Marrying Captain Jack

Chapter Two

Lucy felt pleased with herself as she went upstairs a little later that morning. Far from feeling out of place, she had enjoyed being fussed over by the gentlemen who had come down early to take breakfast. She had not been allowed to help herself, but was waited on by one elderly gentleman who called her ‘my pretty’ and piled her plate with tempting morsels from the chafing dishes. Another had filled her tiny cup with coffee and yet another had set her chair.

She had thoroughly enjoyed the sensation of being fussed over, until she had seen Lord Harcourt watching her with what she felt was disapproval in his eyes. However, he had said nothing and somehow the suggestion of boating on the lake and a picnic on the island had come up, which everyone had thought a good idea. By the time Marianne entered the room, it had all but been arranged.

‘Yes, that is a lovely idea,’ Marianne said when it was suggested to her. ‘The island isn’t large, but because of all the trees and the temple, it is nice to walk there on a hot afternoon. I shall have a picnic prepared. We will have that by the lake, but the boats will be available for anyone who wishes to visit.’

‘Oh, how lovely,’ Lucy said, her face lighting up with pleasure. ‘I have been wanting to explore ever since we came here, Marianne.’

‘You should have said, dearest,’ Marianne told her. ‘Drew would have been delighted to take you there. The lake was unremarkable until we took up residence here, you know. He had it enlarged and the island created and it has made all the difference.’

‘May I be one of your party, Miss Lucy?’ General Rawlings asked, smiling at her. ‘I should like to explore the island in your company, m’dear.’

‘Yes, of course,’ Lucy replied, for he had been very kind to her during her stay here. ‘But I expect everyone will want to see it.’

‘It is an enchanted place,’ Jack said, surprising her and himself. ‘I dare say there may be a sleeping prince to discover—or perhaps elves and witches.’

Lucy looked at him in surprise, thinking that he must be mocking her, but she discovered that he had a look of mischief in his eyes. Her heart started to race wildly, for in that moment he had become the man she had loved since they first met.

‘You would not be the first to think that,’ Marianne told him, joining in the laughter. ‘We hold treasure hunts there at Easter for the estate children, and it is surprising what tales they tell.’

After that, the conversation had turned to estate matters, and the problems associated with educating the children of labourers. Marianne had recently set up a school for the children of parents who could not afford to pay, and she liked to visit now and then to see how they were getting on with their teacher. Lucy listened quietly, unaware that Lord Harcourt’s gaze dwelled on her face for some minutes before he got up and excused himself to the company.

Lucy stayed on for a while, excusing herself only after her mama had joined the company, whispering in her ear that Jo was feeling a little unwell and staying in bed until later. She had asked if her young sister would visit her in her bedchamber, and Lucy was very willing to oblige her.

She tapped at her sister’s door, entering after she was invited to find Jo sitting up against a pile of silken pillows, a breakfast tray almost untouched on the table beside her, and some letters lying unopened on the bed.

‘Do you feel very poorly, dearest?’ Lucy asked, dismayed to see Jo looking pale.

‘It is just a little morning sickness,’ Jo told her. ‘I could not face my breakfast and Hal insisted that I stay in bed until noon. I do not wish to disoblige him for I know that my child is important to both Hal and Lord Beverley.’

‘Will Hal mind if the child is not a boy, Jo?’

‘He says that he does not care either way, as long as I am well—but I know that Lord Beverley longs for an heir and I hope that I shall have a son. Marianne’s little girl is beautiful, and I should like a girl one day—but Lord Beverley’s health is precarious, and he already has a granddaughter.’

‘Yes, I know.’ Lucy said and smiled. ‘Lord Beverley dotes on Ellen and little Mattie, but he must hope that you and Hal will give him grandsons.’

‘He pretends not to mind, as long as I am well, but I know he hopes that my first-born will be a boy,’ Jo said and patted the bed for her sister to join her. ‘I do not mind, because I want to have several children.’

‘I expect you will,’ Lucy said, because she knew that her strong-minded sister usually achieved what she wanted in the end. ‘We are going on the lake this afternoon, and I want to explore the island. Shall you come with us?’

‘I think I shall stay on shore, but I shall watch you all from a comfortable chair,’ Jo said and smiled at her. ‘You may have my biscuits if you wish, Lucy.’

Lucy laughed softly, remembering the times she had stolen her sister’s breakfast when they were all at home. ‘Thank you, dearest Jo, but I couldn’t eat another thing. I had breakfast downstairs today and General Rawlings gave me far too much, but I ate as much as I could, because I did not wish to appear ungrateful.’

‘General Rawlings?’ Jo frowned, because, although he was a pleasant man, he was much older than her sister and she knew that he was looking for a wife, having buried his second wife some nine months earlier. ‘Be a little careful, dearest. He is much too old for you—and he has five children by his first two wives.’

Lucy shot her a look of pure astonishment. ‘Oh, Jo, you do not think…?’ She went off into a peal of delighted laughter. ‘Poor General Rawlings! I am sure he has no such idea. He would not want to marry me. I am far too young for him.’

