that was not a hovel, such an offer was tempting. So tempting, indeed…
For a timeless instant she swung helplessly between heaven and hell. If she agreed, it meant traveling far across the ocean, day after day…She shivered inwardly, for she had been terrified of water since that horrible day she and her mother had arrived in Charleston…Could she stand such a journey?
She’d be mad to say yes. Dear God, just as daft to say no.
She struggled under the heat of Gabriel’s anticipatory regard. “Think,” he said softly. “This could be worth far more to you than the sum my watch would have brought you. I do believe you have it in you to be a lady of leisure, Yank. As my wife, you’ll want for nothing.”
Cassie drew a deep, ragged breath, summoningher courage. “And what about later? A year from now? Ten years from now? Will you turn me out in the streets once I’ve served my purpose?”
He stepped toward her. Before she could stop him, he’d reached out and caught one of her hands in his. His expression impassive, he raised it between them to study her rough, work-roughened skin. More than anything, Cassie longed to snatch it back, bury her hands into her pockets, and hide them from sight. She tensed, but did not move though every instinct clamored within her to do just that.
His expression unreadable, he ran his thumb over the chafed, reddened skin of her knuckles.
“You will never again have to work a day in your life. Nor will you have to wait on anyone. Others will wait on you.”
Cassie’s palms had grown sticky. Her legs were not very steady.
“You would treat me well,” she said slowly, “and not raise a hand against me?”
Gabriel’s gaze sharpened. He pushed up the sleeve of her gown, revealing the purpled skin of her wrists. Cassie’s gaze was riveted to his face. Something flared in his eyes; it was gone so quickly she could not identify it.
His lips barely moved as he spoke. “Black Jack?”
Her eyes slipped away. She nodded; there was no need to say more. Abruptly he released her hand.
“I was raised to be a gentleman, Yank, no matter that there are some who might claim otherwise. You will come to no harm at my hand.”
Cassie stared at the toes of her shoes peepingout from beneath her skirts. “And when would this marriage take place?” she asked quickly. “I’ll not sail with you until it’s done. I-I would know that you do not make promises you do not mean to keep.”
A slow smile crept along his lips. “Why, Yank! Are you so eager then to be wed—or merely bedded?”
That was not it at all. Why, the very thought made Cassie cringe. Nell had brought customers to the attic on numerous occasions. Cassie had pretended to be asleep, but that was hardly the case. She’d heard groans and grunts, whispers and laughter. She shuddered. They’d sounded like animals!
He shrugged. “I’d intended to set sail no later than noon. But I suppose a cleric might be persuaded to marry us within the hour with the right amount of gold lining his pocket.”
But she was not done.
Though the earl stood a few paces distant, Cassie was overwhelmingly conscious of the latent, masculine power hidden beneath his clothes. She recalled with nerve-shattering acuteness the heaviness of his body atop hers last night, the ruthless ferocity of his kiss.
She joined her hands to stop them from shaking. Her lips were trembling so that speech was impossible. “I do not want to share your bed. I’ve no desire to—to lie with you. And if you do not agree, I—I will not marry you.” There! She’d said it.
He quirked a brow. “Why, I begin to think you ill-formed, Yank.” He took a step forward. “Doyou hide some deformity? You wish to bargain, but perhaps you are no bargain after all. Indeed, perhaps I should examine the goods.”
Her head jerked up. She flung up her hands. “No!” she cried.
“I told you before, madam, ’tis not lust which draws me to you. I am a man of many appetites,
For a timeless instant she swung helplessly between heaven and hell. If she agreed, it meant traveling far across the ocean, day after day…She shivered inwardly, for she had been terrified of water since that horrible day she and her mother had arrived in Charleston…Could she stand such a journey?
She’d be mad to say yes. Dear God, just as daft to say no.
She struggled under the heat of Gabriel’s anticipatory regard. “Think,” he said softly. “This could be worth far more to you than the sum my watch would have brought you. I do believe you have it in you to be a lady of leisure, Yank. As my wife, you’ll want for nothing.”
Cassie drew a deep, ragged breath, summoningher courage. “And what about later? A year from now? Ten years from now? Will you turn me out in the streets once I’ve served my purpose?”
He stepped toward her. Before she could stop him, he’d reached out and caught one of her hands in his. His expression impassive, he raised it between them to study her rough, work-roughened skin. More than anything, Cassie longed to snatch it back, bury her hands into her pockets, and hide them from sight. She tensed, but did not move though every instinct clamored within her to do just that.
His expression unreadable, he ran his thumb over the chafed, reddened skin of her knuckles.
“You will never again have to work a day in your life. Nor will you have to wait on anyone. Others will wait on you.”
Cassie’s palms had grown sticky. Her legs were not very steady.
“You would treat me well,” she said slowly, “and not raise a hand against me?”
Gabriel’s gaze sharpened. He pushed up the sleeve of her gown, revealing the purpled skin of her wrists. Cassie’s gaze was riveted to his face. Something flared in his eyes; it was gone so quickly she could not identify it.
His lips barely moved as he spoke. “Black Jack?”
Her eyes slipped away. She nodded; there was no need to say more. Abruptly he released her hand.
“I was raised to be a gentleman, Yank, no matter that there are some who might claim otherwise. You will come to no harm at my hand.”
Cassie stared at the toes of her shoes peepingout from beneath her skirts. “And when would this marriage take place?” she asked quickly. “I’ll not sail with you until it’s done. I-I would know that you do not make promises you do not mean to keep.”
A slow smile crept along his lips. “Why, Yank! Are you so eager then to be wed—or merely bedded?”
That was not it at all. Why, the very thought made Cassie cringe. Nell had brought customers to the attic on numerous occasions. Cassie had pretended to be asleep, but that was hardly the case. She’d heard groans and grunts, whispers and laughter. She shuddered. They’d sounded like animals!
He shrugged. “I’d intended to set sail no later than noon. But I suppose a cleric might be persuaded to marry us within the hour with the right amount of gold lining his pocket.”
But she was not done.
Though the earl stood a few paces distant, Cassie was overwhelmingly conscious of the latent, masculine power hidden beneath his clothes. She recalled with nerve-shattering acuteness the heaviness of his body atop hers last night, the ruthless ferocity of his kiss.
She joined her hands to stop them from shaking. Her lips were trembling so that speech was impossible. “I do not want to share your bed. I’ve no desire to—to lie with you. And if you do not agree, I—I will not marry you.” There! She’d said it.
He quirked a brow. “Why, I begin to think you ill-formed, Yank.” He took a step forward. “Doyou hide some deformity? You wish to bargain, but perhaps you are no bargain after all. Indeed, perhaps I should examine the goods.”
Her head jerked up. She flung up her hands. “No!” she cried.
“I told you before, madam, ’tis not lust which draws me to you. I am a man of many appetites,
Similar Books
