The Captain's Caress (32 page)

“It’s the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen,” Summer said dreamily. “I feel I’ve just awakened from a bad dream to find that I’m an enchanted princess who lives in a palace.”

“Maybe you’ve come home,” Brent said in an odd voice. Summer waited hopefully, but all he added was, “You don’t have to leave if you don’t want to.”

“Good,” she said, trying not to show her disappointment at his refusal to commit himself. At the moment it was enough for her to know that she was safely away from Havana and the people that had driven a wedge between them. For a while he would be completely hers.

“I can’t wait until we dock. I want to see everything.”

“You can’t see much today. It’s almost dark. You’ll have lots of time to look into every corner tomorrow while I’m out checking into what has been going on since I was here last.”

“I want to go with you, at least some of the time.”

“What for?”

“I probably know more about running a plantation than you do,” she said, proudly tilting her chin. “You forget that I was reared on one and that I helped run it for a year.”

“True,” he admitted. “All right, you can come with me, but you will have to prove your worth or I’ll leave you at the house to deal with the kitchen maids.”

Summer laughed. “You are a miserable wretch, Brent Douglas. What are you going to do when I answer your every question and solve all your problems?”

“Thank you.”

She was thrown off stride by his unexpected answer. “That’s not much of a reward for expert advice,” she said, recovering her balance.

“I haven’t gotten the advice yet, but I’m certain it won’t be without cost.”

“You are unquestionably the most maddening, infuriating man I’ve ever met,” Summer said without heat, “and I don’t know why I continue to put up with you.”

“Probably because I won’t go away.”

“You needn’t remind me of that. I’ve been trying to get rid of you for months.”

“You counted it a major sin when I disappeared in Havana,” Brent retorted.

“That was desertion,” said Summer, collecting her dignity and her skirts as she prepared to climb onto the dock. “No woman wants to be abandoned in a strange city.”

“It seems like the same thing to me.”

“You’re a man.”

“I’m glad you noticed.”

“And,” Summer ignored his interruption, “that’s exactly the kind of remark I would expect from a self-centered, insensitive male.”

“If men are such terrible things, I wonder why you females want to be around us so much.”

“I’ve wondered about that too,” Summer replied, pretending to consider the point seriously. “I admit that men are quite useful when it comes to chopping wood and frightening off wild animals, but the civilized world would be so much more
civilized
without them.” Brent pulled Summer back from a particularly inviting path.

“So you would like to dispense with us altogether?”

“Not quite altogether,” she temporized. “I do like you a little, but it would be nice if you were tame enough to be brought into the drawing room without fear that you would overturn the coffee cups.”

“You lying wench.” Brent threw back his head and laughed. “You talk out of both sides of your mouth, and so fast you don’t know what you’re saying out of either side.

“As long as you don’t know, I’m safe,” she answered, elated by his lighthearted mood.

“But I do know,” he said, grasping her arm more firmly as they began to mount a long series of steps. “You won’t be happy until you’ve made me your slave.”

“The idea of your unquestioning obedience to my commands
is
very appealing.”

“Yet as soon as you have me under your control, you won’t want me any longer. You’ll start to complain about me and you’ll long for some strong, ruthless brute to sweep you into his arms and carry you off.”

“I won’t!” Summer said emphatically. “That’s exactly what
did
happen to me, and I can tell you that it’s very uncomfortable. I think I would greatly admire a compliant husband who would pamper me and give me everything I wished for, one who would spend all his time trying to think of things to do to please me.”

“I’ll give you everything you want and I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to make you happy,"—Summer’s bones began to melt—"but I’ll be damned if I’ll lie down for you to walk on.” Summer’s bones stopped melting. “That doesn’t sound like something I’d enjoy very much.”

“Neither is being captured, seduced, mauled by Spanish wolves, and then hauled off to a remote island,” Summer shot back, but her barbs fell wide of the mark.

“It beats sitting home sewing samplers and going to bed early,” Brent scoffed.

