A Brother's Honor by Ferguson Jo Ann

Author:Ferguson, Jo Ann
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781504008839
Publisher: Open Road Distribution

Chapter Fourteen

“No,” said Lady Sudley as she set her cup down on the tray with the remnants of their luncheon, “you need not stop first at the modiste, Clarissa.”

The young woman’s lower lip jutted with her vexation. “But, Mama, I need the gown I ordered for the soireé Papa is hosting the night we arrive.” Her face brightened as she turned to Abigail. “You will attend, won’t you?”

Abigail glanced at Dominic, who was sitting beside them on the terrace near the rose garden, but he was staring at the low hills that were the only thing between him and the sea. His regret at being so far from his beloved ship radiated from him like the sun’s heat, stealing his smile. Grief crushed her heart in mid beat. This delay at Sudley Hall, although it had given his ankle a chance to heal, whetted his longing to return to his La Chanson. She had seen a similar craving in her uncle’s eyes when he went down the wharves to oversee the reloading of his ship before he set sail again.

Stretching, Abigail put her fingers on Dominic’s arm. He turned toward her, his gaze slowly focusing outward again. As if oblivious to his sorrow, she said in a light tone, “We would be delighted to accept an invitation to Lord Sudley’s soirée, wouldn’t we, Dominic?”

“Delighted,” he answered quickly, although the slight narrowing of his eyes warned that his answer was not exactly the truth. “That is, if you wish us to attend, my lady.”

“Most certainly.” Lady Sudley’s smile was genuine. “I shall be thrilled to introduce to my friends the man who saved my children’s lives.”

“I must insist that matter be kept quiet.”

Her smile faltered. “But why, Mr. St. Clair? I cannot imagine any reason why you would not want your heroics known throughout the Polite World.”

“Dominic is,” Abigail said with a quick grin toward him as if this were a longstanding jest, “surprisingly shy about such things. He prefers to keep such things to himself.”

Newton bounced to his feet, slashing an imaginary sword. “Like Robin Hood.”

“A bit.” Dominic downed what remained in his cup and set it beside Lady Sudley’s. “I simply believe that a man should not be praised just because he does his duty.”

“You have a rare modesty, Mr. St. Clair.” Lady Sudley’s smile returned. “However, it shall be as you wish. I would not repay your chivalry by making you uncomfortable.” Rising, she clapped her hands. “Now, Clarissa, it is time for your embroidery lesson, and, Newton, your tutor asked me to send you to him as soon as we finished our midday repast.”

When both Clarissa and Newton grumbled before following their mother into the house, Abigail chuckled.

“You would not find it so amusing,” Dominic said, offering his hand to help her from her chair, “if you were the one who had to study inside on such a lovely day.”

“I spent many days sitting in a corner with a book that did not intrigue me as much as the chance to go with my uncle to his ship.

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