Good Lord, the man was actually a danger to Dominic. A Russian prince could not be Durbin’s pawn as she had first assumed, but Dominic had made many enemies during his years on the run. It was entirely possible Savron could be one of them. He wanted to use her only for his body’s pleasure and to get the information he wanted from her. She had no intention of letting him reach either goal.
No, under no circumstances would she ever see Prince Nicholas Savron again.
“My word, what have we here?” Lee Bassinger straightened away from the rail, his pale green eyes avid with curiosity as he watched Mikhail Kuzdief stride up the gangplank. The blanket-wrapped burden slung over the Cossack’s broad shoulder was squirming and kicking vigorously, and a swath of long, silky dark hair suddenly became visible as the blanket loosened. “What, or should I say who, have you brought for our friend Nicholas? I would have thought he’d have enough feminine companions to choose from without importing more.” His thin lips curved in an empty smile. “I suppose it could be that he prefers unwilling women occasionally. Well, so do I. Perhaps we could share her.”
Mikhail did not answer, and his glance brushed Bassinger as if he didn’t exist when he strode past him down the deck and then up the wide staircase toward the staterooms.
Bassinger’s gaze followed him, the smile on his face never wavering until Mikhail disappeared from view. Then he turned back to look at the gleaming lights of the city. Interesting. He knew very well that Savron did not force his bed partners. All the bastard had to do was smile at a woman and she would perform acts Bassinger had to use a whip to persuade the little pullets to do for him. Why, then, had he sent that huge bull to bring this woman to him against her will?
A flicker of excitement touched him and his hands tightened on the rail. A weapon at last? He wasn’t a patient man, and having to smile and be civil to Savron and his coterie had caused the hatred to fester within him until it almost choked him. Yet he had learned a long time ago that deceit was a quality that must be fostered if a man was to have everything he wanted in life.
And he would have everything. He may have been born dirt poor but he had fought his way this far and he wasn’t about to let a fop like Savron take anything from him. He would have the Mississippi Rose again, and his highness would be punished for humbling him.
He consciously relaxed his grip on the rail and straightened, the smile returning to his face. There was always a key to be found to bring a man to his knees, and his instincts told him that Mikhail had carried that key on board the Rose tonight. It was only for him to wait and watch until he had the opportunity to use that key.
Mikhail threw open the door to Nicholas’s cabin and strode into the stateroom. Nicholas rose easily to his feet, his gaze on the bundle over the Cossack’s shoulder. “Good, God, Mikhail, did you have to use two blankets? She must be smothering under there.”
“I should have used ten,” Mikhail muttered as he strode across the room and dropped his burden on the bed. “And I should have let you come with me. I should have let an army come with me.” He unwrapped the blankets with two quick jerks and Silver tumbled free, rolling over to the opposite side of the bed. Her wrists were tied behind her back and a handkerchief gagged her mouth, but her eyes blazed up at them as she continued to struggle to free herself. Mikhail tossed the blankets on the floor and reached over to pull the gag from Silver’s mouth, quickly jerking his hand away as her strong white teeth snapped at him. “She is a wild animal.” There was a curious note of pride in his expression as he gazed down at Silver’s face. “If I had not taken her by surprise, I do not think I would have been able to overpower her. She is a fine, strong warrior.” He carefully brushed a strand of hair from Silver’s eyes, his expression gentle. “It is all right now. No one is going to hurt you.”
“But I will hurt you.” Silver glared up at him fiercely, still struggling desperately against her bonds. “You can’t do this.”
“It appears that he can because he has.” Nicholas strode forward to stand over her. Her long hair was lying in wild silken disarray against the peach-colored velvet of the spread and he felt a sudden thrust of desire tighten his groin. He had been sitting there imagining how she would look lying on his bed, and the reality was even more erotic than his vision. “Though not without some effort.”
“You!” Her light eyes were glittering with rage as she began to curse him with venom and amazing proficiency.
He lifted a brow. “My, my, she’s quite talented isn’t she, Mikhail? The last time I heard a vocabulary so explicit was from my groom at the estate on Crystal Island. Should we release her, do you think?”
