Dark Rider (2 page)

“You know I can’t go. I’ve already been here too long.” She clenched her hands as she watched a dozen
women run into the water. “And you should not go, either. Have you learned nothing? You should not sleep with the English. They bring disease and they care nothing for you.”

Lihua grinned. “You worry too much. It’s not certain that Captain Cook’s sailors gave our people the French sickness, and these English care enough to bring me pleasure for the night. It is all a woman can ask.”

It was all Lihua ever asked, Cassie thought with exasperation, all any of them ever asked. Pleasure for the present, pay tomorrow. Ordinarily she had no quarrel with the philosophy, but not when she could see danger looming.

“Come with us,” Lihua coaxed. “Besides the sailors there are two who lead, a chief and his uncle, who captains the ship. I will let you have the chief, who knows many ways to please a woman. He is very beautiful and has the grace and the lusty appetite of that stallion you love so much.”

“Chief? There is a noble chief on board that ship?”

“The sailors say it is the same as our chiefs. They call him Your Grace.”

A duke. She felt a faint stirring of memory of that long-ago day in Marseilles. Foolishness—there could be no connection. “What is his name?”

“Jared.”

“No, his last name.”

Lihua shrugged. “Who knows? Why should I ask such things? It’s not his name that makes me cry out with pleasure. It is his big—”

“Lihua, come along,” Kalua, Lihua’s sister, called from the surf. “You cannot convince her. And why give her the chief? We will share him as we did last night. She would not know what to do with him.” She
added with teasing scorn, “She is a virgin. She lies with no one.”

“It is not her fault,” Lihua said defensively. “She did not choose not to give and take pleasure.” She turned to Cassie. “I know Lani decided for you because she fears the ugly one will punish you, but surely just one time would not hurt. You can swim out to the boat and taste the English chief and then swim back. A woman
should
have a stallion for her first lover.”

“He will be too big for her,” Kalua protested. “If I’d had such a one for my first man, I would never have taken another.”

“You were only thirteen. She rides that huge horse, her woman’s veil cannot still be there. The fit would be tight but not—”

“What is he doing here?” Cassie interrupted, her gaze on the ship. She was accustomed to their frank discussions of a sexual nature and no longer paid attention to them.

“I’ve just told you.” Lihua giggled. “But I refuse to tell you more; his skill is beyond description. You must find out for yourself.”

“These English don’t sail into a harbor just to bring pleasure to women. Ask him why he is here.”

“Ask him yourself.” Kalua turned and struck out for the ship. “I have other things to occupy me.”

“I must go.” Lihua waded farther into the sea. “Kalua may decide not to share the Chief.”

“Do you know nothing about him?” Cassie called after her. “How old is he?”

“Young.”

“How young?”

“Younger than the uncle.”

“How old is that?”

“I pay no attention to a man’s age, if his vigor is strong. You know it’s of no importance to me.”

It might be of importance to Cassie. Her father had never mentioned the Duke again after they had fled from Marseilles, but he must have been at least her father’s age to inspire such terror.

“What is there to know?” Lihua asked. “He is English, he comes here from Tahiti and knows our language. He probably wants something from King Kamehameha, as all the other English did.” She reached deep water and struck out after the other women. “And he is a true stallion.…”

“Find out his name,” Cassie called, but she doubted if Lihua heard. It probably didn’t matter. The memory of that day was so faint, she couldn’t remember if Papa had mentioned a name. Besides, the prospect of there still being a danger to Papa was slight. British ships had come and gone over the years with no ill consequence. Not many men would travel halfway across the world to destroy an enemy.

She could hear the laughing chatter of the women as they called back and forth to one another in the darkness. She should not linger there. Coming to the village was forbidden, and if she did not get back to the cottage soon, Clara would discover where she had been. What did it matter? Clara would probably find out anyway, and she wanted these final delicious moments of freedom.

She drew a deep breath of the soft salt-laden air and dug her bare toes into the wet sand. She thought she heard Lihua’s laughter. Her friends were swimming happily through the cool, silken water. Soon they would be welcomed on board the ship and coupling with joy and vigor. Sweet heaven, her nipples were actually hardening as she envisioned the act, she
realized ruefully. Of late her body was constantly betraying her. Lani said it was natural, that her body was ready for a man and the ripening was as beautiful as the blooming of a flower. Yet, if that was true, why wouldn’t Lani let her lie with—

“Are you truly a virgin?”

