Captive Pride (29 page)

“What?” She looked up, a bit startled to find her maid standing in the parlor doorway.

“Are you all right? You look a bit pale…. Is there anything I can get for you?”

“I'll be fine, Anna,” she answered, thinking that the one thing she really needed, she would never have…Noah Kincade's love.

“If you're sure, miss…”

“Yes, I'm sure.” Her tone was melancholy, and Anna could only guess at the cause as she left her mistress alone with her thoughts.

CC stared aghast at Ryan Graves. “Surely you aren't serious. There must be someone else who can do this….”

“I'm sorry, CC. Both Joshua and I are willing to make the trip,” he replied, gesturing to Joshua Smith and himself, “but you're the only one who could go in there without drawing attention to yourself.”

She shook her head quickly. “No. I can't do it, Ryan.”

The rebel leader was stunned by her refusal. “CC, we have to get this money to Lord Kincade. We promised him over a week ago that he would have it soon, and I'm sure he's wondering at the delay in the initial payment. If I try to deliver it…” Ryan hesitated, glancing poignantly at Joshua. “There's no telling what might happen.”

“I don't understand. What could possibly happen if you give it to him?”

Ryan's expression hardened. “We have it from a reliable source that Lord Kincade's movements about town are being monitored. We don't know if he's aware of the surveillance or not, and we can't take any chances. The deal is too close to fruition. We have to see it through. It has to be you, CC. You're the only one who is not regularly known.”

CC vacillated, tormented by the decision she had to make. She did not want to see Noah again, yet if the entire arms deal was to fall through because of her refusal to take the money to him at the inn…she hesitated to answer, knowing that she couldn't tell them the real reason why.

Joshua Smith sighed in very real exasperation as his gaze rested coldly upon her. “I told you we shouldn't allow a woman to be included in any of this, disguise or no disguise. This is men's business, and females shouldn't have a part in it.”

Joshua's words stung her pride, as he'd hoped they would, and she stiffened as she answered, “I'll do it.”

“Thank you, CC.” Ryan slanted Joshua a triumphant look as he handed her the wrapped parcel that contained the first of the two payments they'd agreed upon for the shipment.

“Does Kincade know I'm coming?”

“No. We didn't even want to risk sending a message.”

“I see.” She frowned slightly at the thought of arriving unannounced. “What if he isn't at the inn?”

“He should be,” Ryan answered, noting the time, “but if for some reason he isn't, just keep the package with you until you can make contact with him. Then report back to me to let me know how everything went. I'll be here until midnight tonight. If you have any problems and don't get the money to him until tomorrow, you can send word to me at home.”

“Fine.”

“Also, I've enclosed a letter with the money explaining the situation to him, so you won't have to. The less time you spend with him, the better off you'll be. We don't want to put you in danger either.”

“I appreciate that.”

“Good. I'll be expecting to hear from you within the next eighteen hours,” Ryan told her seriously. “And remember, caution is the word of the day. Be as inconspicuous as you can.”

“I'll be careful,” she promised.

“Good luck.”

Carrying the parcel under her arm as if it were of little importance, CC strode from the room in her practiced boyish style. She left the safety of the Green Dragon and went out into the dark of the early Boston night, all the while pensively wondering who it could be who was so interested in Noah that they would be having him watched.

Joshua looked at Ryan, his expression worried. “Do you think she'll be all right?”

“I hope so,” Ryan replied tensely. “We have a lot riding on this deal and I don't want anything to go wrong.”

“Why do you think she refused at first? Do you think she was too afraid?”

Ryan frowned thoughtfully. “No. I think I know CC fairly well and she doesn't frighten easily. I'm not sure why she didn't want to have any contact with Kincade. Maybe she thought that he might discover her true identity. After all, he does do some business with her father.”

“That's true,” Joshua nodded. “But I'm sure she'll do fine. All she's got to do is to make sure he gets the package. Minimal contact. Nothing else. It shouldn't prove too difficult.”

