possessions.”
Kirinda gave John Bull a smug little smile from behind the Leopard’s back.
“She will, however, need English shoes and slippers. Get her some immediately so she can practice walking in them. The floors in England are far too cold to go barefoot.”
Kirinda’s face fell and John Bull smiled at her with condescending satisfaction.
At dusk Adam was surprised to learn that Lady Lambhad arrived; yet not surprised. He realized he had been half expecting her. The first thing he noticed was that she had abandoned her mourning. She wore a low-cut gown of finest Indian muslin with a rare blue lotus tucked between her breasts. Her blond hair, without the combs, fell to her shoulders in waves. The effect softened her beauty. Tonight she did not look cool at all; in the lamplight she looked quite warm, almost vulnerable.
When they were alone she came to him and placed her hands upon his chest. She looked up at him in supplication. “Oh, Adam, please forgive me?” she murmured softly.
Savage was aware that she had come to seduce him. The irony wasn’t lost on him. Though Eve was sexually frigid she was willing to play the whore for the sake of his money and jewels. Adam was curious to see how far she would go.
Adam pretended to succumb to Eve’s temptation. His head dipped to capture her lips and he murmured, “I don’t want you tainted … by anything other than me.”
Eve shuddered. It was an effect he often had on women. She wondered wildly how in the world she would be able to lie naked upon the divan while John Bull and her own sepoy guard waited in the adjoining room.
Adam’s blue eyes crinkled with amusement. “I prefer the
lady
to the
whore,”
he murmured, then proceeded to render her mindless with his kisses. The moment he felt her begin to respond, he took his arms from her. She might loathe his ability to dominate her, but he was determined to leave her wanting more.
Finally she gathered her courage to ask, “What will you do with the opium?”
“Ship it to England,” he said tersely.
She raised her head to look into his eyes. “What’s the difference between England and China?”
Annoyance nibbled at him. He wasn’t in the habit of explaining himself. “In England I can control what happensto it. It will go into laudanum to kill the pain of having a limb removed or the pain of childbirth.” He took a deep breath. “Eve, when the
Red Dragon
sails I shall be aboard.” He watched her face intently. He saw her eyes widen with shocked surprise. She thought that because she had allowed him a few intimate kisses she would have a say in everything he did, every decision. He was glad he had disabused her immediately.
“So soon?” she asked, but he could not tell if the note of panic he heard was at the thought of losing him. “Have you sold Leopard’s Leap?”
“No. I’m only leasing it to the Company.”
He caressed her pale shoulder. “Evelyn, why don’t you come with me?”
She did not dare to assume he offered anything more than transportation. Silence stretched between them until she finally broke it.
“Adam, Lamb Hall belongs to my son now.” Had she been subtle enough? Would he offer her marriage? She wanted his wealth and knew the only way she could get it was by marrying him. Marriage would mean losing her title and she was greedy enough to want it all. Still unsure of him, she continued, “Here I have a palatial home filled with servants.”
“Edenwood will be palatial and filled with servants,” he said quietly.
Eve felt weak with relief. She had been clever enough after all. “I cannot seriously consider marriage until my period of mourning is over and done with. Go and see your Edenwood. Buy yourself that title we spoke of, then come back for me.”
“I don’t want you to worry about money while I’m gone. I’ve arranged for you to draw on my bank in Colombo.” He saw her eyes light, then she veiled them with her lashes.
Eve felt compelled to
Kirinda gave John Bull a smug little smile from behind the Leopard’s back.
“She will, however, need English shoes and slippers. Get her some immediately so she can practice walking in them. The floors in England are far too cold to go barefoot.”
Kirinda’s face fell and John Bull smiled at her with condescending satisfaction.
At dusk Adam was surprised to learn that Lady Lambhad arrived; yet not surprised. He realized he had been half expecting her. The first thing he noticed was that she had abandoned her mourning. She wore a low-cut gown of finest Indian muslin with a rare blue lotus tucked between her breasts. Her blond hair, without the combs, fell to her shoulders in waves. The effect softened her beauty. Tonight she did not look cool at all; in the lamplight she looked quite warm, almost vulnerable.
When they were alone she came to him and placed her hands upon his chest. She looked up at him in supplication. “Oh, Adam, please forgive me?” she murmured softly.
Savage was aware that she had come to seduce him. The irony wasn’t lost on him. Though Eve was sexually frigid she was willing to play the whore for the sake of his money and jewels. Adam was curious to see how far she would go.
Adam pretended to succumb to Eve’s temptation. His head dipped to capture her lips and he murmured, “I don’t want you tainted … by anything other than me.”
Eve shuddered. It was an effect he often had on women. She wondered wildly how in the world she would be able to lie naked upon the divan while John Bull and her own sepoy guard waited in the adjoining room.
Adam’s blue eyes crinkled with amusement. “I prefer the
lady
to the
whore,”
he murmured, then proceeded to render her mindless with his kisses. The moment he felt her begin to respond, he took his arms from her. She might loathe his ability to dominate her, but he was determined to leave her wanting more.
Finally she gathered her courage to ask, “What will you do with the opium?”
“Ship it to England,” he said tersely.
She raised her head to look into his eyes. “What’s the difference between England and China?”
Annoyance nibbled at him. He wasn’t in the habit of explaining himself. “In England I can control what happensto it. It will go into laudanum to kill the pain of having a limb removed or the pain of childbirth.” He took a deep breath. “Eve, when the
Red Dragon
sails I shall be aboard.” He watched her face intently. He saw her eyes widen with shocked surprise. She thought that because she had allowed him a few intimate kisses she would have a say in everything he did, every decision. He was glad he had disabused her immediately.
“So soon?” she asked, but he could not tell if the note of panic he heard was at the thought of losing him. “Have you sold Leopard’s Leap?”
“No. I’m only leasing it to the Company.”
He caressed her pale shoulder. “Evelyn, why don’t you come with me?”
She did not dare to assume he offered anything more than transportation. Silence stretched between them until she finally broke it.
“Adam, Lamb Hall belongs to my son now.” Had she been subtle enough? Would he offer her marriage? She wanted his wealth and knew the only way she could get it was by marrying him. Marriage would mean losing her title and she was greedy enough to want it all. Still unsure of him, she continued, “Here I have a palatial home filled with servants.”
“Edenwood will be palatial and filled with servants,” he said quietly.
Eve felt weak with relief. She had been clever enough after all. “I cannot seriously consider marriage until my period of mourning is over and done with. Go and see your Edenwood. Buy yourself that title we spoke of, then come back for me.”
“I don’t want you to worry about money while I’m gone. I’ve arranged for you to draw on my bank in Colombo.” He saw her eyes light, then she veiled them with her lashes.
Eve felt compelled to
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