An Unexpected Song (19 page)

The woman lifted her chin. “We do not enjoy providing a circus for the media at Von Krantz.” Her patronizing façade vanished and she added ruefully, “Though it does seem necessary sometimes
to encourage the public to embrace a new artist.” She had stopped before a silk-draped painting that had been mounted by itself on the far wall. With a flick of a beautifully manicured hand she removed the cloth and took a step back. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a million things to do in the next thirty minutes before we open the doors.”

“No problem.” Jason smiled. “We promise to put the cloth back in place before the media arrive.”

Daisy dimly heard the click of Mrs. Petersen’s four-inch heels on the polished floor as she walked away, but she couldn’t take her gaze from the framed painting.

You’ve done it, Charlie. You’ve caught the brass ring at last.

“I didn’t expect it to look this impressive,” she whispered. “We were too close to it at the cottage, too close to him. She’s right, it is extraordinary.”

“You should have expected it. It’s your portrait.
You’re
extraordinary.”

She shook her head. “No, this painting isn’t about me. It’s about love.”

“Yes.” Jason’s arm went around her. “You once said Charlie was good at that.”

“He
is
good at that.” Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes sparkling with radiance. “Don’t you feel it, Jason? Charlie did it! It’s all here. It will always be here for you and me and everyone who looks at the painting.”

“Yes, I feel it.” Jason’s voice was husky, his gaze fastened on the painting, and his next words came haltingly. “I … love you, Daisy Justine … Hayes.”

It was the first time he had said the words. She
had known it would take a period of adjustment after all these years before he could accept the love between them without fear for her, and she had tried to be patient as she waited for this final commitment. Now such heady joy surged through her that she had to swallow to ease the sudden tightness of her throat.

Dawn after darkness.

Safety after the storm.

She stepped closer to Jason and lovingly laid her head against his shoulder, but her gaze never left the painting.

Thanks, Charlie.

Welcome to Loveswept!

With April showers fast approaching, we have some wonderful books for you to cozy up with. One of our most exciting releases is Megan Frampton’s e-original,
HERO OF MY HEART,
an emotional and powerfully erotic tale of love and redemption, where a tender vicar’s daughter and a tortured war hero discover that sin may be their only salvation. I love this story and I can’t wait for everyone else to enjoy it!

We’re also excited by these fantastic classic releases:

Sandra Chastain’s
NIGHT DREAMS
, a tender and seductive tale about a man with a tortured soul and the one woman who can heal him … and her sizzling
PENTHOUSE SUITE
, where a free-spirited beauty teaches a tight-laced businessman to listen to his heart.

RELUCTANT LARK
, the classic novel of love and loss by beloved bestselling author Iris Johansen.

Karen Leabo’s thrilling
HELL ON WHEELS
, about two people chasing tornadoes – and flirting with danger.

And two positively sizzling books from Linda Cajio:
HE’S SO SHY
, a charming tale where a love for the ages leaps off the silver screen … and
DESPERATE MEASURES
, where love creates the perfect recipe for success.

If you love romance … then you’re ready to be
Loveswept
!

Gina Wachtel
Associate Publisher

P.S. Watch for these terrific Loveswept titles coming soon: May brings Elisabeth Barrett’s scorching third Star Harbor book
LONG SIMMERING SPRING
, Toni Aleo’s exhilarating Loveswept debut
TAKING SHOTS
, Iris Johansen’s captivating
LADY AND THE UNICORN
, Sandra Chastain’s wickedly sensual stories,
RUN WILD WITH ME
and
SCARLET BUTTERFLY
, and Linda Cajio’s searing books,
HOT AND BOTHERED
and
DANCING IN THE DARK
 … and
ARRESTED BY LOVE
, a special treat from Virna DePaul. In June, we’re excited about Ruthie Knox’s utterly fantastic
FLIRTING WITH DISASTER
, Toni Aleo’s blazing
TRYING TO SCORE
, Linda Cajio’s superb
DOUBLE DEALING
, Iris Johansen’s magnificent
FOREVER DREAM
and three more red-hot books from Sandra Chastain
SINNER AND SAINT, SHOWDOWN AT LIZARD ROCK
, and
SCARLET LADY.
Don’t miss any of these extraordinary reads. I promise that you’ll fall in love and treasure these stories for years to come.…

Nicholas Addison tossed back a mouthful of flat champagne and watched the swirling mass of people on the dance floor with a jaded eye. If he didn’t have an important meeting in a few moments he would have left already. Hell, he wouldn’t have attended in the first place.

“We’ve only just arrived. You can’t leave yet.”

Nicholas switched his gaze from the dizzying dancers to his brother, Sebastian, Earl of Claybrook.

Sebastian grinned but the amusement didn’t reach his tired eyes. “So what did Kenmar have to say?” he asked, referring to Nicholas’s earlier appointment with the marquess.

Nicholas shrugged and looked around one more time. You never knew who could be lurking in the shadows. Listening. And he wasn’t taking chances. Not tonight.

He took another swig of champagne and frowned when the alcohol hit his stomach like a round from a twenty-two-pounder. “He’s offering me a captain’s position on one of Hamilton’s ships. I haven’t given him an answer yet.”

“So will you do it?” Sebastian asked quietly, looking around as well. If someone was lurking, Sebastian and Nicholas’s strange behavior would surely tip him off.

Nicholas swirled another swallow of champagne around in his mouth but it didn’t wash away the indecision. The anxiety. “I’m to give him my answer in a few minutes.” He looked around for the marquess but the crush of people made it impossible to see even a few feet beyond him.

“Don’t leave a chap in suspense, Nicholas. What will you tell him?”

“I haven’t made my decision yet.”

