LITMIR.BIZ

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as I know my own sisters. Why would I be jealous of her shallow flirtations? I have watched her suitors come and go for years. I am merely concerned, as her friend and her protector.”

      “You would be jealous because she is too beautiful for words,” he said, standing abruptly. “Any man with a drop of red blood in his veins would dream of receiving her smile and being allowed into her arms. I know you, too. You have dreamed of her just like all the rest of us.”

      Alexi stood, as well, his heart slamming. “I am trying to warn you that she is toying with your affections. I have seen her toy with men for most of my life.”

      “And I am trying to tell you that I don’t mind. But if you must know, I believe she has a genuine interest in me.” He added, “She likes me, Alexi. She is attracted to me. I have been around enough women to know when a woman is truly interested. Perhaps you will have to simply accept that.”

      He said harshly, “You are being played. And if you think she will consider a suit from you, you are wrong.”

      Montgomery smiled at him. “We are going for a carriage ride, Alexi. It is an afternoon’s outing. I don’t recall suggesting I might get down on bended knee.”

      Was he reading too much into what was merely an innocent flirtation? “Fine. Then enjoy your carriage ride.” He added, perhaps unnecessarily, “But remember, she is a lady and my friend.”

      “How could I ever forget?”

      “When she smiles at you as if you are the only man in the world, and you are alone, you might very well forget everything except what is pounding beneath your belt.”

      Their gazes remained locked. “I would never seduce her,” he finally said. Alexi stared closely, but his expression was bland. “Do you realize that we are fighting?”

      “We aren’t fighting—we are friends,” Alexi said tersely. But his words felt hollow and false. Montgomery felt like a dangerous adversary. The bottom line remained that he didn’t trust the American with Elysse. And he was angry with her for ever flirting with his pilot in the first place. “In fact, we are more than friends—I owe you my life. If not for you, my scalp would be hanging outside some Huron’s hut right now, in the Canadian territory.” He tried to focus on that fact. It was impossible. He pictured Elysse in Montgomery’s arms, their embrace passionate. God, he didn’t even know if she had ever been kissed!

      “And you saved my life in Jamaica, during the revolts,” Montgomery returned.

      “We might not have gotten up the China Sea in one piece without your mastery,” Alexi said.

      “So why are we arguing? Let’s swear that we will not fight over a woman, even one as beautiful as Miss O’Neill.” Montgomery held out his hand.

      Alexi hesitated, his mind racing. An image of Elysse, impossibly beautiful in pale green, was engraved on his mind. He saw her laughing with the pilot—he saw her gazing deeply into his own eyes. He shook himself free of her spell and accepted Montgomery’s handshake. “I wouldn’t think of fighting with you.”

      “Good.” Montgomery grinned. Alexi smiled back, but it was an effort to curl his mouth upward.

      Montgomery left the breakfast room. They were at odds for the first time in two years. But worse, he no longer trusted the man who had saved his life. And it was entirely Elysse O’Neill’s fault.

      ELYSSE KNEW THAT STANDING by the window in the front hall, so she could have a view of the drive and who was coming up it, was childish. And she wasn’t standing there because William Montgomery was calling on her this afternoon. Last night, she had overheard Alexi asking her father if they could have a private moment so he could ask him for advice. Devlin had suggested he come by at any time after lunch.

      They hadn’t spoken again last night after he had warned her to stay away from his pilot. There hadn’t really been a chance, not with the house so filled with callers. Elysse had almost refused Montgomery when he had asked her if she’d drive with him the next day, but then, impulsively, she had decided that she was a grown woman. It hardly hurt to have another admirer on her arm, especially when that admirer seemed to annoy Alexi. While she trusted Alexi, he had no right to tell her who she could see. And a drive in the country was harmless, anyway.

      Still, she was looking forward to having a moment or two with him now. She still had a hundred questions about his voyage, and she wished to know what had happened in Lower Canada. The more she thought about it, the more she was grateful that Montgomery had been there to save his life. If the adventure wasn’t fit for a lady’s ears, it must be ghastly, indeed. She couldn’t imagine what she would do if anything had happened to him!

      A movement behind her startled her. Elysse turned to find her tiny, dark-haired mother entering the hall. Virginia smiled at her. “Why don’t you wait for him in the library? Those new shoes look terribly uncomfortable.”

      Elysse glanced down at her new, cream-colored patent-leather booties. The heel was fashionably high and her toes already hurt. But the shoes matched her ensemble perfectly. “It’s really too early for Mr. Montgomery to arrive. Maybe I will wait for him in the library.” As she spoke, she felt herself flush.

      Virginia touched her arm, her purple gaze searching. “Elysse, I am your mother. We both know that the pilot is a nice enough man and that you couldn’t care less about him.”

      “I hardly know him, Mother, but I am looking forward to getting to know him better. He has so many stories to tell!”

      “Really? I noticed that Alexi has a great many tales of his adventures at sea, and that he has grown into a fine, capable man. Not only does he remind me of Cliff, he reminds me of your own father,” Virginia said. “He is responsible and intelligent and industrious. I’ve been hoping that the two of you will have a chance to genuinely renew your friendship.”

      Elysse felt her heart race. “Only you, Mother, would speak openly about how hard he labors, even if at sea.” Most of the ladies and gentlemen she knew disdained any kind of labor for profit, never mind that they needed vast incomes to live well. But her mother was an American and she was very fond of pursuing profit. Elysse didn’t mind. She just knew they should not speak openly of it. She smiled. “He has certainly had a successful voyage, hasn’t he?”

      “He is a very fine young man! And I know you think so, too. Has it ever occurred to you to tell him that you have missed him? I am sure he would be pleased to hear it.”

      She was aghast. What was her mother thinking? She would never tell Alexi such a thing! “He would think me one of his love-struck hussies—exactly like that Louisa Cochrane. Worse, he would laugh at me!”

      “Why not ask him if he wishes to drive in the country?” she said, smiling. “No one would ever think you a hussy, dear.”

      “I would never do such a thing! Mother! A lady does not throw herself at a gentleman!”

      “Louisa Cochrane doesn’t seem to mind making her interest known, dear, and she is not a hussy—she is our neighbor and a lady.”

      Elysse’s eyes widened as her mother walked away, a smug look on her pretty face. She didn’t know why she had ever liked Louisa. Last night, Jack had gone on and on about how attractive she was, and that if he was a marrying man—which he was not—he might take her on, himself.

      Virginia had noticed that Louisa was pursuing Alexi and had thought enough of it to mention it to Elysse. What did she expect her to do about it? Alexi’s sordid affairs were not her concern. Alexi was a dyed-in-the-wool bachelor who tired of his affairs very, very quickly. Their affair should hardly cause her stomach to hurt.

      Her heart thudded, far too hard for comfort. When had her relationship with Alexi become so complicated and confusing? He was an old and dear friend, that was all. But last night it had taken her hours to fall asleep. She’d kept thinking about Alexi and his tea, Alexi and Louisa, and the way he had looked at her, as if he meant to kiss her.

      She had probably imagined

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