Dark Rider (17 page)

Lani dismissed him without another glance. “You look terrible.” Her gaze raked Cassie from head to toe. “How is your shoulder?”

“Fine.” She opened the door of the cabin. “I don’t have much time. I have to get back to Kapu. He’s calm now, but I’m not sure how long—”

“Who is with him?”

“Danemount.”

“Then you have time. He appeared to have a way with the stallion.” She smiled. “Besides, it should give you great satisfaction to use an enemy as stable boy.” She followed Cassie into the cabin and undid the button at the throat of her cloak. “You’ve set yourself a hard task; there may not be many such triumphs. Enjoy them while you can.”

She was tired of all these dire warnings. “Why are you talking like this? You sound like Lord Bradford.”

“Did you expect me to lie and tell you that Danemount will let you use him to get to your father without exacting a price? We both know that’s not true.”

“He has me as hostage.”

Lani lifted her brows. “You believe that’s why he permitted you to come? You’re either a fool or you think I am. He wishes to bed you.” She added shrewdly, “And I’d wager he’s already approached you on the subject.”

She did not deny it. “I won’t do it.” She moved to her chest and threw open the lid. She didn’t look at Lani as she pulled out clean undergarments and gown. “And he’s mad to think I will.”

Lani went still. “And does he think that?”

Cassie nodded. “I told you he was a madman. Mad and arrogant and without—”

“He’s not mad.” Lani was gazing at her thoughtfully. “I’d judge he’s a man of great experience and perception. Which means he must have reason to think you might be persuaded. What do you feel for him?”

“What do I feel? He wants to kill my father.”

“But you find him desirable?”

“Of course I don’t.”

“Because it would be a betrayal to Charles?” Lani suggested. “You feel lust and it makes you ashamed?”

“I don’t feel—” She stopped, biting her lower lip. She had never lied to Lani. She would not start now. “I don’t want to feel like this,” she whispered. “It’s not him. You said it was my time for mating. What I feel has nothing to do with him.”

“Then stop feeling shame.”

She said haltingly, “He says passion is mindless, but it should not be so. Not for me. I should be able to restrain it.”

“You’re too hard on yourself,” Lani scoffed. “How many times have I told you that to couple with a man is nothing unless it has meaning? It’s over in a few moments and is totally without importance after the final ripple has faded. But it’s a natural act, and to desire it is also natural. We cannot choose what moment it will strike us. Next you will be preaching of sin, like Clara.”

“You don’t think … it’s not …” Cassie trailed off and then said, “Papa.”

“You’re not betraying him by feeling lust. Danemount is a splendid peacock of a man, and the forbidden is always the most attractive to a woman.” Lani took her by the shoulders and looked into her eyes. “No matter what you feel, will you not do everything necessary to try to save your father?”

She stared at her in astonishment. “Of course.”

“Then stop being stupid.”

Lani was, as always, tearing through all the bewildering doubts to get to the truth. Cassie laughed shakily and gave her a quick hug. “I will. It’s only sometimes … I get confused.”

Lani nodded grimly. “It’s not surprising when Clara and your father have always tried to impose their foreign ways on you.”

“Not Papa,” she said quickly. “How can you say that?”

“Because it’s true. Charles will always be foreign to me and our island.” She added simply, “It does not matter. I love him still. I am content.”

If he holds the woman in as much honor as you obviously do, then he would have wed her
.

Lani’s words were close to the charge that Danemount had made. But Lani had always said that wedding vows were of no importance to her. For the first time Cassie was beginning to question that claim. “He does love you, Lani.”

“But he does not understand and accept me.” For an instant Lani’s expression was wistful, and then she smiled with an effort. “He gave me a friend who does, though … when she doesn’t forget my teachings and become stupid.”

“I’ll try not to be stupid again.” She shakily smiled back at Lani. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“You’re growing up. Everything is simple and clear when you’re a child. Then for a while everything becomes muddied. Thank God the clarity comes back in time.” Her smile faded. “But you’ve been robbed of time. You must think clearly and act boldly if we’re to save Charles.” She glanced over her shoulder at the knock on the door. “Your tub. We’ll talk later.” She opened the door to let the sailor with the tub enter. “I’ll go get the coconut oil and rub you down after your bath. You’re shriveled as a fish washed up on the beach.”

