“I love you, Crispin,” she whispered, shifting over him so that her body covered his and his hand came in contact with her naked thigh when he sought to hold her as the ship pitched.
“And you, Faith. I love you, too.”
She wriggled a little, and suddenly she was positioned directly above him, and he was straining to keep his basest impulses in check. But her hand was on him, her little fingers working the buttons of his trousers, and he was in no doubt what she wanted.
There were no words to be said. No doubts or fears to be allayed. Their time was limited and their need for one another all consuming.
He skimmed her smooth, moist thighs until his hand was on her heated mound. With a sigh, she cupped his cheek and kissed him more deeply.
The need to protect her was uppermost in his mind, but so was his need to communicate his real feelings for this brave and beautiful young woman.
She wanted him. She was ready for him. She made that clear enough as she felt for him.
Another pitch of the boat, and he was as one with the woman for whom he’d sacrifice everything.
Their sleep was short, but deep and reviving.
When Crispin awoke, it was to find Faith gazing down at him, her eyes luminous in the gloom.
“Lord Harkom will come for me soon, and you won’t be able to stop him. I don’t want you to die in some fruitless attempt to save me.” Her voice was determined; her mouth clenched.
“And fail you a second time? Lord, Faith, we were so nearly man and wife. How different things would have been if the timing had been in our favour. We might not be bound before the law, but I feel as if we are.”
“You didn’t fail me before. Circumstances conspired to put us both in an impossible position.” She hesitated. “I don’t blame you for believing what everyone else did. And nor do I blame you for not following through on a marriage that would have bound you to a woman who would surely have ruined your career.”
“Oh Faith, my career is not as a diplomat, I see that now.” He stroked her cheek. “You made me see that. This last year has been anathema to me. I thought following the path that would make my father happy would earn me his approval. But, here with you…” It was difficult to put his feelings into words. “You’re what’s important, Faith.”
“Because of that letter? Because you think that you’re no better than me after all?” She twisted within the circle of his arm and looked down at him. “How can it be proved?”
Already, Crispin’s mind was turning on what the immediate future held for both of them. The question of his origins seemed almost unimportant when he very much feared he’d not ever make it home to England. If Harkom really planned to spirit Faith away using a distribution ring that had yielded success and financial rewards in the past, he’d not s
cruple at disposing of a man he not only hated for personal reasons, but who had the power to see him face the noose.
Faith seemed to grasp this at the same time for she gripped his arm tighter. “Crispin, what are you thinking? That it doesn’t matter? But it does. It matters because you will escape. You will return to England, where you’ll prove that you’re every bit the son your father would be proud of. I’m sure he is very proud of you, even if he doesn’t show it. Yes, I overheard your conversation the last night before I left. That’s when I realised I could never make you happy. Not if I were the reason you’d have to make a choice between your father’s wishes and your own.”
He held her tighter and felt a stab of pain for what she must have experienced to have been so belittled by a man Crispin felt less and less affiliation with, regardless of his true parentage.
What he had, now, was what he had to fight for. Faith was his responsibility; his true love. If they survived their ordeal, he’d sacrifice everything for her.
“As long as I have breath in my body, I will fight for you, Faith,” he vowed.
“I will not be a burden.” She pressed her lips together. “Love does not survive when it means sacrifice and duty at the cost of what’s truly in your heart. I pushed for you to marry me—quickly—because I was afraid for my future. Yes, my future. I didn’t think about yours, Crispin; only that I believed I could make everything up to you by making you happy…pleasing you during the years we had together as man and wife. I’ve been taught how to please men. Yes, listen to me and don’t shy away from the awful truth. When I met you, it was by design. I’d spent three years groomed in how to entice you. You owe me nothing. You certainly don’t owe me your life!”
He felt her tears raining down upon his chest, and tenderly brushed her wet cheek with his fingertip. “My dearest Faith. Because of you, I feel more alive in this moment than I ever have. I owe you everything!” He kissed her again. And then, because he was afraid of her wilfulness, he cupped her face as he angled himself over her, and said softly, “Your place is by my side. While you are here, I will do all in my power to protect you. I would give my life to see you safe, Faith. You need to know that.”
And Faith was very much afraid that this would be the cost Lord Harkom would extract.
She also knew the time would come, sooner rather than later, when her nemesis would recover sufficiently to make his overtures.
When she was sure Crispin was sleeping, Faith quietly climbed out of their shared bunk and slipped out of the room.
Breathing in the fresh air on deck, she spied land and her heart sank. On board the ship, they had the protection of the crew who, although they’d offered little in the way of overt assistance, nevertheless refused to lock them up.
And, with Lord Harkom so indisposed, Lady Vernon had not enforced Faith’s prisoner status. But soon matters would come to a head.
She tapped softly on the door. “Lord Harkom, it’s me, Faith. I’m alone, and I want to speak to you.” The sound of footsteps made her cringe, and hurriedly she added, “I have a crew member with me so don’t try to take advantage. I just need to speak to you.” She glanced over her shoulder at the Frenchman who showed no understanding, but who stood implacably nearby, as she’d requested.
“I’ll go with you willingly if you’ll release Crispin,” she said, leaping back with a squeal when he flung open the door.