National bestselling author Cheryl Holt
brings to life a breathtakingly passionate tale of
one woman's fight to reclaim her family empire
and the man she loves...
Jane Fitzsimmons never regretted being born a woman—unt
the London shipping business she ran was cruelly snatched tr •
her capable hands by her cold, uncompromising father. T>
reclaim her dream, she must marry. Only then, with her hu-
band's permission, may she return to the helm of Fitzsimnii : •
Shipworks. But the only suitor who stirs her blood just happt.:
to be the very worst scoundrel of all...
Devilishly handsome Philip Wessington seeks a wife's torn.:.. without the bother of a wife. Though cynical and mistrust he cannot deny the need Jane arouses in him, nor the loi::. of their agreed-upon marriage. Yet a man who's been hurt
love is not easily reformed, not even by a good—
and wholly desirable—woman. Unless he's willing to tor>_x •
the past and follow his heart...
Chapter One
Portsmouth February, 1812
Jane Fitzsimmons stopped to glance in the mirror, wondering when Gregory, her cousin and brother-in-law, would step through die door. She wanted to look absolutely perfect when he did. A single strand had worked loose from her carefully braided hair, and she experdy pinned it back into place.
As usual, she was harried from the morning of busy commerce, but die major accomplishment of die previous day made all die hard work enjoyable. Finally, she'd found a land-owner willing to part widi some of his hardwood forest at a reasonable price. The long mondis of her planning had been wordiwhile.
Of course, her fadier and Gregory had actually negotiated die arrangement, and being men, diey would receive die credit for die contract. Heaven forbid that
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a woman should know anything about business or have a head for numbers. As always, her part in die entire affair had been carefully hidden in order not to offend the sensibilities of the seller.
But it was Jane who first realized the need for a new source of timber, Jane who located the small forest, Jane who saw the hidden value, the easy access. The price offered, shipping arrangements and the other thousands of details that would bring the beautiful logs to die Fitzsimmonses' Shipworks had been her doing. Fadier and Gregory had simply followed her instructions and put die finishing touches on the deal.
Taking a moment to enjoy the view, Jane glanced out across die busy shipyard where dozens of men scurried about their tasks. She took note of die ships in various stages of completion. Two were nearly finished and already in die water, a half-dozen odvers were up on huge scaffolds as they slowly took shape.
It was a grand time to be in business, and widi die hazardous state of die world, diere could be no business better dian shipbuilding. Everyone needed ships, it seemed. Bigger ones. Better ones. And they all turned to Fitzsimmons when diey wanted die best Two centuries of building die best for England had given diem a name around die globe diat meant quality and durability.
Jane glanced down at die papers in her hand, looking at the figures on which she'd been working. War was spreading on die continent, and war meant people needed to buy tilings. Not just ships. Her plan was to start a new branch of the family business, using Fitzsim-mons's ships to import and export around die globe as England grew desperate for more supplies.
The possibilities for increased wealdi were staggering. She looked at her papers again. Very likely, it was a sin for one family to be able to earn so much when diere
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were so many who had so little, but they had the knowledge and the tools. And they had worked hard for so long, no one could say they hadn't earned every penny.
The knob on the door turned, and Jane's father, Charles Fitzsimmons, stepped into her office. Jane's heart fluttered slighdy. With mealtime upon diem, no one was supposed to be in the rooms, which was the very reason she was waiting for Gregory. They would have dieir first chance to be alone in weeks.
At age fifty-six, Charles Fitzsimmons was healthy and robust but short and stocky, still carrying a full head of white hair, complemented by a-bushy mustache and heavy eyebrows. His skin was red and ruddy from years at sea, trying out dieir ships and perfecting die working parts to make their products better and better.
"Hello, daughter." He smiled as his energy filled die room. "I diought everyone had gone."
Jane casually slid the papers she was holding under her desk blotter. Although she'd oudined die plan to Gregory, and he'd been heartily enthusiastic, she hadn't broached die subject of her ideas for expanding die business widi her fadier and wasn't quite ready to speak of it. "Hello, Fadier." She walked around die desk and stood next to him. "I was too excited to eat After yesterday's news, I can't seem to take my eyes away from the 'Works."
"Aye." He nodded in agreement. "It all came together, didn't it?"
She blushed as she realized she was waiting for a compliment which would never come. It wasn't Charles's style to toss them about. " 'Twas marvelous."
He moved to the window. "It's a beautiful sight, isn't it, girl?"
"Yes." Jane sighed, as she moved next to him. "Yes, it is."
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For a time, they were content to watch in silence, lost in their thoughts. They'd passed many hours like this in Jane's nineteen years. From the time she was a small girl, she'd been enchanted by her father's offices, hanging around, making herself a pest. As a widower, he'd done his best to turn her into a gently reared female, but nothing had worked. Unlike her older sister, Gertrude, who thrived on all things domestic, Jane had fought every attempt to turn her onto a more docile path until he'd simply given up on his attempts to keep her at home.
Her life, like his own, revolved around the family business.
"Everything always looks so grand from up here." "I never get my fill. The ships look so beautiful." "Yes, they do." He turned to look at her, immediately struck again by how much she looked like her mother. He had not particularly loved die woman, as he'd never give in to such a silly emotion over a female, but she'd been a good wife in the few years she'd been joined to his side. Jane took after her in looks. She was a petite thing. Although he wouldn't be so bold as to touch her now that she was a grown woman, he imagined diat both his hands would fit neatly around her small waist widi room to spare. The heavy braids in which her hair was bound hid its rich, chestnut color. Her lips, ruby red, always looked delightfully pouting; her brows raised in questioning surprise.
Good Lord, but she was a pretty thing. And smart as a whip, too. Too bad all the looks and talent had been squandered on a daughter. He shook his head, not able to see much for her in die future. She simply couldn't continue in her role at die Shipworks. Change was coming and long overdue.
Jane's bright, emerald green eyes widened. "What is it, Father? Is there somediing you wish to say?"
"No, child. I was simply thinking how much you looked like your modier."
"I'm honored. I always thought she was very pretty." It pleased her immensely when he spoke of the woman she barely remembered.
"She was, girl. She was quite exceptional." His memories of the woman were distant. She'd been a gende woman, always even tempered and sensible. If not exacdy warm to her bedroom duties, compliant enough. She'd been understanding over his love of the shipyard and die long hours he put in, and had steadfasdy shouldered her responsibilities toward his otiier daughter, Gert, a child by his first wife. Gert had never been an easy person for anyone to like, but Jane's mother had managed to do her best.
Charles sighed. All diese years of toil. All his attempts to father an heir to carry on the family name. He'd been married to his first wife for ten years, sired one daughter and lost die woman to childbirth. He'd been married to die second for eight and finally sired anodier daughter. After all the years, all the attempts, all he had to show for it were two girls. One who was not particularly bright and who was particularly unpleasant The other, a beautiful, delightful, intelligent young woman who could have been all diings if she'd been born a male, but, because she hadn't, simply could not continue her steps toward taking his place.
He was no fool. He was older, tired, and knew it was only a matter of time before arrangements had to be made. A transition of power arranged. Jane would be so hurt.
Oh, well, she's just a woman, he thought to himself. Once she was married and had a few children clinging
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to her skirts, she'd forgive him for what he was about to do to her.
...
renee2010