Page 43 of The Captain Claims His Temptress

“Eaton.” Calhoun stepped in front of him, halting his frantic back and forth. “I fear you could be in danger. Not only is Dupont making these claims, but Adams wants to put a bullet in you. He is accusing you of ungentlemanly conduct with Madalene.”

Unfortunately, the accusation was true, and thus, Stephen required a trustworthy confidant. Fortunately, one stood in front of him. “Myrle and Diggins buried stolen property on my brother-in-law’s land when they kidnapped my brother’s wife. They want me to help them retrieve it. They claim if I tell anyone, all three of us will die at Dupont’s hands.”

Calhoun scrubbed his chin. “I know not how to express this delicately, so I will just say it. Madalene is keeping an eye on you?”

Stephen blinked. “Whatever do you mean?”

“Sir Saxton has allowed you to go off with her today because she and Lady Saxton are spying on you. I suppose they are to find out what you had to do with the pirated ships.”

It was as if someone punched Stephen in the stomach. He bent forward and gasped for air. How could he have been such a fool? No wonder she had been so forward. No wonder he had seen her in London. She’d been following him since she arrived. Destined souls his arse.

He pulled himself together and stood tall. “Let my mistakes be a lesson to you.” He jammed his finger into his mate’s chest. “This is why soldiers should swear off women.”

Stephen stomped toward the cathedral. Pirating ships? What nonsense. He needed to end this absurd cock-up once and for all. But first, he would escort Saxton’s female spies back to the picnic area. And then he was done with Madalene Spencer. Forever!

Chapter sixteen

October 5th, 1817

“Horsefeathers!”

Maddie plopped into the chair in front of her dressing table and spoke to her frowning reflection. “You should talk to Stephen and inquire what put him in an ill humor.” Her furrowed brow and pout were most unbecoming. “I dislike Arabella Beaumont and her cruel smirks. She must have said something hideous to Benjamin.” And thereupon, he repeated it to Stephen. For why else had the captain halted his smiles and kisses to embrace dismissive scowls—all in a matter of minutes?

The dinner bell would soon ring. Maddie sighed. “I had better be on my way.”

She tucked in a few wisps of hair that had escaped her coiffure, reapplied her perfume, and tiptoed out of her room and up the stairs. She peeked down the corridor to ensure no one was around before striding to Stephen’s chamber. Since his door was slightly ajar, and knocking might bring unwanted attention, it would be safer to enter and announce herself.

She scooted through the crack, closing the door behind her. A quick scan of the room indicated it was empty.

“Stephen,” she called because it seemed the polite thing to do after sneaking into his chamber.

Alas, he was not there. How disappointing. She would leave because entering a man’s private space without an invitation wasn’t just indecent, it also screamed of desperation.

On her way to the door, she inhaled his citrusy scent and a perverse thrill shot through her. Sidetracked by his personal items, she explored. A few red strands twisted around the bristles of the hairbrush sitting beside his shako hat. His uniform had been folded and arranged on the bed. A Tooth polish and soap sat by his washstand. The correspondence littering the floor before theescritoirewas entirely out of place in the otherwise neat room.

Touching anything was a poor idea, so why in the dickens was she placing his letters in a neat pile? And why in tarnation was she reading the one on the top?

Dearest Georgie,

I am glad to hear you are well. I am currently on a diplomatic mission. And no, I will not provide the details, lest I have to cut out your tongue to keep you quiet.

I know you can beat Harrington in the piste. Take your time. His eyes betray his moves—

Voices outside the room startled her. Her thumping heart threatened to burst through her chest, and she struggled to breathe. She searched for a place to hide. Her choices were beneath the bed, in the wardrobe, or behind the draperies. Since the wardrobe was across the room, and she was unsure if she would fit beneath the bed, she concealed herself behind the draperies and held her breath.

The door opened.

The slit between two panels allowed her to watch as a maid set a clean towel by the washstand and filled the basin with steaming water.

Thank heavens it was the chambermaid. As soon as she was gone, Maddie would flee from the room and thank the heavens that she hadn’t been caught.

The door opened again, and the maid curtseyed. “Captain, your fresh towel and warm water. Will ye be needin’ anything else?”

“That will be all….”

“Alice.”

“Alice, thank you,” Stephen said as the young girl blushed and hastened from the room.