Dark Rider (13 page)

“You’re wrong,” Danemount said softly. “You’ve never been less safe.”

Avoiding his gaze, she reached below her chair and drew out the carving knife she had put there in readiness. She cut Bradford’s bonds.

“Thank you,” he said politely. “Though I doubt if such extreme measures were necessary in my case. I’m not a warlike man.”

“Too much effort?” Lani asked.

He beamed at her. “Exactly. How pleasant to be understood.”

Cassie braced herself before moving toward Danemount. He silently held out his wrists.

She hesitated for an instant. He seemed no longer tense, almost relaxed, his lean body graceful, loose-limbed, but full of danger. She felt as if she were about to release a bound panther.

He lifted his brows. “Well?”

It had to be done. She slashed through the ropes, then tossed off his blanket and cut the cords binding his ankles. She hurriedly took a step back.

“Don’t be afraid.” He smiled mockingly as he rose to his feet. “I’m a patient man. I can wait. Come on, Bradford. Let’s go back to the ship.”

“Now?” he asked as he struggled off the couch. “I seem to be a little confused. Have I missed something?”

“I’ll explain on our way back to the beach.” Jared paused at the top of the steps and looked back at Cassie. “It should take me at least a full day to ascertain if you’ve told me the truth. The guards will stay here until I do.” He grimaced. “Not that they’ve been overly successful in this enterprise so far. They might as well not have been here.”

“You shouldn’t waste your time,” she said impatiently. “We could leave right away.”

“If
I decide you’re not trying to deceive me again, we’ll leave tonight. I’ll send a message to the guards to pack up your belongings and bring you to the beach at sunset.”

Cassie heard Lani’s quick intake of breath but did not look away from Danemount. “You needn’t bother. I’ll be there.”

“It’s no bother.” He smiled sardonically. “I appreciate your eagerness, but there’s a protocol regarding the treatment of hostages. I fear guards are de rigueur.”

He went down the steps followed by Bradford. She and Lani watched them until they disappeared from view.

“What is this?” Lani asked Cassie.

“I have to go with them. There’s no one else to take me,” Cassie said. “It’s not what I want, but at
least I’ll be on the same side of the world as Papa. I’ll have to find a way to escape from them once I reach France.”

“There is always a way. We will find it.”

Cassie didn’t look at her; she didn’t want Lani to know how relieved she was at that calm assumption of togetherness. She was suddenly feeling very uncertain and alone. “You don’t have to go with me,” she said haltingly. “I won’t ask it.”

“Good. Then instead of chattering we can concentrate on packing our bags and dealing with Clara’s tantrums at our leaving. Charles left me with a little over a hundred pounds for emergencies. It’s not much but it will help.” Lani moved toward the door. “I’d judge we have another quarter hour before Clara wakes. Let us make the most of it.”

“
I
t’s not a wise move,” Bradford told Jared as the longboat drew close to the
Josephine
. “You should leave the girl here.”

“I need a hostage.” Jared smiled mockingly. “As the lady pointed out to me.”

“She’s not a lady; she’s little more than a child.”

“She won’t remain that way long,” Jared said. “Life has a way of forcing us all to grow.”

“Life or Jared Danemount?”

Jared didn’t answer.

“You intend to bed her.”

“Do I?”

“Was it the ropes? She didn’t know, Jared.”

“It wasn’t only the ropes.”

“I was afraid it was more.” He sighed. “I could see it coming.”

“How perceptive of you.”

“It’s not wise,” Bradford repeated. “You’ll regret it.”

“Why should I?”

“Because you’re a just man, and you’ll find it difficult
to make the daughter pay for the sins of the father.”

“I’ll steel myself. And may I remind you that she’s committed a number of sins against us on her own.”

“Enough to provide you with an excuse to force her to your bed?”

“I didn’t say I’d force her,” he said, stung. “I don’t force women to couple with me.”

