My Angel (40 page)

She would have to take grave care in this city. For almost two hours this morning while they were waiting for the tide to change, he'd tried to explain both of his countries and the way of life he took for granted. As he explained, he found that some of the customs were no longer acceptable to him.

After his father had left the ship and given the
Mystic
safe escort through the
Black Sea
to this port, he'd not had the heart to return to Angela until the morning tide. He wanted to know if he could make her happy before she became pregnant with his child. He needed to know if she'd stay with him of her own accord. For the two of them it could be no other way.

On the other hand, he could not bear to let her go. Thoughts of living without her forced him into a cold sweat. If she already carried a child of his, he would lock her in a room to keep her with him.

Pushing through the throngs of people, he realized how much he'd changed, how much
America
had changed him. This was not a life he could adapt to easily, even if he wanted to.

He made his way to Ivan at last, who embraced him quickly and drew him away, smiling wryly. "Are the rumors true? Do you bring a lady with you to be your mistress? Come on to the caravan and tell me all that has happened since you left. The minute Natasha heard you would arrive she sent me to find you and bring you home. Naturally, you could have made the proper arrangements for yourself, but I thought it prudent to greet you and let you know what has been going on in your absence. Have you heard anything?"

Alexi shook his head. He had heard only what his father had allowed him to hear. He knew little of what had transpired in the years he'd been gone, other than the fact of his mother's former husband's death, followed in two short weeks by the death of one of his half brothers. And of course he had heard the news concerning Fedora, the woman his grandmother had chosen for him. He welcomed another man's view of this situation.

"I have to send word to Misha where we'll be. He'll see that Angela reaches the caravan safely."

"Make sure you veil her properly. If she is blond and blue-eyed, she'll be fair game for any slaver's in the vicinity. You'd never find her."

Alexi hissed sharply, his emotions reeling. "I've been gone for too long, cousin. I had forgotten the customs and the hidden dangers of this country. I've forgotten too much."

"Misha would have remembered. He has always been the practical one."

"Always," Alexi agreed.

While Alexi absorbed the atmosphere in the flamboyant port city, and thought about how good it should feel to be home, Ivan gave instructions to a trusted messenger and sent him back to the
Mystic.

Alexi inhaled deeply. The air was re
dolent with exotic spice and sweat from the men and women clustered together, and it was
swept by the dry desert winds gusting off the sands surrounding the city.

"When do we leave?" Alexi asked, eager to get home and away from the dangers here. Despite his reasons for leaving and the nostalgia he carried for the States, he was anxious to return. Everything would be different now. He would have full control over the people working his land and the estate money.

They walked through the city, passing vendors hawking their wares. Alexi bought a sack of oranges to share with Angela this evening. He eyed the colorful material, the silken, sheer fabrics and thought wistfully of Angela dancing for him garbed in the clothes of his mother country. Music filtered through the vending stands, reviving his memory.

On the outskirts of the city, Ivan had indeed assembled a caravan of strength. There were twenty of his desert warriors, playing cards in the shade of a few trees, their horses grazing near the spring. Camels waited nearby, and there were plenty of animals to carry them and their possessions. In the Turkish custom Ivan had spared no expense or luxury.

Ivan and Alexi took shelter from the afternoon heat in one of the tents set up for his use. Inside, a plush Oriental carpet was spread out on the floor. Pillows lay in abundance; every comfort had been obtained, and nothing was left to chance. A young girl poured wine and brought refreshments for the men, then left.

Alexi relaxed on the pillows, sipping his wine. It felt good to be pampered. His thoughts turned to Angela, and he wondered when she'd arrive and if she'd still feel amenable to him.

First things first, he thought. "Tell me about Feodora," Although his father had already told him that Feodora was unsuitable, Alexi was interested in Ivan's point of view.

Ivan slanted him a crooked smile. "In a few months she will be huge with my child, Alexi. No, Feodora would not make you a good wife. I plan to take her to my tribe in the desert, far away from the estate and any mischief she might find. Najjar lost his wife and child to an epidemic last spring. He needs a woman's comfort."

