Page 75 of Gentleman's Trade
“Yes, and see if you know what you’ve gotten yourself into!” called out another to accompanying laughter from the group.
“What do they mean?” asked Vanessa.
“Shh,” hushed Hugh as he waved farewell, smiling broadly.
Vanessa stamped her foot. “Don’t you shh me. I saved you today. I have a right to know,” she declared.
“Yes, my love, you do, and you will, soon,” he said consolingly as the three of them turned to enter the house.
She was delighted by the endearment and was moved to make some comment in return when she looked up and noted the entire household seemed to be standing in the doorway, waiting. She clamped her lips firmly together, the twin red flags flying again in her cheeks.
Trevor went eagerly to Adeline’s side, placing his arm around her waist as he bent down and whispered in her ear. She glowed with pleasure, and they turned to walk slowly toward the parlor. Everyone followed them, smiles all around.
Hugh held Vanessa back from entering the room. Grasping both her hands in his, he solemnly looked down at her. “I have been every kind of fool there is,” he began gruffly.
“No, no!” she protested, “It is I—”
He held his finger up to her lips to halt her outpouring of impassioned words. “Hush, my love,” he murmured, then his hand fell away from her face and slid down her arm in a gentle caress. “I need your help,” he said earnestly. “I am buying a business here in New Orleans, and I know I’m going to need assistance in acclimating myself so I don’t offend.”
“What?” began Vanessa.
“Now wait, I must warn you it is likely to be arduous labor and take all of your energies to turn me into a proper American.”
Her eyes shining, she stared up at him, “Oh, a seven-days-a-week job, I’m sure, with very long hours will do.”
He nodded solemnly, “A great many long, private hours, I’m certain.”
Doubt clouded her eyes briefly, and she bit her lip. “Are you sure, very sure? For I know, now, I would come with you wherever you chose to live.”
He smiled down at her, raising a gentle finger to trace the faint frown line in her brow. “Very sure. But actually,” he continued, “I don’t have much choice, for I don’t believe in perpetual absentee management.”
She pulled away from him slightly. “What are you talking about?”
“You are now looking at the owner of numerous warehouses down on the battery.”
“What!”
“We advised one Mr. Russell Wilmot of the capture of his confederates and their subsequent volubility regarding his actions. We convinced him he might be wise to sell out and leave town before the constables arrive to instigate his own arrest.”
Vanessa raised her hands to her lips in delighted surprise, straining to keep her laughter in check.
“After a bit of, ah, persuasion, he decided that was his best course of action and speedily signed over his assets to me. I, in turn, wrote a letter to my bank, which I hand-delivered in Mr. Wilmot’s company, saw him paid, and sped him on his way.”
She clapped her hands excitedly. “Oh, ’tis rich, I vow!”
He smiled down at her and shook his head. “Not as rich as I feel right now,” he said ardently, sensuous flames leaping in his eyes.
Within Vanessa, a strange fluttering sensation tickled her stomach, followed by the tingling this man’s nearness always seemed to promote. She looked at him shyly, then a smile curved her lips upward, radiating her face. On tiptoe, she leaned toward him, tilting her face up.
Her name, a soft moan on his lips, was all she heard before his mouth captured hers in a searing kiss.
Behind them, Paulette opened the parlor door, for everyone was anxious to congratulate Hugh and was curious as to his failure to follow them into the room. She blinked and shut it quickly, leaning against it.
"Je suis tres stupide,”she remonstrated herself softly while hitting her forehead with the heel of her hand. She looked at the rest of the assembled company expectantly waiting. She dimpled at them and winked. “Me, I think I shall do some embroidery. It may be a long while before we hear the tale from Mr. Talverton. At least now he shall be around to tell it, no?”
