Read Online Love With an Improper Stranger by Barbara Devlin - Free Book Online
Authors: Barbara Devlin
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impropriety, given we have no understanding, and we are unlikely to enter into such an arrangement.”
“In ordinary circumstances I would agree with all but the last of your assertions. But we are at sea, free from society’s disapproving scrutiny and obdurate strictures, and I would explore the possibilities, if you are amenable.” When she did not respond, as her brain could form no coherent rejoinder, he squeezed her fingers. “Come now, you must know I am interested.”
“Upon my word, but you take my breath away.” The small chamber seemed to spin out of control, and she was grateful for her chair, else she might embarrass herself. “Are you always so direct? And we hardly know each other.”
“I shall take that as a compliment.” Of course, he chuckled. “And I know no other way when it comes to you. As for your charge, in regard to our acquaintance, I would remind you of the night you spent in my lap, garbed in naught but your chemise. So what say you, lovely Lenore? Will you permit me to—”
“Cook says the crew devoured your treat, sister.” Lucilla barged into the room. “And I have a full bottle of rum, Cap’n, though Dr. Avery suggests you monitor Lenny’s intake.” Then Lucy quieted, as she noted the fact that Blake maintained his grip on Lenore’s hand, in spite of her efforts to break free. “Are you going to marry my sister, Cap’n?”
In that instant, Lenore feared she might swoon.
“Would you like me to marry your sister?” Blake drew circles atop Lenore’s knuckles.
“I think it would be wonderful.” With her customary gusto, Lucy plunked into her seat. “She could sail with you to exotic locales and meet new and exciting people.” Then she glanced at Lenore. “Can you imagine it, Lenny?”
She would give anything to fall overboard at that moment. “Given sailing and I do not quite mix, I am not sure that would be a good idea.”
“Well you need not worry, in that respect.” To her chagrin, her prospective suitor kissed her fingertips. “If you were my wife, I would keep you barefoot and pregnant, and you would spend your days either in the kitchen or in my bed, as that is the sum total of a woman’s worth, in my estimation.”
Slapping her thigh, Lucy pealed with laughter. “How positively medieval, Cap’n.”
“I beg your pardon?” And that was sufficient to snap Lenore from her short-lived fantasy. Wrenching from his hold, she stood. “I would have you know there is more to me than that, and any man who wishes to wed me will have to accept the fact that I have a mind and opinions of my own, which I can, will, and do share.”
“Really?” He stuck his tongue in his cheek. “I never would have guessed, but I adore that about you.”
“Do not mock me, sir.” She would have stomped her foot, but the last time she did that she lost a shoe.
“Ah, how your fiery gaze sparkles when I ruffle your feathers.” With a hearty chuckle, he winked at Lenore and chucked Lucy’s shoulder. “And what else would you share with me, Miss Lenore Teversham?”
“She snores.” Lucy collapsed in a fit of giggles, and any hope of recovery Lenore might have coveted went down in flames.
“Yes, I know.” Blake rolled his eyes. “Especially when she is loaded to the gunwales.”
“Enough.” For Lenore, divulging that secret was too much. “I was sick and out of my wits. How could you tell my sister of my accidental inebriation?”
“But there was nothing accidental about it.” Now Blake bellowed, and she turned on a heel, hoping to take refuge on deck, but he caught her by the arm. “Oh, no. Do not run away.”
“Let me go.” Although she resisted, he pulled her into his waiting embrace with ease. “You beast.”
“Lucy, I believe I prefer brandy.” He tightened his hold, even as Lenore trounced his toes. “There is a bottle in the bottom right corner of my
“In ordinary circumstances I would agree with all but the last of your assertions. But we are at sea, free from society’s disapproving scrutiny and obdurate strictures, and I would explore the possibilities, if you are amenable.” When she did not respond, as her brain could form no coherent rejoinder, he squeezed her fingers. “Come now, you must know I am interested.”
“Upon my word, but you take my breath away.” The small chamber seemed to spin out of control, and she was grateful for her chair, else she might embarrass herself. “Are you always so direct? And we hardly know each other.”
“I shall take that as a compliment.” Of course, he chuckled. “And I know no other way when it comes to you. As for your charge, in regard to our acquaintance, I would remind you of the night you spent in my lap, garbed in naught but your chemise. So what say you, lovely Lenore? Will you permit me to—”
“Cook says the crew devoured your treat, sister.” Lucilla barged into the room. “And I have a full bottle of rum, Cap’n, though Dr. Avery suggests you monitor Lenny’s intake.” Then Lucy quieted, as she noted the fact that Blake maintained his grip on Lenore’s hand, in spite of her efforts to break free. “Are you going to marry my sister, Cap’n?”
In that instant, Lenore feared she might swoon.
“Would you like me to marry your sister?” Blake drew circles atop Lenore’s knuckles.
“I think it would be wonderful.” With her customary gusto, Lucy plunked into her seat. “She could sail with you to exotic locales and meet new and exciting people.” Then she glanced at Lenore. “Can you imagine it, Lenny?”
She would give anything to fall overboard at that moment. “Given sailing and I do not quite mix, I am not sure that would be a good idea.”
“Well you need not worry, in that respect.” To her chagrin, her prospective suitor kissed her fingertips. “If you were my wife, I would keep you barefoot and pregnant, and you would spend your days either in the kitchen or in my bed, as that is the sum total of a woman’s worth, in my estimation.”
Slapping her thigh, Lucy pealed with laughter. “How positively medieval, Cap’n.”
“I beg your pardon?” And that was sufficient to snap Lenore from her short-lived fantasy. Wrenching from his hold, she stood. “I would have you know there is more to me than that, and any man who wishes to wed me will have to accept the fact that I have a mind and opinions of my own, which I can, will, and do share.”
“Really?” He stuck his tongue in his cheek. “I never would have guessed, but I adore that about you.”
“Do not mock me, sir.” She would have stomped her foot, but the last time she did that she lost a shoe.
“Ah, how your fiery gaze sparkles when I ruffle your feathers.” With a hearty chuckle, he winked at Lenore and chucked Lucy’s shoulder. “And what else would you share with me, Miss Lenore Teversham?”
“She snores.” Lucy collapsed in a fit of giggles, and any hope of recovery Lenore might have coveted went down in flames.
“Yes, I know.” Blake rolled his eyes. “Especially when she is loaded to the gunwales.”
“Enough.” For Lenore, divulging that secret was too much. “I was sick and out of my wits. How could you tell my sister of my accidental inebriation?”
“But there was nothing accidental about it.” Now Blake bellowed, and she turned on a heel, hoping to take refuge on deck, but he caught her by the arm. “Oh, no. Do not run away.”
“Let me go.” Although she resisted, he pulled her into his waiting embrace with ease. “You beast.”
“Lucy, I believe I prefer brandy.” He tightened his hold, even as Lenore trounced his toes. “There is a bottle in the bottom right corner of my
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