She stiffened and then whirled to face the man strolling out of the thatch of palms. He spoke in the Polynesian language she had used with her friends, but there could be no doubt that he was not one of them. He was as tall, but leaner, and moved with a slow, casual grace, not with the springy exuberance of the islanders. He was dressed in elegant tight breeches, and his coat fit sleekly over his broad shoulders. His snowy cravat was tied in a complicated fall, and his dark hair bound back in a queue.

He is very beautiful and has the grace and lusty appetite of that stallion you love so much
.

Lihua was right. He
was
beautiful. Exotic grace and strength exuded from every limb. High cheekbones and that well-formed, sensual mouth gave his face a fascinating quality that made it hard to tear her gaze away. A stray breeze ruffled his dark hair, and a lock fell across his wide forehead.

Pagan
.

The word came out of nowhere and she instantly dismissed it. Clara used the term to describe the islanders, and she would deem it totally unfitting for civilized young noblemen. Yet there was something free and reckless flickering in the stranger’s expression that she had never seen in any of the islanders.

Yes, he must be the English, and he was coming from the direction of Kamahameha’s village, she realized. Lihua was right, he probably wanted only supplies
or trade rights, as the other English did. She did not have to worry about him.

“Well, are you?” he asked lazily as he continued to walk toward her.

He might not be a threat, but she answered in Polynesian with instinctive wariness. “You should not eavesdrop on others’ conversations. It’s not honorable.”

“I could hardly keep from hearing. You were shouting.” His gaze wandered from her face to her bare breasts and down to her hips swathed in the cotton sarong. “And I found the subject matter so very intriguing. It was exceptionally … arousing. It’s not every day a man is compared to a stallion.”

His arrogance and confidence were annoying. “Lihua is easily pleased.”

He looked startled, but then a slow smile lit his face. “And you are not, if you’re still a virgin. What a challenge to a man. What is your name?”

“What is yours?”

“Jared.”

The Duke, not the uncle. The last of her concern vanished as she realized that this man could not be more than thirty. What threat could have been posed by the boy he was then? “You have another name.”

His brows lifted. “You’re not being fair. You’ve not told me your name yet.” He bowed. “But if we must be formal, I’m Jared Barton Danemount.”

“And you’re a duke?”

“I have that honor … or dishonor. Depending upon my current state of dissipation. Does that impress you?”

“No, it’s only another word for ‘chief,’ and we have many chiefs here.”

He laughed. “I’m crushed. Now that we’ve established
my relative unimportance, may I ask your name?”

“Kanoa.” It was not a lie. It was the name Lani had given her and meant more to her than her birth name.

“The free one,” the Englishman translated. “But you’re not free. Not if this ugly one keeps you from pleasure.”

“That’s none of your concern.”

“On the contrary, I hope to make it very much my concern. I’ve had very good news tonight, and I feel like celebrating. Will you celebrate with me, Kanoa?”

His smile shimmered in the darkness, coaxing, alluring. Nonsense. He was only a man; it was stupid to be so fascinated by this stranger. “Why should I? Your good news is nothing to me.”

“Because it’s a fine night and I’m a man and you’re a woman. Isn’t that enough? I hate to see a woman deprived of—”

He broke off as he came to within a few yards of her. Then with disgust he said, “Christ, you’re nothing but a child.”

“I’m
not
a child.” It was a common and most annoying mistake. She was very small-boned and tiny compared to the Junoesque islanders and was always being thought younger than her nineteen years.

“Oh, no, you must be all of fourteen or fifteen,” he said sarcastically.

“No, I’m older than—”

“Of course you are.”

He didn’t believe her. It was foolish to argue with a man she would probably never see again. “It doesn’t matter.”

“The hell it doesn’t,” he said roughly. “I heard what Kalua said about having her first man when she was thirteen. Don’t listen to her. Pay heed to this old
one. You have no business swimming out to foreign ships and coupling with sailors.”

“But it’s entirely proper for you to fornicate with my friends.”

“That’s different.”

She snorted inelegantly.

He blinked, and then his lips twitched as he tried to suppress a smile. “You disagree?”

“Men always make themselves the exception to every rule. It’s not fair.”

“You’re right, of course. We’re very unfair to females.”

