Текст книги "Wild Silver "

Автор книги: Iris Johansen

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4

„Awaken, sweet damsel.“ A knock had sounded on the door

and the deep masculine voice that immediately followed was

definitely not that of Nicholas Savron. „I’ve brought you a

breakfast fit for the gods. Well, perhaps not the gods, they

were noted for very peculiar tastes at times, but certainly fit

for anyone who inhabits this mortal plane.“

Silver sat up hurriedly, pushing an unruly strand of hair

behind her ear and automatically pulling the sheet and velvet

spread up to her throat. She was just in time, for the door was

unlocked and a handsome young man strode into the stateroom

carrying a tray, kicking the door shut behind him with one

elegantly shod foot. „I hope you’re hungry. Mikhail insisted

you must have everything from eggs to fried fish.“ His bright

blue eyes gleamed with both amusement and curiosity. „I told

him it was very foolish of him to give you added nourishment,

considering what you did to him on only schoolroom fare, but

Mikhail seldom listens to me. He considers Nicky the only

person who deserves his attention.“ He set the tray on the

bedside table, his gaze appraising her with frank interest. „You

don’t appear lethal. I find it difficult to believe you stabbed

Mikhail and put Nicky to flight.“

„Who are you?“ Silver asked bluntly.

„My apologies.“ The young man nodded formally. „I’m

Count Valentin Marinov, and I’m delighted to make your

acquaintance. Of course, I’d be more delighted if you’d tell

Nicky what he wants to know so that we can return to Russia.“

His gaze wandered to her smooth, naked shoulders only half

concealed by the velvet spread she was clutching. „You may

find it difficult to eat unless you release your fierce grip on

that coverlet. Are you, by any fortunate chance, naked beneath

that spread?“

Her eyes flickered warily. „Yes.“

„And still Nicky left you? How interesting.“ He walked the

few paces that separated him from the large mahogany

armoire. „And unprecedented. Tell me, do all young American

ladies sleep unclothed?“

„I don’t believe so.“

„Pity. I thought for a moment I’d found a reason to stay

here in spite of the abominable climate.“ He opened the

armoire, took out a dark green velvet robe, and tossed it onto

the foot of the bed. „This is Nicky’s, but I’m sure it will look

far better on you.“ He turned his back to her, folding his arms

across his chest. „Do you notice what a gentleman I’m being?

That’s because Mikhail warned me he’d squash my head like a

walnut if I insulted you in any way. What magic did you work

on the poor fellow?“

„None.“ Silver threw the covers aside, stood up, and

reached for the robe. She slipped it on and found it was far too

big. Still, the material did feel like a soft, sensuous caress on

her flesh, and the scent… She curiously lifted her arm and

sniffed at the velvet sleeve. Tobacco, soap, and the faint hint of

musk she already identified with Nicholas Savron. It was like

being sheathed in the man himself, she mused. Then she felt

the hot color stain her cheeks at the thought.

„May I turn around?“ Valentin asked politely.

„Yes.“ She finished buttoning the robe and hurriedly

combed her fingers through her hair as he turned to look at her.

She did not care how she appeared to Nicholas or any of these

men, she assured herself. It was only that it was vaguely

unpleasant to feel so disheveled and untidy in front of anyone.

„Lovely,“ Valentin said softly. „That color is ravishing with

your complexion. Nicky tells me you’re half Indian.“

„Are you sure he didn’t say savage?“ Silver asked dryly.

Marinov’s eyes twinkled. „I don’t believe that word was

used, though perhaps the implication was there. He was quite

savage himself last night when he joined our party after he left

you. I don’t suppose you’d care to divulge what happened to

make him so bad-tempered?“

Silver smiled ironically. „Perhaps his highness felt insulted

by a rejection from one so far beneath him.“

Marinov’s amusement faded. „Not Nicky. He’s had to

battle too many insults and snubs himself to knowingly offer

one to someone else for reasons of birth.“

„Why would a prince suffer insult?“ she asked in disbelief.

„His father was a prince, one of the most powerful boyars

in all Russia, but his mother is the daughter of Igor Dabol, a

Cossack leader of the Kuban who raised himself from serfdom

by becoming the most superb fighter in the steppes.“

Valentin’s lips twisted in a sardonic smile. „A boyar does not

wed the daughter of a serf, and, if he does, the child of such a

marriage is not accepted warmly by the nobility.“

„And by the Cossacks?“ Silver aked slowly.

