Petals on the River (92 page)

in droves.

"You seem quite rested, my lord," Gage commented with an absence of

warmth.
 
"Should I assume the accommodations were adequate?"

Maurice's eyes glinted with icy shards above a cool smile.
 
"The

hospitality of the Tates could not have been warmer, but I'm sure you

can imagine that I had much on my mind."

"Shemaine, you mean," Gage prodded.

"Aye, Shemaine," Maurice murmured softly, as if the name soothed his

very spirit.
 
"She is like gentle springtime after a hard winter."

"Aye!" Gage agreed.
 
"But she is mine!"

Maurice gave him a lame shrug.
 
"For a time, at least."

Flannery drew Gage's attention as he approached from the companionway.

"Cap'n, may I have a word with ye?"

"Of course, Flannery." Gage felt a bit frustrated with the intrusion,

but he excused himself from his guests and followed the shipwright to

the rail.

Flannery squinted up at him with an unbridled grin.
 
"I know ye've got

company, Cap'n, but I'm thinkin' ye'll be likin' what I have ta tell ye

.
 
.
 
.
 
considerin' it's bout some people what are wantin' ta have a

look bout this here vessel today.
 
Ta be sure, sir, they may have a mind

ta buyin' her."

They spoke quietly together for a moment and then, battling the same

contagious grin that had infected the old shipwright, Gage came back to

Shemaine and, begging their guests' apology once more, drew her aside.

"Flannery has just told me some great news, my love, and I wanted to

share it with you so you can give me counsel.
 
It seems there's a sea

captain in the area whose family is in the shipping business.
 
He made

the trip downriver yesterday from Richmond, and last night he sought out

Flannery in Newportes Newes.
 
He's bound for New York with other members

of his family later today, but before he leaves, he would like to come

out and look over the ship.
 
Flannery has sailed under him before and

has assured me that he has the money to buy the ship if it meets his

requirements."

"Oh, Gage, that would be wonderful!" Shemaine exclaimed, immediately

mindful of the fact that her parents would be less likely to get into a

verbal altercation with her husband while there were strangers present.

It was a confrontation she desperately wished to avoid, and her heart

was filled with hope that they might yet escape such an event.

Peering down at her rather dubiously, Gage queried, "Won't your parents

be offended if I devote the greater part of my attention to these other

people while they're here today?
 
I cannot hope for acceptance while

they continue to believe I'm a murderer, but if they become convinced

that I'm deliberately avoiding the issue, they might try whisking you

away without giving me a hearing."

"I would be furious with them if they did," Shemaine stated with firm

conviction, but she soon smiled.
 
"Oh, Gage, I'm sure my father

understands the importance of conducting business when the moment is

ripe.
 
And I would not see you miss this opportunity for all the world.

You've dreamed of selling the ship from the very beginning. Besides,

twill give my parents more time to get used to the idea of us being

married.
 
It was rather a shock for them to arrive here hoping to rescue

their virginal daughter from bondage only to find that I had not only

been wed during my separation from England but had also conceived."

"Aye, they probably still consider you their little girl."

Shemaine laughed softly and spoke for his ears alone.
 
"If they only

knew how lustful I've become, my love.
 
Why, they'd never believe I

haven't been bewitched."

A grin teased Gage's lips.
 
"What kind of bribe may I expect for keeping

your secrets, my sweet?"

Shemaine pondered his inquiry with smiling sultry eyes, but she played

the poor maid, constrained by circumstances.
 
'Anything you wish, fine

sir.
 
Twould seem you have me at a disadvantage, for if I do not comply

with your desires, you will surely defame my good name."

"Anything?" Gage's own eyes glowed.

"I'm at your mercy, sir.
 
Whatever your will may be," she answered

lowering her gaze submissively as she tried to curb a threatening grin.

"I only pray that you'll not treat me too harshly."

"Ah, nay, never harshly, my sweet," Gage promised.
 
"Otherwise, I would

spoil the treasures I heartily seek."

Shemaine yearned to know more.
 
"What treasures are those, my lord?"

"Your love .
 
.
 
.
 
and your eager response to my slightest touch."

"Is it so noticeable?"

