Her stomach lurched, but nothing came up. Anger ripped through her, and she jumped from her seat. She pummeled her fists against his chest, wanting to beat the life right out of him. When that didn’t work and all she got out of him was a laugh, she scratched at his face. He gripped her wrists to keep her from touching him.
“You are just like my pet jaguar, sharp claws and all,” he snickered. “Nevertheless, I can handle you.” He released her wrists, shoving her back. “So, Katrina, do we have a deal?”
“No, we do not. I shall inform Mr. Knightly of your intentions along with Henry. My father will have you removed from the plantation immediately!”
Robert tsked and shook his head. “Actually, that won’t happen. You see, I have many friends who will help me. If by chance, I’m kicked off this plantation, I will go into hiding. If that happens, you and Knightly will always be in danger. Oh, did I mention your vindictive mother will also be in danger? Because if you don’t do as I say, I will torture your mother as well. So really, Katrina, you have no other choice but to go along with me. All you have to do is sign a paper which Mr. Jamison has already written up, stating that you forfeit all your inheritance to me.” He shrugged. “Then you and your pathetic mother will return home to London to continue working at the tavern.”
Although his threat frightened her, she had to believe good would win in the end. Yet, he was making it very difficult for her to keep the faith. “There is one problem,” she said in a tight voice. “Mr. Knightly won’t believe me. He won’t believe I want to give this plantation to you.”
“Ah, now that is where you will have to start playacting, like you used to do while working in the tavern.”
She glared at him, hating him that much more. “I don’t understand.”
“If you want Mr. Knightly to live, you need to convince him that England is where he needs to be. Convince him that you don’t love him, and because of your past, you would never make him a good wife. You would only bring shame to his family. He needs to be home with his family where he can take care of them as the Duke of Rosewood.”
She wanted to ask how Robert knew all of this, but she didn’t dare. If he had connections in Brazil, she was certain he had them in other countries as well. But just the thought of telling Felix she didn’t love him and didn’t want to share his life with him tore her heart to pieces.
She didn’t have any other choice. If she wanted Robert to leave Felix and her mother alone, she must do what Robert wanted. After all, the plantation wasn’t worth any of this agony.
* * * *
FELIX CLIMBED OUT OFbed and then forced himself to walk back and forth in the room as he tried to regain his strength. He didn’t remember much, not after seeing the panicked look in Katrina’s eyes when he told her he’d been hit with a poisonous dart. But he was informed by Pete that Mr. Landon’s doctor had an antidote. Unfortunately, it would still take a couple of days before Felix was fully recovered. That was too many days, in his opinion.
Sleeping was essential for his body to heal properly, the doctor had told him. It had been several hours since the doctor told Felix he was out of danger, and he was tired of sleeping. If not for the weakness that hindered his walking abilities, he would have been out of this room and in Katrina’s arms. In his mind, she was the only thing he needed to become well again.
So, where was she?
An hour ago, he had the servants prepare him a bath, but the effort of washing himself drained a lot of his strength, which put him right back in bed. Now he was up and didn’t plan on retiring until later tonight.
Felix scrubbed his hands over his face, breathing deeply to clear his mind. He had so many hallucinations since the poison entered his body, and he couldn’t wait to see Katrina to talk to her about one of them. He didn’t want to believe he’d dreamed up her telling him she loved him, but then he didn’t want to ask her about it if it wasn’t real. One way or another, he wanted to open his heart to her, and have her do the same for him.
He changed his clothes, knowing that the evening meal would be coming soon since he was too weak to join the others in the dining room. It was nice to be able to wear fancier clothes after their journey through the jungle, and of course he wanted to look his best for Katrina. She would come see him. He knew it like he knew the sun would rise in the morning.
But what was taking her so long?
Donning a pair of black trousers, he stopped and relaxed a few minutes before slipping on a white shirt. It irritated him to think he was already exhausted just from this effort. He left the buttons unlatched at his chest, mainly because his arms were already weary, but also because the evening air came through the open window and refreshed him.
Pete had been to see him a few times and had informed Felix that Katrina had visited with her father. Although this was something Katrina had to do by herself, Felix wished he could have been with her to give her support and hold her when she needed comfort.
Perhaps that was where she was right now. Still, he couldn’t wait to see her. If she wasn’t here in the next ten minutes, he’d leave this room and look for her—even if he had to crawl the whole way.
He sat on the edge of the bed and raked his fingers through his hair, wishing once again, he could regain his strength quickly. He hated being cooped in here. It made him more anxious.
A small knock came upon the door, and he swung his head in that direction. The rhythm of his heart quickened in hopes that his Katrina was here to see him. “Enter.”
Slowly, the door opened and in walked a vision wearing red silk. When he beheld Katrina’s beauty, he blinked a couple more times, praying he wasn’t hallucinating again. This had to be real. When he focused on her once more, she was still standing in the doorway, looking lovelier than he could have ever imagined.
The gown was unlike anything he’d ever seen before. Red silk with black lace hemming around the neck, sleeves, and the bottom of her dress. Her luscious hair was piled on top of her head in a coil, leaving her slender neck bare. Earrings, long and dangling from her lobes, pulled his attention to that part of her body... the part he had enjoyed kissing while she was asleep.
He took a deep breath once again, only because he’d somehow lost the air in his lungs while admiring her beauty. “You came,” he said softly.
A sweet smile graced her face as she stepped into his room and closed the door behind her. “I couldn’t stay away any longer. I had to see how you were faring.”
He stood even though his legs threatened to wobble. “I’m gradually getting stronger.” He held out his hand and she came forward, taking it in hers. “But all I wanted was to see you again.” He pulled her closer and cupped the side of her face. She stared into his eyes. “Please tell me I’m not dreaming. Tell me you are really here and in my arms.”
Her smile widened, and moisture coated her eyes. “You’re not dreaming. I’m really here.”
“True, but all the other times I was hallucinating, you were with me as well.” He chuckled.
