by Tina Donahue
Feet slapped the marble, Peter catching up. He hit the door once. “Stay in there now, understand?”
She glowered. If her little brother thought he could give her orders, he was sorely mistaken.
“Oh, and Diana? Phillipe’s outside your windows should you try to escape.”
The moon softened the room’s hard shadows and washed the outside to faint silvers and grays. Phillipe leaned against a tree, arms crossed over his chest, guarding the windows.
“I’m never speaking to you again, Peter Fletcher.”
“Do what you must.” He breathed heavily. “But stay put. Let the men handle the danger. It’s what we were meant to do.”
She wanted to scream. Trapped and helpless, she lowered her head, worried Tristan would get shot. For him to have gone to the point when Adamo and Canela were there had been sheer madness and didn’t make any sense to her. After all Canela had done, Tristan couldn’t be that blind to the girl’s treachery. Anyone could see how easily she manipulated Adamo, possibly leading him to kill.
Frustrated tears filled Diana’s eyes. She stormed to the bed and threw the pillows across the room. Outside, music played, laughter peaked, fell, then rose. The clamor drove her mad. She feared the noise would drown out a pistol’s sharp crack, then worried she’d hear the sound, anyway.
She sank to the mattress, horrible scenes bombarding her: Tristan maimed, killed, dying alone without the chance for her to say good-bye.
She buried her face in her hands.
A fist rapped hard on the door.
Startled, she straightened, her stomach clenching at Peter having come back to tell her she was a widow. “Go away! I won’t hear it!”
Footfalls sounded and faded.
She rocked, then rushed to the door, wanting to know what had happened, dreading the worst. As she fumbled with the bolt, the laughter and music intruded, quite loud in fact. If anything untoward had happened, the others wouldn’t be celebrating.
A scraping noise sounded behind her.
Tristan swung his legs over the sill.
Relief flooded Diana, bringing her close to tears and joyous shouts. She hurried across the room, but stopped short, recalling how worried she’d been. He’d taken little care with his safety and hadn’t allowed her to protect him in the least. How dare he. “Go away.”
“What?”
“You heard me. Go away.” She pointed past him to the forest.
“I suppose this means you’re in no mood to rejoin the celebration. Very well.”
He unfastened his breeches, pushed them off, and padded naked to their bed. His weight shook the mattress. By the looks of his stiffened cock, he intended to take her as though nothing had happened.
Not bloody likely tonight.
He folded his hands behind his head and regarded her. The moonlight sharpened his features, making him look seductive and dangerous.
She wasn’t cowed or aroused. At least not much. She strode to the bed. “I saved your hide.”
“You did. But you also put yourself in harm’s way.”
“I don’t care about myself.” She sank to the mattress. “I’d gladly die for you.”
“The hell you will. I forbid it.”
Diana laughed at his damned arrogance and spoke through clenched teeth. “You’re impossible.”
He pulled his hand from behind his head and cupped her breast. “But you still desire me, admit it.”
“Not tonight.” She pushed his hand away. “You treat my love too lightly.”
“I do not.”
“Yes, you do. You might have died. I might never have seen you again, not even to say a last good-bye.”
“It wasn’t as serious as you believe.”
“A pistol pointed at your heart by a madman who wants you dead isn’t serious?”
“Adamo misunderstood why I went to the point.”
“Indeed. And how was I supposed to know when you had Peter haul me away like a sack of grain? You forced me to wait here not knowing whether you lived or died. How would you like to be in my position?”
He shrugged. “I’d make the best of the situation.”
“Like bloody hell. I’ve yet to see a man who has the stamina to withstand childbirth, much less the death of a woman he loves, unless your feelings for me aren’t that great or enduring.”
“You know they are.” He glared as she did. “And you’ve made your point. I’d hate not knowing what happened to you. But Adamo speaks French. You don’t. You kept threatening him with the pistol.”
“He was threatening you.”
“Only because he misunderstood why I went to the point.”
“Why did you?”
Tristan draped his arm over his eyes and fisted his fingers. “My God, can’t we just sleep? I’ve never been so tired in all my days.”
“Then answer me quickly, and I’ll allow you whatever rest you want.”
“James warned me about you becoming a shrew.”
“Remind me to have a word with him in the morning. For now, I want to know why you went out there.”
He inhaled deeply and sighed. “Phillipe was at the celebration when he should have kept watch.”
“Then you weren’t speaking to him about a horse as you said.”
Tristan squirmed. “No.”
“You lied. Why?”
“I didn’t want to worry you.”
“About what? Wait.” Nausea gripped her. “You said he should have kept watch. Do you have men on our shores each night in case your former crew comes here?”
“We’ve always had a watch in the event anyone shows up.” He slid his arm to his forehead and looked at her. “I knew if I told you about it, you’d fret when there’s no need. The island is more than secure. It’s hidden from the usual routes. On the outside chance someone does finds the land, I’d prefer to be advised of the matter.”
“So when Phillipe shirked his duties, you decided to keep watch yourself without your pistol or the glass?”