„Among the Cossacks any man is allowed to prove himself,

and Nicky was leading one of Igor’s bands when he was only

sixteen. He was chosen as Igor’s successor and would have

become – “ He broke off and slowly shook his head. „You’re

too curious. Nicky wouldn’t approve of me discussing this

with you. Why don’t you sit down and eat that breakfast

Mikhail ordered for you?“

She sat down and rolled up the wide sleeves of the robe.

„You’re of the nobility and yet you’re evidently his friend.“

Her gaze lifted to meet his. „Why?“

„You know, you have truly magnificent eyes,“ he said

absently. Then he shrugged. „Why does any friendship begin?

We were in the army together. God knows, we’re nothing

alike. He’s rich and I’m poor. He’s reckless and I’m cautious.

He has the soul of a poet and I have the soul of a sybarite.“

She simply looked at him, waiting.

He suddenly laughed. „Very well, he’s the best friend I’ve

ever had. We’ve fought together, gotten drunk together, even

cried together. He’s never failed me. Is that what you wanted

to know?“

„Yes.“ It was as she had thought. Nicholas Savron was not

a man to let down a friend or break a promise. If he could

inspire loyalty in men like Kuzdief and Marinov, then his

promise was even more binding than she had first believed and

the weapon in her hands far more powerful. „That’s exactly

what I wanted to know. Why did you bring me my breakfast? I

would hardly expect a count to lower himself to act as a

servant.“ She picked up the fork beside the plate. „Though

I’ve never met a count before. Perhaps you all – “

„You’ve never met a count before?“ Marinov interrupted.

„But what about…“

She glanced up. „What?“

He studied her thoughtfully. „Nothing. How’s the fish?“

„Very good.“ She began to eat swiftly and with enthusiasm.

„You didn’t answer me.“

„Oh, I was curious.“ He stood watching her, a slight frown

wrinkling his brow. „It’s the only flaw in my otherwise perfect

character. Actually, Mikhail was going to bring your breakfast,

but I persuaded him to let me do it instead. Nicky is giving

permission only to Mikhail and myself to come into the

cabin.“

„I see.“ She finished the fish and eggs and began eating a

large fluffy biscuit. „Am I to be allowed out of the cabin?“

He lifted a brow at the almost empty plate in front of her.

„There’s certainly nothing finicky about your appetite. I

thought abducted ladies were prone to languish and swoon.“

„I don’t know how to languish and swoon.“ She finished

the biscuit. „Perhaps you’d be kind enough to show me.“

His delighted laughter rang out and was so contagious that

Silver found herself smiling in return. „No?“

Marinov shook his head, a smile still lingering on his lips.

„I believe I can see why Nicky was thrown into a tumult. I’m

afraid swoons are not acceptable in dashing young men of

impeccable lineage. You’ll have to be tutored elsewhere.“

„Too much trouble. I’ll just have to get along as I have

been.“

He chuckled again. „You don’t seem overly worried about

your situation.“

Her gaze was direct. „My situation will change soon. I will

not let myself be kept here. In the meantime, there’s no need

for me to starve myself.“

He glanced at the crumbs on the tray. „Very sensible. May I

add to your comfort in any other way?“

„A bath,“ she said promptly. „And my clothes cleaned and

pressed.“

„Anything else?“

„I want to go for a walk.“

He frowned. „I don’t know. Nicky – “

„Is not here.“

„True. But when he does make his appearance, he’ll

probably have a head as big as a paddle wheel.“ He grimaced.

„He was drinking wine as if it were water last night.“

„Then he deserves to suffer.“

„But I don’t, and he has a tongue that can sting like

frostbite when he’s displeased.“ He bent to gather her

discarded clothing from the padded bench at the foot of the

bed. „I’ll take these and give them to a servant to clean, and

arrange for a hip bath to be brought to you, but we’ll have to

see about your little promenade.“

„There’s no reason – “

„No,“ he said with surprising firmness. „My dear Miss

Delaney, you will please quit pushing me where I don’t wish

to go. I get more than enough of that from Nicky.“

She studied him with amusement and the beginning of

respect. Marinov was stronger than she had first thought. Then

the amusement vanished as she realized that this meant

Nicholas must also be stronger to merit Marinov’s loyalty.