“I never did any such thing,” Summer professed, horrified by such a fate.

“But you went to bed alone.”

“I most certainly did.”

“That couldn’t have been much fun,” he said, putting an arm around her waist.

“Speak for yourself,” she said trying to remove his arm because it was brazenly taking advantage of its position close to her breast. “You never asked me how I felt.”

“Because you kept saying one thing and doing another,” Brent taunted. “I liked your actions much better than your words.” Summer was glad that he could not see her blush in the fading light.

“I’d prefer to talk of something else,” she declared.

“I don’t want to talk at all,” Brent whispered. He buried his face in her flowing hair. “We could go wandering among the terraces and inspect the plants quite carefully.”

“You wouldn’t let me just a moment ago,” Summer pointed out, caught between a frown and a laugh. “Besides, it’s so dark I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face.”

“We won’t need to see.”

“I’m getting hungry,” she said, trying a different tack. “I won’t be able to stand up if I don’t get something to eat.”

“I can order a picnic basket,” Brent offered hopefully.

“You are completely without scruples.” Summer smiled in spite of her determination to be stern. “I’m convinced you would disgrace me right in the middle of this path if I would let you.”

“I’ll send for blankets and a pillow.”

“You’ll do no such thing,” she said, unable to keep her voice steady. “I may not have much influence over your actions, but I will not be abused in public while the servants watch.”

“They might learn something.”

“Not from me. Now stop this nonsense and take me up to the house. I’m dying to see it.”

“Maybe I should show you around.” Brent’s eyes were alight with mischief. “It might help to get your mind off my body. You can’t begin to know how tiresome it is to be continually fighting off your advances.”

Summer stooped to pick up a large rock; Brent grabbed her hands when he realized she had every intention of hitting him with it. But Summer was laughing so hard it was doubtful that she could have done more than drop it on her own toes.

“I’m going to have to be on my guard,” he said. “My reputation would never recover if I were knocked senseless by a mere girl.”

“It would give me infinite pleasure to be able to knock you senseless.”

“And you accuse me of abusing my power.”

“You do. I only wish I had some power to abuse.”

“You’ve got plenty. Every time you smile, thunder rolls and the earth quakes. You can do more damage with those eyes than I can with my sword.”

“That’s nice of you to say, even if it isn’t true,” Summer replied meekly. “It’s flattering to be noticed.”

“Noticed!” Brent shook her by the shoulders. “Men fall all over themselves just to dance with you, and you say it’s flattering to have people notice you. I suppose you are aware that Gonsalvo
noticed
you?”

“I don’t consider that a compliment.”

“You might not have wanted his attention, but Gonsalvo is famous for his high standards.”

“Like you?”

“Not at all like me. Everybody knows I like women, period!”

“I want to forget about Gonsalvo. Tell me about the house.” They had reached the final terrace and Summer now had a full view of the large dwelling.

“And they say men are changeable,” Brent grumbled.

Chapter 28

“Here come Juanita and Pedro,” said Brent as two middleaged servants hurried out of the house to meet them. “Since I’m alone in the world, they’ve made it their task to take care of me. Juanita likes to spoil me,” he confided with a wink.

Along with every other woman who sets eyes on you, Summer thought.

“Señor Douglas, you’ve come at last.” Pedro hailed them, his Spanish accent evident. “We had just about given you up.”

“Given you up? How did you know I was coming?”

“No one told us you would be bringing a guest.” Juanita was an incredibly fat woman with swaying flesh and limitless goodwill.

“This is Summer McConnel.” Summer noticed that Brent hesitated over her name; it was the first sign of discomfiture she had ever noticed in him.

“It will be nice to have someone to pet and spoil,” Juanita declared as she gazed admiringly at the beautiful young woman she had just met.

“Don’t go wasting any of your special treatment on her,” Brent commanded. “There must be at least a dozen ways you haven’t found to spoil me.”

Juanita reprimanded him. “Now you behave yourself and stop giving the
señorita
a bad impression of me. I won’t have you making free with my reputation.”

