rapping on the door. She ignored it. Then she shot up as the door burst
open and heavy footsteps fell within the house.
The covers fell away. Her hair was tousled and falling around her
shoulders, her gown dislodged from one shoulder and draping precariously
low over her breast. Startled and disoriented, she gasped when she saw
Jamie Slater in full uniform, his plumed hat low over his eyes, his legs
apart and his gloved hands on his hips as he stared at her.
'You,' she muttered.
He swept his hat from his head, bowing very low.
'Yes, do excuse me, Miss. Stuart. I wanted to let you know that we would
be leaving at the break of dawn tomorrow. I realize, of course, that
dawn might be difficult for you, sinee you are still abed this midday,
but I do intend to leave promptly. Are we understood?'
'Tomorrow! You're still--you're still taking me?' His eyes narrowed
sharply.
'I said I was. Why wouldn't I be doing so?'
'No--uh, no reason.' She allowed her lashes to fall, shading her eyes.
'I was just worried that maybe ... that maybe you hadn't meant what you
said.'
He was silent for a s~ond.
'Miss. Stuart,' he said softly, 'I always mean what I say.'
'I was just worried that you didn't really want to go' -- 'Oh, for God's
sake! I'm going. We're going. Tomorrow.
That is, if you get up on time.'
She smiled, then forgot her animosity toward him, and just about
everything else for that matter. She threw back the covers and leaped
from the bed and raced toward him, casting herself into his arms. His
hands came around her as he held her uptight, his arms wrapping around
her. 'Thank you!' she said earnestly. Then she realized what she had
done and how she was standing.
And that them wasn't much of anything between them. She could feel the
pressure of her breasts against the hardness of his body, and she knew
that the thin cotton gown wasn't hiding anything of herself.
She backed away, swallowing fiercely.
'Thank you,' she repeated.
'I
really do appreciate it. Very much. I don't suppose that you could ever
understand, but I do.' The gown was falling off her shoulder again. She
tried to retrieve it. Then she realized that she was standing in the
morning sunlight and that every curve and twist of her form, and even
the shadows of her body, would be completely evident to him.
And her body was warming, and she was certain that her breasts were
swelling, and she was breathing far too quickly, and he could probably
see the pounding of her heart.
'Sincerely, thank you.' And she was still muttering. A broad grin
stretched across his features. She plunged quickly into the bed beneath
the covers.
'Miss. Stuart?'
''yes?'
'Do me a favor once we're under way, will you?'
