Devil and the Deep Sea by Sara Craven Read Free Book Online Page B

he
    talking about? You swore she'd stay here—that you'd talked her
    round. What the hell are you trying to pull?'
    Clyde's face was grey. He stared at Samma. 'Is this—true?'
    'Yes,' she said with a little sigh. There was no retreat now. Roche
    took her hand, and carried it swiftly and gracefully to his lips.
    'You dirty little slag,' Hugo Baxter said hoarsely. 'Always too pure
    and high and mighty to give me a second look. But you'll go off
    with a man you only met last night. I always knew under that
    touch-me-not air you were a whore, like all the rest of them!'
    The words made her cringe, but she was in no position to deny
    them, she thought wretchedly.
    Roche said icily, 'Any more filth from your lips, monsieur, and you
    will go to be cleansed in the harbour.' His face was granite-hard as
    he looked at Baxter. 'Don't judge everyone by your own standards,
    you animal. Samantha is to be my employee, not my mistress. She
    is coming to Grand Cay to take charge of my young daughter.'
    It was as if a bombshell had hit them, and Samma felt her own jaw
    dropping as well. Was he serious? she wondered dazedly. Did he
    really have a daughter? Until that moment, she'd had no idea he was
    even married. And, if he'd intended all along for her to be some
    kind of governess, why had he let her think—let her think . . .? She
    bent her head and stared at the floor, furiously aware that he was
    watching her, his mouth twisting in amusement.
    'You can, of course, reject my offer completely,' Roche went on
    calmly, addressing Clyde. 'In which case, you no longer have a roof
    over your head, or any form of livelihood. I do not advise you to
    take up gambling as a profession,' he added dispassionately. 'You
    are neither lucky, nor always wise in your choice of opponents.' He
    sent a dry look towards Hugo Baxter.
    Baxter began to bluster. 'What is that supposed to mean?'
    'Only, monsieur, that if some ill wind should bring you to Grand
    Cay, do not trouble yourself to visit my casino. You will not be
    admitted.' He looked at his watch, then glanced back at Clyde.
    'Your decision, monsieur. I have no more time to waste on you.'
    There was a long fraught silence, then Clyde said heavily, 'I
    agree—I suppose.'
    'Very wise.' Roche rose to his feet. 'I will not detain either of you
    any longer. Jerome is waiting to escort you off my boat. In a few
    days' time, Philip Marquis will call on you with the requisite papers
    for your signature. I advise you not to cause him any problems. Mes
    adieux.'
    Allegra sailed an hour later. Samma sat slumped on the seat in the
    cabin, staring into space, barely aware of the powerful engine
    which was carrying her away to Lucifer's Cay.
    'Don't you want to say farewell to Cristoforo?' Roche had come
    back into the saloon so noiselessly, she hadn't been conscious of his
    approach.
    She started nervously, and swallowed. 'No. I—I never want to see
    it again.'
    'Then you don't have to.' He walked to one of the lockers, and she
    heard the chink of a bottle against glass. He returned with a
    measure of amber liquid in a tumbler, which he handed to her.
    'Drink this,' he directed briefly. 'You look as if you need it, and then
    I'll tell you fully what I want from you.'
    She swallowed some of the cognac. It felt like fire in her throat, but
    it put heart into her. 'Won't your wife have something to say about
    you hiring a total stranger as a governess without consulting her?'
    'My wife has been dead for over a year.'
    Biting her lip, Samma began to say something awkwardly, and he
    held up a silencing hand. 'There is no need to express regret.
    Marie-Christine and I did not enjoy a day's happiness together, and
    parted immediately after the honeymoon, so don't pity me as a
    grieving widower. For seven years we lived completely separate
    lives, then she arrived unexpectedly on Grand Cay, bringing la
    petite Solange with her.'
    'She wanted a reconciliation?'
    His mouth curled. 'She wanted richer pickings than the