Desire and Deception (36 page)

But when Jason related some of the problems and challenges the fleet constantly faced, Lauren realized Jason was drastically understating the impact he had had on the continuing success of the Carlin Line.

"Still," she observed, "you must have found it difficult at times, managing such a vast enterprise."

"Actually it's been a great deal of fun. Burroughs taught me a great deal before he died." Noting Lauren's sudden silence, Jason gave her a speculative glance. "Burroughs was actually quite brilliant when it came to making business decisions. It's a shame that he should have been such a complete
addlebrain
when dealing with you. I suspect he was afraid of you."

Lauren eyed Jason skeptically.
"Of
me?"

"He was scared to death of the responsibility. I must admit he didn't handle it at all well."

"You make him sound almost human."

"And so he was, with human failings like the rest of us, Lauren. I don't expect you can ever find it in your heart— mind what I said—to forgive him. But perhaps some day you'll understand why he did what he did."

Lauren pressed her lips together, unwilling to consider the possibility or to discuss Burroughs further.

"Have you ever considered becoming a governess?" Jason asked suddenly, causing her to regard him with puzzlement. "That tight-lipped frown of yours would strike terror in the breast of the most stalwart child."

Lauren made an effort to relax, and even favored Jason with a faint smile.

"Better," he laughed. "I shouldn't like to think my new partner was planning to desert me when I need her help."

"Help?"

Reining in his horse, Jason brought their small cavalcade to a halt so he could study the trail. Lauren watched him, fascinated that he could make anything of the jumbled tracks crisscrossing the ground. He was apparently satisfied with the signs, for he urged his horse on and continued the conversation where they had left off.

"You'll understand, once you speak to Beauvais. He wanted to call me out for my behavior the night I barged into his house. I refused his challenge, of course, for I was in something of a hurry, and fortunately Lila managed to calm us both down. Even so, I'll be lucky if Beauvais considers accepting my apology for the things I said to him—the least insulting of which was to disparage his intelligence for letting you work in a gaming hell."

"But Jean-Paul had nothing to do with it," Lauren defended.

"I know, it was
all
my
fault," Jason said good
humoredly
. "But I'm counting on you to smooth things over with him. Actually, I liked Beauvais when I met him. He would find that quite a compliment if he knew me better. I have a strong aversion to all things French. Comes from having to keep my homeland from being overrun by a pint-sized Corsican with a corpulent ego, I don't doubt."

"Does he know about your past relationship with his wife?"

At her innocent tone, Jason shot Lauren a wry glance. "Not to my knowledge—and I don't plan on telling him, either. Lila wasn't concerned about it, and that particular intelligence might have a definite effect on our profits, if not my life. Kyle thinks we need Beauvais's assistance to start a reliable distributorship." Jason then went on to explain his plan to open an office in New Orleans.

"It sounds exciting," Lauren observed wistfully, not hiding the envy in her voice.

"Rather dull stuff, actually. But I'm glad you don't see it that way, for you're to be in charge." Jason grinned when she looked surprised. "You didn't think that I would let you fail to hold up your end of our partnership, did you? You'll be quite busy, sweetheart.
Worn off your feet, even.
Too tired, I hope, to even think about playing the pianoforte for a melee of lecherous gamblers."

One delicate brow lifted. "And what will you
be
doing while I am working my fingers to the bone?"

"Keeping you out of trouble, I trust." The humorous gleam in Jason's blue eyes deepened at the arch look Lauren bestowed on him. "I get to be your adviser. And I'll also have to supervise the warehouse construction."

"Would there be any jobs for Matthew
MacGregor
, do you suppose? I had planned for him to captain my ship, but he says he's getting too old."

"Tell me what you know about him."

"He was once a smuggler," Lauren announced, curious to hear Jason's reaction.

His mobile mouth twisted wryly. "I don't find that difficult to believe, knowing the colorful pasts of some of your other friends. But Lila already told me that much about him. I confess I wasn't shocked. I prefer to stay on the right side of the law myself, but still, I can admire an enterprising fellow. I'm more interested in
MacGregor's
trading skills. His prior occupation doesn't concern me, so long as he's trustworthy now."

"Matthew has always been trustworthy," Lauren declared, not hiding her intense loyalty. She then told Jason about Matthew's fur trade and how he had managed to develop it into a successful business.

Jason nodded thoughtfully. "You may be right. We might be wise to involve him in this venture somehow. I'll talk to him when he returns."

After that, their topics of conversation ranged widely, from the shipping industry in general, to their personal histories, to plans for the immediate future. When Jason asked Lauren about her life during the past four years, she found herself talking to him as if she had known him always. It was only later that she realized the ease with which Jason drew her story from her.

