Catherine Archer - Lady Thorn

Almost as if he had read her mind, Jedidiah McBride looked up from his cup, his expression filled with determination, and said, “Well, where do we begin to look for a husband?”

Victoria gave a start, his question disturbing her for some unknown reason. Then she told herself that this was completely ridiculous. She should be grateful that he was anxious to get started. It was further proof that he was not some charlatan bent on taking advantage of her. But the feeling of irritation remained, even as she answered in a matter-of-fact tone. “We will, of course, be going up to London. It being May, the season is on, and most of society’s eligible bachelors will be attending.”

He nodded in approval. “Nina’s letter was sent from London. It seems the best place to begin looking for her, as well.”

“I’m glad that both our needs will be so well served,” she replied smoothly. Victoria reached to pour herself a cup of tea before continuing. “There is much to be done before we can go on to London. The first thing we must do is see you outfitted as a gentleman. That will mean new clothing. Toward that end, I have sent for the man who tailored much of my father’s attire. Although he lives in Carlisle, which is the local town, he is a superb tailor and will turn you out very nicely.”

Jedidiah’s cup clattered in his saucer, making her look with surprise into a pair of stormy sea-green eyes. “I cannot agree to that,” he informed her curtly.

Her delicate brows raised in irritation at his unexpected brusqueness. “But I must insist. How can I introduce you into society as my cousin from America if you are not dressed as one of them?”

He scowled in displeasure, setting his cup and saucer carefully on the tray. “Lady Victoria, I had not realized that I would be expected to purchase a dandy’s wardrobe in order to fulfill my obligations to you. What good would it be to me to spend hundreds of pounds on clothing I will never wear again?”

She smiled at this. The funds that would be necessary to purchase his clothing would not be missed by her, and quite fairly could be considered her responsibility, since it was she who required his changed manner of dress. “That will not be your concern,” she told him. “I myself will see to that expense.”

“You will not!”

His vehemence caused her to pause, but then she went on, trying to be reasonable. “Please, you must realize that you will be accompanying me to whatever social functions I need to attend in London. We must not appear to be anything other than the cousins we have agreed upon. As I told you last night, it would not do for me to have you in my home without benefit of a chaperone if you are not related to me in some way. I have no female relation who could act as such. If I did, I might not find myself in this precarious position. The fact that I am alone is what gave Reginald the impression he might kidnap me without fear of retribution. As my cousin, you will be required to present yourself in a certain way, even if you are from America.”

His eyes narrowed as he listened. “And what does that mean? Would it be too much for your snobbish society matrons to believe that a mere sea captain could be the cousin of the noble and wealthy Lady Victoria Thorn?”

Victoria watched him closely, hearing again the tone that had so disturbed her last night. This time she could not put it off to some other cause. His disdain for society could not be missed.

“Are you all so very democratic in America, then? Is everyone treated equally regardless of their social or financial situation?”

For some reason, her question appeared to irritate him far more than she would have imagined, for a muscle flexed in his jaw, his hands clenched and unclenched in his lap and his gaze was trained on the blue sky outside the window. It was some moments before he seemed to relax enough to reply. And when he did, she could hear the mocking irony in his tone. “No. It is not different in America. There, too, who you are and what you have is more important than anything, including loyalty.”

Victoria could only study him for a long moment, realizing that he had just given her a clue as to the reason for his poor estimation of her kind. She wondered if this unfavorable opinion was connected to the infamous Nina. Had she rejected him because she felt she was better than he? She could not help thinking that this woman must indeed be a fool. Jedidiah McBride was handsome, intelligent, well-spoken, strong, and master of his own ship. One would need to have keener eyes than hers to find some flaw in him, other than the fact that he might be too obstinate and bent on keeping others at a distance.

What in heaven’s name was she to do with the man in London? They would, in their search for a suitable mate for her, be moving among the very highest orders of English society.

He spoke, interrupting her thoughts. “I… Forgive me. I had no right to talk to you that way. You have done me no wrong, have in fact agreed to do me a great service in helping to find my child. I will do whatever is necessary.”

Victoria felt a rising sense of compassion for this strong, intractable man. He must feel a great sense of longing for his child, if he was prepared to do something so unpleasant in order to find the boy.

She said, “I am very sorry for what this woman named Nina did to you. It was wrong, and had little or nothing to do with her social station. She was obviously just a foolish and selfish woman.”

He looked at her with an expression of displeasure and surprise, clearly not happy that she should broach the subject. To her amazement, he did answer her, though the words caused her to frown. “She was a product of her class.”

“The nobility are like everyone else. Some work hard and care about doing good, others live their lives for nothing but their own pleasure.”

“I’m sure you are right,” he told her, but the set expression on his face gave the lie to the words.

She wondered if there was more to this than a woman’s rejection. Jedidiah McBride did not seem the type of man to let such a thing color his thinking so completely.

Victoria’s thoughts returned to their original subject. “As we were discussing, you will have need of a new wardrobe. The very fact that it is for my benefit makes me feel I must certainly pay any expenses incurred in attaining it. You have already done much to help me, and I do not wish to inconvenience you further.”

His expression grew obstinate as he scowled at her. Victoria could not help frowning in annoyance herself. What had she done now?

He spoke slowly and distinctly, leaving her in no doubt as to the fact that this would be his final word on the matter. “I will purchase my own clothing. I will buy only what is absolutely necessary to get me through the next weeks. When I am finished with the garments, they can be given to someone who has an interest in such foolishness. You will not be paying for them.”

His dictatorial tone rankled. Yet, as her wayward gaze traversed the masculine length of him, Victoria had an unconscionable desire to tell him his garments would be of no use to anyone of her acquaintance. She knew no one with such wide shoulders, flat belly and slim hips. Victoria forced herself instead to concentrate on the fact that the stubborn man was being so very unpleasant. With a great force of will, she made herself answer with cool irony. “Thank you. I appreciate your amenability.” But as she rose to her feet, she could not prevent herself from adding, “I can only hope that our purpose is accomplished quickly, so you can rid yourself of everything you find distasteful with all possible haste.”

He stood as well, looking decidedly uncomfortable with her veiled sarcasm, but he made no reply. Obviously he felt it was better to allow the matter to rest.