by Sara Orwig
He drew in his breath and looked at her intently. “If we weren’t in front of your house—”
“But we are. We’ll have tomorrow. You caused me to lose control over my emotions, and it upset me. I’m sorry.”
For the first time since they had left the hillside, he smiled thinly, his black eyes burning into her. “Perhaps you can make amends. We’ll ride tomorrow.”
“Si,” she answered, loathing the thought of another ride with him, knowing that he would demand her kisses, but she was afraid to cross him. He leaned forward and brushed her cheek with a kiss.
“Sir!”
“Call me Ramon, mi amor. Wait, I’ll help you out.”
“No! Please, I need to be alone.”
He smiled and kissed her fingers, his tongue flicking over them until her skin crawled with distaste. “Of course. Until tomorrow, Lita mía. You’re a passionate woman.” His hand drifted across her breasts. “Perhaps I can be enticed to forget the slap…”
“I hope you can,” she said. “Adíos.” She climbed out of his carriage and hurried upstairs to her room and closed the door. She sat by the window and tried to calm herself, but her worries grew.
She had made an enemy of General Farjado—unless she gave him her kisses freely tomorrow. And if she did, would he demand more? She laced her fingers together tightly, her blood running cold. How foolishly she had acted, but she had been driven beyond reason by her need of and love for Josh. Luisa Otero. His mistress. The knowledge hurt more than she would have believed possible.
Nervous over the day’s happenings, she rose and paced the floor. She was in danger from General Farjado and dreaded the carriage ride tomorrow. How could she refuse his demands? From his actions in the carriage, she knew he would want more of her than mere kisses.
How she wished she could take back her question about loyalty to Spain! And now there was the worry of Quita, who had the power and wealth to hire someone to eliminate the threat to her own well-being.
Lianna continued to pace restlessly, looking time and again for some sign of Josh.
Within sight of land about two miles north of the docks at Valparaiso, a ship lay at anchor. Captain Edwin Stafford stood on deck, his feet braced while a breeze tangled his golden hair. He took no notice of the wind, his brooding gaze resting on land in the distance while he watched a ship row out to meet him. Lianna was so close now. Soon the only thing to stand between him and all he had ever wanted would be Josh Raven. A smile curled one corner of Edwin’s mouth. He relished the moment he could run a rapier right through Joshua Raven’s heart!
Hopefully, he could do it before the revolution started. If so, he could get Lianna and both of them could safely sail home to England. It had been months since Edwin’s ship had stopped at a port and he felt the need for a woman tear at him. He wanted Lianna and he didn’t want to wait!
The longboat came aside and a man climbed swiftly up the ladder to step over the rail. He bounded forward, offering his hand.
“Timothy Paddington, Captain Stafford. Welcome to Chile.”
“Thank you. Call me Edwin, sir. We’ll work closely together.”
“Are we glad you’re here! I hear you’ve brought arms and supplies.”
“Yes. Come below to my cabin. We’ll have lunch and talk. How about a brandy first?”
“Excellent! Fine ship you have here.”
“Thank you, sir—”
“No, it’s Timothy. As you said, we’ll work together. How’s England?”
Edwin curbed his impatience with the man’s questions, trying to show interest in the details of the revolution, quickly gleaning facts he wanted to know—Joshua Raven was alive and well. As was his beautiful wife. There were no children. The revolt of the patriots could commence at any time because Chile’s summer would be the most opportune time for a battle.
Edwin listened and learned and finally asked his own questons. After lunch he leaned back in his chair, watching Timothy Paddington as he said casually, “I have a peculiar question.”
“Ask away,” Timothy said with good cheer, taking another sip of brandy.
“I have an old enemy here, a Spaniard, an enemy from sailing days. If I wanted to have him brought to my ship without anyone knowing his whereabouts, could I pay someone to do this?”
“Of course! Get your men to perform the task. Or if it’s a very private matter, I can give you the names of two or three fellows. Ask at the Paloma Cantina for Ovidio Gonzales or Hector Ortiz. Both of them would do it for you and keep their mouths closed.”