Later, when she spoke of Lila's marriage, Jason asked how she had weathered the war between America and England. Lauren told him of the impending attack by British troops two years before that had had the entire city of New Orleans in a state of panic. Even though the American government had sent Andrew Jackson to defend the city, his forces were ill-equipped and mostly comprised of civilians.

"Lila was frantic," Lauren admitted, "primarily because Jean-Paul was involved in the fighting. We were prepared to leave Bellefleur at a moment's notice if New Orleans fell, but as it turned out, there were very few American casualties, and Jean-Paul received hardly a scratch."

"While the British lost two thousand troops," Jason put in grimly.

"I know. It was horrible. They said it was the bloodiest battle of the entire war. And the terrible irony was that it took place two weeks
after
the Ghent peace treaty was signed."

When Lauren wondered out loud if the fighting in Napoleonic wars had been as fierce, Jason told her something of his own past experiences and his battles at sea. He actually said very little about the dangers he had faced, but the realization that the virile, handsome man riding beside her could have lost his life many times over left Lauren strangely disturbed.

One other thought also disturbed her: the memory of what had happened that day beside the pool. Although she tried not to dwell on it, she couldn't forget how easily Jason had aroused her and brought her to a shattering, gasping release, or the way she had surrendered without a single protest.

She had thought she was safe from his advances since he had vowed not to make love to her until she agreed to marry him. And, strictly speaking, Jason had kept his word. He hadn't taken her, nor had he had any physical gratification himself. He had merely succeeded in heightening her already intense awareness of him. Every time he came near her, she remembered the scent of his skin and the heat of his mouth, and a shaft of unwelcome desire would quiver through her—
which
only served to increase the tension in her body and make her even more aware of the current radiating between them.

He had been right about that, Lauren reflected uneasily as she glanced at Jason. There
was
a compelling, ever-present physical attraction between them. It existed, smoldering like banked embers, ready to flame into life at the merest touch.

Her biggest problem now would be ensuring that it never had the opportunity to do so again.

The unusual dry spell ended the next day, and twice Lauren and Jason were caught in a torrential downpour. Even so, the last miles of their journey passed pleasantly and with remarkable swiftness. When they finally arrived in New Orleans after ferrying across the
Rigolets
Channel, it was still raining and dusk was setting in.

That was when Lauren realized she might have made a dreadful mistake by agreeing to Jason's proposal. He took full advantage of any license implied by a partnership by refusing to let her return to the gaming house, even to fetch her clothes. Nor would he hear of her living alone in Matthew's cabin.

"I won't live at Bellefleur," Lauren declared. "I've taken advantage of Lila's hospitality far too often as it is."

"She doesn't think so," Jason returned. "Besides, I intend to stay there if Beauvais can be brought to renew his invitation."

"Maybe Jean-Paul will refuse to accept your apology."

"Lauren, I can only uphold our bargain if we spend some time together."

"Then perhaps we should forget the whole thing."

"I'm sorry you feel that way," Jason replied blandly. "April is a pleasant month for weddings, don't you agree?" When Lauren scowled, he laughed. "You know, sweetheart, you're the first woman of my acquaintance who could be
threatened
with marriage."

Lauren was quite out of charity with Jason by the time they reached Bellefleur. When they halted in front of the magnificent, galleried plantation house, she didn't even wait for Jason's assistance to dismount. Giving him only a curt farewell, she ran swiftly up the wide front steps into the house. Jason stared after her for a long moment before gathering the reins of the two spare horses and starting back down the wide oak-lined drive toward New Orleans and his hotel.

Lauren had another reason, she discovered after he had gone, to be angry with Jason. Lila greeted her with the inevitable tears and remonstrations, while Jean-Paul demanded a complete accounting of what had happened.

The slender, dark-eyed Creole frowned the entire time Lauren was making her apologies and explanations, but when she had concluded her abbreviated tale, Jean-Paul directed a challenging stare at her, much in the manner of an irate father. "Where is this . . . this Lord
Effing
now?" he demanded.

Puzzled, Lauren glanced at Lila for an explanation. The older woman shifted uncomfortably. "Jason Stuart is a
marquess
now, Lauren.
The
Marquess
of
Effing
."

"He promised," her husband interjected, "to do the honorable thing and wed you."

Lauren was so taken aback that she simply stared at Jean- Paul.

"He took you to his ship, compromised you—"

"Jason
told
you that?" Lauren asked in amazement, finally finding her tongue.

"
Oui
!
Do you deny it?"

Lauren clamped her lips together, realizing now what Jason had meant about having Lila's blessing. Of course Lila would take his part. He had agreed to a marriage! And now Jean-Paul was adding his weight to the argument. How
dare
Jason not warn
her what
to expect? And how
dare
he divulge anything of what had happened between them?

Trying to school her expression into a semblance of calm, Lauren nodded. "I do deny it," she replied. "Jason—his lordship—exaggerated greatly. Just because I accompanied him to his ship doesn't mean he compromised me."