Once a Mistress (12 page)

“Yes, yes, you were too overwhelmed by the prospect of losing Chilton as a suitor to consider the implications of anything else.” Giving her a considering look, he asked, “Are you certain there was nothing else?”

“I have told you everything.” She bit her lip as a sinking feeling slithered through her. He should have been excited by the information she had just given him. Instead he was entirely too calm. “Don’t you understand? My father is in possession of some evidence that will see Marcus hanged and Lord Chilton with him. My fear is that Papa will be wrongly implicated because he and Lord Chilton are business partners.”

His eyes narrowed. Suddenly she realized how her statement must sound to him.

“My father is innocent,” she asserted, challenge in her stance.

“Of course he is,” Alex answered, his tone silky.

“He is!”

“Without a doubt.” He raised a brow. “Just because he and Chilton are partners in legitimate business is no reason to suspect that they are also partners in these dark dealings.”

“That is exactly what I am trying to tell you. Why do you mock me?”

“Mock you? Why, dear lady, what ever gave you that idea?” He smiled. “It never entered my mind that your father might be involved.”

She clenched her fists at her sides. His derisive gaze belied his charming tone. She knew how far-fetched her tale must sound to him. But she had to find some way to make him to believe her. “It is the truth,” she said, almost desperately.

He gave her a look of innocent inquiry. “You do not suppose…and this is just a thought, mind you…that your father might have been blackmailing Chilton?”

“Certainly not!”

“Hmmm.” He appeared to think over the matter. “It never once occurred to you that your father might have been dissatisfied with his arrangement with Marcus and Chilton and sought to increase his profits by blackmailing Chilton with his own foolishness?”

“That is absurd!” Diana lifted her chin. “My father is a good man with an honest reputation. He would never do such a thing.”

His smile turned cold. “My point exactly, my sweet. Everyone knows of the scandals in Chilton’s past, though he has managed to recoup some wealth and respectability these past few years. Even the slightest whisper of his association with Marcus would destroy that. However, your father might have been counting on his own reputation as an honest businessman to make people believe that he was not involved.”

She gaped at him. “He would never do that!”

He shrugged. “Some men will do anything for wealth.”

“But my father is already quite well off. He has no need of such underhanded tactics.”

“Some men never have enough gold.”

“Do not credit my father with the same motivations as yourself, El Moreno,” she snapped.

“Do not be so blinded by your love for your father that you think he can do no wrong,” Alex sneered. “He is a man like the rest of us, and quite capable of acting on his baser instincts.”

“He has not done anything wrong,” she insisted. “And you gave your word you would help him.”

He laughed. “You would accept the word of a pirate? How naive, my dear lady.” He strolled over to her and touched her cheek. “I am a pirate, not a benefactor. What profit would there be for me in saving your father’s life?”

“What is it that you want?” How she hated the desperate tone in her voice.

“There is no price you could name,” he said softly, “that could steer me from my goal to see Marcus swing.”

“And my father with him?”

Alex shrugged. “If he is guilty.”

“There must be something.” Her mind worked. Gold would not sway him, of that she was sure. A personal motive drove him; therefore, perhaps something personal might make him relent. She looked him in the eye, pride straightening her shoulders and strengthening her resolve. Whatever the sacrifice, she would perform it gladly to see her father live. The idea whispered through her mind that what she considered might not be so much a sacrifice as a pleasure. She pushed the thought from her mind.

“There is
nothing
, Diana. Let the matter rest.”

“I cannot.” She met his eyes squarely, then reached with trembling fingers for the sash of the robe. “I will do anything to save my father’s life.”
 

An expression crossed his face that stilled her hands for an instant. She couldn’t quite define it.

“Don’t even think about it.” He closed his hand over the two of hers before she could discard the robe.

“No?” Confused, she could only look at him. “You do not want me? I don’t understand. All my life men have been trying to lure me to their beds, including you. And I am willing to accommodate as long as you promise to help my father.” Too late, she heard the conceit in her own words and braced herself for a scathing retort.

“My dear girl.” He surprised her by stroking one finger along her jaw. “You are indeed most beautiful. But I don’t need to make bargains to lure women to my bed. Indeed, they come there most willingly.”

