The Pirate and the Puritan (4 page)

From the moment she’d laid eyes
on him, she’d treated him like a common criminal. True as it was, he didn’t
like it. Nor did he like the behavior to which she reduced him. Treating the
gentler sex gently was one of the few moral codes he still honored. He’d always
been able to charm them into anything—from goodwill to bed. Even if he wouldn’t
follow through with the act, he wanted Felicity—as well as himself—to know he
could have her at any time.

Philip Linley and Ben followed
Felicity through the open terrace doors. Drew stood away from the waist-high
wall, bracing himself for the confrontation to come.

“There’s my lovely wife.”
Philip’s tight smile failed to reach his eyes. “I was just giving Miss Kendall
a tour of our home.”

Everyone exchanged stiff
greetings except for Ben, who was incapable of being anything other than
friendly. Felicity refused to speak. She acknowledged her introduction to
Samantha Linley with a curt nod. Drew received no such courtesy, just a fiery
glare.

In light of Felicity’s witness to
the spectacle with Samantha, he’d wasted his effort in toning down Lord
Christian’s flamboyant wardrobe. And Felicity would never be charmed by his
notorious good looks alone, no matter how he packaged himself. She behaved
unlike any woman he had ever come across. He wouldn’t forget that again.

Cool suffocating silence settled
over the small gathering like a blanket of snow. Samantha cracked under the
strain first. She excused herself and gracefully retreated.

“Benjamin, how about a nip of rum
before dinner? It makes the food easier to digest,” suggested Philip.

Ben nodded. “Felicity, come along
and I’ll find you a fan and a cool place to sit. You look flushed.”

“I’d rather stay out here. The
breeze seems to lighten the air.”

Ben’s gaze bounced between Drew
and Felicity. It appeared he didn’t want to leave them alone. Not that Drew
could blame him. “Lord Christian, care to join us?”

“No. Thank you.”

Linley’s pinched features
relaxed. Ben, on the other hand, yanked his fingers through his remaining tufts
of hair. He leaned toward Felicity. “Remember your promise.”

Felicity nodded, but her dusky
inferno of a gaze never left Drew.

With one last backward glance,
Ben disappeared into the buzzing houseful of guests along with Philip Linley.

***

“You are even more despicable than
I imagined! That woman is our host’s wife,” snapped Felicity the moment the
tall French doors closed.

“May I say you look lovely
tonight, Miss Kendall? Black suits you.”

“Don’t mock me. I’m not taken
with your presence, as is Mistress Linley. I see you for the snake you are.”

Felicity laced her fingers in
front of her to keep from self-consciously smoothing her drab skirts. That
there would be a complete absence of Puritan modesty on the island was
something she hadn’t anticipated. She wore the identical garment she’d had on
at their first meeting. Not even a trace of embroidery adorned her plain white
collar. For the first time since she’d wholeheartedly embraced the protective
armor of her mother’s religion, she experienced a new emotion…shame? She felt
as if she should be serving the guests rather than being one of them.

He lounged against the stone
railing, smiling at her taunt. “Yet you didn’t heed my warning or you wouldn’t
be here.”

“Yes. The snakes are poisonous. I
remember from our last meeting. You’ve no need to worry. I don’t intend to get
close enough to feel your bite. The only reason I’m here is because my father
insisted. Word of my arrival spread over the island and Master Linley wanted to
meet me.

“I meant out here. Alone with me.
Maybe you’re jealous.”

She choked on her anger, having
to gasp for breath before she could speak. “Your immoral habits are no concern
of mine, except when they involve my father. Seducing the wife of a man you
trade with is not the act of a gentleman. I refuse to stand by while you taint
my father’s good name.”

A couple dressed in shades of
lime green and flame orange strolled out onto the terrace. They paused against
the railing a few yards away. Though they entwined their bewigged heads in an
intimate conversation, their presence was as loud and unsettling as the cries
of the vibrant-colored parrots that inhabited the island.

Drew’s glance casually swept over
the couple before resting on Felicity again. “Since you’ve taken it upon
yourself to chastise me for all my shortcomings, I suggest you move closer. We
wouldn’t want to scare the other guests with your shrill lecture.”

