41. Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Jethro stood on the threshold of the drawing room and stared. He could hardly believe his eyes. Alexander had invited his friends to their house, without so much as a by your leave.

The captain leaped to his feet and, grabbing Cassandra by the hand, he led her across the room as though nothing untoward had occurred.

“I persuaded Julia to join us, but as you would not come to the Golden Lion, we brought the party to you. I believe you already know her friend Lucy.”

“Yes, Miss Day and I are acquainted,” Cassandra said, the tightness about her mouth showing her disapproval of the familiarity with which the captain was addressing the teacher. The poor lady looked as if she would rather be anywhere else on earth.

“Cassy, may I present Lieutenants Atkins, Taverner and Bowman?” he said, indicating the three unknown men, who bowed to her as he spoke their names.

Alexander behaved as if his brother-in-law was not there, but that Jethro could not allow. For goodness’ sake, it was his house they were in.

He walked across the room and stood immediately in front of the captain, so he could not be ignored.

“Mr Hunt,” Alexander said to anyone who was listening. “Now, how about some supper, Cassy?” he asked, slipping an arm around her waist. “ I promised these fellows you would furnish them with a hearty meal. I hope I haven’t misled them.”

Jethro’s stomach turned over with disgust. He wanted to ignore the rules of politeness and throw them all out immediately, but Cassandra shot him such a pleading look that he bit back the harsh words that hovered on his lips.

It made him feel somewhat better to see his wife glower at her brother, and then at her sister, who sat on a sofa rather closer to one of the naval officers than was proper. Neither of them could be in any doubt as to Cassandra’s feelings, although she answered in her normal, calm voice.

“I will ask Mrs Timms to organise something.”

Instead of ringing the bell, Cassandra went in search of the housekeeper. A wise move, as the woman would be unprepared for such a large group of visitors descending on them. As unprepared as he was.

Jethro was determined not to leave his guests alone in his house, however unwelcome they were. He took a seat next to Miss Day, who looked in need of rescuing from the rather pointed attentions of one of the other officers.

“I do not believe we have had the chance to converse before, Miss Day. How do you like teaching at Miss Seymour’s School?”

She gave a weak smile, as if grateful for the diversion from Lieutenant Bowman’s flirting.

“Well enough.”

Not very promising. “Was it not a childhood ambition of yours, then, to teach?”

She shot him a strange look. “Is it anybody’s?”

“Maybe. I always wanted to be a merchant.”

“Did—”

“How about a bottle of that burgundy of yours?” Alexander said, rudely interrupting Miss Day.

To judge by the rollicking mood of his guests, Jethro thought the men had already had enough to drink. “I think coffee would be more appropriate at this time of night.”

“Coffee? No! A glass or two of red would be much more palatable, wouldn’t you agree, Danny?”

“I wouldn’t say no if it’s being offered,” Lieutenant Atkins replied.

“Well?” Alexander asked, challenging Jethro with his eyes. “Is it on offer?”

Could he refuse the request without being seen as ungentlemanlike? These men were not his guests, but it was his house, and if they were ill served, it would be his reputation as a host that would be questioned, not the captain’s.

While Jethro hesitated, his wife entered the room, followed by Mrs Timms and a maid, carrying trays piled high with the contents of his larder.

“Ah, excellent,” the captain said, turning his attention to Cassandra and taking in the full extent of the feast being laid out for them. “What a gem of a sister you are. Your husband is just going to bring us some burgundy, though I didn’t like to put him to the trouble. You should get a butler to manage such things for you.”

Cassandra shot Jethro an anxious glance. Could she see how her brother was manipulating him?

“I’ll fetch a bottle,” he said, heading for the door.

“Make it two—if not three,” Alexander called after him. “One won’t last five minutes between so many.”

Jethro retrieved the key to the wine store from his study and hurried down the stairs to the cellar. He did not want to leave Cassandra alone with their unwanted guests for any longer than needed. Perhaps Alexander had a point, and he should hire a butler.

He selected a couple of bottles of burgundy and a third of a lighter wine and gave them to a footman to carry upstairs. Lingering only long enough to relock the cellar door, he hastened to rejoin his wife.

To his horror, when he returned to the drawing room, card tables had been set up, and two of the lieutenants had ventured to light cigars. What kind of men were these officers? Did they have no manners at all?

Cassandra sidled over to where he stood. “I’m sorry. They would have gone outside to smoke, but it’s raining, and Xander said—”

“I can imagine.”

She bit her lip, an apologetic look in her eyes, but when he found her hand and gave it a sympathetic squeeze, she managed a slight smile.

They both sat down to play cards. To stand watching would only make the evening last longer, and Jethro could not wait for it to be over. He would be certain to rake down his obnoxious brother-in-law in the morning, but he would not do so in front of the others.

