Sea of Fire Page 14

Chapter Twelve

  Sweet mother of God! She was the most beautiful creature Christian had ever seen, standing next to his bed, a goddess begging for his love. He lifted the bed linens so this lovely creature could lie down beside him. Clothed in a sweeping chiffon gown, she seductively came to his side. He reached for her. Just as she was about to cover him with her luscious shape, a loud bang jolted him to semi-consciousness.

  The door? Thunder? He forced himself to return to the goddess. She was over him now. Her long golden hair hid her face. He brushed the strands aside. Elizabeth! Instantly, she rolled from him and shoved him with both feet hard enough so that he fell from the bed onto the floor twisted in the bed linens. The hard landing shocked him into full wakefulness. He squinted at the flood of light in the doorway.

  “Good. You’re awake,” Elizabeth said and took several steps inside the room.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” He had experienced the best sleep and the best dream he had had in weeks. That was—until Elizabeth had showed up in the dream, and it turned into a nightmare.

  “I have many questions that need answering. Since Adam didn’t share his background with me, I thought you might enlighten me.” She set the lamp on a side table near an armchair in the corner before she seated herself. “What are you doing on the floor? Please stand up so I may see you.”

  He inwardly smiled. A shadow hid him, so apparently she didn’t realize he slept in the raw. He’d stand up and send the firebrand running. Maybe then, the goddess would appear once more.

  “As you wish, miss.” Christian untwisted the bed linens wrapped around him and slowly rose to his feet.

  She gulped and shielded her eyes with one hand. “You are not decent.”

  “I’m perfectly decent. I’m in my own bedchamber in my own bed, or I was until you came barging through the door—uninvited, I might add.” She was an innocent, as he had thought. Yet, she had not swooned or raced from the room in terror.

  “True. I was not thinking. Please cover yourself. I really must speak to you.”

  “What’s in it for me?” he asked. She’d not get off easy for interrupting his sleep to ask some silly questions.

  “What do you want?” she asked, directing her voice toward the floor. Her hand still shielded him from her view.

  “My feet are cold.”

  “I can heat some water for you to soak your feet,” she offered.

  “Nay. Not good enough. It will take too long.” He stood with his arms crossed and smiled at her. If she was determined to have this question-and-answer game, he’d have some fun while doing so.

  “If you get back in bed and cover yourself up real tight, I’ll stack some extra linens near your feet.”

  His smile widened. “Nay. Not good enough. We’re going to play a game, Elizabeth. Whenever you give me something, I’ll give you something. I must warn you. There will be more at stake as we go along, but all you have to do is say ‘quits,’ and the game will be over at that time. Are your questions important enough for you to risk playing?” He quietly slipped back into bed and tugged the covers up to his waist, but allowed his feet to stick out from the other end.

  The room was silent for a moment. She cleared her throat and squeaked, “Aye. Can you make yourself decent now?”

  “I’m way ahead of you,” he answered.

  She lowered her hand. Relief washed over her face.

  “Come here,” he ordered.

  She hesitated, stoically raised her chin, and did so.

  He pointed to his feet.

  “Aye. Those are your feet,” she confirmed.

  “My feet are cold. I want you to rub them.”

  Her eyes widened. “I’m not so sure. ‘Tis a bit intimate.”

  “Not as intimate as it’s going to get. Are you crying ‘quits’ before we’ve even begun?” he challenged her. “ ‘Tis only my feet. ‘Tis not like I asked you to rub my ...”

  “I’ll rub your feet,” she interrupted and tugged one foot up within her reach.

  “Ouch! My foot happens to be attached to this leg. Sit down near my feet, so I’ll be comfortable.”

  Even in the lamplight he saw a rosy red hue to her cheeks, but she sat closer and began to massage his toes, next the arch and ankle.

  “Your feet really are cold,” she said.

  “Not for long.”

  She glanced up at him, and he winked at her. She lowered her gaze to his foot.

