Serious eyes stared back. The blue darker than usual. More intense. Hotter. His focus and concern completely on her. Her mouth went dry.
He began to pull her hand toward his mouth. Stunned, she resisted, drawing his eyes back to her own. Her hands were more roughened than most women, calloused from working ropes throughout her teen years and tanned from being so much in the sun.
“My hands,” she sought to explain.
“Are beautiful.” His expression softened. He gave a gentle tug this time, as if asking consent. Curious, she relented and watched as he lifted her hand to his lips with an incredible patience that caused goose bumps to trail up her arm before he even made contact.
When his lips finally touched her knuckle, the softness of the contact was a surprise. The sensation of the small movement was a mere brush, yet the delicate pressure mixed with the heat of his breath, emotionally stirring.
The entire experience shocked her.
Wordless, their eyes met again and this time what stunned Alex the most was the remarkable tenderness in his gaze. A tenderness that made the dangerous possibility of hope grow in her heart. That she could be with him, safe and accepted at last. She smiled back at him tremulously as he caressed her hand against his whisker-roughened cheek.
Mesmerized by the care he took in holding her, she could only obey his unspoken command allowing him to turn her palm to his mouth. Her heart pounded as he leisurely kissed the inside of her wrist, lingering until the desire for his kiss made her squirm to be closer. Then he quickly dipped in again, pressing a second kiss to the same spot, nipping the skin, transforming her lethargy to excitement, and earning a surprised gasp of pleasure. Her eyes closed and her head tilted back over his arm. When his breath came closer, and his lips touched the pulse near her throat, she arched unconsciously, knowing only that she was lost.
It was several moments before she opened her eyes. She thought to gauge his intentions. If the desire in his eyes was any measure, his intentions were serious.
He pulled her hand over his heart and held it there. She was relieved to find his heart pounded as quickly as her own.
“We need to talk,” he rasped.
“We do?” That usually meant she was in trouble.
“It would help,” he explained.
Comprehending his need for distraction, Alex grinned with delight. He scowled. She knew it was false. Feeling very confident in her position she rested her head against his chest and asked what he would like to talk about. Her fingers slid inside his shirt to feel the heat of his skin, and he quickly captured the stray hand, holding it firmly.
“Why is Paxton still after you?”
She stiffened, pulling away, but he tightened his hold—as if to offer safety. Something that she knew would never be possible. Not until Paxton was dead.
“I told you.”
“No, you didn’t.”
“Yes, I did.”
“When?” he asked.
“The first time we met. But you don’t seem to remember any of that.” It came out a little more plaintive than she intended.
“I remember every moment of our first meeting.”
“No, you don’t. You didn’t even recognize me.”
“Because you cleaned up so nicely I was blinded by your beauty, and then I was paying more attention to your gun. I might also point out that you were very rude to me, not showing the least bit of gratitude of one who was previously rescued by my dashing courage.”
“Madness, you mean.”
“Not the least bit of gratitude,” he repeated. “So. Paxton is still on about this prophecy and thinks you have a map to a secret treasure?”
“You do remember.” Alex wondered what else he remembered. Their kiss. Her ring. Did he still have it? He hadn’t brought it up. She didn’t want to ask and be disappointed.
“Of course I remember. And it’s not polite to doubt a duke. I realize you may not have had time to learn that yet.”
“No, but there are so many useless rules, it’s easy to forget.”
“Sassy. Must be feeling better,” he noted. “Do you have this map?”
Alex didn’t answer. It was better if no one believed she had the map. Her brothers still didn’t know. After her father died, she couldn’t tell them. She felt too guilty. He had left to hunt Paxton without all the information. She still wondered if it would have made a difference. If maybe he would have stayed.
“I see,” he said.
“What?”
“You do have the map.”
“Sort of.”
“Sort of?” he repeated.
“It’s not really what Paxton thinks it is, and I’m hiding it. I don’t have it with me.”
“So, the answer is ‘yes.’ ”
“No.”
“No?”
“Yes,” she agreed.
Joshua thought kissing the woman was enough to make his head spin. Talking to her was just a damn mistake.
“Joshua,” she begged. “My family doesn’t know about the map. At least not that I have it. Please. Promise me you won’t ever tell them. If I have to someday, I will. I just can’t bear … Please, this is really important.”
“You need help, Alex. Your brothers would want to protect you, wouldn’t they?”
“Yes, but they don’t need to know about the map. And I’m supposed to protect it and its secrets. Trust me. The fewer people who know the better.”
“I won’t say anything for now. But you need to tell them.”
“I’m telling you. They don’t need to know,” Alex insisted.
Joshua sighed. He would fight that battle when he got there. “What do you know about the map? Where does it lead to?”
“I don’t know. It’s more of a story. Or a riddle.”
“And did you ever figure out why the old lady gave it to you?”
“You do remember!” she said, surprised.
“I thought we covered that already.”
“She gave it to me because I’m the kelile,” Alex explained, solemnly. “It means ‘my protector’ or ‘my gate.’ ”
“And why did she think you were the kelile?”
