by K. Young
Kristen snorted. She knew perfectly well that he was angry, even if she didn't understand why. He couldn't possibly be affected by her words, could he? She seriously had to wonder as he slammed out of the cabin without so much as a goodbye. She started to smile. Perhaps there was something to be said of catching a rake's heart. If she were honest with herself, she wouldn't mind catching Derrick's. But, she stopped. She didn't truly believe that nonsense about catching a rake. Derrick would only break her heart. Not to mention the fact that she would be putting his life in danger just by association.
Chapter 24
A good while later when she had been left in the cabin alone with nothing to do, Kristen's anger was at its peak. She still hadn't gotten the bath she had asked for, not the food she had been promised. The moment the cabin door opened, she threw a pillow at whoever it was, not even looking to make sure it was Derrick. The cabin boy was struck with the pillow, and the tray of food he had been carrying was dumped down the front of his shirt.
"Oh, dear. I'm terribly sorry. I thought you were the captain." She said, and then burst into laughter at his bemused expression.
The cabin boy grinned. Even though she had a devil of a temper, her laughter was infectious. "M'lady?"
"Yes?"
"The cap'n says he won't be joinin' ye tonight and that he's terribly sorry."
"Is that so?" She planted her hands on her hips and tapped her foot lightly. Her anger returned full force.
"I'll jus' be on me way ta get you another tray of food, ma'am." He started for the door, worried she would take her anger out on him.
"Don't bother, I've lost my appetite. Please just send for a bath. And you may tell that miserable captain of yours that he can rot!"
The cabin boy turned a bright shade of red, which made him look awful since his hair was the color of rust. Kristen just turned her back on the boy, lost in her own thoughts to be overmuch concerned with this. Moments later the cabin door swung open and crashed into the wall.
"Do not attack another member of my crew again." Derrick growled.
"Then don't leave me locked in this stuffy room with absolutely nothing to do but think it's you walking through the door, and wanting to relieve my aggressions. And, for the record, I did not attack your cabin boy, you jackass. I merely threw a pillow at him." She hadn't bothered to turn around when he walked in, so she was glaring at the wall she was facing.
Derrick's face was pinched in anger. He growled and started for her, but she heard him and moved on the opposite side of the bed, finally turning to face him.
“So this is how it will be? You'll run every time I come near you?”
“I didn't run earlier. I believe that was you.”
His face suffused with color. He had been an ass, truly. Slamming out of the cabin after taking her innocence.
“I apologize for that. I was angry.” He offered.
“You're not forgiven.” She turned her back on him.
“Damn it, woman! At least look at me when you insult me.”
“I'd rather not. You make me ill.”
Derrick growled again, but this time he leaped at her, knocking her over to land on top of her. Fortunately, there were pillows there from when they had made love earlier. She looked at him calmly, a most frustrating circumstance to a desperate man.
“Get off of me.” She said flatly.
“Does nothing ever ruffle your feathers?” He demanded.
She didn't answer, just turned her head to the side so she could look at the wall.
“Answer me, damn you!”
She turned her head back, tears shining in her eyes.
“Bloody hell.” He lifted himself off of her and pulled her from the floor into his arms. “Please don't cry, Kristen. I didn't mean to hurt you.” He smoothed her hair down her back.
“Didn't you?” She asked accusingly as the first tear slipped down her cheek.
“No, I didn't. It was only my reaction to wanting you so badly.”
Kristen snorted.
“You doubt that I wanted you, sweetheart?”
“No, that was apparent enough. It was the fact that you cast me aside so quickly after you got what you wanted that bothers me.” Another tear fell despite her efforts not to cry in front of Derrick.
“So now we have the right of it, then. Kristen, I did not cast you aside. Far from it. I left the room because I was angry. You didn't take me seriously, and I wouldn't make such an offer in jest. I was serious, you know?”
“You didn't offer, you demanded. The answer is still no.”
Derrick sighed. “Why, little one?”
