Most of London’s peerage was fine with a gentleman inheriting, buying, or winning at the gaming tables a company as prosperous as Garrett’s, but what kind of gentleman could he be if he actually worked to build it into an empire? That wasn’t what a proper member of Society would do, no matter how far removed he was from a title or how light he was in the pockets. It was far better to be at the mercy of a distant relative for a small house to live in and a meager yearly allowance, yet maintaining social status as a gentleman, than to earn money and prosper oneself.
Garrett’s father, Alfred, had held to that belief all his life and tried his best to instill it in his son.
But he hadn’t.
Barely twenty at the time of his father’s death, Garrett had decided against accepting an allowance from his titled third cousin in favor of seeking his own fortune with a ship his father had won in a gambling match but had never sent to sail. Garrett set out to change that.
The old captain who lived onboard the vessel was happy to have a mission—teaching Garrett the ways of the sea. Because of the sea dog’s wealth of knowledge, garnering contracts to ferry the shipments had been easier than Garrett expected. He learned quickly that smaller ships carried less cargo but reached their destination faster, which pleased traders. Undercutting his competition’s pricing and carrying dangerous cargo was lucrative, too.
He’d taken foolish chances in the first couple of years of his sea life, carrying armaments of varying kinds that perhaps weren’t legally sanctioned but the freights made him a lot of money quickly. Garrett didn’t ask questions when the pay was good. The risks were great, but they had given him enough income to pursue more respectable shipments of wines, fabrics, spices, and all the things that made people comfortable and happy.
Then, Garrett’s only goal was not to return to London as penniless as when he left. Now, ten years later, Garrett had built a burgeoning shipping empire. The hell of it was that some in Society considered that achievement unacceptable for a gentleman.
So be it.
Recriminations or regrets weren’t emotions he wanted to have hanging around. He did what he had to do then, and he would now that he was back in London.
“I won’t leave you unaccompanied in the park, Lady Kitson. I will walk with you,” he said again.
She continued to stare into his eyes. Her caution was real. He didn’t know much about the Duke of Sprogsfield, but the man certainly had Lady Kitson worried.
“My hesitancy isn’t because of you in particular, Mr. Stockton,” she offered. “I didn’t mean to imply it was. It would be any man, I’m afraid. But that said, I do believe you were right in indicating I can hasten an end to this debacle I’ve found myself in by going to meet Miss Periwinkle. If the duke hears rumor of me walking in the park in such a state, I will tell him a gust of wind took off my bonnet and Miss Periwinkle had to fetch it for me.”
Garrett smiled at her. The afternoon air had been as still as sea glass lying on a deserted shore. It wasn’t likely the old duke would believe a puff of wind ripped off a bonnet on this day. But he liked the fact that she’d try to convince her father-in-law otherwise.
“How would you explain being seen with me?”
“With the truth, of course.” She smiled, too. “You saw me at a difficult time and took advantage of me by introducing yourself.”
It was worth coming back to London just for the encounter with Lady Kitson. He had a feeling he wouldn’t feel the need to seek other adventures if she were around. She could give him more than enough to satisfy the wanderlust in his soul.
Fitting his hat onto his head, Garrett chuckled and then said, “Let’s go in the direction you expect Miss Periwinkle to be coming from.”
“Yes. Hopefully, we’ll meet her before seeing anyone we know. If not, it won’t be the first time I’ve not lived up to the duke’s expectations of proper widowhood. It’s just that especially now I don’t want to give the duke any cause to—well, never mind about that.”
Garrett wondered what she’d started to say but thought better of it. They started walking, and after a tug or two on the reins, the reluctant horse fell dutifully in line behind them. A curricle came up over the rise in front of them, but the young man driving it was in too big a hurry to pay them any mind.
“What did you do to garner the duke’s ill favor?”
“I upset his plans by eloping with his youngest son. After that it didn’t take much, I assure you. For a time, all I needed was to have one too many flounces sewed on my skirt or for a bow on the sleeve of my dress to come untied and he would be looking severely at me. He is a very pious and rigid man, and holds everyone to his standards.”
“That must be difficult to accept for someone as independent as you seem to be.”
“Yes, but it’s best for my son,” she answered without looking at him. “For Chatwyn, I’ve learned to stay on somewhat agreeable terms with the duke.”
Garrett looked over at her. She had a troubled, determined expression on her face. More was going on with the duke than she wanted to talk about. She was being prudent again. Still, she’d said enough that he was curious. He wanted to know more about Lady Kitson and her father-in-law.
“I don’t know much about you, Mr. Stockton, but I’ve heard you return to London every year or two, only long enough to break a few young ladies’ hearts, and then you are off again.”
“If that’s true, my lady, it wasn’t my intention. I return to check on my businesses here and see no reason not to enjoy the dinners, parties, and conversations when invited.”
Her eyes held steady on his once again as they walked. “It does seem Society as a whole can’t make up its mind about you. Are you a gentleman or not?”
“It’s a question I hear every time I come back to London. I leave that for others to decide.” He pulled on the reins when the horse wanted to stop and graze. The animal shuddered a couple of times but gave up her protest and continued to clop along behind them.
“You are clever to remain silent on the issue.”
Her eyes sparkled with amusement. He liked the way he felt when she looked at him. It teased him with the possibility they would have another opportunity to explore the desires that had sparked between them when they were in the tree.
Lady Kitson then looked straight ahead, and so did he. They were nearing the area in the park where the family with the three children was playing. Their high-pitched voices rent the air with youthful chatter and laughter. Not too far away from them was a man driving a wagon that looked to be loaded with baskets filled with vegetables. Garrett took it all in. Enjoying the sounds of life was always important to him when he returned to England. Through the greenery of the trees in the distance he could see the western sky melting into calming shades of orange, pink, and dark blue. The sky had grown darker while they walked, but the air stayed heavy with heat.
In the distance, he heard even more shouts from other children playing and, even farther away, the sounds of a dog barking and carriage wheels rolling over the uneven terrain of St. James. He always found the more common sounds of life cheering after so many days on a ship where all he heard was the flapping of sails in strong wind, riggings banging against the mast, and masculine voices.