“How long have you been performing?”
“Considering I was always pretending in my youth, as my mother told me many times, and I have been singing since I turned eight, I suppose it is correct to say I have been performing most of my life.”
Maxey held in a snicker. Nash was definitely an actor, trying to fool as many people as he could.
“I find that fascinating,” Raúl replied. “I, myself, wanted to go intomí padre’s business, because he was the greatest matador of all, but I find my love lies in the trading business.”
“You must go where your heart leads.” Nash nodded.
Too badshehadn’t listened to her heart. Maxey’s chest ached. If she had kept her mind in the right direction, Nash wouldn’t have been able to crush her so deeply. Why didn’t she have better control? When had she stopped thinking about being a governess and returning to the Wentworth estate, and instead started thinking about being a desirable woman?
Another gust of wind whipped around her, teasing the tendrils of hair by her ears and cooling the skin at her neck exposed by her fancy upswept hairstyle. This would be a good opportunity to leave. She couldn’t stand to be in either man’s presence any longer. A shiver passed through her, and she gathered her shawl tighter.
Raúl turned his head toward her. “Miss Littleton? Are you warm enough?”
She chuckled. “Actually, no. I haven’t been feeling well all evening, and the breeze is chilling me to the point of distraction. If you don’t mind, could we continue this stroll at another time? I would really like to retire to my cabin.”
“Why, certainly.” Raúl patted her hand, and then draped it over his elbow. “Will you permit me to escort you back?”
“Don’t be silly. That is not necessary.” She withdrew her hand. “You and my uncle are having such a lovely conversation about Spain, and I would hate to ruin it. So please excuse me.” She quickly backed away and nodded to Raúl, ignoring Nash. “Have a pleasant evening, and I shall see you on the morrow.”
“Maxey?” The concern in Nash’s soft voice nearly shattered her defenses. “I think I should take you back to the cabin.”
“Nonsense,” she replied without meeting his stare. “I’m perfectly capable of making it by myself.”
Without waiting for his reply, she hurried across the deck and down the stairs, only breathing a sigh of relief when she reached her cabin and was safely behind the closed door. She shivered again, but this time, Nash’s manly scent lingering thick in the air was the cause. It stirred memories of weak moments she had hoped to forget.
After lighting the lamp, she flung her shawl on the chair and marched to her trunk to pull out her nightdress. Angrily, she removed each article of clothing, taking her frustrations out on the material instead of the man who deserved her temper.
Finally, she left her clothes in a heap on the floor and crawled into bed. Anger still surged through her, hotter now than before. Why had she allowed him to charm her so? And to think, because of this confused emotion, she had pushed aside her main goal—to prove Nash’s innocence or his guilt.
She looked at one of his trunks in the corner of the room. This one had always been locked. Hmm… If she could unlock one of Raúl’s trunks, she could certainly open Nash’s.
Without any further hesitation, she dashed out of bed and knelt in front of his trunk. Since she hadn’t taken out the coil from her hair, she fished through her locks to find a hairpin. She slipped the pin into the lock and moved it around until it clicked.
She paused, listening for any signs that Nash was returning. Thankfully, she didn’t hear his boots creaking on the floor outside their room in the hall.
Cautiously, she lifted the lid to the trunk and peered inside. Books and a few newspapers lay scattered on top. Then, from beneath a book, something sparkled against the lamplight.
Her heart stilled as she moved the book. A gasp caught in her throat and her eyes fixed on the item. A ring sprinkled with rubies, encased with the Wentworth family crest, winked at her.
No! This can’t be right…
She moved a few more books around, to discover a pearl necklace and a man’s silver cuff links with a ruby centered in the middle. Lying next to that was a gold pocket watch.
She slapped a hand to her mouth to keep from crying out. Was this William’s ring? With a tightening gut, she knew the answer. Indeed, her first instincts had been correct.
Nash was the murderer.
Tears welled in her eyes, and she quickly closed the trunk and locked it. She hurried to her bed and buried her face in her pillow, silently crying out her anguish. Pain like no other stabbed through her heart and caused it to crumble even more.
She prayed for a release from her agony. Never again would she allow Nash’s intimate kisses or his charm to woo her inanyway. Her emotions just couldn’t handle it. Rather than go through this much heartache again, she should toss him overboard. Although this would be the best course of action, she still needed to follow Carolyn’s instructions and bring Nash back to the Wentworth estate.
Curling in a ball, she gave her sorrow a voice, not caring that her cries echoed in the small cabin.
*
Nash stood bythe railing and stared across the sea. Although relieved to be free from that Spaniard Maxey thought so highly of, Nash still wished for some company to settle his thoughts. Since things had ended so badly with Maxey, his mind continued to toss on turbulent waves.
