I drew a steadying breath, then proceeded to speak with strained patience. “Mr. Roth, I understand that you are disappointed in Henry’s decision, but this is not something we are just playing at. Our love is not a game.”
“Maybe not to you,” he said, “but for his lordship, love has always been a game. Did he ever mention a young lady by the name of Miss Justine Rose? She’s a famous actress who became his mistress right before he disappeared to the Colonies. I should know, we went regularly together to watch her perform and I helped him make the arrangements. A most charming woman by any estimation.”
My temper flared and I had to force myself to take another deep breath. “I don’t believe you. Henry would never take up with an actress.” At least, I didn’t think he would.
James laughed and pointed out toward the city. “That’s London out there, Miss Kilbrid, not your precious Hopewell. If you require proof, ask his lordship. He’s no reason to deny it.”
I had nothing more to say, and remained still, staring straight ahead. Tears threatened, but I blinked them away, not about to show James how much his words had hurt me.
“There is another option, you know,” James said after a moment, his voice growing more subdued. “One that would return everything to its proper order.”
I could only imagine what he was about to suggest. “Pray tell, Mr. Roth, what do you have in mind? That I take the next ship back to Pennsylvania or simply throw myself into the Thames and be done with it?”
“Don’t think me entirely unsympathetic,” he said. “In good faith, I offer you my best advice. Save yourself the king’s ire and consent to become his lordship’s mistress rather than his wife. His Majesty has mistresses himself and would hardly deny one of his nobles the same pleasure.”
I gaped at him, utterly shocked by such a suggestion. “How dare you! Just because I lack a title does not give you the right to insult me.”
The scowl had returned, erasing all traces of his previous smile. “Since we first met, I’ve come to realize that you’re not just a commoner, Miss Kilbrid, you’re also an aberration. It’s no secret the hound that broke into Brighmor didn’t come from this world. Like you, it was also an aberration. I don’t know what you did to get mixed up with such a creature, nor how you were able to kill it with only a kitchen knife, but I do know Lord Fitzalan will have little patience for such matters. For your sake, I suggest we make a deal. Put aside your demands of marriage and I’ll not mention what happened on our last night in Hopewell.”
“I will do no such thing.”
He gave a derisive snort. “So be it. You leave me no choice than to relay every sordid detail of what I saw that night.”
“Go ahead and tell him everything. I’ve nothing to hide from Henry.”
His scowl darkened. “We’ll see about that.” He spun on his heel to go, then stopped and glanced back at me. “You might want to keep watch for the king’s soldiers. They’ll be the men in red coats with swords and muskets. I’m sure they’ve readied your room at the Tower.”
Through a blur of angry tears, I watched him storm away.
Insufferable pig! How dare he suggest such a thing!
I hadn’t just given up my life and sailed all the way to England to become a mistress. Henry loved me and wanted to marry me. He had even promised to forfeit his wealth and title if need be so we could be together. Brighmor was a sufficient property to support our needs, though not so grandly as Henry was accustomed. But that didn’t matter. We had been happy at Brighmor and would be happy there again. James, with his need for self-aggrandizing titles, would never understand that I meant more to Henry than all the Dukedoms put together. To the very center of my heart, I knew this was true.
Loud voices called up from the river. I brushed the moisture from my cheeks and watched while a handful of sailors hoisted Captain Saunders and the accompanying crewmembers onboard. The first mate approached, only to be met by the captain’s thunderous expression. They spoke together in hushed tones then disappeared below.
I waited on deck, anxious for the captain to reemerge with orders to disembark. More than ever, I needed to see Henry. Not that I believed James, but I needed to feel Henry’s arms around me, to hear him confirm that I was the only woman he loved and would marry. Ten minutes stretched into twenty before my patience was fully spent. Unable to wait any longer, I hurried down the stairs to a gloomy passage that led to the Captain’s quarters. Loud voices passed through the thick wood as I reached up and rapped on the door.
“Enter,” the captain bellowed.
I opened the door and stepped into the room. “Excuse me, Captain, I am eager to have my party settled into lodgings while there is still daylight. When will you be ready to ferry us to shore?”
Captain Saunders exchanged a dark look with his first mate. “I’ve not the slightest notion. The customs master has ordered all passengers and goods to remain on board. Most irregular treatment, I assure you.”