"It's much bigger than I expected." Thea walked around him and peered intently at the boiler. "No wonder you balked at bringing it to Jacob."
Drake grunted.
She laughed. "It wouldn't have made any difference to Jacob. He spent two days on a raft surrounded by hungry sharks during an attempt to escape his life as a slave. He won't go anywhere near the ocean, not even to return to his homeland."
Drake tied a final knot in the lashing against the boiler.
"How did he end up as your town blacksmith? I thought runaway slaves were punished, not freed."
"They are." The fierce expression in Thea's eyes softened. "My mother purchased his freedom. She offered to send him back to his family in Africa, but he wouldn't go. He worked for our company until he had made enough money to open his smithy. He's married to the sweetest woman and they have six children now. The oldest just got orders to sail on one of our ships."
Drake marveled at the genuine feeling he heard in her voice. She cared, really cared about this freedman and his family. The difference between her viewpoint and that of a typical London beauty seared him. Would she care about the circumstances of his birth, or would her acceptance stop short of that?
He had no intention of finding out. He would not be revealing any secrets, of his birth or otherwise, in the short time his ship was moored in the waters of her island's bay.
He moved toward the front of the wagon to take his seat in the driver's box, only to come up short when she did the same thing. He pulled back. "Miss Selwyn, perhaps you will allow me to drive?"
She put her han
d over her eyes, squinting up at him. "Why? I can assure you that I am perfectly capable of driving."
He had no doubt that she was capable of doing just about anything she set her mind to, but it was his boiler and his responsibility. He would drive. "Thank you for the offer, but it isn't necessary."
She drew herself up. "That's silly. I know the roads better than you. After all, I live here. I will drive you and your boiler to Jacob."
He had wasted all the time he could afford to. She let out a surprised shriek when he picked her up and tossed her onto the passenger side of the bench.
Before she had time to right her clothes, much less herself, he jumped up next to her and grabbed the reins. "As there is only one road between here and the smithy, I do not think it will require your lifetime of living here to navigate it."
She sputtered something about insufferable, bossy men before situating herself on the bench. Her stiff posture left no question that she was annoyed and he almost smiled. When she finally did marry, she would lead her husband a merry chase.
"Why is it so important for you to fix your boiler now?" she asked in a tone that said her curiosity had gotten the better of her anger.
Knowing it would tweak her temper, he replied, "It's broken."
She drew in a long breath that put her gentle curves in prominence, and he found himself looking at her in a way no gentleman should ogle a lady.
"I realize that." She shifted as she was facing him on the seat, and he forced his own gaze forward before she noted its direction and became offended. "But why now? Why won't tomorrow or the next day do?"
His shoulders tensed, any humor he had found in baiting her disappearing.
* * *
Chapter 3
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Langley has discovered that his aunt has been allowing me to see my son. Langley is furious. He told her that if it continues, she will never see Jared again. She told me that he has plans to take the babe back to Langley Hall. Ensconced in this crackerbox of a house on the outskirts of London that my husband has seen fit to banish me to, how can I see my son? I ache for him. What can he learn of love from a man whose heart is no more than stone?
June 5, 1798
Journal of Anna Selwyn, Countess of Langley
"I took out a policy on the return date of my ship with Lloyd's of London."
She smoothed her skirt, reminding him of the altogether pleasing legs beneath the thin muslin. Merewether had said she was oblivious, but could any woman be that ignorant of her feminine appeal?
"So if you don't return by a certain date, you'll lose your money?" she asked.