"They were good liars. Most of the family believed them. Only my father and I had doubts about them prior to our learning the truth. But while Andrew-that was Andrássy's real name-helped with the theft of our jewelry aboard ship, he had no part in the kidnapping, even tried to stop it, only to get dragged along with them for that effort. And he helped me escape, so I've forgiven him for being in Catherine's thrall. He was her lover, too-she does spread herself around."
Brandon blushed at her bluntness. "And the captain?"
The captain. Bastard. Too handsome with his long black hair and dark turquoise eyes. That handsomeness had distracted her a number of times she'd been on a tirade, which had made her even more furious.
Her tone was contemptuous when she answered, "He was handsome, but an idiot."
"Because he kidnapped you, of course he was, but-"
"No, because he tried to do it at sea!"
"With both ships moving?" Brandon said in surprise. "Is that possible?"
"Well, it didn't work, so I don't know. Nathan found the man they had planted on our ship to hie off with me. We thought he was a stowaway. No one realized that was their first attempt to kidnap me."
"Bastard was talkative, eh, to tell you all that?"
"Not really." Then she grinned. "I was frustrating him to the point of anger because I refused to eat the first four days they had me on their ship. He inadvertently said it would have been much easier if his friend had gotten me off our ship before he was discovered and had to abandon that plan."
"So they tried again in Bridgeport and succeeded-partially." Brandon looked angry.
"They were working for Catherine's father, and apparently he's not known for his patience. As soon as I became their hostage, he expected my father to be hand-delivered to him. But Bastard failed." She ended with a smirk. Maybe Bastard was already dead for returning to his boss empty-handed. For a moment she relished the thought.
///
"Well, you're a brave woman, Jacqueline Malory. I'm glad you're all right. Still, I'd like to get my hands on those pirates!"
"Don't worry, Brand. My father will take care of them. You should come to London for the rest of the Season. You certainly look like you're old enough to be there." He did, too. Already as tall as his father, Derek, strapping of build, he looked several years older than seventeen.
"Wish I could. But the title causes too much of a stir."
She grinned. "So don't mention it. It's not like the ton knows you by sight yet. And there are so many Malorys, who can keep track of all of us? Sneak in, have some fun, sneak back home."
"I can't be like our fathers, so don't even suggest that, Jack. Dukes can't be rakes."
"Who says they can't?"
At the party, James and his four conspirators got ribbed quite a bit for thinking Anthony might ruin his daughter's special day. A pact was made not to let Judy find out about it, though Tony was quite annoyed when he heard.
Anthony even cornered James to promise, "We'll be meeting at Knighton's as soon as we get back to London, and it's going to be a particularly grueling round in the ring."
James, feeling a tad guilty by then for doubting his brother's professed acquiescence to his daughter's marriage, still said drily, "Does this mean I'm going to have to let you win?"
Nicholas Eden heard that and started laughing, which provoked glares from both brothers and had Regina, Nick's wife, rushing in to whisk her husband out of harm's way. Usually, the brothers' long-standing dislike of the man who had married their favorite niece was merely expressed in disdainful remarks, but with Anthony currently annoyed, Regina wasn't taking any chances.
And Jack was told one time too many at the party that her "special day" would be next. Not bloody likely, but she smiled anyway, determined not to do or say anything that might ruin the happy occasion. But the moment she caught sight of Judith slipping away from the party to run upstairs to change into traveling clothes for her wedding trip, Jacqueline followed, wanting a last few private moments with her best friend.
Judith, turning to see who closed the door behind her, asked, "Are you here to call me a traitor again?"
It wasn't an unfounded question, though Jack had stopped calling Judy a traitor a while back, and she had only said it in jest a few times anyway. They had sworn to each other that they would have fun together this Season without its ending in matrimony. But so many of their family members had assured them both that love happens when it happens, insisting Jack's intention to hold it off was quite unreasonable. But Jack was stubborn, whereas Judy wasn't. Besides, there was also the simple fact that Jack's interest wasn't getting piqued this Season, not enough for it to matter. Nor would she be stuck on a ship with a handsome young man as Judy had been. Actually, Jack had been stuck on a different ship with a handsome young man, but all she'd wanted to do with Bastard was kill him, so that didn't count.