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She wasn'tquite sure whathe was doing, and almostsuspected it was some witch's trick, her reactionwassoviolent;but she didn't seem to be able to find thepresence of mindtocare. Itfelt so damned good, shehardly noticed as his handsinched their way up over her ribs, to climb the mounds of her breasts.
A secondmoan slipped from her. She archedinto histouch, her breasts pushing against the cloth that bound them, her hands comingup to coverhis, cupping them closer against herflesh as she turned her head, her lipsunconsciously seeking his. When his mouth covered hers and histongue slid out totraceher lips, she opened instinctivelytohim, anda series of seizures seemed to ripplethroughher. Her ears were actually ringing as if inreaction totheshot ofa pistol nearby, and she jolted inhis arms, a hungry groan slipping fromhermouth intohis. She turned in his arms, mindlessly seekinga closerembrace.
Caught by her shoulders, Valoree let Daniel press her back against the wall, his kneeslidingbetween herlegs andpushing forward and upward. Hetuggedat the decolletage ofhergown, and shefelt thecool airon her nipples like a caress before his hands coveredthem. His lips left hers to travel down herthroatin search of the booty he hadjust uncovered. Gaspingand moaning, Valoreepressed her bare shoulders back into the rough stone, archingher breasts out as he pluckedat themwith his fingers and licked at the bare flesh hehad revealed.
It was like some sort of madness. Daniel wasn't what she wanted or needed, and yet she wanted and needed him with a violence that would have terrified her had she seen it coming.
Clenching her fingers in his hair, she dragged his mouth away fromher breast, pulling it impatientlyback to herown with little care fortheslight pain shemight be causing. Daniel respondedin kind, catching her still-damp hairin his fingers and tugging her head backas far as itwouldgo. Thenhegave her the kiss she wanted, devouring hermouth with a passion that stole all her breath and left her panting and gasping and shuddering. He tugged herskirt impatientlyupward and foundher thigh, and she felt herselffurther inflamedby that touch. Then hewassuddenly gone. Valoreewasleftblinking in amazement, her chest heaving with hergasps asshe saw Daniel had backed awayto several feet in frontofher, hands clenched at hissides as he struggled for a return of control.
Valoree gapedathim in amazement for amoment; then the clip-clop of horses'hoovesand the jangleof a carriage came to herfromover the wall, and sherealized why he had stopped.
Henry and Meg must have finished and were coming in the carriage to fetch her. GoodLord, hadso much time passed? Shaking her headin an effort to try to clear it, she turned to face the wall. Leaning her forehead against it briefly, she was brought back to herself somewhat by the cool, rough stone pressing against her skin. Then she straightened, took a determined breath, and leapedupward, graspingat the topof the wall with her hands.
Danielwas behindherat once, his hands grasping her waist, then suddenly sliding upward again to her breasts. Valoree gave a startledcry, herfingers releasing theirholdon the wallso that she dropped to the ground infront of him again. For a moment, her body seemed to singwith a sort of joyasit felt hisnearness and touch again, and really, at that point, he probably could have thrown her on theground and taken her rightthere, carriage on the other side of the wall or no. But then that joy dissipated as she glanced down to see that he was fumbling to put her decolletage back in place, to cover the breasts hehad bared.
Beforeshe could move his handsout of the way and take over the taskherself, itwas doneand his handshad movedback to her waist once more. But ratherthanlift her upthen, he turned herin hisarmsand torturedthem both with another searingkiss that left them gasping andbreathless.
"Tillwe meet again, "he murmured near her ear; then heturned her and liftedher upward until she could graspthe wall and help to pullherself to rest across the top ofit on her stomach. Her gazefound the carriage a little down the lane.
"There sheis. Up alittle farther, "sheheard Henry calljust as shefelt a coolbreeze driftover her naked legs and behind - a naked legs and behind that would have been clad in breeches had Megnot dragged them from her handsand given them tothe men to hide. Jerking around in surprise, she saw Daniel's head disappear beneath her skirt, thenfelthislips graze the inside of one thigh, then theother. A moment later, heducked back out from herskirts and smiled at her wickedly.
"Till we meet again, " he repeated silkily, clasping her bottom through herskirts. Then he levered her upwardonce more, and Valoree was distracted with the challengeofgaining the wall or findingherself tumbling off the other side of it. Once she was astride the stone, she glanced back down, but Daniel had disappeared, and she could hear the sound of his footsteps receding through the trees.