She felt a flicker of surprise. She was not accustomed to such easy acquiescense on this subject. Even Papa became defensive when she tried to discuss the issue of man’s injustice to women. “Then why don’t you stop?”

“Because taking advantage of women makes the world a very comfortable and pleasant place for us males. I’d wager we’ll never be anything but unfair until we’re forced to it.”

“And you will be. It cannot last forever. Mary Wollstonecraft has even written a book that—”

“Mary Wollstonecraft? What do you know of her?”

“Lani was taught by the English missionaries. The Reverend Densworth’s wife gave her a copy of Miss Wollstonecraft’s book, and she gave it to me.”

He groaned. “Good God, and I thought I was leaving the teachings of those Bluestockings behind when I left London.”

She frowned in puzzlement. “Bluestockings?”

“Learned ladies like Miss Wollstonecraft. I never thought they’d invade a paradise like this.”

“Truth and justice cannot be hidden,” she said earnestly.

“I see,” he replied solemnly. “Is that what your Miss Wollstonecraft says?”

She felt a hurtful pang. “You’re making mock of me.”

He frowned. “Dammit, I didn’t mean—”

“Don’t lie. You did mean it.”

“All right, I was mocking you. It’s all I know. I’m not accustomed to talking to youngsters like you.”

“Well, you don’t have to talk to me any longer.” She started to turn away. “I won’t stay to listen to—”

“Wait.”

“Why should I? So that you can mock me again?”

“No.” He grimaced. “I’m feeling unusual twinges of conscience. I believe I need absolution.” He smiled coaxingly. “Stay and give it to me, Kanoa.”

His eyes no longer appeared cold, and his entire being seemed to exude a glowing persuasiveness that was nearly mesmerizing. She had a sudden desire to take a step closer, move nearer to that warmth.

“Why … should I?” she asked again.

“Because you have a kind heart.”

“You don’t know that I do. You don’t know anything about me.”

“I know that you were concerned about your friends. Surely that denotes a kind heart.”

“It’s easy to give kindness to friends. You’re a stranger.”

His smile faded and he looked out at the sea. “Yes, I am.”

Loneliness. She had the sudden feeling that he was speaking of a constant state, and felt an odd sense of kinship. She knew about loneliness.

Foolishness. He was a nobleman, and Lihua had
certainly not found anything in him to pity. Yet Cassie found herself saying haltingly, “If you’re asking forgiveness, then I give it freely.”

He turned to look at her. “Do you? How extraordinarily generous.” When he saw her frown with uncertainty, he shook his head. “No, I’m not being sarcastic. I believe you mean it, and the women to whom I’m accustomed give nothing freely.” He smiled crookedly. “But, then, you’re not yet a woman. You have time to learn the way of it.”

The flare of annoyance burned away any pity she had felt for him. “It’s no wonder you must pay for your pleasure when you make stupid judgments and your tongue stings like an adder.”

He chuckled with genuine humor. “My tongue can do other things than sting. I must show you—” He broke off and sighed. “I keep forgetting that you’re not fair sport. I think we’d best discuss something of mutual interest.” He glanced over his shoulder at the palm thicket from which he had emerged. “Is that your horse tied to the tree?”

“Yes.”

“A fine stallion. I might be interested in buying him, but first I’ll have to watch him move. I’ve seldom seen a more splendid animal.”

“He’s not for sale.” She added flatly, “And you’ve
never
seen a more splendid animal. Kapu is without equal.”

He threw back his head and laughed. “I beg to disagree, but I approve your loyalty. How did you come by him? I’ve never heard of islanders raising horses.”

“You’ve not been here long. How could you know anything about us?”

“I’ve annoyed you again.”

He did annoy her. His easy assurance made her feel uncertain, and his physical presence was most disturbing. She sensed the heat of his body only a few feet away and caught the aroma of musk and leather that surrounded him. So different from the men of the village, who carried the scent of salt and fish and the oil of coconut; different also from her father, who usually smelled of brandy and a lemony cologne. Everything about Jared Danemount was different; she had the impression of tremendous strength in spite of his lithe leanness. His light eyes were either blue or gray and very cool. No, that was wrong, they were hot. No … she didn’t know what they were, but looking into them was making her uncomfortable. She said in a rush, “You think you have a horse finer than Kapu?”