Seducer. Kayla Gray

for someone or something, her green floral hat bobbing prettily. “My goodness, are you alone? Oh, my name is Olivia, by the way. Olivia Bradford.”

      “Pleasure to meet you, Olivia,” Madelaine said, still trying to calm her racing heart. Olivia was like a bubbling brook at the bottom of a dangerous waterfall. “I might ask you the same question. Where is your escort?”

      “I must be creating quite a scandal. Well, it’s a tragedy of sorts, you see. My governess took ill yesterday. And now she’s in no condition to travel. But I am determined to get back to Virginia right away. You see, I’m going to be engaged.”

      “You are?” Madelaine asked, struggling to put aside her own problems for the moment.

      “Yes. My father gave my beau permission to ask me to marry him, but he said we had to wait until the end of summer. Well, it is now the very end of summer and I intend to be home as fast as the wind will carry me. Did you tell me your name?”

      “Madelaine.” She thought it best not to give her last name, under the circumstances.

      “Madelaine. I like that. Where is your escort, Madelaine?”

      “I, uh, I don’t have one,” she said, suddenly wishing she had an excuse in case the girl asked.

      “We are in the same boat, then, aren’t we?” Olivia said, laughing gaily. “Where are you bound for?”

      Madelaine stalled and glanced around at the various ships, as if she’d find an answer painted on them. “Ah, well, my destination is a bit in question at the moment.”

      Olivia’s lips puckered in thought while her sable brows wrinkled across her forehead. “That sounds mysterious, Madelaine. Tell me, have you ever been to Virginia?”

      “No,” Madelaine said. She glanced all around them, searching faces for anyone showing undue interest in them.

      “My, it’s hot this morning. You won’t tell on me if I take these off, will you?” Olivia asked, winking as she pulled off her leather gloves.

      “Of course not.”

      “I just had a splendid thought.”

      “What’s that?” Madelaine asked, distracted. Her heart skipped as two couples and their maids rushed past them. In her own mind, everyone was searching for the maid who had left Geoffrey Townsend to bleed to death on the floor of one of his guest rooms.

      “Neither of us has someone to travel with, which, of course, is terribly inappropriate for gentle young women like ourselves. I was thinking we could travel together. You could accompany me to Virginia and then stay with my family until you’re quite ready to get to wherever you’re going.”

      Madelaine’s mouth dropped open. No one had offered her such a kindness since before her mother had died. Words failed her as she swallowed a lump in her throat. She managed to nod her agreement. It was the perfect solution to get her away from Charleston. She just prayed they would be leaving very soon.

      “We are going to be the best of friends. I just know it, don’t you?” Olivia said, taking Madelaine’s arm and guiding her down the dock. “I’m quite hungry. What about you, Madelaine? Have you eaten this morning?”

      “No,” she managed.

      “Come along. Allow me to buy you breakfast. I saw a sausage stand over there under the trees when I arrived this morning.”

      “No, I—”

      “I quite insist. It’s the least I can do to repay you for saving me from my persistent admirer,” she said, with a roll of her pretty brown eyes.

      Though she thought her stomach was too unnerved to handle food, Madelaine was grateful for the large hunk of cornbread. As she held it in her hands, she tried not to imagine the dried blood she had washed away a short time ago, but it was no use. Geoffrey’s blood would always be on her hands.

      By the time they had finished eating, the Oxford was ready to sail. A thin man with red hair came over to the bench where they sat in the shade under a large oak tree. He greeted Olivia and then introduced himself to Madelaine as Captain O’Brian. He seemed relieved that Olivia had a traveling companion and invited the women to board the Oxford at their convenience. They would be ready to sail within the hour.

      “Captain O’Brian is such a nice man. We were introduced two afternoons ago at tea, and when he heard I was in a hurry to get home, he kindly offered to take me on board the Oxford. He usually doesn’t take passengers, only cargo. In fact, we’re going to one of the islands to drop off some sugarcane and rice before actually sailing up to Virginia,” Olivia commented.

      She looked to Madelaine, who glanced over her shoulder for the tenth time in the last half hour.

      “Are you all right, Madelaine? You seem troubled.”

      “I’m fine,” she responded, trying not to twist her fingers into a knot in her lap. She couldn’t very well admit that she feared the authorities could come for her at any moment.

      “Are you certain that’s all? You seem almost frightened. Is there anything I can do?” Olivia asked in concern.

      “I just wish we could be on our way.”

      Olivia stood up and smoothed the front of her dress, then pulled on her gloves and held her hand out to Madelaine. “Let’s go, then, shall we?”

      Madelaine stood and took one last look back as Olivia pulled her along. For a moment she worried that when Geoffrey’s body was discovered, her father would be accused of his murder. But everyone in the dining room had seen him leave before the meal had even been served. Besides, if she was brutally honest with herself, her father was no longer her concern. In a way he had been dead to her for years—certainly since the first time she had seen him strike her mother in a drunken rage.

      Thinking only of himself, he had left her at Geoffrey’s, to live or die by her own wits and skills—and she would. She wasn’t so sure what would become of him. She had been the one to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads. Maybe he would regret his decision and come looking for her. Eventually.

      But she doubted it. He would go in search of cheap ale before he would come for her. She was on her own.

      And despite the contrition she felt over taking Geoffrey’s life, she couldn’t bring him back. She had only been trying to defend herself, and though the guilt was excruciating, she didn’t have the courage to stay and hang for the man.

      Olivia ushered them past the numerous long wharves that were now teeming with people. Ships were being loaded with kegs, barrels and boxes of all sizes. The smells of livestock and hay mingled with the ever-present scent of seaweed as the morning breeze picked up. Shops and offices lined the wharves and people rushed about minding the details of their busy lives.

      The two women walked up the gangway of the Oxford, a large, two-masted merchant ship fitted with square sails and one of the many versions of new flags being created by each of the Colonies. Olivia kept up a steady stream of conversation, pausing only long enough to nod shyly at two sailors who smiled as they hurried past, carrying the last of her trunks on their shoulders.

      “Welcome aboard, ladies. I hope you’ll have a pleasant voyage. Please let me know if there’s anything I can do for you,” Captain O’Brian said, tipping his hat as he approached.

      “Thank you, Captain. We’ll be quite fine, I’m sure. Your ship is lovely and I thank you again for your kind assistance in seeing me home,” Olivia said.

      “My pleasure, miss. We’ll be under way soon. Good day, ladies,” he said, bowing slightly before taking his leave.

      “Come, Madelaine, let’s stand at the railing and watch Charleston shrink into a tiny little spot on the horizon,” Olivia said, rushing to the port-side railing.

      Madelaine joined her new friend, though she was reluctant to stand in such a conspicuous place. She positioned herself