Read Online Bound by Decency by Claire Ashgrove - Free Book Online
Authors: Claire Ashgrove
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physical act. Now, when he had no business entertaining ridiculous fantasies, he found himself considering final ruination at every turn. He must remember India was retribution. Nothing less, nothing more.
Against his will, his gaze pulled to her once again. She shifted, slid one knee in front of the other. The movement drooped the quilt further. Two tiny dimples above the swell of her derriere slipped free, and Cain sucked in a sharp breath. God’s teeth, she would drive him to insanity before they ever reached Nassau .
Squeezing his eyes shut to the temptation, he focused on her purpose. He must have answers about Richard. Must free himself of this distraction. Before the many months he’d gone without a woman eroded all his common sense.
Inspiration struck, jarring him upright. He cocked his head and squinted at India . Perhaps he had unwittingly solved his own dilemma by forcing the arrack on her. More than one tongue had been known to wag when influenced by spirits. She had already illustrated the looseness of hers.
“ India ?” He rose. Three purposeful s tr ides brought him to the edge of the bed where he caught her by the shoulder and gave her a none-too-gentle shake.
She rolled over with a frown. “I’m awake.”
“Good. If you tell me where Richard is, I will insure your safe passage back to Britain .”
“Safe passage is meaningless when you have already destroyed me.” Her gaze canvassed his face before it narrowed. “How many times do I have to tell you I don’t know, before it sinks into your thick skull?”
Choosing to ignore the pang of guilt at her correct observation of her ruination, Cain tossed his hands in the air and let out a harassed sigh. He turned toward a shelf of bound books and pushed his fingers through his hair. “You are promised to be married. At the least, you would know when he was expected to return. Even Richard, faithless cad that he is, wouldn’t vanish on the guest list your father has orchestrated.”
“I do hope he returns in time. The guest list is extensive.”
The sleep he had induced thickened her retort, but despite the slowing of her words, her anger simmered through. Cain slowly faced her, unwilling to acknowledge the warning bell that rang in his head. She couldn’t be speaking the truth. If she were ignorant to her betrothed’s whereabouts, he would be no better than Richard. For in taking her, he condemned an innocent to a hopeless future.
“You don’t sound terribly distressed, Miss Prescott.”
“Because it’s my father’s worry.”
He scolded with a sharp frown. “Because you know Richard will return.”
India presented him with her back.
Infuriated, Cain slammed an open palm against the wall. The impact cracked through the room. “Damnation, this is absurdity! His abandonment would shame you beyond all means. Richard would never subject you to such disgrace.”
“My father. He wouldn’t subject my father to such disgrace. I’m a token to Richard. As I am to you.”
India ’s reply came so softly, Cain had to strain to hear her. When what she said registered, shock silenced him. He slid his hand down the wall and lowered it to his side. For several moments he stared at the rise and fall of her shoulders. She’d seen through Richard. She knew his black soul couldn’t see beyond wealth and influence.
Cain had suspected some of Richard’s enthusiasm about marriage came with the promise of status and power. Yet even he hadn’t fully realized Richard’s words of affection for India were false.
Guilt punched him like an iron fist. His gut coiled tight, and he bowed his head against the harsh blow. She’d told him the truth from the moment she arrived. And he, possessed by the demons of revenge, refused to listen. In one full day’s passing, he’d destroyed India Prescott.
With a dismissive shake of his head, he strode out the door. He couldn’t be faulted for this. He’d done the only thing he knew to do to right the
Against his will, his gaze pulled to her once again. She shifted, slid one knee in front of the other. The movement drooped the quilt further. Two tiny dimples above the swell of her derriere slipped free, and Cain sucked in a sharp breath. God’s teeth, she would drive him to insanity before they ever reached Nassau .
Squeezing his eyes shut to the temptation, he focused on her purpose. He must have answers about Richard. Must free himself of this distraction. Before the many months he’d gone without a woman eroded all his common sense.
Inspiration struck, jarring him upright. He cocked his head and squinted at India . Perhaps he had unwittingly solved his own dilemma by forcing the arrack on her. More than one tongue had been known to wag when influenced by spirits. She had already illustrated the looseness of hers.
“ India ?” He rose. Three purposeful s tr ides brought him to the edge of the bed where he caught her by the shoulder and gave her a none-too-gentle shake.
She rolled over with a frown. “I’m awake.”
“Good. If you tell me where Richard is, I will insure your safe passage back to Britain .”
“Safe passage is meaningless when you have already destroyed me.” Her gaze canvassed his face before it narrowed. “How many times do I have to tell you I don’t know, before it sinks into your thick skull?”
Choosing to ignore the pang of guilt at her correct observation of her ruination, Cain tossed his hands in the air and let out a harassed sigh. He turned toward a shelf of bound books and pushed his fingers through his hair. “You are promised to be married. At the least, you would know when he was expected to return. Even Richard, faithless cad that he is, wouldn’t vanish on the guest list your father has orchestrated.”
“I do hope he returns in time. The guest list is extensive.”
The sleep he had induced thickened her retort, but despite the slowing of her words, her anger simmered through. Cain slowly faced her, unwilling to acknowledge the warning bell that rang in his head. She couldn’t be speaking the truth. If she were ignorant to her betrothed’s whereabouts, he would be no better than Richard. For in taking her, he condemned an innocent to a hopeless future.
“You don’t sound terribly distressed, Miss Prescott.”
“Because it’s my father’s worry.”
He scolded with a sharp frown. “Because you know Richard will return.”
India presented him with her back.
Infuriated, Cain slammed an open palm against the wall. The impact cracked through the room. “Damnation, this is absurdity! His abandonment would shame you beyond all means. Richard would never subject you to such disgrace.”
“My father. He wouldn’t subject my father to such disgrace. I’m a token to Richard. As I am to you.”
India ’s reply came so softly, Cain had to strain to hear her. When what she said registered, shock silenced him. He slid his hand down the wall and lowered it to his side. For several moments he stared at the rise and fall of her shoulders. She’d seen through Richard. She knew his black soul couldn’t see beyond wealth and influence.
Cain had suspected some of Richard’s enthusiasm about marriage came with the promise of status and power. Yet even he hadn’t fully realized Richard’s words of affection for India were false.
Guilt punched him like an iron fist. His gut coiled tight, and he bowed his head against the harsh blow. She’d told him the truth from the moment she arrived. And he, possessed by the demons of revenge, refused to listen. In one full day’s passing, he’d destroyed India Prescott.
With a dismissive shake of his head, he strode out the door. He couldn’t be faulted for this. He’d done the only thing he knew to do to right the
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