•   •   •

“Roll over,” Lani said as she sat back on her heels beside the bunk. “I want to rub some oil into your back and that bruised shoulder.”

“You shouldn’t wait on me,” Cassie protested even as she rolled over onto her stomach. It felt so good to be clean again, and Lani’s gentle touch was strong, loving, and made her feel treasured. “I can do it.”

“It’s easier for me, and being busy helps me to think.” Lani’s hands moved slowly, delicately, rubbing the fragrant oil into her flesh. “Your muscles are knotted. Relax.”

She was relaxing, surrounded in a haze of soothing affection and warm coconut oil.

She was close to dozing off when Lani spoke absently, “I may have to couple with the Englishman.”

Cassie went rigid with shock. “What? Lord Bradford?”

“No, the Duke. The uncle is not dangerous to us.” Lani’s fingers massaged the line of Cassie’s spine. “I’ve not decided, but it may be the wisest course.”

“You’re not making sense,” Cassie said dazedly. She must have misunderstood. Lani’s tone was as casual as if she had just told Cassie she was going to plant tomatoes in the spring. “Why would you want to do that?”

“I didn’t say I wanted to couple with him. I said it might be the wisest course.” Her index and forefinger moved in circles up and down Cassie’s back. “We’ll gain nothing by fighting with the English on this journey. It would be better to spend our time seeking out weaknesses and trying to alter Danemount’s purpose.”

“Impossible.”

“Nothing is impossible. The woman in a man’s bed can often change his mind.” Lani gently spread the oil
over Cassie’s bruised shoulder. “This bruise isn’t as bad as I feared when I saw you crash against the ship. You’re lucky you didn’t crack the bone.”

Cassie scarcely heard her through the thoughts whirling through her head. “You mustn’t do this. You won’t change his mind. He’d take your body and still go after Papa.”

“So what will I have lost? My body will still be my own, and I’ll forget the Englishman and walk away. And you may be wrong. Foreigners have strange thoughts about coupling. It affects their minds as well as their bodies. Danemount is ruthless but not completely without softness. He treats Lord Bradford with kindness.” She made a face. “And that must prove a great trial to anyone’s patience. Yes, there are many advantages. If I couple with him, my chance of finding out what’s going on when we reach France is much greater than if I’m locked away from him behind closed doors. We may need that information. Also, even if I can’t persuade him not to kill Charles, he may find the killing more difficult if he has been intimate with his enemy’s mistress. This is not a bad thing.”

“It’s a very bad thing,” Cassie said harshly. “You know Papa wouldn’t like it.”

“True.” Lani sighed. “Charles also has strange ideas of pride in possession. That’s why I’ve never yielded to another man since I came to him. If I decide to do it, it will be kinder not to tell him.”

“You won’t do it.” Cassie turned over and sat up. “I know you won’t do it.”

Lani smiled serenely. “I shall if I deem it wise.”

“You’re doing it for me.”

Chuckling, Lani stood up and reached for a blanket in which to wrap Cassie. “Tb save you from the attentions
of this wicked scoundrel? Don’t be absurd. You’re strong enough to save yourself, and neither of us is important right now. I do this for Charles.” She leaned forward and kissed Cassie on the forehead. “Now sleep for a few hours. I’ll go to Lord Bradford and tell him we’ll be delighted to join him for dinner. Perhaps we’ll learn something that will prove valuable.”

“About how to pleasure his nephew?” Cassie asked bitingly. “You’re far more beautiful than Lihua. You should have no trouble.”

“Perhaps a little trouble.” Lani rose to her feet. “At present he has a passion for you, and it’s necessary to shift his interest. But a man seldom refuses an invitation to couple with a woman.”

Certainly not a woman as beautiful as Lani, Cassie thought with an inexplicable pang.

“Sleep well.” Lani moved gracefully toward the door. “I’ll call you when it’s time to dress for dinner.”

“Lani!”

Lani glanced inquiringly over her shoulder.

“Don’t do this. If Papa finds out, he’ll be so angry he’ll—” She stopped.

“Cast me out?” Lani nodded. “Sometimes risks must be taken. So far you’ve taken all the risks. Now I must share them. You won’t tell Charles, and I don’t think Danemount is a man who would take his revenge in that fashion.”

