“My brother is a seaman and an adventurer,” Ariella said. “He is smitten with China—or the China trade, anyway. It was all he could talk about last night—he wants to build a clipper just for the trade!”
Elysse looked at her as they went downstairs. “Then he will continue to lease out to the East India Company? I was surprised when I had heard he’d leased the Ariel out. I can’t imagine Alexi in someone else’s employ.” Alexi had never leased out his ship before.
“He was determined to get into the trade,” Ariella said. “I do believe everyone within a league of Askeaton has called, to hear firsthand about China and his run!”
Elysse could hear the murmurs of conversation downstairs. Clearly, they had many callers. But of course, the neighbors would be interested in Alexi’s return from China. News of his travels would have spread like wildfire. It was surely the most exciting event of the Season.
As they reached the bottom of the stairs, she could see across the great entry hall, where her neighbors and family had gathered. Askeaton was the ancestral home of the O’Neill family and the great hall was vast, with stone floors and walls, its ceilings timbered. Great, old tapestries were hanging on two of its walls. From one set of oversize windows, one could see out across the rolling green Irish countryside, and past the ruined tower behind the manor house. But Elysse did not look outside, or even at the crowd.
Alexi stood in front of the huge stone fireplace, his posture assured but indolent, clad in a riding coat, breeches and boots. The eighteen-year-old boy was gone. A grown man had taken his place. He was surrounded by their callers. Yet his gaze lifted immediately, moved across the crowd, and their eyes met.
For one moment, she simply stared. He had changed so much. He was a man of experience now. A man of confidence. She saw it in the way he stood, the way he shifted ever so slightly to face her directly. Then, finally, he smiled at her.
Her heart lurched oddly and the happiness was instantaneous. Alexi was home.
Her brother, Jack, slapped his shoulder. “Damn it, you can’t leave it there, tell me about the Sundra Strait.”
For one more moment, they stared at one another, that odd half smile on his face, while Elysse beamed. She couldn’t help noticing that he was even more handsome than when he had left her. Then she saw that three of her girlfriends stood beside him, more closely than the rest of the crowd, their expressions rapt.
“It took us three full days to beat through, Jack.” Alexi turned to her tall, golden brother. “I’ll even admit I had a moment or two when I wondered if we’d be cast up on the shoals there—spending the next fortnight in Anjers making repairs.”
Alexi turned and gestured, and a tall tawny-haired man in a frock coat, a stock and waistcoat, and pale trousers came over. Alexi seized his shoulder. “I don’t think we’d have made our run in a hundred and twelve days without Montgomery. Best ship’s pilot I ever had. Best thing I ever did was take him on board in Lower Canada.”
Elysse finally looked at Alexi’s pilot, who was probably a few years older than them both, and found him regarding her. Montgomery smiled at her as one of their neighbors, a gentleman squire, said eagerly, “Tell us about the China Sea! Did you weather a typhoon?”
“No, tell us about the tea,” Father MacKenzie cried, smiling.
“Will China really stay closed to all foreigners?” Jack asked.
Alexi grinned at them all. “I got the first pick, black tea, the best you’ve ever had—I vow it. It’s Pekoe. You won’t find any other ship’s captain bringing it home. Not this Season.” Although he spoke to the crowded room, his gaze never wavered from her.
“How did you manage that feat?” Cliff asked, smiling proudly at his son.
Alexi turned to his father. “That is a long story, one that involves a few pretty pennies and a very astute and greedy comprador.”
Elysse realized she had remained upon the last few steps like a statue. What on earth was wrong with her? She quickly started down them, still watching Alexi as he turned to one of her girlfriends, who asked him what Pekoe tea was like. Before he could answer, Elysse felt herself miss a step and stumble.
She seized the railing, mortified. She was usually very graceful. As she grasped the railing, someone caught her arm, preventing her from crashing to her knees and utterly humiliating herself.
Alexi slid his arm securely around her.
As he helped her straighten, Elysse looked up into his dazzling blue eyes.
For one moment, she was in his embrace. He began to smile, as if amused. “Hello, Elysse.”
Her cheeks felt terribly hot, but that was from the embarrassment of being so foolishly clumsy, not from being in his arms—she was certain. Still, she was terribly confused and almost disoriented. She had never felt so small, so petite and feminine, and Alexi had never seemed so strong, so tall or so male. His body was hard and warm against hers. Her heart was thundering now.
What on earth was wrong with her?
Somehow, she stepped away, putting a proper distance between them. His smile seemed to widen. Her flush felt as if it had expanded—even her chest was hot. “Hello, Alexi. I have never heard of Pekoe tea.” She lifted her chin.
“I am not surprised. No one gets first pickings—except, of course, for me,” he boasted. His gaze seemed to be on her décolletage, then her eyes. She wasn’t certain what had just happened. She wondered suddenly if he found her beautiful, as her many suitors did.
It took her a moment to recover. “Of course you got the best tea.” Strangely unnerved, she said lightly, “I didn’t know you were back. When did you get home?”
“I thought Ariella sent you a note last night,” he drawled, and she realized that he had instantly seen through her deception. “I docked in Liverpool three days ago. I got home last night.” He shoved his hands in the pockets of his riding coat, making no move to walk back into the salon.
“I’m surprised you even bothered to come home,” she said, deciding to pout.
He gave her an odd look she could not decipher, and suddenly lifted her hand. “So you’re not wearing a ring.”
She pulled her hand free. His touch had made her heart slam. “I have had five offers, Alexi. And they were very good offers. But I turned each gentleman down.”
His gaze narrowed. “If the offers were such good ones, why would you do that? I seem to recall that your intent was to be wed by the time you were eighteen.”
He was laughing at her! Or was he? He was smiling, but he had glanced aside. “Perhaps I changed my mind.”
His gaze flickered. “Hmm, why wouldn’t that surprise me? Have you become a romantic, Elysse?” He laughed. “Are you waiting for true love?”
“Oh, I had forgotten how annoying you can be! Of course I am romantic—unlike you!” His teasing was familiar and it felt safe.
“I’ve known you since we were children. You are less a romantic than an insatiable flirt!”
Now she was truly annoyed. “All women flirt, Alexi—unless, of course, they are old, fat or ugly!”
“Ah, you remain rather uncharitable. I am thinking that your suitors must not have had the necessary qualifications to become your husband.” His eyes danced now. “Have you set your sights on a duke, maybe? Or an Austrian prince? How suitable that would be! Can I play matchmaker? I know a duke or two!”
Surely he wasn’t serious? “Clearly, you do not know me at all. I am very romantic. And no, you may not play matchmaker!”
“Really?”