He caressed her cheek. “I forgot my pistol because I was still feeling the effects of your overwhelming lust for me.”
“Do not make light of this.”
He dropped his hand. “Very well. I assumed Phillipe had given Adamo the glass when he and Canela offered to keep watch.”
“Both of them? How curious. Why?”
“I went to the point to find out. When I arrived, Adamo was asleep, and Canela was using the glass.”
Diana frowned. Earlier Canela had watched the sea instead of joining the celebration. “Do you think she wants to leave this island and was using the glass to view the others?”
“With her it’s difficult to say. But the others nearby aren’t habitable. She’d have to sail on a ship like the Lady Lark to reach one that is.”
“Why did Adamo pull his pistol on you?”
“Before he awakened I had asked Canela what she was looking for. She refused to tell me. When I tried to take the glass, Adamo awakened and misunderstood my intent. Now I have a question for you. Why did you come to the point and with my pistol no less?”
She shrugged as casually as he had. “After you spoke to Phillipe and left, I noticed Canela wasn’t around. I guessed the two of you were together. So, I grabbed your pistol and followed, fully intending to murder you both.”
Tristan blinked.
Diana traced his jawline and smiled wickedly. “You see, my love, you betray me at your own peril.”
“It would appear. Are you serious? You believed I was rendezvousing with her?”
“I thought you might be set upon by the she-devil and seriously injured because you were unarmed. As I was not, I was fully prepared to deal with her, or anyone else, and would have if you’d only allowed me to stay.”
“Learn to speak French and the next time I may.”
Her smile faded. “Next time? You expect more trouble from Adamo? Didn’t you convince him you have no inte
rest in Canela?”
“I think he already knows I don’t. What happened in the past galls him. He wants what all men want, a woman who’s never belonged to anyone else. With Canela that’s impossible. Adamo’s no fool, though. Nor is he evil. He’s not about to murder us as we sleep.”
“What about Canela?”
“I’ll kill her if she tries. Now quit asking so many bloody questions.”
She gave him a hard stare. “Never. I’ll ask as many as I want.”
“And here I thought I’d finished taming you.”
“If I’d been tame tonight, you might be dead.”
“Did I thank you for saving me?”
“You will.” She caressed his thick cock. “But I insist you take care around Adamo.”
“You’ve nothing to worry about.”
She worked his shaft and fondled his balls. “Truly?”
His lids slid down. “James and I did our best to soothe him. He seemed mollified. For the time being, at least, there should be no more trouble.”
* * * *
Ever since Tristan and James had left, Adamo had faced the sea, saying nothing. Canela sensed his fury.
When he finally looked over, hate glittered in his eyes. “This is our land, not theirs.”
“It has always been ours.”
He faced her. “They have no right to the stone house, crops, water, or animals on our land.”
“They never have.”
“Tristan and James would have killed me if you hadn’t been here. They knew if I died, you would have told the others what happened.”
“I love you.”
He smiled, but her declaration didn’t soften his rage.
Excitement ran through her. “Will you watch for the ships and row out to them so the pirates can remove Tristan from our land?”
“I long for the day. I will see you, not the Englishwoman, living in the stone house. You will have the finest jewels and the loveliest silks. You will be mistress of our land.”
Canela lowered her face, pretending his words had humbled her. When Adamo turned to the sea, she grinned.
Chapter 13
By the time Tristan and Diana awakened, the sun shone high in the sky. Given the pleasant quiet, the others had yet to get up.
He left the bed and stretched, trying to shake off fatigue. “I shouldn’t have slept so long. I have far too much to do today.”
Diana finished her yawn. “I don’t hear the other men moving about.”
“Most drank well into the night.” He washed his face at the basin. “They’ll surely need help in finishing their tasks.”
She rolled onto her belly and propped her face in her hands. “Do you ever overindulge in drink, my love?”
He smiled at her question and endearment. “Never. I far prefer to read. At least I did before I had you to take in my bed.”
“You have me to have.” She grew thoughtful and shook her head. “Does that make sense?”
“Very little you say does. You will not throw the pillow.”
She scowled playfully, then rested her elbows on it. “Go on. Finish your work so you can come back to me for indecent pleasure and a shave.”
After washing, he pulled on his breeches and gave her a peck on the cheek. “Unfortunately, I won’t be home till sundown.”
She grabbed his hair and held him to her. “If I promise not to shave you, will you arrive sooner?”
“’Fraid not.”
“Not even to join me for the midday meal?”
“It’s nearly time for it now.” He pulled his hair from her and straightened. “While I’m away you can perfect your French.”
“Should I also have a pistol at the ready?”
He lost his smile. Adamo wouldn’t harm her, but Tristan wasn’t as certain about Canela. “A weapon’s hardly necessary.” He’d tell Peter to remain close and protect her. “As I told you last night, I’ve settled matters with Adamo.”
“And as I asked last night, what about Canela? I saw how she looked at you at the point. She hates you now nearly as much as she does me. Promise you’ll be armed today.”