“Not as yet.” Bradford tilted his head as if in thought. “There may be other ways, of course. She will be completely in your power. Perhaps if you refuse to feed her, you could starve her into submission.”

“I will not starve her,” Jared said between his teeth.

“Or you could stake her out on the deck for the seamen to ravish. I’m sure your bed would appear very appealing in contrast to that experience.”

“You know I’m not— Good God, I’ve never seen you this protective over a woman.”

“She’s very brave. I like courage. It’s the one quality that is instinctive, undefiled by what we’re taught. It comes from the heart and not the mind.” He smiled. “But don’t worry about me. When I get drunk enough, I’ll forget all about gallantry and helpless innocents. I’m sure it’s only a temporary aberration anyway.” He looked back at the shore. “Maybe it’s this place. Golden and clean and without a sense of sin …”

“And a king trying his best to find weapons to kill his nearest neighbors. Napoleon builds armies and so does Kamehameha.”

“How do you intend to avoid the issue of guns after you dangled the carrot in front of the King?”

“Sail away before he knows our intention. Which
is why any questioning we do must be done with the utmost care.”

“You don’t think she’s telling the truth?”

“Actually, I do. I think she’d do anything to save Deville,” Jared said. “But she wouldn’t want to do it from thousands of miles away. She would want to make sure of his safety from close quarters.”

“You appear to be very knowledgeable about a lady you’ve known only for a few days.”

He did know her. He knew that bravery of which Bradford was so fond. He knew her impulsiveness, her stubbornness that was laced with bravado, and most of all, he knew that damnable loyalty. “Well enough. A good deal has happened in those few days.”

“And you think she’s desperate enough to risk anything to help her father.”

“Don’t you?”

Bradford shrugged. “I prefer not to think at all. It’s much more comfortable in these circumstances. Make your own decisions … and your own choices.”

“That’s my intention.”

“But do remember to supply me with a bottle of brandy on the night you decide to ravish her. Screams are as disturbing to me as thinking.”

“I’ll remember,” Jared said through his teeth. God in heaven, would Bradford never stop pricking him?

Bradford beamed. “Excellent.”

“You’re going to leave me here alone in this savage land?” Clara asked from behind Cassie.

Cassie carefully folded her gray gown and placed it in the large portmanteau. Clara had been glowering and muttering since she had been told of their departure, and Cassie had been expecting the attack all day. She supposed she should be grateful Clara had held
her tongue until it was almost time to leave. “The king will protect you. If you wish to return to England, petition him to find a ship that will take you.”

“I suppose it’s what I should expect from you. Where is your gratitude for the hours I’ve spent serving you and your father?”

“My father isn’t here. If you wish gratitude, wait until he returns.”

“And you?”

Cassie gave her a level glance. “You’ve never given me understanding or kindness. Sometimes I’ve felt as if you hate me. Should I feel gratitude for hatred?”

“You need me. Take me with you.”

“I’ve never needed you. I have to help my father. You would get in the way.” She closed the case and fastened the buckle. “It’s not going to be an easy time.”

“It’s that heathen strumpet,” Clara spat. “You would take me except for her. Ever since she came here, she’s been twisting you into an image of her sinful self.”

She must not lose her temper. Only a few more minutes and she would be gone. “I sincerely hope you’re right. I could have no better example than Lani. I’ll be fortunate if I’m half as good a woman.”

“She’s a whore.”

“Be quiet!” Cassie’s control broke, and she whirled on Clara with blazing eyes. “I don’t have to permit this any longer. You won’t malign Lani to me.”

“No?” Clara’s smile was malevolent. “Then I’ll go to that whore of Babylon and tell her what I think of her. You think she’s such a good example? Wait until you get out into a world not populated by savages. They will scorn and laugh at you and see her for the harlot she is. I wish I could see it.” She headed for the
door. “Yes, I think I’ll go to your precious Lani and let her feel the edge of my tongue. She will— What are you doing?” She clawed at Cassie’s arm encircling her neck from behind. “Let me go!”

