Chapter Seventeen
Talon ignored the seething hostility of Percy’s crew and strode to his usual place at the bow. Thank God this was almost over. He wanted to get back to his men and back to the helm of a ship where he belonged.
Closing his eyes, he clenched the oak rail and leaned into the wind. The ocean spray washed over him, clearing some of the cobwebs from his mind. Unfortunately, that left more room for memories of last night.
Warmth flooded him at the image of Kate, flushed and beautiful, her pale limbs bare in the early morning light. She was incredibly sweet, passionate yet innocent all at the same time.
When he’d made love to Kate, he’d felt as though he’d come home. Until last night, he hadn’t even known what he was missing, but now he knew with deep, dark certainty that home for him would always be where Kate was.
He’d done the unthinkable. He’d fallen in love with the only woman he could never have. Swallowing convulsively, he tried to control the loss, the utter despair of letting Kate and his child go.
There would be a child. He knew it with every fiber of his being. It was unbearable to think of bowing out of the picture while his father and Daniel raised and corrupted his son.
Or daughter. God, the thought of a lovely little green-eyed daughter left him breathless.
“I can’t do it,” he whispered. “I won’t give her up.”
A strange sense of peace washed over him when he realized he was far from powerless now that the deed had been done. He would leave Kate for a little while, just long enough to find his crew and warn them of the danger Sutcliffe posed. His father’s reach was not infinite, after all. He would split them up, find them new, safe berths.
Then he would return. He would make himself a perpetual thorn in his father’s side.
It killed him to think of living without Kate until then, but he promised himself he’d find a way to remain near her. Even if it meant returning to England and remaining there for the rest of his life.
He wasn’t quite sure how long he stood there, his mind racing with new possibilities, but gradually he became aware of the fact that the wind had turned.
So far, their crossing had been blessed with fair weather, but he’d made this trip dozens of times and knew the heavy clouds gathering in the west meant trouble. They were heading into something bad.
He glanced up at the bridge where Percy and his first mate were pouring over a map, their faces tight with concentration. Good, it looked as though they were on top of the situation.
Longingly, he thought of the rain slicker in his cabin. He had a feeling he’d be needing it, but he wasn’t ready to face Kate. Not yet.
* * * * *
Kate remained in the sitting room until after Daniel had gone to sleep. Her stomach was upset again, but she wasn’t sure if it was because the ship had begun to buck alarmingly beneath them or her anxiety about facing Talon again.
He’d remained on deck all day, and with each hour her heart broke a little more. What had she expected? That he’d stay by her side, share his thoughts and dreams with her?
She meant nothing to him. She was merely the only woman available on which to spend his lust. She’d been a fool to imagine he loved her.
Daniel had betrayed her as well. He didn’t care that she’d made love to his brother; in fact, he seemed happy about it. He wanted her to have Talon’s baby so he could claim it as his own and return to his lover in London as though nothing had ever happened.
He’d been writing a letter when she’d first seen him this morning.
He’d looked so guilty she suddenly wondered again what he’d been writing. Striding across the room, she jerked open the desk drawer and retrieved the letter from its hiding place. She wanted to remind herself she wasn’t the only one who’d been unfaithful. She wanted to know what Daniel and his lover wrote to each other about.
Dearest Philip,
It’s done! Last night my brother and Kate were intimate. Surely, the coveted heir will quickly follow.
I haven’t enjoyed playing the mediator, constantly reminding Talon of all he stands to lose if he doesn’t do as our father wishes while subtly trying to let Kate know I wouldn’t mind if she decided to have an affair with him. I like them both more than I ever expected to, and believe it or not, my conscience has troubled me greatly the past few weeks.
Talon was hard to manage, as you might imagine, but last night I finally pushed him into making a choice. He chose Holyoke and the other boons Father promised him over his own honor and Kate’s virtue.
I must admit I was a little disappointed. I thought he might resist his obvious attraction to my wife and risk it all just to thwart the old bastard, but it turns out my dear brother is only human, after all.
So, things have worked out just the way my father planned. If Kate isn’t already with child, I’ve no doubt she soon will be, and then I shall come back to you…
Kate let the letter slip from her bloodless fingers, unwilling to read any more. She felt as though she’d been punched in the gut. Both the men she cared about had used her in the most despicable of ways. They’d plotted her seduction, spoken of it to each other while she lay sleeping unsuspecting in the very next room.
