emergency you’ll know where to find?me.”
“You’ll not be alone.” It was a statement.
“No, I’ll not be alone, Robbie.”
Robbie sighed. “Skye, lass, I’ll not have you hurt. Southwood?is such a cold bastard.”
“Not with me, Robbie. Besides, though this will sound terrible,?do not love him. I doubt I shall ever love anyone again. Khalid?is too strong in my memory. But I do like Lord Southwood. And?Rlobbie, you know that I must have a powerful protector. Come?spring, you’ll be off again, and be gone for months. I am a woman?done. I have no family but my daughter. My whole life began with?Khalid. I have no past. With the Queen’s charter, our business should? flourish and with the Earl’s protection I will be free to run it, and?free from the bothersome advances of other men.”
“But the price, Skye.”
“Being Southwood’s acknowledged mistress?” she laughed.?”What else is there for me? Marriage? With whom? And you know?that I need wealth to give me the power and respectability that will?secure Willow’s future. I loved Khalid and I was proud of him, but?what future would my daughter have if it were known here that her?father was the great Whoremaster of Algiers? No, Robbie, the price?is not greater than the rewards. The Earl of Lynmouth has never had?an acknowledged mistress of my stature, and I don’t expect him to?replace me soon. When Willow is grown she will be an heiress with?a powerful ‘uncle.’ I shall be able to make a good match for her.”
Robbie shrugged. “You’ve thought it all out, I see, as usual.?There’s no arguing with a logical woman. Should I wish you hap-?piness, then?”
“He loves me, Robbie. It’s not just that he’s said it. He means?it. A woman knows when she’s being lied to, Robbie, and I hope?I’m not easy to fool.”
“Ah, lass. I only want you happy.”
“I know, Robbie. Don’t fret. I’m not unhappy.”
He patted her hand awkwardly, and she bent and kissed his ruddy?cheek. “Oh, Robbie, what would I do without you? You’re my best?friend!”
In the early afternoon Robbie stood in the doorway and watched?sadly as she rode off down the drive of Greenwood, keeping her red?horse to a slow trot. Earlier he had gone down to the Thames and?arranged for a waterman to take her little trunk upriver to the Ducks?and Drakes. He sighed. He wished he were happier about the liaison.
Skye had been radiant when she departed. She wasn’t worried?and enjoyed herself very much. Dressed quite elegantly in a black?velvet riding habit, ecru lace at the sleeves and a froth of lace?bubbling up at the neckline as well, she cut a superb figure. Her?cloak was made up of alternating bands of sable fur and black velvet?with heavy carved gold frog closings. The attached hood was edged?in the same dark sable, and made a perfect contrast to her creamy?complexion. Her black boots were of the finest Spanish leather, her?cream-colored scented gloves of French kid. Her big red gelding?adored her with a singular devotion.
As Skye had explained to Robbie, she and the Earl would meet?a mile or so from the Strand, on the river road. They were less likely?to be seen together at that point. The afternoon was cold and clear,?and Skye fought the urge to set her horse acantering. Since noon?was the dinner hour, few people were out. She had ridden for some? minutes when she heard the steady beat of hooves behind her and turned to see a tall man riding a large black stallion.
“Senora Goya del Fuentes, I bid you a good day.”
“Sir?”
“Niall, Lord Burke. We met last night at the Earl of Lynmouth’s?gala.”
Her gaze swept over the tall dark man with the silvery eyes. He?was really quite attractive, she thought, but he looked disapproving?of her. and Skye found herself growing annoyed.
“Oh, yes, of course. How is your wife’s headache, my lord?”
“Gone, thank you.” He moved his horse next to hers. “Do you?generally ride unescorted, madam? A dangerous practice, I would?say.”
“I am meeting someone just a short ways away, my lord. I scarce-?ly thought a groom necessary,” she dismissed his question. How?dared he criticize her! But Lord Burke was not easily dismissed.
“I understand you were raised in Algiers.” The silvery eyes looked?at her searchingly.
“Yes, my lord, I was.”
“Your parents were Irish?”
“So I was told, my lord.”
“Didn’t you know them?” He was incredulous.
“I do not remember them, my lord. I was brought by a sea captain?to the convent of St. Mary and placed in the care of the nuns there.”
“Your name is unusual,” he noted, after a moment.
“It was what I called myself when I arrived there, though the?nuns added Mary to it, thinking Skye not quite Christian.” Now why?dad she embroidered her tale? What did it matter if her name was?Skye? Damn the man! Why didn’t he go about his business? She?was almost sure that Geoffrey was around the next bend in the road.?She flashed Burke a sweet smile. “I must go now, sir. My friend?will be waiting.” And before he could protest she put spurs to her?horse and was gone.
He could not make a display by following her, so he was forced?to continue at a sedate trot. As he rounded the curve in the road,?he saw her moving away accompanied by a man on a big chestnut?stallion. It was likely Lord Southwood, thought Niall bitterly, re-?membering the gossip he had overheard last night.
Now Niall was more confused than ever. She looked and spoke?like Skye O’Malley. Even her name was the same. It had to be his?Skye and yet… He shook his head. She gave no sign of recognizing?him.
Then it struck him that perhaps she had survived after all, but?had been despoiled by her captors, incarcerated in a harem, and was ashamed to face him. Maybe she was putting on an act for his?benefit? Ah then, said his saner self, how pray tell did she escape?captivity? And there was a child, too. And Captain Sir Robert Small,?a most reputable man, not only supported her story, but appeared?to be her protector.
Then another thought struck him. A sea captain had left her in?Algiers. Had it been Dubhdara himself? Was it possible she was one?of the old man’s bastards? God knows he’d had enough of them.?The old satyr had never denied his urges. But if Dubhdara had done?that, the question was,
Sighing, Niall turned his horse back toward the Strand. He had?been on his way home when he saw her riding out from her house,?and he followed her in order to speak with her. He was being foolish.?It was just a coincidence of names and looks. He had a wife who?loved him and his Skye was dead. He had to believe that. Otherwise?he might well go mad.
The Earl of Lynmouth and Skye rode happily together. Geoffrey?Southwood was wildly in love for the only time in his life, and he?was now to have three lovely days alone with his beloved.
“You’re beautiful,” he growled, and she laughed happily, throw-?ing back her head so that her hood fell off, exposing her face and?the pure white pillar of her neck. He wanted to stop, pull her from?her horse, and cover that smooth creamy throat with his kisses.?”How is it,” he continued, “that you are as fair in sunlight as in?moonlight? Do you know you’ve bewitched me, Senora Goya del?Fuentes?”
She colored becomingly, her lashes making charcoal smudges?against her pink cheeks. “My lord, you make me feel shy of you.”
“Why, Skye! Didn’t anyone ever pay you outrageous compli-?ments?”
“My husband.” It was stated simply.
“Sweetheart, sweetheart. I
“No, Geoffrey. I don’t want to go back.”
He breathed a sigh of relief and cursed himself for a fool. This?was only her first adventure, and she was hesitant. Reaching out,?he took her hand and silently they rode on together. All about them?the English January day was magnificent-the sky a cloudless bright?blue, the sun a sharp piercing yellow, the air cold, crisp, and in-? vigorating. Their own warm breath and the horses’ heaving breaths?made tiny clouds. The Thames River valley rolled gently, on and?on. The lovers seemed entirely alone in the world, like Adam and?Eve.
Skye rode quietly with her thoughts. She liked this man, though?she doubted she would ever love him or any other man again. Love?was both a passion and a pain. She didn’t think she could bear?another loss like the loss of Khalid. If she simply enjoyed Geoffrey’s?company and his lovemaking, she would be safe from hurt.
