me plead.“
„Oh, but I will.“ Passion flared in the darkness of his eyes.
„And it will be my very great pleasure to grant those pleas.“
Silver felt a breathless twisting sensation in the pit of her
stomach. Lust. But it could not be lust when she felt only fury
at this golden-haired man. Was her body’s response so
mindless that it took no note of her mind’s bidding? She tore
her gaze away. „You will see.“
He was now looking at her with curiosity as well as
sensuality. „Why are you not threatening me with the wrath of
the Delaneys? I was told they’re a very powerful family.“
„I do not belong to them,“ she said haltingly. „I have
friends among them. My cousins Brianne and Patrick, Elspeth
and Dominic, but the others – “ She stopped and raised her
chin proudly. „I would not ask them for help. I told you I had
no need of the Delaneys.“
Nicholas experienced a strange aching tenderness that took
him by surprise. Pride, isolation, and courage were all there in
her face, and there was something beneath that armor that
stirred him to pity. He understood armor. He had worn it
himself since he was a small child and he knew what hid
behind it: loneliness, hurt, and wariness. He felt a sudden
impulse to reach out and draw her to him, cradle her in his
arms as he had never been held himself in that time so long
ago. His hand moved from her temple to her cheek. „Silver, I –
“ He broke off. My God, what was he thinking? This was the
tiger cat who had just sunk her fangs into Mikhail, who had
watched Andre die a horrible death, who had taken lovers as
casually as any court demimondaine. Surprisingly, it was this
last thought that brought the welcome anger that burned away
any hint of softness. „Good, then I needn’t worry about being
punished for my sins.“
„Worry. / will punish you.“
He suddenly chuckled. „If I give you the opportunity,
which I have no intention of doing. You will be confined in
this cabin unless I give you permission to leave, and I promise
you that if you bash me over the head while I’m sleeping or
steal your little knife back and stick it in my heart, Valentin
and Mikhail will be very displeased with you. I know you
won’t believe this, but they’re both quite fond of me.“
„I don’t believe it,“ she said flatly.
„Pity. I’m a very charming fellow.“ He smiled wickedly.
„I’ll be glad to demonstrate how agreeable I can be.“
She stared back at him unsmilingly.
„No? Well, then I suppose I’d better show you how
impossible it would be to escape even if I were no longer an
obstacle in your path.“ He leaned forward and quickly sliced
through the ropes binding her wrists. He stood up and strolled
toward the door facing the bed, pausing with his hand on the
knob to gesture to the other door to the left of bed. „That door
leads to the grand saloon, where you would encounter any
number of gentlemen eager to drag you into the nearest
stateroom and have their way with you. Please refrain from
using that door under any circumstance. I intend to be the only
one who’s going to have his way with you on the Rose.“ He
opened the door and inclined his head mockingly. „And this
door leads to the deck.“
Silver swung her legs to the floor and stood up. She crossed
the room, her gaze fixed warily on his face. He stood aside to
let her precede him.
Cool, moist air touched her cheeks and a lazy breeze
ruffled through her hair as she walked out onto the deck. She
heard the door close behind her as she moved over to the rail
and looked down at the churning waters below. It had seemed
as if only a short time had passed, yet the lights of the city had
almost disappeared from view. Now there were only dark
forests, high bluffs, and the river.
„I understand the Mississippi is over a mile wide in many
places,“ Nicholas said softly in her ear. „An impossible swim
for a woman. And I hardly think you’re stupid enough to risk
drowning yourself.“
„No, I’m not stupid.“ Silver did not look at him as she
deliberately fought down the flare of anger she felt at her own
helplessness. Anger would blur her thinking and put her at a
disadvantage, and she already felt more uncertain in Nicholas
Savron’s presence than she ever had before in her life. She
needed all her wits about her to find a way to escape this boat
and get back to Etaine. What if the child suffered another
attack and she weren’t there to help her? She had gotten better
and Silver had been filled with hope, but what if the recovery
did not last? Fear edged her voice. „You’ll not hold me. I’ll
find a way.“ She glanced sideways at him and drew in her
breath sharply. The moonlight frosted his golden hair with a
silver sheen, and he was as beautiful as any ancient god. It was
almost an irresistible temptation to let her gaze linger, but she
forced herself to look back at the river. That angel-devil beauty
was a snare, a weapon he no doubt knew well how to wield.
She must not let herself become entangled in his web.
She had to think, to seek out a weakness in Savron. She
was silent, her mind leaping from one possibility to another.
„What promise did you give Mikhail Kuzdief?“
She felt him stiffen beside her. „Do you actually expect me
to tell you?“
„Why not? I’m only a woman.“
He chuckled. „That bit of irony would have done justice to
Marc Antony at Caesar’s funeral.“
„Well?“
His gaze searched her face. It would be unwise to tell her,
yet he knew abruptly that he was going to do so. She was as
valiant as the warrior Mikhail had called her and they had
stripped her of every weapon. Giving her back one small
assurance would surely do no harm. „I promised him I would
never take you against your will.“
„I see.“ She tried to keep her voice emotionless, to hide the
tingle of excitement his words had ignited within her. „It was
very kind of him to care. I owe him a debt.“
„Mikhail has a gentle heart.“ His lips twisted. „He’s
completely unlike myself in that respect.“
„I agree.“ She turned briskly toward the stateroom. „Can
you summon him from your cabin?“
He nodded. „There’s a bell pull beside the bed.“
„Then send for him. I’m very good with healing.
Sometimes a minor cut can be very dangerous if a bit of cloth
or dirt gets into the wound.“
„You’re suddenly very solicitous,“ Nicholas said dryly. „It
couldn’t be that you think you can persuade him to help you?“
She looked at him in surprise. „No, he told me he was loyal
to you. I know he would not betray you.“
„Then why do you want to bind up his wounds and soothe
his fevered brow?“
„He is a good man,“ she said simply. „And I owe him a
debt. I always pay my debts. Besides, it was not his fault he
felt bound to help you any more than it was mine that I had to
defend myself. Until there is reason for us to fight again, we
can be friends.“
He gazed at her blankly. There was no doubt of her
sincerity. At that moment she had the clear simplicity of a
small child. „You hold no grudge?“
„Not against him.“ She strode past him toward the
stateroom. „Only against you, your highness.“ Her tone was
coolly mocking. „I most definitely hold a grudge against you.“
„Don’t you think formality is rather absurd considering the
intimacy of our circumstances? My name is Nicholas.“
She glanced at him over her shoulder. „I think perhaps