Edwin smiled. “Thank you. I have an old score to settle and the man would never answer a challenge. No, more than likely, if he gets wind I’m here, he’ll flee or try to do me in some dark night,” Edwin lied, embellishing his remarks while he committed the two names to memory. He would like to face Josh Raven right here on his ship. And if Lianna were here also, they could sail as soon as Raven was dead.
“You’ll be coming to stay at my house a week from tonight,” Timothy said, and Edwin shifted his attention back to the slender man seated opposite him. “I’ll hide you. It’s unfortunate you don’t speak Spanish—then we could pass you off as a Spanish nobleman.”
“Regretfully, my Spanish is exceedingly limited.”
“Well, it won’t matter. We’ll whisk you away to join the patriots in the mountains if it looks as if your help will be needed there. In the meantime, we hope the Spanish won’t have an inkling of what is about to transpire.”
Edwin smiled, raising his glass in a toast. “To secrecy—and to success.”
Timothy smiled and leaned forward to touch glasses as he nodded agreement. “We’re so glad to have you,” he repeated. “You don’t know how badly we need help.”
“You don’t know how badly I’ve wanted to get here.”
Timothy’s eyebrows arched and he grinned. “I understand you and your men are mercenaries.”
“We are, and we relish a good fight.”
Timothy laughed. “By George, you’re a breath of fresh air. Tell me more about London. Stuffy old Quimby is paying you! I’ll bet it’s breaking his heart to miss the fight. He loves odd ports in the world. On your way here, did you stop at Belém?”
Edwin settled back in his chair, stretching out his long legs while he talked, his mind half on the conversation, half on memories of Lianna.
After two more brandies he waved a cigar at Timothy and said, “I’ve heard about your prowess with the sword. I’ve been taking lessons from Monsieur Toussaint in London. Would you have time to give me a little practice against a real swordsman?”
Timothy laughed and exhaled a stream of gray smoke. “Of course! One mustn’t get rusty.” He stood up and peeled off his coat while Edwin crossed the cabin to open a cabinet. “Select the rapier you want.”
Timothy’s smile vanished as he picked up first one and then another. “These are magnificent weapons! The very finest!” He looked up at Edwin and smiled. “You learned your lessons well, I suspect. I’m glad we are not in earnest.”
Edwin laughed. “You won’t say that minutes from now. I’m a novice.”
Within minutes Edwin knew he could win in a challenge with Timothy Paddington, and satisfied with the knowledge, he deliberately made a feint at a bad moment. Timothy dodged, lunged, and swept Edwin’s rapier from his hands.
Edwin bowed and smiled. “Thank you. I’ve learned quite a bit.”
Timothy smiled back. “Yes, and I think you just let me win,” he said softly. “I’m doubly glad we’re friends.”
Edwin retrieved the rapier. “Let’s have another brandy and then I’ll show you the weapons you can take to the patriots.”
Late that night in Santiago, Lianna sat in the darkened library with only one small oil lamp aglow while she tried to read. She gazed at a book, not seeing the words, her thoughts adrift when she heard the clatter of boots in the hall. Her heart jumped, then raced in eagerness. She heard Josh’s voice as he told Fletcher good night.
&n
bsp; Lianna hurried to the door to find Josh headed for the stairs, striped coat in hand, his shirt open at the throat, his cravat undone. His walk was that of a man of power and assurance. His detachment made him able to deal with risk, and she guessed before she spoke that he wouldn’t share her fear over the events of the day.
“Don Cristóbal.”
His green gaze appraised her, lowering slowly over her embroidered white robe. Her hair was caught behind her neck, tied loosely in a pink ribbon. As he looked at her languidly, she wanted to walk into his arms.
“Buenas noches,” he said, and motioned. “Come upstairs with me. I’m weary.”
“Where’ve you been?”
He looked mildly amused as he replied, “Playing monte, a Spanish game of chance. I’ve been with Governor Marcheno and your charming friend General Farjado.”
“Don’t call him that!”
