Page 31 of Submitting to the Widow
“After years at sea, I became an asset to the captain, and when he retired to a warm villa in Italy, he turned over his ship to me.”
Stephen realized with a start he’d forgotten to breathe, so compelling was her story. “And since then?” He couldn’t help asking.
“Smuggler,” she said, and pointed proudly to herself. “I also have a special interest in saving innocents from a life of slavery along with my many contacts I’ve developed throughout the Mediterranean and Africa.”
A sweet, wicked smile appeared on her face. “Since I have the means to rescue innocents, I also have a useful conduit for disposing of the guilty.”
Although he sure as hell did not want to know, Stephen had to ask. “And the meeting at the quarry?”
Her scar was devoid of makeup and seemed to glimmer off the long-ago healed surfaces in the morning light pouring through the sitting room window. She gave him an assessing look before explaining. “Each of the men who run the game has received a note to appear at the quarry within the next hour or face being exposed as the souls of perversion that they are.”
“And then?”
“Which brings me to my precipitous invasion of your attempt to retrieve what is yours, Counsel.”
Stephen blanched and his coffee threatened to come back up out of his gorge.
“One of my fellow captains arrived early in Bristol Harbour to take care of my…er…situation. He had unusually fair, following winds from Malta.” The terrifying smile returned to her face. “When he sent word, I knew we had to round up the sharps in a hurry.”
At the lingering question on Stephen’s face, she continued. “The slave markets on the eastern coast of Africa will be happy to reimburse him for much more than they’re worth. They’ll serve some master well until they cannot work anymore.”
Raj was not afraid to interrupt. “How will you handle all those men without one of them getting away?”
“I’ve already met with Dr. Smythe and procured the drug he supplied his compatriots in order to subdue me when I was a girl.”
“And where is Dr. Smythe now?”
“In the quarry,” Captain El replied simply. “He won’t be leaving with the rest. I’ve picked a good view for him to enjoy for eternity.”
* * *
After Eleanor had leftwith her crew, Jane was terrified to broach the questions roiling around in her mind she yearned to ask Stephen. Fortunately, she didn’t have to.
He saved her the anxiety when he pulled her close and whispered in her ear, “You should send for your brother.”
“Why?”
He ticked off the reasons on the fingers of one hand. One, you’ll need to tell him his circle of sharps have moved their game to another continent; two, we’ll need to dig up that jumbled graveyard behind the conservatory to find where your late husband probably buried the treasure; three, he’ll have to personally return the ill-gotten bullion to the East India Company, because when I notify my father, I’m sure he’ll ensure Sanjay receives a generous reward; and four, I need his blessing so that you and I can obtain a special license and marry as soon as possible.”
Jane stood and whirled on him, causing the loose strings of her bodice to totally free her breasts. “Were you ever going to tellmeabout your intentions?” she snapped at him.
He raked her bosom with a heated gaze and admitted, “I can’t afford to wait for you to decide.”
“Why not?”
“Because after our excesses of last night, we might expect a child by the first of the year.”
A flush covered her cheeks and she shook her head vigorously. “Everyone knows I’m barren.”
“You were married off to a much older man when you were still a child yourself. I think the jury is still out on that question.”
“But what about your family? What will they think of your marrying an Indian woman?”
“My dear baroness, can you keep a secret?”
“Of course, Stephen.”
“My father has a second family in India, and my half Indian brother, Rudy, will be joining my London practice of barristers in the next few years or so.”