“Jessamine!”
Hearing her name, Jessie turned to see that the carriage that had only just passed her by had circled and now drew up behind her once more. Kathryn Sinclair nearly toppled from it, and Jessie smiled as she greeted her newly found friend. “I should have thought you’d be home, diligently preparing for this eve.”
Kathryn’s smile was brilliant. “I’m to pick up my gown from Madame Legare,” she announced, snatching off one of hergloves and toying with it nervously, betraying her anxiousness. “And I was... looking,” she confessed.
For Ben.
Jessie’s smile deepened. “I wish I’d known. I might have asked you to join me.” She lifted the small envelope and displayed it to Kathryn’s inquiring eyes.
Kathryn nibbled her lower lip, suppressing her glee. “Do you think he will come? Oh, how I do hope so! My heart positively aches for it!”
Jessie laughed softly, shrugging noncommittally. “You know my cousin,” she cautioned. “One can never tell, but I shall endeavor to convince him.”
“And I know you will succeed!”
Suddenly inspired, Jessie glanced over her shoulder, toward Oyster Point. “Tell me, Kathryn, are you expected home very soon?” She smiled mischievously.
Kathryn’s gaze followed hers to the Point, and she admitted, “I saw him from the carriage! And nay! God’s truth, I was requestednotto return directly, for it seems I’ve frazzled just about everyone’s nerves.” She smiled unrepentantly. “And poor Thom,” she added with a grievous sigh. She waved a hand in the direction of her waiting coach. “I’ve dragged the wretched soul to every last boutique in this city and now I am left with no choice but to return and plague my mother.” She sighed airily. “Unless, of course... someone should take pity upon me, and take me with them to the Point...” She smiled coyly, and Jessie laughed.
“Well, then...” Jessie gave her friend a shrewd smile. “Why not accompany me while I deliver this urgent missive to Ben?”
Kathryn’s eyes lit with merriment. “Truly? You’d not mind if I tagged along?”
“Of course not,” Jessie insisted. “In fact, I’d be quite grateful for the company.”
13
“Both, you say?”
Ben Stone nodded glumly. “Seized.”
“Devil plague that man!”
Christian shook his head in bewilderment. “Whatever possessed Moore to seize them, anyway? Charlestown has never been a smugglers’ haven; why would he suspect?”
The vessels in question had made the usual voyage between Charlestown and Laurens’ property in Georgia, and though it was intended that trade between territories be cleared with customs first, there was no customs house near Laurens’ plantation and so he’d not been able to comply with the requirement. Customarily such cases were overlooked, but Moore had for some reason refused to do so, and Christian was nonplussed as to why.
“Perhaps he simply intends to make an example of him?” Ben suggested.
“Or perhaps it is a warning?” Jean Paul interjected.
“Perhaps,” Christian conceded. “Then again, I suspect St. John may have had a hand in this matter, as well. He and Moorehave been thick as thieves, and St. John and Laurens have little regard for one another.”
“Nor does St. John care for you, Hawk,” added one of Ben’s cronies. “He’s determined to snatch you.”
“Yes,” Ben agreed, chuckling, “though I’d like to see him try.”
“Never underestim—” Christian broke off suddenly, and froze.
Turning to see what had captured his attention, Ben chuckled and said, “My cousin... she seems to have that effect quite regularly, I’d say.”
His cronies all murmured an agreement.
Christian eyed him pointedly and scowled at the rest of the men. “Your cousin?”
Christian knew the instant Ben detected his interest in her, for his brows slanted to a frown. His stance grew as rigid as his own. “Hawk,” he said, his voice low in warning.
Devil hang him!
