The Captain's Lady Read online

  The man who said, “What’s it to you, Mike?” found himself plummeting to the water as a result of Frank Springer’s actions.

  Taking their cue from Mike and Frank the other men aboard the Concord came running off the ship to take on anyone who so much as dared to look at them.

  When it was over, almost as abruptly as it had begun, Mike sported a swollen eye and a cut lip. He surveyed his mates and found most of them nursing some wound. The unfortunate sailors who had managed to say the wrong things at absolutely the worst time were in no better shape. Mike could do nothing but laugh at their folly.

  “Hey Frank!” he called between gasps. “What do you suppose the captain would say, seeing us now?”

  Frank shrugged, grinning. “Which captain, Mike?”

  This brought fresh laughter from the Concord crew and nothing but blank looks from the defeated men. Mike helped one of them up. “I’m not going to apologize,” he told them. “But I will buy you a drink.” The rest of the crew followed Mike’s example and in a short while they had relieved their remaining tensions in a few rounds at the nearest tavern. The other sailors thought the Concord men remained strangely quiet about the woman they’d brought to Washington, and no amount of liquor would loosen their tongues. They forgot about the woman eventually and contented themselves with bringing the Concord current on affairs. Mike and the others listened quietly to the news of the first month of war, all of them wondering how Alexis would receive it when she was informed.

  Chapter 11

  Harry slowly wound the wagon through the streets while Alexis took in the sights.

  “It’s not much, Captain,” she said. “Muddy. Cheap boardinghouses. Dull. I expected it to be bright.”

  Cloud chuckled. “It’s a new city. Newer than the country. Those boardinghouses you call cheap are where most of the senators and representatives stay when they are in Washington. A lot of important decisions are made in those houses.”

  “Is that where I am going to meet the President?”

  “No, I doubt that. Mr. Madison has a pleasant home. So do Howe and Davidson. We’ll probably be going to one of their places.”

  “Good. I have no intention of conducting business in squalor any more than I will discuss it during dinner.”

  “You seem so surprised by everything. I thought you had been here before.”

  “I’ve been here twice since I started searching for Travers,” she told him. “But I never left my ship. Too dangerous.” She smiled at Cloud and he returned it warmly when he saw her eyes were full of a pleasant memory. She winked at him. “I thought I might be captured by a certain naval officer.”

  “And so you have been,” he answered.

  “For now.” It was Harry who spoke, taking his eyes off the road for a moment in order to glance back at them. “How long are you really with us this time, Captain Danty?”

  Alexis and Cloud both laughed.

  “Do you see what I am up against?” Cloud asked her. “Harry doesn’t just speak for himself. My men don’t expect you to be at my home when they arrive there this evening. Landis and I expect you to leap out of this wagon at any moment.”

  Alexis did not hear what he said. Her eyes were riveted to a handbill posted on a tavern wall. “Stop this wagon, Harry!” she cried. Without waiting for him to do as she commanded she scrambled to her feet, easily avoiding Cloud’s outstretched hands, and leaped over the side. She fell as she hit the ground, her balance strained. Before Cloud could catch her she was running toward the tavern. Harry started to pursue her but Landis’s hand on his wrist stopped him.

  Landis pointed to the notice Alexis was studying intently and said, “She’s not going anywhere, Harry.”

  Harry read the handbill. His stomach tightened. It stated that war had been declared and the date screamed injustice at him. June 18, 1812.

  Alexis stood motionless, mesmerized by the black lines on yellowing paper. She sensed Cloud’s presence behind her though he made no move to touch her. Her shoulders sagged briefly as she realized the implications of the date. “It didn’t have to be,” she said softly, more to herself than to Cloud.

  Cloud moved closer to her, resting his hands on her shoulders, lean, tanned fingers giving her the support her frame denied her. His eyes betrayed his pain and he was glad there was no one around them to see it. He could see the Follansbee as clearly in his mind as if the frigate were directly in front of him. He knew he was not alone in his vision; Alexis was seeing the same thing. He cursed the lack of communication that prevented him from taking the ship and wondered who or what Alexis was damning.

