“I take it you are still angry?” he asked, easing his hold but not releasing her.
She snorted derisively. “How clever you are, Captain. Now, let me go, you are hurting me.”
“You also sound bitter,” he remarked, and she saw his glance go once, quickly and in such a manner that it was barely perceptible, past the ruffled edge of her bodice. She knew what he was about—he was looking at her breasts.
Virginia yanked her arm hard to pull away, but failed. “Why should I be bitter? I was on my way to London to take care of the most urgent and personal affairs, when I was abducted off of my ship. I have since been locked in your cabin, at your mercy, and now I am locked in this bedroom. Bitter? Oh, no.”
“I want to speak with you. If you think to attack me again, you will be locked in this bedroom for an entire week.”
She met his cold gaze. “You are every bit the bastard that everyone says you are.”
He shrugged, releasing her.
She jumped away and felt her buttocks hit the edge of the bed. She did not like being trapped between him and the bed, not at all.
“You are angrier with me now than you were when I first seized theAmericana.You were crying this afternoon and now again. Why? And do not tell me there is dirt in your eyes.”
“This time it’s thedust,” she said with false sweetness. “Now, get out of my bedroom, O’Neill!”
“I think not.” He studied her, unsmiling and far too carefully.
“But Fiona is waiting.” The moment the caustic words slipped out, she regretted them and winced.
He went still. But she saw the spark of surprise in his eyes.
She flushed and she slipped aside, away from the bed and away from him. She walked across the room to the fireplace, where she pretended to be fascinated with the flames. Oh, why had she just said that? Now he would think her upset, jealous even, when she was not. She was glad, fiercely so, that he had reunited with his love.
“What did you just say?” he asked.
She folded her arms tightly beneath her breasts and stared at the flames. Tears hazed her vision.Why? Just tell me why? Don’t you owe me that?
She never heard him come up behind her and she jumped when his hand enclosed her elbow from behind. “What did you say?” he asked again.
“Nothing.” She firmly pressed her lips together, but her heart slammed wildly and she hated being so aware of him, standing behind her.
“No, you said that Fiona is waiting. Waiting where? For whom?” His tone was without inflection.
She whirled to face him. A tiny voice inside of her head warned her not to say what she wished to, but she ignored it. “I don’t care if she is in your bed, Devlin. In fact, I am relieved! ‘Oh, how big it is, I can hardly fit it in my hand!’” she mimicked.
His eyes flew wide, and she saw him truly surprised, perhaps for the very first time.
“‘Oh, he is so tireless, like a stud!’” she spat, aware that her cheeks were flaming. “‘Ohhh! I am sooo in love!’” She glared.
He was silent.
She had a terrible suspicion and she looked more closely at him and saw that he was amused, goddamn him, for she saw the light of mirth in his eyes. “So you are angry with me because I took some maid to my bed?” he asked quietly. “You are jealous of Fiona?”
She cut him off. “I am not jealous! I amrelieved.And I think you are in thewrongbedroom now.” She smiled widely—falsely—at him.
He regarded her for a long moment.
“Say something!” she shouted.
“I abducted you off of the American ship. I have tried to treat you as I would any guest, but we both know you’re being held here against your will. You should be relieved that I eased myself with some inconsequential housemaid, Virginia.”
He was choosing his words with so much care and it was obvious. Virginia knew she should be as careful, but she couldn’t. “I am relieved, I told you already, and I think you should go back to her this very moment!” she cried, and horrified, she felt tears welling.
He didn’t speak.
