Catalina's Caress (8 page)

C
atalina pulled her cloak about her. Her body shook with the effort it took to control her fury and the strange inexplicable pulse that beat through her body like a resounding hammer.

She could not explain to herself the deception of her body. How had she let him reach a place she had shared with no man before. She bit her lip and closed her eyes letting the tears she had held in for so long score her cheeks with hot rivulets.

Damn him! Damn him! How could she have let this happen? And why could she not force the memory of those moments from her mind, erase the feel of his touch when he had possessed her... first with gentleness, then with wild sensuous pleasure.

As she stepped out of the carriage she pulled the hood of her cloak over her head. She wanted no one to see the tangled profusion of her hair. She had tried to compose herself as best she could, angrily wiping the tears from her face. The last thing she needed now was the multitude of questions she knew she would face from her aunt. Charlotte would be more than difficult to fool. It would be best, Catalina decided, to get to her room before her aunt knew she was home.

She gave orders that the carriage and horse were to be cared for as silently as possible. Then, taking the back steps, she breathed a sigh of relief when she had safely climbed the dark stairway and closed her bedroom door behind her.

She poured some cool water from the pitcher into the bowl on her wash stand. Then she stripped off her clothes and vigorously washed her face and her body as if she could wash away Marc Copeland's touch.

But the tingling warmth of his caresses remained on her flesh and in her mind. She put on her nightgown and robe, then brushed her hair free of tangles.

She knew she wouldn't be able to sleep. She gazed at her bed for several moments, then decided against making the attempt. Instead she made her way down the stairs to the empty kitchen, hoping a cup of steaming tea would calm her nerves.

She had just put the kettle on when her aunt's voice came from the doorway.

"Well, it's about time you're back. I've been waiting for hours. Did you find Seth?"

"Mr. Copeland said Seth never arrived there."

"You believed him?"

"He was lying through his teeth."

"Did it take you this long to learn Seth wasn't there?"

"I tried to... talk Mr. Copeland into telling me the truth. It was useless. He is an unmitigated scoundrel. Oh, Aunt Charlotte, I'm so frightened for Seth. What do you think could have happened?"

"Maybe we are jumping to conclusions. Could the man have been telling the truth? Seth might have changed his plans when he left here."

"I told Mr. Copeland that we no longer cared whether he had stolen the
Belle
or not. That neither Seth nor I intended to let him use it to bully us into anything."

"I imagine he was not too impressed with that."

"He was ... upset," Catalina answered thoughtfully.

Charlotte had not failed to note Catalina's condition. Her niece was tense and upset, and the look in her eyes was one Charlotte had never seen in them before,

Catalina paced about like a caged tigress, twisting her hands together and trying unsuccessfully to control emotions she had not tasted before. Charlotte listened, allowing her to talk some of her tension away. Then she urged her to drink her tea and try to get some sleep. But she herself was already making a plan of her own, a plan whose first step entailed seeing and talking to Marc Copeland.

❧

Charlotte tiptoed into Catalina's room just after eight in the morning to make certain that Catalina still slept. She had no intention of waking her. Charlotte's plans did not include Catalina.

Her carriage awaited her, and when she sat back in it, she contemplated what she would say to this rogue who had so disrupted Catalina's life.

Marc had just toweled himself dry and was putting on his pants when Charlotte's presence was announced.

"A Madame Charlotte McNeil, sir."

"Charlotte McNeil," Marc said. "Do I know her, Tony?"

"She's related to the man who once owned this boat," he replied.

Marc lifted his white shirt from the bed and shrugged into it. As he buttoned it he smiled at the young man who had delivered the message.

"I'm curious about what she might want. Either she'll be shouting for my head for last night's delightful crime or the young lady has kept her silence and this is a social visit. Bring the lady to me and then ask China to join me." China's opinion of all new acquaintances was very important to Marc.

"Aye, sir."

