What the Groom Wants by Jade Lee Read Free Book Online Page A

a fire, but still stood. The biggest differences were in the people. It had been nearly eighteen months since he’d been here last. That was a long time for the neighborhood children who seemed to have grown like weeds. And they were all running toward him as if he had a treat.
    He did, of course, but not on him. They would have to wait until tomorrow for his surprise.
    “It’s Mr. Lyncott! ’E’s here!”
    “Mr. Lyncott! We’ve been waiting ever so long!”
    “Mr. Lyncott! Bet you’re surprised, ain’t ya? Ain’t ya? Imagine, you a nob!”
    Everything was spoken in a screaming rush, the children bouncing and running while women and a few men popped out of their doors.
    “Mr. Lyncott! Welcome home.”
    “Couldn’t have been for a nicer gent. Don’t you forget us—”
    “Don’t forget me!”
    “You remember, don’t you? How I helped with—”
    On and on it went, until he was rather dizzy. Certainly, the neighborhood always welcomed him home. They liked his tales of foreign lands, and all longed to see what new treasure he’d brought. But this was unusual, even for him. Old men he hadn’t seen in years were struggling from their seats to come see him. To shake his hand and bid him to remember them.
    And that was nothing compared to the women smiling warmly, showing off their assets in a way that made him blush. What was going on?
    “I’m not a captain yet,” he said, answering one child’s question. “Still just a first mate.”
    “No, you ain’t! Not anymore!” said one of the ladies with a throaty laugh.
    There was more talk. Something about being a duke, but he laughed that off. Neighborhood gossip was notorious for getting things wrong, and no amount of denial or correction would change what people believed.
    So he laughed and waved them off, promising to show them all his new treasure later. Then he mounted the steps to his mother’s lodging. Given the trail of people, all jabbering at once, he shouldn’t have been able to hear Sadie. But the gin sot who kept her eye on everything that happened in the building wouldn’t let him pass through the front door without adding her particular form of address.
    “Welcome ’ome, Radley. Just off the ship?”
    He acknowledged her politely enough, not because he wanted to encourage the connection, but because it wouldn’t do to antagonize her. It would make his mother’s life all the harder.
    “Just home, so if you’ll excuse me. My mama—”
    Sadie touched him on the arm, her expression lascivious as she squeezed his biceps. “I always been good to you. Looking out after your mama and all. Don’t you forget me, you hear?” Her expression darkened. “’Course I know things too. Things that you don’t want spread about.”
    Radley frowned, startled by her veiled threat. What secrets did he have? And why did she think anyone would care?
    He disentangled himself from her clutches smoothly, irritated when he feared that her sharp claws would rip his coat. He saved the fabric—barely—then didn’t even bother bowing as he headed up the stairs. Then he frowned when he realized that Sadie had followed him. She was slower on the steps than he was, but at his look, she flashed him a grin. Then she tugged her neckline lower.
    He winced at the woman’s sorry state. Certainly, he’d availed himself of many a whore back when he’d first started sailing. But that had never been his first choice. Strong drink was his vice, not women, and only when he was on liberty.
    He turned away to knock loudly on his mother’s door. “Mama? It’s me, Radley. Home from—”
    His mother hauled open the door. She was standing there in a new gown, her hair pulled into a neat coiffure. And when she saw him, she burst into tears. He blinked, rather startled, then immediately dropped his satchel to enfold her in a warm hug.
    “There, there, I’m home. I’m safe.”
    Her response was unintelligible as she gasped and shuddered. He held her tightly, his gaze