Chapter 9
New Orleans Two years later
Adam thumped the letter against his hand as he made his way to his study. His wife was already seated across from his desk in one of the green chintz chairs.
Jewel patiently waited for Adam to take his seat, then asked, “What’s wrong?” She frowned at her husband.
He waved the letter in the air. “This is a letter from Annie,” Adam informed her. He took the letter out of the envelope, taking his seat behind the large oak desk.
“Well, it’s nice that she writes you.”
“You don’t understand.” Adam glanced up from the letter. “Annie never writes me. And that’s why I’m afraid to read what she has written,” he told her. He quickly skimmed the letter, then he began to read it out loud.
Dear Adam,
I fear that I’ve waited too long to send this letter.
It has been almost two years since we’ve returned to Briercliff, and during that time, I’ve seen many changes in your sister.
Elizabeth is a wonderful mother. And Dawson is growing up to be a fine lad. He's the spitting image of his mother, and you would fall in love with him the minute you laid eyes on him.
But my concern is Elizabeth. She refuses to leave Briercliff and go to London, and I fear she'll never marry. The few gentlemen callers she has had, she has sent away after the first day.
The lass is becoming very headstrong, and no man will be able to control her. She has even begun to ride unchaperoned.
Adam, you need to come and find the lass a husband. She won’t listen to me. And Dawson needs a Da.
Elizabeth should be as happy as you and Jewel.
So please hurry.
Annie
Adam folded the letter after reading it out loud to his very pregnant wife. “What do you think?” he asked, placing the letter down on the desk.
“I think Elizabeth is still in love with Jonathan, and doesn’t want any men in her life. I know if I couldn’t have you, I wouldn’t want another,” Jewel told him with a twinkle in her eye.
Adam gazed at his wife affectionately. She was so beautiful that she absolutely glowed, even in her eighth month of pregnancy. She could still stir his desires, which wasn’t doing him much good at the moment. He needed to concentrate on his other problem. “I’m not sure what to do about Elizabeth.”
“You must go to her,” Jewel urged. “It sounds like she needs you.”
“I’ll not leave you and miss the birth of my son,” Adam stated flatly.
“You mean your child,” Jewel gentlly reminded him.
“Precisely.”
Jewel shifted in the chair. “Well, I’m in no condition to travel.”
“Point taken.” Adam nodded. “So that means I must find someone else to go. The question is, who?”
Jewel thought for a moment “It must be someone we can trust. Elizabeth needs guidance. Perhaps someone who lives close. Of course, you know she will not like the idea of someone picking out a husband for her.”
“She’s going to be very difficult.” He smiled. He remembered very well how his sister could be a temperamental child. “It will have to be someone who is strong.”
Just then a loud knock sounded on the study door.
Adam glanced up. “Come in,” he said.
“You have company, sir,” the butler informed him. “Shall I show him in?”
“Who is it?” Adam asked as he stood.
“A gentleman, sir, by the looks of his clothing. But he said I was not to give you a name.”
Adam frowned at the so-called gentleman’s audacity. “Then send him away.”
The door opened wider and the butler was shoved to the side as the gentleman in question barged through. “You would send me away without finding out who the bloody hell came to pay you a visit? My, my, your manners seem to have disappeared, ol’ boy.”
“Jonathan!” Jewel stood and went to him. “Look at you, you’ve changed,” she said and hugged him.
Jonathan stepped back, then arched a brow at Jewel. “Me, changed? Apparently, Adam has been feeding you much too well.”
“Oh, no, it shows?” Jewel teased him.
“Yes, my dear, it does.” Jonathan laughed, the rich sound filling the room.
“She does earn her keep.” Adam gave his wife a loving glance, then moved over to his old friend and grasped his hand to shake it. “Where the bloody hell have you been? I thought you were just going on a short sail with Jean and then coming back.”
“Look!” Jewel pointed. “Your arm. You can move it.”
“By God, she’s correct,” Adam said as he looked down at the hand he’d grasped. The handshake was firm. “I had forgotten about your injury.”
“Lafitte was correct about the sea curing me. And thanks to his crew, I had to quickly learn to use my arm again. They have no time for anyone who cannot do his share of the work.”
Jewel couldn’t quit staring at Jonathan.
He’d changed a great deal. Where he had been boyishly good-looking before, he was dangerously good-looking now.
His shoulders seemed broader and definitely more muscular.
His skin was bronzed, and there was a recklessness about him that hadn’t been there before.
He had aged, and there was a hard glint in his eye much like the one she remembered in Adam’s before she had tamed and softened him.
