The Pirate and the Pagan (30 page)

Charles said, “I think Harry Killigrew deserves a prize for dallying in the gardens two hours longer than anyone else.”

Ruark laughed. “Wild Harry, I heard, made love to not one, but two countesses this afternoon.”

Summer’s mouth gaped. “How can you laugh? I distinctly remember you saying that anyone caught with another man’s wife should be shot!”

He winked at Charles. “The key word, my little innocent, was ‘caught,’” he said with his wolf’s grin.

“Oh!” she said, and deliberately turned her back upon him, but it did not free her mind of his strong image. She seethed as his insufferable laughter rang out over her head.

The King looked her over with appreciative eyes and said, “I see you have changed your gown, madame, I swear you must have more dresses than Lady Castlemaine.” He pulled a rueful face. “This visit will cost me a pretty penny, I’ll warrant.”

She glanced at Ruark from beneath her lashes and said to the King, “I had to change my gown, Sire, the one I wore in the garden was covered with grass stains.”

It was a blatant lie, for her gown had been the color of grass to begin with, but it had the desired effect on Helford. His eyes narrowed dangerously and she looked down at her plate quickly. Her eyes strayed to his powerful hands, and when she saw them clench in anger, she shuddered.

The King decided to rub salt in his wounds as any good friend should. “I told you, sweetheart, you should have let me spread my cloak for you.”

At this moment Barbara had had enough of Summer Helford’s monopolizing and she put her hand upon the inside of Charles’s thigh beneath the table.

With the King’s attention diverted from them for a few moments, Ruark took Summer’s hand and squeezed it painfully. “I swear you must be the worst wife a man was ever cursed with,” he said between clenched teeth.

“Oh no,” she said with exquisite sarcasm, “that would be too great a coincidence!”

The kitchen staff of Helford Hall had outdone itself for this royal visit and the pièce de résistance to end the sumptuous meal was petits fours iced with the Christian names of every guest, a half-dozen of each, making a total of over five hundred cakes. It seemed everyone at table wanted to taste a Barbara, a Summer, or a Bess while the ladies fought over Charles and Ruark and the losers settled for a George or a Bunny. Some of the men who
thought they were witty offered the ladies a Dick or a Roger and the meal ended in high good humor as everyone repaired to the gaming tables.

Ruark singled out Mr. Burke to compliment him on the successful menu and was annoyed when that worthy gentleman said, “All the credit must go to Lady Helford, sir.” The real reason it annoyed him so much—if he were to be truthful—was that he wondered how on earth she managed so superbly. Until that fateful trip to London she hadn’t known which fork to use or which form of address was correct. She’d run about in rags, yet here she was with better dress sense than any female he’d ever known. She plied her fan and fended off a king’s compliments with the finesse of an experienced courtesan. She had such allure every man present was aware of it.

She had this exciting hidden quality about her which wasn’t altogether explained by her deception, for even though he now knew the ugly truth about her, her hidden pagan qualities almost magnetized him. He might no longer feel love for her, but he still felt an overwhelming desire for her. He looked over at his wayward bride.

Summer’s gown was ivory lace. She wore her mass of dark, silken curls swept up high off her neck to show off her rubies. As she moved from table to table, making sure her guests’ glasses were refilled or making polite conversation, she was utterly dismayed at the amount of money she saw sitting so casually on the card tables. She was certain there would be enough money lost and won this night to pay off the dreaded mortgage which hung over her head so disastrously, threatening to steal her very sanity. Her quicksilver mind darted about every which way to devise a scheme whereby she could acquire some of the gold in that room. Damn, she thought, I should have auctioned that bloody ambergris off to the highest bidder and found a way of pocketing the receipts, she scolded herself. None of the schemes she dreamed up were practical and with a little sigh she sat down to try to win some money, but her attention was not wholly on her cards and she lost more than she won. There was no alternative but to cheat, she told herself righteously, but at the end of the evening all she had to show for her deceit was a miserable hundred pounds. At this rate she’d have a long white beard before she accumulated the thousands she needed. The festivities broke up at eleven because the
guests had to travel by carriage to Pendennis Castle about four miles away.

