Rapture by Rosamond Royal

Author:Rosamond Royal
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-03-30T04:00:00+00:00

Rodrigue’s dark brows lifted at the wave of emotion in her voice. The lad was loyal! He raised his silver goblet. “Such a comrade deserves our admiration. I drink to your Harry.”

Silently Rosamunde lifted her own goblet. Tears glimmered unashamed on her long lashes. I drink to Harry too, she thought. Forever my love. . . . She drained her goblet and brushed the tears from her eyes with her knuckles and looked away, seeing not the great cabin or the lean Spaniard who watched her, but only Harry.

Rodrigue was touched. “Here, lad,” he said gruffly. “ ’Tis no shame to weep for a fallen comrade. I have myself at times. Another goblet of wine will aid you.” Rosamunde shook her head. Her face was very pale. “I am very tired,” she admitted. “The king’s men harried me for two days. My horse was near done when I reached the coast.”

“Of course,” he said, his heart going out to one so young and so troubled. “I am not being a good host to one who saved my life at no small risk.”

“No risk,” Rosamunde told him in a rueful voice. “They would have hanged me anyway, had they caught me. It put me in no greater danger to help you.”

He smiled. “Nevertheless I am grateful to you, Don— what is your given name? I cannot call you ‘Langley.’ ”

“Ro—” She had almost said “Rosamunde”! “Robert,” she choked. “My friends call me Robbie.”

“Our ship is crowded, Robbie. You may bunk in here with me.” He indicated a bunk across the room from his own large one.

Rosamunde swallowed and her eyes widened. She had not thought of that! She would be sleeping in the same room with this Spanish captain. “I—I am most grateful. Captain Avilo,” she stammered. “But will it not be a great inconvenience to you?”

“Oh, no. This great cabin is the most commodious on the ship—and thanks to you I still enjoy it. After all, I could not enjoy it in heaven,” he added gaily. “Assuming I were fortunate enough to reach there! Since you saved me from my just deserts, it is fitting, I think, that you share this cabin with me.”

She knew she must seem grateful for his courtesy, but this new state of affairs only increased her alarm. How would she manage undressing before him?

“Excuse me, Robbie. I must see to the watch.” Rodrigue rose with a slight bow and walked out.

Rosamunde stripped down to her flowing shirt and undergarments. Her heart was beating triphammer blows as she hastily plunged into her bunk and pulled the coverlet up over her. She would find some excuse not to dress before Captain Avilo. She would manage to bathe, to do anything that would compromise her disguise, when he was occupied elsewhere. She did not realize that this knotty problem was in itself a godsend, for otherwise her grief would have overwhelmed her. As it was, she was forced of necessity to think of other things.

When the captain returned, she pretended to be asleep.

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