Jade Star (Star Quartet 4)

“His name was Burk, I presume?”

“Yep, and he was hanged, finally. After some sixteen-odd folk ceased to exist due to his greed. The medical school paid handsomely for bodies.”

“You have quite a talent,” she observed.

“It comes in handy, like last night,” he added, smiling down at her. “Patients, in my experience, need to be distracted. You’re sure you feel fine this morning?”

“Please . . . yes.”

“We’re married, goose,” he said, tucking her hand through his arm. “And I’m a doctor. Two valid reasons why you should never be embarrassed with me.”

“If you say so,” she said doubtfully.

“I do say so. Now, onward to food. I have a lot of body to maintain.”

The day was warm, the weather calm and clear. Jules became acquainted with the remainder of the passengers, met Captain Drake, and listened to her husband charm everyone who came into his orbit.

She felt little or no embarrassment until Michael left her again that night so she could change into her nightgown.

She wasn’t asleep when Saint slipped into the bed beside her. She reached out to touch his arm, and realized he was quite naked. She gulped.

“Michael? Would you tell me a story?”

He laughed and turned onto his side to face her. It was probably a fine idea, he thought. He himself needed to be distracted this time. “Well,” he began, “let me see. Did you ever hear the story . . . ? No, I think I’ll tell you about some of my friends in San Francisco. You’ve probably heard me mention their names—Delaney and Chauncey Saxton.”

She nodded.

“Well, Del is a very rich man. He wasn’t, not at first. He was one of the argonauts—that means he came to California in 1849 with the first group of men to search for gold. He found it. Unlike most others, he used the gold he’d discovered wisely. He owns a bank, is a partner in many other businesses in the city, and owns three or four ships that go to and from the Far East. He’ll make you laugh within three minutes of meeting him. He’s very witty, you see, and gives his witty wife, Chauncey, quite a time of it. She’s English, beautiful, and now a mother. She’s also very rich in her own right. You’ll like her, I’m sure of it.”

“Won’t she think I’m . . . well, not a very nice person, after what happened?”

“Jules, if you don’t stop that foolishness, I’m going to beat you!”

He reached out his hand to touch her shoulder, but instead connected with her soft breast. He sucked in his breath and drew back his hand as if burned.

“I’m sorry,” Jules gasped.

“No, no,” Saint managed. He grinned ruefully into the darkness. “You see, Jules, I’m not in the habit of sleeping with my wife.” In fact, I’m not in the habit of sleeping with anyone, much less lying in the same bed and not making love. “Are you sleepy now?”

“Yes,” she said, lying without hesitation.

She lay awake a long time, listening to her husband’s deep, even breathing.

Saint, the light sleeper, awoke the next morning aware that something was very strange. Jules was lying on top of him, her head resting against his throat. His manhood was hard and throbbing against her soft belly.

“Damn,” he said very softly. He realized then that he was lying in the middle of the bed, and in her sleep, she’d just tried to find some space. “Damn,” he said again. Very slowly he eased her off him.

“Michael?” she said in a sleepy, slurred voice.

“Yes, sweetheart. Go back to sleep.” Please!

To his relief and regret, she did, curled up on her side, her hand fisted beneath her cheek.

When he rose from the bed, he cursed himself, even as he turned again to look at her. Her nightgown was bunched about her thighs—long, slender legs, so white and so soft-looking. He pulled a sheet over her.

13

Saint learned in the next several days that his young wife was quite a storyteller in her own right. He came into the dining room one afternoon after treating a fellow passenger for an abscess on his leg, and saw Jules sitting at a table, her hands gesticulating while she talked. He moved closer, saying nothing, his eyes intent on her vibrant face. When he’d known her as a young girl, he’d thought her fascinatingly aware of everything around her, but in the endlessly curious manner of children. Not so, he had come to realize. She’d managed to nurture her curiosity, her complete excitement with life itself. Even the events of the previous month and a half had only dimmed her spirit for a while.