clearly his office; despite the fine rug on
the floor and the damask curtains that hung on the portholes across the stern,
the heavy oak desk in the corner as well as the charts and maps that lined the
wall gave evidence of this. Nicole's table was on the starboard side of the
ship, and in the center of the room was another highly polished table with
several squat leather chairs pushed beneath it.
The
sound of a door opening caused Nicole to look up sharply. "Thank God, it's
you, Allen," she muttered.
Settling
himself on the edge of the table where she worked, he laughed. "What's the
matter, Nick? Has the Captain been annoying you again?"
Nicole
threw down her pen and asked seriously, "Allen, do you think Saber knows
that I'm a girl?"
The
twinkle in the blue eyes vanished instantly. Concerned, he inquired, "What
makes you ask? Has he said something?"
She
hunched an impatient shoulder and muttered, "He's acting damned strange, I
can tell you that! This morning he talked a lot of nonsense about our not
knowing one another and taking an interest in me."
A
soundless whistle came from Allen. Frowning, he rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Mmmm, I don't like the sound of that! Saber is no fool and anyone that
took a careful look at you would tumble to your disguise. Nick, this settles
it. When we reach New Orleans you have to let me take care of you."
"Oh,
Allen, not that again! He can't know. If he knew, you can be assured I
wouldn't be sitting here now."
"Don't
be too sure. He resembles a cat in more ways than one, and he's not above
playing with a auburn-headed little mouse. I'm serious, Nick, when we reach
port this time you're disembarking with me and I'll make the arrangements for
you. My mind is hard on this thought, Nick—you are not continuing as you
are! If you balk me you'll leave me no alternative but to tell Saber."
Dismayed,
Nicole stared pleadingly at him. But his face was set and there was an iron
cast to the firm chin. "I mean it, Nick. It's over as soon as we reach New
Orleans."
Silently
she regarded him. It was curious that he was at last using the ultimate threat.
And she wondered why he chose now to use it. Of course, she could retaliate . .
. "Aren't you forgetting what I can tell Saber . . . about you?"
Allen's
face froze and an ugly look gleamed briefly in the blue eyes. "Are you
threatening me, Nick? I should warn you not to. You can run to Saber if you
like, but you can't prove anything, and you can be assured that your masquerade
will be revealed no matter what you do. On the other hand," he continued
smoothly, "you could keep your mouth shut about whatever you suspect and
let me keep you until you're in a position or frame of mind to return to
England." Gently he added, "I like you, Nicole, and I'll see you
safely to your family the instant you say the word."
"I
see," she said coldly. "Very well, I'm afraid I have no real choice
but to accept your kind offer." Her voice grated on the word kind and
Allen winced.
He
reached for Nicole's hand and held it between his own. "Don't take it like
this, Nick. If you think about it, you know that I'm right. It's the only
solution now and I should have demanded it long ago. You mustn't mind too much
that I shall be paying your bills—I'm happy to do so. If you dislike it
excessively you can keep an account and repay me once your own affairs are
settled." Coaxingly he begged, "Let us remain friends, Nicole. We
have been close companions too long to part in anger—especially when I'm only
thinking of your welfare."
An
unwilling smile curved Nicole's mouth. "Oh, damn you, Allen! Have your
way. I'm tired of fighting you and perhaps your plan is wiser." Ruefully
she admitted, "I've certainly got nothing to lose by it. But I shall repay
you—every penny."
There
was a discreet cough behind them, and jerking around, Nicole stared aghast at
Saber leaning against the door; his arms folded across his chest, he was
watching them. Caustically he drawled, "Something
the floor and the damask curtains that hung on the portholes across the stern,
the heavy oak desk in the corner as well as the charts and maps that lined the
wall gave evidence of this. Nicole's table was on the starboard side of the
ship, and in the center of the room was another highly polished table with
several squat leather chairs pushed beneath it.
The
sound of a door opening caused Nicole to look up sharply. "Thank God, it's
you, Allen," she muttered.
Settling
himself on the edge of the table where she worked, he laughed. "What's the
matter, Nick? Has the Captain been annoying you again?"
Nicole
threw down her pen and asked seriously, "Allen, do you think Saber knows
that I'm a girl?"
The
twinkle in the blue eyes vanished instantly. Concerned, he inquired, "What
makes you ask? Has he said something?"
She
hunched an impatient shoulder and muttered, "He's acting damned strange, I
can tell you that! This morning he talked a lot of nonsense about our not
knowing one another and taking an interest in me."
A
soundless whistle came from Allen. Frowning, he rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Mmmm, I don't like the sound of that! Saber is no fool and anyone that
took a careful look at you would tumble to your disguise. Nick, this settles
it. When we reach New Orleans you have to let me take care of you."
"Oh,
Allen, not that again! He can't know. If he knew, you can be assured I
wouldn't be sitting here now."
"Don't
be too sure. He resembles a cat in more ways than one, and he's not above
playing with a auburn-headed little mouse. I'm serious, Nick, when we reach
port this time you're disembarking with me and I'll make the arrangements for
you. My mind is hard on this thought, Nick—you are not continuing as you
are! If you balk me you'll leave me no alternative but to tell Saber."
Dismayed,
Nicole stared pleadingly at him. But his face was set and there was an iron
cast to the firm chin. "I mean it, Nick. It's over as soon as we reach New
Orleans."
Silently
she regarded him. It was curious that he was at last using the ultimate threat.
And she wondered why he chose now to use it. Of course, she could retaliate . .
. "Aren't you forgetting what I can tell Saber . . . about you?"
Allen's
face froze and an ugly look gleamed briefly in the blue eyes. "Are you
threatening me, Nick? I should warn you not to. You can run to Saber if you
like, but you can't prove anything, and you can be assured that your masquerade
will be revealed no matter what you do. On the other hand," he continued
smoothly, "you could keep your mouth shut about whatever you suspect and
let me keep you until you're in a position or frame of mind to return to
England." Gently he added, "I like you, Nicole, and I'll see you
safely to your family the instant you say the word."
"I
see," she said coldly. "Very well, I'm afraid I have no real choice
but to accept your kind offer." Her voice grated on the word kind and
Allen winced.
He
reached for Nicole's hand and held it between his own. "Don't take it like
this, Nick. If you think about it, you know that I'm right. It's the only
solution now and I should have demanded it long ago. You mustn't mind too much
that I shall be paying your bills—I'm happy to do so. If you dislike it
excessively you can keep an account and repay me once your own affairs are
settled." Coaxingly he begged, "Let us remain friends, Nicole. We
have been close companions too long to part in anger—especially when I'm only
thinking of your welfare."
An
unwilling smile curved Nicole's mouth. "Oh, damn you, Allen! Have your
way. I'm tired of fighting you and perhaps your plan is wiser." Ruefully
she admitted, "I've certainly got nothing to lose by it. But I shall repay
you—every penny."
There
was a discreet cough behind them, and jerking around, Nicole stared aghast at
Saber leaning against the door; his arms folded across his chest, he was
watching them. Caustically he drawled, "Something
Similar Books
