Spring Fires (42 page)

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Back in his own cabin, Raveneau found his wife fastening the buttons on diminutive cinnamon breeches. A frilled linen shirt, tailored to fit her perfectly, was already tucked snugly into the waistband. Stockings and a snowy stock lay waiting on the bed.

"What on earth are you doing?" he demanded. "Surely you don't want to go above deck
yet?"

Averting her eyes from his wickedly engaging smile, Devon picked up the stock. "You were gone so long that there seemed nothing for me to do but begin dressing. I thought that perhaps you were otherwise occupied."

"I told you that Minter had everything under control," he replied, bemused. "It's only been a few minutes—"

"Fifteen!" Her tone was more heated than she'd intended, but now it was too late. Andre was drawing near; the expression of innocent confusion that he wore only increased her ire. "You know perfectly well that I was not referring to Minter! I heard you and Lisette Hahn laughing in the passageway. How is it that the two of you have already become such close friends?"

Incredulous, Raveneau could only stare for a long minute; then he exploded. "Women! You are all expert at leaping to false conclusions! Lisette barely knows me, so her bizarre behavior has been more excusable, but I certainly expect more logic from my own wife! What madness has your imagination concocted? Do you suspect that I spent these past few nights with Lisette Hahn instead of bedding down here alone?"

Devon blushed, for just before he entered the cabin, she
had
begun to wonder about the time Andre had spent on his own in Philadelphia.

"If this situation were not so ludicrous, I would be
furious with you!" he shouted. "Sit down and listen!" Pulling her down beside him on the bed, Raveneau lowered his voice and explained what had happened between him and Lisette. Devon listened as he described Lisette's preconceptions about him and the tactics she'd used to avoid ravishment by a French pirate.

"That's why she dressed and fixed her hair with such
care
after Gideon told her I desired a meeting—in my cabin," said Raveneau.

"Well, you should have told her about us!" Devon exclaimed. She pressed a hand to the irrepressible smile that threatened to become a giggle. "Really, Andre, it was cruel of you not to tell her when you realized what was in her mind!"

"I decided that she needed to know the consequences of making judgments without proof," he replied shortly, then bent to pull off his boots.

"I'll bet you were a tiny bit insulted that Lisette was rejecting you so adamantly..." She couldn't resist a bit of gentle teasing.

"Rejecting me! How could she reject an offer that was never made? I was completely detached, with a thousand things on my mind—not the least of which was
you,
wench!"

"Caro says that Lisette is in love with Alec's brother; that she is making this journey to find him. Otherwise, Lisette could never have felt such repulsion for you."

"Repulsion!" Andre repeated as if he couldn't believe his ears. "Why do I have this feeling that you are saying these things to make me forget
your
latest transgression?"

Wrinkling her nose, she coaxed, "Why don't we pretend I never said those things, darling? I'm ashamed of myself; it must have been a reflex from the past—and you would have to agree that I once had plenty of justification for suspicions and jealousy...."

"Devon, you know damn well that for eleven years I've been completely devoted to you. It's insulting to think that you could believe—"

She put a hand over his mouth, scrambled onto her knees, and leaned close to his cheek. "You should be flattered! My jealousy sprang from my passion for you; my heart overpowered my head! But I was wrong. I apologize for doubting you."

Raveneau reached up to pull her hand from his mouth, and then she was in his arms. The kiss they shared was a long and passionate reaffirmation of their enduring love.

Devon opened one eye and peeked sideways at the clock that sat on a braced bookshelf. "Andre..." she murmured as his warm lips moved to graze the tendrils along her hairline, "you know what I
want
to do right now more than anything else, but it
has
been more than a half hour since you escorted Lisette back to her cabin. I really should finish dressing and meet her..."

"The devil you will." Raveneau reclined against down-filled pillows. Firmly, he drew Devon closer until their legs were entwined. "It's been five long days—and nights—since I've been alone with you,
petite chatte.
We have both wasted too much valuable time talking about Lisette Hahn. She'll have Minter and our children to keep her occupied until you arrive."

Passion washed over Devon as powerfully as it had the first time he'd kissed her nearly thirteen years ago. Their tongues touched in tantalizing play before the kiss intensified to communicate their feelings more effectively than words. Buttons were being urgently unfastened when a knock sounded at the door.

"Ignore it," Raveneau whispered huskily. "The children and the crew all know better than to disturb us when the door is closed."

Devon could only gasp in frustration.

"Excuse me... Madame Raveneau?" a soft voice called from the passageway. "Devon? I don't mean to intrude, but I wondered if you still wanted to go up on deck? I would go ahead and wait for you, but Minter warned me most emphatically not to wander around the ship alone if I could help it..."

Devon managed to struggle free of her husband's restraining grasp. "If you can wait just a moment, Lisette," she called, "I'll put on my shoes and come right out. Minter is absolutely right; I know from firsthand experience!"

"I don't believe it!" Raveneau was barely able to keep his voice down as he watched his wife scramble off the bed. "Are you actually going to leave me like this?"

"Andre, I can't see that I have much choice." Having donned her stockings, Devon slid her feet into buckled shoes and refastened buttons. "Honestly, you needn't look as if I'm torturing you! It's only been five days, darling, and in a few minutes you'll be over this momentary discomfort."

"Argh!" Raveneau dropped back on the pillow and groaned with frustration.

Devon was in front of the mirror, speedily tying her stock and tidying her curls. "I'll be right there!" she called, then paused en route to the door to drop a kiss on her husband's brow.

"Beware," he warned, eyes closed. "If I get my hands on you, wench, you'll not escape again."

