“If we are going to the top of thatmountain, we better make the rest of our daylight.”
“Is that so?” She laughed and patted thegoat as it dunked its head into the bucket for a drink. “I supposewe have worked hard enough that we can spare some time off.”
Nicholas slung the Brown Bess and powderhorn over his shoulder, and then picked up a machete. The animalpath lay dubious and uncertain through thick jungle, leading themthrough another bamboo forest. Beneath the lush canopy of gleamingleaves, reached snatches of sunlight and sky. They ducked beneath amyriad of roots of an ancient banyan tree and arrived at an openclearing where large spherical fruits hung.
“A calabash tree, Nicholas. My fatherbrought these gourds to England. We can scrape and dry out thefruits, making vessels that will make excellent transports forwater when we explore.”
He marked trees with his machete for thereturn trip. After an hour, he climbed to the top of an escarpmentbuffeted by winds and free of vegetation. To the south, lay theblue sea, like a huge left-handed glove worn by a Medieval knight,the thumb split from the hand. The eastern portion from which theyinhabited, undulated with palms and rich verdant green, descendingto a white sand beach. Contrasting to the west, or leeward side,were rolling meadows. The northern division was steeped withwretched sharp cliffs that fell straight to the sea.
“Everywhere we are surrounded by water andconfirms we are on an island.” Nowhere was the landscape sobreathtaking. To be on top of the world. He turned around to seeher reaction. She was just as taken as he was. He stretched hishand to hers.
When she clasped her palm to his, a currentof awareness shot through him with a sweet wash of sensation, likea thousand springs in bloom. A sweetness he had no businessfeeling, though it brought him a gentle peace. He didn’t rememberpulling her up beside him. Suddenly, she was standing right next tohim and the softness of her arm pressed against his.
“I’m king of this island,” he roared overthe echoing valley, jolting a pair of flapping egrets from theirnests.
“I’m queen of this island,” she shoutedafter him. “And since you are the only male resident, I’ll allowyou the title of king.”
He made an exaggerated bow. “I thank you foryour generosity. Still, a compromise is in order. We will ruletogether, Lady Sutherland, guardians of all we survey.”
“On one condition,” she said seriously.“That we call this land, Alexandra Island. I’ve never had anythingnamed after me.”
“Then we shall call it Alexandra Island.”He’d agree to anything she wanted.
“Isn’t it lovely, Nicholas?”
His gaze focused on her. How could he evenconcentrate? “Very.”
He tried to think of a woman of hisacquaintance who would hike to the top of a mountain and nevercomplain, finding every day a new adventure. None.
Her chest heaving from the exertion, shescanned the horizon. “There is so much to discover.”
Wishing swept through him as he studied herprofile. Under no circumstances would he be less than mystified byher eyes, dark ringed with golden lights, mesmerizing,ever-changing from emerald to deep pools of turquoise and fringedwith long lashes. Her nose was straight and perfect, and her lipsalways seemed to hold a hint of a smile.
The way her chin curved, so delicate, madehim want to run the pad of his thumb along the angle to see if herbronzed skin, felt as soft as it looked. Her golden braid, reachedto her hips. How many times had he resisted the urge to unplait thegolden mass? Every time he gazed upon her, tenderness wrappedaround him in ever-strengthening layers. He had a fondness forAlexandra, but he suspected she did not for him.
The sting pierced him, but he tried not tolet it show. Never, not once had he caught her glancing his way inother than a sisterly fashion. She would be busy doing her everydaychores, chatting up a storm, yet did not notice him the way hedesired.
Not that it wasn’t his fault. He had beenclear about their relationship. Yet, to be alone with her day afterday was taxing his reserve. To him, she was far above the price ofrubies and he was totally captivated.
ChapterNine
Nicholas set aside the drilled calabash andwashed his hands in the water bucket. His stomach rumbled as heinhaled the savory scent of roasted meat.
“What would I do without you?” she said,waiting in the doorway.
She had that way about her, like sheexpected lightning to play upon the waves when he did something.Hell, he’d hurl back the Thames to its source if she wanted it.
He scratched a wooden chair across the plankfloor as he first seated her, and then himself, maintaining anunstated degree of civilization. Thick wild pork roast slicessmothered in gravy with wild sugar yams were heaped on his plate.He helped himself to pink guava slices reminiscent of strawberriesand pears combined.
Nicholas ate his fill and massaged hisstomach. “I don’t think I’ve ever had such a great meal.”
“Would you like some salt beef from the caskaboard theSantanas?” she teased him.
Nick eyed her ruefully. “You have a cruelstreak. One sight of that muck they gave us would render me stiffas a lifeless rat.”
Her eyes twinkled. “I am sure your familyhad the finest of meals, prepared by the best of chefs,Nicholas.”
The way she said his name tugged at hisheart. He liked everything about herthe way she drew her bottom lipbetween her teeth when she concentrated, the care she took witheverything, including the way she had sewn his torn shirt withconfident stitches.
