"Is that what you call them? " Daniel asked a bit peevishly, straightening away from the door. "I would havethought greedy gold-diggers to bea better description."

"Oh, sod off, Thurborne, " she muttered. With that, she reached for the doorknob andtugged the dooropen.

Chapter Eight

"Marryme andyou can simply tell them all to just goaway."

Valoree grimaced at the wordsDaniel whispered inher ear and sighed. She supposed he had been encouragedby her pauseat openingthe door. It wasn't that she didn't know what to do. It was that shecouldn't believe how many men had responded to the gossip. There wereatleast thirtyof them, and of all ages, shapes, and sizes. If She hadrealizedhow easy getting them to her door would be, she neverwouldhave bothered withallthe nonsenseof dresses and makeupandsocials. She simply would have sent Henry and Meg tohavea chatwiththeappropriate parties, then sat backto await the arrival of every single malein London who wished to marry money. But now they were here, andshe had toweed through them and decide which was the weakest, and in the most desperatestraits. She would marry him.

IgnoringDaniel, she straightened her shoulders and addressed the waiting mob of men."Everysingle one of you is heretoday because you heard the rumors yesterday about my being wealthy and needing to marry to claim my childhood home, Ainsley Castle."

She hadbarely finished making that statement when the men rumbled to life with denials.Oh, no theyweren't there because she needed tomarry!They werethere tobaskin her beauty.To wallow in her wit. To enjoyher intellect.

Valoreerolledhereyes. "You can stop your nonsense now, "

she interrupted. "You canall seethatI suffered a reaction tothe foundation and fucus I wore to yesterday's ball. There is no beautyto bask in. AndIam not feeling particularly wittytoday either.Soif you aren'there with an interest in marryingme for my wealth, then you can leave now."

There was an uncomfortable silence as the men peered anywhere but at her. Valoree supposed thesudden shifting and nervous silence were because thelords of the tonwere not used to suchopen honestyin regards tomotive. She supposed they all wouldhavebeenmore comfortable to play a game where she pretended they all were ensnaredby her femininewiles, andthey pretended she found them the most interesting creatures alive.

Well, pirates did not goin much for lies! Their motives were wealthandthey madeno bonesaboutit. That was the society she'd learned to respect. She had neither the patience nor the intent to lie her way through several weeks of courting, smothered by smarmy compliments thatweren'tsincere.

Despite their discomfort, she noted, not a single man leftthe room. Valoreenodded her headsolemnly, then said, "To inherit, my husband has to be a member of the nobility. If youare not such, you mayas wellleave now."

There was a murmurof voices and a general shiftingofbodies as first one man, then two others, made their way out of the crowd and moved past where she and Daniel stood by the door.

Well, she thought, three down and twenty-seven to go. "Imust also have birthed a child, or be carrying onebymy twenty-fifth birthday - which is a little less than nine months away, " she continued. There was dead silence in answer. Valoree frowned slightly.She hadhoped at least another oneor two men might be eliminated by that.They couldn't all be thrilled tobed her. Just as she would have opened her mouth to speak again, Daniel startled herby interrupting.

"LadyAinsley's uncle will, of course, have you all thoroughly investigatedto discoverwhetheryou are truly members of the nobility... Also, that you have not suffered any injury or illness that mightraise some doubt as to your ability to perform the necessarytask of providing an heir, " he announced pleasantly. A sudden ripple of alarm wound through the group. Valoree watched inamazement as more than half her remaining suitors made a quick exodus.

"All of them could not be unable to produce heirs, " she murmuredto Daniel in disbelief. He shookhis head slightly.

"Nay. Doubtless some of them werenot really nobility, but had hoped to be ableto convinceyou theywere long enough to trick you intomarriage. Then, too, someof themmay have skeletons in their closets that they do notwish uncovered byyour uncle's 'investigations.' "

Valoree nodded. That madesense. Notthat she hada problem with skeletons inone'scloset. She had seventy-five of her own, every oneof themaliveand breathing and eagerto seeher bound in marriage. Resigned, she eyed the twelve menleft to choose from. Then, sensing a presencebehind her, she glancedover her shoulderto see Henry standing there, his eyebrows raisedasthe dozen men left.

