Page 26 of Lord of Temptation
“When it places her on my ship? Absolutely.”
She laughed then, the unselfconscious tinkling that reminded him of the clinking of fine crystal. He couldn’t imagine her ever being boisterous or loud or crude. She was a lady down to her core and this gent to whom she was betrothed was the younger brother of a lord. A man who didn’t shy away from acknowledging his place in Society. Tristan didn’t want to think about the lucky bastard who would have her in his bed, while all Tristan would have of her was a kiss.
He finished off his wine. “Take a walk with me about the deck.”
“Do you ever ask?”
“I suppose I’m accustomed to giving orders. While it might not have sounded like it, it was an invitation. You can refuse.”
“I could use some fresh air.”
The clicking of knitting needles came to a stop as Tristan rose. He pulled out Anne’s chair and whispered near her ear, “I don’t think you really need the chaperone, do you?”
He was aware of a stuttering in her breathing before she said, “Martha, see to tidying up the cabin so that we might retire when I return.”
His heart nearly slammed into his ribs with the vision of him and Anne retiring—
Then fantasy collapsed and reality crashed in as he realized she was speaking about her blasted maid retiring with her. He was a fool. From her, he would only ever get the promised kiss. He was an idiot to consider that she might gift him with anything else.
It was cool on deck, with the wind whipping around them. She hadn’t considered that, hadn’t thought to grab her pelisse before they left the cabin. She was considering returning for it, when he shrugged out of his jacket and placed it on her shoulders. The warmth from his body was lovely as it enveloped her. She drew the jacket closed as they stared out at the inky blackness of the sea.
He stood near enough to provide a partial buffer from the breeze. She would only have to move a hairsbreadth to be nestled up against him. Perhaps she’d had too much wine, because she felt slightly off-balance and was half tempted to lean into him, to let him hold her up.
Instead she gazed up at the twinkling velvety sky. A star arced across it, quickly followed by another. She released a small laugh. “I’m not certain I’ve ever seen stars so clearly before.”
“Because there’s nothing between us and them. No dirty air, no gaslights, no fog.”
“Do you think it fell into the ocean?”
“I’m certain of it. That’s where starfish come from, you know.”
She peered over at him. “That’s a fanciful thought. You don’t strike me as a man who would have them.”
His white smile flashed. “I’ve seen mermaids.”
“No.”
He tilted his head slightly. “They looked like mermaids. But when they came out of the water they did have two legs instead of a tail.”
“I can’t imagine all the things you’ve seen.”
“None compare to you.”
She laughed. “You are impossible with your flirtation.”
“Why do you not believe me?”
The seriousness of his tone informed her that he was baffled by her reaction, was truly curious regarding her reasoning. “I own a mirror, Captain. Several in fact. My features are not particularly appealing.”
“Did your fiancé never—”
“He told me I was pretty; pretty is not beautiful. I don’t wish to talk of him.” Not tonight. Not when she’d enjoyed dinner with a charming man, when that same man brought her senses to life as they’d not been in a good long while.
A deep mournful moan echoed in the distance.
“What’s that?” she asked.
“A whale.”
