Care and Feeding of Pirates by Jennifer Ashley Read Free Book Online Page A

turn."
    Mr. Henderson, who could write etiquette
books if he chose, bowed and said, "I would be most honored to join
Miss Ardmore in the cotillion."
    "I'll fetch you for a country dance," Grayson
promised. Honoria tried not to flinch. Grayson was a good dancer,
but a most exuberant partner.
    Attention turned to Christopher. It would be
impolite in the extreme for him not to offer a dance as well, but
Honoria knew he didn't care two pins for what was polite.
    Just as well. She'd not be able to plead him
to silence on the dance floor, and if he touched her . . .
    She knew what would happen the next time he
touched her. Even the brief brush through her glove had stirred the
troublesome heat in her body, the same heat that had made her lie
awake all night.
    In the dark silence of her bedchamber, she'd
relived the kiss he'd given her, the weight of his body against
hers, the knowledge that he only had to part her dressing gown and
slide his hand inside to find her ready for him. Over all this lay
the exciting fact that he was still alive and had come back for
her.
    As soon as Christopher took her hand to lead
her to the dance floor, she'd melt. He'd have to scoop her into his
arms and carry her off, and she would love it.
    She looked at him with the others and
struggled to keep from biting her lip while the silence stretched
too long.
    "I don't dance," Christopher said.
    Disappointment wove dark fingers around her
heart. Relief. That's what I should feel--relief. I won't make a
fool of myself over him.
    "A pity," Mr. Templeton said. He looked
slightly pleased that he possessed a skill that such a handsome,
well-fitted man lacked. "My mother, now, she always likes a caper.
Ask her, and she'll teach you a few steps."
    Christopher's eyes glittered with mischief.
Honoria glared at him. Don't you dare.
    Christopher almost smiled. "I'll think on
it."
    His gaze remained fixed on Honoria, until she
felt a scream building up inside. It would come out any moment,
embarrassing her in front of Alexandra and all her guests.
    Then Mr. Templeton was tugging her away,
leading her to the safety of the ballroom as the music began.
Honoria felt Christopher's gaze burning on her back all the
way.
    *** *** ***
    Christopher had a reputation for patience.
He'd been known to lie in wait for weeks for a prize, if it was
worth it. He'd planned for nearly a year before taking the Rosa
Bonita. He and his crew had executed every piece of that plan
as though it had been one of the stately dances going on in
Alexandra's ballroom, and they'd gotten away with it.
    He also had the reputation for being slow to
anger, but those who did manage to anger Christopher never forgot
the experience, if they lived through it. A slow match, Manda
called him. He burned long, but when the gunpowder was reached,
nothing equaled the explosion.
    Christopher was rapidly approaching the end
of his slow match. The delay in finding Manda troubled him, and now
his dear sweet Honoria expected him to tamely release her to marry
another man. Christopher found himself liking Templeton, but that
did not mean he'd step aside and give him his wife.
    He'd let Honoria enjoy herself with her
friends this night, and then he would force the issue. He had
plenty to do without waiting for Honoria to make her choice.
    Christopher wandered into the ballroom. Most
of the guests were costumed--in the garb of Romany, kings and
queens of old, jesters, shepherdesses, Turks.
    He liked Honoria's costume, plain white
muslin hanging to the floor in a straight line from her shoulders.
Her body moved enticingly under the draperies as she danced with
Templeton, letting Christopher know she was unfettered beneath.
Clasps at her shoulders held the costume in place, and he enjoyed
thinking about what would happen if he loosened one of those
clasps.
    He needed to persuade her quickly, or else
he'd throw her over his shoulder and carry her somewhere to rip off
her clothes. Preferably on board his ship, which was nearly