anyone would fear to work for a man like you.’
An odd smile touched his mouth. ‘Thank you, Maribel. I believe you just paid me a compliment. As to the matter of the house, I have arranged for the furniture to be moved in today. I came to bring you a gift, but now I am asking if you will live under my roof—as my guest, no more and no less.’
‘Everyone will think I am your woman…’
‘And they will leave you alone as a consequence. You will be able to move freely on the island. If youstay here, other men may have the same notion as Pike. It is the only way I can be certain you will be safe.’
Maribel shuddered. ‘I should never have come to this terrible place. I do not belong here. I see resentment in the eyes of those I meet. They hate me because of who I was.’
A nerve flicked in his throat. ‘It is my fault that you are here, lady. I have put my mark on you for your protection—it is all I could do to protect you. However, when we leave here you will be as you are now. I shall not abuse the situation. I have apologised, but I cannot change what is done. You must accept it and wait patiently until I can take you to your family.’
Maribel hesitated, then inclined her head. ‘Yes, I shall trust you to keep your word, sir. Thank you. I shall be happy to live under your protection.’
Justin smiled and moved closer. ‘I will make your stay here as pleasant as I can, Madonna. I wish that it had been possible to take you to your family immediately. I was wrong to bring you here, but I thought it best.’ A wry smile touched his mouth. ‘Your family will never know anything of your stay here. I promise you that when I take you to them they will accept my story that I have merely been your escort.’ He arched one eyebrow. ‘You suspected that I was once a gentleman. I know how to play the part and will not let you down, Maribel.’
The way he said her name then made Maribel’s insides curl with a feeling she knew was desire. His mouth was curving in a mocking smile. She longed to be in his arms and to feel that mouth take possessionof hers, as it had once before. It was all she could do to stop herself swaying towards him. She wanted to give herself to him, to tell him that she would be his woman in truth, but pride held her back.
The expression in his eyes told her that he desired her but she knew that he did not love her. He had made it clear that a man such as he had no time for softness or love. Maribel was certain that to give herself to this man would mean loving him—the kind of love that would become a consuming flame. If she gave him her heart, he would crush it beneath his boots.
‘You speak my name,’ she said. ‘But I know you only as Captain Sylvester. I do not think it is your true name.’
‘I may not give you my family name—it would shame them.’ His eyes were flinty, distant. ‘They do not know that I have become a pirate and it would hurt them. However, my Christian name is Justin…’
‘Justin…’ she breathed. ‘Justin…’ A smile touched her mouth. ‘Yes, I like it very well. It suits you, sir—for you are a just man.’
‘Am I?’ He moved in closer, gazing down at her. ‘I retain some honour, Maribel, but a man may only be tempted so far. Be careful how far you tempt me—and wear your petticoats or I may not be responsible for my action.’
‘Justin…’ Her stomach clenched as his hot eyes scorched her. ‘Forgive me. I did not mean to tempt you or any man. My gowns were so hot…but I shall be more sensible in future.’
‘Be careful when out walking,’ he said. ‘I have purchasedsome lighter gowns for you with fine petticoats that will not be so heavy. I should have sent them immediately, but I was caught up with other things. I shall have them taken to my house. They will await you in your room—and now I shall take my leave of you before I lose all sense of honour.’
He turned and walked away from her. Maribel watched. She longed with all
An odd smile touched his mouth. ‘Thank you, Maribel. I believe you just paid me a compliment. As to the matter of the house, I have arranged for the furniture to be moved in today. I came to bring you a gift, but now I am asking if you will live under my roof—as my guest, no more and no less.’
‘Everyone will think I am your woman…’
‘And they will leave you alone as a consequence. You will be able to move freely on the island. If youstay here, other men may have the same notion as Pike. It is the only way I can be certain you will be safe.’
Maribel shuddered. ‘I should never have come to this terrible place. I do not belong here. I see resentment in the eyes of those I meet. They hate me because of who I was.’
A nerve flicked in his throat. ‘It is my fault that you are here, lady. I have put my mark on you for your protection—it is all I could do to protect you. However, when we leave here you will be as you are now. I shall not abuse the situation. I have apologised, but I cannot change what is done. You must accept it and wait patiently until I can take you to your family.’
Maribel hesitated, then inclined her head. ‘Yes, I shall trust you to keep your word, sir. Thank you. I shall be happy to live under your protection.’
Justin smiled and moved closer. ‘I will make your stay here as pleasant as I can, Madonna. I wish that it had been possible to take you to your family immediately. I was wrong to bring you here, but I thought it best.’ A wry smile touched his mouth. ‘Your family will never know anything of your stay here. I promise you that when I take you to them they will accept my story that I have merely been your escort.’ He arched one eyebrow. ‘You suspected that I was once a gentleman. I know how to play the part and will not let you down, Maribel.’
The way he said her name then made Maribel’s insides curl with a feeling she knew was desire. His mouth was curving in a mocking smile. She longed to be in his arms and to feel that mouth take possessionof hers, as it had once before. It was all she could do to stop herself swaying towards him. She wanted to give herself to him, to tell him that she would be his woman in truth, but pride held her back.
The expression in his eyes told her that he desired her but she knew that he did not love her. He had made it clear that a man such as he had no time for softness or love. Maribel was certain that to give herself to this man would mean loving him—the kind of love that would become a consuming flame. If she gave him her heart, he would crush it beneath his boots.
‘You speak my name,’ she said. ‘But I know you only as Captain Sylvester. I do not think it is your true name.’
‘I may not give you my family name—it would shame them.’ His eyes were flinty, distant. ‘They do not know that I have become a pirate and it would hurt them. However, my Christian name is Justin…’
‘Justin…’ she breathed. ‘Justin…’ A smile touched her mouth. ‘Yes, I like it very well. It suits you, sir—for you are a just man.’
‘Am I?’ He moved in closer, gazing down at her. ‘I retain some honour, Maribel, but a man may only be tempted so far. Be careful how far you tempt me—and wear your petticoats or I may not be responsible for my action.’
‘Justin…’ Her stomach clenched as his hot eyes scorched her. ‘Forgive me. I did not mean to tempt you or any man. My gowns were so hot…but I shall be more sensible in future.’
‘Be careful when out walking,’ he said. ‘I have purchasedsome lighter gowns for you with fine petticoats that will not be so heavy. I should have sent them immediately, but I was caught up with other things. I shall have them taken to my house. They will await you in your room—and now I shall take my leave of you before I lose all sense of honour.’
He turned and walked away from her. Maribel watched. She longed with all
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