Love Me With Fury (24 page)

“No need, Tully. Bring it on now,” he indifferently commanded.

Alex sat there wide-eyed as cool water was hauled in and the tub filled. What was this fiend up to now? When the men left and Spencer cautiously locked his cabin door, he came toward her and pulled her to her feet. Her curses were muffled by the gag which she still wore.

He undid the belt and let it drop to the floor. He forcefully pulled the shirt over her head as she wiggled to get free. The thin camisole quickly followed it. She clutched her small hands over her breasts in embarrassment. Outraged, she had no choice but to move one to yank the gag off. As she did so, Spencer practically ripped the pants from her slender body. Her hands struck out at him to prevent the removal of her last garment.

His greater size and strength were no match for hers. One hand over her bosom and one before her most private region, she stood trembling naked before
his leering gaze. “You’ll pay dearly for this insult!”

“You’ll pay, love, for trying to make a complete fool of me! When I give orders, I expect them to be obeyed,” he revealed his tightly leashed anger for the first time.

He picked her up and promptly deposited her in the tub. “I don’t want sand and salt in my bed. You’re prickly enough.”

He took the washcloth and soap and began to scrub her, none too gently. “Ouch! You’re hurting me! Stop it!” she protested as he laughed and worked on.

When her head and body were to his liking, Spencer seized Alex from the tub and began to dry her off. “I’m not a child, Steele! I can do it myself!”

“But I prefer to do it, love. I’ve never washed a mermaid before—and a man should do everything once!”

“Stephen! You’ll regret this unforgivable insult! My father will see you flogged and hanged!”

“Who is this all-powerful father?” he snapped, hoping to trick her.

“He’s…none of your business!” she halted just in time.

Her hair settled around her shoulders, making her a wild and alluring creature. Her flesh was pink from his intense scrubbing. “Get into bed,” he commanded harshly.

“No!” she rebelliously declared.

In no mood to argue, Spencer seized her and threw her onto the bunk.

To hide her nudity and humiliation, Alex quickly
scrambled beneath the covers. What else could she do? He stripped naked and joined her. To her surprise, he turned his back to her as if to go to sleep!

Irritated with the perilous turn in events, Spencer punched his pillow several times to vent some anger. His keen mind flickered back to his previous meeting with Madison and other officials. He had fully intended to tell them about Angelique but hadn’t, for some strange reason. Maybe it had to do with the fates of those other spies captured. After hearing about their tortures and executions, he couldn’t bring himself to turn this lovely girl over to those headstrong men. The mere fact she knew his identity made her a deadly risk to all of them, or so he used that logical excuse to keep silent.

He had been tempted to send her to his plantation, but thought more wisely of that idea too. He couldn’t trust this mysterious piece of fluff! His mind was in a turmoil; it was dangerous to keep her aboard, but just as perilous to release her. If only she would confide in him, his decision would be easier.

The war was a fact now. The American fleet had put to sea this very day. He went over the list given to him by Madison: Rodgers on the
President,
Smith on the
Congress,
Decatur on the
United States,
St. Clair on the
Argus,
and Hull on the
Constitution.
What a measly force to send out against the mighty Royal Navy! But for these captains and a few trusted officials, no one knew the
Black Mist
was in the employ of the United States government.

Considering the British fleet already in this area,
the open seas were dangerous. That last dispatch Spencer had taken from Thackery was a real gem. Madison was pleased to have a partial list of the British ships dogging the coast. There wasn’t too much concern with the
African, Aeolus, Nautiles,
and
Shannon;
but the
Belvidera
and the
Guerriere
were definitely ships to be reckoned with. The build-up around the northern border and Great Lakes didn’t sit well with any American.

Spencer wondered why Madison was ignoring Andy Jackson’s offer of assistance in the southern areas. A man of his courage and skill should be used to their advantage. Perhaps political rivalry was at the bottom of it. If Mathews and his group were forced to leave the Florida territory, someone needed to guard the southern borders. It was too bad Mathews, Campbell, and the others had arrogantly and aggressively overstepped their orders and infuriated the Spanish government.

