Stormy Vows - Iris Johansen [120]
“And how do you intend to accomplish all this?” Jane challenged. “Move me into your bed instead?”
“That won't be necessary,” Jake retorted coolly. “Ahmet won't expect you to sleep with me permanently or move into my cabin. That privilege is reserved for a mistress. A woman of your status would receive only an occasional invitation and a moderate amount of personal attention. Most of the time he would expect you to be treated exactly like any other servant.”
“Then it will be quite easy to deceive him,” Jane said, relieved. “We need only continue as we are now.”
“Not entirely,” Jake said dryly. “Kahlid is no fool. We must spend some time alone together to give an appearance of intimacy.” His eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “I think perhaps you'd better meet me each morning for a swim and have breakfast with me on deck. That should be adequate.”
“Are you sure this is really necessary?” Jane asked unhappily, biting her lip. “You know what the crew is going to think if you start paying attention to me.”
“Exactly what Kahlid is going to think,” Jake said indifferently, then his eyes hardened. “Who are you worried about, the crew or Simon?” he asked harshly. “Do you think it will turn him off to think he may be sharing you with me?”
There was a look of shock and hurt on Jane's face, and quick tears filled her eyes. “There's nothing like that between Simon and me,” she said huskily. “We're just good friends.”
“Just good friends,” Jake echoed. “Then you won't mind if he thinks what the rest do about you.”
“I mind very much what he thinks about me,” she said quietly. “I wouldn't want anyone to believe I was anything more than a member of the crew. It will be very painful and embarrassing to know that they think I'm just another one of your playmates.”
For a moment there was a curious flicker of regret in Jake Dominic's eyes. “You should have thought of that before you involved us both in a situation that presents no other solution,” he said curtly. “I can't get you out of this mess just by knocking a few heads together, Jane.”
“I suppose not.” She sighed despondently. “I just wish—”
“Too late for that,” he interrupted tersely. “Meet me on deck at seven tomorrow morning and we'll begin our little charade.” He dropped his hands from her shoulders and stepped back. “I rather expect your attitude should be respectfully adoring in public,” he continued mockingly. “Work on it, will you?”
“I'll try,” she said wryly. “You may have to use all your directorial skill to wring a plausible performance from me. I'm no actress.”
“I'm fully aware of that,” Jake said resignedly. “Why do you think I picked early morning for our supposed romantic trysts? Ahmet will be up and about only occasionally, and it shouldn't be too much of a strain on that blasted transparency of yours.”
“Shall I tell Mr. Brockmeyer that I'm to be replaced as your meal steward?” Jane asked.
He shook his head. “Kahlid will expect you to continue, under the circumstances. In my place he would display you with a certain discreet pride of possession.”
“You seem to understand him very well,” Jane said slowly.
“Perhaps I do,” he said cynically. “Kahlid and I aren't so very far apart in our rather primitive reactions to certain situations. You'd be wise to remember that.”
Jane's eyes were troubled as she asked hesitantly, “Is there no other way? Couldn't you just release me from our agreement and send me home? I promise that I'd send you payments every month until the panel was paid for.”
Jake's dark eyes sparked dangerously. “No, damn it, you stay here!” he said harshly, his face suddenly satanic in intensity. “You belong to me for the rest of the cruise. We'll handle the problem exactly as I've indicated.”
Before she could answer, he had turned and walked away.
seven
JANE SHOULD HAVE GUESSED THAT ANY PLAN that Jake Dominic had devised would be a total and unequivocal success. The morning rendezvous obviously thoroughly convinced Kahlid of Jane's supposed position