Enticing Temptation

Chapter 9

On board The Graceful Lady

            Myles wondered, as he waited for his wife to make her appearance and paced the cabin floor, how much she told him was the truth… or was it all a lie in order to appease her grandfather and her government. How much was based on his being a ship’s captain and her transportation to China assured was the real reason for their marriage?

            What other secrets was she still hiding from him?

            On returning, he informed her maid to move Cat’s belongings into the adjoining cabin next to his and received a raised eyebrow from the maid. That made him wonder just how much she knew about her mistress…her assignments and their marriage.

            Myles stopped his pacing long enough to pour a brandy, gulp it down in three swallows and resume his pacing.

            Four people. Cat told him she had killed four people but the other night she seemed truly upset about killing the man in the alley. Had she really cried or had he only thought she did?

            Was she acting with him or was she letting her true feelings show?

            His jaw clenched at the thought she might only be pretending to care for him? And that hurt, hurt him more than he ever expected it would.

            Could he believe anything his wife said or did from now on?

            How was he to trust anything she said again?

            He wanted to feel used by Cat and her grandfather but he had wanted to marry the black haired, violet-eyed siren to get her in his bed the moment she walked through the door of her grandfather’s study and he had accomplished that, so he had only himself to blame for how things were turning out.

            Cat’s beauty would attract any man and her demure comportment hid any trace of the woman she really was, a woman he thought he knew.

            But he learned this morning he didn’t really know her at all.

            Or did he?

            Without thought of the risk to herself she had saved Thomas and done a damn find job of it, too, he had to admit that to himself.

            There were so many facets to his wife, he wondered what else he would learn about her before this voyage, and this mission of hers now theirs was completed.

            Where in the bloody hell was she?

            Now he was beginning to worry since he's the one that left her to return to the ship alone.

                                                                *                    *                  *

Viceroy’s Office

            “What happened, Catherine?” the Viceroy asked when she was shown into his office after requesting an urgent meeting with him.

            “Another attempt on my life was made. I was shot at after I left from visiting with  my friend, Valentine Bishop, Colonel Bruce Bishop’s wife.”

            The Viceroy stood up from behind his desk and came toward her. “You’re not hurt are you?”

            “Only a nick,” she replied showing him the tear in her dress at the shoulder. “I wanted you to know before I left and I need to mend my dress before Myles sees it. I’m…I’m not sure telling him about my work was a good idea.”