“Only if you wish to relieve yourself of a few fistfuls of excess hair,” Mikhail said dryly, gingerly touching his own tousled red mop. “Before I got her hands tied I was sure she would strip me bald. Best wait until you have talked reason to her.”
“Reason?” Silver struggled to a sitting position. “There is no reason connected with this outrage. It’s madness, as I’ll soon show you.”
“I’m sure you’ll try.” Nicholas smiled. “And it will be fascinating to watch your attempts. I may even be sorry to see you depart after you tell me where your uncle has disappeared to.”
“You’ll be sorrier to see me stay,” Silver hissed. “Do you think I’ll let myself be trussed up and served to you like a turkey for Christmas dinner?”
“The trussing is only temporary. I’ll untie you as soon as we get far enough away for it to be safe.” He tilted his head, listening. “Hear the paddles? Since I gave orders to cast off as soon as Mikhail came aboard, that should be very soon. I have no liking for bondage of any kind.”
“You lie! And my presence here is proof of it.”
A flicker of anger crossed his face. “I believe you’re beginning to annoy me. So far you’ve cursed like a sailor, threatened me, and called me a liar.”
“Let me loose and I’ll do more than that to you. I’ll stick my knife in you as I did your friend.”
Nicholas stiffened. “Knife?” His gaze flew to Mikhail. “She stabbed you?” His attention had been so absorbed with the girl, he had scarcely glanced at Mikhail. Now he saw that the Cossack’s tunic was torn and a rivulet of blood stained the whiteness of the left sleeve.
Mikhail shrugged depreciatingly. “A pinprick.” He bent down and pulled a small dagger out of his boot and tossed it to Nicholas. “Yet it might be wise to remember she is not without fangs.”
“Like all vipers.” Nicholas looked down at the dagger, his beautifully molded features hard as the marble of a tombstone. “She could have killed you. I should have gone myself, my friend.”
A touch of anxiety clouded Mikhail’s features. “A pinprick,” he repeated. “She was only defending herself. The wound will be gone by tomorrow.”
Bewilderment pierced the seething fury Silver was experiencing. It was clear the big Russian was defending her from Nicholas Savron’s anger. Why would he help the prince abduct her and then rush to her defense?
“Do you need a doctor?” Nicholas asked gently. “I’ll have Robert dock again and send someone for help.”
“The woman—”
“The woman is not worth one drop of your blood.” Nicholas gave Silver a glance as cold as winter sleet. “I will deal with her later.”
Mikhail shook his head. “I have no need for a doctor. She did not hurt me.”
“Only because you—” Silver broke off as Mikhail shook his head warningly at her. “I will speak. Do you think I’m afraid of either of you?”
“You obviously have no need to fear Mikhail. It seems he’s been foolish enough to take a liking to you,” Nicholas said softly. “But you’d do well to be afraid of me. I value Mikhail, and I don’t think I’ve ever been quite so angry with anyone in my entire life.”
“Liking? He abducted me.”
“On my orders. And he insisted on going alone because he felt it would be safer for you.”
“Or because you were too cowardl
y to go with him,” Silver said contemptuously.
Mikhail inhaled sharply and took an impulsive step forward as if to place himself between Silver and Nicholas. “Nicholas, she is only a woman. She did not—”
“Only a woman,” Silver repeated indignantly. “A woman can do anything a man can do. She can do more. Why do—”
“Shut up!” Nicholas enunciated with great precision.
“I should not have taken the gag off her.” Mikhail sighed morosely. “I should have known her tongue would be as sharp as her dagger.”
“Go take care of your wound.” Nicholas’s gaze was narrowed on Silver’s face. “I have a fancy to prove myself to the lady.”
Mikhail gazed at him helplessly. Nicholas was dangerously infuriated, and it was evident that Silver Delaney was not about to try to placate him. “You gave your word.”
Nicholas gave him an incredulous glance. “Good Lord, she stabbed you and you’re still defending her?”
Mikhail’s jaw squared stubbornly. “You promised me.”
