Part 21 (1/2)

In a hut near the mill on the west side of the island, Simon tilted his head back against his chair and closed his eyes, the horrific images of Angelica's attack torturing his mind.

Even though he hadn't slept all night, he was too distraught to feel fatigue.

He'd spent the night trying to wrestle down his rage-the broken chair he'd smashed against the wall proof of his violent mood.

He shoved the drawings of the mill and his accounting ledgers off the desk and onto the floor with a growl. Distracting his agitated mind with work had proved fruitless. He'd made so many blunders at her expense. Certainly, he shouldn't have left her in such a vulnerable state after she'd finally revealed her past to him.

He glanced at the door and rose. It was dawn.

Perhaps he would check to see how she was.

He let out a sharp breath, and set his palms down on the desk. If he spoke to her now or any time soon, he wouldn't be able to stop himself from drawing her into his arms. Given the intense attraction between them, he knew exactly where that would lead.

And he was intent on keeping his rude hands off her.

His gut had told him she was an innocent, yet that hadn't stopped him from unleas.h.i.+ng his desire. But...Dieu, just because her lecherous stepfather had violated her, was she never to know a man's touch? Never to know how wonderful s.e.x could be?

He shoved himself off the desk and began to pace.

But he shouldn't be the man to show her. She was a n.o.ble. He was not.

A n.o.ble. He'd suspected it. Feared it. Where could this possibly go? His life was complicated and layered. He had nothing to offer her but physical encounters, and she should find that in a marriage bed with her husband. Her n.o.ble husband. He tamped down the pang of regret that notion caused.

He had to extricate himself from Fouquet's hold-without having every man under his command arrested and executed. There were also the island's financial stability and safety to maintain. In short, people depended on him. He needed a clear head, and yet when Angelica was around, all he wanted was to touch her, take her.

And that was the last thing either of them needed.

There were two things he could do for her.

First, stay away. Second, when he returned to France, hunt down the man who'd taken so much from her.

And make him pay. Dearly.

Chapter Sixteen.

She had not broken.

Although Simon's silence had stabbed her through the heart, she refused to curl up and die.

Angelica walked up to the crowd in the square and glanced around, unable to locate her friends in the throng. The island's springtime celebration was underway. She'd prepared tomorrow's teaching lessons, promising Suzette to return later when the music began-purposely hoping to avoid being ensnared in the games or compet.i.tions held during the afternoon for which she was in no mood.

During the last two weeks, she'd completely immersed herself in her teaching position. She'd forgotten just how much satisfaction she derived from teaching children. She adored her students and had taken it upon herself to encourage the girls to attend too. In two short weeks, her little school population had grown by six.

A sudden roar of laughter from the crowd broke through her thoughts. She scanned about again.

Simon would be here soon. Good. For she was going to confront him.

Today.

Though they shared the same roof, since revealing her past to him weeks ago, she'd barely seen him. He spent most of his time on the opposite side of the island and was rarely home.

On the few occasions they'd encountered each other at the door, they had exchanged customary pleasantries, and he'd politely inquired about how she was finding her new position. Although courteous, he'd been brief and eager to part company.

Revealing her secret to him had done exactly what she'd feared it would do. It had driven him away. Didn't he realize what it had taken for her to expose herself to him so completely?

Well, she was not going to allow him to avoid her any longer.

She wasn't going to permit him to hide his true feelings behind a pleasant mask. He was repulsed by her past. By her. So be it. But she wanted to hear him say it-to her face.

How could she have been so wrong about him? Why wasn't he able to offer her the acceptance she'd craved from him? Since the night she'd told him the truth, she'd dealt with feelings of betrayal, pain.

She was not going to punish herself or be a victim any longer.

Not to her stepfather. And certainly not to Simon. She'd come out of this experience stronger. She'd even found the courage to tell Gabriella and Suzette everything. They, unlike Simon, had offered her genuine comfort and understanding.

Simon had asked for the truth. Now he had it, and she was going to force him to deal with it. To deal with her. This very day.

Just as old Benjamin stepped up onto the makes.h.i.+ft stage and was about to make an announcement, she heard the gallop of horses approaching. Loud cheers rose from the throng.

Simon, Jules, Armand, and Domenico had arrived.

On his mount, Simon appeared every bit the commander he was. Dressed in a crisp white s.h.i.+rt and black breeches, he looked so good it hurt.

The moment he dismounted, young lads hurried forward for the privilege of attending to his horse.

”Good sirs, welcome!” Old Benjamin said with a theatric flare. ”You have arrived just in time for our final compet.i.tion. The bachelors' compet.i.tion!” His booming voice set the crowd cheering anew, with much more enthusiasm from the females for the newly arrived men.

”I believe, Captain, that you and Monsieur Armand are still bachelors, no?” Benjamin inquired, grinning at the crowd's deafening jubilation.

Angelica watched Simon and Armand smile good-naturedly.

”We are,” Simon responded. A distinctly female cheer rose from the ma.s.s. Angelica tried to ignore how much their enthusiastic interest bothered her.

”Well, dear ladies, do you not agree that they should enter the final contest?” Again a female cheer emphatically concurred.

Before Simon and Armand could comment, Benjamin pressed on. ”The prize for the winner is a kiss from the most comely mademoiselle on the island.” Jubilant cheers a.s.sailed Angelica's ears. ”She was selected by the bachelors, Captain, voted upon just prior to the commencement of the celebration. When asked which fair maiden they would most like to kiss, you will be surprised to know this year's fair mademoiselle is someone who has never been selected before...” Excited murmurs from female hopefuls tore through the group.

Benjamin continued, ”Good people, this year's selection is a young woman who is the overwhelming favorite choice among our young men!”

This time, it was the young men's turn to cheer.

Suzette suddenly squeezed Angelica's arm, startling her. ”Oh, let it be me. Paul is entered in the contest!” Her eyes sparkled with excitement. ”Wouldn't it be wonderful if he won, and I was the selected mademoiselle, Angelica? Just think, a kiss from Paul!”

”Before we announce this fair maiden's name, you must agree to join in the compet.i.tion, Captain,” said Benjamin.

The crowd was whipped into a frenzy. Simon chuckled and held up his hand to silence the overwhelming ovation. ”Very well. I agree to join.”