“If you’re that interested, I’d be more than happy to tell you.” He took Julia’s hand and threaded his fingers through hers. He placed their joined hands on the inside of his thigh. “I’m here to collect a debt. Would you like me to tell you more about it?”
“Not particularly.” Her tone matched the hard glare she gave him. She tried to pull her hand free, but he held it firmly against his thigh.
“Julia is just being coy,” Sylvia said. “I’m certain she would love to hear anything you have to say.”
“Is that right, Miss Anderson?”
“Actually, I am curious as to why you’re here.” She attempted to steer the conversation to a general topic. “Sacramento must be very dull compared to a city as exciting as San Francisco.”
Dramatically, both eyebrows rose as if in feigned surprise. “You’ve been to San Francisco?”
“Once,” she said in an icy tone. “I didn’t find it very amusing.”
“Then you’ll have to go with me sometime. I’m certain I can show you an exciting time. In fact, it could be a night you may never forget.”
“That sounds deliciously sinful,” Sylvia said. “You should take the captain up on his offer.”
“Yes, you should,” he agreed. “I’ve heard there’s a charming little place on the cliffs right next to the ocean. I’d like to take you there.”
“Oh, captain.” Sylvia’s voice contained a sensual purr. “You must be referring to the Cliff House. That’s where all the lovers go to meet.”
“Have you taken many women there?” Julia couldn’t resist asking.
“No, I’ve never been there. But I’d like to go with you. We could take a steamer down the Sacramento River tonight and arrive in time for breakfast.”
She felt certain he taunted her. Breakfast at the Cliff House had been exactly what she’d promised him for saving her life that night. “That’s very kind of you to invite me, but I’m afraid I must decline.”
“At least you’re honest about not wanting to go there with me...” He leaned closer to her and lowered his voice so only she could hear while he added, “...this time.”
“Julia darling, you must reconsider the captain’s offer.”
“I don’t believe Miss Anderson is the kind of lady who would run off with a man she barely knows.”
His voice took on a mocking tone. “Tell me, Julia darling, what kind of man would you go to San Francisco to meet?”
She looked directly into his eyes, now an icy blue. “Contrary to what you believe, I would not go there to meet a lover.”
“I never thought you would.”
“The captain knows you too well,” Sylvia said. “You can be such a bore, always telling men no.”
“Could we find something else to talk about besides me?”
“Certainly,” Sylvia said. “After all, the captain’s life has to be so much more exciting than yours. I believe he was about to tell us why he’s in Sacramento. Weren’t you, captain?”
“I would, but we’re in such a public place. I’m afraid we might be overheard. Of course if Miss Anderson would like to go with me somewhere private, there’s plenty I’d like to tell her. Also show her.” He emphasized his meaning by moving their joined hands farther up his thigh toward his lap.
She tried to pull her hand away, but his grip tightened. She used her other hand in an attempt to pry his fingers loose. That also proved to be futile.
“Let go,” she demanded in a low voice.
“Julia, you’re causing a scene.” Sylvia’s tone was sharp. “The captain is right. This is much too public a place. We can go to my house to continue this discussion.”
“The three of us?” Payton cocked one dark eyebrow. “That’s an intriguing offer. What do you say, Miss Anderson?”
“Let go of my hand,” she repeated.
He ignored her demand while he conversed with Sylvia. “I believe Miss Anderson is too shy for a multiple...ah, discussion. She might respond better to a private lecture. That is, if you would suspend your chaperone duties and leave Miss Anderson in my care.”
“Yes, I think that might be just what our Julia needs.” She gave her a very meaningful stare. “I hope you behave accordingly so you don’t prove to be a disappointment.”
As soon as Sylvia left the balcony, Payton released Julia’s hand. She rubbed the red marks left by his grip.
“You acted abominably.”
“How about the way you acted?” He kept his voice low, but his anger was apparent. “Batting your lashes and flirting outrageously just to get information from me.”
“Do you believe me to be that obtuse?” she said in a harsh whisper. “Do you honestly think I’d use such a ridiculous ploy to make you confess to Sylvia all I had begged you not to tell?”
“I didn’t know what you were up to, but I was certain I’d find out once I got you alone. That’s why I acted the way I did. I wanted Sylvia to think I was succumbing to your charms.”
“You could have done so without resorting to such obnoxious behavior,” she said while still rubbing her hand.
“Sylvia wouldn’t have believed anything else. You aren’t that skilled in the art of seduction, but she’s well aquatinted with lust. It didn’t take much to convince her that I’d resort to anything, including force, to have you.”
“You certainly convinced me.”
He slumped back in his chair. His chest expanded beneath his crisp, white shirt as he took a deep breath. Slowing, he released his breath while rubbing his hand over his cleanly shaved jaw.
“I’m sorry,” he said, his tone soft and his anger gone. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I really am happy to see you no matter what the reason. I’d also like to apologize for the way I behaved in the park today.”
“I want you to leave Sacramento immediately.”
“You won’t forgive me.” His eyebrows creased.