She inched toward the wall, where
he draped himself like a sultan awaiting his every whim to be fulfilled.
Pretending to admire the sea saved her from looking at him. His appeal as a man
agitated her as much as his arrogant nature. She once again clasped her hands
to stop their slight tremble, refusing to let him know he unnerved her. To calm
herself, she tried to slow her rapid breathing to the rhythmic sound of the
waves lapping against the beach below.

He straightened, then made a
great show of trying to catch a glimpse of her face. “What did you promise your
father?”

Felicity ignored his efforts. “To
behave.”

“I make you misbehave? Mmm, I
like that.” His tone assured her a wicked smile still tugged at his mouth.

She turned to him, her arms
wrapped protectively in front of her. “The only thing you do is disgust me. My
father was referring to any comments I might make about the Linleys’ slaves. I
abhor slavery, as any God-fearing soul should.”

“That leaves me out.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

His grin showed he found her
denunciation of his character amusing. “You’ve also thrown every white
inhabitant of Barbados among the soulless. You won’t be popular.”

“I know that. I don’t want my
father’s interests hurt, but slavery’s not right. Our own Samuel Sewall, a
prominent Puritan,” she added, sure he had no knowledge of her faith’s great
scholars, “published a pamphlet on the inherent sinfulness of slavery. Perhaps
I should locate a copy for you.”

“Oh, do.” He leaned in closer,
and she suspected he was testing to see if she would move away. “I must say,
I’m relieved to know you have another monster to slay besides me.”

She tilted her chin to meet his
gaze. When she’d walked out on the terrace, she’d been surprised by his dress
and she’d checked his footwear long enough to see he didn’t wear high heels.
“You shall be my first. I’ve made you a priority.”

“Then move closer and let’s get
on with it. I promise not to sink my fangs in your soft white skin.”

To prove to him that she could,
she closed the distance between them until they were as close as the lovers on
the opposite end of the terrace. Her promise to her father had included
avoiding an incident with Drew as well as espousing her opinions on slavery.
The aristocrat’s behavior with Mistress Linley proved he relished public
spectacles, and she’d not give him another one by scolding him in front of the
other guests.

“Don’t waste your time saving
Samantha.” When he spoke, she felt the warmth of his breath on her cheek. “I’ve
already seduced her. You can move on to the next of my sins.”

“As you have, I’ve no doubt.” She
wanted to flinch at his callousness but refused to show any signs his words
disturbed her beyond anger. “I find your behavior cruel and despicable. Do you
think of women only in terms of seduction?”

“Usually, but since you’re Ben’s
daughter I was going to let you go unravished. Unless you’d rather I not. If
that’s the case, you should call me Christian.”

“I certainly will not call you by
that name. It’s blasphemous. Your mother must regret choosing something so
inappropriate.”

The masculine scent of musk and
brandy battled the strangling smell of roses. His choice of cologne didn’t
disguise his smoldering aggression any better than his velvet suit.

“ ‘Felicity,’ ” he said. “I
believe that means great happiness. From what I know of you, your name doesn’t
seem to fit you either.”

She stared at the shadowed waves
disturbing the black surface of the sea, refusing to let him know how close his
jabs came to the truth. He must be the devil himself to be so handsome, yet
possess such an ungodly soul.

“I didn’t stay out here to trade
insults with you,” she countered. “I came to warn you. I’ve discovered your
secret.” Her bluff aimed at penetrating his armor as his teasing did hers. His
silence gave her the courage to turn and look at him.

He studied her openly. “I love
secrets. Tell me what you think mine is.”

Unfortunately, she’d discovered
nothing amiss in the records of the New England Trading Company. According to
her father, Lord Christian’s family influence in England had saved the small
company from bankruptcy. Everyone knew that without a champion in the right
circles, gaining a royal charter to trade was impossible. And without a
charter, one would be considered no more than a common criminal—or worse, a
pirate.

