Free The Guise of a Gentleman by Donna Hatch Page A

and carry her off?
    Mrs. Berkley looked in his direction. Alarm replaced her soft expression. Women recoiling from him in fear had been the worst part of piracy. Jared’s stomach twisted to see fear in Mrs. Berkley’s face.
    His heart froze. He glanced down, half expecting to see himself clad in only a pair of breeches and boots with a cutlass in his hand. No, his suit looked perfect for the part of an earl’s son; tasteful and expensive, and his boots boasted a shine that made Gibbs stick out his chest. Even the cursed cravat remained in place. He looked back up at Mrs. Berkley. Her alarm had vanished, replaced by cool reserve.
    He cursed himself. He should not have kissed her. And he had not improved matters by his forward behavior at Lady Standwich’s soirée . He’d spent the better part of the last fifteen years in the company of villains and was out of practice for the more perilous kind of lifestyle to which he endeavored to return. He’d never earn her trust. And why should he? He was a scoundrel. Only a foolish woman would ever feel safe in his presence.
    He took command of his thoughts and swept off his hat. “Good day, Mrs. Berkley.”
    For an instant, he thought she would give him the cut direct, but her gentle nature, or perhaps impeccable manners, won.
    “Good day, Mr. Amesbury.” Her tone was painfully cool.
    Jared inwardly winced. Instead, he diverted his attention to the boy holding her hand.
    She stepped protectively closer to the child, as if she feared Jared would snatch him up and spirit him away. “My son, Colin. Colin, this is Mr. Amesbury.”
    The boy solemnly shook his hand, and Jared marveled at the child’s soft, smooth hands, so unlike José’s.
    “I’m very pleased to make your acquaintance, young Master Berkley,” Jared said. “How old are you?”
    The flaxen-haired child puffed up his chest. “Just turned seven, sir.”
    “Ah. Growing well, I see.”
    A slow smile spread over the child’s face. “Are you a pirate?”
    Jared’s heart stopped. What about him could have given that away?
    A small laugh escaped Mrs. Berkley, and Jared could only gape at the lovely sound.
    With a charming blush touching her cheeks, she hastened to explain, “He’s been reading stories about pirates, and it’s his dream to meet one. I thought he understood how vile they are, but he seems to have become somewhat confused by the lessons he’s supposed to be learning. I apologize if his question offends you.”
    Finding his breath and coaxing his heart to restart, Jared held back a sigh of relief. He lowered himself to his haunches in front of young Colin and dropped his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “I used to be a pirate, you see, but I realized the error of my ways and have reformed.”
    Admiration shone in the boy’s face.
    “You oughtn’t encourage such a fantasy, Mr. Amesbury,” Mrs. Berkley scolded gently.
    “What makes you think I’m untruthful?” He grinned.
    She glanced at him from under lowered lashes, no doubt remembering his attire the first time they met and assessing the possibility he might be telling the truth. “You being a pirate would explain your rather extraordinary situation the first time we met.”
    Jared laughed uneasily and was suddenly glad for the cravat and all it symbolized. “That would be an explanation, but I assure you I am merely a gentleman with a far less nefarious past. However, any woman with a double-barreled rifle is clearly no one with whom a pirate would dream of tangling.”
    “You should be grateful I have such an unfashionable skill with firearms,” she said a bit testily.
    “Oh, indeed I am grateful.” He grinned wickedly, secretly relieved he’d managed to change the topic. “If I have failed to express it to you, I am certain I can think up another way to show you.”
    With a blush, she took a step back. Then a gleam entered her eye. She glanced up at the church and said in a falsely sweet voice, “Then if you’re so