Silver Sea (27 page)

The crew was assembled on the quarterdeck, each man neatly outfitted and standing at attention. It was evident, even to Adrienne, that they were overjoyed to have their captain back on board. Nathan shook hands with each man, pausing to make a personal comment that let the seaman know that he remembered and valued him.

Finally, when the greetings were finished, Captain Raveneau stood before the crew and said, "I cannot express the joy I feel this morning. During my weeks away, I have realized as never before how closely bound I am to this ship, you men, and this way of life. The prospect of a good long ocean voyage fills me with pleasure. Are you all ready?"

As one, they shouted, "Yes, Captain!"

"Good. Oh, by the way, this is Miss Beauvisage. She'll be sailing with us, and I expect every one of you to treat her with unfailing courtesy and respect. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Captain!" All the men were smiling from ear to ear.

"I suggest that we prepare to set sail, then. I am going below, and Mr. Minter will carry on." Nathan paused then and whispered something in Minter's ear before leading his captive below.

The atmosphere on the ship was tremendously stimulating for Adrienne. As she followed him toward the hatch that would take them to the berth deck, she decided that there really wasn't any adventure as thrilling as a sea voyage. She'd sailed on handsome ships like this before, but the captain had been her uncle or her father... not the mysterious Raveneau. Even his corrected name was provocative. The notion that she might not know what to expect, now that Nathan had stripped away his disguise, sent a chill through her.

Still, Adrienne couldn't let him know any of this.

"Mind your head coming down the ladder," he cautioned before jumping to the gangway below. "It's dark."

"Are you taking me to the hold? Will I be clapped in irons?"

Raveneau laughed. "Not at all." He led the way along the shadowed passageway, past the galley and the crew's quarters.

"The
Golden Eagle
is bright and shining in spite of your absence, Captain!" She ran a finger over the oiled teak bulkhead and a polished brass railing. "Perhaps they don't need you after all."

"In case you were not aware of it, ships' captains have more important functions than overseeing the housekeeping," he replied in astringent tones. "And Minter knows what my standards are. He's a sterner taskmaster than he looks." After passing the galley and the crew's quarters, he paused in front of a paneled door. "Well, here's your new home—at least for a few weeks."

Adrienne stared at the spacious cabin revealed when he threw open the door. "But—these are your quarters!" Awash with sunshine that poured through the transom, the built-in carved bunk was big enough to sleep two comfortably, and the other furnishings were handsome. Slowly she went forward and ran her hands over the dark wood of the table that folded down from the wall, the heavy chairs, and the specially made chests that held all of Nathan's personal belongings and navigating gear.

"All the furnishings are made of Barbadian mahogany," he explained.

Questions crowded inside her. Had she known him at all, truly, during their weeks at Harms Castle? But she bit her tongue, remembering that he couldn't think he'd won. "You are so arrogant! How can you imagine that I would care about such matters at a time when I have no control at all over my destiny? I have been abducted and dragged over the countryside, through the night, on horseback, and now you have taken me to sea and locked me in your private cabin—for God knows what purpose!" Warming to the drama, Adrienne paced back and forth in her tattered gown, eyes ablaze. She waved a fist at him. "Sir Pirate, I demand that you release me!"

He dropped into a sturdy bowback chair, pulled off his boots, and rubbed his eyes. "Why don't you sit down and rest for a while?" Then, unfastening the latch that secured a deep drawer, he opened it and took out a bottle of cognac and a pewter cup. "You'll pardon me, I hope. It's early, but then I haven't been to bed."

Adrienne watched him pour a small portion and drink. "Rude. You're so rude! Will you not offer me a drop?" When he shrugged and proffered his cup to her, she marched over, took it, and swallowed. The liquor didn't burn as badly as she'd imagined it would. In fact, the warmth that spread through her body was soothing.

"Have a care. Too much and you'll be sick." Nathan caught her arm and drew her into the chair opposite his. "Minter's arranging for us both to have hot baths as soon as possible. Don't worry." He held up a defensive hand. "I'll take mine in the galley."

"Where are you going to sleep?" Adrienne spoke innocently, then watched as an unnerving glint crept into his aquamarine eyes. "You wouldn't dare! I forbid it!"

