Read Online The Passion by Donna Boyd - Free Book Online Page B

reason?"
    Gault lowered his eyes.
    Alexander sipped his wine, his expression reflective.
    "Perhaps I wil keep her as a pet, and educate her."
    Gault snorted. "A futile exercise. I doubt she's educable."
    Alexander raised his eyebrows. "Is that a wager?"
    Gault looked her over skeptical y. His gaze made Tessa's skin crawl.
    "What wil you teach her?"
    Alexander raised his glass again. "Marksmanship, for one thing."
    Gault grinned. On his face, mirth was an evil thing.
    Tessa gradual y began to understand that her attempt on the master's life had been more of a joke to them than a genuine threat. Perhaps she should have been reassured, but in truth she found their amusement more frightening than anything else they might have done. What manner of creatures were these, and how little about them did she, in fact, know?
    Alexander sprang to his feet, causing her to start involuntarily. He circled her chair, looking down upon her from his great height, and it was with considerable self-restraint that Tessa refused to crane her neck upward like a child in order to fol ow his movements. Her heart was pounding and a clamminess in her stomach was making her il .
    "So, my dear," he demanded abruptly, "what do you think? Shal I educate you, or have you for lunch?"
    Tessa swal owed hard and pressed her hands together tightly in her lap to steady her voice. But she did not look up at him. "Pardon, monsieur, but I do not think you wil eat me for lunch. And I already have a quite adequate education. I can read and write in two languages, and do ciphers, and play the piano passably wel , and—"
    "But you know nothing of us," Alexander interrupted sharply. "You have no idea what it is you tried to destroy—for I assume your intent was to kil me, not merely irritate me."
    Tessa whispered involuntarily, and so softly it was barely above a breath, "I do."
    Alexander stopped circling and snapped at her:
    "What?"
    "She said, 'I do,' " supplied Gault.
     
    "I know what she said," returned Alexander irritably.
    "I want to know what she meant."
    Tessa took a deep breath. "I meant that I do know what you are."
    "Do you indeed?" Alexander dropped back onto the divan, his eyes narrowing with mild surprise. "Then my task should be much easier." He leaned against the pil ows and swung one foot up onto the surface.
    "Yes, Gault, I think she wil be worth the trouble. I wil keep her."
    Gault said, "You wil be sorry."
    "No doubt." He gestured toward the clutter of dishes and empty glasses. "You may leave us."
    Gault began to clear away the dishes.
    "So tel me, chérie ," Alexander said to Tessa, "what are you thinking now? Are you sorry for your crime?
    Do you speculate upon your fate? What punishment do you think I should exact for your perfidy?"
    At last, Tessa gathered up her courage to meet his eyes. "I am exceedingly sorry for my crime," she said fervently, and was somewhat surprised to realize she spoke the exact truth. This only confused her more.
    He inclined his head slightly, as though in approval.
    "And why are you sorry?"
    She swal owed hard. She had no ready answer for this. "I've never, um, used a knife in that manner before. I found it—unpleasant."
    His eyes fairly danced with laughter. "Is that so?
    May I offer that it was no more enjoyable from my point of view, either." Abruptly he sobered, and his voice was barely more than a growl. "You should have thought of that before you stabbed me, wench."
    "I thought you were a monster," she replied miserably.
    Gault murmured, "There are those who would not argue that point even now."
    Alexander shot him a threatening look, then returned his attention to Tessa. His tone was severe. "Very wel , you are sorry. Should that exempt you from punishment?"
    Tessa made herself raise her gaze to his once again. "If I thought you would kil me for your revenge, I would not have come back. But I knew you would be… displeased."
    Alexander tossed a look fil ed with chal enge and amusement at Gault as he passed