 

Noah sat in the taproom drinking a mug of ale and listening with little interest to the conversations flowing about him. Though it was early evening, he was already thinking of retiring to his chamber for the night, not so much because he was tired as because he was bored. The day had passed relatively quickly for him as he'd worked with Lyle on board the
Lorelei
in preparation for the ship's departure on the short trip to the islands, but now the night stretched out before him in endless monotony. Matt had gone to visit Faith, and he was alone.

“Can I get you another drink, m'lord?” Polly sidled up to his table and brushed slightly against him.

“Yes, Polly, I do believe I'll have one more.” Noah smiled with cool politeness, taking care that she read no invitation in his expression.

Polly's expectant look faded as she noted his lack of interest. “I'll be right back with your ale.”

“Thanks.”

She was as good as her word and he accepted the tankard, tipping her generously as he stood up.

“Should my brother come in in the next hour or so, tell him to come on up to my room, will you, Polly?”

“Yes, Lord Kincade. I'll tell him,” she promised before she moved away to see to her other customers.

Noah paid little attention to his surroundings as he took up his fresh mug of ale and started upstairs. He did not notice the door to the taproom opening or the youth who slipped undetected inside.

CC's nerves were stretched taut as she entered the taproom of the Red Lion Inn. Though it was true that she was a bit nervous because this was the first time she'd gone anywhere in her disguise save the meetings and rallies, the real cause of her upset was the prospect of seeing Noah again. She dreaded the moment. Her feelings for him were like a wildfire raging within her soul. She was afraid that if he touched her, all would be lost again, just as it had been in the carriage the other night.

She was surprised when she caught sight of Noah on the staircase. Without drawing attention to herself, she picked up her pace in hopes of catching up with him before he entered his room. Noah was unaware that CC was coming up behind him. When she reached out to grab his arm, he was startled and immediately spun around to see who it was.

“CC!” he croaked in astonishment as he stared down at her in the dim light of the hallway. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“Be quiet,” she warned him with a glare as she glanced around to be sure no one else had heard.

Noah realized his mistake in blurting out her name. Shaking off the hold she had on his arm, he snared her wrist and dragged her with him the rest of the way down the hall to his room. As quickly as he could, he unlocked the door and then unceremoniously drew her inside. He released her to close the door behind them and light a lamp.

“You didn't have to be so rough!” she snapped as she rubbed her wrist.

Noah stood halfway across the room glowering at her as he tried to figure out why she had come. One part of him was ecstatic to see her again, but the other, harder part of him wondered at the reason for her unexpected visit. They had agreed in the carriage to stay away from each other, and yet here she was….

“I thought we'd agreed to avoid each other?” he charged.

“We did, and believe me, this was not my idea,” CC returned, scowling mutinously.

“Then why, my dear Miss Demorest, are you here?” Even while he was taunting her, though, Noah thrilled to her presence. His gaze went over her hungrily, memorizing every detail of her appearance and reviving every memory of her carefully concealed womanly curves.

CC answered in low, nervous tones, “I'm here because Ryan Graves sent me to you.”

Noah's blood began to race at her words as both passion and fury flamed within him. So Robinson hadn't been the one directing her at all. It had been Graves all along…. Yet, even as he was angry, Noah knew that he wanted her as he'd never wanted another. He stepped closer, looming over CC threateningly.

“Oh, he did, did he?” Noah's predatory smile revealed his thoughts all too clearly, and CC, feeling nearly overwhelmed by his nearness, took a step back.

“Yes…I have something for you….” she began.

“I'm sure you do.” He reached out for her, but she neatly sidestepped his attempt to touch her.

“Here. Take this so I can go….” Her hands trembled as she held out the parcel.

Noah frowned as he glanced from the package to CC. “What is it?”

“The payment due you from Graves.”

“What? He sent you to me by yourself with all that money?” Noah was enraged that the revolutionary would have sent CC on such a hazardous errand. Didn't they care that something might have happened to her?

“It was necessary,” she explained.

“Why was it necessary?” he challenged.

“Nothing happened.” CC tried to dismiss his concern.

“You were only lucky,” he scoffed.

“That's beside the point.”