“It’s not that. It’s Mrs. Collins. She alluded to a more unpleasant means of getting information if I didn’t agree to meet with you tonight. She thought I could find out what she wants to know in a more, ah, friendlier manner.”
“They actually expected you to seduce information from me?”
“After seeing us together on the terrace last night, Sylvia is convinced you were quite taken with me.” Heat crept into her cheeks at the memory. “She said I was an expert at withholding my charms from men, so I shouldn’t have any trouble driving you mad while making you divulge your secrets.”
“Those people are unbelievable. How did they manage to coerce you into trying to get information from me?”
“They didn’t force me, although they probably thought they did. I could have refused, but I was concerned that something might happen to you before I had time to warn you.”
His forehead wrinkled. “You were worried about me?”
She nodded. “They’re very upset about you being in Sacramento, but I’m not certain why. They want me to discover the reason you’re here and who it is you’re searching for. Of course I couldn’t very well tell them you were here only to find me.”
He closed his eyes and shook his head. “I didn’t mean for you to get caught in the middle of this business I have with Lawrence Dunbar.”
Her body went rigid. She couldn’t believe what she’d just heard. The words had come from his mouth, but she still couldn’t believe it. He’d just admitted he had business with Lawrence Dunbar. But the only business Dunbar conspired in was piracy on the high seas as well as murder and mayhem.
Payton reached for her hand, but she recoiled from him. When his fingers skimmed over the back of her hand, she clenched it into a tight fist.
“Are you still frightened of me? I’m not going to force your hand in my lap again.”
His behavior didn’t concern her, but it terrified her to think he might be involved in the same sort of evil business that took her brother’s life.
“You know Lawrence Dunbar. You also knew Wilber Hennigan. And you’re captain
of a ship.” Her mind reeled with the implication. She shook her head in denial, but she couldn’t find any other explanation. Without realizing it, she spoke her thoughts out loud. “The three of you were in business together.”
“You’d actually put me in the same league with them? Do you have any idea what business they’re involved in?”
She hadn’t meant to blurt out her accusation. Her mind searched for a vague answer. “Shipping, I believe.”
“Don’t give me that innocent act. You’re far too intelligent.”
“According to gossip, most of Mr. Dunbar’s activities were illegal.”
“It’s not gossip. It’s fact.”
“Then how did you come to know him?” She glanced at his face to see his reaction.
His head tilted to one side. “Is that part of the information you’re supposed to seduce from me?”
“It’s to satisfy my own curiosity.”
He rubbed is hand over his naked jaw. “I know you thought I looked like a pirate when we first met, but you must know that I’d never resort to that type of activity.”
“I’d like to believe you, but it doesn’t explain your association with these people.”
“I’ll tell you that answer as soon as you explain a few things to me.” He leaned closer so his voice didn’t carry. “You work for Dunbar’s mother. And you were secretly seeing Wilber Hennigan. How deeply are you involved?”
“You actually believe I would be involved in any of their filthy schemes?” she asked.
“You believed it easily enough about me,” he retorted.
“Perhaps so, but I’m not entirely convinced that my assumption of you is incorrect.”
“What if I gave you my word that I’m not involved with Dunbar? Would that convince you?”
She shrugged, not certain his word would be enough. “I know so little about you. I thought you were here to find me, but I discovered that’s not the reason. You won’t explain your association with Lawrence Dunbar, and you don’t seem to trust me enough to put me in your confidence.”
“What of your trust? Your confidence? You said yourself I saved your life more than once. How did you repay me? You lied to me and then ran off. All I’ve gotten from you is lies.”
He spoke the truth, but how could she give him her trust? “That’s because you want too much from me.”
“And it seems you want nothing of me other than to know why I’m looking for Dunbar.”
“You’re wrong. I don’t want to know why you’re looking for him. I just want you to leave.”
“What about your duty to your employer?” A sarcastic edge carried in his voice. “Aren’t you supposed to seduce me into revealing my secrets about Dunbar?”
“Why bother? You said I wasn’t very good at it.”
“You underestimate your charms.” Warmth shimmered in his eyes. “It wouldn’t matter what method you used, nor how obvious you are. I’d do just about anything for you. But I think you know that already. Since the first moment we met, I’ve helped and taken care of you. I told you then you were my woman. That’s still how I feel about you whether you trust me or not.”
She gazed into his brilliant blue eyes while recalling that first night when she’d told him she trusted him. Perhaps she still did, but she had a limit as to how much she would surrender.
“I do trust you, but only with life, not with my secrets. And apparently, you don’t trust me with your secrets either. Perhaps it would be best if we leave it that way.”
“Perhaps we should—at least for now.”
“I hope you realize that I do care about your life. That’s why I want you to leave Sacramento.” She held up her hand when he opened his mouth to object. “Looks can be deceiving. Mrs. Collins gives the appearance that she’s a harmless old lady, but she can be very dangerous. If she thinks you’re looking for her son to cause him problems, your life could be in danger.”
“I know exactly what she’s capable of, but you should be the first to realize I can take care of myself.”
“I still want you to go.”