„My name is Silver. May I call you Valentin?“

„I am honored,“ he said warily. „I think. You aren’t, by any

chance, attempting to seduce me, are you?“

„No,“ she said, looking at him in surprise. „I don’t know

how to do that either.“

„No? I understood that – “ He broke off. She was gazing at

him with clear-eyed honesty that was as guileless as it was

bewildering. There was something wrong here. The girl before

him was like no other he had ever met, and he did not

understand her. Boldness and innocence did not usually walk

hand in hand in his experience, but he had seen both qualities

in Silver Delaney. „Perhaps a small walk would do no harm.“

„Where is she?“ Nicholas asked tersely as he strode down

the deck toward Valentin. „For God’s sake, I didn’t tell you to

give her the run of the boat.“

„She wanted to take a walk,“ Valentin protested innocently.

„And as you weren’t stirring, I decided someone should escort

her.“

„And then you promptly let her wander off by herself.“

„You malign me.“ Valentin shook his head mournfully.

„She isn’t by herself and I know exactly where she is.“

Nicholas gritted his teeth and immediately regretted it as

the aching throb in his head tripled its tempo. „Valentin…“ He

spaced each word carefully. „Where is she?“

„The last I saw of her she was up in the pilot house steering

the Rose.“

„What!“

„Not by herself,“ Valentin said soothingly. „Robert is with

her, of course. He appears to be quite proud of her progress.

He told her she’d make a fine pilot given a year or two on the

Mississippi.“

„I didn’t bring her aboard the Rose for her to apprentice as

a riverboat pilot.“ Nicholas looked up at the pilot house

perched like a tiny gingerbread cottage on the Texas deck.

„And how the hell did she get Robert to let her invade his

sacred domain? He doesn’t let anyone up there.“

„I’m aware you have another apprenticeship in mind for

her,“ Valentin murmured, his gaze following Nicholas’s to the

pilot house. „And I’m sure that any of Madam LaRue’s ladies

would be a fitting tutor for the occupation you’ve chosen for

her.“

There was an edge to Valentin’s voice that caused Nicholas

to look at him sharply. „What is that supposed to mean?“

Valentin’s gaze remained on the pilot house. „It means I

think you should limit your vengeance to Dominic Delaney.

Silver told me a few things about herself, and her life hasn’t

been easy. Did you know she was left on the Delaneys’

doorstep at Killara and they rejected her and sent her back to

her mother’s tribe? Isn’t it possible to let her go?“

„No.“

Valentin’s expression was troubled. „There’s something

wrong, Nicky. She’s not…“ He shrugged helplessly as he

searched for words. „What I expected.“

„She’s not what I expected either,“ Nicholas said tightly.

„But that doesn’t mean – “ His fist suddenly crashed down on

the wooden rail. „What is there about her that’s making all of

you turn soft as bonbons? First Mikhail, then you, and now – “

„You?“ Valentin eyed him shrewdly.

„I assure you I’m feeling not at all soft toward Silver

Delaney.“

„No assurance necessary,“ Valentin chuckled. „Your

‘hardness’ toward her is more than obvious.“

Nicholas cast him a quelling glance. „I was referring to

Robert. How did she mesmerize our young river pilot?“

„Why don’t you go see for yourself?“ Valentin asked softly.

He straightened away from the rail. „In fact, I believe I’ll go

with you. I told Silver I’d be back in an hour anyway.“

„I’m sure you wouldn’t want to renege on your promise,“

Nicholas said caustically as he turned toward the stairs leading

to the Texas deck. „She seems to inspire an amazing degree of

devotion.“

„Perhaps because she doesn’t try to be anything but what

she is,“ Valentin said. „I find that very refreshing.“

When Nicholas opened the door of the pilot house it was

quickly obvious that Robert Danfold found Silver equally

refreshing. The two were so absorbed that neither realized

Nicholas and Valentin had arrived.

Robert’s face was alight with enthusiasm as he stood

behind Silver at the wheel, watching with razor-sharp eyes

every move she made. „That’s right, now a little to the

starboard. See those lines and circles on that slick water? That

means it’s shoaling up and that’s a danger.“

„What about that slanting mark on the water downriver?“

Silver asked, her brow wrinkled in concentration.

