„No.“ She clutched the sheet to her breasts. The burns on
her wrists were bandaged, she noticed absently. She had
forgotten about holding her wrists over the lantern flame to
free them. „I have to leave. I’ve been here too long as it is.
Etaine needs me.“
„Etaine?“
„Monteith’s daughter. She’s only a child and can’t fight
Monteith alone.“ She brushed her hair from her face, wincing
as the muscles rippled beneath the flesh of her lacerated back.
„She thinks he wants her dead and she may be right. Monteith
is capable of anything. Where are my clothes?“
„That bit of scarlet gauze you were wearing is in rags and I
haven’t procured any replacements yet.“
Nicholas’s eyes twinkled. „You could always try the bed
curtains again.“
„This isn’t funny. Etaine needs me.“ Silver’s hand
tightened on the sheet. „She has a lung affliction and – “
He placed his fingers on her lips to silence her. „I’m not
laughing,“ he said softly. „You say the child is in danger?
That’s not reasonable if the man is her father, Silver.“
„Just because he’s capable of begetting a child doesn’t stop
him from being a monster. He makes her go into a cage with
three lions every day of her life. Does that sound like a loving,
fatherly thing to do?“ she asked fiercely. „I promised her I’d
take her away from Monteith. I was going to wire Patrick and
ask him to send me a draft on a local bank. I thought Monteith
would give her up if I gave him enough money.“
„I don’t know. Monteith impressed me as being something
of a puzzle. Still, money might be the key.“ He stood up. „You
want the child?“
„Of course I want her. I just told you that I’ve made her a
promise. Now, get me something to wear.“
He shook his head. „You stay where you are. The doctor
said you should spend at least another week in bed. I have to
oversee the moving of more burned patients to the hospital,
but I’ll send Valentin to get your Etaine.“ He turned toward the
door. „Don’t worry, I’ll give Monteith enough money to be
sure he releases the girl to you.“
Silver gazed at him suspiciously. „Why should you do that?
Etaine is my problem.“ She paused. „I still won’t go to St.
Petersburg with you.“
He flinched. „I’m not without compassion for a helpless
child. I don’t demand my pound of flesh in every instance.“
She gazed at him, the frown still wrinkling her brow.
He laughed harshly. „My God, what do I have to do to
convince you? You want the child. I’m giving her to you. I’ll
give you any damn thing you want. As soon as you’re well you
can leave me and I won’t reach out a hand to stop you.“
„Why?“
„Why?“ he echoed incredulously. „I stood there and
watched Bassinger try to beat you to death, knowing I couldn’t
do a damn thing to stop him.“ His hands slowly closed into
fists at his sides. „I was helpless. I stood there muttering curses
and prayers.“ He paused. „And promises. One of those
promises was that if you lived, I’d release you and let you go
your own way.“
Silver experienced a strange throb of pain. He was giving
her what she had fought for so fiercely. How foolish to feel
this aching emptiness. „Guilt?“
He nodded, his lips twisting in a mirthless smile. „Oh, yes,
I’m capable of feeling guilt… and compassion… and many
other emotions besides lust and anger and a desire for revenge.
It’s unfortunate our association will end before I’m able to
demonstrate any of my more virtuous qualities.“ He.opened
the door. „Though you would probably only suspect me of
pretending to lure you into my bed again.“
„No,“ she said impulsively. Then when he looked at her in
surprise, she hesitated before continuing slowly. „You
wouldn’t pretend. I think you’re an honest man.“
He bowed mockingly. „Many thanks. I suppose I should be
grateful to be granted your trust in one area at least.“ He gazed
at her for a long moment, a multitude of expressions flickering
over his face. „I’ll send Valentin and the child to you as soon
as he returns.“
The door swung shut behind him.
Silver stared at the mahogany panels of the door for a long
time before she slowly turned to lie on her stomach, her cheek
nestled against the pillow. Her captivity was over. Soon she
would be free to take Etaine to Killara, where the child would
be safe. She should be wildly happy. She was happy. Naturally
her body would miss Nicholas, who had awakened it to
pleasure, but her heart would not miss him and she would
surely forget him in a few months.
Forget Nicholas? Forget his seductive golden beauty and
sorcerer’s smile? Forget the moments when she had glimpsed
tenderness behind that cynical facade?
Of course she would forget him. The tears running down
her cheeks were due only to temporary physical weakness, not
sadness. She must get on with her life, for there was no place
in Nicholas’s for her that she would accept.
She wiped her damp cheeks against the pillow. She must
plan her future, for she thought it quite possible that she would
have Nicholas’s child. If this was true, she must take measures
to protect that child. She had taken her pleasure, but the baby
must not be allowed to suffer for her recklessness. She must
leave the Rose as soon as Valentin returned with Etaine, but
there was something she had to do first.
But she would not worry about that now. She would rest
and gather strength and perhaps remember Nicholas’s face
when he had smiled at her. It could do no harm to indulge
herself when she would be leaving him so soon. Yes, she
would lie here and think of Nicholas….
12
„The circus is gone?“ Silver gazed at Valentin blankly. „But it
couldn’t be gone. I was there only three nights ago.“
„They packed up and left the next morning.“ Valentin said
gently. „Monteith arranged passage for his troupe and animals
on the Jefferson Davis to New Orleans. According to the
shipping agent, he was planning on taking another ship when
he reached New Orleans.“
„He’s going to Europe,“ Silver said numbly. „Etaine said –
“
„Not Europe. At least, not immediately,“ Valentin said.
„Russia.“
Silver’s eyes widened. „Russia!“
Valentin nodded ruefully. „He was evidently very
impressed by Nicholas’s affluence. He told the shipping agent
he was sure Russia would have rich pickings.“
„Which port?“
„The agent wasn’t sure. Monteith said he would decide
when he got to New Orleans and found what ships were
available.“
Silver drew a deep quivering breath. Oh, Lord, she didn’t
even know where Monteith had taken Etaine. Well, she had to
find out and quickly. „Where’s Nicholas?“
„He’s gone ashore to telegraph Randall’s in New Orleans
and try to have them intercept Monteith.“
„Those idiots will never – “ She broke off and her hands
tightened on the sheet until her knuckles turned white. She
must not become upset. She had to think… and act. „Valentin,
I need clothes. Would you buy a gown, shoes, and cloak from
one of the volunteers nursing the survivors?“
He gazed at her warily. „Nicholas won’t like it. You’re not
well enough to get up yet.“
„Would he like it better if I walked down that gangplank
wearing no gown at all?“
„Touche.“ He grimaced. „It seems I have no choice.
Anything else?“