Eden's Pass (24 page)

Chapter Thirty-One

Her stomach rumbled loudly as the wonderful, hearty aromas reached the cabin before Iñigo did, and her mouth fairly watered as he entered the cabin with yet another tray. It was only another bowl of broth, but to her, it was akin to a grand feast. She sat up, moving to swing her legs over the side of the bed as Iñigo set the tray on the table. “It smells heavenly,” she murmured, rising on unsteady legs to cross to the table.

“Allow me,” he said, moving to catch her elbow.

She tried to shake him off. “I am fine.”

“My lady, enough with the bravado,” he scolded softly, refusing to release her arm. “You collapsed into me last eve. I know that it’s not possible you’ve recovered fully since then. There are no prying eyes here and you’ve my word. I’ll not breathe a whit of this to a soul onboard.”

She wanted to argue with him, her pride almost demanded it, but exhaustion set in and she was terribly shaky. Nodding, she replied, “Very well.”

He smiled, guiding her toward his vacated chair. “It’s the first time I do believe you’ve given up gracefully, my lady.”

She scowled up at him as she sunk into the chair. “I’d not count on it happening again.”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “I’ll do my best to remember that.” He settled across from her, eyes lingering on hers as she picked up her spoon to dip into the broth. As she brought it toward her lips, she stopped, frowning as she said, “Why do you stare?”

“Am I?” he asked mildly, arching one ebony brow. “I hadn’t noticed.”

Heat built in her face. “Well, you are.”

“Forgive me.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “Is that all?”

“Is that all what?”

“Have you no witty remark to cut me to the quick? Surely I must look dreadful. I do hope you’ll allow me a bath before too long.”

“My lady, you have the blackest circles beneath your eyes that I have ever seen and you are whiter than any corpse on this earth.”

She scowled again. “I thank you for the compliment.”

“But you are also still the most stunning woman I’ve ever laid eyes upon.”

This
she had not expected and the heat flared again. Lowering her spoon, she said, “I beg your pardon?”

He gave her a half-smile. “You heard me correctly. Death warmed over and still the most beautiful lady I’ve ever beheld. It’s most impressive.”

Her belly knotted at the gleam filling his amber eyes. “I do not know if I should take you seriously or not.”

He shrugged, rising once more. “That I cannot tell you. It’s up to you. You can take my words at face value, or you may second-guess them. It’s your decision.”

She frowned as he turned away, crossing the cabin to tug open the armoire. Her belly rumbled again, though it wasn’t the same terrible roiling as earlier. She dipped the spoon into the thick broth and lifted it to her lips to sip. It was heavenly, to say the least, and she couldn’t help but close her eyes and savor the hearty liquid.

In between spoonfuls, she lifted her eyes to see Iñigo had stripped off his dirt-spattered, wrinkled shirt, and retrieved his shaving items as well. Remembering the fate of his silver lather cup, a smile tugged at her lips. He’d never once mentioned it, had never asked her what happened to it, and when she remembered its fate, the urge to giggle swept over her.

He moved away from the armoire, to the washstand to set down another lather cup, his razor, and the soap needed to whip up the lather. A mirror hung from a nail in the timber behind the washstand and he adjusted it before setting to work whipping up the soap.

The broth forgotten, she watched him instead, admiring the sleek smoothness of his bronzed skin, the way the muscles beneath bunched and rippled with each movement. The heat sweeping through her now had nothing to do with embarrassment.

She continued to watch, fascinated as he brushed white foam over his cheeks, along his chin, and down his neck. She smiled, unable to keep from asking, “Isn’t that my duty?”

Iñigo paused, and she held her breath, waiting to see how he’d respond. He grinned at her over one shoulder. “I think it is probably best I do it this time. I have an aversion to having my throat slit, be it an accident or not.”

She had to agree. Her arms were almost too heavy to lift and she certainly couldn’t imagine maneuvering a blade over such a vulnerable area. “No. I don’t suppose I could fault you that.”

Turning away again, he set down the cup, lifting his razor in his left hand. Without hesitation, he zipped the blade down his left cheek, then his right, taking care not to nick his mustache as he did. With equal aplomb, he scraped the coarse, black whiskers from his chin and his throat. No blood dotted his skin when he finished, and she had the maddest urge to cross to him and caress his newly smooth skin, to nuzzle her cheek against it and savor how soft it would feel.

He glanced back over at her again. “Entertaining you, am I?” he asked with a grin, swiping at missed flecks of foam with a linen towel.

She only smiled. “I’ve never truly watched a man shave before now.”

“I only hope I did not disappoint.”