Danfold grinned. „You have a good eye. There’s a bluff

reef under the surface there that could wreck any riverboat that

comes too near.“

„So many dangers.“ Silver shook her head. „The river

looks lazy and peaceful and yet every mile poses another

threat.“

„Not only the river,“ Robert Danfold said. „Half the boats

on the river are miserable scows manned by pilots who don’t

know a sandbar from a clear channel. Before I got the job on

the Rose I was a pilot on another of Mr. Bassinger’s boats, the

Mary L.“ He shook his head. „Her boilers should have been

replaced five years ago. Someday they’re going to blow the

Mary L clear to Hades, just like the Sultana.“

„The Sultana?“ Silver asked.

„Watch that floating log,“ Robert warned crisply. „The

Sultana was carrying Yankee soldiers up north back in April of

sixty-five. After midnight one night the boilers blew. Over

fifteen hundred men, women, and children died from fire and

drowning before dawn.“

„How terrible,“ Silver whispered, her gaze flying to

Robert’s face.

He nodded. „I told Mr. Bassinger it could happen to the

Mary L, but he wouldn’t listen to me.“ He smiled comfortingly

at Silver. „Don’t you worry though. The boilers on the Rose

are sound as a dollar. She’s the best boat on the river.“

Silver nodded. „Yes, and she’s beautiful, too, Robert. I can

see why you’re so proud of her.“

They exchanged a companionable smile that was full of

mutual respect.

Nicholas felt a surge of hot irritation that was beginning to

be uncomfortably familiar. He took a step forward. „She won’t

stay the best boat on the river if you continue to leave her fate

in the hands of novices.“

Robert and Silver both looked over their shoulders and

Robert grinned. „Oh, hello, Nicky. Don’t worry about the

Rose. Silver is doing a fine job. Better than me when I was a

cub pilot.“

„I’m sure that’s true.“ Nicholas looked squarely at Silver.

„She’s already demonstrated a talent for negotiating through

very dangerous waters. However, even the best pilot can run

aground. Don’t you agree, Robert?“

„Maybe.“ Robert shifted uneasily. The emotions vibrating

between Silver and Nicholas were charging the air of the pilot

house with unrest and he didn’t like it one bit. The river was

enough of a challenge for a man, and no decent river pilot

could concentrate on anything else when he was at the wheel.

„You’d better run along, Silver.“

She smiled warmly at him. „Thank you for teaching. me,

Robert. It was very interesting. May I come back?“

Robert glanced at Nicholas’s taut face and then shook his

head. „I reckon you’d better not.“ He turned back to the river

with a feeling of relief. He’d a hell of a lot rather face a hidden

reef than Nicholas Savron at this moment.

„We’re disturbing Robert,“ Nicholas said. „I think it’s time

you went back to the stateroom.“

Silver released the steering wheel and strolled across the

room, smiling at Valentin, who stood a pace behind Nicholas.

„It was very exciting, Valentin. You should have stayed and

watched. The river is like a book if you know how to read

her.“ She laughed as she glanced back over her shoulder at

Robert. „Listen to me, Robert. I sound just like you.“

She was ignoring him, Nicholas realized, feeling a quick

wave of fury wash through him. She had smiles and words for

every other man on the boat, but she completely ignored him.

Robert nodded. „River talk.“

Valentin was looking apprehensively from Nicholas’s face

to Silver’s. It was the first time he had seen them together and

he was beginning to understand much that had eluded him.

Sweet Jesus, the atmosphere between them was near explosive

and Silver was making it no better by deliberately ignoring

Nicholas.

„I’m sure it’s fascinating.“ Valentin feigned a yawn. „But

it’s hot as the devil up here. Why don’t we go back to the

stateroom and have a glass of wine?“

„If you like.“ Silver brushed by Nicholas and fell into step

with Valentin. „Though I have no likeness for wine.“ She

laughed, tossing back her shining mane of dark hair as she

started down the stairs to the hurricane deck. „Perhaps you

haven’t heard that we Indians have to be careful of firewater.

Whites have taken too much from us when our heads weren’t

clear.“

„It’s understandable,“ Nicholas said silkily. „I’m sure they

felt they needed every advantage against the heathen horde.“

Silver’s smile faded. „You bet they did.“ She had avoided

looking at Nicholas since that first breathless moment in the

pilot house, but she forced herself to meet his gaze now.

„Apaches know how to make war.“

„But you’re only half Apache.“

„But the other half is Delaney, and I’d wager they could

teach your fine Cossacks a thing or two about fighting.“

„We shall see,“ Nicholas said. He turned to Valentin.

„Silver and I have something to discuss. I’m sure you can

amuse yourself elsewhere.“

Valentin’s eyes flickered. „How rude you’re being, Nicky.

