Karen Michelle Nutt (18 page)

Arianna stood and waited.

Keldon could hear his own heart beating against his chest. He never remembered Annabelle... Arianna…being so beautiful. How strange. He now thought of his wife as Arianna. He approached her and slid his fingers through her long hair. The strands shimmered like moonbeams. "So soft," he whispered. He pulled her close and captured her lips to his. He felt her tremble in his arms and he leaned back to search her face. "Ye’re quiverin’."

She swallowed. "I can't help it."

He took a deep breath against the panic welling inside him. He had been worried that she would change her mind. Afraid she would think they’d made a mistake. He closed his eyes trying to will the disappointment from his mind. "Do ye want me to stop?”

"No, don’t!” Desperation rang in her words and his eyes snapped open. "No," she repeated again in ragged whisper. "Don't ever let me go.”

Keldon's heart pounded against his ribcage. She wanted him, as much as he wanted her. He lifted her easily into his arms and brought her to their bed.

She looked up at him with trusting eyes.

“Ye are so beautiful.” His hand moved over the thin fabric of her nightdress, lingering on the swell of her chest. He sensed she was nervous. He was, too. “Do ye want me to snuff out the candle?”

“Do you want to?”

He shook his head. “Nay, I want to see all of ye. It has been such a long time since ye have been in my bed.”

Arianna took a deep breath. “Leave the light on then.” He leaned down to kiss her, but her words halted him. “Will it hurt this time?”

His eyebrows drew together. “Did I hurt ye last night?”

“No. Well, a little the first time.” She blushed from head to toe, a becoming crimson color. “But I was talking about you.”

“Me?”

“There was a little blood on your jacket and I thought maybe I did something to hurt you.”

Keldon wasn’t sure what to make of what she told him. There shouldn’t have been blood. She wasn’t a virgin and yet he recalled how tight she had felt when he had entered her. For a moment, he let himself think about what Maeve had suggested, that Annabelle was no longer here, that this woman, who was before him was someone else. God, he could almost believe it.

“Keldon?” She sounded worried.

He shook his head to clear his thoughts. Obviously, he had too much wine before he came up here to be thinking such fanciful notions. “Nay lass, ye dinnae hurt me.”

“Good.” She sighed with relief, but still she chewed on her lower lip.

He took her hand and placed her palm against him. “Do ye feel it?” he asked. “It is my heart ready to leap from my chest.” He then brought her hand to his mouth with a kiss. “Doonae be afraid.”

Naked passion warmed her gaze. “I trust you.” She curled her fingers around his shirt, pulling him closer. She kissed the base of his neck, her lips feeling cool against the warmth of his flesh. “I love the way you smell,” she murmured.

“And how is that?”

She inhaled. “Salt air, pipe tobacco and …”

“And?”

“Don’t laugh.”

He touched her chin tilting her head back. “I willnae laugh.”

“It’s a unique scent that is only you, all male.”

He cradled her head and with one smooth movement covered her mouth with his own.

She helped him remove his shirt. He trembled as she worked her way from his neck to his abdomen then down to the waistband of his trousers. He burned with desire from her sweet touches. He ran his hand down her back, gathering the thin material she wore, freeing her of its confines. Completely bare to his eyes, he eased her down to the softness of the large bed. He drank up her beauty, memorizing each curve of her body with the touch of his hand. He then leaned down to kiss her rosy lips, letting his tongue touch hers, intertwining and mating as one. Her hand trailed down to cup him, kneading his hard member. His gut clenched tight and his willpower dwindled fast. He didn’t want it to end this way. He put his hand over hers to halt her caresses.

She looked at him her brow creased with worry. “Don’t you want me to touch you?”

“Aye, so much so I fear I’ll no’ please ye first.”

“What do you mean?”

She really didn’t know. “Ah my innocent lass.” She sighed as his lips feathered over hers. “Let me take care of ye tonight and then later, ye may have yer way with me.” He leaned down to kiss her again, but she placed a hand on his chest.

“You promise?”

He chuckled. “Aye, ye have my word.”

She nodded letting her hand fall away.

He made love to her with his tender caresses, bringing her close to rapture only to slow his pace, his palms burning a path down her, as his mouth took the full flower of her breasts. His hand slid between her legs, his fingers gently stroking, caressing fanning the flames of desire. He left her only to remove the rest of his clothing. She welcomed him back into her embrace, their bodies coming together with reverence of love. Holding tighter, he took her past desire with his steady thrusts to the trembling world where passion touched their souls.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Anticipation thickened the air around her as Arianna counted the minutes before Keldon would take her in his arms, again. He stirred a deep sexual hunger within her until she thought she’d go mad with want for his touch. For the life of her, she couldn’t understand why she made her bed in the room across the hall, or why she started an affair with Nicholas Sherborn. “Sherborn.” The blood drained from her face as she remembered he could ruin everything. He was a danger to Keldon and to her, especially if he realized she didn’t return his affections. She couldn’t let Nicholas catch on that she’d changed her mind about their relationship, at least not until she secured Keldon’s safety.

She frowned. Keldon continued his life of piracy, but she supposed she shouldn’t have thought otherwise. He wouldn’t stop simply because they slept together.

Blast it, anyway! They were trying to have a baby. She wanted their child to grow up with a mother and a father. Keldon was too self-assured, thinking he could out sail every ship after he plundered their goods. No one could run forever and when they caught Keldon, they’d hang him for his arrogance.

She bit her tongue whenever he said he had a meeting to attend. She wanted to yell at him and tell him how stupid he was to risk everything for a few coins. The plantation was lucrative. Keldon told her she had inherited land and money from her father. They didn’t need the money and even if they did she wouldn’t have cared; she wanted him. She didn’t know she could love someone so completely. His mere touch worked magic. Passion would consume her until she was lost in his world. There, it didn’t matter what he did for a living, but reality did. He had to stop and soon, or they’d lose everything.