Her flicker of embarrassment was quickly tamped down by the smile accompanying his words. Shaking her head as a pleasant warmth filled her, she said, “I do not think that possible, Captain.”

“Is that so?” He draped the towel over one shoulder, stepping around the timber to grin at her. “Mayhap I should be thankful?”

“Are you teasing me?”

“I am.” His eyes dropped to her bowl, still a third full. “Finish.”

“Aye, Captain.” She ducked her head back down and concentrated on the broth whilst he finished dressing. When she’d finished, she sighed. “It was delicious.”

He closed the armoire, turned to face her, and wrinkled his nose. “Broth? Delicious? You were not jesting when you said you’d had nothing but bread, were you?”

“I was most definitely not. And to call it bread was to be generous.” She shuddered, wondering what had happened when Tobias Eden learned both she and Adeline had gone missing. “Captain?”

He paused in drawing on a fresh shirt, this one a crisp, white linen. “Aye?”

“What became of Adeline?”

He smiled, hearing the note of concern in her voice. “You’ve nothing to fear, my lady. She is safe and sound, tucked away in her own little cabin, bound for St. Philippe, just as we are.” He cocked his head slightly to one side. “Think me such a beast, do you, that I’d allow her to take the fall for my actions?”

“Of course not. I was merely curious.”

He came around to place both hands on the back of the chair across from her. “I ordered Guillermo to heat water for your bath, my lady. Think you’ve the strength to bathe yourself or shall I assist you? After all, it’s only fair of me to return the favor, is it not?”

She smiled even as heat crept into her cheeks. “There was no way I could have told you the truth, Captain,” she murmured, refusing to look away from his knowing stare. “I had to keep masquerading. I knew it would not bode well for me otherwise.”

He grinned. “Ah, but had I known a lady was scrubbing my back, I might have had a swoon of my own.”

Her blush burned hotter still. “Liar.”

He circled the table, laughing softly as he moved to stand behind her. Leaning close, he let his lips brush her ear as he whispered, “We shall never know now. Shall we?”

Her eyelids drooped at the first flutter against her earlobe and her voice was airy as she murmured, “I suppose not.”

He growled gently into her ear, his lips skimming down over the warm slope of her neck, over her collarbone. “I’ve missed you,
mi dama hermosa
. My bed has been far too empty since you disappeared on me.”

Her skin tingled where he caressed it, slowing both her blood and her mind. A warm glow filled her as he nuzzled her. Her still-present nausea slipped to the furthest recesses of her mind as his hands slipped down over her shoulders, grazing over the contours of her breasts to set a flame to the embers smoldering within her.

He wrapped his arms about her from behind and gave a squeeze. “Later, my lady. There is time enough for us to become reacquainted. Now, you will enjoy a long, leisurely bath and you shall rest a while longer. I have my duties to attend this morning but this evening, you will see for yourself how I’ve missed my spirited
señorita.
”

He kissed her gently on the lips and straightened up. “I will also have fresh clothing for you. I imagine you would like being attired in something a mite more feminine than those togs.”

She glanced down at the filthy woolen garments and nodded wholeheartedly. “Absolutely.”

Another kiss and he replied, “And a lady you shall be once more.”

“I thank you.”

“You are most welcome.”

Finn sighed after he left the cabin again. Rising from her chair, she moved back to the bed, where she stretched out as the drowsiness returned. Her eyes grew heavy and she made no attempt to fight it off, but instead welcomed sleep once more.

It seemed no time had passed before Iñigo gently shook her awake. Opening her eyes, it was to see steam rising from the brass tub in the far corner.

“Come, my lady,” he murmured, peeling the sheets from her to toss them toward the foot of the bed. “A warm bath, and then you may sleep a while longer.”

She sat up, stretching her arms overhead. “I fear if I sleep too much this day, I’ll not sleep come nightfall.”

He smiled, taking her hand to draw her to her feet. “My lady, the dark smudges beneath your eyes have faded, but still remain. You look exhausted enough for me to wonder if I should even allow you near the tub.”

“Oh, I wish you would. I would love a bath.”

He brought her left hand up to brush his lips across its back. “And a bath you shall have, love,” he murmured, releasing her hand and reaching for the ties on her shirt. She didn’t protest as he undressed her, but smiled as he let out a softly strangled groan, stripping away the last layer of cotton between her skin and his eyes. His eyes darkened, a muscle twitched in his jaw. His reaction amused her, but it also gave her a sense of satisfaction. It was quite heady, knowing her body affected him in the same way his affected her. Quite heady, indeed.