I’m sure Silver would not be unwilling to tolerate my

presence.“

Nicholas drew an impatient breath. „But it’s not Silver’s

choice.“ His hand was suddenly beneath Silver’s elbow,

propelling her along the deck toward his stateroom. „I believe

it’s time that both she and the rest of you remember that fact.“

Valentin gazed after them for a moment, an anxious frown

darkening his face. Then he gave a resigned sigh, turned, and

headed for the door leading to the saloon.

Nicholas leaned against the stateroom door, his gaze

following Silver as she crossed the room and plopped down on

the olive velvet wing chair beside the bed.

She stretched her legs before her with the coltish

carelessness of a young boy and gazed at him coolly. „Well,

we’re here. What do you want with me?“

„I think you know the answer to that question.“ His gaze

traveled slowly over her, lingering on the soft fullness of her

breasts. „I’ve certainly done my best to be very clear on the

subject.“

She gestured impatiently. „I don’t understand why you’re

so determined to fornicate with me. Surely one woman is as

good as another as far as men are concerned. Women’s bodies

are all much the same.“

He looked at her in surprise. Then a smile lit his face. „You

either have very little vanity or you grossly underestimate my

discrimination. I assure you there are vast differences in

women.“ He hadn’t realized how different a woman could be

until he had encountered Silver Delaney. His smile faded when

he recalled he was not the only man who had found the girl

unique. She had deftly wound Mikhail and Valentin around her

little finger and even Robert had proved he wasn’t immune.

„What were you doing up in the pilot house?“

She looked at him innocently. „Learning to steer the boat. It

was very boring cooped up in this room. What else should I

have been doing?“

„Perhaps trying to persuade Robert to help you escape? He

seemed quite taken with you.“

„Because you think of nothing but lust, you believe all men

are like you. Robert would never be tempted to give up his

beautiful river for a woman.“

„I’m glad you realize that. Then you don’t have any reason

to go back there. You seem to forget you’re a prisoner.“

„I’m trying to forget.“ Her eyes were suddenly blazing.

„Because when I remember, I feel like cutting off your balls.“

My God, every word she spoke was a shock and most of

the time totally outrageous. He threw back his head and

laughed.

