Page 37 of The Earl That Got Away (Sirens in Silk #2)

Chapter Twenty-Eight

H awk,” Charles said at yet another of Naila’s salons the following week. “Have you met Miss Catherine Anne Turner of California? She is a great friend of my darling Phoebe.”

Hawk set his features into the polite expression he adopted when meeting any of the eligible young women at Naila’s gatherings.

By now, he expected them to all bore him as he must bore them.

In all honesty, he mostly attended these events in order to witness Naila in all her glory.

He relished seeing her get the recognition and admiration she’d always deserved.

He’d recognized her exceptionality from the start.

“Miss Turner,” he said to the young lady before him. “How do you do?”

“Exceptionally well, thank you.” Her answer was crisp and forthright. Her manner no-nonsense. It made him truly take note of her. She was thin, with a long face and even features. He suspected that many would describe her as handsome rather than beautiful.

“Miss Turner’s father made his fortune in ships.” Charles turned to Miss Turner. “Hawk is an excellent oarsman. He smashed the competition at university.”

“Is that so?” That bit of information seemed to catch Miss Turner’s attention. “Did you row on a team of eight?”

“I am a lone rower. My competitions were one-on-one. I prefer to depend upon myself rather than on a team. But that was long ago.”

“I’d wager that you could still beat anyone who challenged you,” Charles said.

“I wouldn’t want to bore Miss Turner with stories about my ancient past. Your father builds ships?” Hawk asked Miss Turner, changing the subject.

“Papa likes to brag that he has made more ships than anyone else in America,” she said with an amused smile. “Two hundred wooden sailing ships.”

“Your father is the owner of Turner Shipyards?”

“You’ve heard of it?” She regarded him with slightly more interest. “Most lords here have not.”

“As Charles said, I am very fond of rowing and that piqued my interest in ships. I have the highest respect for shipbuilders.”

“What do you sail?” she asked.

“It depends,” he told her. “Sometimes a scull, other times a skiff.”

They continued to talk about rowing and her father’s ships and, for the first time since returning to London, Hawk found himself enjoying a conversation with a woman who wasn’t Naila.

“I also happen to indulge in a bit of rowing,” Miss Turner told him. “Although Mama says it is unladylike.”

“I think that is splendid,” Hawk said. “There are many women here in England who also enjoy rowing.”

“Is that so?” Her eyes lit up. “I do miss it. I haven’t been able to indulge since coming to London.”

“Then you must come and row with me one afternoon soon,” he said impulsively.

She smiled. “I would like that very much.”

Naila checked her list to learn the identity of the handsome woman talking to Hawk. Usually she took satisfaction in knowing he was completely bored when talking to heiresses and debutantes at her salons. She could tell by the expression of fixed courtesy he usually adopted.

But this woman was different. Hawk was actually engaged in the conversation and seemed to be enjoying it. He even laughed and bent his head toward the woman as if they were exchanging confidences.

“It looks as if the earl has found someone to interest him.” Phoebe appeared next to Naila. “And Miss Turner seems to be taking pleasure in the conversation.”

“Miss Turner? That is Catherine Anne Turner, the shipbuilding heiress?”

“Yes, do you know her?”

“Only by name,” Naila said. “She was invited, of course. She stands to inherit a great fortune.”

“Charles introduced them. He thought they might get along.”

“Oh?” Naila made a show of looking at her list in an attempt not to appear too interested. “And why is that?”

“Miss Turner is an avid rower, which the earl apparently indulges in.”

Something turned over in Naila’s stomach. The shipbuilding heiress shared one of Hawk’s passions? The idea of Catherine Anne Turner seeing Hawk rowing in all his topless glory made her teeth clench.

She kept an eye on the two of them chatting until they finally parted ways and Miss Turner made her way over to her and Phoebe. Watching the young lady’s approach, Naila noted her tall and slender form, a figure completely unlike her own curvy physique. Was this the kind of woman Hawk preferred?

“I see you’re becoming acquainted with the earl,” Phoebe said when Miss Turner joined them.

“Yes,” Miss Turner said. “He is quite charming.”

“Excuse me, ladies.” Charles appeared. “But I’ve come to steal my betrothed. If you will excuse us.”

A delighted Phoebe drifted off with Charles. Naila watched them go, pleased that one of her pairings was also a love match. It was the ideal situation.

“Tell me, Miss Darwish—” Miss Turner began. “Do you know the Earl of Hawksworth well?”