As the clock struck midnight, Jethro sensed the end drawing near. The game at his table finished, and he stood up.

“Enough cards for one night. I hate to bring the evening to a close, but—”

“Go ahead, Hunt,” said Alexander, a faint slur in his speech. “We don’t need you. I must win back what Danny’s stolen from me. ”

“Stolen?” Atkins said. “Mind your words, Cap.”

“Or what, you rascal?” Alexander said.

“I’ll draw your cork, that’s what,” he said with a laugh.

“Come, come, old boy. You don’t stand a chance against me. I could get you court martialled for insubordination. How would you like that?”

Matters were getting out of hand. These men had been drinking, and Jethro didn’t trust them to behave. “Not in front of the ladies,” he growled at Alexander.

The captain let out a raucous burst of laughter. “You actually believe we’d fight in the middle of your drawing room? What do you think we are? Savages?”

Atkins leaped to his feet, tipping over the table, sending cards and coins everywhere. “Is this man questioning our honour? Shall I call him out?”

“Go take a damper,” Jethro said, unable to keep the scorn out of his voice.

His words seemed to have the contrary effect. To his horror, Atkins advanced toward him, fists raised, as though he intended to punch him.

Jethro turned on Alexander. “If you can’t control your men, I think you’d better leave.”

The man sneered in response, but laid a restraining arm on his comrade. The lieutenant’s steps were so uneven that the movement caught him off balance and he stumbled into the captain, sending him flying to the floor.

On the way down, he knocked into a whatnot, and one of his wife’s Wedgwood vases toppled off and smashed in the fireplace.

Cassandra and Miss Day both squealed, but Julia just laughed.

Jethro refused to stand by and watch these drunken louts ruin his house. He would not see all Cassandra’s hard work go to waste.

“I think it is time you returned the ladies to Miss Seymour’s,” he said, offering Alexander a hand. When he did not take it, Jethro reached down and grabbed his arm, wrenching him to his feet.

As soon as he found his footing, the captain snatched it away. “Was that a suggestion or an order?”

Jethro inhaled deeply. He must not let the man rile him. For Cassandra’s sake. “Miss Day looks tired.”

“Is that so?” Alexander asked, glancing at the teacher, who gave an anxious nod.

“Then I have a solution, Hunt,” he said. “You can accompany her back to Miss Seymour’s yourself. ”

“And yet, I find I do not wish to deprive you of the pleasure.”

“Are you asking me to leave?”

Alexander was goading him, daring him to state his request in plain English. Jethro’s control over his temper was slipping, but he refused to rise to the bait, and replied in the same measured tone he had used before.

“I am suggesting you would do well to take the ladies back to the school and continue your revels at the Golden Lion.”

Alexander shook his head slowly from side to side and addressed his shipmates. “What a sorry state of affairs, gentlemen. A fellow goes to sea to serve his country, and his women turn on him while he is gone. His betrothed deserts him and marries another, while his sister ties herself to a man who won’t even entertain his friends for an evening.”

How dare he insult him like that? “You’re drunk,” Jethro said to the captain from between gritted teeth. “I think you should go.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t quite catch what you said.”

That was the last straw. “Please leave,” Jethro announced in a voice loud enough for the entire party to hear.

Alexander glanced at Cassandra, but her eyes were fixed firmly on the floor. Not to be ignored, he approached his sister and Jethro tensed as the captain tipped her chin up with his finger, forcing her to look him in the eye.

“What? No word in support of your brother, Cassy, to stop him from being thrown out on the street?”

When she remained silent, Alexander continued. “Ah, I see how it is. You are afraid of the repercussions if you go against your husb—”

Jethro reached up and grabbed the man by the cravat, cutting him off mid-flow, and almost choking him. How dare he taunt his wife like that? He had endured enough of the man’s rudeness, and shoved him out of the room ahead of him.

Although the captain was several inches taller, Jethro had a muscular arm, having lifted more than a few crates in his time. Aided by the element of surprise, he had no difficulty pushing the larger man through his entrance hall, and out of the front door, which a footman hastened to open for him.

Alexander stood on the step for a moment, then shot Jethro a look of loathing before turning and walking away in the rain, chuckling as he disappeared into the darkness.

Then all was silent, apart from the sound of raindrops falling all around .

Jethro went back inside with a heavy heart. He should have tried harder to find a peaceful way of evicting his unwanted guests. If Alexander had intended to prove his sister’s husband wasn’t a gentleman, he had succeeded. Jethro hoped the man was satisfied.

But he cared little for what the captain thought of him. It was his wife’s opinion that mattered, and he had let her down badly.

Whatever did she think of him now, after unceremoniously throwing her brother out of their house? Would she ever forgive him?