April Moon by Susan King, Merline Lovelace, MIRANDA JARRETT Read Free Book Online Page B

proved myself to be.”
    “If you’ve proved anything,” Blake said sharply, “it’s that you’re much a woman. With far more heart to you than Lowell deserves.”
    That this man should hold her in more esteem than the one who wanted to wed her almost proved Sarah’s undoing. Tears stinging her eyes, she turned away.
    “If you’re quite finished with me,” she said through tight lips, “I should like you to send Maude to me. I worry for her safety.”
    “She’s in good hands with Jenkins. He’ll see she takes no hurt.”
    Richard wished he could offer the same assurances to the woman standing with her back to him. He suspected she’d not fare well at Lowell’s hands come the dawn. The thought of leaving the lady to her fate stuck in his craw like a sharp-ended fishbone.
    He took a step toward her, only to stop short at the rap of knuckles on the cabin door. Frowning, he strode to the louvered panel and yanked it open.
    “Yes?”
    His third lieutenant stood in the passageway. McDougal raised a brow at finding his captain out of uniform. His glance darted past Richard to theother occupant of the cabin, swept quickly back again.
    “You wanted to know when the rest of the Linx ’s crew came ’round, sir. All but one or two are awake.”
    “Thank you, Mr. McDougal. Line them up mid-ship. I’ll be above deck shortly.”
    “Aye, aye, sir.”
    With the door closed once more, Richard scooped up his uniform coat.
    “All right, m’lady,” he said briskly, shrugging into the blue jacket. A roll of his shoulders straightened the facings and gold epaulet. “We don’t have much time. Tell me exactly what Lowell intended you to accomplish while you had me alone in your cabin.”
    Sarah blinked at him in surprise. She’d thought the game played out. “What does it matter now?”
    “A great deal. To me, if not to you.”
    She hesitated a moment before deciding she had little to lose by admitting the truth at this point.
    “Sir James intended me to save his life, which apparently was already saved.”
    Blake’s keen blue eyes bored into hers. “And?”
    “And to save his ship.”
    “All that by enticing me into your bed?”
    Shame coiled in her stomach. Pride wouldn’t let her look away from his steady gaze.
    “Actually,” she said coolly, “I was instructed toget you weak-limbed with pleasure, snatch up your pistol and put a bullet through your heart.”
    “I thought as much.”
    The facade Sarah had just assumed came apart. She stared at the man blankly, unsure she’d heard him aright. “What do you mean, you thought as much?”
    “I knew there had to be more to the scheme than your noble offer to sacrifice yourself.”
    “Is that why you left your pistol lying within easy reach on the table?” she demanded incredulously. “To see if I would use it on you?”
    “To see if you would try,” he replied with one of his quick, slashing grins.
    The realization burst on Sarah with shattering clarity. Blake had been toying with her! All the time, he’d been toying with her! And here she’d thought…She’d imagined…For those insane moments in his arms, she’d let herself believe…
    What a fool she was!
    Struggling to contain her fury and her hurt, she drew herself up. “How disappointing for both of us that I did not attempt to shoot you. It would certainly have added more spice to the game.”
    “That it would,” he agreed with a cheerfulness that curled her hands into claws.
    Seething, she watched him stroll across the cabin to retrieve his weaponry. He buckled on his sword with a swift efficiency that bespoke long practice.When he hefted the pistol, its silver scrollwork gleamed. And when he aimed the barrel at Sarah’s heart, she thought for a stunned second he intended to pull the trigger.
    Just as quickly, she dismissed the absurd notion. Nevertheless, her pulse hammered wildly as he closed the small distance between them.
    “The game’s not done yet,” he said. “Tell me why you