“Because.” She said aloud. To herself, you wouldn't love me the way I would love you, and I could be putting your life in danger to boot.
“We will see.” He said softly and kissed the top of her head, holding her close.
***
"I tell you Jack, I know I can make her happy." Derrick said in frustration.
Jack stared at him as if he had sprouted another head. Derrick Shane considering marriage was something Jack never thought he would see, despite the fact that three weeks ago he had suggested Derrick consider it.
"What?!" Derrick finally snapped.
"Don't think I've ever had the pleasure of seeing you so at a loss with a woman before." Jack said humorously.
Derrick rolled his eyes. "This isn't just any woman, or haven't you been listening?"
"Yes, yes, she's the one." Jack said, waving his arms around for emphasis. It only irritated Derrick further.
"Blister it, Jack. You're not helping!"
Jack laughed. "Sorry, mate. Couldn't resist."
"I asked her to marry me and she flat out refused. The woman makes no sense. Six weeks ago she was more than willing to marry me based on a marriage contract. Now, after I've taken her innocence, the answer is no? Loony, the lot of them."
"Did you ask her, or did you tell her? There's a difference, don't you know, and women are a mite particular about it being done in a proper sort of way." Hack offered, thinking perhaps Kristen's pique was because Derrick had practically demanded she marry him.
Derrick started to pour himself a brandy, but decided to take the bottle instead. He sat in a nearby chair and began chugging straight from the bottle. It was all Jack could do not to laugh at him, but he was damn close to losing his shorts on this one.
“I s'ppose I told her. D'you think that might have something to do with her response?” Derrick asked hopefully.
“Possibly. But, maybe she has things in her past that she isn't ready for you to know about, afraid you'll walk away. Sounds vaguely familiar.”
Derrick glared at Jack before he took another swig from the bottle. Jack frowned.
“This woman has you all tied up and you've only known her about two months, most of which she was unconscious for. I'd say you need some sense knocked into you. Shall we make port in Orkney?”
“Tristan won't be there. He's out to sea during these months while the weather is still good. And besides, aren't you the one who told me we needed to deliver these goods before Yen took his business elsewhere?” Derrick said testily.
“What harm will it do to at least see? Perhaps you can get your mind off the girl for a bit. Yen can wait another week.”
“Perhaps.” Derrick took another drink, the bottle now almost empty.
“Or perhaps your plan is to get soaking foxed and forget your troubles that way?” Jack asked.
“As good a plan as any.” Another drink, this one finishing the bottle.
“You're on your own, then. One of us has to be conscious enough to run this ship.” Jack got up to leave the room.
Feeling tipsy from the drink, Derrick sat up and looked at Jack. “Would you marry her if you were me?” He asked.
Jack looked at his friend and grinned knowingly.
“Never mind, I don't want to know.” Derrick added quickly.
“My, my is someone remembering they actually have feelings like the rest
of us poor sods?” Jack teased.
“Blister it, Jack or I'll be taking my frustration out on you rather than the bottle.” Derrick grouched.
Jack laughed as he walked out of the room. Derrick threw the empty brandy bottle at the door, watching it shatter all over the place. Rolling his eyes and sighing, he got up and grabbed another bottle.
Two bottles of brandy later, Derrick stumbled to his cabin. It was no easy thing to walk straight when one was foxed, but put them on a bloody ship and it was damn near impossible. He ended up crashing into his room, not meaning to, but enjoying the sight of Kristen waking up, immediately alert and swinging around ready to do battle. He briefly thought of indulging her in that battle, but decided she would be more equipped to win. He scowled at her instead and got a frown for his efforts as he stumbled in and slammed the door.
“Are you drunk?” She asked.
He hissed. “What a disgusting term!”
“Do you always dance around the issue?”
“Do you always speak so foully? Weren't you taught any manners?” He was being an ass again, but damn it, the woman infuriated him.