Summer walked with the King and Buckingham to the royal coach, while Ruark attended the ladies. Charles said, “I’m looking forward to seeing Pendennis again. Zounds, I remember the last time I was there fifteen years past, I wouldn’t leave, I wanted to stand my ground even when General Fairfax besieged the castle. I had more courage than common sense I’m afraid and had left it too long to escape. Your husband is the only reason I’m standing here today. Since we are the same height and coloring, he donned my clothes and made himself a visible target up on the walls of Pendennis for three days while I was taken by ship to the Scillies. The ship tried to return for him but had to stand three or four miles out to sea. It signaled the castle that I was safe, but the ship couldn’t come in closer, and do you know what the damned fellow did? You guessed aright! He swam out to sea.” Charles shook his head at the selflessness of such an act, but Summer knew it was recklessness that was in Helford’s blood. She knew the demons which craved adventure, for she herself was cursed with them.

“Don’t let on I told you, sweetheart,” the King warned. “He’d not be best pleased if he knew I was trying to make him a heroic figure.”

Buckingham drawled, “I’ll wager she’s already found him to be real flesh and blood.”

Ruark and Barbara Castlemaine caught up with them. Summer gave him a measured look and said with a shrug, “He’s a man … no more, no less.”

She waved gaily to each carriage as it lumbered off into the warm night, then picked up her skirts to return to the house. When Ruark arrived back at the hall, he found she had assembled the entire household staff, which numbered almost threescore. She gave them her heartfelt thanks for a splendid job and told them she would need their special help tomorrow. She bid them good night, while a proud Mr. Burke stood smiling happily. “Oh, and by the way, Lord Helford asked me to tell you that he’s raising everyone’s wages.” She swept her husband from head to foot with a cool glance and said sweetly, “Good night, everyone.”

Ruark wanted to snatch her up, throw her across his knee, and deliver a damned good beating where it might do some good. He watched her bottom move from side to side as she ascended the great staircase and knew that wasn’t the only thing he’d like to do
to her. After the flogging he’d like to give her a good bedding. She’d put up one hell of a fight, he knew, but ached to force her to his will. He took one step after her, then stopped himself. That would be playing right into her hands. That would show her without a shadow of a doubt how he craved her, how he could not exist without her. Well, she could come to him and even then she’d have to come on her knees!

Summer threw the bolt on her bedchamber door. She’d never, ever allow him into her bed again. She vowed it to herself. She opened the doors that led out onto the small balcony overlooking the tropical garden and terrace and stepped out to look up at the stars. Tomorrow that garden would be transformed into a sultan’s harem.

She heard a rustling sound and looked down in alarm. She sighed with relief as she saw Spider’s familiar face approaching from the garden below to her balcony.

“I gather it was a roaring success? I perched in a tree at the end of the drive so I could look into the carriages, and finally got to see the King. Christ, the coachmen were so drunk it’s a wonder they didn’t tumble from their boxes. What the hell had they been drinking?”

“Cider, I imagine. Oh, Spider, you wouldn’t believe how high the gold was piled on those gaming tables tonight.”

“Perhaps I could join you tomorrow night and between the two of us we could relieve them of the burden of their wealth.”

“No, Ruark knows you. He has a deadly temper, so please don’t try any of your tricks,” she warned.

He shrugged. “I’ve other things to do, Cat. There’s a rumor about that the pirate, Black Jack Flash, was in these waters last week. Now there’s somebody I’d like to do business with. He’s the best at what he does. He’s slick, fast, and his cargoes are unbelievable, so I’ve been told.” He eyed her rubies. “Why don’t you give me your jewels … perhaps I could sell them to him.”

Summer was outraged at the suggestion. They were the only things of value she’d ever had in her whole life and she cherished them. The wonder of it was that Lord Helford hadn’t demanded their return. He might yet, she thought bitterly. When the marriage was annulled, he could take back the jewels. She wouldn’t give them up, of course. She would hoard them against the bad times. If ever the day came again when she was starving, then would be the time to sell the rubies. They were more precious to
her than blood. “I have sapphires and a topaz necklace but I’m not giving them to you tonight. If you make contact with this Black Jack Flash, I’ll do the negotiating myself. After watching the courtesans manipulate the men and Barbara blackmail Charles, I could handle Black Jack Flash with my hands tied behind my back. I’m dead on my feet, Spider, is there anything else you want?”

