Surrender the Night (33 page)

“You were defending yourself. No more than I or any military man does in war.” Slipping in front of her, Alex took her in his arms. After a second, her stiff body relaxed, and she began to sob. He kissed her forehead and caressed the back of her head. He continued to stroke her hair and allowed her to cry even as fury tore through him. What he wouldn’t give to find the remaining sailor and bring him to justice.

When her sobs were spent, Alex drew away from her and cupped her face in his hands, forcing her to look at him. Her red nose and tear-streaked cheeks glistened in the moonlight. “You are not defiled to me. You are the most precious thing I have ever encountered.” He eased a lock of her hair from her face. “I truly do adore you.”

“Then stay with me.” The look of pleading in her moist eyes threatened to crack his resolve. No, to blast it into fragments. But what of his country, his family honor, his brother, his recompense? Would he be making another rash decision based on the passion of the moment that would only cause him further pain? Yet now as her lips parted and her eyes lovingly caressed his face, all those things seemed to drift away in the night breeze.

He lowered his mouth to hers.

Rose closed her eyes and felt Alex’s lips touch hers. Moist and warm. Pressing her against him, he planted soft kisses over her mouth. His
body stiffened and warmed. His kiss deepened. A surge of heat flooded her, swirling in her belly and sending pinpricks over her skin. She melted into his arms and lost herself in his scent, the feel of him, the taste of him. Her mind careened into an abyss of pleasure and love—a place she never wanted to leave.

An evening breeze wafted over them, bringing with it the scent of summer hyacinth. Silver light surrounded them. Leaves fluttered on trees as though they were laughing with delight. Rose never wanted this moment to end.

He withdrew and caressed her cheek with his fingers.

Rose was afraid to open her eyes. “I’m dreaming.”

“After that kiss, I assure you, you are not.” His voice was deep and sensuous.

Rose fell into him, and he swallowed her up in his arms.

“So this is the way of things?” a voice dripping in spite shouted from the darkness.

Jerking back from Alex, Rose spun to see Mr. Snyder approaching the barn, one hand on his cane, the other fisted at his waist.

“What are you doing here?” Rose’s mind reeled at the interruption.

Alex groaned. Valor neighed and retreated into her stall as if the sight of the councilman sickened her.

“The question should be, what are you doing, Miss McGuire, compromising yourself with a family servant? Beyond unscrupulous.” He huffed and jutted out his chin.

Alex moved in front of Rose, easing her behind him as the councilman entered the barn. “One more insult to Miss McGuire, and I shall demand satisfaction.”

The spark of confidence in Mr. Snyder’s eyes did not fade beneath Alex’s threat, and that alone sent a sliver of dread down Rose’s back.

“Fraternizing with the enemy, my dear?” Mr. Snyder twirled his cane in the air and moved toward Alex, a malicious smirk on his thin lips.

Rose’s heart stopped beating, or so it seemed. The barn began to spin.

“Whatever are you babbling about, Mr. Snyder?” Alex’s tone remained confident and demanding, but she could tell from the way he fisted his hands at his waist that Mr. Snyder’s words had struck their mark.

The smile fell from Snyder’s lips, and a hateful frown took its place. “I’m talking about your being a British naval officer, Mr. Reed.”

Rose’s legs nearly gave out, and she stumbled. Alex turned just in time to catch her before she fell. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he drew her to his side.

“Now isn’t that sweet?” Snyder planted the tip of his cane in the dirt and leaned both hands upon it.

“You’re mad, Snyder,” Alex spat. “Where is your proof?”

One cultured brow lifted. “I have in my possession a certain service sword.”

Rose felt a tremble jolt through Alex.

“I see from your stunned expression that you know the sword. It has an engraving, I believe.” He tapped his chin. “Let me see if I can recall it. Ah, yes. Alexander M. Reed, HMS
Undefeatable.”
He grinned like a cougar about to devour his prey. “An award perhaps for some courageous action?”

Rose gasped, and Alex tightened his grip around her waist. She glared at Snyder, surprised by the hatred burning in her soul for this man. “What are you going to do?” she asked.

He puckered his slimy lips and widened his eyes. “Well, nothing actually.” Then he grinned. “As long as you both do what I say.” Despite his assured stance, a bead of sweat forged a trail down his cheek.

“Pray tell, what is that?” Defeat and sorrow deepened Alex’s tone.

“It’s quite simple really. You, Mr. Reed, will scurry back to your ship or wherever you came from.” He gestured with his hands as one would usher a mouse to a hole. “And you, Miss McGuire, will agree to marry me.”

Nausea leaped into Rose’s throat. The air thinned around her. Rose felt Alex’s body stiffen, heard the grunt of disbelief at the man’s nerve.

“No doubt you know what will happen if you do not comply,” Snyder pushed. “If I turn you in to authorities …” The rat paused for effect. “Miss McGuire and her family will be arrested for harboring the enemy.” Then he waited, a malicious smirk on his face. Rose wanted to wipe it off, wanted to tell him to take a flying leap.

Finally Alex sighed. “I’ll go back to my ship, Snyder, but leave Miss McGuire and her family out of this. They’ve done no wrong.”