“I always am when I’m away from here. As long as you stay within these walls you’re well-protected.”
She made a face. “Please don’t tell me you’re going to have Peter guarding me.”
“He’s your brother. I thought you liked him.”
“After last night I’m never speaking to him. How dare he order me about, telling me where I can and cannot go.”
“Very well, I’ll tell you. Don’t go past the courtyard. And do not, under any circumstances, go into the forest, to the point, or the beach.”
Her mouth turned down. “Life on this island will never be the same, will it?”
“No, it won’t. It will be far better. I give you my word.”
* * * *
Vincent trudged up the beach to the island’s southernmost point. Turned into the wind, he lifted the glass to his eye. Tristan’s island was hidden from sloops unable to traverse its shallow waters. However, a skiff or longboat could easily manage the journey.
He inched the glass to the right, gauging which area served best for a surprise attack. With the right not to his liking, he shifted his instrument to the left and stilled at a bare-breasted young woman, a beautiful native girl. She wore a scarlet cloth about her hips and an odd leather collar around her throat.
She lifted a glass to her eye.
For one horrible moment, Vincent couldn’t move. When his hesitation broke, he brought down his instrument and ran to a stand of palms. Hiding behind them, he breathed hard and tried to slow his racing heart, mystified as to who she was and what she was doing on the beach with a glass.
Tristan’s island was so concealed Vincent had foolishly thought the beach would be deserted and unprotected. Since it wasn’t, he and his men would have to approach at night and find their way through the blasted forest to wherever Tristan slept.
Muttering an oath, Vincent brought the glass to his eye. His crew was in the distance, sleeping off last night’s rum. He feared going back to them, worried the native girl might see and warn Tristan.
Vincent sank to the ground, rested his back against a palm, and then yanked off his yellow scarf before its color gave away his hiding place. Swearing repeatedly, he didn’t want to consider when movement would be safe.
* * * *
Shocked, Canela kept the glass to her eye. The man with the yellow scarf had seen her and now hid in a stand. She pulled in a ragged breath and finally trained the glass on the sea, not wanting him to know she’d seen him.
He had to be from Tristan’s old crew or Diana’s. No one else would have been so cautious or would have traveled this far.
At last, she lowered the instrument and left the beach. She kept her pace unhurried and natural until she reached the point. With the trees protecting her from view, she broke into a run.
She was breathless, skin damp, hair tangled when she reached Adamo outside his house.
Seeing her, he stopped grooming his horse and reached for his pistol. “What is it?” He looked behind her to the forest. “Has someone touched you?”
“No.” She pushed Adamo’s hand from his weapon. “The pirates are here.”
He glanced past her. “Are you certain?”
“Lower your voice. I saw one just now, a man from Tristan’s crew or the Englishwoman’s.”
“On the beach?”
“Not ours. The next one over.” She lifted the glass. “I was using this and spotted him.”
Adamo grabbed her arm. “Did he see you?”
Canela pulled in more air, stalling for the best answer. “No. I was hiding behind the trees. As I watched him with my glass, his swept our beach.” She pulled her arm from Adamo. “This is your chance to take back what belongs to us. Row out to show him the jewels and silks you have. Tell him how we protect the island so he can avoid discovery and
capture Tristan. Then you and I will have the stone house for our children.”
Adamo breathed hard but didn’t move.
She grabbed his arm. “Why are you waiting?”
He pulled away and resumed grooming his horse.
“What are you doing? You must row out to him.”
“What of our people? How will they protect themselves? Once the pirates are on our land and have Tristan, how can we be certain they will treat us fairly and not use us as slaves?”
“I will warn our people in time. No one will be a slave.”
He regarded her, then drew the brush over his horse’s flank.
She held back a scream. “Would you like for me to row out to him, risking my safety and life for our island? Very well. Where did you hide my jewels? Tell me, I will go and do what you will not.”
He threw the brush. “I will go, but make certain you warn the others in time. These are our people.”
“They will come to no harm.”
“Nor will you. Stay hidden in the forest. You are not to go to the beach or the stone house and let the pirates see you.”
She nodded.
The moment the men arrived, she’d approach them and their leader, perhaps the one with the yellow scarf. If so, she’d seduce him, then take what was rightfully hers.
* * * *
Although Diana couldn’t leave the mansion, Peter behaved like the prisoner. He slammed volume after volume on the library table. She picked up the largest book she could find and pushed to her feet. “Make any more noise and I’ll bring this down on your head.”
He glared at her.
She glared right back. “What’s the matter with you?”
“What else?” He pushed his chair against the table, jostling it.
A stack of books tottered and fell to the floor.
She banged her volume. “Do you intend to tear this entire room apart during your fit? What will Tristan think?”
“He’ll punish me further by forcing me to stay inside and watch you forever.”
“You’re supposed to be protecting me, little brother. You want to be a man, then act like one.”
He looked ready to explode, upper lip curled back, face reddened, eyes narrowed.
