Once a Mistress (9 page)

Something hot and exciting coiled in her. She had no idea what had possessed her to bite him, but as she felt his strong hands gently cradling her head and watched his mouth descend toward hers, she suddenly understood. This was passion. This was freedom.

This was life.

And despite his unscrupulous motives, she was not about to let this opportunity to taste it slip away.

His mouth closed over hers, stunning her with the hunger of his kiss. She hadn’t remembered his lips being so soft. Ensnared in a silky web of need, she reached up to clutch his wrists, her fingers curling into his flesh as her knees threatened to dissolve.

He broke the kiss, gliding his tongue over her lower lip before slowly raising his head. She stared helplessly into his dark eyes, his mouth still inches from hers. She leaned closer to him, turning her face up to his in a silent plea.

Suddenly he set her away. She frowned in confusion, then realized that what she had thought was the pounding of her heart was actually someone rapping on the door. They stared at each other, gasping for breath, as the knocking continued.

“Bloody hell!”

His harsh curse severed the tension between them with the sharpness of a blade. Shaken from her sensual spell, Diana closed her eyes as a second wave of humiliation swept over her. Fight him to the last breath? Why, she had practically crawled into his bed and begged him to take her—just as he had claimed she would. Mortified, she raised a shaking hand to her mouth, her face hot. Alex stormed to the door and threw it open.

The wooden portal bounced off the wall. “What?” Alex roared. “I gave orders…oh, ‘tis you.”

“Well now. In a wee bit o’ a temper are ye? Is yer wound painin’ ye that much then?” A tall, brawny man with dark hair and the face of a fallen angel bounded into the room. He stopped short upon seeing Diana. Glancing at Alex, he said, “Are ye aimin’ tae introduce me tae the bonnie lass, captain? Or do ye mean tae keep her tae yerself?”

“Birk, this is Diana Covington.” Alex closed the door, noting with male satisfaction that the flush of passion still lingered in her cheeks. “My sweet, this rascal is Birk Fraser. When he can see straight, he serves as our surgeon.”

“Surgeon!” Birk huffed. “Dinna be blackenin’ ma name like that, man. I’m no bloody barber! I’m a physician, highly educated and wastin’ my talents on the likes o’ you.” He slammed his satchel of medicines down on the table. “And I’m nae stumblin’ sot, either . I just enjoy ma ale, that’s all.”

“And everyone else’s,” Alex quipped.

“The devil take ye.” Birk brushed aside the insult and sent Diana a beaming smile. “Dinna be listenin’ tae him, lass. It’s the truth he gets a bit ill-tempered when he’s no feelin’ fit.”

“Indeed?” Sarcasm dripped from her words. “I thought ‘twas his natural disposition.”

Birk barked with laughter. “There’s a lass.” He turned to Alex. “Now I’ll be seein’ tae that wound, captain.”

Alex frowned and glanced down at the slice across his ribs. The brandy had long ago dulled the pain. Truth be told, he had forgotten about it. “‘Tis just a scratch.”

Birk snorted. “It’s the bite o’ a viper. Now set yerself down and let me take a peek at it.”

“If you insist.” Alex stripped off his shirt. From the corner of his eye, he saw Diana’s mouth fall open. Shock crossed her face before she could hide it, and her gaze swept over his naked torso with maidenly fascination. Amused, he gave in to the urging of his male vanity and asked, “Is something amiss?”

She closed her mouth with a snap. “Have you no manners at all, disrobing before a lady?”

“First decency, now manners. You have strange expectations of a pirate, my dear.” Alex rubbed a hand through the light dusting of hair on his chest and watched her eyes follow the movement. “If you have not seen a naked man ere now, ‘tis high time you broadened your education.”

“I have no need of any education you might provide,” she retorted.

Alex smiled and sat down in a chair, sprawling his legs out before him. “So you say. But perhaps this innocence of yours is a good thing. After all, I do not need a wench big with Marcus’s bastard strolling my ship.”

“I…why you…oh!” Diana’s face grew as red as her hair. “You vile cur!” Fists clenched, she advanced on him. “You poxy son of a dockside whore!”

“Such language, lass.” Birk’s tone was one of admiration as he poured water into a basin.

“You lily-livered bastard!” Diana kept coming, and Alex stood his ground. His attempts to subdue her had done little. She was still way too reckless.

“Diana,” he warned.

“You plague-ridden spawn of Satan!”

“Enough!” Alex’s roar shook the cabin. He surged to his feet, towering over her. “Do you wish to be regarded as a lady, you will cease at once.”

