The Captain's Lady by Louise M. Gouge

Author:Louise M. Gouge
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2010-10-07T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

Marianne gazed across the room at Jamie, her heart overflowing with love. This dear man had brought nothing but good to her family, and she longed to tell Papa how much she loved her American sea captain. How marvelous that a simple pretense for awkwardness could alter the entire atmosphere and everyone’s frame of mind. Neither she nor her brothers would ever have tried such a trick to change the mood of the room, or to rescue their nephew from scolding and disfavor. Perhaps that was their trouble. They feared Papa needlessly.

She put herself in Papa’s place, coming home to a family that seemed to dread his company, just like some of his opponents in Parliament. With all of them cowering before him, no wonder he had always been critical of his sons. Of course, she and Mama never had anything to fear, but they both always sympathized with the misery of their loved ones.

Now, in this moment of family amiability, she could envision herself asking Papa’s favor for Jamie to court her. She looked again at her beloved and saw the longing in his eyes, which he quickly shielded from her by staring up at the painting over the mantelpiece. Tears scalded away her confidence, and prudence gripped her once more. And yet perhaps, just perhaps, if Robert’s interview with Papa turned out well, she might dare to ask for her own heart’s longing.

“There now.” The earl slumped back in his chair and swiftly bucked away from that silly wild boar designed to force good posture. She winced for him, but his stoic facade gave no hint of pain. “You have wearied this old man.” He patted Georgie’s head and gave the girls another hug. “Run along now. Find your nurse. The adults must have some peace and quiet once in a while.” His jolly tone belied his words.

The nurse must have been hovering outside the door, for she hurried into the drawing room and whisked the children away.

Immediately, Marianne sensed caution falling over the room like a curtain. But Papa merely asked after everyone’s health, going from one to the next around the circle. He expressed regret over missing William and Lady Bampton in London during most of the season, but recalled their pleasant time at Christmas last. He brought news of Jamie’s ship, which had been careened, scraped and recaulked, and would soon sport a new mast of sturdy live oak, a fact that startled Marianne, for it meant her beloved must soon sail away. Jamie thanked Papa, but she thought she detected a hint of hesitation in his eyes. Was he thinking her thoughts? Once his ship was loaded with the gathered cargo from the warehouses, nothing remained to keep him here.

Papa told Marianne that Tobias Pincer missed seeing her in town. She thanked Papa, but wanted to gag at the thought of Robert’s former friend and all of his treachery.

Next, with the gentleness of a loving parent, Papa promised to enlist Grace’s commentary on

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