Lady in the Mist - Laurie Alice Eakes [64]
Dominick reached out his hand and smoothed the line with a forefinger. “You look in need of rest, my dear.” He spoke in a soft voice. “I mustn’t keep you any longer.”
“Don’t touch her,” Trower ground out between clenched teeth. “She’s not a strumpet to be toyed with.”
“I beg your pardon, Miss Eckles.” Dominick bowed to Tabitha yet again. “I meant no disrespect. I meant the gesture as one from a concerned friend, is all.”
“No offense taken, Mr. Cherrett.” Tabitha’s cheeks had turned the color of strawberries. “Raleigh, calm yourself. Mr. Cherrett and I are—” She hesitated.
Dominick held his breath in anticipation of her completed statement as to what he was to her. A yard from him, Trower appeared as though he were about to explode.
“Friends,” Tabitha finished.
“You’re friends with a redemptioner?” Trower turned on her, his countenance purple beneath his sunburned skin. “How could you?”
“I don’t think that’s any of your concern, Raleigh.”
“It’s my concern if he’s betraying all of us.”
And it was Dominick’s concern if Trower took some action to make Dominick appear as though he were betraying the locals.
“We’ve enjoyed some badinage, is all.” Dominick tried, probably too late, to defuse the situation. “To say we’re friends is pure generosity of spirit on Miss Eckles’s behalf.”
“Do you always kiss mere acquaintances?” Trower demanded.
Oh, no, he didn’t, and the way Tabitha’s lips looked at that moment—thin and tight—Dominick wanted to kiss them again, change their conformation to something much softer.
He settled for the thought—for the moment—and a rueful confession. “I felt like a friend at that moment, as she’d given me words of encouragement in my despair, and I was wishing a friend Godspeed on her journey. Perhaps I was a bit too familiar, but I hold Miss Eckles in high regard and the moment overcame my good sense.”
Trower held his fisted hands at his hips as though ready to strike at any moment.
Dominick sighed to himself. If only he were as good a spy as he was a liar, he’d have his information now instead of creating a worse enemy with every breath.
“And speaking of Godspeed . . .” He bowed to both of them this time. “I’d best be on my way.”
Not waiting for them to respond, he spun on his heel and strode toward the village.
“Wait just a minute.” Footfalls thudded behind him.
Dominick kept going.
“Raleigh, don’t,” Tabitha called.
“Can’t stop to chat now.” Dominick waved a hand. “Master’s waiting and all.”
“I said stop.” Trower grabbed Dominick’s jacket and spun him around.
Though shorter, Raleigh was indeed stronger, or at least his fury at the moment lent him strength. His fist shot upward. Dominick swayed to the side, his hands shoved into his coat pockets. No one would accuse him of retaliating against a free man, earning him a taste of the lash.
The blow merely grazed his jaw. He raised one brow in query. “How may I help you further, Mr. Trower?”
“I don’t know what your game is, Cherrett.” Trower’s words emerged roughly, as though each one was formed of emery grit. “But you’re going to lose.”
“Dear me, and I’ve already lost so much.” Dominick grimaced as though he smelled something foul.
Tabitha ran up and caught hold of Trower’s arm, a protest on her lips.
Dominick took the opportunity to beat a hasty retreat. As he loped toward the village, he weighed his options. He could continue his courtship of Tabitha and increase Trower’s animosity. Or he could forget an alliance with Tabitha and give up on finding answers by June 21.
17
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Though the sun blazed from a now cloudless sky, the breeze off the ocean held a chill. Tabitha rubbed her arms and tried not to watch Dominick walk away.
It proved difficult. He had a nice way of walking, relaxed, covering a great deal of ground in a short time without appearing to move with speed. All the while, his perfect posture never wavered.
Raleigh, next to her, emitted a noise like a growl. “I want that man out of here.”
“Why?” Tabitha turned