In light of the letters from Russia from Adams, things didn’t look good over there either. Napoleon was pushing too hard. With the Russians and other countries joining England to battle him, they could make a quick finish of the infamous pirate. In that case, England would have more men and supplies to attack America. No matter, Spencer still couldn’t pray for Napoleon to keep the English busy in Europe.

Spencer recalled his argument with Madison. Was the President so certain the
Black Mist
would be of more help than the
Wandering Siren?
If Madison wanted him to continue as before, he had no choice. In
this role, he did secure an awful lot of vital information. So he would do as requested; he would sail up and down the American coast acting the part of a greedy and daring privateer…

But what about Angelique? Madison had found the petticoat of great intrigue, but no one could imagine what the curious code meant. He planned to turn it over to his best agent to decipher. Spencer was unsettled at having to lie to Madison about where he had obtained it. From the look on Madison’s face, he had suspected Spencer was deceiving him. Why he had allowed this odd situation to go unquestioned, Spencer couldn’t venture a guess.

“You awake, Angel?” he asked, turning toward her.

She tensed, but did not reply. “What will it take to win your trust and help?” he went on, knowing she was listening. “I gave the Americans the petticoat, but they couldn’t make heads, or tails out of it. They wanted to know where I got it.”

“What did you tell them?” she asked in a tremulous tone.

“I didn’t turn you in, if that’s what you mean. The last two spies were tortured and executed. I thought I’d give you another chance to comply before…” He didn’t complete his threat.

She remained silent, relieved they couldn’t read the messages.

“The war’s getting nasty, love. I can’t hold you here forever, but I can’t free you either. What should I do about you?”

“You have the petticoat, my jewels, and my vow of silence. What more can I offer?” she sadly inquired.

“I need information,” came the demand she knew by heart.

She sat up, holding the covers before her. “I can’t, Stephen.”

“Damnit, Angel! I don’t want to be responsible for your hanging!”

“Then take me home and forget you ever met me,” she pleaded.

“I own property in America and I plan to settle there one day. I can’t permit England to win this war. If those codes mean what I think, they outline our defenses. If it comes to a choice between you and my country…”

“I see,” she murmured, her voice shaky. “I can’t read the code, Stephen, but I can swear it is about business. My uncle is American and my father English. Neither would betray his homeland. With all my heart, I know that to be true,” she fervently vowed.

“One or the other is a spy, love. Don’t be so naive, Angel. They’re using you and you’re too blind to see it,” he harshly retorted.

“You’re wrong! They love me and only want what’s best for me. If the messages were dangerous, they wouldn’t have asked me to carry them,” she heatedly argued.

“In light of your present circumstances, you don’t consider them dangerous? You don’t find it suspicious
you were told to dispose of them in case of trouble? If your father’s in England, I can’t touch him. Why risk your life to cover for him?”

“You came there once before! Are you forgetting how we met?”

“For as long as I live, I’ll never forget that day,” he murmured softly.

“Nor will I,” she snapped.

He smiled in secret pleasure. To disarm her, he tenderly asked, “We’re caught in the middle, aren’t we? I didn’t expect to ever see you again, but surely not under these conditions. I wish it weren’t so, love.”

“Does it have to be this way, Stephen? Do I mean nothing but profit to you?” she wretchedly challenged.

“If that were true, you wouldn’t be here now. I want to protect you, love, but you make it impossible.”

“Would you really turn me over to the colonial authorities? If you don’t believe me, they never will. Nothing has gone right since I met you.”

“Good. At least you’re as miserable as I am. It’s bad to want something and can’t have it. If matters were different, I’d take you home with me right now.”

Stunned, she asked, “Would you really?”

“In a minute! You’re a breath of fresh and invigorating air, Angel. I’ve never met a woman like you. Frankly, you irritate the hell out of me.”

“I do? Why?”

“You’re the first woman who’s fit into my life so nicely. But I can’t take the time or energy to keep you
right now.”

“What if I agree to wait for you?” she boldly offered.

“What about your father and his demands?” he countered.

“I could refuse to go back. I could wait at your home.”

