Captain's Bride by Kat Martin Page A

her a bit of a lift. She’d flirt with him outrageously,
show the captain just how charming she could be.
    After a final quick glance in the mirror, Glory
headed down the sweeping staircase dressed in a rose silk day
dress. While April had coiffed her hair in ringlets beside her
face, Plenty had brought her warm sweet rolls and coffee, since
she’d missed breakfast, which, from the look on her father’s face,
he was none too happy about.
    “Good morning, gentlemen. Captain,” she said
pointedly and caught the hint of a frown from her father and a look
of amusement from Nicholas.
    “Good morning, Glory,” Eric said. His hazel eyes
swept over her, his look of adoration unmistakable. “You look
ravishing, as always.”
    “Thank you, Eric.”
    “Glory, we’ve been waiting patiently down here for
hours,” her father said. “Nicholas and I are riding over to the
rice fields. Since it’s such a lovely day, we thought you might
enjoy coming with us.”
    “That’s very thoughtful of you, Father,” Glory said.
“But I have an engagement at Buckland Oaks.”
    “I’ll be happy to escort you,” Eric put in, his hazel
eyes soft.
    “What kind of engagement?” her father wanted to
know.
    “Miriam is planning a costume ball, and I’ve agreed
to help. Besides, her mother is sick, and I’m taking her some of
Plenty’s special remedy.”
    Julian sighed in defeat. “Well, I suppose you have no
choice if Mrs. Allstor is ill.”
    Glory smiled at the captain, who hadn’t said a word
and looked utterly bored by the entire conversation. “Have a nice
ride, Captain. I’ll see you at supper.”
    He merely nodded, looked hard at Eric, who had rushed
to open the door, then returned his attention to her father, who
appeared not the slightest bit happy about this latest turn of
events.
    Outside, Glory called for the calèche to be readied,
instructing them to leave the top open in concession to the
beautiful weather, while she conversed lightly with Eric. He told
her he’d thought of her every moment since the night of her
birthday, told her how much he adored her, and asked her to attend
Miriam’s costume ball with him. As handsome and attentive as he
was, Glory found it hard to keep her mind on the conversation. She
suddenly wished she’d gone riding with her father and the
captain—though for the life of her she couldn’t imagine why.
    Glory spent the day at Miriam’s feeling the same
disquiet she’d felt before she left. She’d sent Eric packing as
soon as they arrived, telling him how much she and Miriam had to do
and placating him with a tentative acceptance of his invitation to
the costume ball. All the while she wondered what Nicholas
Blackwell and her father were doing.
    Miriam only made matters worse. “How are you and that
roguish sea captain getting along?” she asked. “He is, without
doubt, the most wickedly handsome man I’ve ever seen. Why, I’d
positively die to spend the day with him. But then, I guess you
have so many beaux you hardly need another.” They were seated on
the porch, looking out across manicured gardens toward the
river.
    “I told you before, Miriam, Captain Blackwell’s an
arrogant, despicable man. Why he . . . he’s no gentleman, I’ll tell
you that.”
    “Did he kiss you, Glory? Did he?”
    “Don’t be a featherhead, Miriam. Captain Blackwell
and I don’t get along at all. If he weren’t Father’s friend, I
swear I wouldn’t so much as speak to the man. He’s rude and
overbearing; he’s ill-tempered and inconsiderate; he’s—”
    “Absolutely divine,” Miriam broke in. She rolled her
eyes and fluttered her painted fan, and Glory fought down an urge
to strangle her. She changed the subject to something safer, and
the long afternoon rolled slowly to a close, Glory staunchly
refusing to arrive at home before her father and the captain, no
matter how tedious Miriam’s usually sparkling company seemed.
    She even forced herself to stay a little longer than
usual. By