“Good,” said Alexis, meaning it. “Enjoy your luncheon.”
Kenna stood in the doorway with a rather bemused expression on her features as Alexis Cloud walked confidently through the outer office and disappeared in the corridor. Rhys appeared a moment later, looking somewhat preoccupied himself. He crossed the outer office and gave Kenna a light kiss on the cheek she offered.
“Who was that striking woman I saw leave her?” he asked.
“That,” Kenna said a trifle smugly, “was Quinton Shipping.”
“Mrs. Cloud?”
“One and the same, according to Captain Johnson,” Kenna reminded him.
Rhys looked at the two cups on the desk. “And you had tea with her? They’ve not spared a second becoming acquainted with their competitors, have they?”
“They?”
“I was talking with Tanner Cloud only an hour ago. That’s why I’m late. He took me on a tour of some of the Garnet ships.”
Kenna did not know what to make of that, but she voiced her first impression. “Rhys, I quite like Mrs. Cloud. I hope you are not saying we cannot be friends simply because our lines are rivals.”
Rhys laughed openly. “Damned if I didn’t like Tanner, too. I accepted an invitation for dinner in their home on Saturday evening. Does that meet with your approval?”
Kenna paused as she reached for her coat. “That at least proves they were not rushing their fences together,” she chuckled. “Mrs. Cloud asked us to dinner Friday night.”
When Kenna dressed for the dinner Friday evening with the Clouds she chose the rose gown Alice had just finished that morning. Kenna discovered when she tried the gown on that Alice had not lied about her talent. The fit was excellent and the fine detail surpassed Kenna’s expectations. The gown bared her shoulders and the delicate line of her collarbones while the empire cut hugged her breasts. Tiny rose beads dotted the puffed sleeves, a touch that Alice had taken upon herself to add, and one that Kenna thought added greatly to the gown’s simple elegance. She wore long white gloves, rose slippers, and carried a white shawl. When she turned away from the mirror after giving a wayward curl a stern admonition to lie quietly she feared from the dark speculative look in Rhys’s eyes that they might not arrive on time.
“I hope you were dressing for me when you chose that gown,” he said, his sharp silver gaze glancing off her bare shoulders and taking note of her barely concealed bosom.
“I was dressing to please myself,” she said tartly, then lost the effect because she smiled flirtatiously. “But I’m glad you approve.”
One of Rhys’s brows kicked up. “Approve, madam? I don’t know that I approve at all. Haven’t you got one of those things, you know, to cover your…your…” He pointed to his own chest.
“Bosom,” she said sweetly, grinning at his stammering. “And I have a shawl that will do nicely. Now put your eyes back in your head.” She made an assessing sweep of his appearance. He was wearing a dove gray tail coat and trousers a shade darker. His cravat was a snowy fall of white linen impeccably arranged and in the crook of his elbow he carried a top hat. “You are looking more handsome than you have a right to. Don’t cast stones in my direction.”
Rhys wasn’t mollified in the least by her backhanded compliment. He arranged the white shawl over her shoulders to his own satisfaction while trying valiantly to ignore Kenna’s blatant amusement. In the end he surrendered to it. “I sounded rather priggish, didn’t I?”
“Endearingly so.” She patted his cheek as if he were a naughty boy.
Rhys took exception to that and kissed her hard on the lips until she gave a little moan against his mouth. Pleased with himself, he drew back and mocked her gesture by patting her flushed cheek. “Shall we go, sprite?”
Kenna took the arm he offered. “Rogue,” she said, not unkindly.
By the time their driver stopped the carriage in front of the Clouds’ Beacon Hill home, Kenna’s cheeks matched the rose of her gown and her lips had a decidedly well-kissed look. When she tried to scold Rhys he swept aside her concern by reminding her they were still newlyweds and it was expected. Kenna was skeptical but his kisses wreaked havoc with her common sense.
Kenna’s first glimpse of Tanner Cloud, scion of the Garnet wealth, gave her a clue to Rhys’s earlier protectiveness. He was a vital man, tanned from long hours out-of-doors with a broad-shouldered frame that bespoke of his labors. He might design ships, she thought, but he helped build them as well. He probably acted as his own foreman, working beside his men. His hair was the color of copper and his eyes were as deeply green as emeralds. He greeted them warmly as the butler took Rhys’s hat.
“I’m delighted you could come,” he said with genuine pleasure. “Alex tells me that she is hosting this affair and tomorrow night is my turn. God knows, life would become too simple if we consulted one another at every turn.”
Kenna laughed. “About Saturday’s invitation. We would like you to come to our home.”
“That’s very kind of you, but I’ve already made reservations for the four of us at Forrest’s. The owner used to be the cook on a ship I commanded, but don’t let that frighten you away. He doesn’t actually do the cooking and therefore has promised me an excellent meal.”
Rhys chuckled appreciatively while absently straightening the shawl on Kenna’s shoulders. “I’ve heard Forrest’s is an excellent establishment. And quite a popular place.”
Tanner nodded, his eyes amused as he watched Rhys’s hands on his wife’s shoulders. “That’s because no one knows he once headed a galley. I’m going to ask you to keep the secret.” He motioned them toward the drawing room. “Come. We’ll have a drink before dinner,” he said. “Alex is waiting. She’ll be wondering what I’ve done with you.” In an aside to Rhys as they were entering the room Tanner said, “In your place I’d want to wrap her in that shawl, too.”
Kenna glanced over her shoulder and saw a touch of red creep over Rhys’s face though at the same time he looked absurdly pleased by the compliment to her appearance. She sighed, wondering if she would ever understand the vagaries of a man’s mind, and loosened the shawl, draping it over her arm as it was meant to be worn.
When Kenna saw Alexis she was once again struck by the woman’s cool beauty though not at all intimidated by it. She realized in that moment how much of her confidence she had regained since being away from Dunnelly. In part it was due to Rhys because of his unflagging belief in her, but Kenna also knew she had a well of strength that existed with or without Rhys Canning. She had proven that when she had pitched Mason Deverell’s vile drugs overboard.
