His glance grew speculative. “You would jump to your death before lying with me? Or perhaps, afterward?”
Her glance strayed to the sea. She knew she did not have the courage to do it, but she lied. “Yes.”
“Suicide is a greater sin than fornication.” His glance impaled hers.
He blurred before her very eyes. “Then perhaps you will feel some remorse in the end.”
He tilted up her chin. “How very foolish you are. I will not let you jump to your death. And I shall show you just how foolish you are.”
“No,” Katherine said, shaking her head. “No. There is nothing you can do or say to convince me to lie with you.”
His smile dawned, slow and bright. For a moment he did not speak. “On the morrow, Katherine, you will be whispering words of sweet, undying love in my ear whilst begging me not to leave your bed.”
Katherine gasped. She was incredulous. She could only stare up at his beautiful, arrogant face.
He turned to the big, bald pirate who had brought her up from below. “Escort the ladies to theSea Dagger, Macgregor. And if a single hair is missing from either of their heads,yourbald pate will roll into the sea without further ado.”
“Aye, Captain,” Macgregor said, apparently unperturbed by the threat.
And as the brawny sailor took her arm and escorted her across the deck toward the warship that was hooked to thetrader, Katherine was relieved. Their first confrontation was over, she had not been raped—she had thus far survived.
But he had made his intentions clear. She was being removed to the pirate ship and sometime this evening he would take her to his bed. She had gained but a momentary respite.
But a brief respite was better than none at all. Some of Katherine’s fear began to subside. Surely, if she were very clever, she could extricate herself from a fate worse than death.
Macgregor left Juliet and Katherine in the captain’s cabin alone. Katherine was shocked. Juliet was also agape. This was a pirate’s den?
The cabin was intricately paneled in teakwood. Dozens of beautiful rugs covered most of the gleaming oak floor. Under one of the cabin’s five portholes were some half dozen oversize Turkish pillows, embroidered and tasseled. A small tufted ottoman in emerald green silk made it appear that someone, perhaps the pirate captain, actually reclined Muslim-style upon those pillows.
A large, nearly black, wood dining table, its heavy pedestal boasting four clawed feet, graced the far end of the room. Six leather-backed Spanish chairs surrounded it. One end of the table was used as a desk, for it was covered with maps and charts, inkhorn and quill, and books.
One wall boasted a bookcase almost as high as the ceiling. Every inch was crammed with leather-bound volumes. Another wall held an exquisite pine armoire. Two delicate French chairs with embroidered blue cushions were on either side.
At the other end of the cabin was a bed. It was fit for one of the state rooms at Hampton Court. The canopy was a royal purple damask, the underside pleated gold silk. The curtains were of royal purple velvet, pulled back by heavy red-and-gold cords. Gold-and-red down quilts covered the bed, and embroidered pillows similar to those Katherine had worked upon in the convent were strewn about it. Katherine did not recognize the coat-of-armsabove the headboard, but noted the fleur-de-lis and recognized that it was French.
There was also a large, boldly carved chest at the foot of the bed. She recognized the Celtic design atop the padlocked lid instantly—the chest had come from her homeland. And upon the walls of the cabin were numerous works of art.
Katherine turned to face Juliet, who stood in front of the door. “What kind of place is this?”
“Katherine—undoubtedly this very room is a testimony to all the ships the pirate has plundered.”
Katherine realized that Juliet was correct. This room was evidence of many years of savage theft and bloody mayhem committed upon the high seas. This room was proof positive of his evil pirate ways. Then Katherine saw the bed.
She had remarked it before, of course. But in passing. Now she stared at it. Riveted. In her mind’s eye she saw herself upon the soft mattress, thrashing, the pirate on top of her, ravishing her, laughing. She cried out and rushed across the room, past Juliet. Wildly she tried the door, but it was barred from the outside.
Juliet put her arm around her. “Katherine, what are we going to do?”
“I don’t know. I am so afraid.” Katherine looked around, then finally chose to sit in one of the heavy Spanish chairs. Her eyes widened when she grasped the chair and it did not move. It was tied down to the floor. She realized that everything in the cabin must be similarly secured. She slid into the chair and closed her eyes.
She felt extraordinarily tired, but her heart was pounding, too, in anticipation of the horror that was to come and from knowing that she must still attempt to defend herself. For she did not believe the pirate’s declaration that he would not hurt her; such a statement, coming from such a man, was ludicrous. Katherine knew that she must reveal herself as the earl of Desmond’s daughter immediately. Surely he would leave her virtue intact once he learned her identity, and give her over to her father for a handsome ransom.
Katherine recalled the pirate’s smoldering gray eyes. She had never seen a man look at her in such a way before.
She shook. Instinct warned her that the pirate would toy with her as a cat did a mouse, then take her, ransom or no. She crossed herself, praying that she was wrong.
A moment later he entered the cabin. Katherine jerked upright as he closed the heavy door behind him. Juliet darted to where Katherine sat, but he did not even glance at her. His gaze slid over Katherine. Clearly he undressed her with his eyes. Katherine’s breathing was shallow. Her heart felt as if it might leap right out of her breast. She flushed in response to his insolence.
Finally he turned his gaze from her to Juliet and crooked his finger. “You, my lady, come.”