She jutted her chin. “And if I do not?”

He took that stubborn chin in his hand. “A trollop’s mouth has many uses. Mayhap I should teach you one or two.”

“I am no trollop!” She jerked her head away.

As fast as she pulled away, Alex whipped out a hand and grabbed her arm. “Then do not behave as one.”

“I am no trollop,” she insisted again. “No man has ever touched me.”

“Indeed.” Alex cocked a brow and glanced down at the robe she wore. “I cannot help but remember your attire when you first boarded my ship, my sweet. It seems you were ill-used at some point during the night.”

“Marcus tried to force himself on me, but your attack interrupted him.” She yanked her arm from his grip. “I bear no man’s bastard.”

“Yet.” He bared his teeth in a mocking grin, and felt Birk’s heavy hand clamp down on his shoulder.

“Enough now.” With a hard look at Alex, Birk turned his attention to Diana. “The two o’ ye can stop squabblin’ like a couple o’ bairns long enough tae let me do my work. Lassie, set yerself down in the chair there and keep yer bonnie mouth shut.”

Diana hesitated only a moment. Throwing Alex a haughty look, she stormed over to the chair farthest from him and sat down, her back ramrod straight, her face turned away from them.

“At least one o’ ye has sense.” Birk nodded once in approval before turning back to Alex. “Set yerself down, captain.” As Alex complied, Birk continued, “I need tae be stitchin’ up that slice in yer side, and I’ll thank ye no tae be bellowin’ at the lass the while. If ye take the notion tae be leapin’ out yer chair, then I’ll no be responsible for what portion o’ yer body ends up stitched.”

Alex’s lips twitched. “Understood, Mister Fraser. But when you are done, I shall bellow as I like.”

“Captain, when I’m finished, ye can do whatever ye bloody well please.”

“Just so we understand each other.”

“I’m understanding things quite well,” Birk muttered. Then without another word, he set about treating the wound. First he cleaned the gash with water, wiping away the dried blood and bits of thread. “It’s a fair simple cut, captain. Clean but a wee bit deep. I’ll need ye tae be still.”

“I’m well accustomed to the procedure,” Alex remarked with amusement. “How many times has it been for me, Birk?”

“More than yer share.” Birk fed the needle with silken thread and bent to his work. He jabbed Alex with it, making him jump. “What do ye prick the lass like that for?” he murmured. “She’s surely been through enough this night.”

Alex winced as sharp pinches of the needle bit through his flesh. “She challenges me at every turn,” he said, pitching his voice so that only Birk could hear. “The wench doesn’t know when to concede the battle.”

“And ye think you do? Ye stamp and snort like a stallion, tryin’ to prove to that bonnie mare that yer worthy o’ her.” Birk shook his head, a smile tugging at his lips. “Ye dinna even ken what yer doin’, do ye, laddie?”

“She is too proud,” Alex hissed, flinching at yet another stab of the needle. “She needs to be taught her place.”

“And who better tae teach her than a man with more pride than she? Alex, yer temper is cloudin’ yer vision. Ye want the lassie. It’s lust, no anger, that guides ye.”

“She is spoiled,” Alex insisted. “She thinks to order me about like a pup. But I’m no lapdog, and I will not be led about by a woman.”

“It would seem yer loins have a different opinion.” Birk snapped the thread, having finished the stitching.

Alex cast a glance down at the telltale bulge in his breeches and gave a rueful smile. “The wench is yet innocent and not given to noticing such things.”

“Should ye bide in that state, she’ll no be innocent for long.” Birk stood and slapped Alex on the back, the crack of flesh on flesh drawing Diana’s attention. “I suggest ye walk about the deck, captain, so yer side doesna stiffen.” He bent closer to Alex to murmur, “And mebbe the night air will cool both yer temper and yer loins.”

“A sound suggestion, Mister Fraser.” Alex stood and tested his arm experimentally, wincing at the pull of the stitches. His eyes touched on Diana for a moment before he turned to Birk. “I want you to examine her,” he ordered in a low voice, “to assure that Marcus did not harm her. She seems well enough, but she is too damned proud. I want to be certain.”

“Indeed, captain.” Birk cast a meaningful look in the direction of the door. “Give ma regards tae the watch.”

Alex nodded. Not even bothering to don a shirt, he swung about on his heel and left the cabin.

Birk gave a hearty sigh as the door slammed behind Alex. “It’s the devil’s own temper he has.” He smiled at Diana. “The two o’ ye are like flint an’ steel, strikin’ sparks off each other.”