  Alexis leaned her back against his hard chest. She felt his hands slide down the length of her arms and begin tugging on the ropes at her wrists. She pulled away, swinging around to face him.

  “Don’t you dare feel sorry for me, Captain,” she said tightly. “Don’t you dare make it easy for me and hard on yourself.”

  Her harsh words were barely heard as Cloud saw angry tears form in her eyes. An effort to blink them back proved futile and they slid in tiny rivulets over her cheeks. She tried to brush them aside with her shoulder, but the positioning of her arms made it impossible. She lowered her eyes, mainly to avoid the terrible anguish in his.

  Cloud reached for her elbow and drew her toward him gently. “I wasn’t feeling sorry for you, Alex,” he said, leading her to the wagon. “It was worse than that. I was feeling sorry for myself.”

  Cloud lifted her into the wagon, once more seating himself across from her. She avoided his gaze as she allowed tears to course down her face. The remainder of the trip passed in silence; neither Harry nor Landis looked back more than once, not wanting to see her face.

  Alexis glanced up, dry-eyed now, when Harry brought the wagon to a halt. Cloud tossed a key to Landis. The older man jumped down, hurrying up the walk toward a large red brick house.

  Alexis could only stare at the imposing two-story structure. The windows were all closed with clean white shutters, four on the second floor and two larger ones on either side of the porch on the first. It did not have any houses on its sides as so many of the others did. It stood alone; large, bold, arrogant. Impressive because it was alone, like the man who owned it.

  “It’s a wonderful house,” she said, looking at Cloud and not his home. She followed him up the short walk, with Harry close behind, carrying his captain’s belongings.

  “Hold your compliments until we get inside. It’s been closed for two months and I don’t have any servants. I can’t imagine you are going to find it very pleasant.”

  After a little fumbling with the key Landis managed to open the door. Swirls of dust greeted them as they stepped in. Alexis choked and gave Cloud a grim smile.

  “Wouldn’t it have been easier to keep me on the Concord?” she asked. “Or did you bring me here to do your cleaning?”

  “It might have been easier for us to have you on the ship but you would have had to stay below the entire time. A woman on board would have created quite a disturbance, or perhaps you didn’t notice the stares you received when Harry brought you off the ship.” Alexis’s wide-eyed stare told Cloud that she had not and the three men laughed softly. “As to cleaning this place, that is up to you. Usually I hire someone to take care of that while I’m here. I suppose that is not a good idea this time.”

  “Well, if you would untie my hands now, I think I can manage to do a few things.”

  Cloud motioned Landis to undo Alexis’s wrists, and when they were free she rubbed them to return the circulation. “John, you and Harry can show Alex the house. Tom should be coming by soon with her things. She can stay in any of the guest bedrooms, and take one yourself. If she wants to start cleaning she can, and you help her. Just don’t let her out of your sight. I have to see Howe right away. If I am not back before the others arrive, make them comfortable and let them know that under no circumstances is she permitted out of this house.”

  “Captain,” Alexis said as he turned to go. “I
have changed my mind. I have no intention of going anywhere until I meet with your President. He and I have a score to settle.”

  Cloud grinned. “I’ll make sure the senator relays your message.” He left then, and Harry shut the door behind him.

  Alexis clapped her hands, signaling the beginning of the task that lay ahead. “John, would you show me to the kitchen? I would like to wash my face and start working.”

  Landis led her to the back of the house and she worked the pump until she had cool, clear water gushing out. She briskly patted her face, removing all traces of her tears. When she turned back to Landis she was smiling brightly, invitingly. “I think I will start in here, John. You and Harry uncover the furniture in the other rooms.”

  Landis glanced toward the rear door and looked at Alexis uneasily. “I’m not so—”

  “I said I wasn’t going anywhere, John, and I meant it. Don’t worry.”

