“Ah, I see.”
“No, you don’t, but then nobody understands my husband’s propensity to give the females he’s fondest of unusual nicknames.”
“Not unusual, George,” James said from the open doorway. “Just names that no one else would consider. Now come along and let the girl get settled. She’ll want to rest before you drag her off to Regan’s tonight.”
“Regan?”
“Another one of those names, this one for his favorite niece, Regina,” Georgina explained, then added with a frown, “Do you need to rest?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Good, then expect the seamstress within the hour. I’ll send for her now.”
Chapter 11
GABRIELLE WENT DOWNSTAIRS AT THE APPROPRIATE HOUR.Her powder-blue tulle dress, which nearly matched her eyes, was too thin for an English evening. Unfortunately, the only coat she had was her sturdy wool traveling one, which wasn’t at all appropriate to wear to a party.
Her new clothes would start arriving tomorrow, though, the seamstress had assured her, and would continue to be delivered over the next week, so she wasn’t going to worry about being a little chilly this one evening. And her hair was done up nicely. She was rather good at arranging artful coiffures for herself, which was fortunate, since Margery wasn’t really a maid. She was merely acting in that capacity for the time being.
It appeared she was the first to arrive downstairs, so she moved into the parlor to wait for the Malorys to join her. She thought she was alone until she saw two small heads poke up over the back of the sofa. One was golden haired; the other was golden, too, but streaked with bright copper. She could say quite honestly that she’d never seen more beautiful children.
“I’m Jack,” the golden-haired girl said to her. “This is my cousin Judy. You must be the pirate’s daughter.”
Gabrielle didn’t know whether to be embarrassed or amused at the child’s candor. Good grief, did everyone in the household know about her father’s occupation?
“I suppose that would be me, yes,” she said.
“Are you a pirate, too?” the other girl asked.
She managed not to laugh. “No, but I’ve dabbled in treasure hunting.”
“Oh, that sounds like fun!” both girls said nearly at once.
Gabrielle grinned. “It is indeed.”
“And I’m sure she’ll tell you all about it, but not tonight,” James Malory said from the doorway. “Run along, younguns, your dinner awaits.”
The girls filed out of the room with only a few mumbles of protest. Gabrielle had been relaxed before Malory arrived, but now she tensed up, which made her wonder if she would ever be at ease in his presence.
“George will be down shortly,” James informed her nonchalantly. “She’s browbeating her brothers into joining you this evening.”
“You” instead of “us” meanthewasn’t going. Her relief was instant. “Then you aren’t going?”
“Good God, no. I adore my niece and wouldn’t miss one of her family dinners, but that’s not what this party is. Doesn’t bother me a bit to fess up that I abhor social gatherings of this sort, so I will be doing my utmost to avoid all the events my wife has on the agenda for you.”
“Which means I’ll get stuck as…your…” A deep, masculine voice trailed off. The man who lost his tongue stood next to Malory, staring at her incredulously. Her own expression probably mirrored his. Good grief, him? The blond giant from the wharf whom she’d been so rude to? Recalling her behavior that day brought a rush of color to her cheeks. Blast it, she’d known she would be mortified if she ever ran into him again, and here he was, in the house she was going to be living in for the next several weeks. She was most definitely mortified.
“I take it you two have met?” James said dryly, glancing from one to the other. “Or dare I guess I’m witnessing love at first sight?”
Drew recalled himself first and snorted. “Love? Not a chance. I merely rescued her from a nasty fall on the docks yesterday when she was clumsy enough to nearly tumble at my feet.”
Fortunately, he managed to remove all signs of embarrassment from Gabrielle’s cheeks with that remark. Or perhaps her swiftly rising ire did that.
“Clumsy?” she shot back. “It wasn’t my fault that a cart nearly bowled me over. But you were a brute about your so-called rescue.”
“Brute?” James said with interest. “Now that doesn’t surprise me. Heisan American, after all.”
“Don’t start in on me, Malory,” Drew almost growled. “Now isn’t a good time.”