“I have no desire to ‘strike sparks’ or do anything else with your captain.” Scowling at the closed door, she added, “I am naught but a captive.”

“Nay, lass. Dinna judge the captain so harshly.” Birk smiled, the corners of his blue eyes crinkling. “Things are verra often no what they appear.”

Diana snorted. “In this respect, Mister Fraser, I believe things are exactly as they appear. I was abducted from my home by Marcus, then taken yet again by your captain, a vile, wretched pirate—” She flushed and pressed her lips together.

Birk sighed. “Lass, I think there’s things ye should ken.”

Diana regarded the handsome physician with skepticism. He had a pleasant manner about him, and his blue eyes were kind. His Scots burr had a calming effect, reminding her of both her mother and Maude. Yet he still sailed under El Moreno’s command, and she was wary of trusting him. But she needed so desperately to trust someone. She looked down at the hands in her lap.

He seemed to comprehend her dilemma. “Lass, I am a physician, sworn tae heal folk, no hurt them.” He sat down in the chair Alex had vacated. “Mebbe I can shed a bit o’ light on yer situation.”

After a moment’s thought, Diana raised her eyes to his. Alex’s departure had resulted in the cooling of her anger. She hadn’t realized until this moment that her temper had been the only thing keeping apprehension at bay.

“‘Tis a frightening thing,” she admitted softly, “to have no control over a situation.”

Birk nodded, his expression sympathetic. “Indeed it is. Tell me, lass. Have ye any idea how ye came tae such a pass?”

Diana hesitated before answering, having already deduced the reason for Marcus’s abduction. She knew it had to have something to do with Chilton, and the conversation she had overheard in her father’s study. Obviously Chilton and Marcus had taken her captive in an attempt to force her father to relinquish the incriminating ledger pages. Thanks to Alex, they had not succeeded. Yet she could still be in danger, so as much as her instincts encouraged her to confide in Birk Fraser, she elected to keep the knowledge of the ledger pages to herself for the time being.

“Did I bring on bad memories for ye, lassie?” Birk’s soothing tone once more urged her to trust him. “Ye says Marcus didna harm ye. Still, if ye got as muckle as a splinter aboard thon devil’s ship, I want tae be hearin’ about it.”

“I am unharmed, Mister Fraser. Really.”

“Tae be certain, I would like tae examine ye, if ye wouldna mind.”

Slowly she nodded. “All right. But first tell me what you know of how I came to be here.”

“So that’s tae be the way o’ it?” Birk chuckled. “Verra well, lass, have yer own road. Yer acquainted wi’ a man called Chilton?”

“Yes.” The name conjured up memories of Alex’s attempt to seduce information from her. Ice dripped from her words. “I am well acquainted with Lord Chilton. The man is a greedy snake.”

“Aye, so ye ken the true man and no the noble face he shows tae the world. Fine. Then ye winna be surprised tae hear that the blackguard is involved up tae his fancy earbobs wi’ Marcus. Cut from the same cloth they are.”

“That wretch!” Well aware of the facts just revealed, Diana continued to maintain her pretense of ignorance. “How he must have laughed at us.”

“It was Chilton that had Marcus snatch ye,” Birk continued. “Have ye any idea what he might have done that for, lass?”

Diana kept her counsel. Chilton wanted those ledger pages badly, and her father had threatened to take them to Morgan. How better to force her father’s hand than with a threat on his daughter’s life?

“Lass? Have ye remembered something?”

Diana blinked at him. “Chilton,” she said. “He wants to marry me. I believe he covets my fortune.”

Birk looked doubtful. “There’s nae other reason?”

She shook her head, her expression innocent. “None that I know.”

“Hmmm.” Birk rubbed his chin. “He was certain there was more tae it than that,” he murmured.

Diana leaned forward in her chair. “Who was? Alex?”

“Alex, is it?” Birk hooted with laughter. “Aye, the lad must be in his dotage tae have made such a slip as that. When did he tell ye his name, lass?”

She bit her lip and avoided his shrewd gaze. “It doesn’t matter. Just tell me what Alex has to do with Chilton.”

“It isna Chilton. It’s Marcus. Alex has sworn tae see the bastard brought tae justice.”

“Why is that?” she asked, intrigued despite herself.
 

“I’m no at liberty tae say. Believe me when I tell ye that Chilton is a means tae an end. Alex means tae see Marcus hang…and all his cohorts wi’ him.”

“You mean Chilton.”

Birk gave her a look. “All his cohorts. Every last one o’ them.”