Captive Innocence (23 page)

“I don't want you wasting your life for me, Sebastian. I'm not worth it. I'm not worth anything anymore.” The expression in her eyes, more than her words, made him frightened for her. If he didn't do something and do it soon, Alicia would die, by her own hand.

“Alicia, little darling, don't torture yourself.”

“Go away, Sebastian! Go away! I can't bear to have you look at me! Please, please go away.” She buried her face in the pillow, staring blankly at the far wall, a part of her already dead.

Without another word Sebastian closed the door and headed for his study. He had lied to Alicia. Sometimes there was nothing to do but take a drink and hope it would make the world right side up. The Baron himself had been circulating the news that when Carl returned from Belém an engagement was to be announced. And as he said it, he had allowed his gaze to find Royall.

One drink led to two and two to three. Three raced into four, five, and six, when dawn broke. He felt sober. Sober enough to want to kill the bastard named Carlyle Newsome. He knew that the only reason he had consumed so much liquor was because he needed the courage to do what he was going to do as soon as it was full daylight. There were some things a man could do and some he couldn't do without the crutch of alcohol to get him through the tight moments. He told himself that Alicia was the only person in the whole world who could make him go to Royall Banner for help. But he would make it perfectly clear from the beginning that he was only seeking her help for his friend. There was no way he would ever approach her on his own behalf for any matter. But for Alicia he would subject himself to anything, as long as it would help her. He wondered fleetingly if he looked drunk.

He blinked when he stood up. There didn't seem to be any feeling in his legs, at least none that he could feel. He stomped his feet several times until he felt the tingle start in his toes and work its way up his legs. He was alive. Now, if he could just ride a horse, his problems were solved. The Quince's townhouse had been one of the first built on the outskirts of town. If he rode in from the back, he would go unnoticed. He would simply go around to the kitchen area and have one of the servants fetch Royall. It sounded too simple. He must be drunk, he thought as he mounted the russet gelding he kept at the stable behind his townhouse. He couldn't allow himself to dwell on the Baron or he would forget his intentions to bide his time. This was no time to kill anyone. That would come later, at the proper time. If only his head would stop its infernal pounding, maybe he could think clearly.

By the time the gelding picked his way around to the back of the townhouse, Sebastian's face wore a look of pain. All he could say for Royall Banner with two L's was that she better not give him a problem, for if she did, he would be forced to abduct her in broad daylight. Alicia needed a woman to talk to, and he had decided that Royall was the one to do the listening. Royall was the only woman he knew who had come to terms with her own sexuality, and she was worldly, mundane, able to pick up the pieces and go on with her life!

The cook walked out to the courtyard to watch the lone rider. Her round, chocolate eyes widened when she noticed his identity. She waited for him to speak and then just nodded.

Royall was just tying the sash of her dressing gown when the cook entered her room. Motioning with her hand for Royall to follow her, she led her to the wrought iron balcony that overlooked the courtyard. Perplexed, Royall stared about and then let her eyes drop to the courtyard. Sebastian! What was he doing here? Something was wrong! The cook pulled her by the arm to show that she was to follow her down the stairs and out to the courtyard. When the old woman placed a cautious finger to her lips, Royall understood. No one was to know Sebastian was here. What could he want with her at this time of the morning?

Royall stepped outside, a shaft of sunlight capturing her in its golden rays and lighting her hair to spun gold. It was long, hanging down around her shoulders, and Sebastian remembered that first night in Rio when he had thought of little else besides pulling the pins from her hair and running his fingers through it.

She wore a scarlet dressing gown that was form-fitted, tiny jeweled buttons running down the front to the hem. It was partially opened at the wide, open neck, and from the hem to mid-thigh. When she walked, it revealed a silky expanse of a well-turned leg that set his pulses racing.

She stood before him, tapered fingers lightly touching her throat, golden-flecked eyes penetrating into his. She was beautiful, this golden girl, and he needed her. More for himself than even for Alicia.

“What's wrong? Why are you here?”

“Just shut up and get on this damn horse,” Sebastian ordered briskly as he suddenly remembered why he was waiting for her.

