Page 75 of Tempted
We’ll never be wed, she vowed silently.
The Douglas ship that Drummond captained, the Antigone, lay at anchor in Kirkcudbright Bay. The posse of men drew rein, and Ramsay invited, “Come aboard, my lady, and choose a gift brought back from Flanders.”
Although Tina was mollified, she chalked up two more black marks against him for the time when she would even the score. She loved ships and all things nautical but had never been allowed to indulge her passion, even though her father owned a fleet of merchant vessels.
Though Ram handed her aboard, he summoned Colin to look after her needs while he went to the forecastle with Drummond and Gavin. Tina was enchanted with the cargo. There were bolts of cloth, everything from fine wool to shimmering brocade. A shipment of tapestries caught her fancy. One in particular, depicting a tawny-coated lynx with its short tail, long legs, and silky ruff on each side of its face, appealed to her most. It would look spectacular hung above their bed at Castle Douglas.
Colin rolled it up for her. He was happy that Drummond had remembered to bring him a fresh supply of oil paints, pigments, and canvases from Holland. To get into the aft holds required first going up on deck, and as she glimpsed Ramsay, she saw he was grim-faced and having a most serious discussion with his men She did not question Colin, though she was curious. The Douglases were clannish, and she wanted no tales carried back to Ram about her unseemly interest in their affairs.
Before she went down into the hold, her nose told her the Antigone had brought back spices. Mr. Burque would never forgive her if she did not acquire a little of each for him She knew the spices were not native to Flanders or Holland—Colin explained they were from the Indy Islands, owned by the Dutch. There was nutmeg with its distinct piquant aroma, and pepper, which tickled the nose and produced sneezing. Then there were cloves that she knew cured toothache and were so precious, they were doled out one at a time. Cinnamon had by far the nicest aroma and the sweetest taste, but ginger too was delicious.
After she had examined and smelled all the different spices she began all over again with the perfumes. The oils and musk had been distilled from exotic plants and barks, then in Flanders they had been mixed with poppy and freesia and lily that grew so abundantly in the fields. Tina chose a fragrance that was a mixture of spice and freesia, with only a hint of musk. Most of the perfumes were too heavy and cloying for her taste.
At last Ram was ready to disembark, but Drummond stayed aboard and some of Ram’s moss-troopers stayed behind with him. Gavin, however, stayed at his brother’s side, and as they remounted their horses, Tina heard Ram say, “Wait until ye see her. Sleekest lines I’ve ever seen. Nothing will be able to catch her.”
The Douglas rode up beside Tina. “Did ye find something ye fancied, lass?”
“Everything! I chose a jewel-toned velvet from a place called Veere, and I begged spices for Mr. Burque. He’ll be able to make gingerbread.”
“Did he ever bake ye a gingerbread man?” Ram asked indulgently.
“Oh yes, they are the best kind of man to have. Always sweet and silent, and if they give you trouble, you can bite their heads off.”
He laughed with her. He had begun to enjoy the little barbs she threw his way. There were a lot of things he was beginning to like about her that had once annoyed the very devil out of him, but that was before she belonged to him. Now he admired her wildness, and the way she rode rather than needing a carriage. The way she let the wind stream through her hair to show it off to the world. The way she wore fine jewels and gowns so elegantly, as vain as any French courtesan. But most of all he liked the reckless way she threw herself into lovemaking, holding nothing back, giving all. A small voice warned him, Don’t let her think she has you on a string.
They rode west to Wigtown Bay, where several ships rode at anchor. The Valentina, however, stood out like a jewel. She had been built for speed, so her lines were sleek, and like her namesake she was most pleasing to the eye. She was all white and gold, glittering in the afternoon sun.
Tina had deeply conflicting emotions when she saw the ship. She was proud of the Kennedy vessel that had been named for her, yet a wave of resentment washed over her that her father had used it to bribe Douglas to take her. If she felt resentment toward her father, it was unadulterated black hatred she felt toward Hotspur Douglas at that moment.
As he admired the ship, she noticed, his eyes had the same possessive look as when he looked at her. Though it was not her ship, had never been her ship, in that moment she wanted to own it. She decided to try her power over him. “There is one more present I would have from you this day,” she said prettily.
“Name it,” he said low, his voice almost a caress.
“The Valentina” she said, nodding toward the ship.
His face hardened. “For once yer sense of humor doesn’t amuse me. Come, I’ll take ye aboard.”
“Hold!” she cried, raising her voice for all to hear. “‘Tis still Kennedy property until I formally turn it over to you. I shall take you aboard.”
He cocked a black eyebrow but held his peace. They dismounted, and all crowded into a great longboat and took their seats at the oars. With a solemn countenance, he handed her an oar. “Proceed.”
A look of dismay came into her face as she glanced down at her expensive sky-blue riding dress, but as she looked up, she saw him exchange a wink with his men. Her resolve hardened. “Be damned,” she said, and pulling her riding gloves from her belt, she jerked them on and picked up the oar.
He had not expected this reaction. He laughed and said, “Give me the oar—I was teasing ye.”
Her golden eyes narrowed. “I’ll row this damned boat if it’s the last thing I ever do!”
“Yer almost as stubborn as me,” he mused.
She was so inept, she only hindered the men in their rowing, but when the boat pulled alongside the graceful ship and the Douglas men climbed the rope ladder to the deck, at least a dozen hands reached down to aid her aboard, and she felt warmed by the grins of approval the dark-visaged Douglases bestowed upon her.
The Valentina had only a skeleton crew of Kennedys, and Tina marched straight to the forecastle. She recognized the men aboard as her brother Donal’s men and spoke up immediately “Fetch me the logbook,” she ordered, and the wind whipped her hair and lifted her blue skirt playfully to show her legs and undergarments. While a Kennedy seaman hurried below for the log, Tina stood facing Ramsay, her chin high and her eyes blazing. The long minutes stretched out, while all his moss-troopers stood enjoying their confrontation When the log was handed to her, with great ceremony she held it out to him. “The lady is in your hands, Lord Douglas. Though she has beautiful lines, she isn’t as easily handled as you presume” Her look was triumphant, and none present missed the double entendre.
“As her new master, I can assure ye she will never be in better hands.”
She bit her lip Damn the arrogant swine—must he always top her? “I hope you can read storm clouds,” she warned.
“When it storms at sea, I am in my element. I only hope ye are aware of how violent it can be.”
