immensely, and soon my father had not only returned all the stolen goods, but also married my mother there at sea. She accompanied him on his pirate ship's last voyage to America and they settled down in Philadelphia to live happily ever after. I stand with my four brothers and sisters as proof of that."
Caro looked up to see white teeth flash against his black beard.
"Your father gave up his pirating?"
"Oh, yes—the only voyages he makes now are with my mother to visit their respective families in Russia and France and to inspect some family vineyards they own in the Loire Valley. After my parents married, Father began ship-building, and as the business grew he branched out into several other interests. These days, when I am home, I am his partner in the ships."
"When you are home?"
"I have been quite occupied these last years in the war for independence."
"Oh—of course!" Caro felt something click in her mind, but even though she squeezed her eyes closed, she could not catch it in time.
"Do you remember anything about the war?" Alec queried, looking down at her face.
"Yes, I seem to, though I hadn't thought of it until you said the words. Suddenly now, I can remember it all but rather indistinctly—the deaths, and women all alone, and living with hardships. But it's all a blur."
They were silent for a moment, then Caro, eyes wide with frustration, blurted: "I don't even know where we are!"
"That is easily enough answered. We are in Connecticut, nearing its western border and the Hudson River. We will follow that to New York town, and then journey on south to Philadelphia."
"But, if you are a man of means, why are you here in the woods with only a horse? Isn't the war over now?"
"Yes, it's over. And you mustn't let Ivan hear you speak of him as though he were of no consequence!" He had lowered his voice conspiratorially. "You see, he believes he is absolutely the finest horse ever born—the superior of any man." He paused. "Except me, of course."
"Of course!" Caro laughed, and Ivan peered at them suspiciously from the other side of the fire. Alec squeezed her shoulder and continued:
"To answer your question, I was inspecting a farm I recently acquired in northern Connecticut. It was left to me by one of my comrades who died at Yorktown. I am used these days to traveling light. It's been a pleasure to be responsible to only myself; to go at my own pace and to enjoy the woods in autumn before returning to city life. Also, I have friends in this area that I enjoy visiting. We'll be staying with them in the Hudson River Valley and I'm hoping to borrow a horse for you."
"We will go on horseback all the way to Philadelphia?"
"No, my coach will meet us in New York."
"I have one more question. Who will you say I am?"
Alec smiled. "Actually, it all fits together brilliantly. You are the poor orphaned daughter of my friend from the war. Much to my surprise, you came with the farm! You'll be my ward, and it will all be cozy and respectable."
Caro felt her eyelids drooping and she smiled to herself contentedly, snuggling against Alec's broad chest.
"Well," she murmured drowsily, "I suppose I shall have to trust you...."
Chapter 2
The morning was delightful, and to Caro every breath was redolent of autumn. As she and Alec rode astride the patient Ivan, she could not resist a smile as she remembered the events of the morning. Her mood had been so capricious that Alec seemed constantly to be watching her with one eyebrow cocked. He had smiled at her though, that charming half-smile that let her know it was all right. And, beneath the cynically raised brow, his eyes twinkled.
It had begun before the sun was fully risen. Caro awoke feeling refreshed, her face against Alec's chest. There was a coarse, heavy blanket covering them both and she felt oddly stirred by the warmth of his powerful body. She could hear his heart beating steadily through his shirt; it was a comforting sound which made her feel
Caro looked up to see white teeth flash against his black beard.
"Your father gave up his pirating?"
"Oh, yes—the only voyages he makes now are with my mother to visit their respective families in Russia and France and to inspect some family vineyards they own in the Loire Valley. After my parents married, Father began ship-building, and as the business grew he branched out into several other interests. These days, when I am home, I am his partner in the ships."
"When you are home?"
"I have been quite occupied these last years in the war for independence."
"Oh—of course!" Caro felt something click in her mind, but even though she squeezed her eyes closed, she could not catch it in time.
"Do you remember anything about the war?" Alec queried, looking down at her face.
"Yes, I seem to, though I hadn't thought of it until you said the words. Suddenly now, I can remember it all but rather indistinctly—the deaths, and women all alone, and living with hardships. But it's all a blur."
They were silent for a moment, then Caro, eyes wide with frustration, blurted: "I don't even know where we are!"
"That is easily enough answered. We are in Connecticut, nearing its western border and the Hudson River. We will follow that to New York town, and then journey on south to Philadelphia."
"But, if you are a man of means, why are you here in the woods with only a horse? Isn't the war over now?"
"Yes, it's over. And you mustn't let Ivan hear you speak of him as though he were of no consequence!" He had lowered his voice conspiratorially. "You see, he believes he is absolutely the finest horse ever born—the superior of any man." He paused. "Except me, of course."
"Of course!" Caro laughed, and Ivan peered at them suspiciously from the other side of the fire. Alec squeezed her shoulder and continued:
"To answer your question, I was inspecting a farm I recently acquired in northern Connecticut. It was left to me by one of my comrades who died at Yorktown. I am used these days to traveling light. It's been a pleasure to be responsible to only myself; to go at my own pace and to enjoy the woods in autumn before returning to city life. Also, I have friends in this area that I enjoy visiting. We'll be staying with them in the Hudson River Valley and I'm hoping to borrow a horse for you."
"We will go on horseback all the way to Philadelphia?"
"No, my coach will meet us in New York."
"I have one more question. Who will you say I am?"
Alec smiled. "Actually, it all fits together brilliantly. You are the poor orphaned daughter of my friend from the war. Much to my surprise, you came with the farm! You'll be my ward, and it will all be cozy and respectable."
Caro felt her eyelids drooping and she smiled to herself contentedly, snuggling against Alec's broad chest.
"Well," she murmured drowsily, "I suppose I shall have to trust you...."
Chapter 2
The morning was delightful, and to Caro every breath was redolent of autumn. As she and Alec rode astride the patient Ivan, she could not resist a smile as she remembered the events of the morning. Her mood had been so capricious that Alec seemed constantly to be watching her with one eyebrow cocked. He had smiled at her though, that charming half-smile that let her know it was all right. And, beneath the cynically raised brow, his eyes twinkled.
It had begun before the sun was fully risen. Caro awoke feeling refreshed, her face against Alec's chest. There was a coarse, heavy blanket covering them both and she felt oddly stirred by the warmth of his powerful body. She could hear his heart beating steadily through his shirt; it was a comforting sound which made her feel
Similar Books
The Christmas Mouse
Miss Read
All Creatures Great and Small
James Herriot
AMP Blitzkrieg
Stephen Arseneault
Night Over Water
Ken Follett
Deadline in Athens
Petros Márkaris
Inadvertent Disclosure
Melissa F Miller
The Secret 00.5 The Prelude of Ella and Micha
Jessica Sorensen
Masterpiece
Juliette Jones
Persuaded
Misty Dawn Pulsipher