Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

James

Anna fell back to sleep sitting up in his arms.

His heart cracked as he held her, his hands splaying out on her back. A fragile beauty, this woman had been through hell and what she deserved…

Honestly, what she deserved was a man better than himself.

Currently, though, he was the best he could offer.

His hands splayed out on her back, cradling her body to his chest. He leaned back and slowly turned her so as not to wake her but allow her to rest in a more reclined position. She let out a sigh, but didn't open her eyes, nor did she stiffen in wakefulness.

Her sister and Jack still stood in the doorway.

Jack was a formidable man, there was no denying it. He had been in the company of James and all his associates for months before he'd admitted he was an agent of the crown. Perhaps he ought to be worried about what Jack might think of the intimacy playing out between himself and Anna. And yet… James focused on Kate.

Her arms were crossed as she gave him a hard stare.

He had the feeling that Kate was the person he needed to worry about today. Unlike Anna, who seemed delicate and a bit broken, Kate appeared to be standing solidly on her own two feet and if he were honest, she looked as though she were about to wage war.

"I've done nothing untoward with your sister," he said, not taking his hands from around Anna. She was more comfortable in his embrace, he was certain about that.

"I'm not concerned with what you've done."

"You're not."

"My concern is what you're going to do."

"Kate," Jack started, the appeal in his voice unlike anything James had ever heard from the other man. Jack had two methods of speaking. Sarcasm and determination. He never pleaded. Until now.

Kate waved his words away.

"I'm not going to do anything."

"Yes, you are," Kate replied, her brows notching up.

"And what is it you think I'm going to do?" he asked then, letting out a long breath of air as he gave Kate a wary stare.

"I think you're going to marry Anna."

Her words near knocked the air from his lungs. He'd assumed she'd been worried about his advances outside of marriage. "I am not?—"

"You've been alone with her. You're obviously protective," Kate began ticking off a list on her fingers. "You know if you don't, she'll be an outcast, and she'd make an excellent wife. Kind, understanding, easy."

His mouth dropped open. "We met two hours ago."

"So?"

"The reward for rescuing her is being saddled with a wife?"

"You say saddled, I say privileged."

He shook his head. "I'm not the marrying kind."

"This boat is full of those."

"I shouldn't be entrusted with the care of women. Any woman."

Kate's eyes moved up and down him with Anna in his arms. "Yes. I can see how ill-suited you are to the task."

He let out a frustrated rumble. "I nearly ruined my sister's life when she was my charge. Trust me. I'm not the man you think."

"You weren't the man your sister needed then. The question is, are you the man Anna needs now?" The words cut through him.

Had he changed enough to give Anna what she needed? "It's a gamble."

Kate stepped closer. "Not to my mind. It's you or it's no one. The way you prove you are still ill-suited to her care is to reject my suggestion. Then, you are still the man who doesn't care for women."

Then Kate spun on her heel and left the room.

Jack still stood in the door, staring at him and Anna.

"Bloody hell," he muttered, looking at his friend. "What just happened?"

"She's glorious, isn't she?" Jack gave a half grin.

"Anna?"

"No. Kate." Jack looked back over his shoulder and down the hall. "That's the kind of challenge that could keep a man interested."

"She tell you that you needed to marry her?"

"No. She told me that she didn't wish to marry at all."

Damn. Jack's chin pulled back. That woman was smart. Not only had she slipped past every wall he'd tossed up, she'd piqued Jack's interest far more than any woman James had ever seen.

And he'd seen a fair number try and attract Jack's attention. While James was handsome in the sort of neighbor-next-door kind of way, Jack had dashing and dangerous good looks. And women were forever interested in his friend.

But Jack rarely returned the attention.

But Kate…she'd captured Jack's notice and then some.

"Can you tell her that I'm not the man she thinks I am?"

Jack shook his head. "No."

"Why not?"

"Because you are exactly the man she thinks you are. And I know you have a hang up about your sister Pippa but?—"

"You know what Isabelle's father tried to do to Isabelle? Selling her to the highest bidder who turned out to be a detestable man and a criminal?"

"Yes. I remember."

"I nearly did the same to Pippa. I was desperate and stupid, and I deserve to suffer for what I nearly did to her."

Jack let out a long breath as he scrubbed a hand through his hair. "Isabelle's father thinks he is completely justified. What's more, even after everything Isabelle went through, it is clear he he's trying to do the same to Kate. Are you that man, James?"

His arm tightened around Anna. "And if he can't marry Kate to the highest bidder?"

Jack looked down at Anna sleeping in his arms. They both understood. If Kate avoided the trap, Anna was next. The girls might be ruined for society matches but a merchant or a criminal looking to marry an earl's daughter? There was money to be made with a match like that. "I know what kind of man you are, Bancroft, and it's a damn good one. Don't forget it."

And then Jack sauntered out the door, softly closing it behind him.

James sat for a long time, listening to Anna breathe before he made up his mind.

And then he lifted her and settled them both in the bunk, the length of his body pressed to hers.