  “All right. I’ll leave you on your own. I’ll do the drawing room and send Harry after some food. When the others get here they are all going to be hungry.”

  “That’s fine. You take care of all those details while I start working.” She gently pushed him aside and began wiping down tables and doing the dishes that had been left out.

  She could hear Harry and Landis moving furniture and choking on the dust left in their wake. She was on her hands and knees, scrubbing the floor, when she heard Harry. She looked up to see him place some cartons of food on the floor at the entrance to the kitchen.

  “I didn’t even realize you had gone out yet,” she said, surveying the contents of the boxes. “I believe you have enough here to feed the entire crew for a month!”

  “Not quite,” he answered. “It will keep food in our bellies for a few days though.”

  “I’ll put it in the pantry after the floor dries. How is Mr. Landis coming along?”

  “He’s got most of the rooms on this floor done. I doubt if they will meet your standards.”

  “If he’s working that fast, then I suspect you’re right. Never mind though. You go and help him with the upstairs and I’ll clean after you.”

  Harry started to go; then he paused, looking back at her. She was already back to scrubbing the floor and didn’t notice his hesitation. “Alex, I want to say something to you.”

  Startled by the seriousness of his tone, Alexis looked up immediately. She wiped her wet hands on her trousers and partially sat up. “What is it, Harry?”

  “It’s you, Alex. Here, in this house. I feel strange calling you Alex or Captain. It’s as if I should call you—” He stopped, unable to continue. “I talk too much. I’m going to find Landis.”

  Alexis could only stare after him. She knew what he was going to say. She had felt it too. She tried to dismiss the feeling and what it meant while she put the food away. There was a sense of coming home that she associated with the house, something she had never experienced anywhere before. She was surprised Cloud owned such a large home when he probably had very little opportunity to use it. She wandered through the rooms on the first floor, noticing the expensive furniture, the rich rugs and fine paintings. The study was full of books, many of them ornately bound. She did not have to remember he was a wealthy man because of Garnet Shipping. Every room subtly stated that fact.

  A knock at the door interrupted her from further exploration. She went to answer it. Tom Daniels stood grinning on the threshold, holding her bag of clothes under his arm.

  “Tom, thank you,” she said, taking the bundle from him. “Come in. Did something happen to your jaw? You’re holding it oddly.”

  “No, ma’am. I have a little toothache, that’s all.” Embarrassed by his lie he avoided her gaze. He did not want her to know about the fight.

  “Well, if that’s all it is, then I’m going to put you to work. You can help us with the cleaning.”

  Serves me right, he thought, as he allowed himself to be saddled with a feather duster and began working. “It seems I came too early,” he muttered under his breath.

  Alexis ignored him, laughing to herself, and went upstairs to see what the other two were doing. She dropped her possessions in one of the rooms they had already cleaned and found them in another bedroom, struggling to make up the bed. Looking around the room she realized it was Cloud’s. A shiver passed through her as she glanced around her. Navigation manuals were neatly stacked on a bureau beside a hairbrush and razor. One of the men had thrown his duffle bag carelessly on the floor. Alexis bent to pick it up, setting it on a chair by the window.

  She helped Harry and Landis make the bed. When they were done she told them to rescue Tom downstairs. Both of the men gave her gratified looks and went off to give Tom the good news.

  Alone now, Alexis began unpacking Cloud’s bag of clothes. She neatly folded his things, placing them in drawers, and hung his dress uniform in the wardrobe. She noticed his carelessness with it meant it would have to be pressed if he intended to wear it while he was in Washington. The contentment she felt being in this room, touching things belonging to him, caused her to feel a longing she had tried to put behind her. Knowing he was fighting the same desire did not make it any easier.