In a few minutes Charlotte appeared in the doorway. She was a woman who commanded respect no matter where she was, and Marc could feel the magnetism of her presence when she stepped through the door.

He rose from his chair and walked to her side.

"Good morning, Mrs. McNeil. To what do I owe the pleasure of this early morning visit?"

Charlotte eyed Marc speculatively, a half-smile on her lips and a sparkle of amusement in her eyes. She had been touched by a faint wisp of memory, yet she could not grasp it. He seemed familiar, and she wondered if she could have seen such a dashingly handsome young man and forgotten him. It was very unlikely for since the age of sixteen Charlotte had had an eye for handsome young men... and she never forgot them as they never forgot her.

"It is Miss McNeil, Mr. Copeland... by choice not by chance."

"Miss McNeil. Have we met before?"

"I don't believe we have."

"Then I don't understand why you want to speak to me."

"I am Catalina Carrington's aunt," Charlotte said, watching his face closely. She saw recognition leap into his eyes, and despite his effort at control Charlotte saw much much more.

"Ah," Marc said softly, "the lovely Catalina. And how is my lady now?" Marc would have loved to know just how much Charlotte knew about last night. Had Catalina run to her aunt in tears to accuse him?

"I don't believe"—Charlotte chuckled—"that Catalina is in any way your lady, Mr. Copeland. In fact, I do believe she is most upset with you. Why did you not tell her last night where her brother had gone?"

"Because I didn't know. I told her that, but I think the lady chose not to believe me. Won't you come in and sit down? I was about to have breakfast. Would you like something?"

"Some tea please."

"Of course." Marc went to the door and snapped out an order. Then he returned to sit opposite Charlotte. But before he could speak again the door opened and China entered.

If Charlotte was surprised by her presence, only a slight widening of her eyes betrayed it. She found China exceedingly beautiful, but she wondered about the nature of her connection to Marc Copeland.

"China"—Charlotte could hear the gentleness in Marc's voice—"come and have breakfast with us. My guest is Miss Charlotte McNeil. She"—he said calmly—"is the aunt of Catalina Carrington."

"Good morning, Miss McNeil," China said softly.

"Good morning," Charlotte answered.

China sat close to Charlotte, who could smell the delicate scent of her perfume.

"Now, Miss McNeil," Marc said, "I doubt if you came here to share breakfast. You have something to say to me?"

"You are quite certain we have not met, Mr. Copeland? Your face is so very familiar."

Did she see one moment of shock, one spark of fear in his eyes for that breathless second?

"No .. . as far as I know," Marc responded honestly, "we have never met."

"Oh, well," Charlotte said briskly, "I will remember. My memory is quite good. Maybe I knew someone who looked like you. Though"—she laughed softly— "there are not many men as handsome."

"Thank you." Marc chuckled. If Charlotte were not one of the enemy he had a feeling they might have become friends.

"Mr. Copeland..."

"Marc." Marc grinned.

"Marc," Charlotte repeated. "I will come to the point. I have only two questions. What has become of my nephew Seth? And what happened between you and my niece last night?"

"What has she told you?" Marc questioned carefully.

"Nothing, which is why I suspect a great deal happened."

"It's of no importance whether you or she believe me or not. But her brother was not on this boat last night, and I have not seen him since the card game in which I won the boat."

"And last night?" Charlotte asked quietly.

"As your niece said," Marc replied, "nothing happened. She wanted her brother, he was not here ... she left"

"That easily?"

"That easily."

Charlotte laughed softly and Marc chuckled.

"Obviously you do not know my niece very well."

"No. Actually last night was only the third time our paths crossed."

"I see."

"What do you see?"

"That my niece might be correct about you."

"Oh, in what way?"

"That you are a very unscrupulous young man. Tell me, Marc Copeland ... is that your real name .. . and what is it you want from my family?"

Marc shrugged. "That," he said softly, "is not between you and me but between me and Catalina."

