Captive of My Desires by Johanna Lindsey Read Free Book Online

room before Jeremy got around to blasting his friend. Now, there was another fine-looking woman, Rosalyn Malory, Drew thought. He had heard how Anthony had won the lady. She’d been in need of a husband to protect her from an unscrupulous cousin who was trying to steal her fortune. Anthony had volunteered, to the amazement of his family. He was another rake they’d thought would never marry.
    Drew could say one thing for the Malory men: they certainly had good taste in women. And James Malory had made the best catch of all, in his opinion, because James had managed to get the Andersons’ only sister to fall in love with him. He didn’t deserve her, of course. None of her brothers thought he did. But it couldn’t be denied that he made her happy.
    Drew wasn’t looking forward to being confined on a ship with his formidable brother-in-law, but he was certainly delighted that he’d be spending more time with his sister and niece, since he didn’t get to London that often. Too bad James couldn’t be left behind. He ought to suggest it. He could take care of James’s family well enough, since they were his family, too. And he was sure James didn’t really want to go, when he had such bad memories of the last time he’d been in Bridgeport.
    Wouldn’t hurt to suggest it, Drew thought. It would be another week before they sailed, enough time for James to at least consider staying home. There was time enough for Drew to watch Jeremy tie the knot, too, and lament that another confirmed bachelor was leaving the ranks. If he ever got that stupid, he hoped someone would shoot him first.

Chapter 6
    D REW WAS IN A HURRY. He had just been told that his brother Boyd’s ship, The Oceanus, was anchored in the harbor waiting for dockage. It would be days before it was given a berth because the line of incoming ships was long. But that didn’t mean Boyd hadn’t rowed ashore already, and if not, Drew would find a dinghy himself to pay Boyd a visit.
    He hadn’t known Boyd was scheduled to stop in England, but his timing couldn’t have been better. The family had just returned to London yesterday from Jeremy’s wedding and would be sailing to Connecticut in less than a week. Drew had come down to the docks today to let his first mate know they would be sailing sooner than planned.
    He’d actually expected to find The Oceanus in Bridgeport, since it usually transported sugar and tobacco from the West Indies to the northeastern states. He’d been looking forward to a reunion with his youngest brother. That was his main reason for sailing to their home port himself.
    If Boyd had come to England merely to visit with Georgina, then he might like to sail home with Drew this trip. Now, that was a pleasant thought, especially since their brother-in-law, James, hadn’t taken the hint and was still determined to sail with his wife and daughter. Drew could use some reinforcements with that particular Malory aboard.
    Georgina and Boyd were the only two Andersons who didn’t captain their own ships. She’d never been expected to and would probably have had quite a fight on her hands with all five of her brothers if she’d ever suggested it. Boyd simply didn’t want to. He loved to sail, he just had no desire to take command.
    They’d always thought it was nervousness and he just needed time to outgrow it, and that eventually he’d become captain of his ship The Oceanus when he was ready. But he’d finally admitted he saw no need to ever take that step, that he preferred to simply enjoy the voyages without the responsibility of being in charge, and since he paid his captains from his own pocket, his brothers had no reason to complain. Since Boyd was not needed for The Oceanus to set sail again, he might be agreeable to traveling with him and Georgina and her family on The Triton.
    Hurrying along the crowded wharf to the Skylark Office, where he expected to find Boyd if he’d already come ashore, Drew didn’t pay much attention to