She glared at him. „You wouldn’t think it so funny if I still

had my knife.“

„I’m sure that’s true.“ He continued to laugh. „I fancy I

would be taking your every word very seriously.“ He

straightened away from the door and began to move toward

her, his dark eyes still sparkling with humor. „Just as I intend

you to take mine seriously.“ He stopped before her and his

voice lowered to a level above a whisper. „I had a very bad

night last night.“

„It was your own fault. Valentin told me you drank too

much wine.“

„It wasn’t the wine.“

„It was me? Good, you deserved it. Perhaps next time you

will think a second time before you abduct a woman.“

„I’ll certainly ascertain whether she carries a knife and has

an Apache code of vengeance.“ He shook his head, a smile

still lingering on his lips. „Half the night I was cursing you and

the other half I was lying in that bed down the hall

remembering how you looked standing naked before me,

taunting me. Did you think about that moment after I left you

too?“

She stiffened. She didn’t want to think of either her gesture

of defiance or the look on Nicholas Savron’s face as he had sat

there like some golden-haired diety watching her disrobe. The

memory brought a hot aching between her thighs and caused

the beat of her heart to quicken. „No.“ She unconsciously

moistened her lips with her tongue. „I told you, Indians have a

more sensible attitude toward their bodies than whites. It

meant nothing to me.“

He suddenly dropped to his knees before her, his gaze

searching her face. „I think you’re not telling me the truth,“ he

said softly. „I think you wanted me to touch you as much as I

wanted to touch you last night. Would you like me to tell you

what I was thinking as I watched you? I was thinking I’d never

seen a more magnificent woman in all my life. I was thinking

your breasts were like perfectly shaped golden melons, firm,

solid, generous – just meant for a man’s hands. I was thinking

I’d like to lift your breasts to my mouth and suck until those

pink nipples were flame-red and hard.“ His eyes were riveted

to her rounded fullness beneath the prim white bodice. „As

hard as I was.“

„You’re talking foolishness.“ Her voice sounded choked

even to her own ears. She wanted to look away but she

couldn’t seem to pull her gaze from his face. „I wouldn’t have

let you – “

„And I was thinking how I’d like to run my hand down

your body.“ His gaze dropped to her lap, demurely draped in

the gabardine skirt. „I want to tangle my fingers in those soft

curls and tug and tease until you open your thighs and

welcome me. Then I’d press my thumb on your – “

„Stop!“ Her voice was shaking and she had to take a deep

breath to steady it. What was he doing to her? He hadn’t

touched her, yet her body felt heavy with an aching sensuality,

her breasts swollen and sensitive. She suddenly wanted to tear

open her shirtwaist and free her breasts. She wanted his hands

lifting and fondling her, his mouth – No, she must not, she

thought desperately. „Go away. I don’t want you here.“

He sat back on his heels and smiled. „Oh, yes, you want me

here. And you want me to carry you to that bed and drive into

you again and again and – “

„No. No, I don’t.“ She pressed back against the tufted

cushions of the chair, her cheeks singeing with color. „Why

should I? You’re nothing to me.“

„Except a man who can please you.“ His gaze narrowed on

her face. „A man who can stop you from burning. Because you

are burning, Silver.“

Her breasts were lifting and falling with every breath as she

tried to force air into her lungs. Move away, she thought

dizzily. Though not touching her, he was still too close. She

could feel the heat of his strong male body and caught the

scent of soap and musk she was learning to recognize as his

own.

„I’m not burning,“ she protested.

„Yes, you are.“ His face lit with a strange tenderness as he

smiled at her. „But don’t worry, I’m not going to let you burn

for long.“ His smile deepened to ruefulness. „I couldn’t. I

thought I wanted to punish you, but I decided last night it

would only be punishing myself. I’m much too selfish to do

anything so idiotic.“ He rose lithely to his feet and looked

down at her. „I also decided that next time I would act as a

lady’s maid when you chose to disrobe in front of me. You

shouldn’t mind my assistance.“ His dark eyes were suddenly

dancing with mischief. „After all, nudity is nothing to you, and

I’ve promised to restrain my lustful nature.“ He paused.

„Unless you issue an invitation.“

She tilted her head back to look up at him. She didn’t dare

speak, for she knew her voice would tremble, but she refused

to lower her eyes or avoid his glance.

He nodded and for a moment there was a flicker of both

admiration and pride in his expression. „Later.“ He turned and

walked toward the door. „It will be all the better if we both

think about it for a while. I just wanted you to know what I

would be thinking when I looked at you this evening.“ He

opened the door and glanced back at her. „I’ve decided that

since you seem to have such a distaste for being confined,

there’s no reason why you shouldn’t have dinner with our

guests. They may be a trifle disreputable, but a woman of your

background shouldn’t be uncomfortable in their presence.

Dinner is at eight. Valentin will escort you to the table.“

Silver breathed a sigh of relief as the door closed softly

behind him. She was tingling, trembling, and her heart was

pounding crazily. And he had been aware of his effect on her,

dammit. She should have known she wouldn’t be able to hide

her emotions from him. She had never been good at subterfuge

even as a child. When she had tried to hide her loneliness and

fear behind a wall of defiance, Rising Star had always been

able to see right through the deceit to the terrified child. Now

this golden-haired satyr was reading her just as easily as her

aunt had.

No, that was not true. He was aware only of her body’s

response, not the responses of her heart and soul. Even if her

body betrayed her, she could still keep from yielding him

anything else. He would never know the curious aching

tenderness she had experienced when he had thrown back his

head and laughed so joyously, nor her wistfulness when she

had watched him with Mikhail and Valentin. Those reactions

had both been madness and she would not acknowledge that

they had existed for more than a fleeting moment.

She rose from the chair and wandered over to the window

to gaze out at the bluffs bordering the banks of the river.

According to what Robert had revealed to her, she might not

have long to worry about Nicholas or her reactions to him. The

Mississippi Rose would proceed down a channel almost in the

middle of the river for the next twenty-four hours. Then the

boat would have to bear toward the western shore to avoid a

chain of sandbars. Even a strong swimmer would have

difficulty making it to shore now, but the distance would be

cut in half tomorrow evening when the Rose veered around the

sandbars. She must only make sure she was not locked in the

stateroom or surrounded by Nicholas’s guests when that time

came. Her hand clenched on the peach-colored velvet of the

heavy curtains. It shouldn’t be too difficult, much easier and

less dangerous than spending another day with Nicholas.

Oh, yes, far less dangerous than staying with Nicholas

Savron.