"Well, areyou comin' down, or shall I comeup there and fetch ye? " A hand on her ankle drew Valoree's head around. One-Eye gazed up at her inamusement. His hatwas pushed back on his head, hiscoatundone andpushed to either sideofhis waist, and he held a glaring lantern that stung hereyes with its light. She missed thesudden change of expression on his face as he caught aglimpse of her, but she didn't miss his concerned comment.
"Lord love us. You did reactnasty tothatstuff, didn't ye? " She could see him shake his head through her squintingeyes as he released a lowwhistle. "Your face is all red and flushed. . . and even your lipsareswollen. Damn, ye're amess. "
"Thank you, " Valoree saidsarcastically, slinging her other leg over the wall, but careful of her skirts in the process. Then, holding thehem down withone hand, shedroppedoff thewall, landing on her feet in front ofhim.
"Let's get the hell out of here. "
Chapter Seven
"Lord Thurborne is avery handsomeman. "
Valoree quit shiftingimpatiently under Meg'sministrations and openedher eyesto peer atthe womanpresentlyslathering green muck over her face. It smelledlike some sort of garden mixture.
Mushed cucumbers or something. Whatever it was, Meg had assured her it would help with the burningand itching, which was the only reason that Valoree had agreed to her slathering yet another concoction onher face. And actually, despite making her smell likea salad, the mixture washaving a soothing effecton her skin. Exactlythe opposite effect thatMeg's words were having on her mind.
Valoree needednohelp tosee Thurborne's attractiveness. She had noticed that upon first meeting the man, but she wasn't generally impressed with the prettiness of a man's face.
Unfortunately, she wasseeingmore andmore about Daniel that was impressingher. He was a no-nonsense sort, who did not enslave himself to thepresent trend towardfrilly, fluffyfashions; his waistcoats hadalmost a militarycut to them, and there were noridiculous ribbons onhisknee breeches. She liked that. She thought the rest of the menlooked likesilly poodles.
He wasalsostrong, obviously a man who used hisbody for more than posing orprimping. She would notbe at all surprised to learn that hehad been chipping in physicallyto correct thingsat hisfamily estate, whichhe claimedwasin suchdisrepair. He had the shouldersof a workingman, not a dissolute landowner. He hada good senseof humor, and had madeher laughseveral times last night. Then, too, what other lord was likely to direct awoman tohis fountainto have her wash off, then help her climb over his own wallto avoidhaving to pass back through his guests? He was a sharp thinker, too, and commanding - -traits she possessed herself and could appreciate. And damned ifhe wasn't the finest kisser.
Of course, she remindedherself solemnly, mayhap every man kissed like that. But good Lord, her lips were still numb and tingling, not to mentionthe inner backs of her thighs where he hadpressed those finalkisses good-bye.
Aye, she'dlike tosee more of the man. She fanciedshe'deven paya king's ransom to bed him, but marriage? Now that was another thingentirely, and sheknew darned wellthat was the reasonMeg wasbringinghim up. It was what all of her crew wanted - for herto marryand getthem theirpromised homes. So, of course, knowing theman was inthe same position as herself, they would look to him as a prime candidate. Unfortunately, Valoree couldn't agree with them. She would no
t be ruled. And Thurborne was the ruling sort. Just look howhe had not gone away and left her_alonetonight! How hehadnotaccepted her refusal to dance. Nay, he liked things his own way. Like her. And aship just couldnot have two captains.
'Tell mesomething, "Valoree murmured now as Megopened her mouth to comment again. Closing her mouth, the older woman raised her eyebrows questioningly, and Valoree asked, "Who are you? "
The woman stiffened, her eyes turning wary, and Valoree smiled. "I noticed tonight while you were talking to Lady Thurbornethat you know quite a bit about Port Royale. You've been there. "
"Nay, I've just listened well, " Meg answered quickly. "Sailors willtalk whileintheir cups. "
"You have been there, " Valoree insisted. "You know more about it than I. And you are of noblelineage, for all that you lookedlike a down-and-out prostitutewhenBull found you. No prostitute could walkquiteasstifflyortalkquiteasprecisely as you do. Now I'll ask you again, who are you? "
Meg glared at her silently for a moment, then shrugged indifferently. She turned awayto clean upthemess She had made on the smalltable with her garden medley. "It does not matter. I was hired for ajoband amperformingit to the bestof myability.
