“But how could you have known about an attack?”Desi’s sweet voice brought his gaze to her as she looked up at him, sorrow claiming her lovely features.
Turning, he took up a pace, his boots grinding the sand underfoot.Waves bubbled on the shore, their laughter mocking his fury.“There were signs, suspicious ship movements off the coast, hushed whispers from the town’s leaders, complete silence from the marquis.Even guilt-ridden expressions from his servants when they delivered the last of the supplies.”
“Doesn’t sound like enough for you to know for sure.”
Tension strung tight across his shoulders as he stormed a few steps one way, then wheeled about sharply, cutting lines in the sand.“It was enough that I should have investigated, set watchman over the island and around the camp, gathered arms and kept alert.”
“Why didn’t you?”
Caleb continued his pace, stalking the beach like a chained beast, anguish pulsating in every stride.He had come this far, he might as well tell her the rest, regardless of how unfavorable a light it shed upon him.
“Geneviève.She persuaded me that I was being foolhardy and behaving like a timid maiden.That if anything were afoot, surely her father would know about it.And she’d already inquired of him, and he had told her all was well.”He slanted his lips.“I was smitten, I admit it.I trusted her.I thought she harbored affections for me as she so often told me.Anddisplayed.”
♥
The votes were in.The die was cast.Desi was a complete fool.Why?Because a sudden surge of jealousy swamped her at Caleb’s words, “and displayed”.Jealousy!Was she falling for this man?Regardless, she should not be feeling such things, especially after the gruesome story he’d told.Yet, a vision of this Geneviève—who was no doubt beautiful—in his arms, making out, and doing God knew what else, shot needles into her heart.
Where was her empathy, her grief, her care?Frowning, she struggled with her ridiculous skirts and rose to her feet.Actually, she did feel all those things, along with a deep concern for the man who continued to pace before her like a caged animal.Only the bars that imprisoned him were not made of iron, but something far stronger—guilt and sorrow.
“You can hardly blame yourself for what most young men have suffered throughout the ages.Duped by beauty.”
Angry eyes fired in her direction.“But did their deception cause dozens of deaths?”
Fury radiated off him, and she took a step back.Priest or not, the man was as volatile as any pirate.
“Esther was injured,” he spat, continuing his angry trek.
“Your sister?What happened?”
He raked back his hair, nostrils flaring.“Some of the less savory soldiers tore her gown down her back and whipped her like a slave.”
A lump of pain clamped Desi’s throat.
Caleb kicked the sand, fisted hands on his waist, and stared out to sea.“She is permanently scarred both outside and inside.Because of me.”
“I’m sorry, Caleb.”Daring to approach, Desi touched his arm, but he jerked from her and marched away.She couldn’t blame him.There were no words that could comfort or heal the wounds of the past.He was a volcano of guilt and grief that threatened to explode.Even though she wanted to help him, she’d seen the type, and it was best to leave him to stew on his own.
Kicking off her shoes, she wandered down to the water, seeking solace from the sea.She clutched her skirts and waded in the surf.The warm water caressed her feet as sand oozed between her toes, the soft silt relieving her tension as it always did.Tiny crabs skittered sideways, diving into their holes, claws clacking as warm rays of sunshine set both sand and sea aglitter.
Including a treasure trove of seashells up ahead.
Stooping, she picked up a select few and washed them off in the surf, amazed at how perfect they were, unbroken, unspoiled by tar or trash.Tourists stole most of the shells on Miami Beach, and the ones she was lucky enough to find were always damaged.She held her palm open, examining their beauty in the sunlight, the perfect lines of a fan, the smiling teeth of a cowrie, the colorful spiral of a sundial.If only she could add these to her collection.
Who was she kidding?She had no idea how to return to her time, let alone with these shells.
Facing the water, she held them close to her chest.“Thank you for these.Now, I suppose you can’t give me some clue on how to get home?Or maybe how to deal with an angry, wounded pirate?”
“What’s that you say?”Caleb’s voice startled her, though it harbored none of the anger from moments ago.“Talking to the sea again?”
Smiling, she stuffed the shells into the pocket of her skirt.“I find she’s a better friend than most.”
“I quite agree.”He hesitated for a moment, and she noticed that he’d taken off his boots as well.“I owe you an apology, Miss.My anger is not directed at you.”He released a heavy sigh.“I have never regaled anyone else with the full tale of that night, and I did not expect such raw emotions to surface.”He took her hand and raised it to his lips for a kiss.“Forgive me if I have alarmed or frightened you.”
Desi didn’t know whether to address the heat spiraling through her at his kiss or the heartfelt apology.“You didn’t scare me, Caleb.I just…I feel so bad about what happened to you.I want to make it better, but I know I can’t.”
His deep blue eyes studied hers, as if assessing her sincerity, a strand of coal black hair sliding over his jaw.If he had loved this Geneviève, trusted her, and she betrayed him, it was no wonder he found it difficult to believe any woman.
“It is enough that you listened, allowed me to tell the tale in full.”
