Sea Mistress Read Online Free PDF Page A

dinner, Seth came to her side and offered to escort her.
    Bess looked down at his extended arm. His clean, masculine scent reached out to tantalize her nose. He smelled of soap and sherry, and of the sea. “What?” she said. “Weapons put away? Is this a truce?”
    He smiled. The flash of his white teeth effectively took her breath away. “Only until our chess game, Miss Metcalfe.”
    She grinned back, feeling suddenly lighthearted. “Good enough, Mr. Garret. A truce only until our game.”
    Seth Garret looked especially attractive this night. His coal-black hair shone under the lamplight. His cerulean eyes sparkled with good humor. He seemed relaxed and at ease.
    After a pleasant dinner, as they had the night before, Bess and the three gentlemen retired to spend the remainder of the evening in the parlor. This time Bess was more aware of Seth’s physical condition. Because I’m curious to know if the brandy helped him, she thought.
    Seth looked more rested than he had the previous night. Because of her? Because of the brandy?
    It seemed as if he’d read her thoughts, because it was only seconds later that he said, “It was kind of your uncle to send brandy to my room.” He paused, his gaze roaming her face. “Does he usually do that?”
    . Bess felt her face heat. “Uncle Edward is a very thoughtful man,” she said, feeling somewhat flustered by the topic of conversation. “Perhaps he was concerned that you’d sleep badly in a strange room.”
    She placed a knight on the playing board. Seth reached out and caught her fingers. She gasped. It was the first time they’d touched. The contact was electrifying.
    â€œThank you for the kindness,” he said softly.
    â€œExcuse me?” She pretended to misunderstand.
    â€œIt was you who sent up the brandy, not Edward.”
    â€œHe told you!”
    He smiled. “No, you just did.”
    â€œA common courtesy is all, Mr. Garret,” she said, attempting to dispel the air of intimacy that had suddenly settled in around them.
    â€œThen why hide the fact, Bess,” he said, raising his right eyebrow.
    Why indeed? Bess thought, feeling as if she’d been found out in some criminal scheme.
    He released her hand then, and she let out a shaky breath. She could still feel the tingling warmth of his fingers.
    That night, Bess lost at chess. She was flustered by Seth’s presence, by their exchange about the brandy.
    â€œCheckmate,” Seth said, watching her closely.
    She blushed. “Lucky night for you, Mr. Metcalfe.”
    â€œIs it?” He continued to stare at her, his expression intense. There was an undercurrent of tension in the air, which made Bess feel suddenly too warm.
    She began to put away the chess men.
    He caught her hand. “Bess.” They locked gazes, and Seth looked as if he were going to say something important. Then something changed in his expression. “Another game?”
    She looked away. “No, not tonight. I’m rather tired.”
    â€œCan’t stand to lose?”
    â€œNo! That’s not it at all!” Her dark eyes flashed fire as she met his gaze.
    â€œThen why are you in such a hurry to leave.”
    â€œI said I’m tired!”
    â€œYou slept to 9 a.m. How can you be tired?”
    Bess was taken aback. “How do you know what time I got up?” Had he been questioning the servants?
    Seth smiled. “I guessed.”
    â€œOh.” Ironically, she was disappointed that it hadn’t been because he’d asked. Why? Because I want him to be interested? She was mortified by the thought. Of course not! Why would I want him to be interested in me?
    He didn’t stop her again from putting away the chess game. And afterward when she’d said good-night to all three men, Seth didn’t appear bothered that she was leaving him.
    Bess was agitated when she got to her room. Her evening with Seth Garret