“Bloody pig-headed man.” She grouched, ignoring his jibe at her. “What the devil did you go and do that for? You do realize the headache you're going to have in the morning, don't you? Fine way to run a ship, I must say.”
Derrick stared at her for a moment, and then burst out laughing. She furrowed her brow but glared at him
nonetheless.
“No need to worry over me, m'dear. We're not to be, if you'll recall, so you don't have to take care of me through the night.” He hoped to goad her sympathies, but that backfired immediately.
“Well lucky for you, I had no intention of doing so anyway. You may sleep on the floor, you arrogant ass.” With that, she laid back down and rolled over to face the wall.
Derrick was incredulous. He meant for her to coo over his condition and want to take care of him. He meant for her to worry over him as he had worried over her. The bloody woman wasn't even going to oblige him that, the shrew. He was seriously reconsidering that fight.
Instead, he sat on the edge of the bed and began taking his boots off.
“What do you think you are doing?” Kristen demanded sharply, still facing the wall.
“What the bloody hell do you think? I'm taking my boots off and getting ready for bed.”
“We're not sharing this bed.” She warned.
“It's my bed, and you had no problem sharing it earlier.”
Kristen gasped as her cheeks went up in flames at the reminder of her earlier weakness.
“A mistake that shall not be repeated I assure you. Since you can't be a gentleman, I'll leave.” She threw the covers off and started for the edge of the bed, but heard his growl and was suddenly being kissed.
Derrick knew her remark was only in response to his, but it had goaded him nonetheless. He didn't understand why she fought him at every turn, especially since she clearly wanted him. Short of throttling her, which he was still close to doing, the only thing he could think to do was kiss her. And he wasn't gentle about it this time, either. His mouth covered hers swiftly and aggressively, and he crushed her with his weight, pinning her arms and legs to the bed. But, as with before, she didn't seem to mind.
Kristen's thoughts drifted from anger and returned to the pleasure his touch always provided her. She didn't think it was possible to feel such things more than once in the day, but there she was, feeling ready to fall into his arms yet again. That familiar warmth was unfurling in her stomach, and the urgency she was beginning to understand was back. She opened her mouth to his, and he kissed her deeply. He felt smooth and tasted of brandy. Kristen wasn't sure what she was doing, but her earlier decision hadn't changed, she merely meant to put him off until he was sober. Still, she just couldn't seem to help herself where this man was concerned.
He abruptly ended the kiss and pulled away from her. He could hear her jagged breathing and groaned inwardly. If he wasn't careful, this woman would be his undoing.
“I'll sleep on the floor.” He said.
“You don't have to.” She replied quietly.
“What was that?” He demanded harshly.
“You don't have to.” She replied loudly. She reached out to touch him, but stopped.
“Now you're saying it's acceptable to share my bed?”
“Do you have to make everything so damn difficult? It's not acceptable, but you are drunk, and to be fair, the floor is quite uncomfortable." She grouched.
He smiled. She certainly didn't concede gracefully, his little hellcat, but he wouldn't goad her further that night. He finished undressing and lay down next to her. She turned her back to him, which suited him just fine. This way he could just hold her. In his condition, making love to her was out of the question. It would be over before it even began and he couldn't do that to her. So, he fell asleep with her pressed firmly against his body, feeling hopeful that if he were patient, she would see reason and marry him.
Chapter 25
Alice positively abhorred the London social scene. It was ripe with tiresome people, and often, bland conversation that was not the least bit helpful. However, a ball was the best place to get information about people without seeming suspect by asking. Alice merely had to wander around the ballroom to learn that Kristen had been missing for several weeks and right on the heels of her previous kidnapping.
It was also noted that Kristen was indeed a beautiful lady, but there was something most peculiar about her. Why, there was even rumor that she boxed with men. As if a proper lady of breeding would even be caught dead discussing such things. Alice snorted to herself. Never mind the fact that the individual who had spouted that bit of nonsense was actually discussing that very topic. Kristen's propensity for fighting was one trait Alice found intriguing, but then again, they were both raised by Vikings, so it was natural they would have it in common.