“Pedro would cut me up and throw the pieces away.” Brent chuckled.

“I’m not saying he wouldn’t want to.” Juanita regarded her husband fondly. “But facts are facts, and nobody would have a chance against such a bull as you.”

“You know you shouldn’t be so free with your tongue,” Pedro chided. “It’s not respectful.”

“The captain doesn’t mind,” Juanita countered. “Besides, I don’t think he’s entirely respectable himself.”

“You deserve her,” Summer said, nearly choking. “I’ve finally found someone who’s not afraid to give back what you dish out.”

“Afraid of the captain?” a bewildered Juanita inquired. “Why’s he’s the kindest man in all of New Spain.”

“Then he’s got a double,” Summer stated coolly.

“Summer is not afraid of me either,” Brent said. “She also thinks that my manners could use some correcting.”

“I’m sure we all could use some improvement, but I never knew much good to come from picking out other people’s faults,” Juanita replied, clearly taking exception to Summer’s criticism of Brent.

“If we don’t hurry, your dinner will be ruined.” Pedro wanted to change the subject.

“How could you possibly have anything ready?”

“We started the ovens as soon as the yacht was sighted. I have meat on the spits and girls in the gardens picking vegetables. Dinner will be served by the time you finish dressing.”

“Your trunks should be in your room by now,
señorita,”
said Juanita. “I’ll send my oldest daughter to help. She’s a sensible girl. You just tell her what you want, and she’ll see to everything.”

“I guess I will have to wait until tomorrow to see the house.” Summer stepped into the wide, cool hall.

“You’ll have the whole morning to yourself,” Brent responded. “I have to meet with my overseer, or he will never forgive me.”

“He’s been counting the days since you left,” Pedro assured him.

“I see we shall be ruled by our servants. I have only one request to make,” said Brent, stemming Juanita’s retort. “I want to eat on the terrace. Summer has never had dinner under a tropical moon.”

“All will be ready when you come down,” Pedro assured them. “Now if there is nothing else …”

“Come, before they chase us upstairs,” Brent said to Summer. “I’ll show you to your room. I have no doubt the faithful Ana is already pacing the floor. And unless a kind providence has at last taken mercy on me and gathered him to his reward, which I hope is swift and terrible, the awful Miguel is awaiting me just as impatiently.”

“You know you wouldn’t have anyone else,” said Pedro.

“Offer me anything this side of a monkey and see if I don’t take it,” Brent complained as he mounted the stairs. Summer was caught between amazement and a bubble of laughter. She had never seen Brent like this, but she liked the effect the plantation had on him; she hoped they would never leave.

Summer’s trunks had been unpacked, fresh undergarments were laid out, and Ana was standing ready to iron the wrinkles from the dress Summer would choose to wear for the evening. A huge copper bath held hot water, a maid waited to help her out of her clothes, and a second maid stood by to bathe her. Summer wasn’t used to so many servants, but she gave herself entirely into their hands. It was an unheard of luxury, and she loved every single minute.

She was undressed and led to a scented bath that gave off an intoxicating tropical bouquet. It was so relaxing she was tempted to go to sleep, but busy hands would not leave her alone and she was soon drawn from the water, engulfed in huge towels, and patted dry. Then one of the maids wrapped her in a luxurious robe, and she chose a gown sewn with tiny pearls for the evening. While it was being readied, the maids helped her into a light petticoat and seated her at the dressing table. Summer wanted only the slightest touch of makeup, but dressing her hair took time. She wore it in a knot on top of her head, ringlets cascading down at the back, and by the time this was done, she had decided against powdering it. Her dress, a rose-red silk with a deep bodice and tiny puff sleeves worn off the shoulder, was now ready. The sleeves and hem were niched and an undertrimming of white lace decorated the hem, sleeves, and neckline. From among the remnants of her mother’s jewels, those that had escaped her father’s depredations, Summer chose a strand of pearls and small ruby earrings.