Nicole Jordan (6 page)

His face softened only a degree. It surprised her that his relief wasn’t greater until she remembered his other concern. “Percy mentioned that your sister needs someone to accompany her to England, as well.”

“She does.” He resumed his pacing, his movements tightly controlled. “Before the war began, I had planned to transport Raven to England on one of my own ships. But as an American, I would hardly be welcome there now. My cousin Wycliff is too occupied trying to defeat the French to fetch Raven, and it could be years before you Brits finally prevail against Napoleon. I have a cousin on my mother’s side, but he’s American as well.”

Sabine started to rake a hand through his hair, stopping when he encountered the bandage. “I had arranged with Wycliff to utilize a ship from his Caribbean fleet while I merely provided Raven armed escort across most of the Atlantic. In fact, I went to Montserrat to arrange the final details of the voyage with her. Unfortunately I was set upon by Gerrod’s crew. And now that my fate has been settled…”

Aurora felt her throat tighten at the thought of this vital man losing his life.

“Well,” Sabine continued with a hard smile, “despite this setback, I intend to do everything in my power to fulfill my promise to my father and ensure my sister’s welfare. Which is why…” He paused again, this time studying her from beneath his thick lashes. “…why I would like to make you a formal offer of marriage.”

Aurora simply stared, not comprehending. After the space of a dozen heartbeats, she realized she had indeed heard him correctly. She drew an uneven breath. “Are you serious?”

“Deadly serious.” His beautiful mouth twisted without amusement. “I assure you, I do not take the prospect of matrimony lightly. I have never before proposed marriage to a woman—and would not be doing so now, if the circumstances were not so dire.”

Still stunned, Aurora could only stare at him. She opened her mouth to say something, then shut it again. Moving over to the cot, she sat down as he had first suggested, needing the support after all. Her mind was racing with shock, bewilderment, as she tried to form a reply. “Mr. Sabine, I don’t…”

“You said you would hear me out before you gave me an answer.”

She lifted her gaze to his. “Yes, but…Are you not aware that I am expected to marry when I return to England?”

“So Percy informed me. You are promised to the Duke of Halford. But I understand the engagement is not yet official.”

“No. We could make no public announcement while I was in mourning for my late betrothed. But my father is set on the match.”

“But what about you, Lady Aurora? I gathered that you were reluctant to wed your father’s choice. Was I mistaken?”

“No, you weren’t mistaken,” she admitted in a low voice.

Sabine moved to stand before her, holding her rapt attention. “Then consider the advantages of a union between us. You wouldn’t have to wed Halford. That alone should prove a strong incentive. I remember the duke from my last visit to England three years ago. He must be more than twice your age, and as arrogant and puffed up with his own consequence as any nobleman I’ve ever had the misfortune to meet. Is that what you want, a lifetime of imprisonment as his wife?”

When she didn’t answer, he continued. “There are other advantages as well. I assure you, I would make the inconvenience to you financially worth your while. I am a wealthy man, Lady Aurora, with a fortune that probably exceeds Halford’s. I took the liberty of discussing the possible particulars with your cousin, and he’s satisfied that the settlement I’m prepared to make would leave you a wealthy woman. You would have complete financial independence from your father. Just think. You would no longer be obliged to remain under his thumb or wed his choice of suitors.”

The thought of no longer being subject to her father’s dictates was vastly appealing. Even so…

“I suspect,” Sabine pressed, “that you would find me a more agreeable husband than Halford. But even if not, it isn’t as if you would be tied to me for life—Or actually you would. But our marriage would last only a few hours, a day at most. After that you would be my widow.”

Aurora flinched at his casual reference to his intended hanging. He was making light of his desperate situation, clearly. But when she searched his strong, masculine face, she realized he did not want her pity. His entire focus was only on seeing to his sister’s welfare.

“I realize I would be taking advantage of your kindness,” he murmured, reaching down to take Aurora’s hand in his larger, more powerful one, “but I am lamentably short of options.”

Unnerved by his touch, she withdrew her hand and rose, moving past him to pace the floor herself.