Their time together in matrimonial bliss became limited. Keldon had late night meetings and trips into town. Men, she didn’t recognize visited Blue Run all times of the night. In a matter of days, Keldon would set sail. Once on the open sea, she didn’t know what the future would hold for them. So much could go wrong, but she dare not dwell on those possibilities. She had to hope she could gain Keldon’s trust, and finally, shed all secrets.

This is why she’d set up this plan. She hurried down the stone path to wait in the garden as Maeve had instructed her to do. Samuel would meet her there with his decision.

She paced with worry and wrung her hands. Then she spotted him walking toward her, but his worn, dark face revealed nothing. His dark gaze bore into hers, assessing her of her worth. He looked away then. "You must meet me on de ‘morrow, de moment dat Mist' Keldon leaves de house. You do jest as I says and I’ll be gettin' you on de ship."

Arianna released the breath she had been holding. "Thank you, Samuel for helping me. You won't regret it."

"You make sure dat I don't. Ef any harm comes ter Mista Keldon 'cause of treachery, you will wish you wuz never born."

"I am doing this to protect him," she defended herself. She met Samuel’s gaze head on daring him to find any sign of deceit.

“You love him.” He scratched his head and his eyes widened in amazement.

“Of course, I do. I only want the best for him.”

"Maeve mentioned dere be traitors among us."

She nodded. She couldn’t tell Samuel who he was. He wouldn’t keep her secret. His loyalty would demand he tell Keldon immediately. She’d have to add one more lie to the many. “There is, but I don’t know who he is.”

"How'd you come ter know someone means him harm den?"

“I was walking in the garden when I heard a low hum of conversation. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I had planned to circle around and head back to the house, but I took a wrong turn, bringing me closer to where the two were conversing. Their agenda included Keldon dangling from a rope.” The lie tasted bitter in her mouth, but there was no going back now.

“Why didn’t you go ter Mista Keldon with dis information?”

She straightened her shoulders. “You know he wouldn’t have listened to me. He doesn’t trust me, but I’m different now. I’m not that treacherous woman who didn’t care who she trampled. I can’t erase what I did to Keldon in the past, but I can ensure he will have a future. I would never do anything to harm Keldon," she pleaded with Samuel to believe her. “If I’m on the ship, maybe I’ll recognize the voices I heard and be able to point out the traitors to you.”

After a horribly long moment, Samuel finally sighed. “I know you’s different. One you wud have never stood dere defendin’ yousself ter me.” He nodded his head. “I believe you. You go back ter de house fer now. I will give Maeve clothin’ fer you ter wear. You will have ter looks like de others.” Samuel rubbed his chin and looked thoughtfully at Arianna. "You be tall enough ter pass as a cabin boy, efs you hides your hair. I’ll see whut I kin do about gettin' you a cap. I will see you 'morrow." Samuel turned on his heel and disappeared into the foliage.

For a long moment, Arianna stayed rooted in her spot, too afraid to move less Samuel return and tell her he’d changed his mind. She sat down on the bench with a sigh of relief. Phase one of her plan was in motion. Tomorrow, she’d be on the ship with Keldon.

****

"Don't make me do it," Maeve said to Arianna with the shears poised near her beautiful hair.

"You have to, my hair’s too long. I'll never be able to hide it under the cap Samuel gave me.” Arianna didn’t know why Maeve had to be so difficult.

"Dere must be another way. I kin't do it.” Maeve put the shears down on the dresser and Arianna turned to look at her.

"Listen, I'll do it myself if I have to. I was hoping you would help me cut it evenly. It's not a big deal.” She shrugged. “Besides, my hair will grow back."

Maeve still wasn’t sure. "Why don't I braid it and..." Arianna shook her head before she could finish explaining her plan.

"I can't take the chance of my hair falling free.” Arianna took the shears from her. She was about to cut the first strands, when Maeve put her hand upon hers.

"I suppose ef you’s dat determined ter cut your hair, I will try ter makes it look neat."

"Thank you, Maeve."

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

As soon as Keldon left the house, Arianna donned her disguise. She met Samuel at the appointed meeting place near the small pond in the garden.

She didn’t feel safe until she was onboard Keldon’s ship, the
Good Intent
. She hid behind the water barrels and the boxes filled with supplies.

She questioned Samuel about
The Good Intent
wanting to know all there was about the ship. He told her it was a masted sailing vessel rigged with a longbow sprit. It had a shallow draught, so it would be able to move with ease even in low tide. The flag that Keldon chose to fly was the typical black with skull and crossbones in the center, but to the right of the skull was a bagpipe and on the left, there was an hourglass. Samuel explained the bagpipes signified Keldon’s love of music and the hourglass symbolized the days of their lives. She prayed their hourglass would remain full.

Arianna worried even though Samuel insured her of her safety. Samuel stocked and readied the supplies. There was no reason one of the men would stumble upon her. Once they were out to sea, she hoped to mix in with the crew. She would just have to wait patiently for the ship to set sail.

She settled down and waited, her lids felt heavy and she let them fall, telling herself she’d only rest her eyes for a moment, but it seemed she fell asleep. She awoke again to the sound of Keldon’s booming voice, ordering his men to lift anchor.

This was really happening.

She shifted her weight to a crouching position and peeked around the bulky water barrel. The men scurried around in the dim darkness. Her gaze riveted to Keldon's tall lean frame garbed in his Scotsman kilt of green, gold and orange. He looked powerful, handsome and deadly all in one. Her heart swelled with pride as she watched him take command and he by no means, stood idle. He helped his men finish the tasks that would put them out to sea.