“I’m touched at your concern.” A smile tugged at his lips. “Does this mean you’ve forgiven me?”
“I don’t want these people to hurt you.”
“No one is going to hurt me. And I’m not going to let anyone hurt you. Do you have someone you can stay with?”
Her brow wrinkled. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t want you staying with Collins anymore.”
“I have to. I work for her.”
“Then quit. If it’s a matter of money, I’ll—”
“No, I’m already obligated to you enough. But if it makes you feel any better, I don’t plan to work for her much longer.”
“I’d feel a lot better if you didn’t go back there at all.” He let out a heavy sigh when she shook her head at his suggestion. “Are you hungry?”
She frowned at the sudden switch in conversation. “A little. I’ve been too upset to eat much.”
“Then let me take you somewhere for dinner.” Before she could refuse he added, “While we’re eating, I’ll think of a few things for you to tell Betsy and Sylvia to appease their appetites as well.”
Chapter Eleven
The restaurant where Payton and Julia dined bustled with activity, yet the headwaiter, dressed in black evening attire, seated them at a table right away. Waitresses wearing crisp white aprons over black skirts and white blouses hovered around the guests, tending to their every need.
The food tasted as delicious as it looked. Her plate overflowed with silver-dollar-sized medallions of beef in a creamed sauce spread over seasoned rice. The green beans and carrots were cooked just the way she liked them—crisp, with only butter and salt. Their conversation, however, lacked any flavor.
Payton had almost finished eating his steak when she brought up the reason for their mute dining. “I’m afraid to ask you anything for fear you’ll think it’s on behalf of Mrs. Collins.”
“Then I’ll tell you straight off why I’m looking for Dunbar so we can enjoy the rest of the evening. It’s really very simple and not much of a secret. You can tell Collins if you wish. Lawrence Dunbar owes me something. I heard he’d be in California soon, so I decided to stick around and collect that debt. As to Wilber Hennigan, he never told me anything. I only mentioned his name to Sylvia to see her reaction”
His voice sounded casual, but the clenching of his jaw and the brief flicker of anger in his eyes told her it wasn’t that simple.
“Actually, I had planned not to tell her anything. Perhaps she’ll believe I’m not very good at gleaning information. Then she won’t ask me to do it again.”
“I wouldn’t count on it. I suspect there’s no limit to what she might ask you to do.”
Silently, Julia agreed. She’d always sensed Betsy had other plans for her, but she had plans of her own.
“Perhaps it would be best not to talk about the present.” She feared Payton had a few questions of his own. She wanted to guide the conversation away from his curiosity about her and her involvement with Betsy and Wilber Hennigan. “We could talk about the past and things that happened long before we heard of Lawrence Dunbar, or Betsy Collins.”
He put his elbows on the table and rested his chin on his clasped hands. “What would you like to know?”
Her gaze wandered over the man sitting across from her. Years of squinting into the sun had caused fine, white lines to fan out from the corner of his eyes. His hands, tanned and weathered, were covered with scars that stood out as white slashes against his darkened skin.
He probably had plenty of tales to tell about the sea, but that would only remind her of her brother. She needed something further back.
“Tell me about when you were a little boy.”
A warm smile touched his lips. “I don’t think I was ever a little boy. I’ve been doing a man’s work for as long as I can remember. I ran off to sea when I was fifteen.”
“What about your
early life before you went to sea?”
He leaned back in his chair as he recalled the memories. “My father died before I was born. That was nearly thirty years ago. My mother was so upset at his death, that it caused her to have me early. My brother was fourteen at the time, but he took over my father’s job as shipbuilder. I helped him.”
“Surely, you didn’t have to work when you were a baby,” she said half jokingly.
“You’re closer to the truth than you think. When my mother died a year or so later, my sister was supposed to watch me, but she was more interested in chasing boys. My brother Philip took me to the shipyard with him. He had me fetching tools and picking up scraps of wood when I was barely old enough to walk.”
“That sounds like a very hard life. I suppose I’m fortunate to have had both parents for as long as I did.”
He looked at her for a moment, as though trying to remember something. “What about you? I seem to recall you mentioning a brother.”
She glanced down at her plate for fear he would see all the anguish reflected in her eyes. “Yes, Reginald, but he died while at sea.”
“Your brother was a seaman?”
Still looking at her plate, she nodded.
“So you’re all alone in the world. I’m surprised you’ve never married. You’re so beautiful. You must’ve had plenty of men courting you.”
His voice had a teasing quality. She felt certain he laughed at her. She looked up, but to her surprise, genuine curiosity reflected in his eyes.
“The truth is I’ve had very few suitors. My brother used to say it was because I was too pretty, and the young men were afraid to approach me,” she explained, embarrassed by her brother’s assessment. “The only time anyone paid any interest in me at all was when Reggie came home from the sea.
“Once at a party, I was so excited because three young men had asked me to dance. Then later, my girlfriend told me she’d learned that my brother had paid them to dance with me. I was quite dismayed.”
“Brothers must be the same the world around.” He made a chuckling sound. “A friend of mine had to do the same thing for his little sister.”
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