Bobbi Smith - Captive Pride

“Did you see that?” Caroline was in a dither as she touched CC’s arm in barely concealed urgency.

“Didn’t everyone?” CC replied a bit sarcastically as she noted all those present watching Geoffrey with open interest.

“What were they discussing that could have caused such trouble?”

“I can’t imagine,” she responded honestly, and then both women tried to keep from gaping as Geoffrey stormed off then, leaving Eve alone with the other men.

“You don’t suppose they were quarreling over her, do you?” Caroline was obviously distressed at the thought. She thought Eve obnoxious enough without having the two aristocrats fighting over her.

CC’s heart ached at the possibility, and she answered in a low voice, “Lord, I hope not.”

“Me, too! Go find out from your father,” Caroline urged as she glanced back to where Margaret and Marianna were still sitting. “We’re just dying to know the truth of it.”

“Yes…all right…” CC had not wanted to think that Noah might have been arguing with Geoffrey over Eve, but now that the question had been raised, she had to know the truth. Leaving Caroline at the refreshment table, she hurried to her father’s side just as Eve moved off to mix with the other guests. “Father…what happened?”

Edward took his daughter’s arm and guided her slightly away from the others. “I’m not sure.” He was truly puzzled by Radcliffe’s personal attack on Noah. “We were discussing the rebel movement, and then suddenly things got out of hand…”

“What do you mean? Why would they argue about the revolutionaries? They’re both loyal Englishmen…”

“That’s what’s confusing. Radcliffe was incensed over the dumping of the tea, and he was calling for retribution against the entire city. Lord Kincade remarked, in so many words, that it would be a stupid thing to do. Radcliffe took exception to his statement, and one thing led to another…”

“They weren’t arguing over Eve then?”

Edward chuckled, “Eve was trying her best to prevent the argument, but Radcliffe would have none of it. In fact, her defense of Kincade only made him angrier.”

CC sensed, in irritation, that Eve was the primary cause of the whole thing, even while nothing had been openly said. “Are they going to duel?” CC’s eyes reflected her worry as she stared up at her father.

“Amazingly enough, no,” her father informed her.

“He refused the challenge?” She was truly shocked, for such behavior was unheard of.

Edward nodded. “Lord Kincade walked away, even though Radcliffe had accused him of being involved with the rebels.”

“Radcliffe accused him of that?” CC was stunned. Had Geoffrey been jealous of Eve and Noah and subsequently had Noah followed? “Is there any truth to it?” she asked with forced innocence.

Again Edward gave a confident, manly laugh. “No, my dear. I vouched for Lord Kincade myself. I imagine the closest he’s come to being involved with the rebels was the discussion we had that first night he joined us for dinner.”

CC felt her stomach lurch at that news. If the truth about Noah’s double-dealing was ever found out, it was possible her father would be ruined. She forced a pleasant smile, even as her thoughts were troubled.

“Well, at least they’re not coming to any violence.”

“Radcliffe, I’m sure, wanted to fight him, but Lord Kincade would have none of it.” Edward frowned. “It does seem rather odd, though, that a nobleman would ‘turn the other cheek,’ so to speak. Still, Kincade doesn’t seem the cowardly type.”

CC quickly found herself defending Noah. “I’m sure he’s not.”

“Well, whatever else, they’ve certainly given us something to talk about for the rest of the evening.”

Harley looked at Percival, his expression troubled. “I’ve never seen anything like it…”

“Neither have I,” the other military man agreed. “If a man’s challenged publicly, it seems he should take up the fight.”

They both fell silent for a moment as they took deep drinks of the whiskey they’d just procured from a passing servant.

“You don’t suppose there’s any truth to Radcliffe’s accusations, do you?”

Harley shook his head in mild confusion. “Heavens, no! He’s a peer of the realm, and with Edward’s testimony to Lord Kincade’s business dealings…well, I most certainly would think not. What bothers me is Lord Radcliffe’s charges. Why in the world would he accuse him of such treasonous misdeeds?”

“Perhaps there’s more to this than we’ll ever know.” Percival let his gaze drift pointedly in the direction of the beauteous widow as he remembered Eve’s defense of Kincade, and Radcliffe’s reaction to it. “If you get my meaning.”

Harley gave a low laugh. “Indeed, you may very well be right.”

CC lay upon her bed much later that night, frustrated and unable to sleep. Her plan to approach Noah at the ball had been foiled when he had departed early, and she was now desperately trying to decide what to do next. Time was of the essence where the arms deal was concerned. She knew the only way she could still accomplish her goal to help the cause was to go to Noah at the inn. A firm resolve took hold of her, even though she readily admitted to herself that she was frightened to face him so boldly. Girding herself, she threw off the blankets and hurried to her armoire to search for her boyish garments. Only a short time later, she was racing, unnoticed, through the night-shrouded streets of Boston on her way to the Red Lion Inn.

Noah sat alone at a secluded table in the taproom of the inn. His thoughts were troubled as he wondered what repercussions might result from his unsavory confrontation with Geoffrey this evening. Noah was glad now that Graves had insisted upon the extra precautions regarding their dealings. He felt reasonably sure that his business connections were still unknown. Certainly, if Geoffrey had had proof positive of his involvement, he would have used it tonight in the presence of the military officers. As it was, Geoffrey had ended up looking the fool for flinging “unfounded accusations” at Noah in an effort to goad him into a fight. Noah smiled grimly at the thought of having bested the other man with words, and he dismissed as unimportant any aspersions cast upon his character for refusing the challenge. His reasons for refusing were his, and his alone, and he truly didn’t care what anyone thought about it.

The only good thing that had come out of the evening was the fact that he now knew who was responsible for his being followed. He had no doubt that it had been Geoffrey. The why of it was less than clear, yet he tended to believe it was all somehow related to Eve. Certainly Geoffrey had responded viciously when she’d tried to divert their clash, and he sensed that perhaps his slight flirtation with her had been the cause. Eve looked to be warm and willing, but he seriously doubted that she was worth dueling over.

Sighing, Noah drained his tumbler of whiskey and glanced up around the room. A good-size crowd still lingered despite the lateness of the hour, and though he was surrounded by people, he knew a moment of intense loneliness. He didn’t like being so isolated…so alone.

Polly gave a throaty laugh as one of the other customers pulled her onto his lap, and Noah suddenly thought of CC. A scowl creased his brow. Damn, but the vixen haunted him! The memory of how lovely she’d looked at the ball flitted through his mind, and he wondered where she was right now. Was she with another man, making love, or home with her father, all safe and sound? He hoped for the latter, and then cursed himself for even caring. Calling out abruptly to Polly, he ordered another drink. His attention focused on the buxom barmaid. He did not notice as a youth entered the dimly lit taproom and crept undetected up the staircase to the second floor.