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‘Melina will care for me.’ Ben spoke with command. ‘I like the touch of a lovely woman—even if she is not a mermaid.’
‘You tell Gid to quit giving you so much of the poison,’ Warrington said.
‘I missed you also, old man.’ Ben laughed, then winced and moved his shoulders. ‘If I wish to see you, all I have to do is call the goddess.’
‘Her name is Melina.’
‘A beautiful name for a goddess. Did she not rise from the sea inside the shell of a giant oyster?’
Warrington walked closer and looked at his brother’s eyes. ‘Melina.’ His voice was low. ‘Let me know each time Gid gets near him with a medicinal and how much is taken. And the brandy.’ He glared at Ben, challenging. ‘I am telling Gid to ease up on the laudanum. If the sea couldn’t have you, then I’m not letting you slink into some addled state. You’re daft enough without help.’
Warrington looked at his brother and opened the small cupboard, pulling out another brandy bottle. Then he reached and jerked the one from his brother’s hand. ‘I’m finding Gid now and giving him strict instructions on Ben’s care. And if the captain annoys you, Melina, let me know and I will twist his good leg to match the other.’ Bottles in hand, he marched from the room. He slammed the door so hard she wondered the boat didn’t roll to its side.
The captain opened his eyes and had no smile behind them.
‘I’ve told Warrington, Melina.’ The captain’s vision didn’t rest on any one thing in the room. ‘I’ve warned him. If he wishes for happiness, he must throw you back to the sea. An appealing woman is no better than a serpent, wishing to put her fangs in you and suck the life from your body. That is why I like mermaids. They are not true women.’
Captain Ben gave her a smile. ‘Warrington is right. Probably should keep the medicinals from me. I’m beginning to see fins on you.’ He frowned. ‘It is the laudanum making me dream of women. The evil ones.’ He shook his head, shuddering.
‘One,’ he continued, ‘looked like Cassandra and she had a grappling hook in War’s throat.’ He nodded. ‘I keep thinking of the beautiful Cassandra, and then—then I wonder what memories my brother has of her. No woman I’ve seen deserved her fate more. War finally had to keep a companion for her. A big beast of a woman, who stayed near, and would let him know if his wife strayed, or acted out of hand. A gaoler, at Cass’s side every minute, and she deserved it. Early on, at War’s house, I woke up with Cass in my room, on my bed and her hand stroking my cheek. Not a pleasant moment—waking up with a demon in front of you.’
He looked at Melina. ‘It is not that I don’t find you pleasant, Melina. I do. But you sold your body so easily. Cassandra held out for a higher price—and she received it. I’m sure she’s making deals with the devil now.’ He laughed.
Melina kept her voice sweet. ‘Did she ever wish to put a pillow over your face?’
‘I would imagine.’ He spoke the words lightly. ‘When I told her War would believe me over her and to never come near me again.’ He looked around the room. ‘I wish War would not have left with the brandy. It’s not as if he’s still married and needs it.’ He raked his eyes over Melina. ‘Cassandra wouldn’t like knowing you’re in War’s bed.’ He grinned, and then took a breath. ‘Thank you for that. I never expected I’d pity Lucifer, but if he is with Cassandra, he should be wary.’ His eyes were unfocused and he nodded, the slow movements of a man unaware of his surroundings. ‘She might take over Hades.’
Chapter Nine
When Melina returned to Warrington’s cabin, she shut the door behind her in a rush. She had to be thankful Warrington had met her first instead of the easygoing captain—who was not so pleasant when foxed. Cassandra had been called whore in Greek, French, English and some languages Melina didn’t know.
She saw the empty berth, and underneath, empty. Her pulse stuttered and she fell to her knees beside the bed. She stared at the space. Her body couldn’t move, locked in place. The stone was gone.
Warrington. He could not do this to her. The thudding of her heartbeats brought her movements alive again. Warrington could not hide the rock from her. True, she had not kept her bargain well, but the marble was hers. She must have it.
