Irresistible by Karen Robards Page B

judgment of the Nadine 's company was on target, this would be fine French brandy reserved from a cargo recently smuggled to England.
    "What's to do?" Still standing in the dark corridor, James frowned at him questioningly as Hugh continued to block the partly open doorway with his person. Slightly behind Hugh and to his right, his all-too-captivating captive held his own pistol on him just out of James's sight, her body swaying with the motion of the ship and her gaze fixed on him with the fierceness of an eagle's. The question teased at him: Would she actually pull the trigger, if pushed to it?
    It would be interesting to find out.
    "I'm engaged in interrogating the prisoner," he said, narrowing his eyes at James. "I don't need you right now."
    "But…" James protested before he caught the look on Hugh's face. "Oh. You don't need me right now."
    "That's right."
    A slender, bare foot nudged Hugh's leg meaningfully. She was being careful, he realized, not to get too close, although her one-legged prod almost caused her to overbalance. His lip curled as he watched her sideways stagger and quick recovery out of the corner of his eye. The not-so-subtle reminder of what she had once again, in urgent whispers as she'd followed him to the door, instructed him to say was unnecessary, however. He remembered to the letter.
    "I need you to convey a message for me to Captain Dorsey," he said to James. "Tell him that an unforeseen circumstance has arisen, and I require him to turn back to England. I will then be removing the prisoner from the ship."
    James's eyes widened. For a moment he stared at Hugh without speaking. Then he grimaced and rolled his eyes, having clearly gotten the message that he was to do no such thing.
    "Very well, Master Hugh. I'll tell the captain."
    James's voice was slightly wooden. His disapproval of what he would term "such goings-on" was plain on his face. Ah, well, his response would, Hugh hoped, be convincing enough to one who could not see his expression.
    "Go to it, then." Hugh closed the door, but not before James shook his head reprovingly at him.
    "Very good," his captive said as Hugh glanced at her. Then, "Shoot the bolt."
    "I'd be glad to, but as you see I'm slightly encumbered."
    He held up the bottle of brandy with the single glass James had provided turned upside down on top of it.
    "I'll hold it."
    Watching him as though she expected him to jump her at any moment, she unwrapped her left hand from its death grip on the pistol and reached toward him. Smiling faintly, he handed over the bottle and turned back to bolt the door. That done, he glanced at her.
    "What now, oh powerful one?"
    She chewed her lower lip, looking indecisive and also, Hugh decided unwillingly, quite delectable. Her brow was furrowed; her golden eyes were clouded with worry. Her drying hair was as black as soot and, now free of whatever pins might once have confined it, waved luxuriantly over her shoulders and down her back almost to her waist. Every delectable curve and hollow of her body was outlined faithfully by her soaked dress. Her nipples still poked pertly against the wet wool that clung to her breasts.
    Just looking at them— at her— made his loins tighten. Gad, she was a beauty! And young— she could not be as young as she appeared. It was on the tip of his tongue to ask her age, but he stopped himself. He didn't really want to know— and she would probably lie anyway, just like she lied about everything else. Deliberately he thought of Lord Archer. No doubt the doddering old fool had been in alt to find such a nonpareil in his bed. How the man had allowed himself to be relieved of papers vital to his country's security by a tart was readily explained now that Hugh had taken the full measure of the tart in question. The old man almost had to be forgiven for the lapse. It would take a bloodless eunuch to resist an armful like this chit— or, he added hastily, a man with his own iron will.
    He hoped.
    "I want you to