As her fear lessened, her desire for him rose, and he walked her backward toward the passageway. “I know, but what else could I do? Papa . . .”
One hand cupped her derrière, holding her against his desire. “He’s on his way here.”
She tightened her grip and tried to put her legs around him. “Dieu merci!William, I love you so much for doing this for me.”
He chuckled as his fingers brushed her nipple. “As much as I’d like to take credit, I didn’t bring him to you, my darling. He’s coming to us on another ship.”
“What is the meaning of this?” Papa’s angry voice boomed into the room, causing her to plant her feet firmly on the floor. “And who the devil are you?”
Eugénie began to laugh. Not the ladylike one with small giggles, but deep, from her stomach. Was she having the vapors?
“It’s all right, my love. I’ll protect you.”
“Non,non. You don’t understand.”
Will refused to lessen his grip on Eugénie. “I, sir, am her husband.” Will barked over his shoulder, “Who the hell areyou?”
“Papa.”The word shot from her lips as if she didn’t have breath for another.
Well, that answered that question.
“Husband?”Uncle Nathan stared at him.
Eugénie clung to Will as if to protect him from her father. “We married two days ago.”
“You still haven’t told me whoheis.”
Tucking Eugénie next to him, Will faced a man who looked almost exactly like his father. “Your great-nephew. William, Viscount Wivenly.”
Uncle Nathan stared at Will as if trying to place him. “You look like your maternal grandfather.”
“So I’ve been told.”
“How did you marry my daughter when she’s still underage?”
Eugénie let go of Will and flew into her step-father’s arms. “We went to Tortola.” Nathan started, and she smoothed his coat. “Now, don’t be angry. Maman and the girls came as well.”
He narrowed his eyes, and Will narrowed his in response. Great-uncle or no, Eugénie was his, and no one was going to take her away from him.
“Did they?” Nathan asked suspiciously.
Clearly the man was not going to give it up.
She smiled. “Yes, Papa, and I’m very happy.” She glanced over her shoulder at Will. “Now I have my husband and my father. Papa, Maman is on Mr. Henriksen’s ship waiting for you.”
Eugénie moved from her father back to Will. “I know she’d like to see you.”
“And I want to see her, but first, who got killed?”
She covered her lips with one hand and gasped. “Oh.”
Will glanced down at Villaret. Blood covered the front of the man’s jacket where Will’s ball had entered. Before he thought to stop Eugénie, she was staring down at the body.
He expected shock or some sort of horrified response, but instead she said, “Oh, I suppose we should do something about him.” She glanced at Will. “Is he dead?”
“If he’s not now, he will be soon.” He pulled her back against him.
“When you are ready,” Uncle Nathan said in a dry tone, “I would like to know exactly who this”—he pointed at the body—“is.”