Alice continued to make the rounds, staying on the fringe of the crowd so she could inconspicuously overhear several conversations while not seeming as if she were eavesdropping. She was quite ready to call it a night when she spotted the Lady Atchkinson. Alice thought it rather odd that the lady made an appearance at all. Rumor had it that Meloney Atchkinson was beside herself with worry at her friend's disappearance, but to look at her now, it wouldn't appear that she even noticed. Alice edged along the crowd until she was within hearing distance of the Lady Atckinson.
A middle-aged lord was presently speaking to her, and to Alice's trained eye, the young woman looked quite bored. But, then he surprised her and asked about Kristen.
"I say Lady Atchkinson, where is this stunning friend of yours that I've heard so much about? I must confess, I was rather hoping to meet her tonight."
Alice perked up and looked keenly at Lady Atchkinson, wondering what the woman would say.
"She is taking an extended trip abroad, I'm afraid. An old relative isn't doing so well, and Lady Kristen thought it prudent to go and visit while she still could."
"How very unusual. It isn't at all customary for a debutante to leave in the middle of her season."
"Well, Lady Kristen rarely does anything as she should. She is rather unique in that way."
"Is it true she fights with men?"
"Why Lord Barron, wherever did you hear such nonsense?"
The lord cleared his throat and rocked on his heels. "I'm not sure. I must have heard it...oh, look at that. My dear Lady Atchkinson, I do apologize, but I've just seen a business associate that I must speak to. My regards to your husband when he returns." Lord Barron bowed formally and quickly left Lady Atchkinson's side.
Alice watched the woman. She held her tongue, but it was quite obvious she wished to upbraid the man for spreading tales about her friend. Instead, she sighed through her nose and pulled out her fan with some vigor. But, it seemed that Alice wasn't the only one watching Lady Atchkinson because to her immediate left, another conversation about Kristen had begun.
"I can't believe that Meloney Atchkinson is mixed up with that queer girl. I wonder if Lord Atchkinson is aware of it. There's something off about that girl, you mark my words." A homely looking matron told her friend.
"What I want to know is what Derrick Shane sees in her. He could have any woman he wanted, yet it seems he has eyes only for her." The friend replied.
Alice ground her teeth with that bit of gossip. Derrick hadn't bothered to call on her at all since their fight, had, in fact, sent her eviction papers. She had been sure that he hadn't truly meant to call of their arrangement, and so she would have had ample time to change his mind about them. But, the eviction papers had proved beyond a doubt that he no longer wished to see her and that he didn't seem interested in anyone except Kristen. And, when he showed up to rescue Kristen, Alice was afraid the betrothal contract had been reinstated. Still, not long after rescuing her, Derrick left for his trip to Morocco. That proved that he didn't care about Kristen, didn't it?
"Do you think this business of her being kidnapped for a second time is a load of hogwash? I bet she has run off with that scoundrel, and they are even now cavorting about like indecent human beings."
"More like fornicating. The two were clearly sleeping together."
Alice's head nearly exploded. The two had better not be sleeping together, and what kind of talk was that? Alice started to move forward to give those two busybodies a piece of her mind, but was cut off by the Lady Atchkinson. The look on her face said that she had overheard their conversation, and she wasn't in the mood to be polite about it. Since Alice was all for more information, and she didn't want to believe those two had been right about Derrick and Kristen, she stood back to watch the show.
Mel walked up to the two women having a rather disparaging conversation about Kristen. It was hypocritical to say that Kristen was indecent when the two of them were discussing private affairs in the middle of a ballroom. And perhaps it was the pregnancy that was making her touchy these days, but she would be damned if she'd let two nosy gossip mongers destroy Kristen's reputation. So, it was with a severely irritated and stern look that she faced the two women.
They looked at her as if she were impertinent to have interrupted their conversation. The older, more matronly one looked down her nose at Mel, no doubt trying to intimidate her.