My Heart's Desire (Barrett 1)

“Don’t thank me until we’ve spoken to your father,” he warned. “I do not anticipate a warm welcome.”

She looked startled. “You know my father?”

“We’ve met.” He gave her a mocking smile. “Why the surprise, princess? I do make frequent trips to Upper Canada. It is only natural that I should know its governor. Or did you think I mingled only with commoners?”

“No,” came the rebellious reply. “I am only surprised that you hadn’t mentioned it before.”

Drake shrugged. “The subject never came up.” He nudged her forward. “Come, my lady. It is time to pay the piper.”

She gave him a scathing look, a direct contrast to the way she clung to his hand as they walked through the formidable gates that protected the governor’s mansion.

A pinch-faced butler answered their summons, then calmly advised them to wait in the library while he informed Lord Sudsbury of their arrival.

Drake leaned against the heavy oak bookcases and watched Alex pace back and forth. He was more than a little curious to see how she would react when she confronted her father, who possessed about as much warmth as a Greenland iceberg. Yet, surely with his daughter …

Drake had no time to finish his thought. The library door was flung open so forcefully that vibrations of the impact resounded throughout the room.

The man who strode in was of average height and lean build. His hair was several shades darker than Alex’s, his eyes the same unusual hue as his daughter’s, but while Alex’s eyes were warm with sunlight, bright with spirit, Geoffrey’s were wintry cold, devoid of tenderness. And at the moment there were thunderclouds in their slate gray depths.

“When your mother’s message arrived by England’s fastest military vessel, I assumed it was an hysterical reaction on her part,” he fumed, walking toward her with slow, menacing steps. “I hoped it was all a mistake. But I should have known better, shouldn’t I, Alexandria? After eighteen years of blatant disobedience I should have expected no better from you!”

Alex flinched. “Father, this has nothing to do with disobedience. I begged you to bring me to York with you; you know I did. But you and Mother refused, over

and over.”

“Yet you came anyway. If that is not disobedience, what would you call it?” he roared.

Drake was amazed. He had expected to see annoyance, possibly anger, but not this callous chastisement prior even to listening to the facts surrounding Alex’s behavior.

Such treatment, however, was not unfamiliar to Alex. She was well aware that in her father’s eyes she was one colossal disappointment. But it didn’t matter. Ultimately she would make her way without his support. She always had.

“I wanted to begin a new life, Father,” she answered, straightening her spine and meeting his livid gaze. “And since you would not assist me, I found my own way of getting to Canada.”

“You are insolent, impulsive, and headstrong, but you are also resourceful, Alexandria. ’Tis a pity you were not born a man. Then—”

“Then you would have the son you always wanted and Mother never provided,” she concluded in a weary voice. “No, I am not a man, Father. But I am resourceful, as you pointed out. Captain Barrett was kind enough to provide me with passage”—she gestured toward Drake, who brazenly stared at Geoffrey, waiting for his reaction—“and I was able to achieve my goal without mishap. I am sorry my appearance here displeases you.”

Geoffrey’s startled eyes flew to Drake, seeing him for the first time. His shock escalated into fury. Then storm gray fused with ice green.

“Lord Sudsbury,” Drake acknowledged Geoffrey’s presence with stiff formality.

“Barrett, what sort of nonsense is my daughter spouting?”

Drake inclined his head slightly. “Alexandria is making herself quite clear.”

Alex winced at her father’s murderous expression. “Father,” she hastily intervened, “please don’t be rude. The men aboard La Belle Illusion were extremely kind and respectful, as was Captain Barrett.”

Geoffrey’s jaw was clenched so tightly that Alex feared it might snap. “So, kind and respectful Captain Barrett accompanied you to York, did he?”

Alex looked stunned by her father’s scathing tone. Drake did not.

“Yes, father, he did.”

“How gallant of him! And just what sort of payment did you offer him?”

“I thought I would leave that up to you,” she replied, totally oblivious to the meaning of his words.

Drake’s eyes were now blazing with a rage that equaled Geoffrey’s. “No payment will be necessary, Lord Sudsbury.”