Drums of Autumn - Diana Gabaldon [396]
Bonnet himself showed fewer marks of wear than did his clothes; he was fresh-shaven, and his green eyes were pale and alert. They passed over her quickly, lighting with interest.
“I did think ye comely last night by candlelight,” he said, taking her hand and raising it to his lips. “But a-many seem so when the drink is flowin’. It’s a good deal more rare to find a woman fairer in the sun than she is by the moon.”
Brianna tried to extract her hand from his grasp, giving him a polite smile.
“Thank you. Do you still have the ring?” Her heart beat fast in her throat. He could still tell her about the ring—about her mother—even if he had lost it gambling. But she wanted very badly to have it in her hands. She suppressed the fear that had haunted her all night; that the ring might be all that was left of her mother. It couldn’t be, not if the newspaper clipping was right, but—
“Oh, indeed. The luck of Danu herself was with me the night—and still is, by the looks of it.” He gave her a charming smile, still keeping hold of her hand.
“I—ah, I wondered if you would sell it to me.” She had brought nearly all the money she had with her, but had no idea what the cost of a gold ring might be.
“Why?” The blunt question took her unawares, and she fumbled for an answer.
“It—it looks like one my mother had,” she answered, unable to invent an answer better than the truth. “Where did you get it?”
Something moved behind his eyes, though he still smiled at her. He gestured toward the dark companionway, and tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow. He was taller than she, a big man. She pulled, cautiously, but he held her hand fast.
“So ye want the ring? Come down to my cabin, my dear, and we shall see if an accommodation might be reached.”
Below, he poured her brandy; she took the barest sip, but he drank deeply, draining one glass and pouring another.
“Where?” he said carelessly, in answer to her persistent questions. “Ah—well, a gentlemen should not be tellin’ tales of his ladies, should he?” He winked at her. “A love token,” he whispered.
The smile on her own face felt stiff, and the sip of brandy she had taken burned in her stomach.
“The lady who—gave it to you,” she said. “Is she in good health?”
He gaped at her, lower jaw fallen slightly open.
“Luck,” she said hastily. “It’s bad luck to wear jewelry that belongs to someone who’s—who’s dead.”
“Is it?” The smile returned. “I cannot say I have noticed that effect myself.” He set down the glass and gave a slight, pleasurable belch.
“Still, I can assure ye, the lady from whom I had that ring was both alive and well when I left her.”
The burning sensation in her stomach eased slightly.
“Oh. I’m glad to hear that. Will you sell it to me, then?”
He rocked back in his chair, eyeing her, a small smile on his lips.
“Sell it. And what will ye offer me, sweetheart?”
“Fifteen pounds sterling.” Her heart began to beat faster again, as he stood up. He was going to agree! Where did he keep it?
He stood up, took her hand, and pulled her up out of her chair.
“I’ve enough money, sweetheart,” he said. “What color’s the hair between your legs?”
She jerked her hand out of his grasp, and backed up as quickly as she could, slamming into the wall of the cabin within a few steps.
“You’ve mistaken me,” she said. “I didn’t mean—”
“Maybe not,” he said, and the edges of his teeth showed in his smile. “But I do. And I do think perhaps you’ve mistaken me, sweetheart.”
He took a step toward her. She snatched the brandy bottle from the table, and swung it at his head. He ducked adroitly, plucked the bottle from her hand, and slapped her hard across the face.
She staggered, half blinded by the sudden pain. He grasped her by the shoulders, and forced her to her knees. His fingers twisted tight in her hair, close to the scalp, and jerked her head, hard. He held her, head canted at an awkward angle, while he fumbled with the other hand at the front of his breeches. He grunted slightly with satisfaction and took a half step closer, thrusting his hips forward.
“Meet Leroi,” he said.
Leroi was