"Bullsaidyou were wantin' me, " he explained, then gestured to the room at large. "What happened to the restof 'em? "

"We weeded out the ones who weren't nobles, orable to father anheir, " Valoreeanswered, perusing the suitors that were left.As she turned back, she thought she saw. an odd glint in her quartermaster's eye, but he was peering at Daniel.

"What are ye going to do with the rest of 'em? " Thurborne asked.

Valoree was silentfor a moment, then turned toglance athim, aslight grimace on her face. "I suppose Ishall have to spend some time with each to seewhichone would suit best."

"Or you could saveyourself the trouble and marry me, " Daniel put in.Valoree saw Henry regard the man again, andshe quickly moved to squash that notion.

"I already know you would not suit. She turned to Henry.

"Take them allto the dining room. Schedule visits witheach of them sothat I can see what theyare about, Henry. Ifwe work this right, we couldbe out ofthisstinking town by week's end."

Nodding, her right-hand man facedthe men. "All right. We're moving into the diningroom now. I'll get ye names and schedule each ofye with an appointment to return, then ye can leave.

Follow me."

Valoree and Daniel stood asideas the crowd vacatedher salon, each man pausing to give her smarmy smile, andkiss her hand with varying degreesof a passion. Each assured her they could not wait fortheir visitation.Shaking her head as shewatchedthe last man troop out thedoor, Valoree released abreath with what she told herself was satisfaction.There was not a single real man among the bunch. This endeavorto find aneasily subdued mate shouldbe quickly successful.The feat She had thought impossible was suddenly beginning to look simple.

"Aloneat last, " Daniel murmured, pressing a kisstoherneck that madeher jump in surpriseand wheelon him.

"That'll be enough o' that, it will, " she snapped, quashingthe shivers the briefcaresshadsentthrough her. There wasatime for business anda time for fun afterall - andshe was still on business time.

"Your language is slipping, " he said with a wicked smile, insinuating his arms around her waist and pulling her stiff body against his own. "I notice it tends to turn into something resembling the speech of a dock-side doxy when you get excited." His hands slid down her backtoclasp her bottom and urge her tighter against him so that their lower bodies were molded together. "Oddly enough, I findthatexcites me.Can you tell how much? "

"You - "

"Daniel!"

Releasing Valoree at once, Thurborneleapedguiltily awayat his mother's scandalized roar from the doorway, then caught himself. Scowling at her, hequickly affecteda slightly wry smile.

"Done playing in the kitchen, Mother? "

Beforeshe could respond, Meg appearedbehind her. "Why, Lady Thurborne! What a pleasant surprise. Zachariah said we hadcompany, but did not mention who itwas."

Valoree was puzzling over the name Zachariah when she caught a glimpse of Bull moving across the hall, his face contorted with mingled embarrassment and displeasure.

Zachariah? She hadn't even knownthat that was his realname.

God'steeth! It was no wonder he preferred to be called Bull.

"Do come in andsitdown." MegurgedDaniel's mother and her maid into theroom and toward the chairsandsettee. "Valoree, dear, willyou ask one of the mentohave Peter bring ussome refreshments? Tea, and perhaps some biscuits or scones, " she added pointedly.

Just in case I thoughtrumand a sideof beefwould do, Valoree supposed with vague amusement, turning to walk out into the hall. When shedid, shenoticed Bull was missingfrom his spot by the door. Shesupposed hewas down inthe dining salon with Henry, sizing up her suitors. No doubt all the men were. It affectedthem, after all. No doubt the bloody bastards thought they could vote on which one she married, too. Well, letthem.

Shedidn't care what they did at this point. In fact, she didn't reallymuchcarewhich shemarried.Although, had her lifebeen anormal one, and her needs notso specific, She had toadmit that Thurbornewouldhave been an interesting option. Hereminded her very much of her dearly departed brother, at least in his determination and strength.Aye, she liked Thurborne.

But she had beenin chargeof her crew for toolongto give up her power to another and play the submissive, dutiful wife. Not that she even could haveif she had wanted to.She had no skills inthatarea - didn't know the first thing aboutit, and didn't want to. Being a ladyandwife seemedincredibly boring next to her yearsof adventureon the high seas.

"Ah, Lady Ainsley."

Drawn from her thoughts, Valoree looked blanklyat the fellow she had nearlywalked into, recognizinghim as oneof her suitors.