She laughed softly. "Stop behaving like a spoiled child. Instead of pouting, think of the wonderful time we'll have tonight. We'll have hours and hours—"

"You are torturing me."

Shaking her head, Devon crossed to open the door and greeted a transformed Lisette Hahn. There were no more smudges on her creamy skin or on the neat-fitting shirt and breeches she wore; shining golden curls spilled down her back.

Lisette beamed, obviously much more at ease. "Hello! It was so kind of you to offer to show me the ship. I'm looking forward to the fresh air and sunshine!" Spying the captain, she called out a friendly greeting.

Raveneau slowly lifted his head in her direction, and growled something unintelligible. Lisette had the strange feeling that their new friendship was already in jeopardy....

Chapter 37

July 5-August 30, 1793

Devon raised her hand to knock on the door of Lisette's cabin, but paused as new thoughts crowded her mind. Suppose Lisette was already asleep, or simply not in the mood for company? In the three days that had elapsed since their introduction, the two women had developed a relationship that was friendly but far from intimate. Devon felt that Lisette was keeping her at arm's length. From what Caro had confided, Lisette had been so busy running her CoffeeHouse that she'd had little time for friends or amusements.

So, tonight, as a storm brewed and finally rose to a boil, driving Raveneau out of his bed and up on deck, Devon had decided to melt the ice between Lisette Hahn and herself. Clad in her bed gown and robe, armed with a bottle of wine and two cups, she now stood in the passageway wondering if Lisette would welcome this intrusion after all....

Abruptly, the capricious sea tossed Devon against the bulkhead and the sound of a muffled exclamation came from within the cabin. Doubts erased, she struggled for balance as
La Mouette
rocked to and fro, and knocked firmly on the door.

"Lisette? It's Devon Raveneau. I hope I'm not disturbing you—"

"No! Please come in!"

She entered to find a wide-eyed Lisette huddled in Halsey Minter's bunk. A brass oil lamp attached to the bulkhead painted the ceiling with an eerie light that fluttered with each pitch of the ship.

"For someone like me who is used to dry land, this is a rather disturbing experience!" Lisette exclaimed. "I've been anxious for news, but each time I attempt an excursion to the door, I find it impossible to keep my balance!"

Devon grinned. "Do you mind if I join you?" Receiving a nod of assent, she soon was squeezing into the narrow bunk beside Lisette and tucking the quilts around them both. "The art of crossing a deck during a storm without losing one's balance can only be mastered after much time at sea—and usually several storms!"

"What is happening? Do you suppose we'll sink?"

"Heavens, no!" Devon was pulling the cork from the bottle. "I've survived many storms worse than this one. All that's required are extra hands on deck; plus patience to ride the thing out. By morning, I'll wager that you'll look out to find calm seas."

Lisette's anxious expression relaxed considerably. "I'm so glad you decided to pay me a visit."

"Is this your first sea voyage?" After filling the cups, Devon held hers up and they shared a smile before sipping the aromatic Sancerre wine.

"I haven't been on a ship since I was four, and that wasn't a very pleasant experience," Lisette explained. "You see, I was born in Austria, but my parents dreamed of a new life in America. During our journey to Philadelphia, we were attacked by an English warship. Nearly everything we owned was confiscated... and then, my mother fell ill. She died before our ship even docked in America."

Seeing the tears that gleamed in her eyes, Devon felt her own heart turn over. "My father died when I was a child—at sea, too. I can empathize with your loss. Life is never the same for those who are left to carry on, is it?"

Lisette poured out the story of her life at the CoffeeHouse and the gradual decline of Ernst Hahn. Devon seemed to understand instantly, offering gentle observations that suggested known each other for years rather than days. Finally, as a second cup of wine ran low, Lisette revealed the particulars of her rather limited love life.

"...after that unfortunate experience with John, I was sure my heart had been broken forever." Her smile was both sad and wistful. "I retreated farther into the self-contained world at the CoffeeHouse. As my father's health failed, I truly was needed, and I derived so much satisfaction from my work. People still refuse to believe that women are as capable as men... No doubt most of Philadelphia has thought that I'm supported by the brains and money of some man."

"Someone to total your books, pay employees' wages, order supplies in proper amounts, and deal with the crises that only a man could stay calm enough to handle!" Devon chimed in. "After all, everyone knows that women aren't born with cooking ability
and
intelligence! That rule applies doubly if the female in question has been blessed with beauty, too."

The two women shared droll laughter, then Lisette continued, "You can see, then, how I might have become a bit standoffish around anyone who might make jokes about my life or question its validity without a man."

"But your attitude must have changed since you are traveling across the ocean to find Nicholai Beauvisage?"

"Oh, yes, it's changed.
I've
changed! But I didn't tumble joyfully into love; I dragged my heels every step of the way, right up to the moment Nicholai left for England." Lisette went on to supply a more detailed account of their unique romance. Finally, with her last sip of wine, she said wistfully, "No matter how much I love him, I don't think it would be
possible for me to give up everything I've worked so hard to attain, and then sit back and do needlework, pour tea, and have babies. How can I change the very fabric of my nature? I don't even
want
to!"

"Marriage doesn't necessarily mean banishment to a parlor, Lisette!" Devon smiled reassuringly. "Look at me! All my life I've been headstrong, and Andre is a powerful man. We clash at times, but all our marriage we've been partners, sharing life at sea and at home, and it's all become better with time. I know that my strength of character is the foundation of Andre's love for me. No doubt the same is true for Nicholai with you. Do you really imagine that he would want you to become that submissive woman you described? Philadelphia is filled with such females who would have doubtless been quite eager for his attentions. Why would he have gotten entangled with someone as prickly as you?"