„Money. I have to go ashore and purchase something.“
„I don’t suppose you’d be willing to tell me the nature of
the purchase?“
„No.“
„Nor let me accompany you?“
„No.“
Valentin shook his head gravely. „I can’t let you go unless
you promise to come back. Nicky would have me skewered
and roasted over slow flames if I let you run away again.“
„I promise. I have every intention of returning to the
Rose.“
Valentin hesitated before slowly reaching into his pocket
and pulling out a fat roll of bills and tossing it on the bed. „I
know you’re upset, Silver, but don’t do anything foolish.“
„I won’t.“ Silver felt a sudden stinging behind her eyes as
she looked up into his worried face. This might be the last time
she’d see Valentin, and she realized she would truly miss his
wry humor and droll pretense at fopishness. „Thank you,
Valentin.“
„It’s Nicky’s money.“ He made a face. „But my head, if
you don’t keep your word.“
„I’ll come back.“
Valentin studied her. „I believe you.“ He turned away. „So
I’ll use my considerable charm to talk one of the good ladies
out of her clothes. You won’t be pleased. They all dress with
the depressing drabness of most virtuous women.“ He lifted
his brow as he glanced back over his shoulder. „You won’t
change your mind?“
Silver shook her head.
Valentin sighed. „I didn’t think so.“ He shut the door
quietly behind him.
„Hurry,“ Silver said impatiently. „I told you there wasn’t
much time, Father.“
The plump, white-haired priest’s breath was coming in
little pants as he followed Silver up the gangplank of the Rose.
„I am hurrying, young lady,“ he said indignantly. „It will do
that poor dying soul no good if I expire before I can give him
the last rites.“
Silver caught sight of Mikhail watching them at the top of
the gangplank. „Is Nicholas back?“
Mikhail nodded, puzzled. „He’s in his cabin.“
„Good.“ Silver turned briskly and started toward the stairs
leading to the hurricane deck. „Come along, Father Jason.“
The priest scurried after her.
Mikhail gazed after them thoughtfully for a moment. Then
he walked slowly toward the stairs and began climbing the
steps.
Silver threw open the door to Nicholas’s cabin and strode
into the stateroom.
Nicholas jumped to his feet. „It’s about time you saw fit to
come back. Valentin says you left long before dark. If you ever
– “ He broke off as he caught sight of the priest behind her.
„What are you doing here, Father Jason?“
The priest leaned against the doorjamb attempting to!catch
his breath. „This young lady said it was urgent that I come. I
assume another one of the seamen is near death, your
highness.“
„I didn’t say that. Only that the matter was urgent.“ Silver
came forward to stand before Nicholas. „And it is.“ She drew
a small derringer from beneath her cloak and pointed it at
Nicholas. „He has to marry us.“
Nicholas’s froze, his expression stunned. „I beg your
pardon?“
„You. heard me. He’s going to marry us.“ She paused and
moistened her lips with her tongue. „Or I’ll shoot you.“
„Indeed?“ Nicholas lifted his brow. „How bloodthirsty of
you. May I ask where you got that pistol?“
„I bought it in a shop on the wharf.“ She added reluctantly,
„With your money.“ She hurried on. „But I’ll pay you back.“
His lips twitched. „I should hope so.“
Father Jason straightened away from the door-jamb. „This
is outrageous,“ he said incredulously. „Young lady, I will
perform no marriage rites between you and his highness while
he’s under duress.“ He moved forward to stand beside Silver.
„You should be ashamed, threatening a man such as he. Do
you realize this gentleman is looked upon as a hero by the
citizens of St. Louis for his selfless charity toward those poor
survivors of the tragedy of the Mary L?“
„No.“ She kept the pistol trained on Nicholas. „I only
realize I must have a legal father for my child.“
Nicholas went still. „Your child?“
„I’m over two weeks late for my flux and this is not usual
for me. I have to go after Etaine and I can’t risk leaving
without protecting my child.“ She met his eyes. „I will not
bring shame to any child I bear. It will be enough that he will
have Apache blood.“ She paused. „Don’t worry, I realize the
blame lies also with me. I want only your name for my child.
When I leave here, you will never see me again. I’m sure
you’ll have no problem dissolving the bond when you return
to your own country.“
„That’s a comforting thought.“ Nicholas’s eyes were
narrowed on her face. „You’ve obviously thought a great deal
about this.“
„Not a great deal.“ She smiled shakily. „If I didn’t tend to
act impulsively, this situation would never have occurred.“
She lifted her chin. „But I will make it come right.“
Father Jason was frowning uncertainly. „You have known
this woman in the carnal sense, my son?“
Nicholas’s gaze did not leave Silver’s face. „Oh, yes,
Father, it couldn’t have been more carnal.“
„It is possible that the child is not of your seed….“ Father
Jason suggested tentatively. „Perhaps the young woman has
engaged in similar activities with other gentlemen.“
„If there is a child, it is mine,“ Nicholas said unequivocally.
„Have you no shame that you admit to disgracing this
woman?“
„He didn’t disgrace me.“ Silver said indignantly. „I was the
one who chose to – “
„Anyone in St. Petersburg will tell you what a base
scoundrel I am,“ Nicholas interrupted quickly. „No woman is
safe from my lust.“
„But you obviously repent your past. Perhaps if you vow
not to transgress again, a penance or two would be sufficient –
“ Father Jason broke off as his gaze alighted on the mural on
the wall facing him. Stunned, his gaze shifted from perversity
to perversity. „Dear sweet Mary, I seem to have been mistaken
in you. This is the’chamber of a debaucher and his whore.“
„I don’t have much time,“ Silver said impatiently. „I have
passage on a riverboat that leaves here in forty minutes. Marry
us, Father.“
„You seem to have no choice,“ Nicholas told the priest
solemnly. He glanced down at the derringer in Silver’s hand.
„And I most certainly do not. Perhaps we’d better accede
graciously to – “ He broke off as his gaze traveled over
Silver’s head to the open doorway. Something flickered in his
eyes and his head made a negative motion that was almost
imperceptible. „Best proceed with the ceremony, Father.“
„Quickly,“ Silver urged.
Father Jason gave her an exasperated glance. „You’re a
most demanding female. I’m not so sure his highness is
completely to blame for – “ His glance again happened on the
murals. He quickly drew out a black book and began reciting
the words of the marriage rite.
The ceremony was over in an amazingly short time, and
Silver understood very few of the Latin phrases. She watched
suspiciously as the priest closed the book. „It’s done?“
„It’s done,“ the priest said.
„I want a paper,“ Silver said firmly. „Something to prove
that a marriage has taken place.“
Nicholas gestured to the small elegant desk across the