“Until I left? You’d be gone the moment my back was turned, just like tonight,” he challenged her honesty and feelings.

“You know why I tried to leave! You’ve been mean and cruel.”

“Were you heading for your uncle’s?” he inquired.

“Yes. He’s probably frantic by now.”

“Where?”

“Why do you always do this? You’re only trying to trick me!”

“How else can I protect both you and me?”

“You don’t care about me, only yourself and your greedy pockets. By the way, I took some money from your desk. It’s in your clothes I borrowed.”

He burst into laughter. “Too bad you aren’t this honest all the time.”

He reached and pulled her down to him. Before she could pull free, his mouth was covering hers. He pressed her into the softness of his bed, his hands taking command of her body. It was useless to resist him—and Alex realized she didn’t want to resist him. It was sheer madness, but she couldn’t help herself.

Once their passions were sated, she snuggled into his protective arms and went to sleep. He gazed down
at her. Why did she have to look and act like such an innocent? In and out of bed, she was an intoxicating delight. Too many secrets were between them. First the truth, then…He shook his head as if to clear it of these unwanted intrusions. Even if Angelique were innocent of all wrongs, he couldn’t seriously consider a future with a peasant girl. When his sons were born, their bloodline would be matchless. Of all men alive, he knew how important a spotless heritage was!

In spite of his vanity and arrogance, he couldn’t keep her dangling for years, and he couldn’t make any commitments to any female at present. Still, she was too rare a treasure to lose. He fumed at the fate which had borne them of different classes. If a woman this unique had to enter his life, why couldn’t she be a lady? For the time being, she was his. He determined to take all she had to give until the day came when he would be forced to send her away…and that day would come.

To dismantle her guard, Spencer began a new and compelling tactic that next day. He resolved to have her so enamored of him that she could confess the very depths of her soul. He spent every moment possible with her, assailing her mind and body with his multiple and irresistible charms. He was mellow and loving; he was tender and passionate. He entertained her with tall tales about his adventures. He waited upon her like a devoted slave. He was overpowering and charming, everything a dreamy hero should be.

Spencer would take her walking on the decks twice a day: during the early morning when the mist was just
rising from the sea and the sun was dancing over the water, and just at evening tide when the moon was scanning her face in the serene ocean. The colors, odors, and sights set a very romantic and tranquil mood…and Alex found herself loving every minute of her captivity.

They would share marvelous dinners by candlelight, and would dance in the privacy of his cabin to the haunting strains of music coming from the deck. They would converse on many subjects; yet, Spencer never questioned how she knew so much or why she was so polished and educated. Amidst the display of her refined qualities and best behavior, he refused to comprehend what fineness was before him. He denied all his perceptions and reactions but his delight in vividly charming her.

Two weeks passed as they savored each other without pressures. The more Alex relaxed and warmed up to him, the more he suspected her eventual defeat. Spencer dreaded the thought of her final submission; for once she capitulated, he would have no reasonable excuse to keep her. For that reason alone, he ceased to make any demands for the truth. With her and the ominous petticoat in his possession, she was no threat to America.

Skirting the southern coast to watch for a fleet coming from that direction, the days were long and lazy and the nights heady and short. Once while anchored in a cove, they went for a moonlight swim and made love on the beach. Alex wondered at this gay
abandonment she was experiencing. Was she becoming as wanton as some street slattern? No matter what her head told her, her heart always overruled its logic. There was no denying the fact she was in love with this magnificent man who was so strong and so tender. In view of his present conduct, she assumed he was feeling the same way she was. With all her heart, she honestly felt he loved her and wanted to keep her. She concluded she had won his trust and his affection. Even his crew had come to treat her with respect and fondness as the captain’s woman.

During the third week with her love, a terrible event took place: the American Captain Rodgers sank the English warship
Belvidera.
From the talk she overheard, Rodgers’s ship had become separated from the rest of the American squadron and was laying waste to many British merchant ships up and down the coast. Following the
Black Mist
’s capture of an English frigate, they learned the English fleet was pursuing Rodgers for revenge.