"England?" Cassie stiffened. "I have no intention of going to England."

"That's unfortunate, since that's where this ship is going," Bradford said. "Jared decided that it will be some time before Deville manages to make his way from America to France, and it would be wiser to stay at Morland and put his contacts in France on watch. When your father surfaces, we'll leave for France."

"And we're supposed to stay at this Morland and wait?" Cassie asked.

"That's the plan. I regret it doesn't meet with your approval."

"It certainly does not." She was caught off guard by Jared's decision. It would have been much easier for her to escape from the Duke on French soil. She had planned to flee the moment they arrived. How was she to get across the Channel and make her way to Paris?

"But we'll make the adjustment," Lani said. She reached over and encouragingly squeezed Cassie's hand. "Won't we?"

Cassie nodded. "Of course." She turned to Bradford. "How close is this Morland to the sea?"

He burst out laughing. "Do you intend to swim? I wouldn't advise it. Our northern waters are much colder than your warm sea."

"How close?"

"Quite close." He was still chuckling. "Morland is located on a cliff that overlooks the channel."

One advantage. And she might discover more once they reached England. She mustn't be discouraged by this first setback. "How long do you think we'll have to wait?"

He shrugged. "A month. Two. Who knows?"

Months. It seemed a long time, but she might be able to turn the delay to her advantage. Danemount would surely be receiving messages from his contacts in France. If she could intercept any of those messages, she might learn much more than she could on her own.

"Will His Grace be joining us for supper?" Lani asked.

Cassie tensed as her gaze flew to Lani. The disturbing news Bradford had imparted had momentarily caused her to forget Lani's equally disturbing intentions.

"Providing the stallion is calm enough to be left alone," Bradford said. "Are we again to be favored with your company?"

Lani's lips parted in her brilliant smile. "Oh, yes."

Bradford turned to Cassie. "And you?"

Of course, she wasn't going to sit at Jared's table and watch him be captivated by Lani. She intended to stay with Kapu, where she had a place and purpose.

"Yes, I'll be here." The words tumbled from her lips, surprising her as much as they did Bradford. Yet she knew she would not take them back. She could not stay in the cargo hold and not know what Lani was doing with Danemount. "If Kapu can do without me."

"Let's hope he won't deprive us of your stimulating presence."

She glanced at Lani and found her friend staring at her with speculation. She could hardly blame her; Cassie didn't seem to know herself what she was going to do from minute to minute.

Lani turned back to Bradford. "Tell us of this Morland. I wish to know more than the temperature of the water."

That evening Lani wore her yellow silk gown that turned her into a brilliant bird of paradise. At supper she glowed, she smiled, she told amusing stories of island myths and daily doings. Cassie had never seen Lani like that. Freed of Clara's oppressive presence, she bloomed like a golden orchid. She kept both men entertained and intrigued, effortlessly drawing them into her spell. Bradford responded eagerly to her sallies, and even Jared relaxed and displayed a wry humor.

Cassie watched him in fascination as he leaned forward, dark, cynical, yet totally at ease, his gaze on Lani's face. This must be the way he was in his own world, she thought, sitting at dinner tables at Brighton or London.

At the end of the meal Jared turned to Cassie while Lani was talking to Bradford. "You're very quiet. You've been sitting there watching and scarcely saying a word. Should I be worried you're planning on poisoning me again?"

"No." Quiet was a fitting word for her, she thought in disgust-quiet and mouselike and nondescript in Lani's shadow. She said stiltedly, "I don't feel like talking."

His eyes narrowed. "And you don't feel like being here. Why are you?"

"I have to eat somewhere."

"So you choose my table?"

"Lord Bradford invited us."

He looked at her skeptically before glancing back at Lani. "Your friend is very splendid tonight and obviously trying to be… obliging."

"Yes."

"A lovely gown."

"Papa bought it for her."

"How kind of Papa." He added with sudden harshness, "He should have taken the trouble to purchase something of equal quality for you. That gown you're wearing is quite detestable. Don't you have anything else?"

"Yes, but they're all much the same." She was wearing the same gray silk gown she had worn that night at the cottage. How odd that his cruel condemnation on such a trivial subject could hurt her. "Clara chose them. Papa knew that it didn't matter to me."

"It should have mattered to him." He took a drink of his wine. "You look like a nun wrapped in a shroud. It's an abomination."

"Then don't look at me," she said.

"I have to look at you." A little of his wine spilled on the damask cloth as he set the wineglass down with some force. "And why in Hades aren't you fighting me? Are you ill?"

"No." But perhaps she was ill. She felt stifled, and beset by a queer nagging pain every time she looked at Lani. At any rate, she could bear no more tonight. The legs of her chair screeched as she abruptly pushed it back. "It was a mistake to come. I shouldn't be here. I have to go see if Kapu is all right."

"No, you don't. I have one of the men watching him." He shook his head as he saw her eyes widen with alarm. "From a distance. He was only to watch and come get me if he thought the horse was becoming restless."

She breathed a sigh of relief. Events were clouded enough without her having to worry about Kapu trampling someone. "You need not bother. I'll change and go to him now."

"I said you don't need to go," he uttered between his teeth.

Ignoring him, she nodded to Bradford and murmured a quick good night to Lani, then almost ran from the room.

Danemount caught up with her before she reached the door of her cabin. His hand fell on her shoulder, and he whirled her to face him. "Why?" he demanded grimly.

His hand felt heavy, warm and disturbing. She shrugged it off and stepped back. "I told you why I'm going to Kapu," she said, her gaze fastened on his cravat. "Because he needs me."

"You know that's not what I mean. Why is your friend Lani shining like a crystal chandelier, giving us sweet smiles and sweeter words?"

"What difference does it make? You seemed to enjoy it."

"Of course I enjoyed it. She's a charming woman… and an honest one. Which is why I don't understand all this."

"Don't worry, she won't poison you. She disapproved of my putting the laudanum in Clara's syllabub." She tried to turn away, but his hands tightened on her shoulders. "Let me go."

"In a moment. Look at me."

"I don't want to look at you. I've seen enough of all of you tonight."

"You'd rather stare at your horse, no doubt."

"Yes."

"Christ." He drew a deep breath and said with measured precision, "Very well, we won't talk about Lani. Tell me your reason for coming to supper tonight."

"It was a mistake."

"And what reasoning engendered the mistake?"

"I wasn't thinking clearly. I wanted to see-" What? Lani as alluring as Venus. Danemount attracted in spite of himself. If that was her intention, she had certainly got what she wanted. Why had it made her so confused and miserable? "I don't know."

"I think you do know."

"Then you're a fool." She tore away from him. "And I don't want to talk about it. Leave me alone."

He gazed at her a moment before saying slowly, "By God, I wish I could."