“Please, be seated.” Adam pointed to a chair. “Tell us what you have been doing.”
Jonathan chuckled before sitting in the chair opposite Jewel. “I’ve learned to be a pirate, of course. You would be proud of the way I’ve mastered the high seas. I’m now ready to enter the shipping business you’ve always nagged me about.”
“So that’s why you’ve returned?” Jewel asked.
“Not really.” Jonathan stretched his legs out in front of him. “Jean and Pierre have decided to move their operations to Galveston. They have gone there now. However, I’ve received word that my father is very ill, so I must return home.”
“I’m so sorry,” Adam said. “Is his condition serious?”
“Sounds like it,” Jonathan admitted. He pressed both hands over his eyes and rubbed before he continued. “He has been bedridden for the last month. Word was slow to find me, so I’m not sure how he is at the moment.”
Jewel realized Jonathan’s usually lively eyes were dulled with weariness. “You’re going home?”
“That’s right. I’m leaving tomorrow.” He broke into a leisurely smile. “But I couldn’t depart without seeing my friends first.”
Jewel glanced at her husband in silent communication.
When she saw a slow smile touch Adam’s lips, she knew they were thinking the same thing.
“If you’ll excuse me,” Jewel said, rising, wanting to give them some privacy to talk.
“I have some things I need to take care of. I’ll see you before you leave,” she said to Jonathan.
After his wife left, Adam went to the liquor cabinet and selected a decanter of dark liquid. “Would you care for some brandy?” Adam offered, but didn’t wait for an answer. He picked up the crystal decanter, removed the cork, and poured two drinks.
“Brandy? It’s been a while since I’ve had fine brandy. What’s up?”
“I beg your pardon.” Adam turned to Jonathan and tried to look innocent. This was going to be a tough subject.
Jonathan stood up and rubbed his chin and warily watched Adam. “I’ve known you for a long time. I believe I can tell when you’re up to something, and you have always saved that bloody brandy for serious discussions.”
Adam couldn’t contain his smile as he handed his friend a leaded crystal glass. “Ah, you know me too well.”
Jonathan nodded. “That’s what I thought.”
Adam waved his hand. “Shall we sit again?”
Adam sat in the chair beside his friend, slowly sipping his brandy and savoring the burning liquid as he decided where to begin. He wondered just how Jonathan was going to handle his request. Could he refuse a friend in need?
Jonathan knew Adam was stalling. He’d seen the keen, probing eyes and inscrutable expression before. “Well? Are you going to tell me?”
“I need your help.”
“You know you can always count on me,” Jonathan quickly said, “What’s the problem?”
“Adam set his glass down. Jewel and I were discussing a very important issue when you came in. As you can see, she is expecting next month.”
“Yes, I could very well see that,” Jonathan admitted as he leaned back in the chair. “Congratulations—I do believe I forgot to say that earlier.”
Adam leaned forward and propped his arms on his knees. “That’s why I need your help.”
Jonathan chuckled. “With Jewel?”
“No,” Adam snapped, “of course not. It’s Elizabeth.”
Jonathan felt like he’d been doused in ice water. “Not bloody likely.” Abruptly, he stood. “I’ve heard enough.”
Adam jumped to his feet and reached for Jonathan’s arm. “You could at least do me the courtesy of listening.”
“I don’t want to hear anything about your heartless sister,” Jonathan replied with as reasonable a voice as he could manage.
“I understand how you must feel.”
Jonathan stiffened. “Do you?”
“Well, maybe I don’t,” Adam admitted. “But listen to me. I received a letter from Annie telling me that Elizabeth has grown wild, and she wants me to come over right away.”
“Wait a minute, Annie?” Jonathan stared at Adam, baffled. “Then Elizabeth is at Briercliff?”
Adam nodded. “That is correct”
“So that’s where she went.” Jonathan’s lips thinned with irritation. “Well, she can rot there as far as I’m concerned.”
Adam was hoping that Jonathan had lost some of his bitterness.
Apparently, that wasn’t the case. But the fact remained that he still needed Jonathan’s help.
Adam would love to tell Jonathan about the child, but he’d promised his sister that he wouldn’t, and Adam was bound by that promise.
“I understand your bitterness, but Elizabeth needs a husband.”
“I hope the bloody hell you don’t think it will be me,” Jonathan said curtly.
“Of course not,” Adam quickly responded. But deep inside he believed if he got Jonathan and Elizabeth together again, they would work out their differences ... or kill each other. “I know you don’t love her,” Adam lied. “However, you do know her very well.”
Jonathan threw his head back and roared with laughter. “I know her too bloody well.”