“I wondered why you would worry over whether or not Penny and I can swim, and it occurred to me that the only reason you’d do so was if you feared we might find ourselves in a situation where we’d have no choice but to swim. And the only scenarios that came to mind where something like that might be the case were if we fell overboard or if the ship started sinking. Both possibilities are rather frightening.”
He’d removed his hose during her talk and now unbuttoned his breeches. Standing, he pushed them over his hips, folded them neatly, and placed them on the chair behind his desk. “I’m sorry to have worried you, Cass. It was thoughtless of me to do so when you’re not in any danger. As long as neither you nor Penny decides to climb the rigging, there’s no chance of either of you falling overboard. And as for The Condor taking on water and sinking, something would have to cause a hole for that to happen,and since I’ve no intention of taking you through any treacherous water with sharp rocks hidden beneath the surface, I don’t see how that would happen.”
“A cannonball from an enemy ship could do it.”
Devlin couldn’t help but laugh. Cassandra raised her gaze from her lap, which she had been studying since he’d started removing his hose. Her eyes widened a fraction and color rose to her cheeks.She opened her mouth as if intending to speak, then promptly shut it again and dropped her gaze.
Devlin allowed himself a smirk.More so when he turned his back and saw her reflection in the mirror that hung on the wall. She was watching him discreetly out of the corner of her eye.
Well then...
“You’ve a vivid imagination, Cass.” He swept his shirt up over his head so the only remaining clothes he wore were his smalls. “But The Condor is fast and agile.” Another look in the mirror confirmed her eyes were still on him. The awareness was deliciously thrilling and immensely satisfying. Knowing he’d piqued her curiosity also made him hopeful. He cleared his throat,took a deep breath, and turned. “If another ship looks like trouble,we’ll steer clear of it, and that way they’ll never be able to catch us.”
“Sounds like a solid plan.”
He had to applaud her for looking as innocent as she did. With both eyes fixed firmly on the wall now, nothing about her suggested she’d just been ogling him. It was quite impressive and useful, he supposed, for it stopped her from seeing precisely how much he wanted to ravish her right now.
Climbing into bed, he pulled the covers over himself. “May I turn down the light?”
“Yes.” She set her book aside and he reached for the oil lamp.
“Sleep well,” he told her as darkness settled around them.
“You too.”
Silence crept in, filling the space. He closed his eyes and attempted to clear his head. A low whisper caught his attention, and he realized Cassandra was saying something. What, he had no idea. But for some peculiar reason, he knew the words weren’t directed at him. They also weren’t repeated, so he decided to let them go without comment.
She was entitled to privacy. And if she found comfort in prayer, he certainly wouldn’t intrude.
Chapter 8
It wasone of those mornings where awareness took its sweet time to rise to the surface. With a yawn, Cassandra snuggled further into her pillow and pulled her blanket up around her neck. The warm cocoon she’d created for herself was so comfy it almost lulled her back to sleep. She yawned again and opened one eye. The room she was in was bright, flooded by sunlight, and not the one she usually occupied at Camberly House or at Clearview.
Pushing herself up onto her elbow, she swiped a hand across her face and blinked the sleep from her eyes. When she opened them properly, her gaze immediately landed on a pair of men’s trousers which were laid out on the opposite bed. She blinked as all the events from the previous day and the weeks before came tumbling back.
She was on board Devlin’s ship and judging from the brightness of the cabin, it had to be at least ten o’clock. She’d overslept – something she’d never done before – but it was because…because…
She flopped back against her pillow with a groan and stared up at the white wood planking overhead. It had taken forever to fall asleep last night, and it was all because of him. Her husband clearly had no qualms about undressing in her presence. So he’d paraded about, removing his breeches and then his shirt as if he’d no care in the world.
And she’d looked. How could she not when he’d practically filled the cabin with his masculinity? Besides, she hadn’t thought there’d be much harm in taking a little peek. But she’d been wrong. The moment she glimpsed the muscles straining across his back, her brain had turned to mush. All she could do was stare. And keep her mouth shut so she wouldn’t start drooling. Her pulse had quickened, the tips of her fingers had started to tingle with some crazy need to reach out and touch him, and hot little embers had danced with wild abandon across her shoulders.
By removing his clothes, Devlin had managed to instill a feeling she hadn’t experienced in years. And as it had gripped her, sending sparks spiraling through her, she’d known it for what it was.
Desire.
The worst part had not been her inability to look away or even the fact that she’d realized she wanted her husband with quite a surprising force. Most disturbing had been her inability to stop herself from comparing him with Timothy. But Timothy was the only other man she’d ever seen in a state of undress, so it had been a reflexive reaction completely beyond her control. Unlike Devlin, however, Timothy had had the body one might expect from a man of leisure– lean and elegant. He’d also been only two and twenty when he’d died, his frame still waiting to be filled out.
By comparison, Devlin looked like the sort of man who engaged in physical work on a daily basis. His wide back, flexing and straining with every movement, tapered toward a narrow waist. Arms, rippling with muscles of varying sizes, looked strong enough to wield the mightiest sword. And then, of course, there was the rest of him.
She’d closed her eyes and listened while he made his way to bed. Guilt had curled its crooked fingers around her heart and squeezed without remorse. Devlin had snuffed out the light and they’d said goodnight to each other.
“I’m yours and you’re mine, forever and always, no matter what.”
Tears had burned in her eyes as she’d whispered the words, because she’d known that by feeling desire for Devlin, she’d betrayed Timothy in a way she’d sworn she never would.
A heavy sigh pushed its way out of her lungs. She scrubbed one hand over her face and tried to push the unpleasant feelings aside.
Knowing she had to get on with the day and worried Penelope might be waiting for her, Cassandra got out of bed and gathered the clothes she would wear that day. It took only ten minutes for her to finish with her toilette, set her hair in a simple knot, and put on the sage green dress she’d picked out. Years of not having a maid to assist her had made her pick clothes she could put on alone, which was, she reflected, quite practical.
