Heaven Bound (A Blakemore Family Book: Madame Lou Series Book 2) (6 page)

Adeline sighed, waiting patiently to be excused once the gentlemen retired to their brandy and cigars. She felt superfluous sitting there as this man decided her worth to his ulterior motives. Was she more valuable than the social sacrifice he must make in order to save his family legacy? She would soon find out. Either he would propose or politely pretend the thought had never entered his mind. It mattered not to her, as there were plenty more where he had come from. Although he did have some charm and a handsome visage, and she knew that would not always be the case over the coming weeks and months. Some of the lords presented to her might not be so aesthetically pleasing and might, in fact, be repulsive. Adeline had heard the horror stories of rich American heiresses being married off to disgusting old decrepit men and being forced to share their beds in the hopes of producing an heir. She shuddered with revulsion at the thought. But thankfully, she knew that Father would not force her into such an unnatural union.

She covertly observed the viscount further, noting his aristocratic profile and slim figure. It was difficult not to liken him to Jackson. But it simply wasn’t fair of her to compare the two, since they were as different as night and day.

Jackson, with his broad shoulders and strong arms, work-roughened hands and standing so tall above her; he was dark where the viscount was blond and fair of skin. Jack had those piercing hazel-green eyes, while the viscount’s brown eyes didn’t seem to hold any depth of feeling.

Adeline shook herself mentally. That was not where she had wanted her thoughts to stray. Jackson had belonged to Clara and he always would. And she was destined to marry a viscount or an earl or, if the stars somehow managed to line up, a duke. At the very least a baron, although Adeline remembered her mother—while still alive—was not at all keen on the idea that her daughter would settle for a mere baron.

“Ah, Mr. Bradley, just in time to join me and the viscount for brandy.” Adeline’s head snapped up as she came out of her daydream, realizing that the man she’d just been envisioning had joined them.

“Mr. James, Miss James,” Jackson bowed politely. “I decided to take a stroll and had no idea you would still be here.” Adeline narrowed her eyes at Jack. She knew him fairly well and was nearly positive that he was lying.

“Maybe you know Lord Denbigh from your days growing up in England.” Simon offered, looking between the two men as they eyed each other cautiously.

“Jackson Bradley?” The viscount spoke his name in what Adeline could have sworn was a slightly condescending tone.” You are Winston’s youngest brother, if I’m not mistaken. Rousted out of the family by your father some years back, if memory serves. Say, old chap, your wife wasn’t the one that Lord Abingdon disowned you for, was she? A barmaid, if I remember the rumors at the time.”

Adeline was mortified for Jack. How dare this pompous rakehell say such unkind things about her friends? She was about to tell him so, but Jackson must have sensed her indignation and interceded before she could voice her outrage.

“Denbigh, you always were damn jealous of me.” Jack held out a hand and the viscount reached for it and shook it vigorously. They both grinned and laughed as if at some inside joke, although it seemed rather strained from Adeline’s perspective. “Stephen and I were a few years apart at Eton, but he was fast friends with my brother, the new Earl of Abingdon. I must say that being the younger brother had its drawbacks, one of which was being the butt of many a prank and the constant good-natured badgering that young men tend to engage in with a bit too much gusto.”

Jack appeared to be letting bygones be bygones, but Adeline could sense he was putting on a brave face and trying to be the better man in this awkward situation.

“Yes, yes, all in the past now,” the viscount agreed, looking sideways at the Jameses as if to comprehend whether or not they’d noticed his social blunder. But of course, such a misstep could not be easily forgotten. Besides, it was more than obvious that this was the reason Jack had shown up tonight—to make sure Addie knew just what kind of a man the viscount really was.

Adeline sighed inwardly. Just another reason she must put Jackson from her mind when she entered English society. He would be a constant reminder of the life she could never have because she’d made those promises to her parents. She thought about the Bradleys’ love match that had shunned the polite world and given up all family ties, and for what? To start from scratch in hopes of a better future? And look what it had ultimately gotten Jack; grief and heartache because of a life cut off too soon.

All this incident had done was firm Adeline’s resolve to marry a man of the peerage and be content that she could continue her good works undisturbed. If there was love involved, that would simply be a nice extra, but it was not necessary and certainly not desired if Jack’s life now was any indication of the strife those feelings could bring.

“Please excuse me, gentlemen,” Adeline said, allowing the viscount to pull out her chair so she could stand. “I’m quite fatigued from such a long day. I’ll leave you to your cigars and talk.”

“Good evening, my dear.” Simon said kissing his daughter on the cheek.

“Lovely to make your acquaintance, Miss James.” The viscount bowed low over Adeline’s hand.

“Good evening, Miss James.” Jack nodded his head slightly but kept his hands clasped behind his back. Adeline gave them all a quick curtsey then turned and left.

She hurried from the dining room, eager to find the privacy of her bedroom.

“Well, aren’t you all flushed and pretty,” Emily noted when Adeline entered the suite. “That viscount must have been quite the dandy then, for him to have such an impression upon the likes of you.”

Adeline decided that now would not be the time to correct her maid’s misunderstanding of her demeanor. She would rather keep her wayward thoughts of Jack to herself for the time being and allow them to gradually fade as she transitioned into her new life.

“Lord Denbigh was quite handsome, indeed.” Adeline commented as she stepped out of the beautiful Parisian gown and sat before the vanity mirror. “Charming, as well. But of course, a bit desperate to please me. It must be so difficult for a man like him to stoop so low as to have to marry a colonist in order to save his family legacy. Unfortunately, it seeps through in his demeanor.”

“Well, you’ll need to grow accustomed to that sort of thing.” Emily untied the corset, finally allowing Adeline to take a full, deep breath. “All the Toffs are going to seem like insufferable snobs to you at first. Once you get to know how mortified they all are that their ancestors where such complete irresponsible fools, they’ll start to grow on you. It’s just their way and has been for so many centuries that, when a progressive American like you comes along, they simply do not know how to act.”

