Iris Johansen - Dark Rider

"Why don't you have him come here?"

"My dear Jacques-Louis." He glanced pointedly around the luxuriously appointed salon. "You said he was gaunt and shabby. It's neither kind nor wise to reveal one's affluence to those who might ask to share that wealth. I do hope you didn't boast how wealthy you were becoming under our illustrious Emperor."

He looked taken aback. "I didn't boast. You know money means nothing to me. I did tell him my fame had spread since he'd left France."

Raoul clucked reprovingly. "Then it's just as well I'm ridding us of this fellow. After you send him the message, dismiss him from your mind. I'll protect you as I've always done."

David nodded in relief. "Thank you, Raoul. You know an artist should not be troubled by these mundane matters." He strode quickly toward the door. "I'll leave it in your hands. Good day."

"Good day, my friend." As the door closed behind David, Raoul's smile vanished. He crashed his glass down on a table.

Sacré bleu , was that debacle at Danjuet always to raise its head to torment him? Letting the boy escape had been a blunder for which he'd been paying for years. All the other incriminating strings of his past life had been severed, but it had proved too dangerous to send an assassin to kill the young Duke. That wastrel Bradford Danemount had proved a surprisingly protective guardian.

Dammit, if he had managed to kill the boy, then he would not have had to send Deville to Tahiti away from his influence. He would have been able to move with less care and not have had to assume a new identity. He always preferred to work in secret, but totally new credentials had caused him a good deal of bother. Danemount was a constant thorn that must be removed.

And now that fool Deville had wandered back into his life and was threatening to disrupt it again.

"Beg pardon, monsieur, Marie would like to know if you'll be home for dinner?" Gaston inquired from the doorway.

Power, wealth, a house as palatial as Napoleon's and decorated with far more taste, servants at his beck and call, women eager to please him any way he wished. By God, he would not let Deville march back into his life and destroy all this.

"No, Gaston, I'll be out for the entire evening." He stood up and moved toward the door.

He must prepare a surprise for his old friend Deville.

"You've actually been behaving quite well, Jared," Bradford said. "I've even seen signs of knightly conduct. Extraordinary."

"I'm sure you find it so." Jared leaned on the fence, his gaze on Josette and Cassie riding toward them. "But, then, you've always underestimated my virtues."

"But never your lust. For the first week or so I thought you'd lost interest in our Cassie."

"What makes you think I haven't?"

"I opened my eyes. I admit my judgment was a bit clouded because Lani absorbs a good deal of my attention. She's a very stubborn woman."

"She's quite extraordinary. She's managed to take over the running of the household without antagonizing any of the servants."

"Who could resent Lani?" Bradford shook his head. "But we weren't discussing Lani. I was praising your restraint and celibacy."

"In order to encourage it to continue." His gaze didn't leave Cassie. Christ, she looked wonderful. Her eyes were flashing, her face alight with confidence and amusement as she chattered with Josette. Away from Clara's domination, at harsh, brooding Morland, she had bloomed like one of the tropical flowers from her island. "Don't be surprised if it doesn't."

"I'm never surprised at anything, but it would be far more peaceful for all of us." He waved a hand. "Josette and Cassie have become fast friends. Lani is moderately content. I'm making small strides in the direction I wish to go. You might shatter everything if you become… aggressive."

Jared's hand tightened on the fence rail. "For God's sake, I'm not going to rape her."

"But you're losing patience."

Damnation, yes, he was losing patience. It had been too long. He had only to see Cassie to begin to ready. He had thought the time they spent together would draw her closer to surrender. God knows, he was experienced with every nuance of seduction, but something always went wrong when he was with Cassie. One moment she was making him laugh, and the next she was saying something that touched him. Blast it, he didn't want to feel this bewildering gamut of emotion. He wanted to be back on the ship, where there was no thought, no conversation-only the satisfaction of their coupling.

No, that wasn't true. Lately he had been aware of a deep sense of growing contentment during those rides with Cassie, and a feeling of loss when they parted. Christ, he didn't know what he wanted.

Except Cassie back in his bed, where she belonged.

"Any recent news from Marseilles?" Bradford asked.

"Not since two days ago," he said impatiently. "I would have told you if I'd heard anything more. Deville hasn't surfaced yet."

"It's been more than a month since we arrived. There should be some sign of him soon."

"I know that." He also knew where this was leading. Bradford wanted to stress how pointless any passion for Cassie was since it would all be for naught once her father reappeared in their lives. "We'll just have to wait."

"Heavens, how patient you've become. I would have thought you'd be salivating to hear about Deville. Could you be softening?"

"No, I could not." He turned away from the fence. "I'm going to meet them at the stable. Are you coming?"

"I think not. I believe I'll wander back and see what Lani is doing. She said she might-What's this?" His gaze was on the carriage entering the gates. "We have a visitor."

Jared muttered a curse as he recognized the carriage. "Carolyn. I hoped we were rid of her."

"It seems you were mistaken." He watched Jared stride toward the courtyard. "You're going to meet her?"

He nodded curtly. "Go to the stables and tell Cassie and Josette to stay away until she leaves. I don't want any interference."

"I haven't noticed Josette seeking out her company." Bradford ambled toward the stable. "However, I'll endeavor to ensure that they're both occupied."

Carolyn and Lani were standing facing each other when Jared strode into the hall.

No, not facing, confronting, Jared thought grimly. Carolyn's attitude was bristling with antagonism, while Lani's expression was dignified but wary.

"Carolyn, what a pleasant surprise." He moved between the two women and took her hand. "I didn't expect you."

"And I didn't expect Madam Deville." She smiled with an effort. "We were just becoming acquainted."

"Then I don't have to introduce you.''

"I had trouble recognizing your kinswoman." She gazed pointedly at the bright-blue silk gown Lani was wearing. "I couldn't imagine a widow putting aside her black widow's weeds and donning such a gown."

"My people don't believe in the wearing of mourning clothes," Lani said. "Mourning is in the heart. We don't need to boast to others how bereaved we are."

"Boast?" Carolyn bristled. "It's not boasting to-"

Jared quickly interrupted. "You look a trifle pale, Lani." Blast it, he wished it were true. Lani, as usual, radiated warmth and beauty, and that could only add fuel to Carolyn's venom. "You shouldn't be up from your sickbed. I'm sure Lady Carradine will excuse you."

"Madam Deville appears in excellent health," Carolyn said. "But it's difficult to tell. Unfortunately, her skin isn't fair like ours, is it?" She didn't wait for an answer but turned and walked toward the library. "By all means, leave us, Madam Deville. We will excuse you."

Seeing bright flags of color burning in Lani's cheeks Jared said to her in a low tone, "It will be better if you go."

"I won't run away. Do you think this is the first time I've faced hatred because my skin is a different color? In Mrs. Denworth's school there were many white children who were not as kind as their religion dictated." Her lips twisted. "And Clara was always ready to tell me that my race made me unworthy."