Her eyes returned to his face, and she could not help thinking what a truly beautiful face it was. Even with his dark eyebrows pulled down in worry and his face etched with lines of weariness he was the most handsome man she had ever seen. His eyes, framed by long heavy lashes, never wavered from hers, and they were as green as the dark moss that clung to the breakwaters. His nose was long and straight. Aristocratic, she thought. Quietly arrogant. His lips were full, their line sensuous and his skin was as bronzed as her own from the sun. His beard was unkempt and darker than the thick copper hair curling at his collar.
Her eyes opened wide in horror. His beard! He hadn’t had one before. No man’s beard grew so thickly in a few hours. She cried out at the full realization of her worst fears. It was true. She was out to sea.
Alexis dropped her dress and let the pain overtake her. She slid down the wall to the deck.
Cloud reached her quickly and lifted her gently, carrying her back to his bunk. He laid her down and pulled the blankets close about her before he faced Landis. “What do you suppose happened?” he asked. “I thought she was going to say something, but she just stared at me and fainted.”
Landis laughed. “You obviously haven’t looked at yourself lately. You’re a sight, Tanner. You probably scared her into fainting. God knows, you’re scaring me now.”
Cloud set his jaw firmly and glowered at his officer. “Get out of here, John, and tell the men she is going to recover; then send me some fresh water so I can clean up and get rid of this damnable growth on my chin.”
Landis left the cabin, chuckling to himself. He told the men the news and then brought back the water to Cloud’s quarters, trying to hide his amusement as the captain went through his drawers to find a fresh shirt and trousers but only succeeded in pulling out lacy slips and shifts.
After he finished bathing and felt reasonably presentable for his guest, Cloud decided to go on deck and get some fresh air. He was still exhausted from lack of sleep and worry; he knew he was not doing himself or his crew any good in his present condition. He walked to the starboard side of the ship and gripped the railing tightly. There was a full moon out and his ship cast shadows onto the water. He watched the shadows, not minding the salt spray hitting his face, and thought about the girl.
Had he done the right thing by bringing her along? he wondered for the hundredth time. And what was his motive really? He could have taken her to town. She had to have friends there who would have seen to her. Perhaps she would have been better left in her servants’ care. She was beautiful, but that was only a small part of his attraction to her. She was not merely lovely because of the way she looked, but also for the way she moved, the way she fought, and the way her very presence demanded that others embrace life in the same manner she did. Those eyes. Those catlike amber eyes had held him captive below deck for a few moments while they bored holes into his flesh. He had never seen so much revealed in someone’s eyes before. He knew she had examined him as any trapped animal examines the hunter, looking for weaknesses, considering the danger and the risks. But he also knew she had discovered she was in no danger. She’d revealed a momentary sense of relief not only in her eyes but in her limbs as well. Then her expression had changed so quickly. He could not fathom the reason. She had been ready to tell him something; he was certain of it. Then he’d seen her tense again, looking more like a trapped animal than earlier. The horrified expression on her face signaled anger, frustration, and, a moment later, defeat. She had given up. For a brief space of time she had thought she was helpless, and he had done something to cause it.
Cloud turned as he heard soft steps nearing him from behind. “What is it, Mr. Landis?”
“I thought I’d go look in on the girl. Her bandages probably need changing. She really needs fresh air for those wounds, but I don’t think she can very well walk around on deck without a gown.”
Cloud smiled, white even teeth outlined in the darkness. “No, I don’t think she’ll want to do that. Go ahead. You go to her. In fact, stay with her until she’s ready to talk. I don’t think she wants to see me for a while.”
“It will be morning before she’s going to make much sense. She tried to move too early and caused herself more discomfort than she had to.”
“I know,” Cloud replied, shaking his head. “What do you suppose made her do it?”
“I think she wanted to get off this ship, Captain.”
“We’ll find out soon enough, won’t we?”
Landis said nothing as he turned and headed for the captain’s cabin.
Alexis felt warm fingers tugging at her bandages and she tried to move away. She just wanted to be left alone. To think. To plan. She turned her head and opened her eyes. After the hazy mist cleared she saw it wasn’t the captain, but his friend, who was gently removing the bandages.
“You’d better lie still, ma’am,” he said. “I don’t want to hurt you more than you’ve already been hurt.”
“Where is the captain?” She tried to be still but it was hard. He was as gentle as possible, and the only reason she didn’t wince was because she knew it would be harder for him. “I must see him,” she added, her voice muffled in the pillow.
“Later. He wants to talk to you, too, but not until you feel better.”
Alexis sighed as Landis rubbed a cool ointment on her back. It seemed to take away most of the burning and she felt drowsy again. When he was finished she turned her face to him. “What’s your name?”
“John Landis.”
“And your captain?”
“Cloud. Tanner Frederick Cloud.”
“A formidable name. Is he a good man, your captain?”
Landis laughed. “You’ll be able to form your own opinion, if you haven’t already, in the morning. But I’ll tell you now, there isn’t another man I’d rather serve.” He saw a small smile form on her lips. “And your name? We don’t know what to call you except Miss Quinton and that can’t be right since you’re married.” He sat back, tensing, when he saw the surprised look on her face. He wanted to kick himself for mentioning her dead husband. He hadn’t meant to upset her.
“What gave you that idea?”
Landis relaxed when he realized she was only confused, not distressed, by his information. “Captain Cloud said he heard something about an anniversary. We just assumed—” He stopped. Now he knew he had said the wrong thing. Her eyes narrowed sharply and her jaw was tightly clenched.
“You assumed wrong,” she said, equal emphasis on each word she spit out. “Will you please leave me now?”
