Regina Scott - The Captain's Courtship

A turbulent reunion

The dashing Captain Richard Everard has faced untold dangers at sea. Steering his young cousin through a London season, however, is a truly formidable prospect. The girl needs a sponsor, like lovely widow Lady Claire Winthrop—the woman who coldly jilted Richard years ago.

Claire believed herself sensible in marrying a well-to-do viscount rather than a penniless second son. How deeply she regretted it! Now their fortunes are reversed, and Richard’s plan will help settle her debts and secure his inheritance. Yet it may yield something even more precious: a chance to be courted by the captain once more.

“What an untidy household you keep, sir, that everyone disappears on you.”

“You can see why I need you.”

Richard needed her? Oh, how Claire wanted to be truly needed, a helpmate instead of an ornament to be trotted out to impress but forgotten otherwise. Yet, would it be any different with him? Wasn’t she, even now, just a means to an end for him?

“So you think it’s safe here?” she asked.

“No harm will come to Samantha,” Richard said softly. “Or you. I promise.”

Richard was standing so close, Claire found herself longing to lean against him, let his arms come around her, sheltering her. Instead, she took a step back.

“I shall hold you to that promise, Captain Everard. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I should check on your cousin before retiring.”

Claire turned for the stairs.

“Good night, Claire,” he called. “Pleasant dreams.”

Dreams? Once he’d embodied her dreams of the future. Now she didn’t know what to think. For, no matter his promise, she was very much afraid she was in danger at Dallsten Manor—in danger of losing her heart.

REGINA SCOTT

started writing novels in the third grade. Thankfully for literature as we know it, she didn’t actually sell her first novel until she had learned a bit more about writing. Since her first book was published in 1998, her stories have traveled the globe, with translations in many languages including Dutch, German, Italian and Portuguese.

She and her husband of more than twenty years reside in southeast Washington State. Regina Scott is a decent fencer, owns a historical costume collection that takes up over a third of her large closet and she is an active member of the Church of the Nazarene. Her friends and church family know that if you want something organized, you call Regina. You can find her online, blogging at www.nineteenteen.blogspot.com. Learn more about her at www.reginascott.com.

The Captain’s Courtship

Regina Scott

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Do not judge, and you will not be judged.

Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.

—Luke 37–38

To all the captains I know:

Scott Doyle, captain of the Cape; Larry,

captain of my heart; and the Lord, captain of my life

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Dear Reader

Questions for Discussion

Excerpt

Chapter One

London, England, Spring 1805

A man was standing in her mirror. Lady Claire Winthrop didn’t turn to see if he was real. He couldn’t be real. Even with that neat auburn beard and mustache, the face of her dreams was unmistakable. Richard Everard had sailed out of her life ten years ago. He wasn’t likely to return now, just because she’d never needed him more.

She regarded the massive gilt-framed mirror hanging on the wall of the sitting room in the town house that would be hers for a few days more. The reflection gave back a picture of the perfect society widow—every honey-colored curl sleeked back into a bun behind her head, face suitably wane and pale against the black of her silk gown. Nothing about her appearance had changed since the day her husband had died nearly a year ago. All the changes were inside of her.

She turned to regard the portly tradesman standing beside her. “I’m afraid, Mr. Devizes, that ten pounds simply won’t do. Surely you can see that a mirror of this size is worth so much more.”

Mr. Devizes sucked in his chubby cheeks and peered at the glass. Like everything else in Claire’s life, it was elegant and ornate and tarnished around the edges. “M’customers aren’t so much impressed by size as pedigree,” he mused in a rusty voice. “Were it owned by someone famous, then?”

She had no idea. The mirror was one of the last pieces left that had belonged to her late husband. Nearly everything else had been returned to his family seat and the possession of his heir, or sold to pay off debts. The remaining pieces were sadly inferior, which was why she’d had to go to less reputable dealers to find a buyer.

Claire waved a hand. “Well, certainly it was owned by the affluent and powerful. Very likely, kings have regarded themselves in this glass.”

“Or at least those who fancied themselves royalty,” said a warm bass voice.

Words froze on her tongue. Mr. Devizes turned to glance behind them, then took a step back, closer to the mirror. “I thought you said this was to be a private sale. I didn’t come prepared to bid.”

Lord, please help me! Is he truly here? Every muscle in her body protested as she turned to find out. Just one look at that tall, powerful frame, and she felt her knees buckling.

No! She would not faint. Richard Everard already held her in the utmost contempt. She refused to let him see her least weakness. She did what she’d done since the day he’d abandoned her. She smiled—not too effusive, not too sweet—just a gentle upturn of the corners of her mouth, which most people took as approval.

“Good day, sir.” Her voice was equally calm and distant. Excellent. Surely she could do this. “Mr. Everard, isn’t it?”

One russet brow went up, whether in surprise or amusement, she wasn’t sure. Once she’d been able to read every thought in those deep brown eyes, every quirk of that gentle mouth. He had obviously grown skilled at hiding his feelings.

“Captain Everard,” he corrected her, but his nod was for the tradesman beside her. “Forgive the interruption, sir. The footman who answered my knock seemed to think I was expected.”

A logical assumption. Jones knew his mistress was expecting any number of furniture purveyors to make offers on the last items. The footman and her cook were only staying on at the house until they secured other posts. Claire was thankful for their loyalty, especially since she could no longer afford to pay them for their help.

Devizes licked his flabby lips, then glanced between Claire and the towering stranger. “Friend of yours then, your ladyship?”

How could she answer? Once she’d hoped for so much more.

“No,” Richard Everard said, and his gaze hardened. “I have business with the lady.”

“Twenty pounds,” Devizes barked out to Claire. “I was here first. I have rights.”