Page 69 of The Swan Syndicate
They settled on a dozen flintlocks, a handful of eighteen-pound cannonballs, and two kegs of powder. Before the old man closed the lid, he picked up the lantern and moved to another stack of crates. He crooked a finger at Beckworth. “I think I have something you might like.”
Beckworth’s brows rose when Parsons opened a crate filled with linens, lace, and several well-tailored day dresses. “These are French, too.”
“Yep. And they cost a pretty penny.”
Beckworth removed several, taking a closer look at the size of the dress rather than the color. While he made his selections, the others moved the crate and two kegs to a wagon parked behind the barn. He selected two dresses he thought were close enough in size. Stella was decent with needle and thread that she could make them fit well enough. He smiled and gladly paid Parsons his asking price, already imagining how excited she would be.
A young lad waited with reins in hand as the men climbed into the wagon.
Fitz handed Parsons a bag of coins. He considered the weight and tipped an imaginary hat at Fitz. “Always good to do business with you. Next time you’re in port, the drinks are on me.” He rapped on the wagon, and Fitz jumped up to the bench seat as the lad clucked at the horses.
The road into town was quiet. The wagon made its way to the end of a narrow trail where the jolly boat waited.
Twenty minutes later, the boat knocked into the side of theDaphne,and lines were dropped to raise the cargo. Then a ladder was lowered for the men before the jolly boat was lifted onboard.
Jamie stared into the crate. “French rifles? This is more than we could have hoped for.” He grinned. “And you apparently found a dressmaker.” He patted Beckworth on the shoulder then turned and yelled the order, “Prepare for sail.”
Beckworth found Stella pacing in the cabin.
She turned when she heard him enter, hands on hips. “It’s about time. You’ve been gone for hours.”
He chuckled. “Now you know how I feel.”
“That’s not the same at all. There are at least three or four men with eyes on me all the time. And dinner took two hours at most. First, I’m stuck down here because I can’t be seen on deck. As if anyone on the fishing boats would have a clue who I am. Second, you’re meeting with some sketchy smuggler that Fitz knows, and who knows who might be watching him because he’s a smuggler. You could have been hauled off by—” She tilted her head. “I’m not sure exactly by who, but someone from the law or maybe another smuggler. It’s not the same at all.”
Not only did she have a list, but she dragged out the last sentence to ensure he understood exactly how perturbed she was.
“Perhaps this will make up for my inconsiderate absence.” He laid down the bundle of dresses that had been wrapped in a cloak that he’d also purchased from Parsons.
She didn’t waste any time turning the bundle around, opening the cloak with delicate movements. When she found the dresses inside, her eyes glittered but her focus remained on the cloak which was a deep emerald that complemented hergreen eyes and luscious, if untamed, auburn hair. She wrapped it around her and ran her cheek across the collar.
“Oh, Teddy. This is marvelous.”
He only allowed a small handful of people to call him Teddy. He loved it when she said it, though she didn’t use his first name often and rarely in public. It was something she reserved for when it was only the two of them, usually during intimate or special moments—like this. And somehow, that made it all the more endearing.
Then she ripped it off and tossed it on the bed.
He laughed at her theatrics as she picked up the first dress, which was made of silk and lace. It wasn’t a dress she’d wear to dinner in London, but for the ports they visited, she’d look like royalty. It was a soft lavender, and though she preferred bolder colors, the men wouldn’t be able to take their eyes off her.
“Help me try these on.” She turned her back to him and waited for him to untie the laces. He slipped the dress off her shoulders and held her hand as she stepped out of it. He placed the dress on the bed while she stepped into the lavender one.
The bodice fit fine, though it was too revealing. It would be fine if he was taking her to dinner, but not for meeting with MacDuff. It was also a bit tight in the waist.
She looked in the small mirror. “I can take the waist out an inch. I’ve seen Eleanor do it.” She ran a hand across the bodice. “I think Libby packed a couple of linen handkerchiefs that I can tuck in the top.” She tapped a finger on her lower lip. “Although, perhaps it’s best to keep MacDuff off kilter.”
“That dress should do it.”
She smirked. “Okay, let’s try the other one.”
The ship rocked and she fell against him. “We’re leaving?”
He set her upright and undid the ties, once again stripping the dress off her. “A storm’s coming. Jamie thinks it will be over quickly, but you might want to take one of your pills.”
She picked up the second dress. This one was a dusty rose and matched the blooming color in her cheeks. “I’m enjoying having you undress me. I think I’ll give Libby the nights off when we return to Waverly.”
He felt his manhood stir, and he waited patiently for her to pull the dress on, which she did in twice the amount of time it took her to try on the last one. She was seducing him.
He grinned. Two could play that game.
