that spread?“

Her eyes flickered warily. „Yes.“

„And still Nicky left you? How interesting.“ He walked the

few paces that separated him from the large mahogany

armoire. „And unprecedented. Tell me, do all young American

ladies sleep unclothed?“

„I don’t believe so.“

„Pity. I thought for a moment I’d found a reason to stay

here in spite of the abominable climate.“ He opened the

armoire, took out a dark green velvet robe, and tossed it onto

the foot of the bed. „This is Nicky’s, but I’m sure it will look

far better on you.“ He turned his back to her, folding his arms

across his chest. „Do you notice what a gentleman I’m being?

That’s because Mikhail warned me he’d squash my head like a

walnut if I insulted you in any way. What magic did you work

on the poor fellow?“

„None.“ Silver threw the covers aside, stood up, and

reached for the robe. She slipped it on and found it was far too

big. Still, the material did feel like a soft, sensuous caress on

her flesh, and the scent… She curiously lifted her arm and

sniffed at the velvet sleeve. Tobacco, soap, and the faint hint of

musk she already identified with Nicholas Savron. It was like

being sheathed in the man himself, she mused. Then she felt

the hot color stain her cheeks at the thought.

„May I turn around?“ Valentin asked politely.

„Yes.“ She finished buttoning the robe and hurriedly

combed her fingers through her hair as he turned to look at her.

She did not care how she appeared to Nicholas or any of these

men, she assured herself. It was only that it was vaguely

unpleasant to feel so disheveled and untidy in front of anyone.

„Lovely,“ Valentin said softly. „That color is ravishing with

your complexion. Nicky tells me you’re half Indian.“

„Are you sure he didn’t say savage?“ Silver asked dryly.

Marinov’s eyes twinkled. „I don’t believe that word was

used, though perhaps the implication was there. He was quite

savage himself last night when he joined our party after he left

you. I don’t suppose you’d care to divulge what happened to

make him so bad-tempered?“

Silver smiled ironically. „Perhaps his highness felt insulted

by a rejection from one so far beneath him.“

Marinov’s amusement faded. „Not Nicky. He’s had to

battle too many insults and snubs himself to knowingly offer

one to someone else for reasons of birth.“

„Why would a prince suffer insult?“ she asked in disbelief.

„His father was a prince, one of the most powerful boyars

in all Russia, but his mother is the daughter of Igor Dabol, a

Cossack leader of the Kuban who raised himself from serfdom

by becoming the most superb fighter in the steppes.“

Valentin’s lips twisted in a sardonic smile. „A boyar does not

wed the daughter of a serf, and, if he does, the child of such a

marriage is not accepted warmly by the nobility.“

„And by the Cossacks?“ Silver aked slowly.

„Among the Cossacks any man is allowed to prove himself,

and Nicky was leading one of Igor’s bands when he was only

sixteen. He was chosen as Igor’s successor and would have

become – “ He broke off and slowly shook his head. „You’re

too curious. Nicky wouldn’t approve of me discussing this

with you. Why don’t you sit down and eat that breakfast

Mikhail ordered for you?“

She sat down and rolled up the wide sleeves of the robe.

„You’re of the nobility and yet you’re evidently his friend.“

Her gaze lifted to meet his. „Why?“

„You know, you have truly magnificent eyes,“ he said

absently. Then he shrugged. „Why does any friendship begin?

We were in the army together. God knows, we’re nothing

alike. He’s rich and I’m poor. He’s reckless and I’m cautious.

He has the soul of a poet and I have the soul of a sybarite.“

She simply looked at him, waiting.

He suddenly laughed. „Very well, he’s the best friend I’ve

ever had. We’ve fought together, gotten drunk together, even

cried together. He’s never failed me. Is that what you wanted

to know?“

„Yes.“ It was as she had thought. Nicholas Savron was not

a man to let down a friend or break a promise. If he could

inspire loyalty in men like Kuzdief and Marinov, then his

promise was even more binding than she had first believed and

the weapon in her hands far more powerful. „That’s exactly

what I wanted to know. Why did you bring me my breakfast? I

would hardly expect a count to lower himself to act as a

servant.“ She picked up the fork beside the plate. „Though

I’ve never met a count before. Perhaps you all – “

„You’ve never met a count before?“ Marinov interrupted.

„But what about…“

She glanced up. „What?“

He studied her thoughtfully. „Nothing. How’s the fish?“

„Very good.“ She began to eat swiftly and with enthusiasm.

„You didn’t answer me.“

„Oh, I was curious.“ He stood watching her, a slight frown

wrinkling his brow. „It’s the only flaw in my otherwise perfect

character. Actually, Mikhail was going to bring your breakfast,

but I persuaded him to let me do it instead. Nicky is giving

permission only to Mikhail and myself to come into the

cabin.“

„I see.“ She finished the fish and eggs and began eating a

large fluffy biscuit. „Am I to be allowed out of the cabin?“

He lifted a brow at the almost empty plate in front of her.

„There’s certainly nothing finicky about your appetite. I

thought abducted ladies were prone to languish and swoon.“

„I don’t know how to languish and swoon.“ She finished

the biscuit. „Perhaps you’d be kind enough to show me.“

His delighted laughter rang out and was so contagious that

Silver found herself smiling in return. „No?“

Marinov shook his head, a smile still lingering on his lips.

„I believe I can see why Nicky was thrown into a tumult. I’m

afraid swoons are not acceptable in dashing young men of

impeccable lineage. You’ll have to be tutored elsewhere.“

„Too much trouble. I’ll just have to get along as I have

been.“

He chuckled again. „You don’t seem overly worried about

your situation.“

Her gaze was direct. „My situation will change soon. I will

not let myself be kept here. In the meantime, there’s no need

for me to starve myself.“

He glanced at the crumbs on the tray. „Very sensible. May I

add to your comfort in any other way?“

„A bath,“ she said promptly. „And my clothes cleaned and

pressed.“

„Anything else?“

„I want to go for a walk.“

He frowned. „I don’t know. Nicky – “

„Is not here.“

„True. But when he does make his appearance, he’ll

probably have a head as big as a paddle wheel.“ He grimaced.

„He was drinking wine as if it were water last night.“

„Then he deserves to suffer.“

„But I don’t, and he has a tongue that can sting like

frostbite when he’s displeased.“ He bent to gather her

discarded clothing from the padded bench at the foot of the

bed. „I’ll take these and give them to a servant to clean, and

arrange for a hip bath to be brought to you, but we’ll have to

see about your little promenade.“

„There’s no reason – “

„No,“ he said with surprising firmness. „My dear Miss

Delaney, you will please quit pushing me where I don’t wish

to go. I get more than enough of that from Nicky.“

She studied him with amusement and the beginning of

respect. Marinov was stronger than she had first thought. Then

the amusement vanished as she realized that this meant

Nicholas must also be stronger to merit Marinov’s loyalty.