Pirate Hunter's Mistress (The Virginia Brides) (13 page)

“What in the name of heaven are you jabbering about?” Lark’s sudden outburst startled the boy, but in reality Lark was the one whose heart nearly jumped out of his chest. He grabbed the trembling Todd by the arm. “What lady?” he roughly demanded.

“The—one in—your cabin, sir. Mr. Oliver done said she was your lady, that she was a surprise and for me not to tell until we was a good ways out. Have I done wrong, Captain Lark? I didn’t mean no harm.”

Lark had already left the deck before Todd finished speaking. Taking two steps at a time, he was soon below deck and unbolting the cabin door. The lavender blue of dusk met his eyes when he rushed into the room. He could barely make out the familiar objects until his eyes adjusted to the dimness. At first, he saw nothing out of place, no one. But then he heard a rustling noise on the bunk and made out the shadowy outline of a woman’s body. Moving closer, he stalled in his steps. Fear swept over him at the sight of Marlee turning over in her sleep, wearing a bandage on her head.

She’d been hurt. Damn Simon for not telling him!

“Marlee, Marlee, my love.” Lark bent over her, his breath fanned the pale contour of her cheek; gently he touched the bandage. “It’s me, my darling. It’s Lark.”

Her eyes opened and glowed an even deeper shade of blue in her pale face. “I know it’s you, Lark Arden. Touch me again and I’ll bite your fingers off.”

He withdrew his hand, more than startled at her reaction. Finally, he grinned in relief and amusement to find she wasn’t badly hurt. “From your spunky words, I can assume that your bump on the head hasn’t robbed you of health.”

“Assume nothing,” she bit out and gingerly sat up. “I don’t need your ministrations.”

“What happened to you?”

Lark lounged against the wall with his arms nonchalantly folded across his chest, almost as if he discovered a woman in his bed every day. And for all she knew about the man—which was precious little—he probably was used to that very thing. His casualness infuriated her; evidently he had no idea how much he’d hurt her. Yet, again, maybe he did know and didn’t care. Well, she wouldn’t care, either. “I slipped and fell on the beach.”

“Climbing rocks again?”

Heat rose to her face at the suggestive quality in his voice. It was obvious that he was remembering the fiery kiss they’d shared on the very same rock from which she fell. She didn’t want to remember that kiss or the way she’d wantonly given herself to him afterward. The memory was much too painful. “How I hurt myself isn’t important, it’s why I was on the beach in the first place.”

Lark cocked an ebony-winged brow. “And that was?”

“To tell you what a bastard I think you are, to let you know how much I loathe you, Lark Arden—if that’s your real name.”

“Everyone is entitled to their opinion.” His voice sounded light but he carefully withdrew into the room’s shadows so Marlee wouldn’t notice the pain on his face. He couldn’t allow her to see how her words had stung him, though he deserved her hatred and must bear it for the time being. “My cabin boy said that Simon brought you aboard.”

“Yes, and when I see him I’m going to make certain he knows how angry with him I am. But not half as angry as I am with you for keeping me here against my will. I’ve practically shouted until I’m hoarse, and you didn’t lift a finger to let me out of here. You’ve kept me locked in here like I’m a thief or something—”

“Wait a second!” he shouted when she jumped from the bunk to land a small fist in the center of his chest. In one hand, he grabbed her two small wrists and kept them pinned against him. “First of all, I didn’t have you locked in here, and secondly, I never knew you were here. Simon didn’t tell me anything but farewell when he left the ship earlier. If I’d known that you were on board, I’d have made certain that Simon left with you. I don’t have any reason to imprison you, Marlee. Please believe me that I have no use for you.”

“Believe you, hah!” She struggled a bit but realizing Lark wasn’t about to release her, she quieted. “I recall your using me—in a number of ways. I can’t believe anything you say.”

His heart turned over at the intense pain reflected in her eyes. Never had he willingly, knowingly caused such a gentle person as Marlee unhappiness. And knowing that he cared for this woman made her pain his own. But he could never tell her how much he did care and regretted what he’d done. She wouldn’t believe him, and in her place, he wouldn’t believe himself, either. In the end, it would be for the best that Marlee did hate him and believe he didn’t care a whit about her. Otherwise, he’d be unable to go on with his life. “ ‘Tis the truth, my lady. I really have no use for a female on board, and most certainly not one like yourself.”

