Read Online Simply Irresistible by Kate Pearce - Free Book Online

cravat and left them on the back of the chair.
    â€œJames said you hated wearing formal clothes.”
    â€œHe was correct. Growing up in a brothel made most clothing unnecessary. I’ve never gotten used to all the layers.” He went through the door Jeremiah held open for him. “Perhaps you might care to find Captain Ford and make sure he is ready to accompany us? I believe he was writing letters in the library.”
    â€œI would be happy to do that. Captain Ford is a very interesting man.”
    â€œHe is, and one who takes instruction extremely well.”
    â€œIndeed.”
    â€œYou should order him to do something for you, just so you can see how conscientiously he obeys his superiors.”
    â€œPerhaps I might do that.”
    Peter paused to look across at Jeremiah. “James has been gone for a while now. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if you filled your well again, so to speak.”
    â€œI’m sure he would not, but I’m not certain my heart would be in it.”
    â€œThen forget I mentioned it.” Peter smiled. “I just wanted to make it clear that the opportunity might be available.”
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    One month later ...
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    Peter dipped his pen in the ink and contemplated the letter he was trying to compose to Valentin. If his instincts were correct, he had to assume that Val had stepped in to help Abigail manage her affairs. Whether she would accept his aid was debatable, but he had confidence that Val, with Sara supporting him, would persuade Abby to accept his help regardless of her feelings for Peter.
    If her prime desire was to protect young Jamie’s position, a peer such as Valentin would be the perfect sponsor for the boy. And as Val was his shipping partner and Jamie was his godson, no one would remark about the old connection between him and Abby either, which would please Abby greatly. Or he hoped it would.
    He sighed and sat back. He wasn’t even sure why he was writing the damned letter when he and Captain Ford were due to leave within a day or two. But he still hadn’t decided what he was going to do. Part of him yearned to join forces with Jeremiah and simply travel the world without any responsibilities or cares.
    Could he walk away?
    Should he?
    A month at sea and the weeks at the plantation had given him plenty of time to reflect on his life and his situation. James’s death and Jason’s solid support had also allowed him to think about what he wanted for himself for the first time in his life.
    It wasn’t as though he didn’t want to return to Abigail. He still felt as if he’d never completely recover from her loss. But what if he went back, and she had found another man? He didn’t want to be the kind of man who used her guilt and obligation to her dead husband’s lover to insist that she marry him or no one else. If she’d found someone, he would truly be pleased for her.
    Another revolutionary thought struck him. He didn’t have to go back to Abby, or Val, or Sara. They would take care of one another. Even more importantly, he didn’t need them to survive. Despite everything, he hadn’t succumbed to the temptations of opium or alcohol after Abby’s dismissal. He wanted his friends, he loved them, but he would be successful and happy without them.
    With a yawn, Peter sanded the letters, folded them both up and put them in his pocket. He was too tired to decide what to do now. He’d go to bed and sleep on the matter. The creak of a door opening overhead and the sound of footsteps made him pause at the bottom of the stairs. Was Jason finally giving in to his desire to be mastered by Jeremiah and offering himself up for punishment?
    Peter kept moving up the stairs as he heard the low murmur of male voices. He almost wished they’d ask him to come and watch. He would probably enjoy it.
    The smell of cigarillo smoke drifted past his nostrils and he went still. Altering course