  She smoothed the thick spread on his bed, her fingers lingering on his pillow for a few moments longer than she had intended. Caressing the coverlet lightly, she felt as if she were caressing the hard planes of his face, willing them by means of her feather touch to relax and forget the orders which had come between them. She wanted the pleasure she had found in his arms and she wanted to return the pleasure he had known from her.

  She stepped back from the bed and ran from the room, closing the door hard behind her, as if by doing so she could shut out all the room and the man who slept there meant to her. She knew she could not go to him, nor he to her, as long as she was his prisoner. It was different before, she thought, when he had held her captive because he alone wanted her. Now she was being pulled in different directions. While he had no choice in what had transpired, he was still pulling her in a direction she did not want to go. Now it was not only Travers who stood in their way, but also this war.

  She thought how easy it would be to tell him that she would agree to help his cause; how easy it would be to fall into his arms, into his bed, after such a decision. But he would know better, and she was glad he would. She asked herself why she was holding back from him, why she was determined not to allow him more than a brush against her flesh or a gentle kiss. She knew the answer almost before the questions had formed concretely in her mind. If she lay beside him again and experienced all he could do for and to her, she knew she would not have the strength to do battle any longer. She knew she would give up everything in order not to leave Cloud. He must know it also, she thought. She remembered how he had weakened in front of the tavern. He had almost freed her then. If she had not stopped him, he would have put her on a ship for Tortola himself. She knew how hard he was fighting the conflicts within him. As Cloud he wanted her to reap her revenge and be free to be with him in every manner possible, but as the commander of the Concord he had to see his mission through. And yet, he had a power at his disposal to see that she joined him, the power of him being who he was, and he refused to use it in order to achieve his ends.

  She smiled, recalling she had accused him of believing the ends justified the means, but here was her proof he would never willingly agree to such a thing. The realization carried with it something that frightened her for a moment. She had lied to him on the Concord. He had bared his soul to her and she’d responded with a lie. She did love him, desperately, totally, irrevocably. Even as she thought it, she knew she would not tell him. His burden was already too great without the additional weight her words would carry.

  She put her own things away, lingering over the worn linen shirt he had refused to let her throw away. Though she owned the shirt, she knew there was nothing more symbolic of Cloud’s ownership of her. When she slipped it on tonight she would be more of a prisoner than when he had had her
tied. She pressed the material close to her cheek. When she pulled it away she saw, with a small shock that caused her body to tremble, that it was wet, and that she had been crying.

  She erased the tears with the back of her hand and put the shirt away. Quickly, as if activity formed a substitute for her thoughts, she undressed, putting on the only dress Tom had had the foresight to pack. It was the same one she had worn the day Cloud had taken her from her ship, the day war was declared, the day she had seen revenge slip through her fingers. After smoothing out the wrinkles she brushed her hair and decided against redoing the braid. When she looked in the mirror and saw the hair fall around her shoulders, she thought of Pauley and the promise she had made to him. Quietly she reaffirmed one of the promises she had made to herself, knowing the other had been broken when she’d met Tanner Frederick Cloud.

  After a two-hour wait that left Cloud impatient and irritable, he was ushered into Howe’s office by his secretary.

  The senator rose from his chair and walked around his desk to shake hands with him. He stared pointedly at Cloud for several moments, gray eyes coldly assessing the man in front of him. When he spoke it was as if the pause had not taken place. “Sorry to have kept you waiting, Captain. I was only informed of your presence a short time ago. I concluded my business as rapidly as I could.”

  Cloud smiled grimly and seated himself in a chair at the corner of Howe’s ostentatiously carved desk. He refused the drink he was offered and remained quiet while Howe fixed one for himself. He was fully aware of the senator’s guarded appraisal. Rather than making him uneasy, it made him want to laugh.

  “I hope your being here indicates you have Captain Danty in your custody,” Howe said, taking his seat.

  “I do.” Cloud noticed Howe’s thick lips curl slightly.

  “Good. I knew we sent the right man. This is the first piece of encouraging news I have had all morning. Where do you have her?”