“Dammit, girl!” he thundered, and she realized he was watching her again, his eyes flashing annoyance. “I ask you again, is this bargain not to your liking? If that is so, go! I will have no unwilling woman, lady or whore.”
She must have flinched visibly, because his voice softened. “If you need the money, girl, take it. But if you wish to leave me, do so now, for I have been at sea a long time, and there are things I would forget for a while in the arms of someone soft and sweet-smelling. It matters not to me who this woman should be, as long as she is clean and shapely and can ease the needs of a man.”
Brianna began to speak but couldn’t continue. He was being kind, she realized bitterly, offering her pay for services not performed. For some absurd reason it hurt her that he didn’t care if he had her or another.
“Make up your mind now,” he told her. “You were so anxious before—have you lost interest now? If so, I want you out of this room.”
“No!” Brianna protested quickly. Blindly, she picked up the coins. Bitterly aware that she might need them to reach England and the Powells, she slipped them into the pocket of her shift.
With awkward, trembling fingers, she reached to unfasten the hooks at the rear of her shift.
It was then that there came a tapping at the door and Brianna’s fingers froze once more.
“My lord?”
It was a woman’s voice. Soft, questioning, and it was followed by a husky giggle.
The whore—the whore he had been expecting! Brianna thought swiftly. In desperation she flashed him a quick smile as she hurried to the door.
She threw it open and stepped into the hall, closing the bedroom door behind her and forcing the golden-haired woman with the painted face away from it.
“Who are you?” she demanded haughtily of Brianna.
“The first to arrive,” Brianna replied coolly.
“I’m here for the Lord Treveryan,” the golden-haired woman said angrily.
“Then you have been misled, for he is already occupied.”
“Get out of my way. I was told to come—”
“So was I,” Brianna lied, smiling sweetly but with a determined flash to her eyes and a threat of malice. She handed the woman one of Treveryan’s gold pieces. “Take this—and yourself—out of here quickly.”
“I will not!” The whore protested, narrowing her eyes. “I think I’ll just take a look at his lordship myself, love, and see if he wouldn’t prefer—”
“I’m much, much younger,” Brianna interrupted pointedly. She couldn’t let this slut cost her her life!
But pity touched her, and she could really feel no malice.
“Please, take the money and leave be. It will be for nothing.”
“You have youth, but I have experience. Perhaps my Lord Treveryan would prefer what I have to offer.” She laughed. “He’s not choosing a bride, lass, just an hour’s entertainment.”
“Brianna!” The voice thundered from the room. At any second Lord Treveryan would stalk into the hallway, demanding to know what was going on.
Brianna took a step toward the woman with new menace and a ruthless determination. “Take yourself from here—now! He is mine, and I promise to slit your throat from ear to ear to keep him! Keep this—and go!”
The woman appeared stunned, but still the gold piece was being offered her, and the assurance of that piece seemed more profitable than an assault upon herself. She backed away.
Brianna leaned wearily against the door frame, desperately wishing it were she with the freedom to walk down the steps.
“Brianna!” The impatient call came out to her, like a noose, tightening about her throat.
Better that noose than the heat of the flames, she reminded herself.
She reentered the room, grateful for the coming darkness that hid her eyes from the relentless green stare of the man, Lord Treveryan.
Chapter 3