  “Don’t forget the other one.”

  “The other one does not get my ministrations until you answer one of my questions,” she firmly stated.

  “Ask.” He propped up the pillows behind him and waited.

  She removed his foot from her lap and asked, “Is Adam married and does he have children?”

  “Ah, ah, ah,” he said and waved a finger at her. “Don’t try to sneak in two questions. You only get one.”

  She sighed. “Is Adam married?”

  “Aye and nay.” Did the lady still care for Adam despite his behavior towards her?

  “No fair,” she said with a pout. “It can’t be both, or you’ll have to explain.”

  “I make the rules.”

  “Do you want this other foot massaged?”

  He wanted the other foot massaged and more, whether her thoughts pertained to Adam or not. “I’ll concede this time. Adam was married. His wife died.”

  She remained expressionless. If she had any feelings about this, she kept them to herself. She simply sat at his side and started to massage his other foot.

  After a few moments, he said, “My feet are warm enough. My leg has a cramp. Will you see to it?” He lifted the bed linens so both legs were exposed some six inches above the knees.

  She gave him a doubtful look. “Which leg has the cramp?”

  “Both.”

  When she didn’t take action, he said, “Are you done with your questions? Quits is it then?”

  This prompted her to knead the muscles of one leg. Good God! The woman had the touch. He closed his eyes until she stopped.

  “Do you have a wife? Nay, wait. Let me rephrase that. Do you have a wife that is either deceased or alive?”

  “Why?”

  “I ask the questions, remember?” She folded her hands in her lap.

  “Pardon me,” he haughtily said and smiled. “I have no wife either dead or alive.”

  She continued to knead his other leg. A few moments later, he said, “My leg cramps are gone, however, from lying in this position so long, my arse has become sore.”

  She sprang to her feet. “You go too far. Surely, you’re not going to request I ... I ... you know.”

  He gave a hearty laugh. Her expression was priceless. “Certainly not. That would not be very gentlemanly of me, now would it? I was going to suggest that I roll to my stomach so you may use your magical fingers on my shoulders and back.”

  She appeared more relaxed after his statement, but he could see she was warm. Strands of her hair clung to her forehead and near her temples. Her nightwear clung to her breasts. His eyes held their gaze there before he perused the rest of her shape, causing a pressure to build in his loins. “Well?” he croaked.

  “I still have more questions. Roll over.”

  He did so. She sat back down next to him and firmly squeezed and rubbed circles on his neck. A few minutes passed and her fingers and palms moved to his shoulders and eventually trailed down his spine. He sighed with pleasure and said, “Where did you learn to do this? I’ve never experienced such a tantalizing massage.” He raised himself to his elbows and glanced over his right shoulder to see her face.

  She smiled. “I’ve never given anyone a massage before. I guess it just comes naturally.”

  Good God, she was unique. Adam most certainly was suffering from some mental lapse or illness. Never would his brother have given up such an enchanting woman.

  “Continue with my back,” he said.

  “Nay. I get to ask another question.”

  “Go
on then.” He rolled to his side in order to better face her, bent his elbow and propped his head up with his hand. “What would you like to know now?”

  “Does Adam have children?”

  “He has a wee lass of two years and son of five years.”

  Again, she was expressionless. “Adam never shared this part of himself, either?”

  “If he had, would I be asking? I’m done with my questions. Quits.” She rose.

  He grabbed her wrist and prevented her from leaving his side. “Not so fast.”

  “The game is over,” she said. “I fulfilled my part as you have fulfilled yours.”

  “Not quite. You have to pay an exit fee since you entered my room without invitation.” He sat on the edge of the bed with his fingers locked on her wrist.

  “Nay. You’re not playing fair. You never said.”

  “It just occurred to me.”

  “You can’t be changing the rules after the game has started and finished.” She tried to pry his fingers from her wrist. “Besides, you know I have only a few coins with me.”

  “I don’t want coins. I want a kiss.”

