Calypso Magic (Magic Trilogy 2)

He gave her a sour look. "I don't want you to have your skirts tossed over your head, my dear girl. And you are so silly it is a profound possi

bility."

Diana looked at him thoughtfully. His face was slightly flushed. Did he think so little of her moral fiber? Her ability to discern when men were honest and when they were not? "So, he is like Monsieur DuPres?"

"No! Well, perhaps, if given the proper opportunity ---"

"I did not allow Monsieur DuPres to toss up my skirts. Indeed, I dealt quite well with his pretensions. Why should I allow Rafael to do it? Or any other man, for that mater? And that, unfortunately, includes you."

"I have no intention of seducing you, Diana." He clamped his teeth together and again closed his eyes. "At least until we are married, which we will have to be, somehow."

"Lyon," she said very calmly, "I have no intention of accompanying you to the altar. Most of the time, I want nothing more than to box your ears. I never saw myself married to a man I wanted to kick in the dust."

"I thought it was my manhood that held your interest --- at least when it came to kicking."

She just looked at him.

"Listen to me, my girl. You have played the wrong tune this time. When we arrive in St. Thomas do you possibly believe that Captain Carstairs or any of his crew will not bruit it about that Lord and Lady Saint Leven sailed aboard the Seawitch?"

"We could bribe them."

"And," he continued, ignoring that nitwit observation, "if it is known that we are not married --- indeed known that we traveled together without a proper chaperone for you for six weeks --- your name will be dragged through the mud. And no father would allow that. He would insist that I make an honest woman of you. I would were I your father."

"Oh."

"God save me from foolish women. Do you now understand?"

"I am not without sense, Lyon!"

"That is indeed a surprise to my poor ears."

"Nor do I believe that you are correct in your assumptions. My father would never insist that I wed a man who couldn't bear my company."

"What about your bearing my company? Now, I should like to shave and dress. Fetch my gear and some fresh water."

She gave him a mutinous look.

"You think you would like to bear the title of Trollop of Tortola? Slut of Savarol? And have every sort of man sniffing after you?"

"What would you be called? The Vile Seducer of an Innocent?"

"Not up to alliteration, are you? All right, you're not, then. Diana, men are usually forgiven for their, ah, peccadillos, if they can escape the wrath of fathers. However, I have the misfortune of being an honorable man. I will accept the consequences of your foolishness, as will you. There is no choice. I trust that you now understand fully. I dislike having to repeat myself. Now, would you please fetch my things for me?"

"I would prefer kicking you in your teeth."

"It is a pleasure to be denied to you."

"I do not like you at all, Lyon."

"It is a pity. For the next six weeks you will have to pretend adoration for your husband, at least in front of others."

"And will you pretend adoration for me?"

He gave her a lecherous grin. "We will see, won't we? Who knows? By the time we reach St. Thomas perhaps you will be with child. Because of you, Diana, we will be sleeping in this cabin. I fully intend to sleep in this bunk. If you don't decide to sleep on the floor, you will be next to me. Who knows what will happen?"

"You are disgusting. You also said you are a gentleman."

"People change when circumstances dictate. Fetch my shaving gear."