Nicholas muttered something fierce and obscene beneath his breath. “And I’ll keep it, dammit.”
Mikhail turned toward the door and then glanced over his shoulder at Silver, a gentle smile lighting his craggy features. “I will be back soon. Do not be afraid.”
Silver glared at him. “I’m not afraid and I need no protection.”
Mikhail slowly shook his head and shut the door quietly behind him.
Silver immediately turned to Nicholas and opened her mouth to speak. Nicholas raised his hand. “Not one word or I’ll put the gag back on you.” She hesitated and then pressed her lips together. “Very wise. I’m holding on to my temper by a very precarious margin, Silver.” He sat down on the bed beside her, not touching her, but close enough so that she could feel the heat emanating from his body. The faint scent of musk, brandy, and tobacco drifted to her nostrils. “I’m about to give you the rules that will govern your stay while you’re on the Rose. Are you listening?”
She gazed up at him mutinously.
“I see you are.” He smiled faintly. “First, let’s discuss why you’re here.”
“You want Dominic.”
“Exactly. I suppose I should give you the option of telling me where he is.”
“Would you let me go if I did?”
“I’m afraid I’d be forced to do so. Do you wish to oblige?”
Silver drew a deep breath. Lord, she hated lies. Still, if it would give Dominic a little more time. “He and Elspeth went back to Killara in the Arizona Territory.”
Nicholas’s expression hardened. “I see you’re as prone to falsehood as the rest of your sex is. Randall’s investigators ascertained that your uncle was most definitely not at Killara. It’s obvious asking you for the truth will accomplish nothing, and I admit I’m a trifle disappointed. I thought you more honest than most.”
A flush stung Silver’s cheeks. “I’m honest with those I respect. You deserve only lies from me. I’ll tell you nothing about Dominic.”
“But when he finds you’re gone from Mrs. Alford’s nunnery, I’d say there’s an excellent chance of him coming after you,” he said softly. “I posted a letter to your former headmistress telling her you’d decided to accompany me on a little pleasure cruise. If he’s as loyal to you as you are to him, he should be waiting at the levee when we return to St. Louis.”
“He won’t even hear that I’m gone. There wouldn’t be—” She stopped. “You’ll be disappointed if you think you can use me to draw Dominic to you.”
His gaze narrowed on her face. “You seem very certain.” He shrugged. “No matter. Then you’ll remain on the Rose until you tell me where he is.”
“You can’t keep me here.”
“Oh, but I can. Shall I tell you how?” Nicholas’s long, shapely hand reached out and smoothed her hair back from one temple, his touch as delicate as the brush of the wings of a butterfly. “There is no one to help you here. This boat belongs to me and you’ll find no one interested in any plea for aid. Mikhail and my friend, Valentin, are completely loyal to me. I have a party of acquaintances on board, but I assure you their only interest is to have an amusing time. They include fifteen or so strumpets from a New Orleans brothel and a number of gentlemen whose idea of pleasure would cause even you to blush.” His gaze ran over her, touching on the primness of her dark blue school uniform. “I’ve told Valentin to inform them you’re the resident of a similar baudy house in St. Louis and that you specialize in a pretense of little-girl purity. A certain kind of man finds that pretense very exciting, you know.”
She hadn’t known, but she brushed the knowledge aside as unimportant. “There is still the crew.”
He nodded. “Who would lose very lucrative positions if they displeased me. I think they, too, would prefer to believe my story.”
So she would be alone in her struggle with Savron. For a moment she felt a tiny frisson of apprehension before she dismissed it impatiently. Her struggles had always been alone, except when Rising Star had been there to support her. This was no different. “I don’t need help. I’ll still get away from you.”
A flicker of admiration crossed his face. “No tears? No pleas? I can almost see why Mikhail has developed a fondness for you.”
“I never cry.” She met his gaze. “And you will never hear me plead.”
“Oh, but I will.” Passion flared in the darkness of his eyes. “And it will be my very great pleasure to grant those pleas.”
