Captured by Beverly Jenkins Read Free Book Online

Shaking her mind free of the distracting thoughts, she instead contemplated her reply. He was correct in his assessment of the room’s temperature. In spite of her heavy cloak the air in the room was cold, and although she was accustomed to discomfort she didn’t want to risk contracting a sickness. “Yes. I’ll sleep in the bed.”
    “ Bon. And I’ll take the pallet.”
    Clare rose to her feet. The light from candles that must have been lit while she slept mingled with the crackling flares of the fire and gave the otherwise silent room a hushed glow. As he left his chair and slowly walked over to where she stood, wariness and something she couldn’t name increased her breathing. He came to rest before her and captured her with his shadowy gaze. Although she knew it was only her imagination, the heat of his body seemed to blend with hers. She forced herself to take in a deep breath to calm her now pounding heart.
    When he reached up to touch her cheek she leaned away. “Please, don’t,” she whispered.
    Hearing the anguish in her voice, Dominic dropped his hand. “I don’t mean to frighten you, Clare. It’s just—” How could he explain to her that he’d been moved by the play of the light flickering over the smoothness of her silken skin? He stepped back. “My apologies again. That seems to be all I’m doing this evening.”
    The unease in her face and in the way she was gripping her cloak caused him to say, and with passion, “I would never hurt you, petite. Never. Please don’t be frightened of me.”
    When she didn’t respond he told her, “I’m going to take you home.”
    Her surprise was plain.
    “I am. I’ve a responsibility to my crew first, but after—”
    “What changed your mind?”
    He shrugged. “You, and because it is my fault that you are here.”
    “Nothing more?”
    “Non.” He didn’t want to tell her about the conclusions he’d come to.
    Clare wasn’t sure she believed him. Did she dare hope he was telling her the truth, or was this just a ploy? “And your conditions?”
    “None.”
    Clare studied him. Because she didn’t know him well, it was impossible for her to tell by his eyes or manner if he was speaking truth, but she decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. “I thank you then. I truly and honestly do.”
    “You’re welcome.”
    “How long will your other duties with the crew take?”
    “A month at the most. After that, Gaspar and I will escort you home. Which is where?”
    “Savannah.” She thought about her children. The happiness filling her heart made her eyes shine with tears of relief. “Thank you,” she said again, this time with emotion. “Thank you.”
    “My pleasure. So now to bed. We get up early on the Marie. ”
    “Is that the name of the ship?”
    “Yes.”
    Dominic was pleased with her reaction to his news. He hoped it would help alleviate the fear and mistrust brought on by his impetuous actions. “If you’ll pardon me for a moment, I’ll take these sheets and replace them with the ones on your pallet.”
    Clare watched and waited while he went about the task of stripping the bed. Moments later, the sheets from the pallet were in place. He tossed the pillow she’d slept on onto the bed and bowed. “M’lady, your bed awaits.”
    “You’d do well as a lady’s maid, Captain.”
    “Only if the lady I serve is you.”
    His manner was light, but there was an underlying tone in his voice that touched her and caused her to wonder what it might be like to have such a man in her life. Had she been born in another time and place…Her thoughts trailed off. A woman like herself knew better than to envision any reality that softened or did away with the true circumstances of her life. To dream of another existence accomplished nothing.
    Dominic saw her mask slip, and for just a moment her myriad emotions became visible. Before he could get a true handle on what she might be thinking, the barrier hiding her inner thoughts was firmly