Bobbi Smith - Captive Pride

When Bartley had gone, Geoffrey smiled thinly. Soon, very soon, he would find something about Kincade that was damaging, and when he did, he was going to use it to destroy the man. He thought of Eve and Kincade, and his fury increased. There was no way he would allow the other man to take what was his. No way.

As Faith and Ruth looked on, Ben Hardwick, their faithful longtime friend, agitatedly paced the length of the parlor. At well over six foot, Ben was a bear of a man. Though many found his size intimidating, the Hammond women did not. If anything, they found his presence comforting, for, since Robert Hammond’s death, he had been their one stable connection with a far more pleasant past.

A sworn bachelor because the woman he loved had married another, Ben had been Robert’s friend from childhood, and he had even been with him the night of his murder at the hands of the British soldiers. Before that night, Ben had been less than fully committed to the colonial cause. After that devastating, deadly encounter, he’d become an active member in the Sons of Liberty and a very outspoken supporter of Sam Adams’s call for independence from England. His hatred of the English ran deep, and he trusted very few of them.

A middle-aged tradesman of limited means, Ben helped Ruth and Faith when he could and often took advantage of their standing invitation to join them for Sunday dinner. Unbeknownst to anyone, Ben cherished the time he spent with them. He enjoyed those sparse, yet tasty meals in their company more than he would have the finest of gourmet fare with anyone else.

“I can’t believe you invited an English lord to dinner.” He stopped his pacing to look at Faith, his shaggy dark brows arching in disbelief.

“I owe Matthew my life, Ben,” Faith said with quiet assurance.

“I’m not arguing that,” he replied, looking to Ruth. “I just don’t know how you can accept him into your home.”

Faith gave her mother no time to enter into the conversation. “Matthew’s been perfectly wonderful to me…to us. When he came to see me yesterday and discovered that I had reported the assault, but that no action had been taken, he was outraged. He admitted that he hadn’t understood the reasons for all the unrest when he’d first arrived in Boston, but that he did now and he was on the colonial side. I find your questioning him very insulting.”

Ben was caught by surprise by her spirited defense of the nobleman. He knew for a fact that she harbored no great love of the English, and he found himself growing more and more intrigued by this Lord Matthew Kincade. The man had certainly managed to make a favorable impression on Faith. That being the case, it stood to reason that he certainly had to be someone special.

“You expect me to believe that your Lord Kincade is interested in the colonial cause-a cause that goes against everything he, as a nobleman, stands for?” The expression on Ben’s broad face was skeptical.

“Yes.” Faith’s answer was firm as she looked from Ben to her mother, Ruth. “Matthew is a very exceptional man.”

Ben scowled at her words, for he thought Faith too much the innocent and far too trusting a woman to be a good judge of this man’s true character. True, Kincade had saved her from the soldiers. While the action had been a brave and heroic one, it did not necessarily recommend him for sainthood or win him automatic acceptance in his confidence. When all was said and done, Matthew Kincade was still an Englishman, born and bred. Faith had probably just been overly impressed by his title and timely kindness.

“But how can you be so sure that he isn’t working for the Crown?” he challenged.

His suspicion angered her. “That’s ridiculous! Matthew helped me when I needed help the most. How dare you accuse him of such dastardly behavior?”

“Darling, now don’t get so upset. You know Ben is only trying to look out for our best interests.” Ruth spoke softly to her daughter.

“That may be true, but his charge is totally unfounded. There was no way that attack could have been premeditated. No one knew I would be going out at that time of night.” She turned to Ben.

“That’s true enough,” her mother agreed.

“And apart from our friendship with Ben, there is absolutely no reason why anyone would think that Mother and I have any continuing connections with the rebels.”

“Except for your father…” Ben added gravely.

“That was years ago and-” Faith was interrupted by a knock at the door, and she got up quickly and hurried to answer it. “This must be Matthew now. Once you meet him, you’ll both understand why I feel as strongly as I do about him.”

Matt stood just outside the front door of the Hammond house, anxiously waiting for Faith to answer. Though he had been constantly busy working with Noah and Lyle aboard the Lorelei since leaving her the day before, the time had passed slowly for him. Faith had been in his thoughts continually and, he found himself slightly bewildered by the strength of his emotions for her. Her kiss had been heavenly and he had not wanted to leave her. Matt knew that the frustration and anger he was feeling over his inability to right the wrongs that had been committed against Faith were justified, yet he also knew he could do no less than to heed her plea and let it pass. The necessity of accepting this mockery of justice did not sit well with him, but he vowed in his unspoken fury to see that she would never come to any harm again. That was one promise he fully intended to keep.

As the door opened, he looked up eagerly. “Faith…”

Faith felt her cheeks pinken as she met his avid regard. How handsome he was! She thought him even more so today, if that was possible. “Matthew, I’m so glad you’re here. Please, come in.”

Matt wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms and kiss her, but he knew it was not the time or the place, for her mother was undoubtedly just inside. Instead he allowed his hungry gaze to feast upon Faith’s delicate beauty, taking in her slim yet womanly curves beneath the worn, but attractive, deep green day gown. No woman clad in the richest of silks and satins and bedecked in the most exquisite of expensive jewels had ever looked more lovely to him. She was the woman of his dreams, the woman he wanted above all others. He stepped indoors and was forced to turn his full attention to the lovely older woman and the tall, burly man standing in the door to the parlor.

“Hello.” He smiled as he moved to meet them.

“Lord Matthew Kincade, this is my mother, Ruth, and Ben Hardwick, an old family friend. Mother, Ben, this is Matthew.” Faith made the introductions quickly after closing the front door behind Matt.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lord Kincade,” Ruth began, but Matt quickly interrupted her.

“Please, Mrs. Hammond, I’d appreciate it if you’d call me Matthew.” He bent over her hand in a courtly fashion as he flashed her his most engaging smile.

“Matthew…” Ruth was won over in that moment, and she returned his smile. No wonder her daughter had thought Matthew Kincade so wonderful; he was. His dress was exemplary, his style quiet, yet manly. It would be a hard-hearted woman who could resist his charming ways.

“Mr. Hardwick.” Matt turned to shake Ben’s hand, meeting his penetrating gaze squarely, with no reluctance. “I’d be pleased if you’d call me Matthew, too.”

“And I’m Ben,” Ben replied, feeling that possibly Faith just might have been right in her estimation of this man. He certainly was unlike any nobleman he’d ever encountered.

Matt glanced from Faith to her mother and knew that there could be no doubt as to her parentage. Both women were petite and delicately beautiful, with the same striking raven hair. Ruth had drawn hers back into a sedate bun, but not Faith. She had only pinned up the sides of hers, drawing the thick, lustrous tresses away from her face and allowing the shining waves to fall about her shoulders in a gleaming cascade. Matt knew a sudden urge to run his hands through its silken glory, and he was forced to stifle the impulse with an effort.