“I’ve told you, Mr. Sabine,” she said with what she thought was reasonable calm, “I would be happy to help your sister…without any formal arrangement between us. Surely it isn’t necessary for us to wed.”

“Perhaps not, but it would greatly improve the odds of securing Raven’s future. If you are related to my ward through marriage, you would have every right to guide and influence her foray into society. In fact, if you were willing, I could turn her wardship over to you.” Sabine let that sink in before adding, “That might be impossible if you marry Halford. I imagine he would object to his duchess associating with a…an unusual young woman like Raven. He’s a stickler for propriety.”

“So he is,” she agreed absently.

“As your husband, he could forbid your having any connection with my sister.”

Aurora raised a hand to her temple. Halford not only could forbid her, but no doubt
would
. “Even so…marriage to you is such a drastic step….”

Visibly schooling his impatience, Sabine forced his mouth into a semblance of a smile. “Perhaps you might be more amenable if I took a different approach. If I attempted to flatter you and cosset your sensibilities.”

She stiffened defensively and shot him a glance. “My sensibilities do not require cosseting, Mr. Sabine.”

“No?” For the first time his smile reached his eyes. “I didn’t think so.” Then he sighed and dropped his voice to a murmur. “I do regret having to propose to you under such distasteful circumstances. Ordinarily I would try to employ all my powers of persuasion, but I’m afraid I haven’t the time to try to charm you. I wouldn’t be lying, however, if I claimed to be utterly besotted by your beauty.”

Aurora found herself staring at him, wondering if his admission was mere cajolery. Doubtless Nicholas Sabine had a ruthless charm that he could wield to lethal effect.

Taking a deep breath, she returned to the conversation at hand. “I cannot simply agree to marry you, Mr. Sabine. There are other practicalities I must consider.”

“Such as?”

Such as the fact that Nicholas Sabine was not the kind of man she would ever willingly choose as her husband. She had never met so compelling a man, or one who had made such a forceful impact on her. There was a sense of danger about him, an intensity that was intimidating, if not frightening…although his ferocity now might be driven by his concern for his sister. “If I were seeking a husband, a pirate—an American one—would not be my first choice. By your own admission, you are a violent man.”

“I don’t recall ever making such an admission.”

“What of the man Captain Gerrod mentioned? He said you nearly killed one of his crew while resisting arrest.”

Sabine’s jaw hardened, but he met her gaze unflinchingly. “A man was wounded, true, but at the hand of his own crewmate. I was unarmed when I was set upon by some half dozen seamen. When I fought back, one drew a knife, and in the melee, another fell against the blade. I saw what happened just before I blacked out. I suppose I was struck over the head with a bottle.”

He raised his hand to his head wound, indicating the damage the bottle had done. Then his expression softened. “I understand why you would be reluctant to accept my hand. I’m a man about to be hanged as a pirate—not at all the sort a lady like you should be associating with.” He laughed softly to himself. “Indeed, if you were my sister, I would not allow you within a mile of me. But in my own defense, whatever acts of privateering I committed, I did to save my father’s legacy. Your countrymen are set on destroying everything he worked for, and I swore to him I would keep his empire flourishing under my direction.”

His dark eyes were intense as he gazed at her. “My fatal mistake was in thinking I could elude the British navy on Montserrat. I was careless. It’s ironic, actually. I had taken a room at a tavern and was preparing to call on Raven when I was recognized by one of Gerrod’s officers. The same lieutenant whose life I’d spared a month earlier when I saved the
Barton
’s crew from going down with their ship.”

Aurora frowned. It had been a noble gesture to save an enemy crew, certainly, but that did not make Nicholas Sabine a saint. “Gerrod called you Captain Saber. That is hardly the title of a gentle man.”

“Saber is a nom de guerre, merely that. Calculated to make the enemy consider twice before attacking my ships.”

Her expression troubled, Aurora searched his face. “But you were charged with murder as well as piracy,” she murmured.

“Regrettably men die in war, Lady Aurora,” he returned coolly. “I make no apology for my privateering. And I assure you, Gerrod and his ilk are hardly innocents themselves. Any number of Americans have been killed by the British navy, some of whom were my friends. I’ve had crewmen, illegally taken by your press gangs, who were savagely beaten like animals, some who died in service—” Sabine stopped himself and took a slow breath. His anger under control, he moved to stand before her. “My own past is not entirely spotless, but I have never been guilty of murder. And I have never shown violence toward any woman, ever. I promise you solemnly, you have nothing to fear from me.”