When the summons arrived to report to the marquess’s residence, Nicholas’s curiosity had been piqued. Bored, he accepted the somewhat terse invitation even though he knew he couldn’t
not
accept it. What Kenmar had proposed was the last thing Nicholas had expected and the one thing he wanted most—to command his own ship, to be out on the ocean where he belonged.

But, as with anything in life that seemed too good to be true, it came with provisions. The shipping company had recently been under attack. Some suspected pirates. But not Kenmar. Kenmar suspected the owner of the company, a man named Daniel Blackwell, was purposely sabotaging the ships to gain the insurance money.

Nicholas had inwardly winced when he read the insurance papers. The names scrawled at the bottom were some of the most highly placed noblemen in the country. A few even had the advantage of the king’s ear. If Blackwell was fleecing them of their money, the man was an imbecile.

Nicholas leaned against the wall, desperate to escape the cloying perfume of the ladies, the boisterous boasts of the gentlemen, and the swirling couples on the dance floor. He’d never been a decent dancer, not even an adequate dancer, and with his barely healed leg, adequacy wasn’t a possibility. Not that he wanted to dance. No, what he wanted was to climb those stairs and exit the stifling house. But first he had to speak to Kenmar.
First
he had to make a decision.

Sebastian slapped Nicholas on the back. “I’m certain you’ll make the right decision, brother.” He made to move away, hailing a friend across the room.

“Sebastian.”

His brother turned and raised a brow in inquiry. Nicholas was taken aback by the fatigue on Sebastian’s face. Small lines etched the corners of his eyes and deep grooves creased the sides of his mouth. A mouth that smiled little lately.

“Thank you,” Nicholas said quietly.

Sebastian smiled, erasing the serious expression that seemed to be a constant lately. “That’s what families are for, Nick.” His gaze flickered behind Nicholas. “Kenmar’s approaching.” Then he disappeared into the crowd, giving Nicholas only a few moments to prepare himself.

“Addison.” Kenmar stopped beside him. An older gentleman who clung to the tradition of wearing a white wig in public, the man was well respected and a close acquaintance of the king.

Nicholas nodded. “Kenmar.”

“Have you given my proposal any thought?”

“I have.”

Kenmar took a sip from his glass. “Before you give me your answer, I’ll have you know I received more information after you left this afternoon. Inside sources tell me Blackwell is launching a shipment of gold that’s to leave the colonies in a month or so. If you choose to accept this mission, I’ll need you to discover more about the gold. Where it’s headed and what it’s being used for.”

“You don’t believe Lady Anne is behind the attacks?” According to Blackwell, the notorious female pirate, Lady Anne, was behind them.

“I don’t believe Lady Anne exists.” Kenmar swirled the wine in his glass.

The London papers were full of the lady pirate’s exploits. Young girls wanted to be like her. Men claimed to have bedded her. The elite whispered about her in their ballrooms and she was the major source of entertainment in what would otherwise have been an ordinary season of soirees and balls.

Nicholas didn’t know anyone who’d actually seen Lady Anne, let alone met her. Whether she existed or not had been little concern to him. Until now.

The prospect of the gold fascinated him. Hell, who was he kidding? The entire proposal intrigued him. He’d been away from the sea for two long years. It was time he regained his sea legs and this was the perfect opportunity.

“I will do it,” he said. And the weight that had settled on his shoulders after his injury shifted.

Kenmar nodded, his expression unchanging, as if he’d expected no other answer. “Be ready to sail in five days.” He put his glass on the tray of a passing waiter. “Now I’m off to the club. Have a good evening, Addison.” And he disappeared into the crowd, leaving Nicholas alone with his newfound trepidation and anxiety. But also with anticipation.

“Do you find these things as boring as I?”

His gaze collided with eyes the color of the sea on a clear day, a combination of blue and green. They smiled at him, those eyes. Crinkling at the corners and dancing with merriment.

Slowly his startled gaze swept over her, taking in shiny black hair piled high. One curled, ebony lock rested seductively on the top of a firm, golden breast encased in an off-white gown.

With all that dark hair and glowing skin, she reminded him of a Gypsy.

But what fascinated him the most, what caught his attention more than the curve of her breasts and the bewitching color of her eyes, were the dimples peeking out at him when she smiled.

The stunning vision held out her hand. “Emmaline Sutherland. And you are?”

He hesitated. He might disdain society, preferring the open ocean to a stuffy ballroom, but he knew the rules, and one of the biggest was that a lady did not introduce herself to a gentleman. Intrigued, he smiled, bowed over her hand and kissed it.

“Captain Nicholas Addison.”

“Well, Captain Addison, why don’t you ask me to dance? Maybe a sarabande will alleviate our boredom.”

If women didn’t introduce themselves to men, they certainly didn’t ask men to dance.
Who was this woman?
The fear of making a fool of himself kept his feet rooted to the gleaming wood floor. Would his leg withstand the complicated dance moves? If it didn’t, did he deserve the captain’s position just offered to him?

He held out his arm for her to take. “Would you prefer a stroll instead?”

She tilted her head, studying him while his elbow remained crooked for her hand.

Finally she took his arm. “I’d be delighted.”

As he guided her through the crush of people, he recalled his brother mentioning something about this ball being held for an Emmaline Sutherland. “So, Miss Sutherland, to what do we owe the honor of this route?”

She grimaced, her gaze glancing over the dancers. “No honor. Aunt Dorothy will take any excuse to give a ball. I happened to be in town at the moment.”

“You are not from London?”

Her hand felt nearly weightless on his arm, yet he was well aware of its warmth beneath her glove.

“Originally, yes. But I live abroad now and return infrequently. And you, sir? Are you from London?”