“I am certain they do.” She drew back from his touch, her face burning with both embarrassment and humiliation. He had neatly handed back to her the same arrogance that she had just displayed. So, she knew she was beautiful. So what if men had been falling at her feet for most of her life? This man would not. This man was as beautiful a man as she was a woman.

Slowly she retied the sash. “Alex,” she said quietly, “you must believe me when I tell you that my father is innocent. And you are the only man who can help him.”

“Lovely Diana.” He lifted her chin with his finger so that she met his gaze. “I wish that I could. But if he has fallen in with Marcus and Chilton, then he must pay for his crimes.”

“You don’t believe me. You think my father is guilty, and that I am trying to protect him.” Her eyes stung with the onset of tears that she fought to hide. “If it is the last thing I do, Alex, I
will
convince you.”

“You are welcome to try.”

He turned away from her and went to the door. Pausing with his hand on the latch, he glanced back at her. “Go to sleep, my girl. Mayhap you will think more clearly after you have rested.”

She frowned as he left the cabin. Think clearly, was it? She was thinking perfectly clearly! ‘Twas he who needed to see things as they were. But one thing he said had made sense. She needed to sleep. It had been a harrowing night and even more nerve-wracking morning. She needed all her wits about her to win this dangerous game.

As she climbed into the big bed and pulled the coverlet over her, she made a vow. She
would
make him believe her. No matter what it took.

Alex stood just outside the door to his cabin and listened to the sounds of Diana climbing into his bed. Part of him wanted to climb in there with her…the wrong part. But well did he remember the consequences of following the promptings of his loins and not those of his head. He had sworn that no one would distract him from his goal. That included the tempting Diana.

He lifted a hand and laid it flat against the portal.

“Ah, sweet lady,” he murmured. “Had we only met in another time and place, I would have accepted your offer most willingly. But as it is, that very offer has only made this easier.”

He removed his hand from the door and rubbed it over his face. He knew the only reason she had offered herself was to save her father’s life, not because she truly wanted him. And he would be damned before he would ever again have duty bring a woman to his bed. Bianca had taught him all too well the consequences of that.

He glanced once more at the door, noting the silence that had fallen within the cabin. How easily Diana had accepted his suggestion that she rest, no doubt relieved that she had been spared from sacrificing herself to duty.

“If you ever come to me again, my lovely, ‘twill be because you want me. Not because duty bestirs you.”

Putting his disturbing captive from his mind, as she had so clearly put him from hers, he headed abovedecks to tend to his ship.

Frederick paced the floor of his study. Covington Hall had been in an uproar since daybreak. Maude stood nearby, her eyes reddened from tears, the skirt of her dark brown, serviceable dress wrinkled from her wringing her hands.

“Ma bairn,” she whimpered over and over again. “Ma poor wee lassie!”
 

Frederick clenched his teeth and tried to ignore the litany. Concentrating over the anguished woman’s rantings proved most difficult. “Maude, do try to calm yourself.”

“Calm myself?” Maude shrieked. “How can ye expect me tae calm myself when ma poor innocent Diana is nowhere tae be found? Stolen from her bed? In the hands o’ some monster?”

“Please try,” Frederick insisted. “I am trying to think.”

“This is what comes o’ makin’ a pirate the deputy governor o’ the island,” Maude railed, shaking a finger at him. “All pirates are o’ the same cloth and mean nae good tae decent folk.”

“Woman, this is not the time for politics.”

She laughed harshly. “Indeed it is. Dinna be goin’ tae Henry Morgan wi’ tales o’ your daughter’s disappearance,” she warned. “The Brethren o’ the sea stick together like honey on bread. The Assembly was right tae send the governor tae England tae get Morgan removed. Do ye ken, Frederick? They were right!”

“Enough!” Frederick bellowed. “Cease your ranting! Can you not see that I am trying to concentrate?”

 
Maude looked stricken for a moment. She pressed her trembling lips together. Then she buried her face in her hands and began keening and wailing, her accent so thick that Frederick couldn’t understand a blessed word she said. He gave a disgusted sigh.
 