No, Aurora reflected. Nothing to fear but what he made her feel. His mere nearness made her pulse race, made her skin warm and her body feel flushed with awareness.

“And keep in mind,” he pressed, “the short duration of our union. Even if I were the kind of man you claim, you wouldn’t have to suffer my company for long. I certainly can refrain from acting the savage pirate for the brief term of our marriage.”

Aurora felt an ache in the vicinity of her heart. She couldn’t believe this man would soon die. He radiated vitality and vibrant life….

“What you are proposing sounds so…cold-blooded,” she said finally, grasping at straws.

He shook his head. “Think of it as a business arrangement. Ladies of your class commonly enter into such agreements.”

It was
not
common for ladies to marry only to lose their husbands the next day, Aurora thought in dismay. “So you wish this to be a simple business arrangement?”

“Not precisely.” She heard him draw a slow breath. “I should make my meaning clear, Lady Aurora. Our marriage would not be in name only. To be legitimate, it must be fully consummated.”

Her gaze locked with his, searching. His fathomless eyes were steadfast, unwavering in their intensity.

“I want no question of the legality of our union,” he said levelly, “or the possibility that it could be set aside. Your father is a powerful man, as is Halford. I don’t care to see my efforts to secure my sister’s future go for naught.”

Her heart faltered in its rhythm as she understood his meaning: they would share a bed as husband and wife.

Taken aback, Aurora stared at him. She had seriously been considering his desperate proposal until he added that disturbing condition. The possibility of physical intimacy with this man unnerved her. The thought of giving herself to a stranger—But was that not what she would be required to do when she wed Halford? This man, no matter how intimidating, was infinitely more appealing than the aging duke. She felt her pulse quicken dangerously.

Sabine was still watching her. Holding her gaze, he took her hand and raised it to his lips. But instead of kissing her fingers, he turned her hand over and kissed the tender inside of her wrist. His lips on her sensitive skin felt like a brand and sent hot and cold shivers through her.

“Will you consider becoming my wife for a night, sweetheart? I think I can safely promise that you would not find your introduction to the marriage bed onerous.”

Her breath caught in her throat at the images his promise conjured in her mind. That and the seductive sensuality in his eyes held her so spellbound, she couldn’t reply.

His gaze dropped to her lips. “I regret I’m not able to court you as you deserve. A woman as lovely as you should have an equally lovely setting…moonlight, roses, whispered promises…” He leaned toward her, his breath fanning her lips….

When Aurora stiffened instinctively, however, he stopped. Instead of kissing her, he spoke in a velvet-edged voice. “I cannot believe you truly fear me, Aurora. Not a woman of your rare courage. I saw the fascinating change in you yesterday, from proper lady to avenging angel.”

Warily she searched his face. Stubble still shadowed his jaw, giving his handsome features a dangerous aura. He might claim not to be a pirate, but he still resembled one. She was not often intimidated, but this man disturbed her with his vital masculinity. She was even more unsettled by the forbidden sensations he aroused so easily in her. The raw, powerful sexuality emanating from him was palpable, the tension between them very real.

“Give me your hand, sweetheart. Touch me…” Taking her hand, Sabine guided her fingers to his face. “I am flesh and blood, just like you. Not so very threatening.”

He was indeed threatening. He made her breathless, fluttery inside. And yet there was something warm and tender in his eyes that allayed true panic.

“This doesn’t frighten you, does it?” he asked, drawing her fingers to his lips, letting her touch him there.

“No…” she murmured truthfully.

“What of this?” When he brushed her mouth with his, his lips were warm and soft—soft as the caress of a butterfly’s wing. An unmistakeable yearning flooded Aurora, along with an unfamiliar hunger she could only call desire.

She stared at him, dazed, as he drew back.

The husky texture of his voice stroked her as brazenly as the hand that rose to graze the line of her jaw. “Have you never been kissed before?”