Bobbi Smith - Captive Pride

“I think I’ll pass on the game,” Matt wisely declined, and he smiled at their disappointment.

“Then I’ll have to find some other pockets to pilfer,” the captain jested, and took his leave of the brothers.

After a pause, Noah turned to Matthew. “Was there something you wanted to see me about?” he prompted.

Though he and Matt had worked closely together on board the Lorelei the day before, they’d had little to say to each other. Noah had known that it was unusual for him to be so quiet, but he had assumed that Matt was just having trouble accepting that he had laid the law down about their returning to England. Now, since Matt had made the first move in initiating conversation between them again, he felt it was time to work at drawing him out.

“By the way, where’ve you been? We were looking for you earlier,” Noah asked.

“That’s all a part of what I wanted to speak with you about,” he replied, moving to stand by Noah’s window. Parting the drapes and glancing out across the darkened city in the direction of Faith’s house, he hesitated in what he was about to say.

“Yes, what is it?” Noah sensed that what Matt had to tell him was of some import and turned his full attention to him.

“I’ve made my decision, Noah.” Firm in his resolve, Matt turned away from the window to face his brother.

“Decision?” He was instantly tense as he recognized more than a little of the legendary Kincade determination reflected in Matt’s unyielding expression.

Unconsciously, Matt squared his shoulders as he prepared for what he knew was about to come. “Yes, about returning to England…I’m not going, Noah. My future is here, in Boston, and this is where I want to stay.”

“What?” Noah exploded. He had thought the matter settled, and now…“How can you even conceive of such an idiotic idea?” he demanded in his most imperious tone.

No longer an impressionable youth to be cowed by such a display from his big brother, Matt gave no ground. “I can conceive of such an ‘idiotic’ idea because the woman I love is here.”

“The woman you love?” Noah was incredulous.

“Yes. I love Faith Hammond and I intend to marry her; if she’ll have me, that is.”

“You what?”

“You heard me, Noah. I don’t think it’s necessary to repeat myself. As to where I’ve been today, I’ve been at the Hammond home dining with Faith and her mother, Ruth.”

“How can you even think of marrying Faith Hammond? She’s the chit you rescued off the streets…”

“I resent your implication.” Matt stiffened.

“Have you proposed to her yet?” he challenged quickly.

“No, not yet, but-”

“No ‘buts’ about it. You can just forget any plans you had for marriage, young man. You won’t be marrying any wench from the colonies. I’ll see to that!” He was almost bellowing as he came to his feet, nearly upsetting the card table he was sitting at.

“Like hell you will!” Matt countered, not about to allow Noah to bully him.

“What did you say?” Noah’s eyes narrowed in anger and his fury was barely leashed as he regarded him.

With cold precision, he answered, “I am going to marry Faith Hammond, and there is nothing you or anyone else can do to stop me. I had hoped you would understand, but…”

Noah felt the breach between them widening, and he suddenly feared losing his brother altogether. Matt was the only person he had left in the world. They were family. He’d had their future planned… They were going to work together to reclaim the family fortunes…and now…

“Matt, what about our plans? What about Kincade Hall? Don’t you want to go back home and set things to rights?” He changed his tactics, knowing that to argue further would only serve to make him more stubborn and resentful.

“I know that it’s important to you, Noah, and I respect your desire to do it, but I’ve found that there are other things more essential to my happiness than money or possessions.”

“You won’t be able to live long without them, little boy,” he snapped, but Matt was unfazed.

“I’ve told you before how I felt about the colonies… Everything is so fresh and new here. We still own two ships. We could make a decent living from the Lorelei and the Pride. Let’s rebuild our heritage, but let’s do it here in the Americas. The opportunities for growth and development are endless.”

Noah scowled, not wanting to listen to anything he was saying. “We will rebuild our heritage where it belongs! At Kincade Hall.”

“If you choose to do so, that’s your decision and not mine. I’ve made my choice-it’s Boston,” he answered grimly as he strode to the door.

“You know I control the purse strings until you’re twenty-one,” It was Noah’s last hope for controlling his unruly, defiant sibling, and one he had not wanted to use.

Drawing himself up to his full height, Matt replied with dignity, “Blackmail will not work. If the money means so much to you, then keep it. I want no part of it.”

“The wench means that much to you?”

“Faith is her name, and yes, she does mean that much to me. Now, if you will excuse me? I believe I’ll retire for the night.” Abruptly he quit the room, his happy mood dampened by his brother’s response.

Alone, Noah stood in silent confusion, trying to understand the changes in Matthew and trying to make some sense out of all that had happened. He had thought that he’d had their future planned out. They were going to work together to rebuild all that had been lost, to reclaim their lands and reestablish their name as one to be respected among the peerage. Now it seemed that Matt wanted no part of it. He had even refused his rightful share of what money they did have, if it meant giving up his own plan to remain in the colonies and marry the young woman he loved.

Love. The word hammered through Noah and brought a cynical twist to his lips. It was an emotion that had eluded him through the years, and one he seriously doubted truly existed. There was lust and greed, and that was it. Probably, he thought cynically, since the Hammond girl knew of Matt’s title, she thought she was latching on to a rich aristocrat. He gave a sharp, sarcastic laugh that echoed painfully in the silent room. A year ago that would have been true, but no longer.

Frustrated, Noah moved to the bed to lie down. Folding his arms beneath his head, he stared up at the ceiling with unseeing eyes. Unbidden memories of the ugliness of Radcliffe’s insult and the resulting duel came screeching through his thoughts, disturbing him deeply. In a rare moment of weariness, he considered how easy it would be to turn his back on the past and never go back. As quickly as it entered his mind, he pushed the thought from him, disturbed that he could even think of such a thing. He had to go back to England… He had to restore the Kincade family’s place and honor in society.

Yet even as Noah reaffirmed to himself what he had to do, he couldn’t help but wonder as to the purpose of it all if Matthew wasn’t going to be there to share it with him. Feeling betrayed and very alone, he lay awake long into the night.

“I’m so pleased you agreed to come to dinner,” Eve cooed as she sat opposite Noah at her dining room table.

“I was delighted with your invitation, Eve,” he replied, and at that moment he meant it.

Noah had passed the last few days trying to decide how to deal with Matthew. He had approached his brother several times in an effort to discuss his plans with him further. However, Matt had been adamant about his decision, even though he had not yet proposed to Faith or been accepted. Despite his threat to the contrary, Noah had no intention of forbidding Matt his funds and so, finally, had let the matter drop. It pained him greatly that they had come to this, and yet he knew of no other way to reconcile their differences. Matt was as firmly determined to stay in the colonies as Noah was to return to England.