“How do you know that?”
“Red sky at night, sailors’ delight. Red sky in morning, sailors take warning.”
His hand moved over the small of her back. “It is always correct?”
She shivered with pleasure as the tip of his tongue touched the outer shell of her ear. “Always.”
“Then God and fate are with us.”
“I didn’t believe in fate before I met you.”
William’s chest rumbled with laughter. “I’ve never been able to escape it. Nor would I want to. It brought me to you.”
Eugénie turned in his embrace. “And you to me. I never believed I could be so happy and content.”
His lips touched hers, and for a moment she pretended they were all alone on the ship. Then the squeal of a young girl and a crash brought her back to reality. She touched her forehead to his broad chest. “Should we go see what happened?”
“Not yet. They have Miss Penny, your mother, and the Whitecliffs. Let’s stay here and enjoy the evening for a while longer.”
After they’d eaten and joined the rest of their friends and family for another game of charades, and tea, Eugénie rose, and made a show of yawning. The sooner she could be with William, the better. She couldn’t wait until they did not have to sneak around. “I am for my bed. We have another early morning tomorrow.”
Fortunately, all the adults agreed and the children were struggling to keep their eyes open.
As Eugénie neared her cabin, her mother said, “Eugénie, Marisole will sleep with you tonight. I had a cot set up.”
“Oui, Maman.” Eugénie bussed her mother’s cheek. “I shall see you in the morning. Sleep well.”
What Maman didn’t know was that Marisole slept like the dead and would awaken promptly at five o’clock in the morning. As long as Eugénie was back in her bed by then, no one would know she’d spent the night with William.
A little over an hour later, she lay on her side, waiting until the deep breathing of her maid indicated Marisole was sleeping, before slipping out into the passageway to William’s cabin. The moment Eugénie’s hand touched the latch, the door opened, and he pulled her in.
William’s naked body gave off heat as he swooped her up, carrying her the few steps to his bed. She wanted to run her hands over his chest, and rub her own bare body against his.
“I heard your mother and was afraid you wouldn’t be able to come to me.”
“Nothing can awaken Marisole until she is ready. Besides, she will not betray us. Still, I do not wish to put her in an awkward position.”
Placing his hand under Eugénie’s nightgown, he slowly dragged the palms of his hands over her as he moved up her body, lifting the garment. “After tomorrow, I shall be paying her wages.”
Eugénie caressed his strong chest, twining her fingers through the short curls covering the skin and sinew. “Nevertheless.”
William stroked her back and derrière. “I won’t argue with you.”
Heat pooled in the place between her legs as he palmed her breasts. Her breath came in short pants. “Never?”
He laughed softly. “And deny myself the sight of you in a temper?”
“You are no—” His fingers stroked her center. “Oooh. That feelssplendide.”
“I love it when you forget your English.”
He inserted one finger into her sheath, and she was about to forget much more.“Vraiment?”
“Truly.” His tongue circled one nipple, causing it to furl tightly. “God, you’re beautiful. I’ve missed you. I’m besotted with you.”
She’d missed him as well. Eugénie stroked his back, then his chest again. “I like that you are, but it’s too dark for you to know how I look.”
“I can feel it.” He bent his head, and took the now aching nipple in his mouth. “You taste like an exotic creature from the sea.”
