Read Online The Reckless Bride by Stephanie Laurens - Free Book Online

doors he passed. Reaching the end door, he tried it, and found it locked and bolted. Most likely the captain’s cabin and crew’squarters lay beyond, reached from a stern companionway.
    Satisfied he’d established the general layout of the vessel, Rafe strolled back up the corridor to the first single cabin on the starboard side, immediately alongside the stateroom door. His bags sat on the narrow berth inside.
    According to the purser, the passengers’ first event was a gathering in the salon in half an hour to meet with the captain and their fellow travelers.
    The captain, a jovial man, welcomed them with a toast to a pleasant voyage, then remained to chat as in a soireelike atmosphere, the passengers exchanged names, home cities, and destinations. All the other passengers, four couples, were German or Austrian, and all were making for Vienna to enjoy the festive season there.
    Their various attendants hung back, chatting among themselves near the stairs. Rafe exchanged a glance with Hassan, but doubted there was any danger lurking among either the passengers or their staffs. Leaving Esme chatting avidly to a German couple from Frankfurt, with Loretta supporting her, he made his way to the captain’s side.
    After introducing himself as Esme’s courier-guide and exchanging various innocuous comments, he asked, “Your crew—have they been with you long? Or do they change frequently, take work on different boats to see different countries?”
    The captain laughed. “Not my crew. We’ve been together for years.”
    “No newcomers?”
    “I haven’t had to find a new hand in years, for which I thank the gods. It can be difficult when one has a solid team used to each other’s ways.”
    The captain turned as another passenger approached. After shaking hands and exchanging names, Rafe excused himself and moved on.
    From the corner of her eye, Loretta watched him. Realizing the captain had been his goal, she’d followed him acrossthe room and stopped to chat to another group of passengers nearby—near enough to overhear his conversation with the captain.
    On the one hand she was relieved to know he was taking guarding against the cult so seriously, while on the other she was insatiably curious over what he did and why. Curious about his mission, its mechanics and logistics.
    She told herself it was her investigative streak—that she was gathering information that might, at some later date, prove useful for her writings. An excuse she refused to examine too closely.
    Biding her time, she eventually spoke with the captain, finding him a sane and sensible man, then continued her examination of the other passengers.
    It was nearing time for luncheon when she paused in the prow, where the salon narrowed to a point. To her surprise, Rafe joined her. She had until then kept a sensible distance, continuing to tell herself that her reaction to him would eventually fade and die.
    Clearly that eventuality had yet to occur; as the space between them shrank, her lungs seized and her nerves flickered, then sparked.
    Thankfully oblivious, he halted beside her, glanced over the other guests, then turned to her. “Do you sense any threat from any of the other passengers or their staffs?”
    She blinked. “No.” She frowned. “Why do you think I would?”
    “Because you observe everyone and everything so closely. If there were anything amiss, you’d sense it.”
    An unaccustomed feeling blossomed inside her; she felt chuffed that he’d noticed and considered her observations useful. She glanced at the other passengers. “They are what they purport to be—just travelers looking forward to enjoying a short cruise.” Then she frowned. “Do you think it possible—”
    “No. I don’t think anyone here is a cult hireling. I just thought to get another opinion.” He inclined his head. “Thank you.”
    With that he wandered off, leaving her staring after him. Telling herself there was no need to feel so thrilled.
    He stopped