“Why?” Royall demanded. “I'm not even dressed.”

“I've seen you in a lot less,” Sebastian leered and almost fell off the horse. “Come over here. I hate to admit this, but I need your help and what you're wearing won't make any difference.”

Royall advanced a little closer. “How do I know you're telling me the truth. And why should I do you any favors after the way you've treated me? You're drunk!” she all but shouted, and then immediately clapped her hands over her mouth.

Sebastian tried for a sweeping bow from his saddle. His head reeled as he straightened, his back stiff, his face haughty and cold. Carefully, he brought his index finger to his lips. “Shhh. I don't want anyone but you to know. Now, get on this damn horse before I fall off and make problems for both of us.”

She felt deliciously wicked as she reached up for him to help her. She seated herself as comfortably as she could, feeling the hardness of his chest against her body. Clenching her teeth, she refused to think of the other times the same feeling swept over her. Sebastian's arms circled her, holding her firmly against him. He liked the feel of her softness next to him.

“It's not necessary to hold me so close, Senor Rivera. I realize that the only reason you're doing so is so that you won't fall off this horse, so please spare us both the indignity of me helping you once you fall. I'll leave you in the middle of the road.”

“Testy this morning, aren't we?” Sebastian grinned drunkenly. “Don't worry, Royall, with two L's, I'll not mark you in any way. I've seen chickens with more meat on their bones. You're skinny,” he said slowly and distinctly.

Royall seethed and fumed. “And Senor Sebastian, as in bastard, I've seen roosters who have been done in by chickens, so watch that tongue of yours.”

Sebastian threw back his head and laughed uproariously. “I never thought of myself as a rooster somehow.”

“What a pity. You should recognize the smell, though. You smell quite gamey to me,” Royall said viciously.

“I've been drinking, that's why. I was in such a hurry to fetch you that I didn't bother to ... It's none of your damn business, Royall with two L's, why I smell like I do.”

Royall suppressed a smile. She must be insane to go riding with him at the crack of dawn, dressed in her dressing gown. What could possibly be wrong at his townhouse to make him come for her as he had? She tried again. “Why did you come for me? Tell me what's wrong. I demand to know, or I'm getting off this horse right now and pulling you with me. You're so drunk you'll never be able to get back on. Now tell me!”

“All in good time. I thought I told you to shut up. I hate to hear women whine. It's so ... so ... annoying.”

“I wasn't whining,” Royall sputtered. “You know, you really are an insufferable—”

“Bastard,” he finished for her. “I never denied it. I even told you I was a bastard myself. Honesty has always been my motto,” he said piously.

“You're disgusting. Aren't we there yet? Why is this animal going so slow?”

“Because my head is pounding, for one reason. The second reason is that this animal is carrying two people. And the animal had just recently been castrated. Is there anything else you want to know?”

Royall clamped her mouth shut, swearing to herself that she wouldn't say a word, never ask another question. He always told her much more than she wanted to know!

She felt his hands around her waist through the scarlet silk of her dressing gown and became increasingly aware of the fact that she hadn't a stitch on underneath. Her long bare legs were stretched out, the wind lifting the skirt and exposing her skin to his greedy eyes. His hand clutched her tighter, so tight she thought she'd never draw another breath. His face was in her hair, his lips nuzzling the back of her neck. And she loved it.

“We're here,” he said at last. “Now, was that so bad? Get off and go in the house. My housekeeper will find something for you to wear. I wouldn't want her to get any wrong ideas about this little ride.”

Royall slipped to the ground, her face suffused with rage. “I don't believe what I'm hearing. You care about what your housekeeper thinks, but you rode me through town in my dressing gown. You are ...” Words failed her completely.

“You're giving me a headache,” Sebastian said coolly. “Go in the house. I'll be in shortly, after I see to the animal.”

