Henryconfidently led me to the middle of the crowd and then placed alarge hand at the small of my back, pressing me tightly to hisbody. I glanced up at his gleaming face and my heart melted. Withhis other hand, he clasped mine and began to lead me around theroom. I followed him in awe, stunned by the way this magnificentman could do everything with such ease. I wondered then, who’dtaught him to dance.
Despite beingsurrounded by dozens of guests, it felt as if we were the onlypeople in the room. The way Henry held me, the way his eyes neverleft mine. I couldn’t wait to spend the rest of my life with thisman. Nervous, my mouth opened to speak, to tell him of the treasureI held between my breasts but, once again, was interrupted by agiant Scot.
Finn yanked meby the arm and pulled me to him. “My turn!”
“Finn!” Icalled out in dispute.
But I quicklyrelaxed into a carefree mood as the foolish redhead twirled meabout in a clumsy manner. Henry stood nearby, laughing at myexpense as Finn stomped around and jerked my arm to and fro.
“Your dancingcould use some finesse,” I told him as I gripped his arms for dearlife.
He rolled hisbig green eyes mockingly and twirled us further to the center ofthe room. “I’m sure it ain’t the only thing about me that needs abitta finesse.”
“Whatever doyou mean?” I asked playfully, and we exchanged a stifled laugh.
Finn calmed abit, dropped the quick and jerky movements, and we coasted aroundin comfortable circles. I caught sight of Roselyn Wallace near theedge of the crowd and pretended like the presence of her strikingbeauty didn’t affect me. But it did. And Finn noticed the change inmy body.
“Ye gotnuttin’ to worry ‘bout, ye know,” he told me and stole a quickglance her way before coming back to me.
I feigned anonchalant composure, smiling and nodding at fellow dancers wepassed by. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Aye, ye do,”he said in a Scottish purr. “I sees the way ye looks at her. But I also sees the way Henry looks atye. Roselyn Wallace cannaehold a candle to it, Captain. What they had, t’was a long time ago.”
My breathcaught in my throat and my heart pounded against the interior of mychest. My feet unable to move. I stared Finn square in theface.
“What do youmean?”
His blotchyScottish skin flushed red with the realization of what he’d done,and panic filled his eyes. “Uh, I mean, I didnae–”
“FinniganArtair, you tell me right now. Were Henry and Wallace together inthe past?”
The words lefta scorched trail as they burned in my mouth. Finn wouldn’t answerand his grip on my body ceased. Why did Henry lie to me? I hadasked him if there was anything I should know. If there wereanything to worry about. I fought back hot tears.
Finn’s facepleaded with me to remain calm and refrain from prying. “Dian–”
I moved closerto him and lowered my voice,hoping it would placate him enough to give me the answer I wanted.Because, clearly, I wasn’t getting it from Henry. “We’re they… didhe… love her?”
Finn’s jawopened but no sound came out at first. “Ah, Lass, I dinnae know theanswer to that. I swear it.” But my friend saw the pain I was inand offered what he could. “’Twas many years ago. Before me timewith him aboard The Devil’s Heart. I only ken what Gus toldme.”
Shaking withanger, I wiped the wet skin under my eyes. “Which was?”
He sighedhelplessly and then nodded. “Aye, they was together. A longtime ago. Henry mustn’t have been more than a young man, fresh offThe Burning Ghost. But he didnae love the woman. Not enough tostay, anyway.”
It should havemade me feel better, his words should have given me that assuranceI so desperately needed. But I felt worse. I was drowning in a pitof my own despair right there on the dance floor. It felt like allmy insides were pouring out and everyone was watching.
“Breathe, Captain,” Finn whispered and took me bythe shoulders, demanding I meet his gaze. I did. I took a deepbreath, in and out. “What are ye frettin’ over? That’s history. Hewas a different man then.” I began to calm, the anger dissipatingand dissolving throughout my body. Finn waited until my eyesfocused on his and he smiled wide. “He’s a better mannow.”
I stoodstraight. The dance was over, and people began to mingle intogroups and find seats to rest their tired feet. Finn was right.What was I doing? What was wrong with me?
“I’m sorry,” Itold him. “I’m not sure what came over me. This damn baby, it’smaking me feel crazy sometimes.”
“Aye,” hechurred happily, “just wait ‘till the bugger is born. Then ye willhave yer hands full.”
I laughed,despite the tears that lingered in my eyes.
“Are yealright?”
I nodded withall the assurance I could offer, then walked to the outer edge ofthe room as Finn left in search of more wine. I scanned the spacefor a tall, blonde pirate. But came up empty. Henry was nowhere tobe found. Part of me was grateful he didn’t witness my discreetbreakdown on the dancefloor but another part, a bigger part, beganto worry. My mind picked up the leftover pieces of panic that stillflowed in my veins and lit a spark. My heart sped up as I turnedand craned my neck in search of him. Down the hall. In and out ofrooms. Nothing.
I went backtoward the grand foyer and looked up to the second floor thatloomed overhead, searching the balcony that encircled and lookeddown from above. My gaze trailed along the golden banister and itwas there that I found him. His back to me. His front to someoneelse. I couldn’t make out who it was, Henry’s massive frame blockedmy view, but I could tell from his body language that he wasspeaking to someone. Finally, he turned ever so slightly, stillwith his back to me, but enough to reveal who had his fullattention in the privacy of upstairs.
RoselynWallace.
My bloodscorched through my veins with anger as I watched