Gage plumbed the wide, translucent depths of smiling green.
 
"Aye, but I

would have it no other way, my sweet."

"Nor would I," she breathed, her whole being brimming with love. "As you

have correctly surmised, I tremble with desire at the lightest stroke of

your hand.
 
You have truly made me your slave, sir."

"Eh, no slave," he assured her, "but a wife warm and willing.
 
I cherish

our moments alone together, when we are of one mind and body. " Shemaine

wanted to slip into his arms, but she realized that Maurice was watching

them closely and felt a need to turn the subject to something far less

stimulating.
 
"Tell me, Gage, what time is this sea captain supposed to

arrive?"

Gage glanced around, wondering what had caused her abrupt change in

topics.
 
When his searching gaze met the cold, penetrating glare of the

Marquess, he understood completely.
 
For a moment their eyes dueled in

chilling combat.
 
Then, pointedly turning his back upon the other man,

Gage faced his young wife again.
 
"Flannery thought they should be here

before the noon hour, my pet."

"Then I will instruct Bess to cook up a feast for our guests," Shemaine

declared, her enthusiasm beginning to soar.

"On such short notice?" Gage queried in amazement.

"Of course, my darling.
 
Bess can work miracles in no more than an

hour's time."

Gage was not at all sure it was fair to require a banquet from the cook

when she was in a strange kitchen and there was so little time left to

prepare it.
 
"Perhaps you should talk it over with Bess first, Shemaine,

and allow her to say whether or not she can manage such a feat."

"Bess enjoys proving her abilities," Shemaine averred.
 
"So don't worry

that she'll be provoked by my demands.
 
But if you wish, I shall discuss

it with her and let her decide."

"I would prefer that you do, my sweet."

Shemaine smiled up at him tenderly.
 
"Whoever said you were an ornery

beast really didn't know you very well, Gage Thornton.
 
When you concern

yourself about putting a servant to more trouble than she might normally

expect, then tis plain to me you're a very caring individual. Tis but

one of the reasons why I love you so much."

The amber-brown eyes glowed into hers.
 
"You always make my heart soar

with those reassurances, my snveet."

"Do you need any?" Shemaine asked, her lips curving.
 
No matter who

watched them, she found it incredibly easy to respond to her husband

with all the tenderness and gratification of a wife who was loved and in

love.
 
It was strange, but she never felt so much a woman as she did in

those moments when she was with Gage.
 
"Haven't I always given you the

best I've had to offejr?
 
My heart, my body, the very essence of my

gender are thoroughly pliable to you alone.
 
Or does perchance the

presence of my former betrothed strip away your confidence?"

"The Marquess is a handsome man, madam," Gage admitted without answering

her question directly.

"Aye, but so are you, my darling .
 
.
 
.
 
and you are the one I love."

Gage inclined his head briefly in acceptance of her affirmation as his

eyes continued to gleam, this time above a roguish grin.
 
"I need as

many assurances as you're willing to give, madam.
 
Once we've gained the

privacy of our bedroom this evening, I'll require far more to assuage my

heart.
 
And, of course, I'd like to delve more thoroughly into the

matter we were discussing earlier.
 
Anything encompasses a lot of

possibilities, madam."

Her white teeth tugged at a bottom lip as Shemaine tried to subdue a

grin.
 
i4I shall accept that as an invitation, sir."

i Gage's eyes glittered with the luster of yellow diamonds.
 
"Then

you've been advised, madam."

Shemaine acknowledged his warning with eager delight.
 
"I shall look

forward to the occasion."

"No less than I."

Shemaine glanced beyond Gage and noticed that Maurice was now scowling

sharply, as if resentful of the fact that she had been flirting with her

own husband.
 
Shemaine sought to defuse his ire by assuming a more

serious mien for the protection of the one whom she held most dear.
 
She

knew Maurice's abilities, and she dared not test his ire.
 
"If this

captain likes your ship, Gage, would he actually consider buying it

before it's finished?"

"If what he sees and hears meets with his approval, then it's completely

possible.
 
With my guarantee that it will be finished as planned he can

be assured that no one else will buy it in his absence."

"But what if he wants to make changes?
 
Is that permissible once you've