Free Sweet Savage Eden by Heather Graham Page B

I will not lose it again. I try very hard to keep all that is mine.”
    “Possessions, all!” she cried.
    “Aye—possessions, all. Now change and come along.” He released her at last. She staggered for balance and he offered her his hand again, but she eschewed it scathingly.
    “I do pray by the hour that the earth shall open and swallow you whole! Nay, a bear should lay claim to you!
    A sea monster should seize you. Indians should roast and consume your flesh—”
    “Jassy, I understand your meaning, thank you.”
    He strode to the door, fully assuming that she would do as he told her. And she would. She knew that he would carry out any threat, and she dared not take the chance that he would touch her again.
    “Why are you doing this to me?” she called out.
    He swung around and looked at her with a certain surprise. “I don’t really know. Aye, maybe I do. Believe it or not, Miss Dupré, I’d just as soon not see you wind up a tavern whore or a common thief. That neck is too pretty to be broken by a noose.” He smiled suddenly, and it was a surprisingly gentle smile for the man.
    “You remind me of Virginia,” he said softly, and then he left her, closing the door tightly behind him.

IV   

    J assy was soon glad that she had dressed quickly, for it seemed that Jamie Cameron had barely gone before he returned. Smoothing the velvet down over her stomach, she stepped back as the man entered, Robert following close behind him.
    “A vision!” Robert swore. He came to her and fell to his knees, then swept his hat from his head and cast it over his heart. “My lady, you are a vision, indeed!”
    “And no lady, Robert, but you are very kind.”
    She flushed and glanced at Jamie Cameron. He didn’t say a word. He studied her with his dark gaze.
    “Will it do?” she demanded.
    “Aye, it will do. Let’s be on our way.”
    He stepped toward Lady Tewesbury’s things once again and quickly selected a fur-trimmed cloak. He tossed it to Robert, who set it around her shoulders, then he called to the tavern keeper and asked that the rest of the things be wrapped for them. A curious silence reigned among them all the while they waited. When the clothing was wrapped, Jamie took the bundle. Apparently he had already paid the tavern keeper, and paid him well, for he was all smiles as they left. Outside in the cold again, Jassy was startled to see that a third horse was being held by the stableboy.
    Jassy looked to Robert, who grinned with pleasure. “Well, she’s a decent enough filly, I think.”
    “No bloodlines,” Jamie murmured.
    “She’s beautiful, Robert. I thank you for letting me use her.”
    “She is yours,” Robert said.
    “No, I cannot accept her, but she is very fine, and I thank you for her use.”
    Robert looked sheepishly to Jamie, and Jamie firmly shook his head. “Let me help you mount.”
    He set his arms about her. Jamie watched as he lifted her high, setting her upon the mare’s back.
    “What is her name?” Jassy asked.
    “I don’t know.” Robert looked to the stableboy. “Lad, what is her name?”
    The lad blushed a furious red. “ ’Tis Mary, sir.” He hesitated. “Virgin Mary.”
    “Oh?” Robert lifted a brow in laughter.
    “Ye see, me ma yelled at me pa when he bought her, she did. Said that this was a hauling place and that we needed such a filly just as a brothel might need the Virgin Mary.”
    “That’s blasphemous!” Jassy gasped, trying hard not to laugh.
    “Ah, so, ’tis an Anglican country now, thanks to good Bess.” Robert chuckled and waved to the blushing boy. Jamie tossed him a coin, and the three of them started out.
    For most of the journey she rode with Robert, and Jamie rode ahead in silence. They talked of the trail, and they talked about new modes of French fashion, and about the great discoveries in the world. She realized that he kept talking to keep her mind off her mother’s death, and it seemed impossible that it was still so near.
    Later