“And what is wrong with me?” she shouted into his face.

“You’re a lady, my dear.”

“What’s so terrible about that?” she persisted, undaunted by the amused smirk that turned up Lark’s lips.

“Ladies don’t get on well with a crew of men, men who have been at sea for months on end without a woman for company. So you see, being a lady is a handicap on board a ship. But as for being a woman who isn’t a lady, well, that is another matter—a very enjoyable matter for all concerned. You’re useless to me as a lady, so I had no reason to lock you in. Understand, Marlee?”

“Not really,” she admitted, growing more confused by the second but somehow feeling that Lark Arden was snubbing her. “Why is a lady different from a woman?”

“Ah, my innocent Marlee, I suppose I’ll have to be frank with you.” Lark decreased the pressure on her wrists and stroked her flesh with a whisper touch until Marlee noticed and shivered with pleasure. The previous night had taught him that Marlee responded to the slightest of touch, that in spite of her prim upbringing, she burned with fire. Here was a woman to fulfill all his dreams; here was a woman he could never claim for his own. “Do you remember what happened between us last night? Can you recall what I did to you?”

Marlee swallowed the painful lump in her throat. Tears burned her eyes, because she’d never be able to forget. “You’re a—cad—for bringing it up.”

“Well, that’s what my men do to women, but I hasten to add that if they get their slimy hands upon you, my dear, you won’t be pleasured and loved in the same tender way I loved you.”

From Lark’s serious and dark expression, she suddenly understood what Lark meant and gasped out loud. How awful, how horrible and demeaning. She must get off of this ship at once. “Take me back to Arden Manor. I insist you do.”

“I can’t.”

“You’re refusing me?”

“No, I can’t take you back.” He dropped her hands, hating to break the contact with her warm flesh, but for his own sanity, he couldn’t touch her again. “We’re too far out at sea now, the tides prevent turning back to England.”

“But—I want to go back!”

Lark smiled sorrowfully. “I want that, too, Marlee, but it seems Simon placed you here to force you to stay on board. He knew that I wouldn’t be able to turn around; no matter what you think I didn’t plan any of this. When we reach New Providence, I’ll put you on a ship to England.”

She absently toyed with the rosette on her gown. “When will that be?”

“Two months at the most.”

“I can’t stay here for two months with you!”

“Then I suppose you’ll have to swim back. Two months aboard ship is all I can do for you. So, make the best of it.”

Marlee stiffened her back. “Does making the best of it mean that I will be pawed by your crew?”

“I give you my word that you’ll be quite safe as long as you stay in the cabin when I’m not with you to offer protection.”

“I assume that I shall be safe from your lewd advances, too, Captain Arden?”

“Only if you want to be.” For the space of a heartbeat, their gazes met before he turned away. “I’ll have Todd bring our supper. Remain in the cabin until I return and let no one in but me. All right?”

“Aye, aye, Captain, whatever you say,” she grumbled aloud, not caring for his high-handed attitude, not wanting to be alone in the cabin without him, and disliking the fact that she was going to need Lark Arden if she wanted to survive this voyage.

A dismal sigh escaped her when she was alone. For two months she was going to have to share this cabin with Lark, to eat with him. To sleep with him? No, never that, she resolutely decided. He’d have to sleep on the floor and be glad of it. She’d make it to New Providence, wherever that was, and not worry one bit about Lark Arden while she did so.

Excitement churned through her despite her situation. She was going to see firsthand what a real sea voyage was like and discover just what her money had financed. Anything could happen on a ship, anything at all. She really wanted to go up on deck and look around but she couldn’t do that right now—not without Lark. And no matter how much she detested him, Lark was her protector for the moment.

Her protector. Her lover. The thought rose unbidden in her mind.

No, Lark was nothing to her except a means to an end. As once he had used her, she now would use him—needed him, in fact, if she hoped to return to Arden Manor. And once she did get home again, she’d never give Lark Arden an extra thought.

“I’ll be over him by then,” she spoke to herself. “Maybe by living with him in close quarters, seeing him day in and day out, I’ll finally be able to forget him and put all of this behind me. I will forget him,” she fiercely vowed and pounded her fist in her vehemence.

But somehow part of herself wasn’t so sure.

