No.No, she wasn’t all right.But she forced herself to nod.“Of course.Why wouldn’t I be?”Her voice came out too bright, and his hands caressed her shoulders.
His hazel eyes stared at her, gazing at her with such an intensity, she wondered what he wanted to say but couldn’t.Instead, he held himself motionless.
“Be careful when you go back to your room,” she offered.
Michael inclined his head.“Lock your door until Mrs.Turner and your maid return.”There was a forced coolness to his voice, and the invisible mien of a soldier seemed to slide over his face.
Her throat went dry at the humiliation at succumbing to the liaison without any future promises from him.But she’d known it.There would never be any sort of vow from Michael Thorpe.
“Don’t trouble yourself about me.”
He took another step backwards, and a faint clattering noise resounded.Michael reached down to the floor to pick up the object.In his hand, he held a fork.
“How strange,” Hannah remarked.“I didn’t bring any silver into the room.”
Both of them stared at the interior of the state room, suddenly seeing pieces neither of them had noticed before.Pieces of silverware, hair pins, a strand of pearls...seemingly random items now were arranged in a pattern.A rectangle had been constructed around the room, framing the contents.
“How curious.What is it, do you think?”Hannah asked.
But Michael ignored the question, already opening the door.“Where did you tell Mrs.Turner to go?”
Hannah shrugged.“I only told them to return in an hour.I assumed she stayed with my maid Estelle.”
He cursed, stepping into the hallway.“I have to find her.”
Not we, she noticed.I.
Was he so eager to cast her aside now?Her disgruntled feelings pricked at her like the numerous forks lying about the room.
But she didn’t understand why a strange arrangement of utensils would cause him to worry so.“What is it that you’re not telling me?”
He pointed towards the perimeter of silver.“She’s having another of her spells.I need to find Mrs.Turner before she harms herself.”
It would be easy enough to send him away, to wish him luck in finding her.But she felt responsible for the woman’s disappearance.Were it not for her, Mrs.Turner would still be inside the room, probably sleeping.
Hannah reached for her pelisse and pulled on a bonnet.“I’m coming with you.”
Chapter Twelve
Outsideontheupperdeck, the ship rose and fell with the waves.The darkness was broken only by a handful of scattered oil lamps.Several deck hands adjusted the sails while the dull noise of the steam engine droned on.
Michael kept Hannah’s hand firmly in his, wondering why he’d agreed to this.There was no reason to bring her with him where her presence would be noticeably out of place.It was irrational and dangerous.
But he didn’t want to leave her alone.Not after he’d been attacked tonight.And especially not after what had just happened between them.
It had taken an act of the greatest restraint not to seduce her.He didn’t doubt for a moment that he could have.Her body had responded to him with a passion he’d never expected.More than anything, he’d wanted to strip off her remaining undergarments, joining their bodies together.
The sensual image of her legs wrapped around his waist while he buried himself deep within was like a fire igniting his lust.She was a lady, not a woman to be trifled with.Softhearted, stubborn, and highly intelligent, everything about her captivated him.
And yet he couldn’t bring himself to dishonor her.If he took her innocence, she would pay the price.And he couldn’t destroy her chance to make a strong marriage, no matter how much he might want her.
The thought of another man being intimate with Hannah made him clench his fists.At dinner tonight he’d seen the way the gentlemen watched her.He had no right to feel possessive toward her.Not then and not now.
He gripped her hand, studying the area for any sign of Mrs.Turner.When they passed by one of the sailors, he drew Hannah closer, both to protect her from the rocking of the ship and to send an unmistakable warning to the other sailors.
The bo’sun stepped forward and intercepted them.“Pardon me, m’lord, but passengers aren’t allowed on deck at this hour.Best be returnin’ to your cabin.Captain’s orders.”
Michael wasn’t surprised to hear it, but he didn’t give a damn what the Captain’s orders were.Whenever Mrs.Turner had one of her spells, there was no telling what she’d do.He didn’t want her to fall into the sea and drown if her madness tempted her to do something rash.Abigail Turner was the only family he had left, and he would keep her safe at all costs.
