Read Online The Raider by Jude Deveraux - Free Book Online Page B

coat flashing in the sunlight.
    â€œHave you come to laugh at me, too?” She glared at him with great hostility. “This morning wasn’t enough for all of you? You have to sneak up on me so you can privately laugh at me?” She pulled another clam from its hiding place in the sand. She’d done her best to survive the morning but it hadn’t been easy. As soon as she walked into the common room at the Montgomery house, everyone had doubled over with laughter. The men were a storehouse of wash day jokes, with Mr. Coffin laughing the loudest.
    A sleepy-looking Alexander had come into the room and they’d all rushed to tell him of the fabulous exploits of this courageous hero, this Raider. According to the townsmen, the Raider was extremely tall (over six feet), handsome (“he certainly made little Abigail Wentworth swoon”) and an excellent swordsman. Jessica could, of course, have kept her mouth shut, but she couldn’t resist pointing out the fact that the Raider had never so much as drawn his sword, much less demonstrated his skill with it. That had returned their attention to her. They had said she didn’t appreciate the fact that this man was risking his life to help others.
    Jessica had grabbed the basket and shovel Eleanor used for digging clams and run to her private beach. Now Alexander had come here to ruin her solitude.
    â€œI don’t need you to laugh at me,” she said, hands on hips.
    Alex sat down on a tree that had fallen across the beach. “I didn’t come to laugh. I just wanted to say I don’t think you deserved what happened to you yesterday. I think the Raider was wrong.”
    Jessica kept glaring for a moment, then closed her mouth and attacked another clam hole. “You came down here and risked getting your pretty clothes dirty to tell me that? Why? What do you want from me? Twenty-five percent of what I earn?”
    Alex’s voice was very calm when he answered. “I know what it’s like to have the whole town laugh at you for something you can’t help.”
    Jess looked at him and remembered all too well how she’d made the town laugh at him when he’d returned to Warbrooke. Her cheeks flushed red and she dug for another clam. “I’m sorry about that. Maybe I was a little too zealous. But everyone said that one of the Montgomery boys was going to come back and fix everything. I thought it was a ridiculous idea and when I saw you—” She stopped as she looked at his face. “I’m sorry I laughed.”
    She continued digging clams but without as much anger.
    â€œDo you really like my tailor?” Alex asked. “I could have him run something up for you. Maybe something in blue to go with your hair.”
    Jess started to make a sharp retort but as she looked at his smiling face, she began to smile, too. “How many clams would I have to dig to pay for a blue silk dress?”
    â€œIt would cost you more than clams. It would cost you friendship. All you have to do is stop inciting the town to ridicule me and I’ll buy you the dress.”
    â€œOh.” A wave of guilt washed over Jessica. She hadn’t thought how Alexander felt being the butt of all the jokes—but now she knew the feeling all too well. “Please don’t buy me a dress,” she said, looking down toward her shovel.
    â€œThen we can be friends?”
    â€œI…I guess so.”
    There was a pause and she glanced at Alexander to see that he was smiling. He wasn’t a bad-looking man, although much of his face was hidden beneath the big powdered wig. No doubt that snobby servant of his shaved Alex’s head every morning. Of course his clothing and that belly of his were preposterous. Even Abigail, who liked almost any man and especially rich single men, ignored Alexander.
    Alex, with a smile of contentment, removed his satin jacket, stretched out on the log, his big belly standing up like a