“Such wise words from a woman of little means,” Adeline teased her maid. “Stone, you are priceless as far as I’m concerned.”

“Well then, Miss, can you have a talk with your father and see about getting me a raise in wages?”

“You know I shall.” They both giggled like schoolgirls, knowing that the coming months would prove challenging for the American.

Emily brushed her mistress’s hair in silence for a few minutes before finally saying what was really on her mind. “It’s that Mr. Bradley again, isn’t it. That’s who’s got you so flustered.”

“Cheeky!” Adeline exclaimed. It hadn’t even been a question, but an outrageous assumption. Emily knew her too well, even after only short time in her service. “Am I really that transparent?” She raised her hands to her burning cheeks. It would be so embarrassing if everyone could read her thoughts so easily.

“I’m sort of psychic like that.” Emily said with a slightly teasing tone.

“Oh, please, not another spiritualist.” Adeline groaned thinking of all the times Clara had used Adeline to sneak her own psychic into the house in New York.

“What then? You’ve had an encounter with a clairvoyant and didn’t tell me about it?” Emily sounded offended.

“No, of course not.” Adeline laughed at the absurdity of the situation. “Clara used to have regular contact with a Madame Francesca back in New York and this
seer
looked into her crystal ball and saw all sorts of crazy things.”

“Like that you and her husband should be matched up after her death?”

Adeline spun around and looked at her maid in shock. “Why ever would you say such a disloyal thing?”

“But you said yourself that Clara only wanted you and Mr. Bradley to be happy after she was gone. And I know you make each other feel something.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Adeline insisted. “Certainly I like and admire Mr. Bradley, but I am not falling for him. I have a duty to my parents to marry a peer and I shall fulfill that obligation without fail. Clara knew that, too, so I doubt that was what she meant when she said she wanted us to be happy after she passed.”

“Harrumph,” Emily grunted, obviously not believing a word of Adeline’s speech. “You had better be on guard, Miss, and that is all I will say on the matter for the time being.”

“Excellent. Then we shall drop the matter altogether and move forward with our plans. Have you found the leader of the shipbuilders for me yet?”

“Yes, it’s a Mister French and he’s a bit skeptical of a young privileged lady taking up his cause, but I’ve convinced him to give you a moment of his time. It appears he is intelligent enough to realize that a woman of your means could probably help his cause, even if only financially.” Emily helped Adeline into her night clothes and lowered the lamp near her bed. “Here is the work order from the Liverpool firm that has paid for their passage and is sending them on to Belfast for the actual building of the ships.”

“Lovely. I’ll read it before I go to sleep.” Adeline took the document and crawled into bed.

“He needs it back, so just leave it out for me when you are done.” Emily finished putting away underclothes, stockings, and shoes; arranging the items on the vanity neatly. “Goodnight, Miss, sweet dreams.”

“Goodnight, Emily—Stone.”

* * *

Jack woke the next day and decided that he was finally ready to have dinner in the main dining room. The last several nights had been nice, but if the only people he was ready to see were Lady Huntingdon and Adeline, he was still in a very bad place. But the last few evenings had allowed him to feel normal again. And last night he’d been able to tolerate a few hours in the Smoking Room as well.

“Griffin, I think you might want to press my dinner jacket today.”

“Yes, sir, of course.” Griffin said as if he had planned to do so anyway.

“And I’ll have a note for you take to the Jameses after breakfast.”

“As you wish, sir.” Griffin turned away, but not before Jack saw the smile break his valet’s normally impassive expression.

Jack sent a note to Addie, asking her to join him for a walk in the promenade and for Lady Huntingdon to join them if she pleased. He also requested that both Jameses and the countess to join him for dinner in the first-class dining room tonight. It would be a full day and he was actually looking forward to it.

The air today felt good to him. Jack enjoyed the walk with the ladies and the evening meal was pleasant and entertaining. Afterwards, Simon invited him to the Smoking Room again for some cards and brandy.

“I think I’ll have to pass this time, Simon.” Jack stood and shook the man’s hand. “Maybe tomorrow, but I think I’ve gotten out quite enough for one day. I’ll just walk Addie and the countess back to their rooms.”

“Myself first, dear boy.” Henrietta said yawning. “I can barely stay awake. I think traveling halfway around the world is finally catching up with me.”

As soon as the countess was safely in her rooms, Jack gave his full attention to Adeline. For the second time in as many days he felt his physical reaction to having her touching him, but he concentrated on the crisp night air as they strolled companionably through the promenade and out onto the open deck.

A bell started ringing from the starboard side of the ship.

“What is that all about?” Adeline asked looking around for a cause. “I didn’t think we were still far enough north for an iceberg.”

“And I doubt we are heading into a storm with the fine weather we’ve had. You there,” Jackson called out to a sailor heading their way. “What’s that bell for?”

“Oh, nothing to concern yer’selves with. Just a large wave a comin’. Not more than a wee bit more rolling than normal.” The deckhand continued on his way, not even stopping as he made his comments.

“Then we won’t worry,” Adeline said with a smile making Jackson chuckle.

“No, indeed.”

They continued strolling at an easy pace, finally stopping for a moment at the railing to enjoy a view of the moon in a clear starry night sky. Jackson could almost imagine that all was right in the world. If only it was Clara here at his side, healthy and humming a tune.

“I don’t recognize that melody.” he said turning to face his companion.

“Oh, probably not,” Adeline laughed looking up at him. They were standing just a hand’s width apart and Jackson imagined he could feel her warmth nearly touching him. “It’s an Irish jig I learned the other night when I went below decks to enjoy a party in third-class.”