My Heart's Desire (Barrett 1)

“She is beautiful, an excellent hostess, and a diligent mother. Of course I don’t see her very often. She is terribly busy overseeing Sudsbury, not to mention the numerous balls in London during the Season. I was well educated as a child, taught all the social graces, and instilled with all the traditional values. My mother has done her job well.” Alex fell silent.

Even as she defended her, Drake could hear the hurt in Alex’s voice. He suddenly wanted to shake Lady Sudsbury for neglecting to see that Alexandria needed more than an overseer as a mother.

“She must enjoy her freedom while your father is away.”

Alex started at the grimness of his tone.

“I don’t understand,” she replied.

“Oh, I think you must. Surely it is far easier for her to, shall we say, appease her restlessness without her husband there to curtail her liaisons?”

Alex felt shocked color rush to her cheeks. “Certainly not! How dare you even suggest such a thing!”

Drake gave a hollow laugh. “Surely you cannot be that naive, princess? People of your social class rarely keep only unto their spouses.”

Alex winced. No, she was not that naive. She knew about the flagrant adultery that transpired in ton marriages. But not her mother. It was unthinkable.

She shook her head. “No,” she insisted. “My mother would never deceive my father.”

“Every woman is capable of deception, Alexandria. There are no exceptions.”

“You are very bitter.”

“I have reason to be.”

“Perhaps, but I hope never to become that way. Hatred consumes too much energy.”

Drake paused at her words, trying to ignore the truth behind them. “What do you hope to become?” he asked instead.

“Happy.”

“Happy by whose standards, princess? The ton would define happiness as marriage to the right man.”

“Happiness by my standards, Drake. And to me, marriage to the right man means marriage to someone I love. Otherwise, I want no part of it.”

Her little chin was held high. Drake couldn’t see it, but he knew it just the same. He grinned at the image.

“You’re young, princess.”

“I’m eighteen,” she protested.

“Very young. You’ll change.” His words were bleak, even while his heart rebelled at the thought.

“I won’t.” Her tone dared him to challenge her.

Footsteps sounded nearby, and a moment later six bells sounded, reverberating across the forecastle.

Drake rose. “It is three o’clock. You had best get some sleep, princess. It will soon be daylight.” He reached down to help her to her feet.

Alex took his hand and allowed him to pull her upright. For a time they stood, their hands joined, their expressions obscured by the darkness.

“Good night, Drake,” she said at last.

He released her hand slowly, savoring the contact as long as he could.

“Good night, Alexandria.”

He watched her slender outline as she crossed the deck, then disappeared below.