Indiscretions - Elizabeth Adler [140]
With a casual wave of his hand he was gone. Venetia turned angrily, leaping up the stairs two at a time, slamming the door of her cabin.
“Damn him.” She stomped the few feet of floor space impatiently. “Damn him and damn that woman. Who the hell is she? Oh, damn, why did she have to come here?”
She lay unmoving on her bed, hearing their voices drifting from the afterdeck where they had gathered for drinks, and later she heard them leave. Lying there on the narrow bed in her hot little cabin she had plenty of time to think. It was time for action. Flinging off her clothes she turned the shower on cold, flinching as the water struck her warm body. But it left her cool and refreshed as she sat before her mirror carefully applying her makeup. She brushed her hair forward, catching it in her hand and pulling it on top, allowing just a few tendrils to fall around her face. There, that was more sophisticated. A hint of the Bluebell perfume, and she was ready. There’d be no little-girl-lost look tonight, she decided, sliding her arms into the short, blue satin robe that had belonged to Jenny. A glance in the mirror showed that she looked just right for what she wanted—slightly tumbled hair, eyes shadowy and mysterious, long, smooth brown legs, and a glimpse of her nakedness in the casually tied robe. A portrait in seduction, she thought, remembering the last time she’d gone to find Fitz in his cabin, in her baggy old shorts and T-shirt. If it had worked then, then this should surely do the trick. She felt better already. India was right—you didn’t just grin and bear it, you did something about it. Now, all she had to do was wait—again!
They came back earlier than she had expected, tired no doubt from the day’s traveling. Venetia heard them saying good-night and the sound of doors closing, and then the boat was quiet. She allowed fifteen endless minutes to tick by, then opened her door and peered cautiously along the decks. They gleamed emptily in the moonlight. On bare, silent feet she made her way to the master stateroom. She had made the same journey often before, to spend lonely nights in Fitz’s bed, but this time she would be with Fitz. Venetia hesitated for a moment outside his door, listening, but all seemed quiet. She pushed it open gently and peered into the darkness of the outer room that Fitz used as his study. A glow of light came from beneath the bedroom door, and with her heart beating faster Venetia tiptoed across.
If it hadn’t been that the door had developed a faint squeak due to the salt air, they wouldn’t have noticed her. As it was, Olympe, splendid in black lace French knickers and nothing else, turned her head inquiringly. With Fitz’s arms still around her, she smiled at Venetia.
“Well,” she said in an amused voice, “did you intend joining us, or is this merely to discuss what we would like for breakfast?”
Venetia stood rooted to the spot, her eyes on Olympe’s nakedness, the beautiful breasts that Fitz had been kissing. Oh, God, she wanted to die, just die….
“Shut up, Olympe.” Fitz pushed her aside roughly, making for the door just as Venetia turned and ran. “Venetia, Vennie, come here!” He grabbed her by the arm as she turned into the corridor. “Come here, you bloody little fool. Whatever possessed you to do such a thing? My God, Vennie, you’re crazy….”
Vennie raised her arm and hit him, putting all the force of her slender body behind it.
“You’re right,” she yelled, “I am a bloody little fool. My mother didn’t bring me up to know any better, that’s why I did it. I hate you, Fitz McBain, I hate you. …” Wrenching her arm from his she escaped from his grasp and turned to run, tripping over the slippery satin belt of the seductress’s blue robe—the sort of robe that was meant to swing open, as it did now, allowing Olympe Avallon’s amused eyes a glimpse of her nakedness as she took off once more.
“Well, darling,” said Olympe, “do we continue where we left off, or should I have a headache?” Olympe could see that at this point withdrawal was the better move. Whatever was going on,