Tightening her grip, Cassie dragged Clara toward the open armoire. It was no easy task. Clara was surprisingly strong, and she was struggling fiercely.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Clara’s elbow whipped backward and struck Cassie in the stomach. She temporarily lost her breath but held on. Just a few more steps …

She gathered all her strength and flung Clara into the armoire.

“Cassandra!”

Cassie slammed the door and turned the key.

“Let me out of here!”

“No more, Clara. It’s not going to be easy for Lani to leave her island and her people. I won’t have you making it worse for her.” Cassie brushed back a lock of hair and moved toward the bed. The seaman had loaded the other cases into the wagon; she would have to manage this one herself unless she wished Clara discovered before she left. It should prove no burden. She felt as strong and confident as Hercules. In one gesture she had broken the shackles of a lifetime of oppression and abuse.

“I could die in here,” Clara cried out. “What if no one finds me?”

“What a pleasant thought,” Cassie murmured. She was tempted to let Clara struggle with that frightening idea for a while but relented. “I’ll tell Uma to let you out after we leave.” Oh, what the devil. Why not make her just a little uncomfortable? “But you’re not always kind to Uma, are you? Just last night you insulted
her, and you know how we savages can be. She may decide to leave you there for a while.”

She smiled happily at Clara’s screech of outrage. The solid oak doors of the armoire were thick, and Clara’s scream couldn’t be heard for more than a few feet. If Cassie could get out of the room before Lani came looking for her, Clara might be imprisoned for hours. Unfortunately, Lani wouldn’t care if Clara deserved the punishment or not; she would probably release her.

Cassie was dragging the portmanteau down the hall when Lani appeared. “That’s too heavy for you to handle alone. Why didn’t you call me?”

“It’s not too bad. I thought I could do it myself.”

“Is this the last one?”

Cassie nodded. “Where is Uma?”

She gestured. “Standing beside the wagon waiting to say good-bye. It’s almost time to go. Have you said your farewells to Clara?”

“Yes.”

“She’s been seething like a volcano since we told her we were going. Was she difficult?”

Cassie smiled. “No, actually she was quite … subdued.”

“She’s riding the horse,” Bradford murmured, his gaze on the little party coming toward them on the beach, Cassie mounted on Kapu and behind her a wagon driven by one of the sailors. “I didn’t expect her to bring the stallion.”

Neither had Jared. The scarlet rays of the setting sun glowed satin on Kapu’s ebony back and lit Cassie’s upswept hair. She was dressed in a black riding habit and looked as annoyingly prim as she had appeared last night.

He took a step forward as she reined in before him. “You intend to take the horse?”

“Of course. Who would feed him with Lani and me gone? He won’t let anyone else near him.”

“Lani?” For the first time he saw the Hawaiian woman in the back of the wagon.

“You didn’t expect me?” Lani jumped down, and without waiting for an answer, she turned to the sailor on the wagon seat. “Unload those trunks, and be very careful not to spill that basket of grass. Cassie wants no sand in it.”

The sailor scowled and muttered something beneath his breath.

“Now,” Lani said so softly the steel in her tone was barely discernible. “Be quick, if you please.”

To Jared’s surprise the burly sailor obeyed.

“Why are you bringing grass?” Bradford asked with interest.

“Kapu’s journey here from England was not a pleasant experience,” Cassie said as she dismounted. “I’m hoping he’ll settle better if his food tastes and smells familiar.”

“Excellent idea.”

Lani studied Bradford. “Are you sober enough to help with the trunks? We must hurry. Cassie wants to get the horse on board before darkness falls.”

“I’m always sober enough to help a lovely lady.” He plucked the smallest valise from the bed of the wagon. “As long as the task isn’t too strenuous.”

“I’m sure you won’t overstrain yourself with that piece. I could have lifted that valise when I was a child fresh from the cradle.” She frowned. “Cassie tells me you act as captain of this ship.”