Alexi made no comment while Ivan rambled on, but let his thoughts spin back to Angela--the way she felt in his arms, the way she tasted when he suckled her, the smell of jasmine that always surrounded her.

Ivan continued. "Feodora is a bit of a shrew, but Najjar will not care as long as she warms his bed passionately. That I'm sure she will do just fine. Feodora is a woman who needs to be often and thoroughly pleasured."

"Najjar? He is..."

Ivan made a lewd gesture with his hands. "If what the maidens say is true, Najjar is... well endowed," Ivan finally said with a grin on his face.

"He will keep her barefoot and pregnant," Alexi laughed softly. And then, "You feel nothing for her?"

Ivan paused a second. "Nothing special. Nothing that would bind her to me. Najjar needs a woman of her talents, and in turn he will keep her well loved. He has a huge sexual appetite as does Feodora. They are made for each other. By the end of another week she would have worn me down."

"She would not have been suited as a wife for me?"

"No, when I made love to her she'd already known many men. She was no virgin, and you must marry an innocent woman with noble bloodlines. Nothing less will be accepted by your grandmother or the serfs who reside on your estate. Have your mistress, but you must find a wife soon. So much depends on it."

"I suppose Natasha has someone else picked out for me."

Ivan laughed and shook his head. "She threw up her hands in aggravation. Decided she was a terrible matchmaker and didn't dare risk it again. You must travel north to
Moscow
and pick someone out yourself. Your grandmother will accompany you. She has made the plans already. If everything goes smoothly, she will return in a week so that both of you can leave together."

Going to
Moscow
to pick a bride... Alexi didn't much like that idea. Travel would take time from Angela, and he would have to leave her alone. Ivan and Misha would take care of her. She would be safe in their hands. Fears that Angela would
leave him if given half a chance loomed heavy in his mind. He would have her promise not to leave.

Alexi stopped brooding suddenly. "How long until Angela arrives?"

Ivan, who was standing at the opening of the tent, grinned. "Coming across the sand with Najjar right now. You can meet Najjar. I will wait for your approval."

Alexi pulled the flap of the tent back. Najjar stood a head and a half taller than Alexi's petite hellion. Najjar saw Ivan, smiled, waved and turned to Angela, who was walking with her hands folded in front of her and her head bowed behind the big man. Misha walked behind Angela. Alexi wanted to laugh at the strange picture. Angela had never looked subservient. She still didn't.

Angela was dressed hi black veils that covered her from head to toe. He could not see any part of her. As they moved closer he could see the outline of her face behind the sheer black veil covering her.

The buzz of the camp seemed to fade, and he made his way quickly through the throng of people to reach her. He offered Misha and Ivan a quick nod then reached for Angela's hand, drawing her into the fold of his embrace.

It was only then he realized that despite the brave show she put on for everyone around her, she was...

Quite simply trembling.

He frowned, worried he'd expected too much of her. He quickly readjusted his stance, slipping an arm around her shoulders and offering silent reassurance. Ivan's men seemed to press around them, even as he led her back toward the tent. "I'm sorry, Angela. I should have realized travel through the city would have been treacherous for a woman. I shouldn't have relied on Misha and Najjar as guides," he whispered to Angela.' 'Had I thought on it I would not have left you alone."

She turned slightly in his arms, her face angelic with forgiveness. "Alexi, I'm fine. The guided tour was fascinating. There is so much going on. Misha explained everything to me. It is truly an adventure."

"You're sure?" Alexi wanted to touch her gently, wanted
to erase the fear she wouldn't admit to.

He didn't want her to be worried about travel across a land
that was known for its thieves and dangers that could pop up
at a moment's notice. And in truth, he wasn't at all certain she
could make the trip. So far she'd shown amazing strength of
character, but this land was rough and far more dangerous than
anything she was accustomed to. A small, fragile piece of
femininity such as Angela might surely die in this unforgiving
land.

"You don't need to worry about me."

He didn't know what to say. She had changed enormously
in the last month. She had grown pale and lost weight, but
today she had a touch of color in her cheeks. Her lips were a
deep rose hue, and her vibrancy gave her an enchanting appeal.