The kitchen area was dim and cool in the early hours of the morning. Royall looked around, conscious of her bedroom attire and hating the position in which Sebastian had placed her. She must be out of her mind to follow him so blindly. All she had to do was turn her back on him the way he had turned his back on her aboard ship. Refusing to follow him would have been simple. Where was the housekeeper? Advancing farther into the kitchen, Royall cleared her throat. Everything was neat and clean. A long, sharp knife rested alongside a bowl of ripe papayas, and mangos sat on a rough table ready to be prepared for the first meal of the day. She felt ridiculous as she called out, “Yoohoo,” using Rosalie Quince's favorite yodel. There was no reply. Well, what had she expected? Sebastian was drunk as a lord, and probably didn't know if he even had a housekeeper. For all she knew he could have abducted her with some devious plot in mind. What a fool she was. There was nothing to do but wait and see if someone answered her call or go in search of Sebastian.

“May I help you?” a light, musical voice inquired. Royall swung about to see its origin. Beautiful almond eyes stared into Royall's startled gaze. At first glance she thought she was looking at the perfection of a China doll. Waist-long hair, resembling a length of ebony satin, graced a small head that was in direct proportion to the rest of the tiny body. The only words that came to Royall's flustered mind were
exquisite miniature.
She felt dowdy and overgrown.

Uncomfortably aware of her appearance, Royall found her tongue sharp. “Fetch me some suitable clothing,” she ordered imperiously. In all her young years she had never known a housekeeper who looked like this porcelain decoration.

The rosebud mouth on the miniature doll tightened imperceptibly. Her voice, when she spoke, was disdainful as was her gaze. “I hardly think my clothing will fit you. I suggest you fetch it yourself. Perhaps the housekeeper has something . . . suitable.”

Royall stared at the China doll, not fully comprehending her words. If she wasn't the housekeeper, who was she? Oh, no. Sebastian wouldn't humiliate her like this. Surely, he wouldn't dare bring her to his house while his . . . his . . . whatever she was was in residence.
He dared! He would! He did!

Just then, with both women's eyes shooting sparks, a plump, jolly-looking Indian woman entered the kitchen. Royall's blood boiled as she recalled the tiny girl's words, “Perhaps the housekeeper has something . . . suitable.” Goddamn Sebastian to hell. He truly was a bastard to subject her to this confrontation. “You come with me, missy, Senor Rivera tell me you coming early this morning. I take you to other lady now and bring breakfast for both of you. Other lady wait upstairs.”

Royall's blood continued to boil. “Now just a damn minute here!” she exploded. What did that bastard think he was doing? “I'm not going anywhere, not until I know what is going on around here. You,” she said pointing a long finger at the carved doll, “don't open your mouth again until Sebastian gets here. I'm surprised at you that you would . . . that you could . . . Why, you're nothing but a child, a baby actually. Make me some coffee,” she ordered the housekeeper. “Now!”

Two pairs of eyes stared at Royall. Hastily, the housekeeper set about making coffee, while the girl in her flawless white silk wrapper gazed at her with eyes that clearly did not belong to a child. She seemed amused and annoyed at the same time. Royall was infuriated.

Royall was tapping her foot angrily on the brick floor of the kitchen. The housekeeper was busily clanking pots and pans while the tiny girl drummed on the door frame with two-inch-long fingernails. Sebastian picked that moment to enter the kitchen. His black eyes took in the scene at one glance. A grin stretched across his lips and was banished instantly when Royall leaped from the chair. “What are you doing sitting here?” he demanded arrogantly.

“I'm sitting here because I feel like it. And I feel like having a cup of coffee. When I finish the coffee, I want a carriage that will take me back to my own house. I hope I make myself clear.” While her comments were addressed to Sebastian, her eyes were on the girl in the silk wrapper. “If you think for one minute that I'm going to be a party to your ... your lascivious pastimes, you have another thought coming. How dare you bring me here with ... with . . . her!” Royall shouted.

Sebastian grinned widely. The plump housekeeper wore a decided smirk. The tiny girl grimaced, marring her perfect features.

“You talk more than any female I ever came across,” Sebastian muttered disgustedly. His gaze shifted to Aloni. “Go to your room,” he said coolly.

At first Royall thought the girl would defy Sebastian. Instead she favored him with a level look, turned, and left, but not before Royall saw the hatred leap from her eyes. As if she cared.