He grinned. “Half a crown would be good … a crown would be better.”

She picked up a crown and handed it to him. “Be careful,” she admonished.

He looked disgusted. “Stop making noises like an old woman.” He waved his thanks and disappeared over the edge of the balcony.

Tonight she would not allow her thoughts to linger on Ruark. She had much on her mind and no room whatsoever for his intrusions. As she lay in the lonely bed drifting to the edge of sleep, all her thoughts began to jumble together. Thoughts of the day past mixed into those of the day to come. Black pirates stole piles of gold and she stood naked, save for masses of bloodred rubies. She fell into a sleep, them tumbled further into a vivid dream.

She was dressed all in black astride Ebony. The night also was pitch black and she was waiting, waiting for she knew not what. It seemed an eternity. Then suddenly she heard a low rumble. The moment she heard it, she knew exactly what it was and exactly what she would do. It was a carriage which careened through the blackness, its driver highly intoxicated. With deadly aim she leveled her pistol and called sharply, “Stand and deliver!”

A woman’s pitiful voice cried out from the carriage, “Who are you?”

Ignoring the woman’s cries, Summer yanked open the carriage door and gold coins fell in a waterfall to her feet. As the coach fled she cried into the night, “Tell them it was the Black Cat who robbed you!”

When she awoke at dawn, the details of the dream were still with her, and she felt as if she hadn’t slept at all. She threw back the covers and put her long, slim legs to the carpet, knowing she hadn’t a minute to lose. She had asked Mr. Burke to assemble all the male servants employed at Helford, under the age of fifty. This included the footmen, the grooms, stablemen, gardeners, and even the little stableboys and kitchen spit turners.

She put on a plain morning gown, brushed the tangles from her hair, and skipped breakfast completely. By the time she arrived in
the reception hall the men all stood waiting to learn why they had been summoned and for a brief moment she felt too shy to ask them what she wanted. Plunging in, she took her courage in both hands and appealed to them for their help. “Before I go any further I want you all to know that this is absolutely voluntary. I don’t want any of you to do this because you think you are compelled. I will excuse any man and say nothing more on the matter.” She scanned their faces anxiously but all she saw written there was curiosity. “Lord Helford is taking the gentlemen hunting or fishing or whatever today and I am to entertain the ladies. The cooks will be busy preparing spicy, exotic dishes from the East and the South Seas, and I intend to transform the tropical garden and terrace with the jade fountain into a sultan’s harem. The attics are filled with silken carpets and cushions and screens and all manner of Oriental and Indian furnishings which I will need taken out to the terrace before the ladies arrive. Now here’s the part where I need your help.”

She took a deep breath and put her idea before them. “I want you gentlemen to entertain my ladies. You need do nothing but stand at attention and be guards of the harem. If a lady asks you to get her food or drink, you will do so with a deep bow. I don’t want you to speak with the ladies; in fact it will be part of the game for me to tell them you are forbidden to speak with them even if they tease you and ask you questions. The footmen will do nothing which they don’t do in their everyday duties. For the grooms, stablemen, and gardeners, however, it will be quite a departure.”

She gave them all a nervous little smile and revealed, “It is necessary that you wear a costume.” She had taken the large bolt of gold cloth and cut it into scarf-size pieces. She held up two scarves and said, “You will each need two of these. One for a turban … and the other for a loincloth. Mr. Burke will show you how to tie them. Those who don’t wish to participate may go back to work.” She expected half of them to leave. There was a buzz of conversation among them and only one servant left. He was a gardener who had an arm missing through an unfortunate childhood accident. The rest of the men came forward with sheepish smiles on their faces to receive their gold cloths. The young boys giggled and were removing their clothes before Summer even had a chance to leave the room. The transformation was absolutely amazing. She had known the footmen would look most impressive, for they had all been hired for their attractive looks in the first
place, and of course each man was the six feet in height necessary for any footman. The grooms, stablemen, and gardeners were a pleasant surprise, however, for what they lacked in height they made up for in sinew and hard muscle. No wonder they had jumped at the chance to show off their physiques before the ladies.