Sea of Desire (26 page)

“You flatter me, your Ladyship.” Daniel
bowed.

“Do I?” Merideth’s chin notched higher. She
didn’t have a clue why Daniel was here, but she didn’t intend to
play along with whatever game the captain and he had planned for
her. “I understand you are my
contact
, Mr. Wallis. My
contact in some bit of international intrigue.”

“My dear Lady Merideth—”

“Did you or did you not send Captain
Blackstone to Banistar Hall?”

Jared watched his cousin squirm under
Merideth’s direct gaze. Any thoughts of intervening vanished as
Jared waited to hear his cousin’s answer.

“I received a communication that someone at
Land’s End wished to speak with me concerning a spy.”

“Someone?” Merideth’s brow arched.

“The sender was somewhat vague about his
identity. Traitors often are.”

“What the hell are you saying? You told me it
was Lord Alfred.”

Merideth ignored the captain’s outburst. “So
it wasn’t necessarily my father who contacted you.”

“I assumed it was Lord Alfred. But...” Daniel
swished the air with his fingers. “I suppose it could have been
someone else.”

Merideth shot Jared a triumphant look—one he
returned with steely determination. She opened her mouth to
question Daniel further. But before she could the captain had his
cousin by the arm and was propelling him from the cabin.

“You, stay put,” Jared ordered over his
shoulder to Merideth as he slammed the door.

Then he dragged Daniel along the passageway
until he was sure they were out of earshot of the cabin. “What in
the hell was that all about?”

Daniel jerked his arm and Jared let go of the
silk sleeve. With infinite care Daniel smoothed out the ruffles at
his wrist. “You always did think brute force the answer to
everything, didn’t you,
dear
cousin?”

Jared’s jaw clenched. “I want to know what
you thought you were doing back there. You and I both know Lord
Alfred was going to traitor himself for money.”

“Of course we do. But for some reason Lady
Merideth wishes to be coy. So I shall simply have to do my job.”
Daniel took a small jeweled container from his pocket and pinched
snuff between his thumb and finger. He breathed deeply, wiping the
end of his nose with a lace-edged handkerchief. “How can you endure
the smell down here, cousin?”

Jared resisted the urge to knock the snuffbox
from his fingers. “What
job
, exactly, are you speaking
of?”

“Charming Lady Merideth, naturally. She
is
in possession of information I want—you said so yourself.
Obviously she doesn’t respond well to threats and kidnappings or
you would know the name by now. It’s time a more subtle approach
was used with the lovely lady.”

“You said you’d stay away from her.” Jared
was having a difficult time controlling his anger.

“No, dear cousin. You ordered me to keep my
distance. There
is
a difference.” He slipped the snuffbox
into his pocket and straightened his powdered wig. “I’m more
experienced in these intrigues. I suggest you allow me to handle
this.”

“There’s nothing to handle. I told you Dr.
Franklin doesn’t wish to know who the traitor is, and I also
promised him I’d return Lady Merideth safely to Land’s End.”

“And I told you your brother was in Land’s
End when he died.”

“That doesn’t mean—”

“What I didn’t tell you, dear cousin, is that
he was also trying to discover the identity of the spy.”

Jared paled beneath his sun-darkened skin.
“What are you implying?”

“Not a thing... except I intend to do what I
can to persuade Merideth Banistar to tell me what she knows.”

“I don’t want her hurt.”

Daniel smirked. “I never imagined you did.
She’s quite lovely... and no doubt very passionate.” He held up his
hands when Jared reached out to grab him. “No need for violence,
cousin. I have no intention of harming Lady Merideth. And as for
your dalliance with her, you needn’t concern yourself with me. ‘Tis
information I want. Nothing more.”

Jared wished he could argue Daniel’s words...
deny his attraction to Merideth. But he couldn’t. Anymore than he
could overlook the circumstances of his brother’s death. In the end
he merely nodded and led Daniel along the companionway to the first
mate’s cabin. Padraic had volunteered to move his own things in
with the boatswain while Daniel was aboard. Jared appreciated his
friend’s sacrifice; apparently Daniel didn’t.

“Good Lord, is this the best you can do?”
Daniel’s gaze swept the small, windowless cubbyhole.

“Other than my cabin, aye. Which you are not
getting, by the by. You’re on a privateer now. We haven’t room for
luxuries.” Jared resisted the temptation to show his cousin to the
berth deck, where the crew slept in hammocks. It would do Daniel
good to cross the ocean like a common seaman... or maybe it would
do Jared good to witness it.

“So I see,” Daniel said, his expression full
of disdain.

“You can always find other transport to
America,” Jared pointed out.

“Does that go for the guns and powder I’ve
arranged for you to take to Charles Town?” Daniel asked slyly. “You
needn’t reply. I think I know the answer. Just remember, cousin.
We’re on the same side. Besides, I certainly didn’t intend to
insult your schooner.”

Jared turned on his heel and walked out of
the small cabin, leaving Daniel to flick dust from the narrow cot
with his handkerchief.

The wardroom was empty, which suited Jared.
He poured himself a tankard of grog and slumped down on a
bench.

Was there a link between his brother’s
accident and Merideth? Daniel, for all his evasive answers and
foolish smirks, seemed to imply as much. Jared took a deep swallow,
backhanding the moisture from his lips.

Perhaps Daniel was right. Perhaps he was the
one to deal with Merideth. His cousin could be all ingratiating
smiles and sweet words.

Watching him earlier with Merideth had
brought to mind times when Jared and his brother John shook their
heads over Daniel’s behavior toward the fairer sex back at Royal
Oak.

“How could any female be taken in by him?”
John had asked as they leaned against the broad, whitewashed
columns of Royal Oaks’s front porch. Daniel was handing Millicent
Waters into her coach, gushing over the sunlight sparkling in her
hair and the blush of her cheeks.