Josh looked down at her, his brows arching. “Ah, something happened while I was gone. I wondered, the general has been casting speculative looks my way all evening.”
They entered his room and he closed the door.
“Josh—”
“Wait, Lianna,” he commanded, and walked through his room and hers, checking to make sure they were alone and the doors closed. He pulled off his cravat and dropped it, and suddenly she could remember clearly their wedding night, when Josh had dropped off clothing bit by bit until he stood naked before her, desiring her. He casually unfastened the top of his shirt, then paused as he looked intently at her. He crossed the room and tilted her chin up.
One dark eyebrow arched. She could not resist looking at his lips and thinking of his kisses. Fighting for control, to hide her feelings from him, she asked breathlessly, “What happened between you and the general tonight?”
“Lower your voice,” he cautioned, “or you’ll have us all in prison.” He walked away to pour a glass of brandy. He raised the bottle. “Would you care for brandy, Lianna?” There was a note of pain in his voice.
“No, thank you.” The light flowed softly across his profile and made him look younger and more vulnerable than ever before. His brow was furrowed and his hand had a tremor.
“So finally something has been too large for you to overcome,” she said softly, wondering if he had given his love totally to Luisa Otero. “I would like to see the thing or person who has succeeded in getting the better of you.”
“You wouldn’t want to see what I’ve just witnessed.”
Lianna tilted her head to ask, “And what merry place have you been spending the evening?” The words that had plagued her all day, words she had intended to avoid saying, came swiftly. “With your mistress, Luisa Otero?”
Fires blazed in the depths of his eyes. “Luisa isn’t my mistress. I wish she were, so I could—” He snapped his mouth closed. “I’ve been at the prison.”
She was stunned and confused by his answer, and her heart jumped with his denial that Luisa wasn’t his mistress!
“That isn’t what I was told.”
He set down his brandy, reaching her swiftly. His fingers bit into her flesh. “Who told you? General Farjado? Damn the man! Did he also kiss you?”
Lianna’s eyes narrowed, and she faced Josh squarely. “Yes.”
He grasped her shoulders in a vise like iron. “Did you let him? Did you enjoy his kisses?” In spite of the pain, anger caused her to defy him.
“That is none of your…” Her answer died; never had she seen such rage. Her own anger vaporized into terror.
“Answer me!” His blazing eyes bore through her, compelling the truth.
“No.”
His breath expelled in a hiss, and he dropped his hands, turning abruptly to walk to the mantelpiece and lean against it with his back to her.
Lianna stared at him, unable to avoid asking, “Why? Would it have mattered to you if I had said yes?”
His head raised slowly as he turned to face her. Hatred filled each word. “The man is unspeakable. If you had liked his kiss…”
She felt shaken and couldn’t keep from prompting, “If I had?”
“I think I could slit your lovely throat,” he answered in such simplicity that her veins turned to ice.
“Why do you hate him so?”
The silent rage was replaced by anguish, and Josh doubled his fist. “General Farjado is inhuman. Tonight I was taken by Governor Marcheno to see the interrogation of the political prisoners. I saw Farjado at work. He is a fiend straight from hell.” Josh thumped the mantel. “I could do nothing…nothing.”
“What had these prisoners done?” she asked woodenly, her fears mushrooming.
“Who knows? They may have done nothing more than raise the ire of the governor or the general or some other loyalist who is unscrupulous and in power. The prisoners may have been growing too strong, too big a threat to someone. Some of the loyalists are despots who rule according to their own whim, and they are a long way from Spain and its rule. The prisoners have no recourse, no one to turn to with their pleas against such power.”
“How dreadful,” she murmured, realizing how precarious a position they held and what damage she might have done earlier in the day. “Josh, there’s something I need to tell you. I went for a carriage ride today with the general.” Reluctantly she told him about the afternoon. How she wished she could take back the day, relive each moment and tell General Farjado she wouldn’t go with him. She shook, feeling an ominous invisible threat of disaster looming in the shadows like a hulking beast ready to devour them. “I’m afraid I’ve done something wrong.”