This made him laugh again. "Do you? Who bestowed such power on you? My dear, I hate to spoil your fantasy, but times have changed. No longer am I the hired lackey, the bourgeois oaf who could find nothing better to do with my time than traipse after you and Lady Thomasina. On this ship I am in command, and you must do my bidding."

The familiar tingling started at the base of her neck. Still, she glowered at him. "One would think that simple breeding would dictate that you—"

"Give up my cabin? You jest, Miss
Beau.
But, of course, if you would prefer to sleep with the rest of the crew...?"

"There must be somewhere else!"

"If there were, you would be there. Do you imagine that I am sharing my only private space by choice?"

"Take me home then! To France!"

"If you continue this campaign to try my patience, I may. We'll discuss all of that in greater depth after we have both washed and rested." Nathan stood up to go in search of Minter. "You see, I not only don't have time to go cavorting across France with you, I gave my word to your father that I would take care of you until your twenty-first birthday. We have an agreement, and I intend to keep my part of it."

"But why? If you explain to him the circumstances—"

Minter, Crenshaw, and a procession of lowly seamen filed in then. Two carried a large tin bathtub while the others lugged buckets of steaming water. Raveneau watched them from the doorway, conscious of Adrienne's question hanging in the air. He met her eyes over the heads of his crew members and flicked both brows up. "Let's just say that the reward for me is great enough to persuade me to put up with you, dear chit."

For once she failed to respond.

* * *

It was the best bath Adrienne had had in weeks, perhaps since the last time she'd gone home to Chateau du Soleil. To soak in a big tub was heaven, and there was plenty of hot water and a lovely piece of lilac-scented soap. Adrienne scrubbed every inch of her body, then washed her hair, ducking under to rinse away the froth. While submerged, she blew bubbles. When she finally popped out, hair and water streamed over her face and down her breasts.

"You scared the devil out of me!" Nathan Raveneau stood over the bathtub, freshly washed and dressed and looking as if he'd seen a ghost. "I was about to reach in and grab whatever I could find of you! What the devil were you doing in there?"

Belatedly Adrienne put a hand over each wet, round breast. "I was... playing. Like a fish."

"Oh, for God's sake!" He retraced his steps to the doorway and gathered a pile of lacy clothes off the floor. The diversion provided a good opportunity to catch his breath, for even he had been caught off guard by the sudden attack of panic.

"I won't be made to feel guilty for frightening you, since you had no right to come in while I was in the bath—
naked,
after all!"

Nathan stalked back, towering over her, a bundle of feminine garments spilling awkwardly from his arms. "I'll have you know that I knocked first. When you didn't answer, I called to you, then only opened the door an inch or two. Can you imagine my reaction when I saw no sign of you in the bathtub and bubbles rising in the water?" He narrowed his eyes and clenched his jaw for emphasis.

"I suppose I can, since you wouldn't get your fantastic reward from Papa if I drowned!" Her catlike green eyes strayed to the gowns he carried. "You make rather a silly sight with all that muslin and lace framing your face, sir. Before you leave me, perhaps you should explain."

"I brought you some clothing that ought to fit. If you think me too
silly,
I can toss them out and you can wear the gown you arrived in—"

"No!"
Chilled by now, Adrienne slid down in the tub. It was faintly gratifying to note that Nathan's eyes skimmed the water, searching for a blurry glimpse of her nakedness. "Put them on the bed. Thanks to my abrupt departure from Harms Castle, I own less than a beggar!"

Nathan dropped the clothing on the bed on his way to the door. There he glanced back and said in parting, "You know that you're a baggage, don't you?"

"Of course." In spite of herself, Adrienne gave him a spellbinding smile.

"They're cooking a meal for us. I'll join you shortly to eat, and then I intend to sleep, possibly until tomorrow."

When he had closed the door, Adrienne got out of the bath and dried herself thoroughly. Her skin felt silky and her hair luxuriant as it fell over her back in a damp mass of chestnut curls. The clothing beckoned from the bed, and she examined each garment with mounting curiosity. There were gowns of soft muslin and silk, spencers and cashmere shawls and gauze scarves, and the underclothes were sensuously exquisite. Adrienne's eyes widened as she found beautiful petticoats, chemisettes, white cambric pantalettes, and silk stockings of the finest quality. Whoever had owned them had confidence in her body, for the garments—while flawless in taste and quality—were designed to display every inch of their owner's charms.