“I don’t know. I think she was a seer.”
“And you believed her? Did you have a chance to go back and talk to her?”
“My father found her when he was looking for me. She was already dead.”
“Oh. Highly unfortunate.” Joshua thought it over. “Did Paxton kill her?”
“I don’t know, but I believed her.” She sat up more in his lap, as if she wanted to ascertain his reaction. “Because Kelile is my middle name. And no one but you and my family know that.”
He said calmly, “That’s a very odd coincidence.” That is bloody strange.
“For once we agree.”
“Did anyone know you were in Morocco? Did this woman perhaps know your family?”
“I don’t know.”
“Does Paxton believe you are the kelile?”
“I don’t think he knows about it. But when he was on my ship, he told me about the prophecy.”
“You had time to converse with a murderous bastard who was trying to blow up your ship? Good God, Alex! He could have killed you right then. You should have waited for me before you went aboard.”
“I knew you were coming and I just had to keep him talking. It’s too late to lecture now. Besides, he told me things I didn’t know.”
“It could all be more trickery,” Joshua countered.
“I think it might be true. Or at least he thinks it’s true.”
Joshua listened as Alex proceeded to tell him an ancient myth about a very ambitious queen, the child sacrifice, and the lost kingdom.
“Why did your parents name you Kelile?” he asked.
“My parents were in Morocco, or somewhere east of there, when I was born. They had an adventure, and were helped by an African warrior—Prince Kelile,” she explained. “So they named me after him. My middle name, that is.”
“So, it’s possible the old woman could have known you. Or your mother. Do you look like your mother?”
“Yes, but she had dark hair. I have my father’s coloring.” She looked at him hesitantly as if to decide what else to tell him. “There’s more,” she offered.
He nodded to proceed.
“When I was born, Prince Kelile gave me a necklace.” She pulled it from her shirt, where it hung on a long, sturdy chain.
“It’s an astrolabe.”
“Yes. Well, part of one. And it’s very, very old.”
“And?”
Alex didn’t say anything. Joshua realized she was wary of trusting him. That realization was disturbing. Especially since he needed all the information in order to protect her.
“Nothing. It’s just my talisman. My lucky charm. It doesn’t actually work since the rest of the pieces are missing. There’s usually five or six disks.”
She didn’t elaborate, and Joshua thought he would have to be satisfied for now. “Tell me more about the map. What does it look like?”
“Very pretty,” she enthused, surprising him. “The one thing that worries me—”
“Only one thing worries you!”
She ignored him. “In the center of the map is a woman. With red hair.” Alex paused, collecting her thoughts. “I keep wondering if it’s a woman, or a mermaid, or a siren, and what if she is the one causing the destruction behind her? And what if that woman is me? What if I’m the one who brings the end of days?”
“Okay. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
“I can’t help it. Since I’ve had the map, people have been dying in my wake, Joshua! The men who were there when I first got it, my father, Whitley, my crew. Who else?” Alex started to panic just thinking about it.
“How can you tell she’s causing destruction?”
“She is,” Alex stated knowingly.
“Well, most likely, if any of this is true, the woman represents the first queen who was able to make the seas rise up against her enemy.”
Alex thought it over. “Yes. That could be.” She rested back against his chest, stifling another yawn. When his hand threaded through her hair to comfort, she closed her eyes and decided not to think about it for a while. This was much nicer. Until she remembered …
“Wait.” She sat up again, vaguely registering a pained look on Joshua’s face when she adjusted her bottom on his lap. “Sorry,” she said, getting comfortable. “My mother too.”
“What about her?”
“We can add her to my path of destruction. She died because of me. Paxton said I didn’t even know why, and he’s right. I don’t remember what happened. I only found out because I did something stupid.”
“You never do that.”
“I know,” she agreed, as if outraged at the unfair complaints. Then she calmed down and confessed, “But I did that time.”
“Tell me.”
“I got stabbed and caught an infection.”
Joshua swallowed, afraid to ask. “And almost died?”
“I got very sick, and my brother was mad because, really, he was worried, and he said I should take better care. That our mother died for me, and I shouldn’t …” Alex trailed off, her voice becoming harsh. “I shouldn’t take that sacrifice so lightly.”
“Can I kill him?”
“No.”
Joshua looked down at her. She gave a slight shrug.
“He didn’t mean to tell me. At least not like that. And I never told anyone else that he told me because everyone was trying to protect me and I didn’t want them to feel bad. But …”
“But then you blamed yourself.”
“Sort of.”
Joshua pulled her head back down to his chest. “What happened?”
“There was an invasion of our home, and some servants were killed. My mother and I were out by the water …” Alex pressed closer, squeezing her eyes shut. “My mother protected me and even killed two men before they could get me. But the last man killed her. I learned all that later. She fought so I would have time to get away. They said I ran to the water and thought I had drowned. But then I showed up on a beach several miles away.”
“You sound a lot like your mother.”