Slipping an arm about her waist, Iñigo helped her to the tub. “Come along, Finn. Scrub yourself clean before I am incapable of doing anything more than spiriting you back to that bed the way you are.”

She managed a tired laugh even as her belly did a definite flip. “Surely you jest. I must reek to the rafters.”

“I’ve not said a whit about the unusual scent you seem to be carrying on yourself, my lady. That’s due to circumstances far beyond your control.”

She nodded, feeling strangely weightless as she leaned into him. “Ah, a polite way of saying I
do
reek, but not enough to offend, Spaniard. I thank you.”

He chuckled, holding on to her as she stepped into the tub and sank into the water with a heavy sigh of appreciation. She had expected him to step away and attend to his duties, but he surprised her once again by kneeling beside the tub and reaching for the soap and washrag.

“Be still, Finn,” he directed as he went to work scrubbing her pink. “And revel in the havoc you wreak upon my senses.”

She peered up at him. “And what havoc might that be?”

He smiled, pausing in his scrubbing. “To know how powerful my lust is for you and to know there is naught I can do about it at the moment. Now, sit forward, please.”

She gazed at him over one shoulder, relieved to see him smiling, though his eyes were still dark, molten gold, glowing with the light of desire she knew well. “Mayhap I ought finish. That way your senses might be spared.”

He leaned close to brush her lips with a gentle kiss. “Worry not about my senses, love. They will recover in due time. Now, this is the first time I’ve ever bathed a woman. Allow me to enjoy what I might of it.”

“As you wish,” she murmured, turning away once more and letting her eyes close. It was delicious, his light strokes against her skin. Butterflies unfurled in the pit of her belly as he tenderly resumed washing her, a smile tugging at her lips as she couldn’t help but enjoy his discomfort a whit. It was a fitting payback for the eve she suffered the same whilst washing
him
and she fully intended to enjoy it for as long as she could. After all, they had yet to
discuss
her adventure and she had the feeling things would not be quite as enjoyable when the subject was broached. It was best to savor what she could, for as long as she could.

Chapter Thirty-Two

After her soak, Iñigo tenderly dried her, pointed her in the direction of the fresh clothing, and left her on her own as he went to attend to his duties. She smiled as she snuggled into the soft linen nightdress, thinking about the pained expression he’d worn the entire time, and a feeling of coziness filled her. If he was still angry, he hid it well, showing her only a gentle side she’d never have expected him to possess.

She sat on the edge of the bed, patiently working a silver comb through her snarled hair, and looked up to see the hemp hammock no longer hung in the corner. It was a bit puzzling, and she couldn’t help but wonder what it meant.

“Is it possible that he
does
feel something for me?” she murmured, lowering the comb as she stared into the now-vacant corner. “Or is he going to wait until I am whole again before tearing into me?”

Despite his warning they would discuss her flight from St. Philippe, she wasn’t at all afraid of their imminent confrontation. In fact, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt
any
fear where Iñigo was concerned. It was almost as if he welcomed her home, as if he attempted to show something he couldn’t put into words.

“I suppose I will know soon enough,” she murmured, lifting the comb back to her wet hair. The comb on her scalp was heavenly, and she savored each stroke until her arm grew too tired. The now-familiar drowsiness settled into her bones. She returned the comb to the table beside the bed before sliding beneath the counterpane, and sighed as her head sank into the thick pillow. A smile lifted her lips at the rich scent wafting up from the fabric. Iñigo's scent. She would know it anywhere, and would always smile upon smelling it. It was a delightful combination of leather, sun, salt and man, which threatened to addle her senses and comforted her to no end at the same time.

Sleep, heavy and dreamless, came with no effort and when she awoke, it was to find the light in the cabin had gone from brilliant gold to softened pale lemon. She lay there for a long while, on her side, gazing out through the small round window across from her. A gentle tap at the door roused her from her stupor and she propped herself up on one elbow as she called, “Enter.”

The door swung open and Adeline stepped over the threshold. “I do hope I am not disturbing you, Fiona.”

Finn smiled at the now-unfamiliar name, sitting up and shaking her head. “Of course not. Please, do come in.”

Adeline closed the door behind her. Apparently, Iñigo had raided his servants’ wardrobe for feminine garments before leaving St. Philippe for, like Finn, Adeline no longer wore the rough woolen gown of an Eden’s Pass slave. Instead, she’d been given a simple gown of pale pink cotton. Her coarse black hair was clean and shiny, pulled into a severe braid now falling over one shoulder.

“I know Captain Sebastiano said you were not to be disturbed, but I had to see for myself that you were on your way to recovery.”

