That was so unrelated in her mind to the subject at hand that she couldn’t fathom why he’d even mention it to her. And then she realized that the “subject” hadn’t really been introduced yet, so he was talking about something else entirely. Or was he?
A bit confused now, she demanded, “Why?”
“Because if I thought you were a virgin, you’d be off-limits to me. So I convinced myself you weren’t, for the simple reason that Ihadto taste you. To be honest, it was driving me crazy. Perhaps you can understand that, now that you’ve had a taste yourself?” She glared at him, causing him to shrug. “No? Well, at the time, I wanted you to have the morals of a pirate, because I knew that was the only way I could have you.”
“And because of whatyouwanted, it was perfectly fine to ruin my good name in the country of my birth?” she fairly shouted at him.
He sat forward so abruptly that he sloshed his wine on the table.
She mimicked what he’d said that night at the ball. “ ‘I wouldn’t count on it, unless his father doesn’t mind pirates in the family.’ ”
He laughed. “I was merely joking. And you said it yourself, that it merely embarrassed you.”
“Of course it did, but no one there took it as a joke, you ass. What you said made the gossip rounds immediately. Everyone in London thinks I’m a pirate now. Because of you!”
“But youarea pirate.”
“No I am not!”
She hadn’t meant to say that and give up her ruse this soon. But she’d let her anger get in the way because hestilldidn’t look the least bit contrite over what he’d done.
Defensive was all he looked, and sounded, when he pointed out, “What the hell do you think stealing my ship was, if not pirating?”
“Just desserts!” she snapped back. “You made sure I couldn’t make a good marriage in England, so I took your ship as payback.”
“So that was all lies you fed us, about your father needing rescuing?”
“No, that was killing two birds with one stone.” She smirked. “A perfect solution for two dilemmas.”
“One dilemma. You said that you prefer the islands. That’s where you should have looked for a husband, not in England.”
She gasped. Was he really trying to remove himself from blame with an excuse like that?
“It was my father’s wish that I find a good match there. It’s his hopes, as well as my own that are going to be crushed when he finds out that isn’t possible now.”
“He aspired too high for a pirate.”
Her eyes rounded incredulously. “And you think that exonerates you? Forget about my father for a moment and consider what else you did with yourjoke.My mother’s good name was without blemish. So was mine, for that matter, but in fact there’s never been a scandal associated with her family. However, in blackening my name, you’ve also dragged hers through the mud.”
Was that finally a remorseful blush rising up his cheeks? Obviously not, because all he said was, “Then she shouldn’t have married a pirate.”
It was the last straw. She stood up and leaned across the table to shout at him, “She didn’t know, you bloody bastard! He took pains to make sure she never knew. I told you that! He took pains to make sure no one in England knew, and why, you might ask? To make sure her good name was protected! But without a moment’s hesitation, you just blew all his efforts out of the water, didn’t you? On a lark. No, wait, what did you call it? A joke!”
He actually flinched, then said with a sigh, “For what it’s worth, that wasn’t my intention, so I suppose an apology is in order.”
“You suppose?” she bit out. “Well, Isupposeyou won’t be surprised when I don’t accept your apology. There’s nothing you can do to make amends for what you’ve done, well, unless you help to rescue my father. Then I might, though probably won’t, butmightforgive you.”
“Done,” he said without hesitation. “But there’ll be no ‘probably’ about it. When he’s freed, we’re even.”
Chapter 41
GABRIELLE WENT TO SLEEP THAT NIGHT ON HER BLANKETS,a little in shock. She’d said nothing else to Drew, too afraid he might change his mind. She hadn’t expected anything to come of her threat to not forgive him unless he helped her rescue her father. She wasn’t even sure why she said it. His cavalier attitude up to that point warned she’d be wasting her breath. But, good grief, he’d actually accepted.
After the shock wore off, she had to allow that his guilt must be a lot worse than he’d let on to her. Or maybe he didn’t really think there’d be any danger involved. She probably should warn Drew that he could be risking his life and his ship. Pierre was a real pirate, after all, not just a dabbler like her father, who was really a treasure hunter at heart. But if she warned Drew, he might change his mind.
It wasn’t much of a dilemma. She’d have to mention it. It would be dishonorable not to. But she was going to wait and see what ideas Drew came up with first for the rescue—just in case he backed out on the deal after she explained fully what he was getting himself into.
The surprises didn’t end with his proffered help. The next morning on his way out the door, he told her, “We have a deal, so I’m going to call on your honor, if you have any, and request that you stay away from the hold. Your crew will be released soon enough. You don’t need to help in that regard.”