He wasa hardone toforget. The man's name was Alcock, which was fitting sincehe dressed likea peacock. He was also short with ascrawny little neck and shoulders, and a rather wide rump.

Amost unfortunate physique, she decided as he drew her hand into his and lifted it to press tiny butterfly kisses across her knuckles.

Withhis lipsstill pressedtoherhand, he peeredup atherin what she considered a rheumy manner. 'Truly you are as lovely as a freshsummer day. How itpainsme tosay adieu."

"Aye.Me, too, " Valoreelied, snatching her hand back. Then, using it to catch hiselbow, she propelledhim firmlytowardthe door."Nowwatch your step on the way out, " she sang outwith feigned good cheer. Pulling thedoor open, she gave him a shove that sent him stumblingout intothestreet, and sheclosed the door behindhim with a snap.

"Lovely asafresh summer day indeed, " shemuttered with a scowl, fullyawareshe looked anything but lovely. Unless one likedrashes . ..

"Henry!" she yelled, starting up the hall, then paused whenthe door to the dining salon opened. Henry'sheadpopped out. "Cross Alcock off the list.He'stoo damn prissy formy liking. Andhave Peteyfetch some refreshments;we have company."

Henry's gazeshotaroundthe entry questioningly and Valoree sighed."Lady Thurborne has joinedher soninthesalon."

Nodding, Henry turned backto the room, addressing someone.

A momentlater One-Eye slid out andmoved into thekitchen to pass her message on toPetey.

Leavingthem to it, Valoree returnedto the salon in time to hear Megsaying in apained voice, "I fearher uncle was not very strict with her over the years. Hehad no ideawhat todo withthe poorgirl, and it hasbeenup to me to tryto instill alifetime's lessonsin manners inavery short period.She is coming along nicely, of course, but still occasionally forgets somelittlething.

Suchas that ladies never raise their voices, " she added, turning to eye her"niece" with some annoyance.

"She isdoing fine."

Valoree's answering glare at Meg faded abruptly, replacedwith amazement as Lady Thurborne championed her."She isa lovely girl, and with perfectly lovely manners. I must confess that I myself sometimesforget andcallout to, or for, my servants more loudly than is thought proper."

Meg smiled doubtfully atthat, butValoree choseto ignore her.

Lady Thurborne continued, "Daniel mentionedtome thatLady Valoree had suffered a reaction toher makeup lastevening, so I thought I wouldcomeover and see if therewas notsomething I could do."

"Oh, that was very kindofyou, "Meg answered, tsk-tsking as she peeredatValoree's ravagedface. "I fear we havejust not had much luck with cosmetics on the girl. Lastnightwas the second foundation we have tried sincearriving, and the secondtime we have had problems. I fear she just is not suited to such concoctions."

"Well, it certainly does not seem to have affected her popularity any, "LadyThurborne said brightly.

"Yes, well, " Daniel piped up, "it appears Lady Valoree isin much the same boat as myself. She must marry to gain her inheritance. Someone let thatslip, and it has made the gossipmill.

Every secondson anddown-on-his-luck lord in London showed up here today."

"Oh!" Lady Thurborne's eyes widened slightly; then she confided, "Well, I had heard something about that. About the will, I mean. Actually, I am surprised that you are notmarried already, dear.Surely there were some marriageable menon that island you grewup on? Whichisland was it? "

Meg sidestepped the question for her. "As to meeting marriageable men, IfearHenry, Valoree's uncle, was not very interested in society. It was not until we married that Henry understood the importance of society and a coming-out and marriage. Hence the reason Valoree iscoming out at such an advanced age."

Valoree's head whipped around at the "advanced age"

comment, a scowl darkening herexpression. She wasn't that old.

"How old are you, dear? " Lady Thurborne asked with curiosity. Valoree hesitated, then answered reluctantly.

"Four and twenty."

"Oh, dear!"

Valoree grimaced at the woman's shock and dismay. She'd reactedas if She had said sixty.

"Aye." Meg's expression wasdisconsolate, but Valoree swore she sawa spark of humor in her eyes. "Such aproblem.Andthen there is the codicil to her father's will, which adds even more urgency to the issueof marriage."

"Iheardaboutthat, too, " Lady Thurborne confided. "I was told that to inherit, she has to be married and have ababe - or at least bewithchild - by her next birthday. When is that, dear? "