The Marati Legacy by Dana James

Author:Dana James [James, Dana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781471310539
Publisher: AudioGO
Published: 2012-10-30T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

She could not have been more shocked if he had slapped her face. Billo busied himself with the valves, carefully not looking at her. Melanie’s eyes filled; she turned quickly and walked out.

By the time she reached her cabin she was shaking, partly from reaction now that the crisis was over, but mostly from an almost unbearable hurt.

Stripping off her wetsuit, she wrapped herself in a thick terrycloth robe. She hadn’t been looking for praise; she had simply done what was necessary. They had all been in grave danger and she had been terrified. All she had wanted from Luke was a smile, or a wisecrack, to release the tension and minimise their brush with death. She picked up her sponge bag and went into the shower. As the hot water flowed over her head and body she gradually relaxed. A deep sigh shuddered through her and tears trickled unnoticed down her wet face.

But as she towelled dry, recalling for the tenth time Luke’s icy, arrogant tone and bleak expression, something in her changed, and the hurt was drowned in a growing anger. So he’d deal with her later? Like hell he would! Who did he think he was, God? So she had disobeyed an order. She’d had no choice, and she would do exactly the same again.

Tying the robe firmly about her, she returned to her cabin. As she reached the outer door, Herbie appeared with a laden tray.

‘Compliments of François, miss.’

Melanie opened the door for him and followed him through the day cabin and into her own. She slung her sponge bag on to the bed and lifted off the metal cover. The fish in its spicy sauce steamed on a bed of fluffy rice. There was also a jug of fresh fruit juice and a glass. ‘Thank you,’ she said absently, still preoccupied with her thoughts.

Herbie set the tray down on the foot of the bed. Melanie sat down and, picking up the plate and a fork, began slowly to eat.

And may I add my own sincere congratulations, miss.’ Melanie glanced up, puzzled. ‘For what?’ she asked between mouthfuls.

Herbie removed the sponge bag from the bed-cover and placed it carefully on the edge of the basin. ‘What you did, miss, diving like that – with the storm an’ all, it was very brave.’

She stared at him, her fork poised halfway to her mouth. ‘Herbie, that was my brother down there!’

‘Even so, miss, it took a lot of nerve.’

Melanie shrugged awkwardly. ‘I didn’t really have time to think.’ She turned her attention to the plate, feeling the hot food restoring her.

‘That’s not what Callum says.’

She looked at the steward. ‘Ohr,’ she said carefully. Had she upset the dour Scot? In her anxiety she had issued orders left and right. Had Callum, who was obviously Luke’s second in command, and who had never approved of her being on board, taken offence?

‘He said that for a lassie you’re a good man to have around.’

Melanie’s eyes widened. ‘Callum said that?’ Herbie’s grin was tinged with apology.

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