My Lady Vixen (24 page)

An emotional moment ensued when Alexa discovered Mac to be one of the passengers on the boat. She greeted him with a kiss and tears in her eyes, none of which were lost on a glowering Fox.

It was not until the
Ghost
safely navigated the Savannah River that Alexa sought out Mac in the cabin where he had been taken. Still pale and weak, he nevertheless greeted her exuberantly.

“I thought never to see you again in this world, Mac,” Alexa said softly, searching his dear face anxiously. How thin and haggard he looked, she thought worriedly. His face was nearly as pale as her own and it was obvious he had not been fed nearly as well. That he had survived at all was a miracle.

“If only I had been allowed to see you, Alexa. I would have told you all was not lost,” revealed Mac with a hint of the old twinkle in his eyes. “Surely you didn’t think Fox would let us die, did you?”

Alexa shook her head. “No, but after what you told me Fox could have been seriously injured, or even dead.”

“He was injured, Alexa,” Mac informed her. “He stayed with a ‘safe’ family who would not betray him, remaining until he recovered. That’s why he was so long in coming. He knew nothing of our plight until a chance visitor mentioned the trial.”

“Thank God,” breathed Alexa unsteadily. “Fox did what my husband failed to do. Adam would have let us die. Mac, and never raised a hand in our behalf.”

“You are wrong, Alexa,” Mac shocked her by saying. “Adam arrived in Savannah only days before our trials. When he found out I was to be tried, that the English thought me to be the Fox, he immediately set out to find the real Fox and advise him of our predicament. As it turned out,” he smiled mysteriously, “they sort of found each other.”

“Are you certain, Mac?” Alexa questioned, openly skeptical. “Not once did Adam visit me or show concern for either of us, until the night before I was to die. And he took up with Gwen again the moment I was out of the picture.”

“Believe me, Alexa. Adam had his reasons for the way he behaved. He did not abandon us, as you might think. He was frantic over your plight. Did you truly think he’d stand idly by and let them hang you?”

“Aye,” declared Alexa stubbornly.

“By now you should be aware that Adam is the man responsible for our escape. Both he and Fox planned our rescue.”

“How do you know all this?” asked Alexa suspiciously.

“When Adam came to visit you last night he passed by my cell and pretended to stop and jeer at me,” Mac explained. “What he did was to drop a note to me through the grille while the guards were busy leering at Gwen. So you see she did serve a purpose. The rest I learned from Fox and his men.”

“Then you knew Fox was coming.”

“Aye, Adam’s note explained everything, albeit briefly.”

“How can I forgive him for allowing me to think he had abandoned me?” Alexa exclaimed, thoroughly incensed. “In fact. I’m uncertain whether I’ll ever talk to
him again!”

“You’ll see him again, Alexa,” predicted Mac cryptically, “and you’ll talk to him. Until that day arrives I’ll leave it to him to explain everything to you.”

It wasn’t until the next day that Alexa was given the opportunity to speak privately with Fox. She had slept around the clock when she finally went to bed in the comfortable cabin assigned to her. She awoke to find a tray of food placed next to her bunk. Famished, she gobbled her breakfast, dressed hurriedly, and rushed topside in order to savor the brilliant sunshine, something she had seen precious little of these past weeks. From the bridge Fox watched covertly as Alexa raised her pale face toward the welcome rays. His breath caught painfully in his throat as he drank in her fragile beauty.

She was small and slim, yet her body was rounded and firm. The thick mass of her midnight black hair spread about her shoulders like a rich cloak and framed a face that haunted his dreams. Her skin was a startling white, like fine porcelain, except for the soft pink of her lips. He knew her pallor was due to her imprisonment and he cursed the English for damaging her fragile beauty and undermining her health. He fervently wished he could make up to her all she had suffered on his account.

Her magnetism was so intense that Fox felt himself drawn to her side. Turning the wheel over to Fowler, his first mate, he approached Alexa quietly so as not to startle her. But Alexa, not immune to the mystique surrounding Fox, immediately sensed his presence.

“I haven’t properly thanked you for saving my life.” Alexa said, turning to face him. She saw he still wore the mask that left his mouth and chin exposed and a black bandana tied about his head pirate style. Alexa
experienced a keen disappointment that she was still not to see his face.

