his promise to her. Before she could answer, one of her neighbors approached. “I hope I am not interrupting,” Louisa Cochrane murmured. “I should love an introduction to a China trader. I do love my Souchong tea.”
For one more moment, Elysse stared at Alexi in disbelief that he would bring her such a luxurious and precious gift. He stared back, then finally turned to Louisa.
Gallantly, he bowed over her hand. “Alexi de Warenne at your service, madam,” he said. He straightened. “And if you like Souchong, you will love Pekoe.”
“I cannot wait to try it.” Louisa smiled brightly at him.
Elysse had always liked Louisa. Now, hearing the sultry note in her voice, she couldn’t abide her. Was Louisa intent on pursuing Alexi? She turned to stare at him.
“May I bring a sample to your door, say tomorrow? It would be my pleasure.” Alexi grinned, his intentions suddenly clear.
“I hardly wish to put you out, Captain,” Louisa murmured coyly.
“You can’t put me out, Mrs. Cochrane, you are far too beautiful to ever do so. I should enjoy delivering the tea, myself.”
Louisa blushed, assuring him that he need not go to the trouble. Elysse’s mind raced and she felt incoherent and confused. She had never really cared about his flirtations and seductions before. Why should she care about his next affair?
“You have so many admirers, Captain,” Louisa said, ignoring Elysse. “Won’t you escort me back into the salon so we can all hear your wonderful stories together?”
Alexi hesitated, glancing at Elysse. “Aren’t you joining us?”
Elysse smiled. “Of course I am. I can’t wait to hear about all of your adventures.”
For one more moment, their eyes held, until Louisa tugged on his arm. Elysse followed them into the salon, noting every detail of Louisa Cochrane’s dress and figure. Hadn’t she heard that she was desperate to catch a wealthy husband? But Alexi was a determined bachelor. And she wasn’t jealous, was she? Still, oddly, she wanted Alexi’s attention. She had so many questions—she wanted to know what he’d been doing for the past two and a half years. And she wanted her Russian fur.
Inside, Alexi and Louisa were instantly surrounded, and Alexi was bombarded with more questions about his voyage. Elysse began to relax. Alexi was home, and she was fairly certain that he had noticed her charm, beauty and sophistication. She smiled as he responded to a question from Father MacKenzie.
Ariella came over. “I am so happy that my brother is back! Isn’t it wonderful?”
“It is truly wonderful, but I hope Louisa won’t take up all of his time. We both know he will not linger in the country for long.”
Ariella raised her brows. “Hmm, he does seem very interested in Louisa. “
“You know, Louisa is a bit long in the tooth, don’t you think?” Elysse heard herself say.
“She is a very nice lady!” Ariella exclaimed. “You aren’t…jealous of her, are you?”
Elysse looked at her friend. “Of course not,” she scoffed.
Ariella leaned close and lowered her voice. “Why don’t you go speak with poor James Ogilvy? He is standing over there by himself, gawking at you with a moonstruck smile.”
Oglivy had been courting her for about a month now, but Elysse realized she had lost all interest. Still, she smiled at him. He instantly came forward. As he bowed gallantly over her hand, she saw Alexi turn to glance at them. Pleased, Elysse turned her entire attention on James. “You promised me a picnic at Swan Lake.”
His eyes widened. “I thought you were not interested, as you did not bring it up again.”
She smiled and touched his arm. “I am very interested. In fact, I can’t wait!”
“Then perhaps we can have our outing tomorrow afternoon?” he asked eagerly.
She glanced at Alexi, who was speaking to the squire now. She did not know how long Alexi would remain in the Irish countryside, and she wanted to be available until he left for London. She beamed at James. “Would next week do? I have an engagement tomorrow.” That wasn’t quite true, but it was only a tiny white lie.
They spoke for a few more moments. It was terribly hard to carry on a conversation with James while trying to hear every word Alexi uttered and keeping him in the corner of her eye. As she made her plans with Ogilvy, she became aware that she had another admirer. Montgomery, who was chatting with Ariella, kept glancing her way. Elysse hadn’t paid much attention to him earlier. She did so now, deciding that he was very good-looking. Although he was a pilot, he comported himself like a gentleman. He glanced at her again and she knew he wished for an introduction. It crossed her mind that he had spent the past two years with Alexi. She excused herself from James.
He smiled at her as she approached. “I don’t believe we have been properly introduced, Miss O’Neill. Of course, I have heard all about you from Captain de Warenne, but that is not why I am so eager to meet you.”
Elysse comprehended the innuendo and was flattered. “Cliff has spoken about me?”
Montgomery smiled. “No, I meant my captain, Alexi.” He shifted and stepped closer to her. “I am William Montgomery. It is a pleasure, ma’am.”
He wasn’t a gentleman, obviously—no well-bred man would ever pilot a ship, but Elysse was impressed by his charm. He had an unmistakable Southern accent, and she recalled that most American men from the Southern states were terribly gallant. “And it is my pleasure to receive you, sir.” She laughed. “It isn’t every day that I meet a fearless pilot who has sailed the high seas of China!”
He smiled warmly now, his glance quickly drifting down the bodice of her dress. “Our voyages are long, Miss O’Neill, and beautiful ladies are rare. I wasn’t sure you would speak with me.”
“You are our guest!” she exclaimed. She touched his arm lightly—flirtatiously. “Where are you from, Mr. Montgomery? My family has a tobacco plantation in Virginia.”
“Baltimore, Miss O’Neill. Like the captain, I come from a long line of seafaring men. My father was a ship’s master, and my grandfather was a pilot, as was my great-grandfather before him here in Britain. In fact, I grew up listening to my grandfather’s sailing stories, mostly about the Ivory Coast and the African trade—in the last century, of course.”
“My father was a naval captain, Mr. Montgomery, so I am fascinated.” Elysse meant it. But more importantly, Alexi had just noticed their conversation. “Of course, we no longer trade in slaves here in the Empire, but in your grandfather’s time, that was a very busy occupation, was it not?”
“It most certainly was,” he agreed. “In America, we outlawed the slave trade in ’08, well before I was born. In my grandfather’s time it was a dangerous trade—I believe the African continent remains perilous, for those who dare to attempt to make their profits there still.”
“I am against the slave trade,” Elysse said firmly. The trade had been abolished in the British Empire in ’07. “Even though my family has a tobacco plantation in Virginia, and we have slaves there, I also favor emancipation
