Chapter 46
“Come on, get up. We’re going.”
Heloise blinked at the pale gray light filtering in the window and stifled a groan.
Raven slid out of bed and she took a moment to appreciate the sight of him naked as he crossed the room. It was still barely dawn, but she could see broad shoulders, narrow hips, muscled thighs. She could have looked at him forever. She added an extra line to her list. “Make love to Raven in full daylight.” Her pulse quickened.
She bit back a sigh of disappointment as he shrugged into his breeches.
“Get dressed,” he urged impatiently. He tossed her dress at her and she caught it with a huff of indignation.
“Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise.”
There was something extremely intimate about having a man help one dress, Heloise decided. Raven’s long fingers tied tapes and fastened buttons with deft speed and she smiled as he dropped playful kisses on the nape of her neck.
Then he caught her hand and led her out into the corridor, down the grand staircase, through the deserted ballroom, and to the hall. Heloise gave a choked sound of protest as he opened the front door and pulled her outside, but he simply tugged on her hand and stalked across the dew-wet grass.
Her silk ball slippers became instantly soaked but Heloise laughed aloud at the mad, thrilling chase. She followed him across the gardens, skirts blowing, out of breath, heart singing with joy. “What are you doing, you madman?” she panted.
He guided her down the steps cut into the cliff and Heloise followed him up the gangplank of the ship with a smile. “I can’t help noticing that you’ve kidnapped me again, William Ravenwood,” she scolded.
“This is the last time, I swear. Come here.”
Raven drew her over to the rail and positioned himself behind her, looking out to sea. He pulled her back against his chest.
Heloise caught her breath as the sun broke free of the horizon in a blaze of peach and gold. Raven rested his chin on the top of her head and pointed into the distance. “Africa’s over there. Egypt. The Nile. Cairo and Alexandria and all those dusty tombs and ghastly pyramids you seem to be so in love with.”
“I know that.”
“Do you want to go?”
Heloise tilted her head so she could look at him, her pulse beating hard in her throat. “To Egypt? With you?”
He frowned. “Of course with me. Who else?”
She hid a smile at his exasperation, even as her heart swelled. She furrowed her brow and feigned indecision. “I don’t know. You’ll probably try to sell me to a band of pirates or swap me for a herd of camels and a nice Heriz rug…”
“Do you want to go?” he repeated, his tone subtly threatening.
A gust of wind caught the sails behind them. The impatient snap of sailcloth and rattle of brass fittings were a siren’s call, impossible to resist. Her stomach fluttered in anticipation.
“I might get seasick.”
“I’ve had a whole crate of pink gin put in the cabin already.”
“I hear it’s terribly hot.”
She could swear he was grinding his teeth.
“I’ll buy you a hat. And a fan.”
She adopted her most prim and proper expression. “Justthinkof the scandal.”
“I don’t give a damn about the scandal, and neither do you.”
“That’s because you have no reputation to lose,” she admonished sternly.