“He said what?” Finn patted the tick at her feet. “Please, do come and sit. We’ve much to catch up on.”

Adeline hesitantly moved to sink down onto the bed. “Aye, your captain made it quite clear you are to be left undisturbed until further notice. He is most concerned you receive enough rest.”

Finn smiled, shaking her head. “He is not one to accept nay for an answer, I am afraid.” She sank back against the pillows. “I am glad he allowed you to come with us, Adeline. I should hate to think what would have happened, had you been left behind.”

“I think Captain Sebastiano had little say in the matter,” Adeline smiled, plucking at the counterpane with her left hand. “Mister Diego did not offer him the opportunity to deny my request.”

“Diego?” It brought a tired chuckle to her lips, imagining Iñigo and Diego debating the matter in heated whispers. “Well, that does not surprise me in the least. He is one of the few men brave enough to stand up to the captain. They are friends as well.”

“As I gathered. Do tell, how did you come to be aboard this ship a’tall? Why does the captain call you Finn? What happened when you escaped Eden’s Pass? Please, tell me everything.”

“I beg you, slow down,” Finn chuckled, holding up a hand. “One question at a time. Captain Sebastiano calls me Finn because I had been disguising myself as a lad after Ennis and I escaped. We made our way to Bridgetown where I signed us on with a drunkard of a pirate—one with a price on his head, no less. As I said, I played the role of a lad, the captain’s cabin boy, actually. And did it quite well, I have to admit. I was quite close to owning a ship of my own, or so I was led to believe at the time. That I crossed paths with Captain Sebastiano was a misfortune I’d not foreseen.”

“A misfortune? Are you mad?” Adeline's dark brown eyes fairly popped from their sockets. “To win the heart of one so handsome, so fierce? I think it’s great fortune. Not
mis
fortune.”

“Well, no. Perhaps not entirely misfortune, as he did save Ennis and me from a rather nasty surprise where the drunkard was concerned. But, do not delude yourself about Captain Sebastiano , Adeline. As I told you when you first brought me bread upon my return, he is an arrogant, cold-hearted man. Do not let his looks fool you.”

“Aye, you did describe him as arrogant, but that’s not a sin if there is reason to be arrogant, is it?”

“I suppose not, as I would wager he’d use the same word to describe me. But ours is not the relationship you seem to think, Addy. I am his servant.”

Adeline's eyes popped again. “What?”

“Aye. He bested the sot off the coast of Jamaica. He impressed Ennis and I—and the others who surrendered—into service. Once again, I was a cabin boy. I am a servant to him and that is all.”

“But, you’ve been treated well?”

Finn nodded. “I have. It’s one redeeming quality that man has—he has honor and can be a gentleman because of it. He had great plans I would remain with him. I found I have quite the gift for swordplay and he used that to his advantage.”

“A pirate with honor, you say.” Adeline leaned forward. “And you are still Captain Sebastiano's cabin boy? Does he treat all servants as well?”

Finn's cheeks grew warm. “Ah, I suppose I need admit the truth. At first, I was merely his cabin boy. But then he discovered my secret.”

“He did? What happened then?” A note of excitement raised her voice a bit and she propped her chin on her fist.

The heat grew worse and Finn shifted, gaze falling to the rumpled counterpane. “And now I am not at all certain
what
I am to him.”

“But you do share this bed, do you not?”

For a brief moment, Finn worried that her head might burst into flames. Figuring the glow in her cheeks had already betrayed her, she had no choice but to nod. “I do.”

“And yet you ran away from him?”

“I escaped in hopes of regaining my freedom. It’s a mighty difference. I was not shackled in the hold, but do not fool yourself. I
was
a servant. Nothing more and nothing less.”

“And he took you to bed each eve? Hmm… I’d wager it wasn’t at all harsh, was it?”

Irritation flared at the superior tone of Adeline's voice. “Now, you know not of which you speak, Addy. It was not each and every evening.” She couldn’t bring herself to mention Honoria. Nor did she wish to think about Honoria at all. To think would be to wonder if the Englishwoman had found her way back into Iñigo's bed, and that was most definitely something Finn wanted to avoid pondering.

Shaking her head at Adeline, she added, “One does not have to be in manacles to be shackled. He treated me well, treats me well still, but I am nothing to him.”

“He came after you. Traveled an entire ocean only to free you from that hell. That does not sound as if you are nothing to me.”

Finn sniffed. “That is simply because he means to seek retribution for my breaking my word.”

Adeline gave her a disbelieving look. “If that was true, think you he’d not have simply left you there?”

