Free Captive Pride by Bobbi Smith

during the winter months, so Matthew and I will remain until the weather breaks.”
    â€œWise choice. I made the voyage once, several years ago, and I vowed never to do it again if I could possibly avoid it,” Edward said with a rueful shake of his head. “We encountered storm after storm and I spent most of my time belowdecks, fighting off seasickness. The entire trip took four months and it seemed more like four years.” He laughed at his own remembered discomfort as he placed his now empty glass on his desktop. “But enough of that. Let’s speak of more enjoyable pursuits. I’d be honored if you’d agree to stay and dine with me.”
    â€œThank you.” Noah was pleased at the invitation, for he knew it would be to his benefit. In cultivating Edward, a most loyal British agent, he would be laying the groundwork for preventing any future suspicion regarding his activities.
    â€œWonderful,” Edward said as he rang for a servant.
    â€œWill your wife and daughter be joining us?” Noah asked casually.
    â€œI’m a widower, my lord,” he answered.
    â€œMy deepest sympathies, sir.”
    â€œI appreciate the thought, but my beloved Sarah has been dead for many years now.” Sadness reflected in his eyes as he spoke. “It’s just CC and me.”
    â€œCC?”
    â€œCecelia, my daughter,” he offered quickly, grinning. “CC’s a pet name. She’s always been a spirited lass, and somehow it just suits her.”
    Noah nodded, but he hardly agreed with Demorest’s description of his daughter. Spirited was not quite the word he would have used to describe Cecelia Demorest. The chit possessed a sharp tongue for such an attractive woman, and it was a fault that Edward, as her father, would do well to see curbed.
    When the butler appeared at the door, Edward ordered, “Gilbert, Lord Kincade will be staying for dinner. Please inform Cook, and then tell CC that a guest will be joining us.”
    The servant left hastily to do his master’s bidding, wondering all the while what Miss CC was going to think of the news he was about to relay.
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    â€œAre you serious?” CC flared in annoyance as Gilbert imparted the news moments later.
    â€œYes, ma’am,” Gilbert replied respectfully. “They concluded their business and your father invited him to stay. Cook says the meal will be served in about an hour.”
    â€œAll right,” she groaned in dismay, accepting the inevitable. “You may tell Father that I’ll be down to join them as soon as I freshen up.”
    â€œI’ll do that, ma’am.” He backed discreetly from her room, leaving his mistress to her thoughts.
    When he’d gone, CC stalked to her wardrobe and threw wide the door. Standing, hands on hips, she stared at her vast selection of gowns. She didn’t know why she was concerned about it, but some bit of pride within her refused to allow the arrogant Kincade to see her at less than her very best. He had dismissed her earlier as if she were little more than a guttersnipe, and she was determined to show that pompous fool that she was no easily forgotten rustic miss. Impatiently, she began to sort through her clothing, hoping to find the perfect dress to wear. Spying her favorite yellow silk, CC whisked it from the closet. It was perfect…not too dressy, yet not too ordinary, and the pale yellow-gold was a very good color on her.
    She rang for her maid, Anna. When the young girl appeared, she requested a bath be sent up. By the time her bath was ready, CC was waiting, clad only in a silken wrapper.
    â€œShall I help you bathe, Miss CC?” Anna asked.
    â€œNo, but I would like you to lay out the rest of my things before you go,” she instructed, “I’ll be wearing the yellow silk.”
    â€œYes, ma’am.” The maid quickly set about her task, asking as she did, “Did you see His Lordship, Miss