“I make you angry.”
“That, too. But I’ve never stopped loving you. Not for a moment.”
Kenna touched her mouth to his throat in the lightest of kisses, then drew back. “Where are we going to sleep?”
For an answer Rhys reached for a blanket hanging over the edge of the bed and dragged it to the floor. A pillow dropped beside it. “That damn bed is simply too far away.”
Kenna murmured her agreement as she slipped to her side and Rhys covered them with the blanket. In minutes they were asleep, oblivious to the unyielding hardness of the floor.
* * *
Alexis gave a happy shout as she sightedHarmony’s square rigging. She handed her eyeglass to Tanner and ordered the appropriate change of course. In under an hour theArtemispulled alongside the ship she had been relentlessly pursuing for five days. Alexis and Tanner boarded theHarmonyas Captain Botti extended a rather bewildered greeting.
“This is most unusual,” he said in the next breath, returning his cap to his head. “Most irregular.”
“We cannot argue with that,” said Tanner.
Botti was somewhat mollified. “What can I do for you?”
“We’re here about one of your passengers.”
The captain paled. He could think of only two things that might induce the Clouds to chase him: one of his passengers was wanted by the authorities or worse, was suspected of carrying disease. The thought of his ship in quarantine did not set well with him. “Who are you looking for?”
“Michael Deveraux,” Alexis explained.
Color returned to Botti’s sea-toughened features. “The same young man you escorted to the ship?”
“Yes.”
He shook his head. “Can’t help you then. Deveraux never sailed with us. Left the ship before we weighed anchor, not long after you and your friends walked away from the docks. Claimed he had forgotten to tell you something. I told him I wouldn’t hold the ship for him. Wind was right and I’ve got a schedule of sorts that I pride myself in keeping. Said he understood and took his things with him. Waited as long as I could. He never returned.”
Alexis frowned, turning troubled eyes to Tanner. “Is it too late to say I never much cared for Michael Deveraux?”
Tanner’s expression was just as grim as his wife’s. “Yes, I rather think it is.”
Chapter 11
“Alice? Where does Mrs. O’Hare keep the cinnamon?” Kenna pushed aside a lock of hair with the back of her hand, unwittingly leaving a streak of flour on her cheek. All of the servants had the day off and only Alice chose to remain at the house, doing some intricate needlework on the hem of one of Kenna’s gowns. Kenna shot a glance in Alice’s direction. The girl was sitting on a stool by the back door and her fingers hadn’t moved in more than ten minutes. Sighing, Kenna expertly peeled and quartered the last apple for the pie she was preparing. When she was done she began opening cupboards in search of the cinnamon.
“The one on your left, ma’am,” Alice said suddenly.
Kenna found it. “I thought you didn’t hear me. It must have been a pleasant daydream.”
Her voice was as wistful as her expression. “Very.”
“Why, Alice! I believe you were thinking of your beau!” The house had been abuzz this past week with the rumor that Alice had a suitor. The tasty bit of gossip had not bypassed Kenna who was told smugly by Mrs. Alcott that it wouldn’t last.
Two bright spots of color appeared in Alice’s cheek but her lips flattened in a sullen line. “Are you making light of me, Mrs. Canning?” She raised her chin a notch, ignoring Kenna’s obvious shock. “Just because I’m not picture of perfection doesn’t mean I can’t have a suitor.” She sniffed her contempt. “Some folks round here like to think they’re better than me.”
“I’m not one of them, Alice. And I wasn’t making light of your feelings. I think it’s wonderful that some young man has noticed what a fine person you are.” Kenna arranged sliced apples in the pie shell as she spoke. “What is he like?” she asked with sincere interest.
Alice was pacified. She returned to her embroidery. “He’s very kind,” she said. “And handsome.”
“Two qualities that have much to recommend themselves.”
She nodded thoughtfully. “He makes me laugh.”
Kenna smiled to herself as she added sugar, cinnamon, and freshly churned butter to the apples. “Then I wish you all the best, Alice. He sounds wonderful.”