“Maybe, but you didn't answer my original question. Why did they feel it was necessary to send you on this trip? Any of the men could have done it.”

“That's true, but it doesn't matter. They sent me and I did it. There's a letter inside the package that explains everything. Here.” CC held out the money again. “Take this so I can leave. It wouldn't do for anyone to get suspicious of me.”

As Noah accepted the payment, his hand accidentally touched CC's and the contact was electric. Their gazes met then, and all thoughts of danger and intrigue were swept from their minds as the memory of their passion for each other surged to the forefront. There was no denying it for either of them. Noah silently placed the parcel on the bedside table before drawing her to him.

CC knew she should run.

“Noah…I have to go…. Please, let me…we shouldn't…” Her protests were feeble, and Noah overruled them with but a single kiss.

She knew she should not allow this to happen, but the touch of his hand and the warmth of his closeness drove all thoughts of flight from her. She loved him and soon he would be gone. There could be no tomorrow for them, but at least she could have tonight….

Hungrily she returned his kiss, her lips parting beneath his, her heart pounding erratically in her breast. She had not thought she would have the opportunity to be with Noah ever again, and yet here they were, locked in each other's arms, lost in the splendor of their mutual need. It was her longed-for paradise.

She wound her arms around his neck, hugging him to her as she molded herself to his hard-muscled strength. Every fiber of her being longed for oneness with him, and she clung to him, weak with desire.

Noah was enthralled as his mouth sought to press kiss after heated kiss upon her waiting lips. No nectar had ever tasted so sweet or filled him with such rapturous joy. Exhilarated, he felt the need to be joined with her, to clasp her to him and merge their bodies into one perfect unity. His hands moved restlessly to the soft curve of her hips and pressed her full against his throbbing desire. Noah and CC were so absorbed in the excitement of the embrace that they did not hear the door open or close.

 

Matt had entered the taproom shortly after Noah had headed for his room with CC in pursuit, and Polly had intercepted him at once with Noah's message to come right up. Matt had hoped to have a long talk with Noah this evening about their plans for the future and so he hurried on upstairs to speak with him. Since Noah was expecting him and the door was unlocked, Matt did not bother to knock but simply opened the door, walked in, and pushed the door shut behind him.

The sight that greeted him shocked and disgusted him. There in the middle of the room stood Noah locked in an embrace with what looked to be a young boy. It was something he had never suspected of his brother, not even in his wildest imaginings, and he could only gape in outrage.

“Noah! Dear God!” His voice was a hoarse croak and he backed toward the door in an effort to escape the tawdry scene.

Reality did not intrude upon CC and Noah until the sound of Matt's voice so very near and so very filled with loathing pierced their Elysian interlude and shattered the moment of bliss. Jolted out of his reverie, Noah suddenly realized that in his overwhelming need to possess CC again, he'd forgotten the message he'd left for Matthew, and more important, he'd forgotten to lock the door.

“Matt…” Noah's voice was sharp as he tried to stop his brother from leaving. When CC would have turned to face Matt and relieve Noah of the necessity to explain a most embarrassing situation, Noah held her tightly to him and murmured, “Keep your face averted.”

“I'm leaving….” Matt ground out, his tone terse with condemnation. “I hadn't meant to intrude. Polly just said that—”

CC could almost feel the violent emotions that were being barely held in check by both brothers, and with a supreme effort she twisted quickly in Noah's shielding embrace.

“Matthew…wait…. It's all right…really….”

“CC, damn it!” Noah swore. He had wanted to protect her from recognition and yet she had openly and willingly given away her identity.

“CC?”

A kaleidoscope of comical emotions ranging from censure to understanding to humorous crossed Matt's face as he stared at CC dressed in her boy's disguise.

“CC…Miss Demorest, I presume.” The jarring tension that had seared him when he'd first entered the room faded quickly away, leaving him feeling slightly foolish, and he grinned in self-derision. “Thank heaven it's you; I should have remembered….”

“What?” Noah looked questioningly from CC to his brother. “What should you have remembered?”

“CC's disguise, of course,” Matt answered easily.