Page 21 of A Kiss Of Lies

“As are some women.”

He shot a swift glance her way and half smiled. “I’ve yet to meet a woman who did not long for the security offered by marriage.”

“A happy marriage, perhaps.”

He leaned his elbows on the rail so that his head was level with hers. “I somehow thought those outside of the nobility could choose their marriage partners. I have always envied them, and swore I would only marry a woman I had genuine feelings for.”

She continued to stare across the ocean. “Life doesn’t always work out as we plan.”

Christian nodded. “Many marriages within thetonare not happy. My class marries for many reasons, not all of them noble. I realize that not all marriages offer security.”

She stiffened beside him. How could he know that her marriage had been anything but safe? She forced back down the memories of Peter’s viciously cruel treatment. Whispering into the wind, she said, “As it has been throughout the centuries, the weak are at the mercy of the strong.” She shrugged. “Unfortunately there are those who revel in the power behind their strength.”

His eyes narrowed as he took in her posture. “Did your husband hurt you?” His features lost their soft look: his chin became more prominent, his jaw more square, and his eyes darkened. Sarah could tell that he already knew the answer. “If he weren’t dead already, I’d call him out for you.”

Her eyes widened at his angry words. She couldn’t keep the contempt from her voice. “You’d have no right. I was his property. He could do as he liked.”

He stood straight and tall, his eyes flashing. “A man has no right to hurt anyone weaker or smaller than himself in any way.” He thumped the railing with a closed fist. “A bully should be punished. Do unto others . . .”

She had a sudden disconcerting thought that he was speaking from personal experience. “Your declaration sounds personal.”

He stood ramrod straight, his fists clenched and his mouth taut. “My family has skeletons in its closet.”

“Was your father a bully?” she asked without thinking.

Christian closed his eyes as if the memory was too painful. He nodded.

“I’m sorry. It can’t have been pleasant growing up in your father’s house. I’m continually thankful I never got with child.” She’d made sure of it. It was the first thing Pippa, the Negro slave girl her husband had forced into his bed, had taught her. Pippa hated Peter as much as Sarah did, and they had tried to protect each other whenever possible.

Christian said, “I think that’s why my mother never had another child. She died when I was six.”

“So it was only you and your father for most of your childhood.”

He was silent and, like her, obviously reliving ugly memories. Suddenly Christian stepped back from the railing and with a warm smile offered her his arm. “It’s too beautiful a day to be sullied with the past.” He leaned closer, placed her hand on his arm, and, with a husky whisper that snaked its way into her heart, he added, “Here’s to new beginnings on our return to England.”

For a moment she was captured by the seductive promise in his voice, echoed by the warmth in his gaze.

To her, the idea of being held in the safety of his arms was far too attractive, and with every passing minute she spent in his company, it grew only more so. Long ago, when she was an innocent young girl, Christian had been an obsession of hers. With a little effort on his part, he could be so again. She knew she should pour cold water on his plan to seduce her, but . . . he was skilled in the art of seduction, and their journey was going to make keeping her distance nigh impossible. After all, there were only so many places she could hide on a ship.

Sarah let him lead her away from the railing and begin a tour of theDoreen. And she wondered why, instead of feeling weighed down by the dangerous and unpredictable future she faced, her heart still felt lighter than it had in a long, long time.

The rest of the day passed quickly. Sarah spent most of the morning in the main cabin taking Lily through her lessons. After lunch, Sarah allowed the girl to run about on deck, and then they settled in the bow of the ship with easels and paints and Lily received her first painting lesson.

To Sarah’s surprise, Lily had talent when it came to colors. The technical aspects of painting and representing what she saw imaginatively would come with time.

Yet, despite the distraction, all through the art lesson Sarah’s body thrummed with tension.

She could hear Christian training at the other end of the ship. He and the first mate, Gareth, were practicing sword fighting. The clink of striking steel reverberated in the sea air. Occasionally Christian came into view as Gareth beat him back. She could see the alluring definition of his rippling muscles as the sweat made the white linen of his shirt stick to his skin.

The practice seemed to be in earnest. She knew men were competitive, but something else was in play here. While Sarah washed and tidied herself for dinner, she reflected on Christian. He was rich, powerful, and strong, yet she felt no fear in his presence. From his comments about his father, she knew he would never take advantage of or hurt anyone weaker than himself.

She’d been around men who were truly evil. She knew the kind of men who felt they had the right to abuse and rape women because of the position they held and the brute power they wielded.

Christian, on the contrary, was a kind soul. He treated Lily with a gentleness that belied his size. He had looked after the Pearson staff and had been very generous with Mrs. Hobson when he was under no obligation to be so.

Besides, unlike her husband, he’d have no need to force himself on any woman; his appeal to the fairer sex was evident. Christian had no need to resort to physical force when his looks, title, and witty conversation would overcome any woman’s resistance.

A worrying thought then invaded her mind. For some men it wasn’t simply about sex. It was about power. Her husband had seemed to get more excited the more she resisted him. He liked her screams and watching her tremble in fear.

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