Free Averill: Historical Romance (The Brocade Collection, Book 3) by Jackie Ivie

always.”
    “There are gifts that are more welcome than others . Come, Captain, enough of this. Let me see her placed with the other women, and we’ll drink to your journey.”
    “She’s not going into the harem.”
    “It will be safe there.”
    “It will also be impossible to retrieve her when I leave.”
    “I am insulted by your statement.”
    “You should be ,” Captain Tennison replied.
    Averill dared a glance again at the thinner man. He didn’t look insulted. He looked amused. She looked back down.  
    “Where do you wish me to place her, then?”
    “As she’s with me, I would expect her to be put into my rooms, and treated accordingly.”
    “Your rooms?”
    “She’s my woman.”
    Averill ducked her head at hearing that statement coming from Captain Tennison’s mouth.
    “You should have said as much already . These words are a waste of time, while you and your men stay thirsty. Come then.”
    “I believe I’ll see her to my rooms, first . I wouldn’t wish her to get misplaced on the way.”
    “And perhaps end up in his Eminence’s harem ? Oh, Captain. You do me a grave disservice.”
    “I’m only being careful . I would hate to have a diplomatic incident over such a thing.”
    “I could arrange for her to join the Heir, Al-Nasir’s, instead . He has reached the age of such things.”
    “That won’t be necessary . I brought a gift for the Pasha’s eldest, also. He can’t have the woman, either. She belongs to me. I’ll not repeat myself again.”
    Captain Tennison was getting irritated . It was probably due more to his exhaustion than any other reason. Averill watched the tall man’s eyebrows rise. She glanced away before he caught her looking.
    “I thought you British devoid of emotion, Captain.”
    “If I showed more emotion, you’d be facing a sword. Do I need finish?” 
    The captain was smiling through the threat , although he had moved his burnoose, revealing his right arm. And his sword. Averill watched the thin man assume an affronted look. It was as false as his words had been. Captain Tennison’s reaction was one he’d been looking for. She’d swear on it.
    “Oh , very well. If you insist. Here’s a houseboy. Kuna! See the captain and his woman to the white rooms. Yes, those. Set a listener at the post. Report back to me when it’s done.”
    The man had spoken the last in his native tongue. Averill didn’t know if the captain understood the language. She’d tell him at the first opportunity, if he didn’t.
    “Averill ? Come along.”
    The captain spoke and Averill nodded. It took an act of will, and the help of one arm, but she managed to lift a leg over the saddle horn.
    “ Could you manage it a bit quicker?”
    “I don’t think my legs work.”
    “They already think me a soft-hearted fool after the display I just put on. Now, I need to carry you?”
    Anger made it easier to move, but Averill swayed once she stood beside him. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
    Captain Tennison pulled her up into his arms without another word. He started walking. Averill turned her face into his neck. Hiding. Shivering.
    “ This is getting difficult. Now you will have to sleep in my bed. Probably with me right beside you. You do understand that, don’t you?”
    Averill nodded . She didn’t dare trust her voice.
    “You do know why I’m doing this, don’t you?”
    “I understood every word,” she whispered.
    “What did you do to make him so insistent?”
    “Nothing.”
    “You expect me to believe that?” he asked.
    “I didn’t even look up. I swear.”
    “Why do they want you so much, then?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “The Pasha ’s harem already accommodates over two hundred women. At least, that’s the figure he quotes. I’ve never seen it. I’ve no desire to, either, so watch yourself.”
    “If I don’t know what I did, how do I stop doing it?”
    “I begin to think you were born to the art of temptation. You kept it well-hidden at Sen-Bib’s. My