no need of the Delaneys.“

Nicholas experienced a strange aching tenderness that took

him by surprise. Pride, isolation, and courage were all there in

her face, and there was something beneath that armor that

stirred him to pity. He understood armor. He had worn it

himself since he was a small child and he knew what hid

behind it: loneliness, hurt, and wariness. He felt a sudden

impulse to reach out and draw her to him, cradle her in his

arms as he had never been held himself in that time so long

ago. His hand moved from her temple to her cheek. „Silver, I –

“ He broke off. My God, what was he thinking? This was the

tiger cat who had just sunk her fangs into Mikhail, who had

watched Andre die a horrible death, who had taken lovers as

casually as any court demimondaine. Surprisingly, it was this

last thought that brought the welcome anger that burned away

any hint of softness. „Good, then I needn’t worry about being

punished for my sins.“

„Worry. / will punish you.“

He suddenly chuckled. „If I give you the opportunity,

which I have no intention of doing. You will be confined in

this cabin unless I give you permission to leave, and I promise

you that if you bash me over the head while I’m sleeping or

steal your little knife back and stick it in my heart, Valentin

and Mikhail will be very displeased with you. I know you

won’t believe this, but they’re both quite fond of me.“

„I don’t believe it,“ she said flatly.

„Pity. I’m a very charming fellow.“ He smiled wickedly.

„I’ll be glad to demonstrate how agreeable I can be.“

She stared back at him unsmilingly.

„No? Well, then I suppose I’d better show you how

impossible it would be to escape even if I were no longer an

obstacle in your path.“ He leaned forward and quickly sliced

through the ropes binding her wrists. He stood up and strolled

toward the door facing the bed, pausing with his hand on the

knob to gesture to the other door to the left of bed. „That door

leads to the grand saloon, where you would encounter any

number of gentlemen eager to drag you into the nearest

stateroom and have their way with you. Please refrain from

using that door under any circumstance. I intend to be the only

one who’s going to have his way with you on the Rose.“ He

opened the door and inclined his head mockingly. „And this

door leads to the deck.“

Silver swung her legs to the floor and stood up. She crossed

the room, her gaze fixed warily on his face. He stood aside to

let her precede him.

Cool, moist air touched her cheeks and a lazy breeze

ruffled through her hair as she walked out onto the deck. She

heard the door close behind her as she moved over to the rail

and looked down at the churning waters below. It had seemed

as if only a short time had passed, yet the lights of the city had

almost disappeared from view. Now there were only dark

forests, high bluffs, and the river.

„I understand the Mississippi is over a mile wide in many

places,“ Nicholas said softly in her ear. „An impossible swim

for a woman. And I hardly think you’re stupid enough to risk

drowning yourself.“

„No, I’m not stupid.“ Silver did not look at him as she

deliberately fought down the flare of anger she felt at her own

helplessness. Anger would blur her thinking and put her at a

disadvantage, and she already felt more uncertain in Nicholas

Savron’s presence than she ever had before in her life. She

needed all her wits about her to find a way to escape this boat

and get back to Etaine. What if the child suffered another

attack and she weren’t there to help her? She had gotten better

and Silver had been filled with hope, but what if the recovery

did not last? Fear edged her voice. „You’ll not hold me. I’ll

find a way.“ She glanced sideways at him and drew in her

breath sharply. The moonlight frosted his golden hair with a

silver sheen, and he was as beautiful as any ancient god. It was

almost an irresistible temptation to let her gaze linger, but she

forced herself to look back at the river. That angel-devil beauty

was a snare, a weapon he no doubt knew well how to wield.

She must not let herself become entangled in his web.

She had to think, to seek out a weakness in Savron. She

was silent, her mind leaping from one possibility to another.

„What promise did you give Mikhail Kuzdief?“

She felt him stiffen beside her. „Do you actually expect me

to tell you?“

„Why not? I’m only a woman.“

He chuckled. „That bit of irony would have done justice to

Marc Antony at Caesar’s funeral.“

„Well?“

His gaze searched her face. It would be unwise to tell her,

yet he knew abruptly that he was going to do so. She was as

valiant as the warrior Mikhail had called her and they had

stripped her of every weapon. Giving her back one small

assurance would surely do no harm. „I promised him I would

never take you against your will.“

„I see.“ She tried to keep her voice emotionless, to hide the

tingle of excitement his words had ignited within her. „It was

very kind of him to care. I owe him a debt.“

„Mikhail has a gentle heart.“ His lips twisted. „He’s

completely unlike myself in that respect.“

„I agree.“ She turned briskly toward the stateroom. „Can

you summon him from your cabin?“

He nodded. „There’s a bell pull beside the bed.“

„Then send for him. I’m very good with healing.

Sometimes a minor cut can be very dangerous if a bit of cloth

or dirt gets into the wound.“

„You’re suddenly very solicitous,“ Nicholas said dryly. „It

couldn’t be that you think you can persuade him to help you?“

She looked at him in surprise. „No, he told me he was loyal

to you. I know he would not betray you.“

„Then why do you want to bind up his wounds and soothe

his fevered brow?“

„He is a good man,“ she said simply. „And I owe him a

debt. I always pay my debts. Besides, it was not his fault he

felt bound to help you any more than it was mine that I had to

defend myself. Until there is reason for us to fight again, we

can be friends.“

He gazed at her blankly. There was no doubt of her

sincerity. At that moment she had the clear simplicity of a

small child. „You hold no grudge?“

„Not against him.“ She strode past him toward the

stateroom. „Only against you, your highness.“ Her tone was

coolly mocking. „I most definitely hold a grudge against you.“

„Don’t you think formality is rather absurd considering the

intimacy of our circumstances? My name is Nicholas.“

She glanced at him over her shoulder. „I think perhaps

you’re right. In one way or another we shall be more intimate

than you dream, Nicholas.“

She opened the door and entered the stateroom without

another backward glance.

„You must change the bandage morning and night until the

wound forms a scab.“ Silver’s brow furrowed in concentration.

„It seems clean, but I’ve seen lesser wounds than this fester

and cause a fever.“

Mikhail nodded as he stood up, his brawny muscles

rippling in the lamplight as he reached for his tunic on the

table beside him. „I, too.“ He pulled the tunic over his head.

„Remember Boris Kravitz, Nicholas? One week hale and

hearty with a tiny cut on his thumb.“ He drew his index finger

across his throat. „The next week we were measuring him for

a coffin.“

„I remember.“ Nicholas’s tone was abstracted, his gaze

fastened on Silver. „You were telling the truth; you do know a