“Please call me Naila.”

“I would be happy to. And I am Catherine Anne.”

“Catherine Anne it is,” Naila said. “What did you want to know?”

“I was wondering how well acquainted you are with the Earl of Hawksworth.”

“I know him somewhat well.” She tried not to picture Hawk’s tender smile whenever he had looked at her in Philadelphia. Or to recall the sensation of his body sliding against hers. Seeing him again had conjured up far too many memories. “Why do you ask?”

“I find him appealing and my parents tell me that I am here to secure a titled husband.”

“You certainly are forthright.”

“Mama and Papa would say I am too direct but what is the point of beating around the bush?”

“I agree.” Naila had to admire a woman who went after what she wanted. “Why waste time equivocating when you can come straight to the point?”

“Exactly,” Catherine Anne said. “I admire you greatly, Miss Darwish... I mean Naila.”

“Me?”

“Why yes! You have a meaningful project. You’ve written this pamphlet, which will do so much good. It will save many historic places.”

“That is my great hope.” Naila paused. “You are aware that Hawk is not in need of money?”

“Yes, and that is to his advantage, don’t you think? It would be nice to wed a man who isn’t after the fortune I will inherit.”

“Yes, I can see why you would see it that way,” Naila admitted. “But I would be rather sad if your considerable wealth does not go to a property that is in dire need of saving.”

Catherine Anne gave a little laugh. “I completely understand your position since that is the point of these salons.”

“It is.” Naila forced out her next words. “But far be it from me to stand in the way of true love.”

Catherine Anne scoffed. “I have only just met the man. We are hardly in love. But I would like to know more about the earl.”

“He is kind and decent and smart,” Naila said in all honesty. “He feels things deeply and intensely. Any young lady would be fortunate to marry him.”

“I shall consider that an endorsement,” Catherine Anne said. “We are going rowing tomorrow in order to become better acquainted.”

Naila felt a sick drop in her stomach. “Hawk offered to take you out on the water?”

“Yes,” she said happily. “I enjoy rowing so we will take a boat that allows for two rowers.”

“That sounds lovely.” And very intimate and romantic. Naila sighed, swallowing against the ache in her throat when she had no right to be jealous. Hadn’t she and Hawk agreed to be friends?

“I hope you both have a wonderful time,” she said and tried to mean it.

“What happens next?” Catherine Anne asked Hawk two days later.

They were in a special enclosure along the banks of the Thames waiting for the boat races to begin. Hawk had a boat club membership and was hosting a large party at the regatta.

“There will be a series of races,” he explained to her and the rest of the guests, which included Strick and Raya, their young cousin Hind and Naila’s architect friend. Charles and Phoebe were also in attendance. Naila had surprised him by coming along with her family members.

Regattas were always lively events. Boats of all sorts dotted the water and spectators were crammed along the water’s edge.

Drink flowed liberally and a band contributed to the festive atmosphere by playing lively music.

The first gun went off and boats of rowers took off down six individual lanes.

Spectators cheered and called out the names of their favorite teams.

Hawk mostly stayed by Catherine Anne’s side during the competitions. “Each boat must stay in its own water,” he explained to her and his other guests. “If any stray into another lane, they are penalized.”

They watched several races, with rowing teams of eights, fours and pairs. There was cheering and clapping among his guests, who seemed to be enjoying the races. During a lull in the action, food was laid out on tables in Hawk’s enclosure and his guests went over to fill their plates.

By the time Hawk went to get food, most of the guests were already seated at small tables across the enclosure enjoying their meal. He found Naila there helping herself to a second serving.

“What do you think of the regatta?” he asked.

“It’s very amusing,” she answered. “How are you enjoying spending time with Miss Turner?”

Her directness surprised him. “That is a very personal question.”

“Is it?” She spooned some potatoes onto her plate. “It’s a friendly question between friends since we are supposed to be friends now, are we not?”

There was something about her attitude that delighted him, a tartness to her tone that sounded a lot like...

“Do not tell me that you are jealous!” he blurted out.

She lifted her chin. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

He took in the radiant color on her face. “Your cheeks have suddenly flushed a beguiling shade of pink.”

“We are outside,” she retorted. “The weather is warm today.”

“Is it?” He was enjoying himself immensely. “I hadn’t noticed, considering the refreshing breeze that comes off the water.”

“Why do you look so amused?”

“Because sparring with you is a delight. We’ve never done that before.”