My Wicked Pirate. Rona Sharon
busybodies with nothing better to do than to spy on everyone’s lives and voice their cutting-edge criticism. Obviously they were here on a mission.
“Good afternoon, ladies.” Alanis smiled. “What a delightful surprise. May I present my dear friend, Countess Jasmine. She’s come all the way from Rome and hardly speaks a word in English. I trust you’ll welcome her into your counc, eh, circle as you have embraced me.”
The ladies tittered and curtsied. Mrs. Greyson exclaimed, “My dear Lady Alis! How lovely it is to see you again. We’ve met but once, yet I feel we’ve become dear friends.”
“Hmm.” Alanis smiled. “How lovely.”
“Our visit today is of vital importance.” Madam Holbrook plunged into the matter at hand. “A most distressing rumor has reached our ears. We came here at once to investigate.”
“Indeed, we rushed here to save you before it was too late!” Marianne cried.
“Save me?” Alanis took her seat, cuing Jasmine to do the same. “Save me from what?”
“From whom! My dear, we strongly suspect his lordship is harboring dangerous criminals.”
“Dangerous criminals?” Alanis gasped dramatically. “I don’t believe it!” She cast horrified eyes at the chalk-faced Jasmine, hoping the poor girl would get the gist of it. “How dreadful!”
“Indeed it is.” Mrs. Greyson huffed. “Quite shocking! Perhaps you’d be able to shed some light on the matter. According to our sources,” she whispered, “the notorious pirate, Eros, and his promiscuous paramour are on the island in this very house. Now what make you of that?”
“Goodness gracious!” Alanis gripped Jasmine’s hand, looking appalled. “Cutthroats, here?”
“Well, what is he like?” Marianne bubbled excitedly. “Is he handsome? May we see him?”
“Hush, girl. We are not here to pay a social call on a ruthless killer,” Mrs. Greyson dourly reproached. “We are here to rescue her ladyship.”
Madam Holbrook took the reins. “His lordship has an important mission to perform, and we salute him. However, you are genteel, unmarried females. Residing in a bachelor establishment without proper supervision while there are pirates onboard…why, that’s blasphemous!” She shuddered. “Therefore, I’ve taken it upon myself, as the long extended arm of your grandfather, to ensure your reputations remain unblemished. I accept this responsibility neither lightly nor precipitously, and I am prepared to dedicate myself to the task as demanding as it may be. As it is written in the Good Book, ‘Evil inclination is one of the worst things, since its Creator called it evil.’ His lordship should exercise good sense and imprison the blackguards in the fortress!”
“Everyone expects the hanging, and his lordship procrastinates,” Mrs. Greyson complained with palpable annoyance. “What is he about?”
“You must get rid of them at once!” Madam Holbrook huffed decisively.
Alanis scrutinized their flushed faces. They were not only ill-mannered snoops, they were bloodthirsty as well. Fighting the urge to kick them out, she realized no amount of good manners would see her through this inquisition without her losing her sanity altogether. Sometimes one had to put one’s foot down to put wags in their places. “I’m afraid you were terribly misled. The villain you mentioned died by his lordship’s sword yesterday. So if there’s nothing else…”
“But there is!” Mrs. Greyson exclaimed. “We have all seen him. The big, dark man they carried wounded into the house. And there was a woman at his side, a heathenish thing, covered in blood with an unruly mane of curls and wearing man’s breeches!”
Alanis glanced at Jasmine, admiring her coiffeur. “Truly ladies, there must be a mistake. You must have imagined the entire thing. Perhaps the heat…”
“Heavens! To be labeled a liar!” Mrs. Greyson collapsed back, fanning her face. “Quick, Marianne, my smelling salts! I feel my faintness coming upon me.”
Alanis was not deceived. “Do forgive my poor choice of words. I meant to say you must have witnessed another poor devil being carted away, but surely not—”
“It was Eros!” Marianne cried excitedly. “He had black hair and a powerful physique. I—”
“Hush, Marianne! Let Lady Alis enlighten us. It appears we have overlooked a great deal.” A doubtful gleam appeared in Madam Holbrook’s eyes. “Did you say a man was brought here?”
Alanis paused. It would take more lies to convince this shrewd hag no trickery was played.
Jasmine coughed discreetly. “Un uomo?” She looked thoughtful. “Ah, mio fratello!”
Alanis shot her a startled look, then hid a sly smile. “Of course. The countess’s brother! What a charming man. Unfortunately, he was struck with a terrible fever on our way over and is presently ill disposed, but I shall be delighted to introduce him to you when he is improved.”
“I don’t believe this!” Madam Holbrook sprang to a battle stance. “Lady Alis, you are leading us on a merry chase and I won’t have it! I firmly demand satisfaction!”
Alanis defiantly rose to the matron’s eye level. The other two came off the couch to uphold a united front with the madam. To bolster defenses, Jasmine joined Alanis. “I am sorry, madam,” Alanis said, “but I can give you none. If you insist further, I shall be forced to see you out.”
“Do not be impertinent with me, young lady! As your new chaperone, I demand—”
“I am not that young a lady, madam. I am four and twenty, which is too old to be in need of guidance. As for my manners, they are no more lacking than yours.”
“I will not be dismissed—”
“You are not my chaperone, Madam Holbrook. Silverlake is my guardian, appointed by my grandfather, and the countess’s excellent company will also keep me from harm’s way. Now, I’ve answered your questions, and I must beg you to leave. I have a ball to prepare for.”
The doors opened, and an unsuspecting Chambers walked in with the tea tray. The madam looked aghast. “I will not excuse such impudence! I demand to search the premises myself!” She took a precarious step toward the door. Quick to the rescue, Chamber swiftly stepped between the madam and the exit, embracing the silver tray to his well-tailored breast.
“This is Viscount Silverlake’s private residence,” Alanis said sternly, “and you’ve insulted him in every possible way. You are no longer welcome.” She smiled coolly. “Good day.”
Beaten but not entirely defeated, Madam Holbrook led out her troops with an occasional, “Why, I never—” while ignoring Alanis, who followed to confirm the council’s safe departure. When they reached their coach, the madam voiced her final blow. “You have not heard the last of this, Lady Alis! Your rascally mouth will not go unpunished! What insolence! And from the granddaughter of the Duke of Dellamore, no less! I’m vastly displeased, vastly displeased!”
Chambers sealed the doors on another resounding “What insolence!” and Alanis and Jasmine returned to the morning room to recover over tea and scones, utterly exhausted.
“It is yet early to change your mind,” Alanis said. “Madam Holbrook is only a sample of what you are to expect.”
“She was truly a nasty one. I was quite terrified. If they went upstairs and found Eros—”
Alanis grimaced. “I do not believe Eros is inclined to harming women, but it wouldn’t have come as a shock to me if he had cut off their flapping tongues. I had the urge to do so myself.”
Jasmine sighed. “You’ve said it yourself—the Witches Council. Thank God they mounted their brooms and winged away.” They stared at each other and burst out laughing.
The Silverlake coach bounced