  “Well, I don’t want to kiss you.” She lowered her gaze.

  “Little liar.”

  “Stop.” She squirmed to get free.

  “One kiss. That’s all I ask, and I’ll let you go if you choose.”

  She paused. “I don’t suppose one kiss would hurt. I will hold you to your word though.”

  When at last she stared deep into his eyes, he drew her down next to him into his embrace. She kissed him, but it wasn’t the chaste kiss he was expecting. Instead, she kissed him with an urgency, a passion. He moaned in pleasure. His hands roamed freely over her thin nightwear and caressed her back. Gently, he rolled her to her back so he was partially on top of her. His loins ached with want against her hip.

  She moved closer to him, pressing her taut breasts against his bare chest. He stroked the side of one breast a few seconds before he took the nipple between his thumb and finger and tugged on it. She sighed in pleasure and squirmed against him. He lowered his mouth to the pert nipple and sucked it through the material.

  She released a breath of pleasure. He kissed a path from between her breasts up to her neck, earlobe, cheek and claimed her mouth with a fierce kiss. At last, he lifted his lips and watched until she opened her eyes. They stared at each other, wordless and breathless. He wanted her, and from the desire in her passion-filled eyes, she wanted him. By God, he’d have her.

  Next instant it was as if another Elizabeth, another person came to life and took over. She shoved at his chest. “Get off me. This is not right.”

  No sooner did her plea leave her lips, than he released her, rolled to his side as far away from her as possible and pulled the covers up over him. “Get out. Next time I may not be able to control myself.”

  She scrambled from his side and seconds later the door to his bedchamber slammed shut. He rolled to his back. The lady was attracted to him. That pleased him, and he had to admit, he was attracted to her, yet he couldn’t pinpoint what exactly it was about her that appealed to him. He never would have pursued a woman like her despite her prettiness. It had to be the auburn hair, or merely the fact he had always stayed clear of red-haired women. Perhaps, it was to satisfy his curiosity or the element of the forbidden. She had been betrothed to Adam. No matter. By the time this entire business with Adam and her father was straightened out—he had every intention of being in Florida in mid-April—he would have bedded her and eased the ache in his loins as well as the curiosity. With those thoughts of encouragement, he closed his eyes and hoped the goddess would visit him once more.

  Elizabeth declined Christian’s offer to take her to dinner. It was already one o’clock in the afternoon. She knew Hannah would worry if she didn’t get home soon. At least that was the excuse she gave Christian before she left his town house and headed to Roderick’s.

  How could she sit across the table from a man who charmed her to the point where she was willing to lose her maidenhead to him. Had thoughts of Adam’s treatment of her not popped into her head, she might have succumbed. Christian was, after all, Adam’s brother. He was using her—albeit in a different way—but using her all the same for his own purposes, just as Adam had done to abduct her father. She could never trust a man whom she considered a potential enemy and whose brother was indeed her adversary. She had to behave more cautiously. It was time to cooperate with Christian, but she needn’t put herself in awkward situations where her weak body could overrule her mind. If only she knew where her father was, she’d rescue him and end this misery.

  She had worried about what Roderick might do. Christian advised her to wait until Roderick contacted her. When he arranged another meeting time, she was to send word to him.

  She balked at the idea, but he warned her to do as he told her. For his benefit, she complacently agreed at the time, but she knew full well when she departed, she’d do otherwise. How could the man ask her to wait? What if Roderick was angry or wondered if she had arranged to have the other friar at the cemetery? Her father’s safety was still in his hands. Before she returned home, she wanted the issue resolved. Christian would never know.

  She juggled the portmanteau, or overnight trunk, in her arms and turned the handle to enter Roderick’s Silversmith Shop. As usual, the bell tinkled her arrival. Moments later, Roderick strolled into the front.

  “Why, Elizabeth, this is grand. You’ve saved me a trip.” His blue eyes sparkled like Charlotte’s when she became excited. His bobbed, fair hair was mussed like he’d been working hard.