Charlotte rose, her smile intact and her voice unruffled and cool.

"We shall see what you are about, Mr. Copeland. We shall see." She swept from the room with the regal bearing of an empress.

When the door closed behind her, Marc whistled softly. "That is a formidable lady. It's like having an audience with the queen of England. I had a feeling she was looking right through me."

"I agree," China said. "Marc, I wonder why she expected to find her nephew here. Have you really not seen him?"

"Not since the game. I don't understand that either."

"And the girl?" China said softly.

"She was here."

"Last night?" China questioned. She was at first surprised, then amused that she was witnessing the first time in their relationship that Marc refused to meet her eyes.

"Yes, last night She tried to shoot me."

"I heard nothing."

"The gun was never fired." He reached into a drawer in a small table nearby, took out the gun, and placed it on the table.

"So she just changed her mind about shooting you?"

"No," Marc said reluctantly. "I changed it for her."

"I see," China spoke very softly.

"No you don't, China." He shook his head negatively. "And don't go jumping to any conclusions. She tried to kill me, I took the gun from her ... and sent her on her way. It changes nothing . .. nothing at all."

"I see."

"China, quit saying I see like you're looking into a crystal ball."

China laughed. But her astute gaze had read much more in Marc than he wanted to reveal.

"What do you plan now?"

To go on with the work on the boat I want her ready as soon as possible. It's time we slapped the Carringtons on the other cheek."

"All right"

"And," Marc said quietly, "send a few men out to scout around the city. I've got a strong suspicion we'd better find out just what did happen to Seth Carrington. If he's not with his family and he's not here, then I'd like to know just where the hell he is."

"You worried about him for his sister's sake?"

"No. I told you China, they're all going to pay their own price so I don't want him slipping through my fingers." He added quickly, "Dont say I see."

"I'll go and tell the men to start a discreet search," she responded.

"Good gir1."

"When do you want the boat to be ready to leave?"

"By late tonight If Seth Carrington is in the city find him, but I want everything else on the move."

"By the time the sun sets we'll be leaving," China declared. "Is there anything else?"

"No."

"Marc?"

"What?"

"I ran across Nina and Charlene chatting together in a very friendly manner on my way here."

"So?"

"For a man who thinks he understands women so well you don't see anything odd about two women who dislike and distrust each other as much as those two suddenly becoming so friendly?"

"I don't see what their friendship, or the lack of it has to do with anything."

"You've put Nina out of your bed?" she asked quickly.

"For Christ's sake, China! What do my sleeping arrangements have to do with this?" His anger was rising. "Aren't you nosing just a little too deep?"

"Marc, Nina can be dangerous, and Charlene even more so. Charlene is ambitious, and as for Nina ... a spurned woman can be more than dangerous. Nina doesn't know all the facts, but she's clever and not beyond seeking revenge. She's in love with you, Marc. Be careful."

"I'll keep your warning in mind." Marc smiled. "China, you worry about me like a mother hen with only one chick. I'm a grown man. I can take care of myself."

"You are so set on one goal sometimes you do not see all that you should I have only suggested you keep an eye on Nina. If she is no longer welcome in your bed, why do you not rid yourself of her?"

Marc made a soft sound of irritation. "China, Nina is not your problem. Suppose we get busy with more important things."

China nodded, bowed slightly from the waist, and turned to leave.

"China," Marc said softly. She turned back to look at him and he added, "I'll keep your words in mind, and thanks for worrying about me."

China smiled, then left, and Marc slowly sat down in his chair.

He hadn't thought of Nina for days. Maybe he should listen to China, he thought, but he needed someone now, someone to help him erase the soft scent and the warm lips of the elusive Catalina Carrington.

One way or another he would wipe Catalina from his senses, he would drown his thoughts of her in the arms of other women. No matter what his senses told him he knew that for him Catalina Carrington was the most dangerous woman of all.