“Nay. It would hardly be as satisfying, were Tobias to extract a punishment that should rightfully belong to Captain Sebastiano. And Tobias was to have me lashed. For some reason, that is a punishment the captain abhors. No matter what he might choose to do, I can almost guarantee I’ll not face the whip.”

“Truly?” Adeline asked with more than a whit of airy surprise. “A pirate who doesn’t like the cat? I never knew such a thing was possible. It’s amazing, really… Why?”

“Not a pirate, Adeline. He is a privateer, under the protection of the king of France, as he told me.” Finn shrugged. “As for his aversion to using the last, I cannot explain why. I only know it to be true. He does not speak of his past. Only rarely has he thus far. And do not think it’s a joyous reunion between him and me. He has already assured me we will
discuss
my actions.”

Adeline waved away her concern. “I think you’ve nothing to fear. He was most concerned about finding you ere Tobias ordered you released. I’d almost say he was concerned about you. But then, I barely know the man. It’s based only on what I’ve seen.”

“Well, your eyes deceive you, Addy. He has made it quite clear that he believes love is a notion for fools and dreamers, as he so kindly put it to me once, and he is neither. Your eyes have deceived you, I’m afraid.”

“And you are? A dreamer, that is. Surely you are not a fool.”

Finn sighed, lifting her eyes to Adeline's. She should lie, should say she didn’t care about Iñigo as well, but Adeline would know otherwise. Nodding slowly, she said, “Oh, but I am, Adeline. I never would have thought it. But it seems I am very much the fool and evermore the dreamer. There is something about him which draws me to him, even when I knew better. When I knew I should feel nothing for him. And now…” She held her hands out, palm up. “There is naught I can do but accept how I feel.”

“And have you told him?”

“I cannot. I know how he feels and I’ll not give him that power over me. It’s enough he knows he turns my insides to mush with a simple touch. I’ll not give him that hold as well.”

It was the first time she’d admitted aloud how Iñigo affected her, and there was no other way to describe it. Mush was the most succinct way to phrase it and she couldn’t keep the wistfulness from her voice as she admitted the long buried truth.

Adeline's gentle eyes filled with a sympathy that was as comforting as it was annoying. With a faint smile, she mused, “Mush, eh?”

Another slow nod. “Mush, Addy. He makes me feel things I’ve never known were possible. Do you remember when we were in our fourteenth summer, and Tobias bought Robert Harris?”

“Do I? My stomach fluttered for months on end every time I laid eyes upon Robert.” Adeline sighed airily, shaking her head. “Do you feel that?”

“Oh, no, it’s infinitely worse, actually. He smiles at me and I melt on the inside. Why do you think I left St. Philippe? Have you forgotten how agonizing it felt, how your stomach would twist and churn, your mouth would go as dry as the sands beneath our feet, and you’d simply ache for him to utter a ‘Good day’ to you? Have you forgotten how it was unlike any other agony?”

“I have not.”

“Now, if you will, imagine that pain about a thousand times worse. I told myself it was freedom I sought, but in truth, it was escape from my own feelings. To look at him and know nothing could ever come of it… It was far too difficult to live with. I assumed that if I left, I would forget.”

“And did you?”

Finn shook her head. “I did not. If anything, my heart ached worse the more distance I put between us. I wish I could unburden myself, but I know it’s hopeless.”

“Oh, come now, Finn,” Adeline scoffed. “You thought Eden’s Pass was hopeless and yet you and Ennis broke free. You do not know what your future holds. Do not convince yourself he is made of stone. He is a man and even inside the coldest of men beats a human heart. We’ve several more days before we arrive in St. Philippe and once we are there, you have forever. Be patient and see what the future holds.”

“I wish I could be as optimistic as you, Addy, but I am afraid it is something I cannot do.”

Adeline patted her hand. “I know it’ll be difficult. But it also might be worth the ache now. Do not be too quick to throw away the one thing not everyone is fortunate enough to find. Many a man has come around despite his protests. Mayhap your Spaniard is one of them.”

“He is not mine,” Finn corrected her with a heavy sigh and an even heavier heart, at the finality of her words. “He is but on loan to me for a short while.”

Adeline rose from the bed and moved to the door. “Then make the most of that short while. Believe in the miracle, Fiona. Remember, from where we hail, miracles are all we have. And you seem to have a knack for making them work for you. Do not give up that hope.”

Finn pondered Adeline’s words long after Adeline left the cabin. Was it worth the risk? And what, exactly, did she risk? She already knew how Iñigo felt. How much more badly could her heart hurt than it already did?

Was she brave enough to take the chance in finding out?