Free The Magic of You by Johanna Lindsey Page B

never be when my husband spends more time with me every day than he does away.”
    His look of disgust spoke eloquently of his feelings, though he still said, “Because he’s gotno responsibilities, no decent job, no—”
    “Hold it right there, Warren. Are you now going to condemn him because he’s rich and doesn’t need to work? Because you’d be shooting down the exact circumstance that every American strives to attain, and which our ancestors made possible. Go ahead. I dare you.”
    He glowered at her. “That was not what I meant at all, blast it. I’ve got more money than I know what to do with, but you don’t see me sitting at home doing nothing with my life, do you?”
    “Neither does James. He was managing a thriving plantation in the West Indies before he returned to England. Before that he captained his own ship—”
    “Are you suggesting pirating was hard work?”
    “He wasn’t always pirating,” she snapped. “And we are not going to discuss his wilder days when we didn’t know him and couldn’t even begin to guess what motivated him. For God’s sake, you wagered your ship, your pride and joy, on a bloody vase and nearly got yourself killed for it when that Chinese warlord wanted it back!”
    “A priceless bloody vase!”
    “It was still just as crazy as—”
    “Not nearly as crazy as—”
    They both stopped, realizing at the same time what they were doing—possibly becauseJacqueline had started wailing at the loudness of it. They both colored with embarrassment, and said, “I’m sorry,” at the same time.
    James, having pounded up the stairs because of the noise, arrived just short of hearing the apologies, and clearly stated his own sentiments on their shouting match. “Make her raise her voice again, Yank, and I’m going to wipe the bloody floor with your—”
    “It’s not necessary to go into detail, James,” Georgina quickly interrupted. “We merely got a little carried away. Warren just isn’t yet used to my standing up to him. I never did before, you see.”
    Another bad habit Malory had taught her, but Warren didn’t say so this time. And since he had no intention of coming to physical blows with his brother-in-law again—at least not until he could match James’s pugilistic skills, which he planned to work on while he was in London—it behooved him to support Georgina’s claim.
    “She’s right, Malory, and I’ve already apologized. It won’t happen again.”
    One of James’s brows went up in that detestable manner of his that clearly said he didn’t believe a word of it. But Warren was relieved to note he did no more than cross to the bed and pick up his daughter.
    “Come along, Jack, and we’ll find you some peace and quiet,” James said on his way out of the room.

    Georgina waited until the door had closed behind her husband before she hissed at her brother, “Not one bloody word about what he calls her, do you hear?”
    “I wasn’t going to mention it, but since you have, I happen to know that you don’t like it any better, what he’s named your daughter.”
    “No, but I know how to deal with it, and with his devilish sense of humor.”
    “How?”
    “By ignoring it. You ought to try it, Warren,” she remarked dryly. “A little forbearance would do wonders for your disposition.”
    “You’re getting as bad as he is.”
    “He’ll be delighted to hear it.”
    His frown was becoming quite dark. “Answer me this, Georgie. Do you even know why he’s always so blasted provoking and—and perverse?”
    “Yes, but I’m not going to attempt to explain to you the past circumstances that have made him the way he is, any more than I would try to explain to him what’s made you so callous and temperamental. Why don’t you ask him yourself, if you really want to know?”
    “I’ll do that,” he grumbled.
    “Good, and by the by, the point I was getting to when we got—sidetracked—was that James does not just laze about doing nothing, as you