The figures confirmed that the
beleaguered New England Trading Company was finally in the black, but Felicity
speculated on the method. Her instincts told her Christian Andrews was not the
son of a duke, much less an honest merchant. The thought that her father might
have unwittingly become a front for someone’s illicit activities forced
Felicity’s hand. She latched on to the one curious notation in the ledgers.

“General goods.” she said and
waited for his reaction.

He grinned. “Shocking.”

“There’s more.” When the smirk
spread to his eyes, she grew more determined to wipe it from his face. Her
suspicions were vague and unsubstantiated, but she had no other clue.

“Go on, Felicity. Tell me what
goes on inside that head of yours.”

“Master Marley meticulously
recorded all the exports from the island. Only the imports are marked general
goods.

Whatever the items are, they
bring more money than even sugar.”

The amused sparkle in his eyes
dulled, but he still showed his teeth. “Providing valuable merchandise isn’t a
sin. The transplanted English like their luxury goods, and sugar gives them
money to buy whatever they desire.”

“Whether or not it’s a sin depends
on what those goods are and where they came from.”

His smile faded. “I have nothing
to do with the ledgers. Marley labeled the merchandise as he saw fit.”

His reaction turned Felicity’s
speculation into certainty. “No? But I believe we both know what ‘general
goods’ is politely hiding.”

The cool mask he wore on their
first meeting returned. He would reveal nothing else until provoked.

She sensed her tactic’s success
and guessed wildly. “Slavery.”

“What?” He moved away from the
wall.

“I believe you’re dealing in
slaves and using ‘general goods’ to hide your horrid deeds from my father.”

Her confidence sagged with his
laughter. “I see. I am evil...and clever, too. Did I fool Marley, or was he
involved as well?”

“I don’t know the details.”

“Have you told Ben of your
discovery?”

“No, and I don’t want you to say
anything to him. Knowing that his ships promoted slavery would hurt him deeply.
I’ll be satisfied if you leave Barbados and never bother my father again.”

“Slavery is not illegal.”

“It should be. It’s immoral, and
immorality is something at which you excel. My guess is, you’re an expert at
using other human beings for your own self-interests.”

All traces of humor evaporated
from his face. “Why do you hate me?” he asked.

“Because you’re manipulating my
father. You’re hiding behind your fancy clothes and powdered wig. I don’t know
why, but I’ll find out.”

“And what are you hiding from?
You have a luscious mouth, but all you use it for is to screech like a shrew.
Unbind your hair and smile, and you could be beautiful. Why aren’t you married?
Would none of your Puritan men let you be on top? I would.”

She suspected he wanted to shock
her, but his lusty innuendo was nothing but a cruel quip at her expense. “I
prefer men who smell less like a rosebush and more like a man. You can stop
trying to sway me with your sexual prowess. I find you revolting. Leave
Barbados before I expose you for the fraud you are.”

When she turned to leave, he
grabbed her elbow.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that,
Felicity. Someone has taken a dislike to the owners of the New England Trading
Company. If I don’t discover the identity of Marley’s killer, who knows who
might be next?”

She yanked her arm away, but
instead of leaving, she stood toe-to-toe with him. “Are you threatening me?”

He squared his shoulders like a
bull ready to charge. “I’m stating a fact.”

“The Linleys’ guests seem to
think a pirate called
El Diablo
killed Marley and his wife. Perhaps
you’ve come to another conclusion because you were involved in the murders.” As
she said the words, something inside her shifted as she realized she hoped with
all her heart and soul it wasn’t true.

The sharp angles of his jaw
became more pronounced as he ground his teeth. “It’s stupid to make accusations
you can’t substantiate.”

They stared at each other,
neither willing to back down. Finally, he shook his head and turned away.

“You don’t have to believe me,
but I don’t want to see Ben hurt either. If you’re so intent on using your keen
mind to castrate me, go ahead. Just think before you do something that will
cause your father any more grief.” He bowed over the railing. “Go inside,
Felicity, before you make me do something else I’ll regret.”

She uncurled her fists and caught
her breath. Of all the commandments, murder remained the only one she had not
suspected him of breaking. The same instinct that assured her he was a fraud
kept her from believing him a cold-blooded killer. She’d not leave until she
knew for sure.