The Lady's Second-Chance Suitor by Scott, Regina (christmas read aloud txt) 📗

circumstances,” her mothersaid with a sigh. “At least let me fix your hair.”

Rob hadn’t minded her hair down last night. She’d caught himeyeing it a time or two, as if he wondered how it would feel between hisfingers. She sat down in front of the dressing table and wasn’t surprised tofind her cheeks turning pink.

A maid poked her head in just as Hester’s mother finishedputting in the last hairpin. The woman started at the sight of them. “You too?”

“Are the others up then?” Hester asked, rising from the dressingtable.

“Miss Peverell, his lordship, the gentlemen,” the maid said.“They’re all in the green withdrawing room.”

Hester and her mother found them there a short while later,all clustered around the window, which showed the pink bloom of dawn. OnlyRob’s sister was wearing something different than the night before.

“What’s happened?” Hester’s mother asked, venturing closer.

Rob immediately turned and shoved a spyglass at Mr. Donner,who fumbled to hold it against his waistcoat. “Nothing of any concern,” heassured her with a smile that was far too bright. “I’ll wager you’re ready tohead for home. I’ll have the carriage brought around immediately.”

Much as she longed to return to Rebecca, Hester could notshake the feeling he was rushing them.

“It looked to me that more than one tree was down,” sheallowed. “Can the carriage get through to Upper Grace?”

“No better time to find out,” Rob said cheerily.

Elizabeth must have taken the spyglass from Mr. Donner, forshe turned from the view with it in her hands. “There’s no time, Rob. They’llbe here too soon.”

“Who?” Hester asked, even as Rob closed his eyes a moment asif saying a prayer.

Everyone looked to him. He nodded as if makinga decision.

“A ship docked at our pier,” he told her. “We don’t knowwhy.”

Hester sucked in a breath. “Smugglers?”

“Right you are, missy,” a voice behind them answered.

Hester turned with the others to find a heavy-set fellowstanding in the doorway, cap pulled down over a fringe of iron-grey hair. Hiseyes were bloodshot, and stubble covered his bulbous chin. Far more menacing,however, was the pistol he held in one grip.

“Chalder?” Rob said, positioning himself in front of Hester.“What are you doing?”

“My job,” he said. “My real job.”

Mr. Donner darted forward. “You’re a spy.”

Hester edged around Rob in time to see Chalder draw himselfup. “I am not. I’m a lander, like my father before me, and a good one. Neitherof us was ever caught.”

“I don’t understand,” Elizabeth put in. “What’s a lander? Areyou helping the smugglers?”

“I lead the smugglers,” he informed her, head up with pride.“Leastwise, on land. It’s my job to round up trustworthy types to carry thegoods inland, away from the Preventers like our new Riding Surveyor. I call thetune as to when a ship may come in and how fast it’s emptied.”

“I suppose I’ll find a blue spout lantern in my shed,” Robsaid, “suitable for signaling ships at sea.”

“You’ll find more than that if you look right now,” Chalder toldhim. “I’ve a crew waiting to unload this ship and fill her with the informationshe’ll carry back to France.”

Donner stiffened.

“St. Claire or Ruggins?” Rob asked.

“Surely not Captain St. Claire,” her mother protested.

Hester and Rosemary were among the few women who didn’tfavor the handsome formal naval officer. Still, she could not see him takingEngland’s secrets to France.

Neither could Mr. Chalder, apparently, for he shook hishead. “We have no business with the good captain, but that’s all I’ll say onthe matter. Bad enough you had to see me.”

“So what do you want from us, my good man?” LordFeatherstone put in. “I’m sure if it’s a ransom you’re after, our host canoblige.”

“Always happy to support a worthy cause,” Rob said, but thetone belied his words.

“We don’t need your gold,” the fellow spat out. “Youwouldn’t have even known we were here but for that storm. Now that the ship’s comein, we’ll commence unloading. Give us no trouble, and you can dine on the storyfor months. Decide to play the hero, and you’ll be attending your own funeralinstead.” He cocked the pistol and leveled it at them. “Understand?”

Her mother, Elizabeth, Donner, and Lord Featherstone nodded.Rob merely eyed him as if he were a glob of mud spoiling the shine on hisfavorite pair of boots. Hester managed to catch his eye and shook her head justthe slightest. The resolution in his gaze didn’t waver.

“One of my men is holding most of your staff in thekitchen,” Chalder warned. “Another has your coachman and his helpers in thestables, and a third is gathering up strays and then will come watch you lot.So long as you stay in this room, no harm will come to you. You’ll know we’vegone when you see the ship pulling away from the pier. Now, make yourselvescomfortable.”

No one moved.

He took another step into the room and pointed the gun atRob. “Sit.”

Elizabeth and Hester’s mother hurried to perch on the sofa,and Mr. Donner and Lord Featherstone took up places on the chairs nearby. StillRob stared the villain down, gaze mutinous. Her heart shouted a warning.

“Rob, please,” she said as calmly as she could, taking aseat near her mother. “You promised me you’d changed.”

He shuddered as if she’d struck him with a lash, but heflipped up his coattails and sank onto the chair by the hearth.

“Smart fellow,” Chalder said. “Listen to your lady. Youwouldn’t want anything to happen to her.”

Rob glared at him. “So much as touch her, and you’re a deadman.”

Chalder’s gaze raked over her, cold as winter rain. Hesterrefused to gratify him with a shiver.

“Oh, you have nothing to fear from me, my lord,” he said. “ButI can’t speak for the sailors on that ship. Rough types, they be. So, unlessyou want something to happen to any of these lovely ladies, you’ll stay in yourseat and learn patience.”

~~~

 

Patience, the villain said. Rob’s Achilles’ heel. Hiswealth, status, and charm had meant he seldom had to wait. But he would donothing now that might lead to Hester being harmed. He kept his mouth shut asChalder backed from the room, then counted the seconds as the fellow’s bootsthumped down the stairs.

“Rob?” Elizabeth whispered, as if