4. Isla #5
When she glanced at her friend, Celie pointedly peered at the well-worn antique signet ring on Lord Jontoreaux’s left hand—the thumb of which was conveniently tucked into his belt while the index finger resting across the leather bore the ring with the unmistakable engraving of a nobleman’s family crest. With her cheeks pinking, Isla bit her lip and stared at her clasped hands.
“Forgive me, Lord Jontoreaux. I had no idea.”
“There’s nothing to forgive on my part. My first mate, however, has a bit of a quick temper when it comes to upholding my family honor.”
Isla looked up into a pair of fiery dark eyes and belatedly wondered if perhaps baiting a bloodthirsty heathen wasn’t the best of ideas.
There was nothing else for it but to offer a second apology.
“I apologize to you as well…” She paused momentarily, not exactly sure how to address a pirate captain’s first mate, and finally went with, “Master Angeletti. Having a pirate ship sail into our bay has put me off balance.”
Jonto grinned down at the prickly woman. “Pirates no more, My Lady.” Then he corrected himself. “Well, not as long as we’re sailing under King Jaydon’s flag, anyway. When we grow tired of life on land and set sail for unknown ports, perhaps we’ll be raising a different flag.”
His lifted shoulder conveyed an indifference to the subject Isla found perplexing.
Surely, having been granted a pardon and immunity from prosecution, he would have no desire to return to the marauding life of a ne’er-do-well.
Carrying that train of thought to its logical conclusion, Isla asked, “May one assume, then, that you’ll be gone for long stretches of time? ”
“Only time will tell. My life has always been led by certain whims and fancies of fate. Quite honestly, I never give too much thought to the future.” Lord Jontoreaux had the temerity to wink at her.
“Or to the vagaries of the present, for that matter. With that in mind, I wanted to respond to you and your uncle’s kind invitation.
” He placed a familiar hand on the bigger man’s shoulder.
“While Nico, here, wasn’t specifically named, he’s my nearly constant companion, and as such, I hope he’ll be welcomed as well.
He serves as my confidant, bodyguard, and all-around dogsbody.
” He smiled affectionately at his friend. “Don’t you, my good man?”
Nico sighed dramatically. “More like his lordship’s babysitter more often than not.”
At Celie’s quiet laughter, Jonto raised his brows. “Now look what you’ve done, Nico. You’ve tarnished my reputation as a respectable gentleman and aristocrat.”
Celie had taken an instant liking to this young lord and wished more than ever Isla’s mother could be here to meet him.
Pirate or not, he had a pleasant disposition and an easy way about him that made her think that perhaps it wasn’t such a bad thing that the King had stolen the land Isla had wanted and given it to this affable rogue.
Thinking this would be an excellent time to put in a good word for James, Celie decided to broach the subject of the services they could offer. “Along those lines, My Lord, I work for Lady Brighton’s uncle, Lord James Riordan.”
“Ah, yes. The gentleman who extended such a cordial invitation to his and Lady Brighton’s fête.”
“That’s right. In addition to being a well-established and respected judge, he also practices civil law. We have our offices on Commerce Way. Given the circumstances of your arrival, I imagine you might need our services, which we’d be honored to provide.”
Isla watched the exchange, and when the Admiral raised his brows at Celie’s suggestion, she vaguely wondered whether he’d been worried that his new community wouldn’t accept someone with his dubious past into their society.
He’d probably been worried about whether bankers, respectable bankers, she privately amended, wouldn’t open their doors to him and whether men of the financial and legal community would want his trade.
Was that relief she saw when he dipped his chin and smiled?
“In that case, I’d be honored to avail myself of his services, My Lady.”
“I’m not a member of the nobility, My Lord. Miss Smythson will do, and if it’s not too forward, perhaps, well, once we get to know one another better, of course, I’d be honored to have you call me Celie as my friends are wont to do.”
That was too much for Isla, who hissed, “Celie.”
Ignoring her sputter of indignation, Jonto nodded agreeably.
“Then Miss Smythson, I wonder if tomorrow morning would be too soon to drop in on you and your employer? I’d like to get a head start on some legal matters and perhaps Lord Riordan,” she hesitated, “or would the correct term of address be Judge Riordan?”
“Either is appropriate, My Lord. I would say when interacting with him as your attorney, then perhaps Judge Riordan would be best, but at other times, Lord Riordan is preferable.” She flicked a glance at Isla.
“But then again, it’s probably more appropriate for Lady Brighton to advise you on the matter. ”
Isla glared at Celie, knowing perfectly well what she was doing and why.
She’d have to have a stern word with her friend about not trying to encourage friendship or even polite conversation between her and this pirate lord.
She intended to keep her distance, and there was nothing more to consider concerning the man.