“No need, milady,” Fox rasped with a flourish. “Had I known sooner I would have saved you those weeks in jail. That couldn’t have been too pleasant for you.”

“No,” admitted Alexa softly, “it wasn’t.” Anxious to change the subject, she said, “Mac told me
The Gray Ghost
was badly damaged, yet she looks fine to me.”

“The original
Ghost
was sunk by the English when they set the trap for us. This ship is a British frigate I took as a prize and outfitted to resemble the old
Ghost
.” Fox explained. “She’s graceful and nearly as swift, and I have no complaint with her.”

“Mac said you were wounded.”

“Aye, I took a ball in the shoulder and another in the thigh. I was a long time recovering.”

“At a ‘safe’ house, Mac told me. I take it to mean a patriot aided you.”

“Aye. I was lucky. I made it to shore and was found by a colonist who hid me until … until your husband found me.”

“So it’s true. Adam did seek your help.” Alexa expressed her disbelief. “Judging from his lack of concern for me I assumed he did not care what happened to me or to Mac. I’m surprised you agreed to help him knowing he is a royalist. Weren’t you afraid he would turn you in?”

“No, milady. Adam and I have an … understanding which I am not at liberty to reveal at this time. Suffice it to say I know Adam Foxworth well enough to trust him.”

“This is all so hard for me to understand,” Alexa reflected, shaking her head in defeat.

“One day you’ll be told everything, milady, that I promise,” vowed Fox in his throaty whisper.

“At this moment I’m of the opinion that nothing Adam
can do or say will placate me. It was despicable of him to deceive me by deliberately allowing me to believe I was about to die. If I never see Adam again it will be too soon.”

Through the narrow eyeslits of his mask, Fox searched her face, frowning as he waged a battle within himself. The fight must have been a fierce one for his knuckles turned white where he gripped the rail. Finally his face cleared as his better judgment won out, visibly relaxing as Alexa regarded him curiously. The time for revelations had not yet arrived, he decided abruptly. Declining to respond to Alexa’s harsh judgment of her husband, he shrugged and stared out to sea.

“Where are you taking me?” Alexa finally asked, realizing she would learn nothing more about Adam from Fox.

“To Nassau, in the Bahamas,” Fox revealed. “You’ll be safe enough there. It’s in American hands now and I keep a fully staffed house on the island as a sort of home base. I’ll see that you’re well taken care of.”

“Fox, take me with you,” begged Alexa suddenly. “Teach me to sail, and to fight, so that I might join your battle.”

Astounded, Fox looked into Alexa’s glowing face alight with the fires of a personal commitment. It was obvious to him she seriously meant every word she spoke. She was willing to risk all to fight and die for a cause she had readily embraced as her own. Love and pride swelled his heart, but he could not allow her to make that sacrifice.

“No, milady.” He shook his head emphatically. “I will not allow you to endanger your life in such a foolhardy venture.”

“Why? Because I am a woman?” Her violet eyes defied him, challenged him, but he would not rise to the bait.

“Exactly,” he rasped, amused. “I want you safe—I want you—my God!” he croaked hoarsely, unable to continue. He wanted her! Yes, in his life, in his bed, forever. Retreating behind closed lips, Fox clamped his mouth tightly shut, refusing to speak further.

Alexa felt the heavy weight of his disapproval but remained undaunted as she stubbornly continued, “You know I can’t return to the colonies, Fox, and I’d be bored sitting out the war in Nassau. I’d be safe with you, and I’d be a part of the fight for freedom. Please, Fox,” she begged, her eyes sparkling as she warmed to the subject, “let me stay aboard the
Ghost
.”

“It’s out of the question, Alexa,” he retorted, gritting his teeth in frustration. Though he greatly admired her courage he feared more for her safety. “I’ll not hear another word on the subject. You’re going to Nassau whether you like it or not. Do you think Adam would thank me should I allow you your way in this?”

“He probably wouldn’t care at all,” sulked Alexa.

“You’re wrong, Alexa. Adam would care a great deal.” Almost angrily he turned and walked away, leaving her to brood in silence.

Even Mac refused to listen to her pleas. His own ship, the
Lady
A awaited him in Nassau where it had been undergoing extensive repairs, and Mac intended to enter into the fray again as soon as it was provisioned. He was rapidly regaining his strength and the sun and fresh air worked miracles in restoring him to his former vigor.