  “Where were you last night?”

  Roderick gave his silly wave. “I was there until I almost mistook another friar, who had wandered into the cemetery, for you. Goodness.”

  She placed her portmanteau on the floor beside her. “You could have waited. The friar didn’t stay long.”

  “I could have gone to your home, too, so don’t tell me what I could have done.”

  God in heaven. She didn’t want to get Roderick angry. She merely wanted to let him know she had kept her part. He had threatened her once before about raising his temper. “All I meant was that the night would not have been wasted for you.”

  “It wasn’t, sweet Elizabeth. You’ve proven to me the extent you’d go to on behalf of your father. I expected you to complain over the location of our meeting point.”

  Relieved that Roderick was not upset, she said, “I’ve been telling Hannah that I’ve been spending the night with Charlotte. She’s been wondering why Charlotte never visits us. Whatever your next directive, may we take care of business during daylight hours?”

  Roderick tensed. “You haven’t told Charlotte about us?”

  “Nay. Nay, of course not.”

  Roderick studied her a moment and apparently decided she was telling the truth. “Actually, in light of last eve, I’m waiting to receive word what is planned next.” He grinned his stupid grin. “However, timing is on my side. This will be a grand opportunity for you to do a task strictly for me, while we wait for further instructions. What I need you to do can only be done when the shops are open anyway. That may ease your Hannah’s suspicions for a few days.” He laughed at himself. “We’ll still have to meet on some nights as necessary, but if the job can be done in the daylight, I’ll consider it. You know there’s more risk during the day.”

  She nodded her understanding.

  He rubbed his hands in excitement. “What a team we’ve become.”

  She hardly shared his enthusiasm. If she had listened to Christian, she wouldn’t be doing what Roderick was about to ask her to do.

  “I want you to make some purchases for me,” he said. “Nothing difficult. And, here’s the thrilling part. You’ll use the spurious coins made from your drawing. The only disadvantage is that these coins are less than perfect. The dies weren’t exactly in line with each other, so the face of each coin is a bit off center.”

  She wasn’t surp
rised to learn that she was to pass coins. What distressed her was that the coins were flawed. “Aren’t you taking a big risk, using coins that are defective?”

  “Not me. You.”

  He was right. It would be her neck in the noose. She remembered the lad who had passed a bad coin and the constable’s words about how the boy would hang until his face turned blue. “Can’t you redo them?”

  “Time spent is cost spent.”

  It would do no good arguing with him. “Where are the coins and what shall I purchase?”

  “Wait here,” he exited to the back room and a few minutes later returned with a pouch. “Here you go.”

  She took the pouch from him. It was similar to the pouch she had dropped off at the ship the first time.

  “You can check the coins later. For now, put them in your trunk,” Roderick said.

  She did, and again asked, “What shall I purchase?”

  She watched him cross his arms and hold his chin in his hand while he surveyed the shelves and display windows.

  “Some niceties for the shop—glassware, china, pretty trinkets. I should carry other items.” He straightened up and gave her an exaggerated smile.

  “Wouldn’t it be better to pass a few coins at a time? I don’t think ‘tis wise to flood Dublin with too many, especially flawed coins.”

  “That is what we plan to see. If you can pass coins with a slight flaw, the perfect ones will be as easy as the snap of your fingers. I’d be able to make larger purchases,” he said wistfully. “It would be grand to have a larger shop. Don’t you think?”

  “Grand,” she said, as a hopeful idea came to her. “If we get you a shop with more space, will you release my father?”

  “That is not for me to decide. Adam makes the final decisions.”

  “I must speak to Adam then. When can I meet with him?”

  “I’ll see that he gets your message.”

  “Roderick, please. I don’t even know if Father is well.” The impatient expression on his face told her she’d best not press him further. Frustrated, she turned to leave the shop.

  “You’ve got three days,” he warned her.

  She waited for more, but kept her back to him.