my knife in you as I did your friend.“
Nicholas stiffened. „Knife?“ His gaze flew to Mikhail.
„She stabbed you?“ His attention had been so absorbed with
the girl, he had scarcely glanced at Mikhail. Now he saw that
the Cossack’s tunic was torn and a rivulet of blood stained the
whiteness of the left sleeve.
Mikhail shrugged depreciatingly. „A pinprick.“ He bent
down and pulled a small dagger out of his boot and tossed it to
Nicholas. „Yet it might be wise to remember she is not without
fangs.“
„Like all vipers.“ Nicholas looked down at the dagger, his
beautifully molded features hard as the marble of a tombstone.
„She could have killed you. I should have gone myself, my
friend.“
A touch of anxiety clouded Mikhail’s features. „A
pinprick,“ he repeated. „She was only defending herself. The
wound* will be gone by tomorrow.“
Bewilderment pierced the seething fury Silver was
experiencing. It was clear the big Russian was defending her
from Nicholas Savron’s anger. Why would he help the prince
abduct her and then rush to her defense?
„Do you need a doctor?“ Nicholas asked gently. „I’ll have
Robert dock again and send someone for help.“
„The woman – “
„The woman is not worth one drop of your blood.“
Nicholas gave Silver a glance as cold as winter sleet. „I
will deal with her later.“
Mikhail shook his head. „I have no need for a doctor. She
did not hurt me.“
„Only because you – “ Silver broke off as Mikhail shook
his head warningly at her. „I will speak. Do you think I’m
afraid of either of you?“
„You obviously have no need to fear Mikhail. It seems he’s
been foolish enough to take a liking to you,“ Nicholas said
softly. „But you’d do well to be afraid of me. I value Mikhail,
and I don’t think I’ve ever been quite so angry with anyone in
my entire life.“
„Liking? He abducted me.“
„On my orders. And he insisted on going alone because he
felt it would be safer for you.“
„Or because you were too cowardly to go with him,“ Silver
said contemptuously.
Mikhail inhaled sharply and took an impulsive step forward
as if to place himself between Silver and Nicholas. „Nicholas,
she is only a woman. She did not –“
„Only a woman,“ Silver repeated indignantly. „A woman
can do anything a man can do. She can do more. Why do – “
„Shut up!“ Nicholas enunciated with great precision.
„I should not have taken the gag off her.“ Mikhail sighed
morosely. „I should have known her tongue would be as sharp
as her dagger.“
„Go take care of your wound.“ Nicholas’s gaze was
narrowed on Silver’s face. „I have a fancy to prove myself to
the lady.“
Mikhail gazed at him helplessly. Nicholas was dangerously
infuriated, and it was evident that Silver Delaney was not
about to try to placate him. „You gave your word.“
Nicholas gave him an incredulous glance. „Good Lord, she
stabbed you and you’re still defending her?“
Mikhail’s jaw squared stubbornly. „You promised me.“
Nicholas – muttered something fierce and obscene beneath
his breath. „And I’ll keep it, dammit.“
Mikhail turned toward the door and then glanced over his
shoulder at Silver, a gentle smile lighting his craggy features.
„I will be back soon. Do not be afraid.“
Silver glared at him. „I’m not afraid and I need no
protection.“
Mikhail slowly shook his head and shut the door quietly
behind him.
Silver immediately turned to Nicholas and opened her
mouth to speak. Nicholas raised his hand. „Not one word or
I’ll put the gag back on you.“ She hesitated and then pressed
her lips together. „Very wise. I’m holding on to my temper by
a very precarious margin, Silver.“ He sat down on the bed
beside her, not touching her, but close enough so that she
could feel the heat emanating from his body. The faint scent of
musk, brandy, and tobacco drifted to her nostrils. „I’m about to
give you the rules that will govern your stay while you’re on
the Rose. Are you listening?“
She gazed up at him mutinously.
„I see you are.“ He smiled faintly. „First, let’s discuss why
you’re here.“
„You want Dominic.“
„Exactly. I suppose I should give you the option of telling
me where he is.“
„Would you let me go if I did?“
„I’m afraid I’d be forced to do so. Do you wish to oblige?“
Silver drew a deep breath. Lord, she hated lies. Still, if it
would give Dominic a little more time. „He and Elspeth went
back to Killara in the Arizona Territory.“
Nicholas’s expression hardened. „I see you’re as prone to
falsehood as the rest of your sex is. Randall’s investigators
ascertained that your uncle was most definitely not at Killara.
It’s obvious asking you for the truth will accomplish nothing,
and I admit I’m a trifle disappointed. I thought you more
honest than most.“
A flush stung Silver’s cheeks. „I’m honest with those I
respect. You deserve only lies from me. I’ll tell you nothing
about Dominic.“
„But when he finds you’re gone from Mrs. Alford’s
nunnefy, I’d say there’s an excellent chance of him coming
after you,“ he said softly. „I posted a letter to your former
headmistress telling her you’d decided to accompany me on a
little pleasure cruise. If he’s as loyal to you as you are to him,
he should be waiting at the levee when we return to St. Louis.“
„He won’t even hear that I’m gone. There wouldn’t be – “
She stopped. „You’ll be disappointed if you think you can use
me to draw Dominic to you.“
His gaze narrowed on her face. „You seem very certain.“
He shrugged. „No matter. Then you’ll remain on the Rose until
you tell me where he is.“
„You can’t keep me here.“
„Oh, but I can. Shall I tell you how?“ Nicholas’s long,
shapely hand reached out and smoothed her hair back from
one temple, his touch as delicate as the brush of the wings of a
butterfly. „There is no one to help you here. This boat belongs
to me and you’ll find no one interested in any plea for aid.
Mikhail and my friend, Valentin, are completely loyal to me. I
have a party of acquaintances on board, but I assure you their
only interest is to have an amusing time. They include fifteen
or so strumpets from a New Orleans brothel and a number of
gentlemen whose idea of pleasure would cause even you to
blush.“ His gaze ran over her, touching on the primness of her
dark blue school uniform. „I’ve told Valentin to inform them
you’re the resident of a similar baudy house in St. Louis and
that you specialize in a pretense of little-girl purity. A certain
kind of man finds that pretense very exciting, you know.“
She hadn’t known, but she brushed the knowledge aside as
unimportant. „There is still the crew.“
He nodded. „Who would lose very lucrative positions if
they displeased me. I think they, too, would prefer to believe
my story.“
So she would be alone in her struggle with Savron. For a
moment she felt a tiny frisson of apprehension before she
dismissed it impatiently. Her struggles had always been alone,
except when Rising Star had been there to support her. This
was no different. „I don’t need help. I’ll still get away from
you.“
A flicker of admiration crossed his face. „No tears? No
pleas? I can almost see why Mikhail has developed a fondness
for you.“
„I never cry.“ She met his gaze. „And you will never hear