To Alexa’s chagrin Mac did not take seriously her rantings concerning her desire to fight the English in the same way he and Fox did. If he had known then just how serious she as he would hve listened more closely. As it was he merely shook his head and mumbled something about her safety whenever she broached the subject.

To keep peace Alexa desisted but did not give up. She
continued to plan and scheme, determined to find a way to join the patriots in their fight instead of languishing in Nassau only to worry and fret over the fate of those she cared about.

Two days out of Savannah they encountered an English merchant ship. It was an older vessel, heavy with cargo and no match for the fleeter
Ghost
. Though the British sailors waged a brave battle they were subdued in short order while Alexa was forced to remain below deck out of harm’s way, all the while fuming with impotent rage. Why should men be the only ones allowed to defend their country? she bemoaned silently. Why, given the proper training and practice she wagered she could be every bit as good as any one of Fox’s men.

Alexa was allowed out of her cabin only after the English crew was set adrift in boats to make their own way to land. She watched in silence, her fertile brain awhirl with ideas as the
Ghost
fired and sank the merchantman. Fox explained that it was too old to be of any value, and Mac concurred.

That night a celebration was held in Fox’s cabin attended by Mac and Alexa. They had much to celebrate, it seemed. The hold of the merchantman contained valuable medicines much needed by the patriots as well as guns and ammunition. From the captain’s cabin Fox confiscated two trunks packed to the brim with woman’s clothing, which he promptly presented to Alexa. Eagerly sorting through them she found them to be elegant and expensively made of the finest materials. Most remarkable was the fact that Alexa had to do very little altering. She wore one of the gowns that night.

Fashioned in violet silk the gown bared her gently sloping shoulders and the upper portion of her breasts, forced upward by the stays of her corset nearly to their
pale rose aureoles. The tight waist spanned her nineteen inches and belled out over a deep purple satin petticoat. At intervals the skirt was caught up by violet rosettes to show the intricate embroidery of the underskirt. Alexa felt very elegant in the gown and she was not the only one to think so. Mac appeared entranced and neither he nor Fox seemed able to take their eyes from her shapely form.

Shortly after their meal had concluded, Mac slyly excused himself, his excuse being that he had agreed to take the next watch. Alexa was a little startled by the abruptness of his departure but what truly annoyed her was the manner in which he took his leave. Grinning from ear to ear, his eyes twinkling with amusement, he said, “Enjoy your night. Alexa.” Then he was gone, chuckling beneath his breath at Alexa’s perplexed frown.

Turning to Fox, she asked, “What on earth did he mean by that?”

Fox shrugged. “It’s hard to say. I’m not always privy to Mac’s thoughts. But enough of Mac, you look lovely tonight, my love,” he whispered softly as his eyes kindled with desire.

Against her will Alexa felt herself respond to the seduction he was weaving about her. “It’s the dress,” she said slowly. “It was good of you to think of me. My wardrobe left much to be desired.”

“I would drape you in silks and satins and adorn you in jewels if you were mine,” Fox rasped huskily.

“Fox, please,” replied Alexa nervously. Though she had consumed only two glasses of wine she felt her world tilt crazily. From across the table their eyes met and held.

His masculine perfection took her breath away. Below the mask he wore, the sensuous curve of his lips and
flash of white teeth gave him a rakish charm she found hard to resist. Fox sensed her intense perusal and rose unsteadily to his feet, passion and need driving him to Alexa’s side. Lifting his hands he cupped her bare shoulders as he gently raised her from her chair. Then he slid his palms downward over her upper arms, taking the small sleeves of her dress with him. He extended his thumbs, letting them roam over the tops of her breasts, pushing the tight, constricting fabric down, out of his way. With a small cry Alexa lifted her arms to encircle his neck and her breasts tumbled free.

Fox groaned and swept her into his arms, burying his face in the soft mounds. “Fox, this isn’t right!” Alexa cried out. “I’m a married woman!”

“Don’t deny me, Alexa. I need you so. To me you are my beloved wife—in spirit if not in name,” he quickly amended. “I know you want me as much as I want you.”

And then the moist tip of his tongue began its soft sorcery, gently inserting itself between her closed lips and sliding leisurely along them. She was not made of steel, how could she resist the magic the strong appeal he had always held for her? Sighing softly in surrender, she melted into his embrace.