You were just like those fancy Natchez planter folk up on the
hill.“ His green eyes were glittering in the lamplight. „I was
scum and I came from scum, but I showed them. I’m richer
than all of them now.“
„Where’s Silver, Bassinger?“ Nicholas’s words were
measured as he tried to control his temper. „Tell me now and I
may let you live. It’s not likely, but there is a possibility.“
„Your little pullet? She must be good if you still want her
after all the trouble she’s caused you. Perhaps I may try her
myself.“
„I’ve changed my mind. There’s no possibility at all that
you’ll survive.“
„I will break his bones,“ Mikhail offered mildly. „He will
tell you after the second bone is snapped.“ He studied
Bassinger. „Perhaps after only the first one is broken. I think
he has no courage.“
„Keep him away from me.“ Bassinger took a step back. „If
anything happens to me, I’ve given orders that your little
whore’s throat be cut. My men are loyal to me; they know I
don’t tolerate disobedience.“
„Wait, Mikhail.“ Nicholas experienced a surge of
frustration liberally laced with cold panic. „We’ll listen to
him.“
„How kind,“ Bassinger said caustically. „You don’t seem to
realize that I’m in charge here now. It’s my choice what will
happen to your whore and what will happen to you.“
„And what do you propose to do to us?“ Nicholas asked
without expression. „I’m sure you have a plan in mind.“
„Oh, yes.“ Bassinger nodded with satisfaction. „I’m going
to rid you of a little of that arrogance. I’m going to get the
Rose back and I’m going to enjoy having your little schoolgirl
do a number of pleasurable tricks for me.“
Nicholas hands clenched into fists at his side. „I do believe
I may draw and quarter you.“
„Excellent idea,“ Valentin murmured, his light eyes icy
cold. „I’d be delighted to assist.“
Bassinger moistened his lips with his tongue. „This isn’t
Russia, your highness. You don’t have any power here, while I
have judges bought and paid for all along the Mississippi. I’m
the one who’s prince here. I can do whatever I want.“
„You can have the Rose,“ Nicholas said crisply. „Return
the woman and I’ll sign over the papers.“
„That’s not enough, it’s too easy for you. You treated me
like a stray pup nibbling at your heels.“ Bassinger’s fair skin
was suddenly flushed with color, „Well, now you can trail at
my heels for a while. If I feel generous, I may let you return
the Rose to me when we reach New Orleans.“ He laughed
excitedly. „Don’t you think that’s only fair, your highness?“
It was more than vengeance driving him, Nicholas realized,
the man was not quite sane. The knowledge caused terror to
sleet through him. There was no way to either reason or
bargain with a madman. „And how do you intend to
accomplish this?“
„Why, we’re going to have a race,“ Bassinger said. „That
should amuse your highness, you being a gambling man. I
have your woman on the Mary L, one of my other boats
docked just down the levee. The Mary L is smaller and lighter
than the Rose and she’s carrying no cargo and only about
twenty-five passengers. When I return to the boat, I’ll order
that we set out for New Orleans. You will naturally follow.“
He smiled. „If you arrive first in New Orleans, I’ll allow you
to return the Rose and give you the bitch you apparently hold
in such esteem. If I win, you’ll still return the Rose and I’ll
keep the Delaney woman until I tire of her.“ His smile
deepened benevolently. „Don’t worry, I seldom keep women
for long after I’ve broken them. Though your half-breed seems
more spirited than most, I’m sure it will take only a little
longer.“ He turned toward the door. „I think I’m being most
generous under the circumstances. I’ll even allow you
glimpses of your strumpet from time to time if you keep close
enough on my heels. I’ll bring her up to the Texas deck when
she’s not entertaining me in my cabin.“ He opened the door
and glanced back at them, fierce satisfaction on his face, „You
understand, of course, that since I’ve made the rules and the
stakes, I can also change them at any time. You might
remember that, your highness.“
The door closed behind him.
Valentin gave a low whistle. „Nicky, he’s not – “
„Sane,“ Nicholas finished grimly. „And it wouldn’t surprise
me if he were capable of the same sorts of vicious little tricks
made notorious by our good tsar Ivan.“
„What do we do?“ Mikhail asked.
„We follow him.“ Nicholas stood up, swaying as waves of
pain pounded his temples. „Yapping at the bastard’s heels.“
„I don’t like it,“ Valentin said, frowning. „Why don’t we go
after him now and – “
„He’d kill her,“ Nicholas said harshly. „Do you think I
wouldn’t prefer that too? I can’t risk it. It’s my fault Silver is
being used as Bassinger’s pawn. If I hadn’t brought her on
board the Rose, he would never have known she existed. The
blame for anything he does lies on my shoulders.“
„He will not keep his bargain,“ Mikhail said flatly.
Nicholas didn’t answer for a moment. „I know that.“ His
lips tightened into a thin line. He moved toward the door.
„We’ll give Bassinger what he wants and watch for a chance
to get Silver away from him.“
Valentin nodded. „And then?“
„Then I’ll kill him as slowly and as painfully as possible.“
Nicholas opened the door. „I’m going up to the pilot house to
talk to Robert. Put ashore our passengers with enough money
to buy them passage back to New Orleans on another riverboat
and get rid of any cargo in the hold. I want the Rose as light as
possible. If what Bassinger claims about the Mary L is true, it
won’t help much, but we have to try everything we can. I want
to be right behind him from the moment the Mary L leaves the
levee.“ He glanced over his shoulder. „And make sure there’s
a rifle on board. The Rose may not be able to catch the Mary L
but a bullet might.“
„Come along, sweet bitch.“ Bassinger jerked Silver to her
feet. „We’re under way, and though I’d like to linger here in
my cabin with you, I have an even greater pleasure in mind.
We’re going to put on a show for your lover.“ He checked the
bonds around her wrists in front of her. „It’s a spectacle I’ve
been planning since you poured that bottle of wine on my
head.“
„You looked very funny,“ Silver said calmly. „Everyone
thought so. Do you remember how they laughed at you?
They’ll laugh again when I – “ She broke off, her head
snapping back as Bassinger struck her viciously on the cheek.
Then she shook her head to clear it of the stinging pain and
smiled. „I will remember that when my hands aren’t tied.“
„You’ll remember a good deal more than that.“ He shoved
her out onto the deck and then in the direction of the stairs
leading to the Texas deck. „And so will Savron. He’s right
behind us and he’ll be able to view our little tableau very
clearly.“ He half lifted, half pushed her up the stairs. „You’re
quite helpless, you know. No one will interfere. Most of the
passengers are asleep, but I’ve ordered their staterooms locked