Destiny's Daughter by Ruth Ryan Langan Read Free Book Online

pins from her hair and studied her reflection in the minor. Her eyes looked wide and frightened. A worried frown marred her forehead.
    What could she possibly say to the captain tomorrow morning? Her hand flew to her mouth as a new thought intruded. Could she be sent to jail for accusing an innocent man?
    In agitation, she began pacing. If she were to tell the truth, who would believe her? How could she explain that she had innocently returned Chase’s wink? And that he had assumed she knew that it was a secret signal? Would she believe such a story if she were the captain?
    With quick angry movements, she unbuttoned the ice blue dress and dropped it on the bunk alongside the bonnet and shawl. With a gesture of defiance she kicked her shoes into the corner. In her white chemise and petticoat she began pacing the room in her bare feet.
    If she implicated Chase, she would implicate herself as well. There was no getting around the fact that she appeared as guilty as he. No one would ever believe otherwise.
    She stopped to stare at the sliver of moon hanging in the night sky. Damn the man. He was so cool, he had even used those moments of her humiliation to cheat. While everyone else was watching her make a fool of herself, he was manipulating the cards, changing his luck.
    There was no way she could sleep this night. As she started pacing again, her mind was awhirl with terrifying thoughts. What would she say to the captain? How was she going to get herself out of this mess? She couldn’t bring disgrace on her mother’s good name. After nine years in the convent school, she couldn’t possibly return for the first time wearing a prisoner’s chains.
    She buried her face in her hands, forcing herself not to cry. Tears burned her throat and she swallowed them back. What had she done? Hadn’t Reverend Mother often told her this was her greatest shortcoming? She always seemed to jump into situations without thinking them through first. Why hadn’t she stayed with the sisters, where she had been safe from the perils of the world? What was to become of her?
    Anguished, she continued to pace. If she had to, she would walk the floor until she dropped from exhaustion. Only then would she allow herself to rest.
     
    *  *  *
     
    The tall, slightly stooped figure paused outside the cabin and listened to the sound of the girl’s angry pacing. His excitement mounted as he thought of the way she would look when he surprised her. She would be startled, then frightened. His smile grew, as he thought of how her heart would pound, her pulse race. Fear. Absolute terror. It gave him a sense of power that was exhilarating. He loved to watch the eyes of those innocent little victims. It gave him a feeling that nothing else could match. It had always been that way. Even in the beginning, when he was young and hungry, and taking less care about his victims. Often they were just strangers who had money or jewelry. But now he could afford to be more particular. They had to be young. They had to be beautiful. They had to radiate a certain—innocence.
    Trying the door, he found it locked. He felt a surge of excitement as he put his shoulder against the door. He could hardly wait to see the expression on her lovely face when he held the knife to her throat and began to strip her of her clothes. Her clothes and her dignity. Her dignity and her innocence.
    Hearing footsteps, he flattened himself against the door, melting into the shadows. As the figure of a tall man rounded the deck and headed his way, he took a step forward, then began walking briskly in the opposite direction. Without turning around, he continued walking until he heard the other footsteps stop. Turning, he was dismayed to see the man stop at the very door he had just left. With a wave of black rage, he strode to the upper deck and let himself into his own cabin. His fists clenched in impotent fury. He had lost this chance, but the game wasn’t over yet.
     
    *  *  *
     
    Chase