Part 21 (2/2)
Dane's head jerked up.
”Will the la.s.s be needin' anythin' this evenin'?” Duncan asked, a frown creasing his already-wrinkled face.
Dane glanced briefly at the buckets of steaming water the man held. ”You may ask her yourself, Duncan. I have learned not to a.s.sume a thing about the lady.”
Duncan grinned. ”Aye, sir. Tis an amazing female.”
”Aye,” Dane answered without hesitation.
”Captain Ramsey seemed quite taken with the la.s.s, too,” he commented needlessly.
Dane's expression turned menacing. ” Twas obvious, McPete,” he ground out, straightening.
”Will the captain be dining with us tomorrow evenin', sir?” Duncan needled.
”Nay, he will not,” Dane muttered tightly as he pushed away from the door. The Triton's master had sorely strained their friends.h.i.+p as it was this night.
Duncan grinned, watching Black well step through the pa.s.sageway, then turned and rapped on the door. He heard her voice call from within and pushed the wood aside, placing the heavy buckets on the floor. She was sitting on the window bench, her back to him.
216.
”La.s.s,” he called softly.
”Hey, Duncan. What's up?” Tess swiped at her cheeks before she turned to face him. ”Oh, don't look at me like that. He didn't do anything to hurt me.” Duncan sagged with relief. ”Jeez, McPete, you're like a d.a.m.ned watchdog.”
He smiled warmly. ”I've grown rather fond of you, la.s.s.”
”Oh, yeah, then where were you when O'Keefe was around?”
”I wasn't aware you needed my aid then.” His lips twitched as he straightened the chairs, then moved to the bed.
”A woman needs a suit of armor near that man.”
He looked up from turning back the bedcovers. ”Liked him, did you?”
She smiled back. ”He's a ... a ... he's hard to describe.”
”Has he captured your heart?” Duncan was still.
”Good G.o.d, no!” she said and the old man chuckled deeply.
”I knew you would see the rake for what he is, m'lady.”
His reference to farm implements confused Tess, and it took a second to match it with the twentieth-century equivalent of a playboy.
”He is a bit transparent.”
”Aye. Capt'n Ram does love the ladies.”
She rolled her eyes. ”Tell me something I don't know, McPete.”
Duncan gathered up the pilot rudders and maps and put them away in the desk, then retrieved the buckets and disappeared into the bathroom. A sec- 217.
ond later she heard the slosh of water, and he appeared with the empty pails and asked if there was anything else she needed.
”No, thanks, Duncan. I appreciate your thought-fulness.”
He smiled tenderly. ”I know you do, la.s.s.”
He moved to the door, his hand reaching for the latch when she said, ”He told me about Desiree and why he's here.”
Duncan whirled about, his eyes wide. ”Truly?”
She nodded. ”Did you know her?”
His pale eyes grew sad. ”Aye, since she was a babe.”
”Then you have my sympathy, too.”
Duncan nodded gravely, still unable to believe Dane had spoken of his mission to anyone. He looked at her. ”She would have liked you, m'lady.”
”Think so?” Tess glanced down at her skirt. ”Maybe not after I ruined her clothes, though,” Tess said for lack of anything better.
”The garments were not meant for Mistress Black-well, la.s.s.” Tess's eyes widened. ”I recall the purchase. Twas like an obsession. The captain spent a great deal of coin and, I daresay, pleased the seamstress, for he departed with half her shop. Aye. Twas strange, m'lady, for he knew as well as I that they would have been too large for his sister. She was not a woman, as you are, but a child in more ways than her slight form.” He adjusted the buckets, his brows drawn deep. At the time, Duncan had thought the captain was easing his conscience for not tending to Desiree for so long, but now, he was inclined to believe that the man had somehow felt 218.
Lady Renfrew's coming.
”Then why did O'Keefe say that?”
”To stir the seas, la.s.s. He loves a good row.”
”That's mean.”
”Mayhaps.” Duncan shrugged. ”Yet because of this, has not the captain revealed what you wished to know?”
”Yeah, but he won't let me help, Duncan.”
”Be patient, m'lady. If you've a mind to.” He held his breath.
Tess sighed and stood. ”Don't have any place else to be,” she mumbled, plucking at her skirts.
He grinned, bidding her good night. 'Twas an admittance of caring, he thought happily, even if it was lacking a bit in heart.
Tess awoke and knew the minute her eyes opened, she wouldn't be able to go back to sleep. It was still dark out. Naked, she slid from the bed, pulling the sheet with her as she lit a lamp, turning the fire low. She settled on the window bench, watching the moon glittering across the rolling ocean. Catching her lip between her teeth, she glanced over her shoulder at the desk. No, I can't, she thought, looking back to the sea. It was several moments later when she stood, discarded the sheet, and slid into a gold satin nightgown. She laughed to herself, realizing the clothes she'd frantically stuffed in her bag were nothing more than a bathing suit, a leotard, a couple of tee-s.h.i.+rts, one pair of cut-offs, and lacy lingerie of the wildest variety. A lousy packer under pressure, she thought, then stretched, pulling up the 219.
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