~ ~ ~

The meal passed pleasantly enough. Marlee discovered she was so hungry that she ate the salt pork and a baked potato without commenting on the bland taste. The wine, however, was excellent and after she’d imbibed two glasses, she found that she didn’t seem to dislike Lark so much. In fact, she was quite curious about him.

“Where is this place we’re going?” she asked and sipped delicately on her third glass of wine.

“In the Caribbean.” Lark stretched his long legs out in front of him, seeming quite at home in the cabin.

“Shall we be there long?”

“You won’t be there hardly any time at all. As soon as a ship is ready, you’ll be returned to England.”

“And will you stay there or go home to Virginia?”

“I hope my mission to New Providence will be over quickly, and yes, I do intend to return to Arden’s Grove—my plantation,” he informed her.

Marlee ran her index finger over the glass’s smooth rim. “Somehow I can’t envision you as a farmer.”

His laugh, deep and sensual as velvet, enveloped her in its warmth. “I’m a planter, not a farmer. There’s a difference.”

“Tell me about Arden’s Grove,” she persisted, wanting to know about the place where Lark lived, hoping to see it through his eyes, because for some unfathomable reason she needed to know about him. Lark seemed happy to comply.

“Arden’s Grove sits on the banks of the James River. We grow tobacco, very fine tobacco, as my mother is fond of reminding everyone for miles around.” A flash of a smile highlighted Lark’s face. “Mother is a remarkable woman, as was her mother before her. The plantation passed to Mother through my grandmother who’d married an Irish slave.”

“An Irish slave, really? I’ve never heard of such a thing,” Marlee blurted out.

Lark nodded. “My grandfather was captured at Drogheda by Cromwell’s troops as a child and shipped to Bermuda where he worked as a slave until my grandmother married him. I’m certain there’s an interesting story there, however, neither of my grandparents ever admitted how they happened to marry or how my grandfather attained his freedom. But they did start a most unusual tradition.”

“Which is?” Despite her ambivalent feelings for Lark, Marlee couldn’t help but be intrigued.

Lark poured himself another helping of wine and pushed his chair farther away from the table. He found himself enjoying his chat with Marlee; in fact, this was the first time they’d ever been alone without servants hovering nearby, except for the night in Marlee’s room when he’d made love to her. His blood fired at the memory, but he continued smoothly, “Grandfather was dirt poor and had nothing when he married my grandmother. To prove himself worthy of her, he somehow managed to attain a diamond wedding ring. Well, the story goes that she didn’t believe the diamond was real but was a piece of glass. To prove her wrong, he marched her into the dining room where he took the ring from her finger and knowing that diamond cuts glass, he etched their initials into the windowpane. So, she had to believe the ring was real, as was his love for her. Now when anyone marries in the family, the prospective bridegroom must prove his worth by doing the very same thing.

“My father did it for my mother and won Grandfather’s approval to marry her. But my mother’s sister wasn’t so lucky. Her intended did give her a piece of glass and was booted out of the house by my grandfather.” Lark laughed heartily. “I would love to have seen that. Grandfather was such an imposing figure that I’d bet the man ran the entire distance to Jamestown.”

Marlee giggled, feeling extremely light-headed and contented, an odd way to feel considering how much she hated Lark Arden. “Will you give your fiancée a diamond that cuts glass?” she asked, her eyes shining with a sapphire gleam.

Lark grew serious, unable to stop staring at her, but fearful she’d see the truth and realize how much he cared for her. Looking at her was painful, too hurtful. How could he admit to her that he’d already presented Bettina with a ring, a large diamond engagement ring which would definitely cut glass? “I need to go up on deck and watch,” he told her and hastily rose from his chair.

Marlee’s face fell at his abruptness. She’d forgotten who he was for a few minutes, and now remembered. This was the man who’d used her and taken her body, her heart, and her soul in one rapturous, fiery night. “Yes, do that,” she replied without inflection.

For a second, it seemed that he hesitated. “Get some sleep, Marlee.”

She nodded but narrowed her eyes, seeing his gaze was upon the bunk. “Where will you sleep?”

He pointed to the bunk. “There.”

“But—but—you can’t. I mean just because we spent the night—together once—doesn’t give you liberty to expect me to sleep with you.” She stood up, defiant and beautiful in her righteous indignation. “You’re not my husband. I won’t sleep with you!”