Silver felt a breathless twisting sensation in the pit of her stomach. Lust. But it could not be lust when she felt only fury at this golden-haired man. Was her body’s response so mindless that it took no note of her mind’s bidding? She tore her gaze away. “You will see.”
He was now looking at her with curiosity as well as sensuality. “Why are you not threatening me with the wrath of the Delaneys? I was told they’re a very powerful family.”
“I do not belong to them,” she said haltingly. “I have friends among them. My cousins Brianne and Patrick, Elspeth and Dominic, but the others—” She stopped and raised her chin proudly. “I would not ask them for help. I told you I had no need of the Delaneys.”
Nicholas experienced a strange aching tenderness that took him by surprise. Pride, isolation, and courage were all there in her face, and there was something beneath that armor that stirred him to pity. He understood armor. He had worn it himself since he was a small child and he knew what hid behind it: loneliness, hurt, and wariness. He felt a sudden impulse to reach out and draw her to him, cradle her in his arms as he had never been held himself in that time so long ago. His hand moved from her temple to her cheek. “Silver, I—” He broke off. My God, what was he thinking? This was the tiger cat who had just sunk her fangs into Mikhail, who had watched André die a horrible death, who had taken lovers as casually as any court demimondaine. Surprisingly, it was this last thought that brought the welcome anger that burned away any hint of softness. “Good, then I needn’t worry about being punished for my sins.”
“Worry. I will punish you.”
He suddenly chuckled. “If I give you the opportunity, which I have no intention of doing. You will be confined in this cabin unless I give you permission to leave, and I promise you that if you bash me over the head while I’m sleeping or steal your little knife back and stick it in my heart, Valentin and Mikhail will be very displeased with you. I know you won’t believe this, but they’re both quite fond of me.”
“I don’t believe it,” she said flatly.
“Pity. I’m a very charming fellow.” He smiled wickedly. “I’ll be glad to demonstrate how agreeable I can be.”
She stared back at him unsmilingly.
“No? Well, then I suppose I’d better show you how impossible it would be to escape even if I were no longer an obstacle in your path.” He leaned forward and quickly sliced through the ropes binding her wrists. He stood up and strolled toward the door facing the bed, pausing with his hand on the knob
to gesture to the other door to the left of bed. “That door leads to the grand saloon, where you would encounter any number of gentlemen eager to drag you into the nearest stateroom and have their way with you. Please refrain from using that door under any circumstance. I intend to be the only one who’s going to have his way with you on the Rose.” He opened the door and inclined his head mockingly. “And this door leads to the deck.”
Silver swung her legs to the floor and stood up. She crossed the room, her gaze fixed warily on his face. He stood aside to let her precede him.
Cool, moist air touched her cheeks and a lazy breeze ruffled through her hair as she walked out onto the deck. She heard the door close behind her as she moved over to the rail and looked down at the churning waters below. It had seemed as if only a short time had passed, yet the lights of the city had almost disappeared from view. Now there were only dark forests, high bluffs, and the river.
“I understand the Mississippi is over a mile wide in many places,” Nicholas said softly in her ear. “An impossible swim for a woman. And I hardly think you’re stupid enough to risk drowning yourself.”
“No, I’m not stupid.” Silver did not look at him as she deliberately fought down the flare of anger she felt at her own helplessness. Anger would blur her thinking and put her at a disadvantage, and she already felt more uncertain in Nicholas Savron’s presence than she ever had before in her life. She needed all her wits about her to find a way to escape this boat and get back to Etaine. What if the child suffered another attack and she weren’t there to help her? She had gotten better and Silver had been filled with hope, but what if the recovery did not last? Fear edged her voice. “You’ll not hold me. I’ll find a way.” She glanced sideways at him and drew in her breath sharply. The moonlight frosted his golden hair with a silver sheen, and he was as beautiful as any ancient god. It was almost an irresistible temptation to let her gaze linger, but she forced herself to look back at the river. That angel-devil beauty was a snare, a weapon he no doubt knew well how to wield. She must not let herself become entangled in his web.
Wild Silver Page 5