When Jared simply shook his head, John
laughed. “ ‘Tis easy for you not to concern yourself. More often
than not, the ladies prefer your handsome face and devil-may-care
ways. But for me, ‘tis a problem. Why do you think I’ve decided to
go to France with Daniel? I want women to see me as a dashing
hero.”

Jared laughed and looped his arm around his
brother’s neck, promising to leave one or two beauties behind when
he sailed the following day.

It was the last time he’d seen his
brother.

The
Carolina
sailed with the evening
tide and by nightfall was skimming along off the coast of France,
searching for a westward wind. Jared stood on the quarterdeck long
after the bo’sun piped the end of his watch. He told himself it was
the beauty of the moon-drenched sails or the feel of salt-laced
breeze stinging his cheeks that kept him above.

But he knew better.

Tonight he had nowhere to sleep except his
own cabin. Tonight he could not slip ashore and rent a room at a
dockside tavern as he had since bringing Merideth to Morlaix.

His crew thought the two had cohabited the
cabin—and that’s what he wanted them to think. And tonight the crew
would be correct.

The prospect had caused him only minor
concern... until today. Today he’d broken his own rule and talked
to her... looked at her... and all the desire she’d evoked in him
had come racing back. Racing back completely out of control.

He hated to think what would have happened
today had Daniel not come below. But Daniel had knocked on the
cabin door and nothing had happened, Jared reminded himself as he
stared out over the trail of reflected moonlight leading to the
horizon. His vow to himself was still intact. He would not touch
Lady Merideth again.

His lungs full of tangy sea air, Jared headed
for the hatch, assuring himself that his willpower was up to
anything that came his way. He knew exactly where the hammock was
stashed in the cabin, and could easily hang it from the hooks in
the dark. The hour was late enough that Merideth was certainly
asleep. And he would be up and gone before she woke. All in all,
she’d probably never realize he’d slept in his cabin.

Feeling a bit smug with his planning, Jared
made his way aft along the companionway. Tallow candles, their iron
holders stuck in the bulwarks, lit the way. He was nearly upon his
cabin before he noticed something amiss.

The door was ajar.

Though he doubted anyone on board meant Lady
Merideth any harm, he’d instructed her to lock the door. He had the
only other key in his pocket.

Fear raced through him as he rushed toward
the open door. Fear that someone had managed to enter the cabin and
hurt her. Jared reached for his sword and was quickly reminded it
wasn’t strapped to his side.

He rushed through the doorway slightly
disoriented, to find nothing amiss. As his eyes accustomed to the
darkness he saw Merideth, asleep on his bunk. No armed men lurked
in the shadows.

As he watched, her eyes opened, and she sat
up with a start.

“What...? What are you doing in here?”
Merideth grasped the blanket and pulled it under her chin.

“What am I doing?” Jared tossed up his hands
in disgust. “I’m simply entering a cabin that anyone on this ship
could walk into. Did I or did I not tell you to lock the door?”

Merideth angled her chin. “You did.”

“Then why, pray tell, is it not only unlocked
but wide open?”

Merideth took a deep breath, ready to
explain, then stopped. He wouldn’t understand. She didn’t
completely understand herself. She only knew that closed-up places
made her skin prickle, and she didn’t feel comfortable until she
opened something... a door, a window... something.

He stood watching her for a long time, the
light from the passageway spilling in around him. Then he turned
and slowly, deliberately, shut the door.

“Don’t—” Merideth started to protest, but
caught herself. The room was dark now, so dark she couldn’t make
out the captain’s form. But she could hear him moving about in the
cabin. Merideth inched herself back against the bulwark, pressing
her back into the rough wood.

The blossom of light as he struck flint
surprised her. Carefully he lit the lantern suspended above his
desk and moved to sit on the edge of the bunk.

Some of her panic disappeared when the cabin
was bathed in light, but Merideth still had to struggle for
control. The fingers that grasped the blanket were white-knuckled.
He covered her cold hands with his own.

“This is what happened to you when I
mentioned the cave, isn’t it?”

Merideth didn’t answer. She simply stared at
him, her blue eyes large in her pale face.

“What is it? What scares you so?”

“I don’t know.” Merideth’s words were barely
a whisper.

“You’re much safer with the door shut and
locked.” He was using reason, and Merideth admired him for it.
Unfortunately she’d long ago learned that when it came to her fear,
reason didn’t work.

She shook her head, her gaze dropping to the
bunched-up blanket in her lap, her hair forming a cascading golden
veil.

“Merideth?” His hand on her chin forced her
to look up at him.

“I don’t know,” she repeated. “I don’t know
what caused it... or how to fight it. I try. Don’t you think I
try?” Her teeth caught the soft, fleshy underside of her bottom lip
and kept it from trembling. “I can’t help myself from being
afraid.”

Jared reached out, pulling her into his
arms... surprising them both. Her initial reaction was to protest.
She raised her hands to his chest to do so, but the feel of him, so
solid and strong, made her change her mind. He shifted, leaning
back against the wall and pulling her across his lap. And she went
readily.

“Are you frightened now?” Jared could feel
the tension in her muscles and he ran a hand down her upper
arm.

Merideth shook her head, then decided upon
honesty. “A little. It’s much worse when it’s dark... and when I’m
alone.”

Jared made a noise as if he were pondering
what she had said. He continued his caress until the tenseness
seeped from her. “Is that better?”

“Yes.” Merideth snuggled deeper into the
folds of his loose shirt, reveling in his male scent and the
strength of his hard body. In the security he offered.

“How long have you been this way?” he asked.
“Frightened of a closed room?”