“Vivian, will you keep Jack company in the drawing room while I go get some tea ordered?” She gave Vivian a broad wink, and again Vivian’s cheeks stained pink.
“Of course, Captain. You must be starving.” She headed for the drawing room. He dutifully followed her as his sister scurried off to let the housekeeper know he was back and in need of sustenance. Vivian sat primly on the couch. Jack settled next to her, unabashedly drinking her in. Who was this elegant creature?
She shook her head and blinked at him. “I can’t believe you’re here. It’s like I conjured you magically just when I needed you.”
He looked down at her hands clasped together in her lap, black charcoal marks on her fingertips, and couldn’t help but reach out for one.
“Ah, it is you.” He turned her hand over, brushing at her stained fingers. “And here I thought this elegant lady in front of me had stolen away the wild girl I knew.” He kept hold of her hand between his, needing to anchor her near him.
“I was sketching with Caroline earlier.” She tried to tug her hand away, but he held fast.
“Why do you need me?” he asked in a low voice.
She sighed and ceased trying to pull her hand away. He rubbed his thumb along her soft skin to soothe some of the disquiet he heard in her sigh.
“I still haven’t heard from my father. And I’ve just seen my solicitor, and he hasn’t had any response from several letters he has sent my father as well. I know you are the only person who can recognize the danger my father could be in or the trouble he may have started. No one here understands why I am so worried.”
He let go of her hand and sat back against the cushions. He did know exactly what sort of trouble Jamieson had started. But her father specifically said not to tell Vivian about his plans. “Your father told me he wanted to send you to England to keep you safe from his enemy, Dubois. He knew Dubois had been released and wasn’t sure of his location.” There, that was the truth after all.
“Yes, he and Dubois have a long history.” Her eyes clouded with worry. “Dubois once kidnapped my mother when they were first married. Papa saved her, but Dubois got away from him. Mama said Papa chose to get her to safety rather than pursue and kill Dubois. She was pregnant with me at the time.”
“And then there is Gabrielle. Dubois and his men killed her family in a dispute over land. Gabi was the only one to survive the fire. She lived in New Orleans working as a kitchen maid in a tavern for almost two years before Papa found her. He’d been close friends with her family. So he brought her home to Nassau.”
“Do you think he would sail out to find and confront Dubois?”
“If he planned to pursue Dubois, it would make sense why he wouldn’t write to me about sailing out. I think it’s likely somehow his disappearance is related to Dubois.”
Clever lady.
“Can you help me find out what’s happened? Mr. Collins said he had a firm that could make inquiries, but I don’t trust they even know where to start.” She leaned forward, hands clenched together, her teeth biting down on her bottom lip. So much for not worrying her; the lady needed some sort of information to ease her mind.
“I have many contacts in that part of the world. I will send some inquiries to find out Dubois’s whereabouts and ask if anyone has seen your father’s ship. TheTitaniais well known in the Caribbean. We’ll start there and see what information comes back.” Jack tucked a stray curl behind her ear. He couldn’t seem to tell his hands to stay away.
His mother burst into the room, skirt swirling. “John Hunter Langdon, come over here and give your mother a hug.” He stood and obliged her by enfolding her slight frame in a warm hug. She was a tall woman, thin and willowy, with hair as black as his own dark locks. This morning her dark gray silk morning gown matched her sharp gray eyes, eyes that missed nothing as she surveyed the room.
“Mother.” He bowed.
“I can’t believe you actually heeded my summons. But I am thrilled you did.” She smiled at him. “Did somebody order tea?”
“Yes, Mother, I did,” Caroline said from the doorway.
“Let’s sit down. Vivian. I didn’t know you were here this afternoon.”
“I came to help Caroline with a painting in progress. But I think I should go home now and let you all visit.” She turned to him. “I still can’t believe you are a Langdon. Wait, TheLady Louise…you named your ship for your mother.”
“She is the best lady of my acquaintance, so it seemed fitting.” He gave his mother a wink.
Vivian gave his mother a small curtsy. “Your Grace, I will take my leave and let you enjoy your family time. I will see you all soon, I’m sure.” Jack tried to catch her eye, but she had slid back behind her ladylike veneer. She gave Caroline a swift hug before disappearing out the door.
He enjoyed spending the afternoon with his mother and sister. He’d missed their cheerful banter. The two of them had peppered him with questions about his trip to Egypt. Two hours slid effortlessly by while he told them about the markets in Cairo and described his new house on Turtle Cay. He had eaten at least a dozen biscuits, their warm buttery sweetness addictive. Then his mother had sent him upstairs to change for dinner. Feeling about twelve years old, he dutifully let Jones show him to his guest rooms.
Since he never traveled with a valet, his mother had assigned one of the footmen to take care of him, but he shooed the man away. He could certainly tie his own cravat, for God’s sake. After he dressed, he sat down with a brandy in a comfortable wing chair by the fireplace, intent on a few moments of solitude.
Andrew had not joined them in the drawing room earlier, which hadn’t surprised him. In past years, Jack usually avoided coming here to Gilchrest House. Instead, he would rent lodgings for his short trips home. Why should his brother choose to spend time welcoming him home when Jack had never made an effort to visit with Andrew these past ten years?
He tossed back his drink. He had no idea how he would bridge the gap between them, but he promised himself he would try.
His thoughts drifted to Vivian. The shock of seeing her today had hit him like a gale force wind. Caroline must have been the friend Vivian wrote to him about. What a strange turn of fate. He’d barely recognized her, with her hair piled neatly on top of her head, all buttoned up and proper looking. But there was no mistaking those blue-green eyes and her full, sensual mouth. Even after more than a year, the punch of attraction nearly knocked him down. She’d looked equally shocked to see him.
