Moonwitch

ness. Drew planned to announce their engagement at supper, but Selena wanted to speak to Avery first. It would have been extremely awkward otherwise. Although—” Beth shot Avery a disapproving look “—not as awkward as it turned out, I expect.”

“You knew about this?” Avery sputtered up at her.

“Of course I knew. Indeed, my only surprise is that Selena waited so long to come to a decision. She realized during Captain Ramsey’s last visit what a mistake she had made in agreeing to marry you, but Selena was just too noble to throw you over, Avery.”

“Throw me over? Throw me over? I wasn’t even aware she was acquainted with this… this… American!”

“Of course they are acquainted. They’ve known each other for an age! Good heavens, you don’t believe Selena would allow herself to be kissed on the streets of St. John’s by a perfect stranger? Anyone with eyes can see they are madly in love.”

Kyle picked up his cue then, raising Selena’s hand to his lips in a tender gesture. “Fortunately I finally persuaded Miss Markham to accept my suit.”

“There!” Beth smiled with satisfaction. “Just as I said, a love match.”

At that blatant falsehood, Selena felt her cheeks go from white to crimson. She felt as if she were being swept along by a tidal wave, as if there were no way to save herself from drowning. And yet Kyle had thrown her a lifeline. He was something to cling to.

As Beth turned to usher her guests inside, Selena glanced up again at Kyle. The lean, hard planes of his cheeks looked harsh and forbidding in the silver of the Caribbean moonlight; his jaw was set and rigid. He had spoken lovingly to her, but she was close enough to detect the underlying currents in his tone and in his body. He was seething with anger. And she had a strong suspicion his anger was directed at her.

He didn’t want their engagement any more now than he had this morning, she knew. He was simply being chivalrous. But she was supremely grateful for his intervention in preventing a scandal—and grateful for his supporting hand beneath her arm during the next few hours as they received the hesitant toasts and questioning congratulations of the guests.

She would repay him for his kindness, Selena vowed now. She would be a good wife to him, a good mother to his children. She would be his helpmate, if she could. At the very least, she could continue to manage her plantation and keep that burden from his shoulders. Perhaps he would even want to learn how to become a planter. Kyle Ramsey was a seaman at heart, and even though he had expressed his intentions of relinquishing command of his ship, she had sensed his great regret. She might be able to help him adjust to the land, though, to help ease his pain at having to give up the sea.

And perhaps, Selena thought wistfully, they might even deal well together. They were not much alike, yet many couples began life together with less in common than she and Kyle shared. In spite of their differences, he was a man she could admire. He was compassionate, she knew, remembering his kindness toward Colin that evening and his gentleness toward herself the previous night. And he had honor, a sense of responsibility. The way he had protected her from Avery’s physical threats, the way he had leaped to the defense of her reputation to save her from disgrace, proved how noble he was. He was honest, as well—to the point of bluntness—and his intelligence she had already noted. Even his rugged vitality was something she found attractive.

Perhaps if she worked at it, theirs could still be a good marriage.

By the time she had finished brushing her hair several hundred strokes, Selena felt she had regained a measure of her customary serenity. She was about to arrange the silken tresses into a braid when she heard a soft footfall behind her.

Selena turned quickly. The imposing figure of Kyle Ramsey stood just inside the French doors.

He was a towering masculine presence in her delicate bedroom. He had shed his cravat but otherwise was dressed in the same elegant evening clothes he had worn to the ball, the rich brown superfine of his coat molding his powerful shoulders, the tight buff stockinette of his breeches hugging his long, muscular legs. And he wore the same grim expression she had seen earlier, when she had left him discussing their upcoming nuptials with the governor while Beth and Drew Thorpe escorted her home. His rugged features were a mask of stone.

“C-Captain,” Selena stammered, extremely uncomfortable with the dark way Kyle was regarding her, his gaze narrowed and assessing. Her hand crept to the throat of her wrapper. Her state of undress embarrassed her, despite the previous intimacies that had passed between them—or perhaps because of them.

The corner of his mouth twisted wryly in a gesture that was not quite a smile. “I presume our engagement gives me the right to speak to you privately.”

“I…of course.”

“Don’t look so worried, Miss Markham. I don’t intend to ravish you. That’s what precipitated this mess, and I’m not fool enough to repeat it.”

Selena didn’t know what to say to his declaration, so she waited. Yet when Kyle took another step into the room, she rose quickly, not wanting to be at a disadvantage with him looming over her. His imposing height intimidated her, as did his grim look.

At her action he checked his stride, his hazel eyes sweeping over her muslin-clad form before returning to her face. “The governor wants the wedding to be held two days from now.”

“Two days?”

“That’s what I said.” His biting tone carried anger and frustration. “Governor Ramsay seems to have appointed himself your guardian.”

Selena eyed Kyle warily. He hardly looked overjoyed at the prospect of becoming a bridegroom. “My father was a close friend of the governor,” she explained hesitantly. “I suppose he feels responsible for my welfare.”

“Oh, he made that quite clear! Governor Ramsay threatened to confiscate my ship if I don’t go through with the ceremony. He means to trump up charges and accuse me of trading illegally.”

Selena had the disturbing feeling that something was terribly wrong; the captain wasn’t merely objecting to the timing of their wedding. “You…don’t want the ceremony to be held just yet?”

“I don’t want it to be held at all,” Kyle snapped. “But now it will be up to you to beg off. I’ve already tried and failed.”

“I don’t understand.”

He sighed, running an impatient hand through his chestnut hair. “It’s very simple, Miss Markham. When I announced our engagement this evening, I had no intention of wedding you. I planned to take you with me when I left here, though, so you could be spared the scandal. I’ll settle you somewhere in the States, wherever you would like to live.”