“You don’t know anything about him,” she said desperately.

“It appears I may be going to learn a great deal regarding his—” Lani stopped, her gaze raking Cassie’s expression. “Don’t be so upset. All will be well.” With a last smile she was gone.

Don’t be upset? She was trembling, Cassie realized
as she drew the blanket closer about her. Trembling with fear and shock … and rage. Yes, rage. Lani was wrong. This wasn’t the way to help Papa. They might not have many weapons, but she did not have to sacrifice herself and—

But for Lani it would be no sacrifice. Sex and love were separate to her, and coupling with Jared would mean nothing. She might even enjoy it.

The rage soared to new heights as she imagined Lani in Danemount’s bunk, his hands on her breasts, his hips moving—

No!

She drew a deep breath and tried to block out the vision and the realization it had brought. She did not want to admit her rage was founded on anything but frustration. Yet she had to admit it, or she would be guilty of avoiding the truth.

You’ve been robbed of time. You must think clearly and act boldly
.

Very well—the rage had been partially caused by jealousy. Her body felt cheated because it was being denied. The emotion had been driven by primitive instinct that had nothing to do with reason. But Lani had said this instinct was not shameful as long as the acts of the body were separate from the mind and soul. She must cling to that truth.

She closed her eyes and forced her tense muscles to loosen. She must forget the picture of Lani and Jared lying together, their bodies intertwined.…

“Ah, ladies, you’ve decided to take pity on me.” Bradford rose to his feet and seated Lani, then Cassie at the damask-draped table. “I hoped you would.”

“Since you’ve ordered two extra places set, I’d say you expected we would,” Lani said dryly as she shook
out her napkin. “And pity has nothing to do with this.”

“No? I’d judge you to be prone to pity.” Bradford nodded to the servant standing by the door to begin serving. “Why else would you choose to grace the bed of a man old enough to be your father?”

“According to Clara, grace did not enter into our union. She claims I seduced him with my barbaric wiles.” She smiled. “And my people believe age makes no difference; it only serves to refine and make the act more beautiful.”

“Lani loves my father,” Cassie said. “And your remark was very rude.”

“Yes, it was,” Bradford admitted as he reached for the bottle of brandy at his elbow. “Extraordinary. I’m usually the most polite of fellows.”

Lani glanced at the bottle. “How would you remember?”

“Are you suggesting my brain is pickled? Not yet. I’m keen as a sword blade until nightfall.” He smiled with surprising sweetness. “For instance, I’m fully aware that it’s not my charming company that brings you here, but I forgive you.”

“Forgive us?”

“You intend to inveigle information from me, do you not?”

Lani hesitated and then said bluntly, “Yes.”

“It will be my pleasure to be inveigled … within certain boundaries.” He took a long drink of his brandy. “As I told your friend, it offends me to have Jared fight an opponent who has so few weapons. In most circumstances it would offend Jared also. He’s a just man.”

“I don’t believe that,” Cassie said flatly.

“You should.” He took another drink. “You’ll find
he’s scrupulously honest. I’ve seen him forfeit a race he desperately wanted to win because of the possibility of chicanery. He’s very respected in racing circles. You’ll see when we get to England.”

“England?” Cassie stiffened. “I have no intention of going to England.”

“That’s unfortunate, since that’s where this ship is going,” Bradford said. “Jared decided that it will be some time before Deville manages to make his way from America to France, and it would be wiser to stay at Morland and put his contacts in France on watch. When your father surfaces, we’ll leave for France.”

“And we’re supposed to stay at this Morland and wait?” Cassie asked.

“That’s the plan. I regret it doesn’t meet with your approval.”

“It certainly does not.” She was caught off guard by Jared’s decision. It would have been much easier for her to escape from the Duke on French soil. She had planned to flee the moment they arrived. How was she to get across the Channel and make her way to Paris?

“But we’ll make the adjustment,” Lani said. She reached over and encouragingly squeezed Cassie’s hand. “Won’t we?”

Cassie nodded. “Of course.” She turned to Bradford. “How close is this Morland to the sea?”

He burst out laughing. “Do you intend to swim? I wouldn’t advise it. Our northern waters are much colder than your warm sea.”

“How close?”

“Quite close.” He was still chuckling. “Morland is located on a cliff that overlooks the channel.”