Midnight by Beverly Jenkins

like in his arms or how she’d looked perfumed and nude in his bed. She was the daughter of his father’s nemesis and he had no business being attracted to her but damned if he wasn’t. He’d always preferred his women tall and bearing curves that filled his hands. Faith didn’t fit the model, but her spirit would do an Iroquois clan mother proud and he supposed that was what drew him. Docile, meek women didn’t appeal to him. He preferred those who challenged him and then denied him even if it wasn’t for long. He sensed all those attributes in Stuart Kingston’s daughter, and a growing part of him wanted to know more. However, he noted again that he wasn’t supposed to be thinking of her even as he mused upon how he might relieve her of some of the work she was carrying on her slender shoulders.
    It was dark and the wind was blowing briskly when Nicholas tied up his horse and entered the shadowy confines of the noisy Boston tavern. Apparently those inside had left their politics at the door because there were uniformed soldiers seated around the tables raising tankards of ale, while commonly dressed locals occupied others. Once the ale flowed, anything might happen, though, so he planned to conduct his business and depart.
    As he made his way through the noise and fiddle music, a few of the barmaids gave him smiles, but he didn’t tarry. He found the two men he was seeking seated at a back table near one of the few windows.
    Seeing him, both men smiled, and Nick smiled in response as he greeted them. “Dom. Gaspar. How are you two?”
    Dominic LeVeq grinned. “Nicholas. It’s good to see you, old friend.”
    Gaspar nodded. “Nick.”
    Nicholas sat down. He’d met sea captain Dominic LeVeq and his blood brother Gaspar the night of the mutiny that freed Nick from his impressment with the Royal Navy. They’d rescued him and the stallion now named Hades, along with a few other men who were in the water as the burning British ship sank. Nick was fairly sure at the time that Dom and his crew were more intent upon saving the admiral’s prized stallion than anything else, but he owed them his life.
    Dominic asked, “I assume you got my letter?”
    “Yes, this morning. How long will you be in Boston?”
    “Long enough to conduct some business, but we wanted to see how you fared. Are you and your father reconciled?”
    “No.” They knew his story, just as he knew that Dom was the bastard son of a French duke.
    One of the barmaids walked up carrying a tray holding three tankards of ale. She set one vessel down in front of each of them. Gaspar paid her, but before leaving them, she said slyly, “We offer more than ale here, gentlemen, so if you are in need of a more personal service, my name is Ginny.”
    They acknowledged her with nods, but no one took her up on the offer.
    Once they were alone again, Nick told them the story of his father and all the intrigue swirling around his arrest and death.
    “My condolences,” Gaspar said solemnly.
    Dom offered the same. “So you are looking for this Lady Midnight?”
    Nick nodded. “She’s the only key I have.”
    Dom cracked, “You could threaten to slit Kingston’s throat if he doesn’t offer up the truth.”
    Nick chuckled. “Don’t think I haven’t considered it, but I’m sure his daughter wouldn’t care for that approach.”
    Gaspar shook his head. “Why is there always a woman involved with the two of you?”
    Dom drawled, “Possibly because Nick and I are always involved with women.”
    Nick grinned and saluted his former captain with his ale. “However, this one is a good woman.”
    Dom shook his head. “Good women are nothing but trouble, my friend. It’s best to avoid them, always.”
    “True, but in this case easier said than done.”
    Gaspar and Dom searched his face, and Dom asked, “How serious are you about the daughter?”
    “That’s none of your business.”
    Dom and Gaspar shared an amused look before Dom declared, “You’re