Midnight Star (Star Quartet 2)

led? The argonauts?”

His expression clouded for just an instant. “That’s right,” he said matter-of-factly. “I traveled overland from Boston. Quite a hazardous journey in those days. In fact, it still is.”

“You came to California because of the gold?”

“As my brother, Alex, is fond of telling anyone who will listen, I was a rebellious sort, not content to follow in my father’s and grandfather’s footsteps. It took the lure of gold and the challenge of making my own way to get me off my butt.”

“It must have been . . . difficult for you,” she said.

“Nary a bit of romance in it, that’s for sure. Rather hard work, really. I was very lucky, unlike most of the men who came here.”

“I imagine it was more hard work, rather,” Chauncey observed dryly. “Is it a rule among men that they make light of grueling experiences? Prove that they’re invincible and all that?”

He laughed. “Would I impress you if I told you about all those bloody mosquitoes that attacked my poor body? And the discomfort of standing in waist-deep water panning for gold?”

“Oh look,” Chauncey said suddenly. “There’s no one here! Sand dunes everywhere!”

“I can’t get too close, Mr. Saxton,” Lucas said over his shoulder. “The wheels will get stuck in the sand.”

“Stop at the next rise, Luc. I’ll assist Miss Jameson down to the shore.”

The rough path was covered with swirling sand despite the scraggly bushes someone had planted alongside it to keep it clear. The air was cooler, and suddenly Chauncey could smell the ocean.

“It’s beautiful,” she breathed, waving at the sea gulls hovering overhead. “And no one is here. It is all ours.”

“Yes,” Delaney said, “yes, it is. Right here is fine, Luc.”

Lucas pulled Stud to a halt atop the last rise. Spread in front of them was the Pacific Ocean, sparkling blue, like winking sapphires under the bright midday sun. The sound of the waves breaking toward shore was the only sound, that and the occasional squawk of a sea gull.

“Oh my,” Chauncey said, gazing about her in stunned awe. “I feel like I’m the first person to see it. I wonder if this is what an explorer feels like.”

“I’m glad you can see it now. Who knows? In ten years, even five, perhaps men will be out here building wildly all along this stretch. We’re indeed lucky today. Most often this area is blanketed with fog.”

Chauncey swiveled about to stare at a rugged tree-covered cliff. “That is where I would build my house,” she said.

“Mighty damp, ma’am. And the fog is no respecter of beautiful views. Shall we go down to the beach?”

Chauncey’s ribs were still sore, but not that sore, she decided. As for walking, she refused to think about it. “Lead on, sir.”

Delaney tossed one of the blankets over his shoulders and walked to her side of the carriage. “Miss Jameson,” he said formally, then winked at her, and gently drew her into his arms.

“Really,” she began, “I am quite all right, Delaney!”

“Hush, my dear. It is my pleasure, I assure you.”

She didn’t mean to, but her hands curled around his shoulders. She felt his taut muscles rippling beneath her fingers. A strange, completely unexpected warmth curled in the pit of her stomach. At least she thought it was her stomach. “I must be hungry,” she muttered, confused.

She felt the rumbling laughter in his chest. “If we have a picnic out here, the sea gulls will bombard us. They have no pride.”

Just for a moment, she told herself, as she relaxed against him, just for a moment. She breathed in the salty air and felt the ocean breeze tear at her hair.

Delaney set her down reluctantly, just a few feet beyond the tide line. He unfolded the blanket and spread it on the sand. “Your sofa, ma’am.”

She glanced at him beneath her lashes, wondering why the odd feelings that were centered well below her waist had calmed somewhat. “I don’t understand,” she muttered, and carefully eased herself down on the blanket. She arranged her skirts primly about her legs.

Delaney lay on his side next to her, propping himself up on his elbow. “What don’t you understand?” he asked.

“I’m not hungry anymore,” she said, still puzzled.