An Unsinkable Love(20)

A muffled thump from the hallway startled her. Bree's gaze flicked to the door. The thought of Eldon walking in caused her heart to skip a beat. When the portal remained closed, she sucked in a breath and relaxed. As difficult as she found it to ignore the fact she was alone with Malcolm, she much preferred it to the prospect of being alone with Eldon.

"I hope you don't mind," he said, "but I think I'll stay a bit longer, to make sure Mother's sleeping comfortably."

Bree scrutinized Malcolm's expression, searching for a hint of his intentions. He stood in the middle of the room, feet apart, hands on hips, like a Greek god from the mythology lessons that had been part of her education at the Rothberrys. The sight gave her a strange flutter in her belly

... and lower. She bit her lip in consternation.

Malcolm noticed her stare and mistook its meaning. He motioned to the connecting door. "If you prefer, I can remove 70

An Unsinkable Love

by Terri Benson

to Eldon's room. Somehow I don't think we'll be seeing him for the rest of the night. But if I do, that would be fine too."

Bree was torn. Having him close kept her on tenterhooks, and she was succumbing to a strong attraction despite her attempts to the contrary. She tried to convince herself it was just worry about being alone if Eldon returned that made her want Malcolm to stay, and nothing to do with how he made her insides feel all fluttery and warm.

He was well within his rights to stay near his mother.

Besides, they weren't technically alone together. It would be quite proper. Bree managed a casual shrug and said, "Why would I mind? I certainly understand your wanting to be near you mother."

He grinned at her, deep dimples bracketing his perfect smile. The sudden transformation was devastating. She felt her heart stop, or maybe it just truly started for the first time.

Bree sucked air into her lungs. She'd forgotten to breathe for a long moment as she stared. Malcolm tilted his head and gave her an assessing look. She realized with an embarrassed start that her hungry gaze had gone on far too long. She swallowed and quickly turned to her sewing. Malcolm further tested her composure when he made himself comfortable on the sofa directly across from her.

He tucked a pillow into the small of his back, wriggling until satisfied with the fit. "Since we're going to spend the evening together, we should get to know one another better.

Tell me about yourself, Miss Barry."

Bree slowly raised her eyes and she saw his benign expression of polite curiosity. She gnawed the inside of her 71

An Unsinkable Love

by Terri Benson

lip. "There's not much to tell, really. I was born and raised in Queensland. I have seven brothers—" She paused at a gasp from the sofa.

"Seven brothers? My word, that doesn't seem very fair."

Malcolm's eyes sparkled as his mouth curled into another devastating grin. Her heart gave a hard hiccup.

She took a shuddering breath and managed a small smile of her own. "No, actually, it wasn't very fair. We lived in a cottage on the Rothberry estate. My father's family has been gamekeepers there for several generations. My mother was the mayor's daughter, but when he died suddenly and left her destitute, she became a maid at the manor. She married my father just before the old lord died. His eldest son, the new lord, brought his wife to live at the manor, and she had my mother trained as a seamstress. When mother took sickly..."

Bree paused and cleared her throat. "When mother took sick, I would go with her and help. She taught me everything about her work. She was a very good seamstress. After she died, I took her place at the manor." Bree looked down at her hands, clasped so tightly around the fabric she feared she'd never get the wrinkles out.

"How did you come to be on the ship? Is your family emigrating?" Malcolm asked.

"No. I left on my own." Bree kept her gaze averted as she smoothed the gown across her lap. She couldn't see his face.

She feared if she did she might see he really wasn't interested, just making idle conversation. As long as she didn't know for sure, Bree could pretend he really wanted to know about her.

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An Unsinkable Love

by Terri Benson

"How old are you, Miss Barry?" Malcolm chuckled at her affronted gasp. "I know that's quite an improper question, but you don't appear old enough to be on your own."

Bree sighed. How had she ended up in this most unusual conversation with him, anyway? She should stop it right now.