‘Some gentlemen like very young ladies,’ Jo warned her. ‘Be careful not to get caught in a compromising situation with him, Lucy. I do not think he would make you happy—and you do not wish to cast a shadow over your reputation.’ Jo’s cheeks were slightly pink. ‘I know that I behaved a little recklessly when I ran off with Hal and Ellen, but it was different for me.’

‘Yes, because you were in love with him,’ Lucy agreed and frowned. ‘Thank you for warning me, Jo. I had thought he was just being kind, but I see now that I must be a little careful. I shall make sure that there are others present when we go to explore the island.’

Lucy’s eyes had been opened by her sister’s warning, and when the boats were being made up, she made certain that Miss Tremaine, Lord Harcourt and another lady were in the same boat as General Rawlings and herself. Once on the island, the little group set off together, following the paths through the trees and tall rhododendron bushes to the centre of the island where the little temple was situated.

Miss Tremaine took Lord Harcourt’s arm in a proprietary way, so Lucy followed with General Rawlings and the others walked behind them as the boat returned to the shore to pick up another party.

The rhododendrons were in flower as were some azaleas and camellias, their blossoms a riot of reds, oranges and pinks. Lucy was delighted with all she saw—it was a pretty place, quiet and peaceful, populated by a variety of birds, who fluttered anxiously through the trees as their haven was invaded. She gave a little cry of delight as they came upon the little temple, running towards it to investigate.

It had been built of white marble to resemble a Grecian temple and was open to the elements on all sides, though there were little benches where it was possible to sit for a while if one cared to. Lucy thought it lovely, though in a way it had been more romantic when it remained a mystery at the heart of the little island. She sat down on the bench, smiling at Lord Harcourt as he came up to her.

‘I fear you must be disappointed, Miss Horne,’ he teased. ‘No sleeping prince for you to awaken—or elves and witches.’

‘But it is an enchanted place just the same,’ Lucy replied, looking up at him. ‘Do you not think so?’

‘Perhaps…for some,’ Jack replied. ‘I think the company one finds oneself in is all important…’ He turned his head as Miss Tremaine joined them, though she did not sit down on the marble bench. ‘Does the island please you, Miss Tremaine?’

‘Oh, it is pretty enough,’ she replied with an air of boredom and twirled her elegant parasol. ‘I have seen others as interesting—perhaps more so. I understand that you have had your own grounds landscaped, Lord Harcourt. Do you have a lake?’

‘Yes, though I do not have an island. We have some extensive woods, however,’ Jack replied and for a moment his expression darkened as he recalled the old woodcutter’s hut that had featured in the games he and David had once played.

‘I have heard that you have a magnificent water feature—based on something you saw at Versailles?’

‘Oh, it is not anything like as grand, though I like to think it fits my estate rather better than something larger,’ Jack said. ‘But I also have a wild garden—or a wilderness, as my head gardener is pleased to call it.’

‘How exciting,’ Miss Tremaine said. ‘Shall we go back, sir? I have seen enough of this.’

Jack offered her his arm and they began to stroll in the direction of the landing place. The other lady and gentleman had gone a few seconds earlier, and Lucy suddenly found herself alone with General Rawlings.

‘So we have this enchanted place to ourselves, m’dear,’ he said, giving her a look that made Lucy suddenly a little uncomfortable. Remembering her sister’s warning, she got up to follow the others, but he caught her arm, turning her to face him. ‘No, don’t run off, my pretty. I have been hoping to get you to myself for a little while.’

‘I think we should join the others,’ Lucy said her heart beating faster. Something about the way he was looking at her was unsettling. She had thought him a harmless gentleman, but now she was not so sure. ‘The boat will have to come back for us otherwise.’

‘Let it,’ he said, his finger caressing her bare arm. ‘You must be aware that I find you very attractive, Miss Lucy. In fact, I have been thinking of making you—’

‘Miss Horne!’ Lord Harcourt’s voice cut across General Rawlings’s words. ‘I believe we should return to the shore. Miss Tremaine is impatient to join the others.’

‘Yes, of course.’ Lucy flushed and pulled away from her companion, going to join him. She gave him a grateful smile, but was chilled by the expression in his eyes. He was angry! ‘Thank you for reminding us, but we were just coming.’

‘Go on ahead and get into the boat,’ Lord Harcourt said. He turned to the other man as Lucy obeyed swiftly. ‘She is too young and innocent, Rawlings. You would do well to remember that!’

‘Damn you for your insolence, sir! My intentions are nothing but honourable. I was about to propose marriage.’

‘Indeed?’ Jack gave him a hard stare. ‘I repeat—she is too young and innocent. You should look elsewhere for your third wife, sir.’

‘You are in no position to censure me from what I hear,’ Rawlings said, giving him a look of dislike. ‘At least all of my children were born in wedlock.’

Jack smiled, but there was a hint of menace in his eyes. ‘Listening to scandalous tales is a fool’s errand. I would not advise you to pass on lies, sir—unless you are willing to face the consequences.’