“Since it is my ship, lass, and since I am one with knowledge of the whereabouts of the galley, I think that I should lead.”
She offered him a dazzling smile. “Forgive me, Captain,” she murmured, extracting her elbow from his grip and slipping her arm through his. “The thought of leaving the cabin for a breath of sunshine left me so exhilarated. Please, do lead, Captain.”
Her sweetness left him wondering bitterly at what mockery lay beneath it, and did not ease his temper. Nor did her pleasant proximity. Her hair smelled faintly of light summer flowers, and he thought dryly that she had bewitched Paddy as she had himself. Apparently Paddy had been daily supplying her with a tub of heated water for bathing and the best of the French toilet articles contained within the hold of the ship. The hall was narrow until they reached the deck, and she was pressed against him. The mauve gown she had chosen displayed an ample portion of ivory bosom, and that was continually crushed against his arm and chest as they walked.
Moving topside toward the bow did little to ease his irritation, for the men all stopped at their tasks to salute him and bow to her with deep smiles. He saw wistfulness and envy—and hunger—in their eyes.
She smiled in return, replying sweetly to their good-days.
He wanted to slap her.
“You’re rather charming today, aren’t you?” He queried her suspiciously.
“Am I?”
“More so than usual.”
“Ah! But it’s hard to be charming when you continually pursue your prison tactics! Today, My Lord Treveryan, I am seeking to turn the other cheek.”
Sloan laughed. “I don’t believe you’d ever ‘turn the other cheek,’ Brianna. But we’ll see, shan’t we?”
He had never brought her to the galley before. She was surprised by the elegance of the crew’s dining quarters within a ship designed for cargo and speed—and warfare. Ol’ John, the cook, seemed as startled to see her as she was to be there, and he prepared her a plate of fish dressed in herbs and ringed by lemon rinds.
Sloan led her to a planked table and sat across from her, eating his meal.
He didn’t speak, but she felt his eyes upon her as she ate, and so she looked at him and questioned him curiously.
“How is it that you, a Welshman, have become so familiar with the Prince and Princess of Orange?”
Sloan hesitated for a moment, then shrugged.
“My father was a friend to Charles II when he roamed in exile. Sons are often sent from their homes to be tutored in other households. I spent a great deal of time with Charles in the English court.”
“And yet you turn from his brother,” she said softly.
“I’ve reasons.”
Brianna touched his hand where it lay idly upon the table. “There is a passion in what you say that goes beyond politics,” she murmured to him earnestly. “Did James wrong you?”
“Nay.…” Sloan replied slowly. His eyes were upon her fingers as they rested lightly upon the back of his hand. They were very long, and they appeared very delicate and feminine. He twisted his hand so that their palms met, his engulfing hers, and he idly rubbed his thumb along her fingers—and to the center of her palm.
“James did no great wrong to me. But he did to Charles after his death. He had Jemmy beheaded.”
Brianna frowned, more curious than ever, and yet greatly distracted by the simple touch that made her blood grow warm and race through her. “You knew him well?”
“Very well.”
“Oh,” Brianna murmured, absurdly longing to smooth the frown from his brow. “Sloan,” she reminded him quietly, “Monmouth was a bastard—a pretender to the throne. He fought against James, declaring himself the King. It was treason.”
His touch upon her ceased; the hand was withdrawn. He stood abruptly. “I have no time for your prattle. I’ll return you to the cabin.”
“But I haven’t finished.”
“Then you should have eaten rather than spent time voicing opinions over matters of which you are ignorant.”
She was hurt and furious, but she controlled her temper. Obviously he had cared deeply for Jemmy Scott—but he did not care to talk about it with her. Because she meant nothing to him! He was quite talented at hurting her, but she was learning she had her own weapons to wield.Treveryan, she fumed silently,you will learn what it is to hurt.
She would be so very sweet and he would be entirely off guard when she did escape him come the morning!