Who had left these clothes behind with Nathan? A spark of jealousy caught fire in Adrienne's heart. Had he had this wardrobe made for his lover? Her cheeks flamed hotter with each thought.

Slowly she donned fragile pantalettes and a stylishly simple round gown of gauzy cream muslin. It dipped low, revealing half her breasts, with only some lace edging to distract the eye. The morning sun was warm, and Adrienne decided to go without a fichu. Dressed, she glanced at the other garments on the bed and imagined another woman wearing them, clinging to Nathan and enjoying the admiring caress of his gaze. Her heart beat faster.

Adrienne's hair was still damp and her cheeks pink when Nathan returned. While stewards set a table and carried in the meal, she noticed the change in his own garb. No longer did he wear frayed clothes that looked as if they'd been in his wardrobe for a decade. Now his shirt was snow-white linen that set off an expression more relaxed and confident than Adrienne had ever seen on him. Gone were the old-fashioned breeches, replaced by sleek nankeen pantaloons that were the color of fine champagne. His freshly washed hair gleamed blue-black in the wide beam of sunlight.

"So much makes sense now," she whispered to herself.

His gaze flicked in her direction. "Does it? I'm glad."

When the other men had gone, Nathan gestured for her to take a chair at the table that was now set with white linen, china, and silver. "We won't always stand on this much ceremony; things break too easily at sea. But, navigating the Solent, the waters above the Isle of Wight, takes time and care. It should be steady going for a few hours."

Adrienne watched as he poured champagne for them. She badly wanted to ask where the clothes had come from but sensed that it would be a mistake. When Nathan handed her a goblet across the table, his eyes fell on her bosom, and she knew a moment of pleasure that did not need to be shared with the gown's previous owner. What did the past matter, after all? The ghosts were gone, and she was here with him now. Even the most dedicated rakes could reform....

"The food smells wonderful!" she exclaimed. "It seems days since I last ate."

"Have a taste. This morning is all about meeting basic needs." There was a hint of wickedness in his smile.

"Do those needs include my desire to be set free?"

"No." Nathan pointed to her plate. "Eat now, talk later."

Compelled to obey, Adrienne turned her attention to a fairly good beef chop with gravy, warm biscuits, stewed peas and lettuce, and a generous serving of potatoes. At intervals, she felt thirsty, and the cold champagne tasted delicious. When both of them began to feel sated, Nathan refilled their glasses and leaned back in his chair.

"I think my cook has grown lax in my absence. If this is the best he can do on the first day of our voyage, what will the fare taste like a month from now?"

Her eyes widened above the rim of her goblet. "A month! See here, I do not want to be trapped on this ship for a month! I'll go mad!"

"Perhaps not when you reach your destination. It's worth the long voyage." There was a subtly persuasive note in his voice. "Believe me, it's not that I want you, but I don't have any choice."

Dessert was a bowl of sublimely ripe sliced peaches drizzled with cream. Adrienne spooned one into her mouth and made a small sound of appreciation. She adored the prospect of sailing across the ocean with a lot of men to an exotic destination. What could be more romantic, especially compared to the two alternatives of Harms Castle and her family home in France? And, although she could hardly admit it to herself, Adrienne was captivated by Nathan.

Of course, all her secrets had to be kept from him. Their eyes met across the table. "Perhaps you ought to start at the beginning and explain everything, such as your real identity and your bargain with my father!"

"My name is Nathan Raveneau, just as you heard today. I was born in Connecticut, in America, but my father is French. He was a privateer captain during America's War for Independence, and later built ships and traded with China and the West Indies. I dreamed of having a ship of my own since childhood."

The champagne made her feel reckless. "Raveneau... Why does that name sound familiar to me?"

"Perhaps because our parents are old friends. When I was a lad and my father was still trading, we used to sail to Europe as a family. I clearly remember your mother, Lisette Hahn, coming on board in Philadelphia, in 1793." It warmed him to see the pleased astonishment in her eyes. "She may have been the first female I appreciated, if you take my meaning. We took her to England to find your father, Nicholai, and they were married not long after that. And my family still socializes with your uncle and aunt, Alec and Caro Beauvisage. Those ties are more easily maintained since they all live in America."