He wasn’t a gentleman, obviously—no well-bred man would ever pilot a ship, but Elysse was impressed by his charm. He had an unmistakable Southern accent, and she recalled that most American men from the Southern states were terribly gallant. “And it is my pleasure to receive you, sir.” She laughed. “It isn’t every day that I meet a fearless pilot who has sailed the high seas of China!”
He smiled warmly now, his glance quickly drifting down the bodice of her dress. “Our voyages are long, Miss O’Neill, and beautiful ladies are rare. I wasn’t sure you would speak with me.”
“You are our guest!” she exclaimed. She touched his arm lightly—flirtatiously. “Where are you from, Mr. Montgomery? My family has a tobacco plantation in Virginia.”
“Baltimore, Miss O’Neill. Like the captain, I come from a long line of seafaring men. My father was a ship’s master, and my grandfather was a pilot, as was my great-grandfather before him here in Britain. In fact, I grew up listening to my grandfather’s sailing stories, mostly about the Ivory Coast and the African trade—in the last century, of course.”
“My father was a naval captain, Mr. Montgomery, so I am fascinated.” Elysse meant it. But more importantly, Alexi had just noticed their conversation. “Of course, we no longer trade in slaves here in the Empire, but in your grandfather’s time, that was a very busy occupation, was it not?”
“It most certainly was,” he agreed. “In America, we outlawed the slave trade in ’08, well before I was born. In my grandfather’s time it was a dangerous trade—I believe the African continent remains perilous, for those who dare to attempt to make their profits there still.”
“I am against the slave trade,” Elysse said firmly. The trade had been abolished in the British Empire in ’07. “Even though my family has a tobacco plantation in Virginia, and we have slaves there, I also favor emancipation in the Empire and throughout the world.”
“That is a bold position, Miss O’Neill. In my country, abolition is an issue that divides us. If I may be bold, I would love to visit Sweet Briar, if I was ever in Virginia again.” He smiled, revealing strong white teeth. “I should especially enjoy such a visit if you were there to show me the plantation.”
Elysse smiled archly at him. “I would love to give you a tour of Sweet Briar! But how could we possibly arrange that? The next time I am there, you will undoubtedly be running for China!”
“Yes, I could be crossing the Cape of Good Hope.”
“Or beating up the China Sea.” She laughed. “By the time you received my letter, I would have probably returned home.”
“Probably—and it will be my loss.”
They smiled at one another. “I heard Alexi say that you met in Lower Canada,” Elysse said.
“We certainly did—in the midst of a blizzard. In fact, poachers were trying to steal the furs Alexi had just bought for his cargo home. I saved his life and we have been friends ever since.”
Elysse was fascinated. “How did you save his life?”
From behind her, Alexi said softly, “The French had a few natives in their employ and I was seriously outnumbered.”
She had been so engrossed that it took her a moment to realize that Alexi had come up to them. She turned, her heart exploding. He stood beside them, his arms folded across his chest, smiling. But she knew him well, and his smile did not reach his eyes.
She was taken aback. “What’s wrong?” Could he be jealous?
“What letter will you send William?”
“An invitation to Sweet Briar,” she said lightly, then turned her back on him and faced Montgomery.
“I so want to hear more about Lower Canada, the poachers and the natives,” she said eagerly.
“That is a long story,” the American began, glancing at Alexi.
“One unsuitable for a lady’s ears,” Alexi said flatly. “Would you excuse us, William?”
Montgomery hesitated. Then he bowed. “It has been my pleasure, Miss O’Neill. I hope we can continue this conversation another time.”
“Of course we can,” Elysse said, smiling at him. What was Alexi hiding? Did he really think her too frail to hear the truth about his travels? Had something terrible happened, which he didn’t wish for her to know about?
William Montgomery walked off to join Devlin and Cliff. Elysse realized she was alone with Alexi. He was scowling at her. “What is wrong?” she asked. Surely he wasn’t angry with her for speaking to Montgomery? “Your pilot is a very interesting man. And a handsome one, at that.”
He took her arm, moving her into a corner by the drapery-clad windows. “Don’t flirt with Montgomery, Elysse.” His tone was filled with warning.
“Why not?” she cried, pulling free of his grasp.
“He is a pilot, Elysse, and a rogue.”
She started. “You are a rogue, and I am allowed to speak with you!”
He glared. “He is not for you. I suggest you direct your flirtations at Ogilvy and his ilk.”
She searched his eyes. He had never been jealous of her suitors before—and William Montgomery wasn’t even a suitor. Alexi was right—as interesting as he was, he was a pilot, not a gentleman.
She began to smile. She touched his hand, which was large and hard, the knuckles cracked, the skin there suntanned. “You needn’t be jealous, Alexi,” she murmured.
“Don’t even try to flirt with me! I am not jealous.” He shrugged. “I am merely trying to protect you from a dangerous ladies’ man, Elysse. Montgomery has a way with women, and I don’t want you to fall under his spell.”
“I am hardly under his spell.” She glanced up at him from beneath her lashes, aware that she was flirting. “I’m glad you’re not jealous, Alexi. Mr. Montgomery is very interesting—fascinating, actually—and very handsome. And he is a guest in this house.”
For one moment he stared. Elysse knew him well, but she couldn’t decide what he was truly thinking. Then he leaned closer, crowding her against the draperies. “Are you trying to play me?” he asked, very softly.
A little thrill swept her. She could barely breathe now. “I have no idea what you mean. But you can’t object to my having a pleasant conversation with your pilot—or seeing him again.” She batted her lashes at him while her heart raced frantically.
“Montgomery piloted the Ariel to Lower Canada and Jamaica and then to Canton and back. I trust him with my ship and the lives of my men, but I do not trust him with you.” His stare darkened. He added, “You are impossible, Elysse. I am asking you to avoid him—for your sake, not mine.”
His shoulder still pressed hers. It was becoming hard to think clearly. She whispered, “I will think about it.”
Suddenly his gaze dropped from her eyes to her mouth. Elysse tensed. In that one moment, she thought he was going to kiss her. Instead, he straightened and slowly shook his head, appearing disgusted. “Fine. Think about it. But don’t say I didn’t tell you so.”
CHAPTER TWO
HE WAS RESTLESS and he did not know why. After so much time away from his family, his mood should have been entirely different. Usually the time he spent in his family home in Ireland was somewhat aimless, his pursuits casual—long rides across the countryside, visits to his neighbors, tea with his sisters and raucous family suppers. He didn’t feel casual now. Instead, he felt like rushing back to his ship and hoisting sail.
Last night, sleep had eluded him. All evening, he had