

  “Monsieur,” Serafine scolded, “remember your audience.”

  He shot a look at Rafe then smiled apologetically. “Indeed. My apologies, ladies.”

  She stopped listening to the banal talk of buildings and weather when Daniel emerged from his quarters, distracted by the defined edge of his jaw and the way his hair had begun to curl at his nape. Surely, her husband had grown more handsome over the last two weeks for it couldn’t be her imagination.

  Her heart skipped when he offered a dimpled grin before taking up position beside the helmsman on the quarterdeck.

  “Home at last,” Amelia called out.

  Lisette peered over her shoulder to discover Amelia and her husband approaching arm in arm with a downtrodden Monsieur Ramsey trailing behind them.

  Monsieur Hillary’s tense expression caught her by surprise. He had struck Lisette as perpetually light of heart during their time onboard. “We should call on my parents as soon as we arrive,” he said to Amelia. “I fear the change in our status will be a shock to Mother, however pleasant our tidings.” He smiled kindly in Lisette’s direction. “Perhaps you could encourage Daniel to call on our parents soon. Our mother has a tendency to worry herself into a state if she doesn’t hear from him upon his return.”

  She nodded. “Of course.”

  Her own mother had never shown much awareness of her existence as a child, so the concept of worry over one’s issue, even as a grown man, made her heart warm toward Daniel’s mother.

  “You have a sister in London too, do you not?” she asked.

  Monsieur Hillary’s face softened just as Daniel’s had when he had spoken of the young woman. “Our younger sister, Lana. She will be thrilled to welcome you into the fold.”

  The prospect of becoming part of a larger family lifted Lisette’s spirits. Perhaps her time in London would be tolerable after all.

  Monsieur Ramsey assumed the vacant spot beside her. He stooped over, resting his hands on the railing. “Home at last. I should reach the parish before nightfall, a failure.”

  His heavy sigh and despairing frown engendered pity from Lisette. As Daniel had explained to her a few days ago, any son not of first-born status had few options in England. Monsieur Ramsey likely had a choice between the church and life in the military, which seemed no choice at all. She didn’t think him suited for either profession.

  “I had hoped to return home a rich man,” he mumbled. “Ah, well. What is there to do?”

  Lisette patted his hand. “It’s odd how fate has its own plans, monsieur. I wish you good fortune in your homeland.”

  He offered a sad smile. “Merci.”

  Leaving Rafe in Serafine’s care, Lisette returned to the great cabin for one more glance around to reassure herself she wasn’t leaving anything onboard. She would miss their time in these small cabins and looked forward to the day she, Daniel, and Rafe set sail again.

  The grinding of the windlass signaled the dropping of the anchor, and the men’s heavy steps echoed on the deck as they went about their last duties.

  The cabin door flew open and Daniel stuck his head inside. “Come along, luv. I sent Patch to secure a hack. It’s time to see your new home.”

  She smiled with a shy lift of one shoulder. “I’ll miss our home onboard.”

  He moved inside the cabin, closing the door behind him, and then came to gather her in his arms. “But I have an adequate town house with plenty of room for everyone, including your Mr. Baptiste.”

  She chuckled when he spat the other man’s name and touched her palm to his cheek. “You are a kind and generous provider. Thank you for allowing him to stay as our guest. It needn’t be long, just until we figure out where he may go.”

  As Daniel led her from the great cabin and down the gangplank to the waiting conveyance, Lisette viewed the filthy wharf with interest. Funny how any place felt right with her husband by her side. She would reside in an oversized trunk if he wished it, as long as they remained together.

  “Your brother plans to call on your parents today,” she said. “Perhaps we should pay our respects as well.”

  Daniel drew her close. “Don’t fret, my dear. We will soon receive an invitation for dinner. Mother always hosts a party when the ship docks. I can only imagine how quickly one will come once she learns I’ve arrived with a wife.”

  “You’ve sent her notice already?”

  He chuckled. “You have much to learn about London. The ship’s manifest lists you as my wife. Word should reach Mother before we arrive to Curzon Street.”

  “I’m uncertain if that is a fortuitous system or not.”

  “Generally not.” Daniel halted several steps from the carriage and turned her to face him. A worry line appeared on his forehead. “Lis, you must realize I had a life before I met you. Some aspects of my former life don’t make me proud. If you hear rumors…”

  She squeezed his hands. “As long as everything stays in the past, I shan’t pay any notice to gossip.”

  “My entertainments in London are forever confined to the past. You have my word.”

  “Excellent,” she said with a cheeky grin. “I’m greedy when it comes to entertainments. I prefer to stay center stage.”

  ***

  London’s rapid communication system did not disappoint. A mere two hours after their arrival at the town house, Daniel’s mother and sister descended upon them. Lana had grown even larger with child in the weeks he’d been gone. Her venture across Town to procure an introduction to his wife would raise eyebrows among the elite, not that he agreed with their censorship.

  The current thinking a lady should lie in wait was nonsense. Women all over the world gave birth to healthy issue without taking to their beds for weeks. Some even birthed while toiling in a field. Of course, he wouldn’t go so far as to suggest rigorous exercise, but paying calls exerted nothing more than one’s patience.

  “You’ll not drop your child on the Aubusson, I hope.” His teasing tone matched his welcoming grin a
s he gathered his little sister in a hug.

  “Daniel, really.” His mother huffed and turned three shades of red.

  Lana returned his embrace with verve, planting a loud, smacking kiss upon his freshly shaved cheek. “I wish it were time. I have two months of misery left to endure. I welcome a respite in the country.”

  Once he released his sister, his mother didn’t step forward to initiate or receive any contact, not even a courteous kiss on her knuckles. Theirs had never been an affectionate relationship, and he had come to accept her way of expressing fondness involved lavish parties thrown in one’s honor. Her gaze darted around the drawing room. “Where is she?”

  “Please, have a seat. I’ve ordered tea and biscuits.” Daniel directed both women to the settee. “Lisette will join us in a moment.”

  Mother bustled to the small sofa and smoothed her skirts several times before sitting. She leaned forward with a grave expression. “I didn’t dare believe the rumors, but it appears you have truly arrived with a wife. Wherever did you find her?”

  He couldn’t hold back a smile. “On the top shelf of the quaintest shop. I went in for a hat and came out with a wife.”

  “A milliner’s shop?”

  Lana giggled. “He’s jesting, Mama. You spoke of his bride as if she were an object to be found.”

  “I did not. I simply wondered how it is my incorrigible bachelor son arrived in London leg-shackled, to use a term he has often employed to describe the state of matrimony.”

  “Lisette booked passage on the Cecily, I fell madly in love with her, and had to have her as my wife. Satisfied?”

  A noise at the doorway interrupted their conversation. They turned at once to discover Lisette standing at the threshold. A becoming flush pinked her cheeks.

  Daniel rose to greet her. “There you are, luv. Do come in so Mother can put her fears to rest.”

  His mother groaned. “Daniel.”

  Lana wiggled to the edge of the settee and pushed herself to her feet. She approached Lisette, but before Daniel could make introductions, she tossed her arms around Lisette’s neck. “What a pleasure to meet the lady who has captured Daniel’s heart at last. Welcome to the family. I’m Lana.”