That is all you need know. "
"IfearI disagreewith you. "Valoree stood to block her path as thewoman triedto carry thebowl of remainingsalve towardthe door. Shestared down at the suddenly nervous womanandsaid grimly, "If you are a lady and of the nobility, you may be recognized. Then ourlittletaleof your being my aunt could be ruined. I cannot risk that. Whoareyou? "
Meg hesitated, then turned aroundto drop herloadback onthe table. Wipingherhands on the apron she had donned over her gown, she sighed. "You are right, of course. Iwas born a lady.
But you need not fear my being recognized. I left London twenty-seven years ago, married, and livedin theCaribbean. On aplantation even, so that would fit rightinwiththestory wehave passed around. "
"And your family? "
Her mouth tightened. "My husbanddied lastfall. We had no children, as hecould notfather them. I have no family. "
Valoree heard the painin Meg'svoice ather admissionand felt pity fora moment, butshe tamped it down. Too many people were affected by this. She could not afford for pity to get inthe way of herprotectingthe men who counted onher. "No parents? No brothers or sisters left here inLondon? " Her expression made Valoree's gaze narrow. "Which is it? A brother? "
"Sister. " Shesighedmiserably, herhead lowering further. "But you need notfear her acknowledging me inany way. She . . . I. . .
There wasa rift. "
Valoree waited a moment, then sighed and moved backto her seat. Settling there, she gestured to the other chair as Meg glanced at hernervously. "You hadbest tell meall. "
Megsatwith resignation, thenshruggedunhappily. "There is little to tell. I was young and thought I was in love. I did something foolish and found myself unmarried andwithchild. "
Valoree archedan eyebrow atthat. "Whydid your family not force amarriage? "
Meg shrugged. "My father probably would have, but I did not tell them. I did notwishthe baby's father to be forced to marry me. Hedid not believe it was his, anyway. He said ifI had given myself soeasily to him, how was he to know Iwas not sofree withothers? " Sherelated her story as dispassionately as if telling the time of day, a sure sign to Valoree that it had been incredibly painfulfor her at the time.
"Ifled toan empty cottage on the edge of anestate myparents owned, " Meg continued. "Itwas in the north. ThereI had the babe. It. . . it was born dead. " Her voice trembled, her hands twisting viciously at her apron. Taking a deep breath, she straightened and finished. "BecauseI'd fled, my reputation would beintatters amongtheton. Itwould be quitethescandal. I had to get away, so I caught a ship for the Caribbean, metmy husband on it, and wasmarried at sea the day beforewe landed in Port Royale. Ilived thereeversince andhad absolutely no contact with my family in that time. "
Valoree peeredather silently, positive the woman was lying, or at least leaving somethingout, but unsure how to force itfrom her. Or if she even hada right to. Ifit did not affect her, or her men, she really had no need to know. But. . . "Your parents? "
"Dead. "Thewordwassaid without emotion. "Theywere both dead within ten years ofmyleaving. "
Valoree nodded slowly. "So this scandal is the reason you believe yoursister, Lady Beecham, will not acknowledge you? "
"It is the reason I know she will not, " Meg snapped, then suddenly froze. Her eyes snapped up to Valoree's, wide with shock. "How did you - "
"She looks just like you, " Valoree explained. "She isthinner, meaner, and grayer mayhap, but I sawright away that she hasthe same features. I just needed something to make merealize it. "
She paused. "I take it thatis whyyoudraggedthe bottle to bed andmade damn sure you would not have toattend her soiree? "
Turning pink, Megnodded.
"Didyou reallydrink it all? Or did you justswish asip around in your mouthand splash some on yourself tomake yourselflook worse? "
The woman'seyes widenedslightly. "How did you guess that? "
Valoree smiled. "Ladies do not drink rum, Meg. You made that clearatWhister's. I thought it odd that youhad drunk it. "
"Oh, well, therewasnothing else available. I had to nag Henry the next dayto gethim to bring in some brandy and such - justin case I neededanother escape in the future. "
"Hmmm. " Valoreeconsidered the situation, then glanced at her again. "And all thetimeson theshipwhen you appeared to be drinkingor drunk? "
Megbowed her headmiserably. "The same. Isplashedsome rum on myself and pretended to be useless. I justwanted to be alone to think. "