Read Online Rebecca by Jo Ann Ferguson - Free Book Online

“What is it?”
    â€œA fever. Whether it is contagious or not, I don’t know. I noticed she was exceptionally quiet today, and you yourself said she looked pale. If I had known she was ill, I wouldn’t have brought her aboard.”
    Jennings frowned. “I wish you hadn’t. If she was not your wife, my friend, I would put her in the hold until she died, so the rest of us would not be contaminated.”
    His voice tight with anger, Nicholas retorted, “Drew, I don’t want to hear of that even in joking. Rebecca cannot be moved. The man who tries such will have to get by me first.” The threat of violence marred his worried voice. “I’ll stay here to tend her. I just wanted to let you know of your possible danger, for you are the only one she has had contact with other than me.”
    â€œWe will leave your meals in the passageway. If you need anything, give us a note on the dirtied dishes. If she dies, we can’t take her corpse all the way to—” He paused as he saw the murderous look on the other’s face.
    â€œYou needn’t worry about that, Captain. She will survive. I shall inform you when she’s better. I bid you good day.”
    Briefly, rage raced through Jennings. The Prize was his ship, and he was not used to being dismissed by a lord of the realm as if he was the lowest cabin boy. Then he sighed. He could not blame Nicholas for his uneven temper when the man’s wife could be on her deathbed. Lord Foxbridge seemingly was besotted with his newly rediscovered bride. “If you need anything, let us know,” he said in a much calmer tone.
    The black-haired man sighed. “I will.”
    Even before the door had closed, he had returned to the bed to wet another cloth and lay it on her forehead to try to cool her heated skin. As he had not done for years, he prayed. She must survive. He had waited almost five years for Rebecca. He did not want to lose her again so quickly.
    â€œAunt Dena?” came the whisper from the bed.
    A soft masculine chuckle filled the small room. “No, my dear. Your Aunt Dena isn’t here. How are you feeling?”
    Rebecca’s eyes blinked open to see the darkness lit by a single taper. She had no idea where she was. This was not her room, for her room did not sway with a gentle motion as if she was a babe in its cradle. When a shadowed face came into her view, she raised trembling fingers to touch it. “Keith?” she murmured, sleepily.
    â€œI’m afraid not.” Nicholas knelt on the floor next to the bunk. Slipping his arm beneath her shoulders, he tilted her toward him. “I hope I will do, Rebecca.”
    His mouth descended hungrily onto hers. Still floundering in her world of delirium, she was not quite aware of her own actions as her arm slid along his to wrap around his shoulders, and she answered his kiss with her own fervor. In her clouded mind, a burst of light cleared away some of the cobwebs. She was suffused with a yearning to be close to this man who brought such delight to her with a single kiss.
    When his lips tasted the skin along her neck, she gave a gasp of undisguised pleasure. Her weak fingers tangled in the untied thickness of his hair. His heated breath against her skin sent waves of ecstasy through her in rhythm with the ones rocking the ship.
    She felt herself being lifted, but she was placed again on the bed. Only when the man stretched out next to her did she understand why she had been moved. His eager kiss wiped all other thoughts from her mind. Her lips welcomed his. As his legs entwined with hers, he pulled her close to the sturdy line of his body. He rolled her onto her back so she could feel all of him pressed to her.
    Unsteadily, she wavered between consciousness and sleep. The touch of his hands as he stroked her enticingly began to vanish into senselessness. Her body became lighter than a piece of fluff floating on the breeze, and the one above