“Tell me. Perhaps I can help,” Josh said gently.
“Today when we were at the ruins—” She bit her lip, dreading to admit to him what she’d done.
“What happened?”
“I asked General Farjado if one is severely punished for being disloyal to Spain.”
“Oh, damn, Lianna.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize how dangerous it could be to ask. I asked him to take me to the Spanish fleet in Valparaiso. It hasn’t sailed yet.” There was only a flicker in Josh’s eyes to indicate any change in his feelings.
“What did he say?”
“He refused, saying you are a marqués and too powerful for him to attempt anything like that, that he wouldn’t anyway because he didn’t want me to leave Santiago. then I asked him about disloyalty.”
“And what did he answer to that question?”
“He said it would mean only being sent home to Spain.”
“Damn the lying man!”
“Josh, he asked me if you were disloyal.”
Green eyes rested on her in an impassive, unfathomable stare. Then a faint smile lifted one corner of his mouth, causing creases to deepen in his cheeks. “So,” he said softly, “at last you had the chance to carry out your threat, to betray me. What did you answer?”
“I told him that you were a loyal subject.”
“And missed your chance for betrayal?”
“I wouldn’t betray you.”
“Thank you for that much. We’ll go soon.”
“That wasn’t all.” She had his full attention as she told him about the meeting with Quita. “I know she was terrified and angry to find us here.”
He finished the brandy in his glass and said, “Under the circumstances, I think we should go.”
“Now? Leave at night?” Panic made her shiver. If Josh would drop everything and leave suddenly, what she had revealed to the general must have been catastrophic and placed their lives in great jeopardy. “Surely we can wait to pack.”
He shrugged. “I feel the same as I do at sea when a squall approaches. There are too many indications of trouble.”
“And I’ve caused it. I’m sorry.”
“It’s not all your fault. Several things are working together. I don’t want to stay and risk our lives.”
“I’m sorry. I let General Farjado goad me into it.”
“Goad you into it?” the derisive gleam returned. “How was tha
t?”
She hated Josh’s sardonic drawl. “He told me about Luisa Otero.”
“She isn’t my mistress, Lianna. He lied to you. Not that I wasn’t tempted, but something stood in my way.”
Lianna’s heart skipped, then began beating twice as rapidly. If she stood in his way…“Josh, who stood in your way?”
He smiled coldly. “Why bother to ask? You, of course. We are always at cross-purposes, you and I. We’d better go quickly. I’ll ring for Fletcher and tell him. He’ll handle the servants.” He removed a brace of pistols from the desk. “That explains much about tonight.”
“What does it have to do with tonight?” she said, wanting to pursue the remark he had made about cross-purposes.
“There was no reason to take me to view the prisoners. I tried to avoid it, but the governor was persistent. General Farjado was in charge; now I suspect he did it deliberately to impress on me what power they have and what they can inflict.”
“It still gives them no reason to arrest you.”
“A man as ruthless and powerful as the general can find a way, but it is little Quita who worries me. We’re a threat to her existence. She stands to lose too much by letting us live. She can easily hire assassins.”
“Quita?”
“Lianna, she stands to lose everything.” He moved around the desk toward her. “We’re no longer safe here. I’ll go to the mountains to join the patriots. Simms can take you to El Feroz.” He tugged the bell-pull to summon a servant. “And not only is there Quita causing us trouble, Farjado wants you. Any charge he can trump up will do. Any charge—or simply make you admit my disloyalty.”
“I wouldn’t.”
“You’re very brave, but no one can withstand the things I’ve witnessed tonight. You’d admit gladly to anything they asked. I would also. There’s not a man alive who could resist such barbaric treatment as that beast Farjado can inflict.”
“I can’t go like this. We’re leaving everything behind.”
“That’s exactly what you did when you boarded El Feroz and exchanged places with Quita.” He frowned and said harshly, “But before I sail from Chile, I’ll come back to Santiago to hunt down the Count of Marcheno and cut him to ribbons!”