“Leave me, Maude. I shall inform you when I have word.” Maude babbled a response and stumbled towards the door. Just as she reached it, the portal opened to reveal Walter, one of the house servants. Maude streaked past him, nearly knocking down Frederick’s visitor in her haste.

“Lord Chilton to see you, sir.”

“Chilton! What in bloody blazes does he want?”

Before Walter could respond, Chilton himself stepped forward, a buffoon-like figure in black and crimson. “Now, Frederick. Is that any way to speak of your business partner?”

 
Frederick glared at Chilton and signaled Walter’s dismissal with a wave of his hand. The servant bobbed his head and left the room.

Frederick eyed Chilton with ill-concealed revulsion. “Now that you have chastised my manners in front of my servant, what the devil do you want, Chilton?”

“Frederick, Frederick.” Clucking his tongue, Chilton sauntered into the room and settled into a chair. “I was merely seeking to edify you in the ways of a gentleman. I should have known it was a fruitless exercise.”

Frederick clenched and unclenched his hands. “I have a rather urgent matter to deal with. Walter will show you out.” He indicated the door in a gesture of dismissal.

Chilton sat back in his chair and critically examined the toe of his shoe. He pulled a lacy handkerchief from his ruffled cuff and dabbed at a speck of mud.

Frederick snorted in disgust and headed for the door. “Good day, Chilton.”

“I suppose, Frederick,” Chilton drawled in languid tones, “that this ‘urgent matter’ refers to Diana’s disappearance?”

Frederick shut the door with a soft click and slowly turned to face his uninvited guest. “What do you know of Diana?”

“More than you do, apparently.” Chilton surveyed the heavy rings adorning his thin fingers. “You should not have crossed me, Frederick.”

Frederick slowly retraced his steps until he stood just in front of the nobleman. Alarm crept down his spine as he noticed how pleased and confident the fop appeared. A man who was a breath away from being arrested for piracy should not look so calm.

“What do you know of my daughter, Chilton?” he demanded.

“Do not sound so ominous, Frederick. She is quite safe.” Chilton raised his eyebrows and gave Frederick an amused smile. “Actually, safe is not quite the word. I believe ‘twould be more accurate to say that she is alive. Yes, that is much closer to the truth.”

 
“Just what is that supposed to mean, Chilton?” Frederick snapped. “What do you know about Diana’s disappearance?”

“Everything, of course.” Chilton leaned back in his chair and withdrew an elaborate snuffbox from his coat pocket. Flicking open the lid with a practiced gesture, he drawled, “I arranged the whole thing. Your daughter, my dear sir, is being held by my associate until such a time that you turn over the pages of my ledger to me.”

“Associate!” Frederick shook with fury as Chilton pinched a bit of snuff and inhaled it with fastidious care. “What associate? You can’t mean—”

“But I do.” Chilton flipped the snuffbox closed before pulling forth a second handkerchief from his other cuff. He sneezed into it. “Marcus is holding Diana until he receives word from me that all is well. I have no fear that he will kill her, though she may return to you slightly damaged—”

“
You bastard
!”

Frederick’s roar echoed through the room. The snuffbox went flying as Frederick toppled the chair in which Chilton sat. He closed his hands with merciless accuracy around Chilton’s throat.

Chilton gasped for breath, clawing at the hands cutting off his air supply. His eyes bulged. His face reddened.

“You bastard! You bloody primping, prancing bastard!” Frederick slammed Chilton’s head over and over against the floor. “I’ll kill you! By all that’s holy, you shall die this day!”

Chilton grabbed one of Frederick’s wrists with both hands and pulled. He sucked in a breath. “Can’t…kill…me,” he gasped. “You’ll…never…find her.”

The logic of his words cut through the blinding haze of fury. With a blistering curse, Frederick yanked his hands from Chilton’s throat, dropping the man’s head to the floor with a muffled thud. While Chilton lay groaning and fingering his abused throat, Frederick rose from his perch on the man’s abdomen. He took great gasps of air, trying to calm his searing rage. Chilton slowly picked himself up off the floor.

Rubbing his bruised neck, he glared at Frederick. “You will regret that, Frederick,” he rasped. “In the meantime, there is no need to discuss terms of release. You know what they are.” Sweeping his crumpled hat from the floor, he perched it atop his precariously tilting wig.