“No,” Alex said. “She was brave, and kind, and compassionate. And her first season out she was an incomparable. Everyone loved her.” Alex sighed. “Even though she was English.”
“Everyone loves you,” Joshua insisted, sensing she felt lacking by comparison.
“No,” Alex said. “Only my family. Because they have to. And if they knew everything, they might not.” She was quiet a moment. “My last memory of my mother was looking at her through a mirror as she stood behind me, braiding my hair. I remember thinking she was so beautiful. And I asked her if I would ever be pretty, because I was so gangly and baby faced. It sounds so stupid now.”
“It’s not.” Joshua bent to kiss the top of her head and rested his cheek against her hair.
“The next I remember it was the morning of her funeral. It’s so strange. I hate that Paxton may know something. Maybe he could explain what happen. But why would he know?”
“I don’t know. I’m hoping you won’t be seeing him again. I didn’t get a chance to tell you, but I spoke to a friend who works in the government. He made some inquiries.” Joshua decided not to add that he had hired private help as well to see where Paxton might be hiding. So far no luck. “He must be sailing under a different name. There are no records of him in the logs—”
Joshua was about to continue when he noticed a steady breath against his chest. “Alex?” He tilted his head carefully to peek at her and laughed. He must be losing his touch. She was sound asleep.
Chapter Fifteen
Alex couldn’t seem to get rid of the duke. They had been back in London two days, and every time she turned, he was there. He even offered to escort her to the British Museum, only Lord Heatherly, the museum’s professor of ancient maritime history, sent her a note changing their plans. He was preparing for a trip, and it would be much easier for him to call on her.
“It’s really not necessary for you to stay, Your Dukeness.” She frowned when he smiled. Nothing she said could irritate him lately. “I’m sure I’m perfectly safe with Lord Heatherly.”
“I shall see for myself. And it’s my pleasure to spend time in your company.”
The frown deepened. She didn’t know if he was mocking or serious.
“Perhaps we can take a stroll in the park afterward.”
Alex’s pleasure at the offer was marred by her complete displeasure at not understanding why he wanted to stroll in the park with her. To protect her? Definitely not to be seen with her. She had recently been cut by a number of the ladies in the ruling class. It seemed the reverend had warned the good people of London about her. Of course, there were just as many invitations from those who were curiosity seekers.
“You must have other things to do, Your Grace.”
“But none so enjoyable.”
Entirely too accommodating. It wasn’t right. Dissatisfied, she ignored him and proceeded to make a production of arranging her skirts on the small settee where she sat. She’d seen women who could arrange their dresses for fifteen minutes at a time. She thought she could manage one minute in order to gather her thoughts. She ventured a glance to the duke. He stood by the fireplace, seemingly relaxed and content just to watch her. He even smiled when she looked his way. Very strange. Perhaps she should lay the skirts another direction. Yes, that would give her another full minute to think some more.
Stephen ambled through the open doors of the drawing room to join them. He stopped short at the sight of his sister fussing with her dress and glanced from her to the duke to ascertain the situation.
“What are you doing?” he asked his sister.
Alex answered, distracted, “I’m fixing my skirt.”
“No,” Stephen repeated, implying she must be up to no good. “What are you really doing?”
She didn’t spare him her look of annoyance. “Weren’t you going riding?”
“Yes. Is that librarian still coming?”
“He should be here any minute.” Alex hoped her brother would leave soon.
“Would you like to join me, Josh? Sounds like this is going to be a bore.”
“Another time perhaps, my friend.”
Stephen nodded, looking thoughtfully at both of them. “All right then. Everything is all right, isn’t it? I can stay if you need me.”
Alex stopped with her skirts and turned her attention to her younger brother, realizing he was becoming worried and perhaps feeling a little left out. She didn’t want him to be hurt, but she didn’t want him to stay either. “Please go. It’s too beautiful to stay indoors. This will be short. Then we’ll meet you in the park. His Grace wants to take a stroll.”
“Excellent. Then I’ll see you both in a bit.”
She nodded agreement and Stephen left, just before their stocky Irish butler announced the arrival of Lord Heatherly and his assistant, Miss Rule.
Lord Heatherly was just as Alex thought he would be. Very serious in manner, not too tall, silver-haired, carrying spectacles, and walking with the help of a charming wood walking cane. His assistant was equally somber, much taller, and in all black. A widow, it seemed. She looked to be in her midforties, and bore her role very obsequiously.
Alex introduced the duke, and a servant brought some refreshments.
“Oh, thank you, my dear,” Lord Heatherly said. “But we don’t have much time. Let’s just get straight to business, shall we?”
“Of course,” Alex agreed. “Thank you so much for making the time. I truly appreciate it.”
Heatherly nodded, waiting.
A little disconcerted by his directness, Alex guided them to the table nearest the window. “I wanted to get your opinion on a design I came across.” Alex pulled the worn paper copy of her map from the desk and unfolded it for all to examine. She knew she’d get some answers when Miss Rule straightened up. It was almost imperceptible, but Alex caught the action and inquired curiously.
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