“Perhaps.” Snyder sauntered toward Liverpool. The cow swung her head over the stall and snorted at him, halting him in his tracks. He wrinkled his nose, then turned to face them.

“Not very smart, are you, Mr. Reed?” Snyder cocked his head. “I’ll still have your sword. And unless you have forgotten your unfortunate meeting with General Smith in town,”—he grinned—“ah, yes, I know about that. Well, let’s just say, I’m sure he’ll remember you were employed as the Drummond servant.”

“We will deny that we knew his true identity.” Though she tried to sound authoritative, Rose’s voice cracked.

“No one will believe you, my sweet Rose.” Snyder’s lips slanted. “Not with the evidence I have gathered from Mr. Reed’s quarters, and the fact that the British were seen on your property the night Mr. Reed suddenly appeared. Egad, the man’s own regal accent betrays him.”

Rose’s legs trembled. He was right. General Smith was no fool.

Mr. Snyder brushed a speck of dirt from his coat, and Rose thought she saw a flicker of pain cross his face. “I am not a cruel man. I had hoped my fears of a dalliance between you and Mr. Reed were but a figment of my overimaginative mind. If so, there would be no need to resort to such measures.”

The spark of hope that had ignited within her earlier, now extinguished, leaving her soul empty and dark.

Alex shifted his stance. “And if the lady refuses to marry you?”

“That would be most unwise.” Snyder pointed his cane at them and chuckled. “For I can assure you that Miss McGuire and her aunt, uncle, most likely her maid and cook too will be tried for treason and executed.”

CHAPTER 19

A
lex stormed into the servants’ quarters. The wooden door slammed against the wall, raining dust upon him from the rafters. Fury blazed a hot trail down Alex’s back, legs, arms, until he felt he would burst unless he struck something—or someone. He lifted a boot to the lone table and kicked it. It flew through the air and crashed against the far wall then fell, in shatters, onto the dirt floor.

Alex heard Rose’s soft footsteps enter behind him. He ran a hand through his hair, tearing strands from his queue, and tried to collect his rage. But no sooner had his anger dwindled than an overwhelming sorrow threatened to crush him. He shook it off. Anger was better. It kept him focused, determined. It kept him from sinking into despair.

But a sob filtering from behind him proved to be his undoing. He turned around. Moonlight cast Rose’s dark silhouette in a silver aura. He opened his arms, and she dashed toward him. The soft curves of her body melded against his chest, and he tightened his arms around her as if doing so would always keep her with him, always by his side. He stroked her hair. She trembled beneath another sob. Releasing her, he cupped her face and lifted her gaze to his. Tears streamed down her cheeks. He wiped them gently with his thumb.

“What are we to do, Alex?” Her face was etched in sorrow.

He hated to see her in such pain. Hated to feel it himself. Hated to be the cause of it. To the devil with Mr. Snyder! Alex had met scoundrels in his life. Many in fact during his time in His Majesty’s Navy. One of them, Garrick, lay in a shallow grave not too far from where they stood. But the councilman surpassed them all.

He kissed Rose’s forehead, then pressed her against him.

“I will die if I marry him,” she cried.

Alex agreed for he felt as though he would die as well if she married that buffoon. Silently, he cursed himself for his selfishness, for staying too long, endangering this family and this precious woman.

Alex pushed away from her. Tears pooled on her lashes, and a red hue colored her nose and cheeks. Golden curls tumbled over her shoulders like spun silk. He took her hands in his. “I will not allow that to happen.” Releasing her, he took up a pace across the room, not wanting her to see the moisture filling his eyes, not wanting her to see his inner conflict that surely must be evident on his face.

A sob moaned in her throat. “You could stay, switch sides, then it wouldn’t matter that Snyder has your sword?”

“I can’t.” Alex halted and gazed at the dirt. He couldn’t let his family down yet again. Couldn’t make another bad decision based on foolish sentiments.

“So you would have me marry that fiend?”

“No.” The thought made Alex’s stomach churn and brought a sour taste to his mouth. “I will not allow that to happen.”

“I don’t see how you can prevent it.” She turned her back to him and her shoulders lowered.

“Trust me, Rose.” Alex reached up to touch her but thought better of it. Truth be told, a plan had formed in his mind even before Mr. Snyder had galloped away.

When she faced him again, her face was dry, and her eyes held the distant look of surrender. She had accepted her fate. He knew she would eventually. He knew because she was wise and strong—not a woman given to flighty, romantic notions. It was one of the things he loved about her. And a quality he wished he possessed more of, for at this moment, if she would but beg him to stay one more time, he doubted he could resist her.

“I shall pray for you, Alex. I’ll pray that you can someday return to
your home in England.” Her voice threatened to crack.

“And I shall pray the same for you as well.” He stepped toward her and fingered a strand of silky hair. “I will never forget you, Rose.”

He studied her creamy face, memorizing every detail, the tiny wrinkle on her forehead that told him she was upset, her thin brown eyebrows drawn together in a frown, her high cheeks flushed with emotion, her moist lips. One last kiss. Could he steal one last kiss? He lowered his lips to hers. They tasted of tears and trembled at his touch.