My Lady Vixen (3 page)

But when she dared to look up at him his silver eyes regarded her with barely concealed contempt and she instinctively drew back, breaking the spell. Her own violet eyes regarded him with confusion. For a brief moment his gaze softened to a caress but just as swiftly disappeared to be replaced by an expression of cool amusement tinged with something she could not decipher.

“Come along, Lady Alexa,” Adam said, grasping her firmly by the elbow. “You’re right, of course, we’d best leave.”

Silently they left the summerhouse with Adam guiding
her in a circular path to the back of the mansion where darkness enveloped them like a shroud. So engrossed was Alexa on entering the house without being seen that she did not notice the closed carriage standing close by the back door.

The noise from the party was muted back here and the revelry only remotely apparent. Evidently the servants were occupied at the front of the house seeing to the many guests. Alexa heaved a sigh of relief as she made unerringly toward the door. For some unexplained reason she felt tense and ill at ease. Though attracted to the handsome Lord Penwell, Alexa did not trust him Those compelling gray eyes did strange things to her, things she could not explain, but feared.

“Thank you, my lord,” Alexa said, turning to Adam. “I’ll be fine now. Don’t let me detain you.”

The grip on her elbow tightened and Alexa knew a moment of panic. It grew and magnified when Adam’s hand fell to her waist, dragging her backwards, away from the door and safety.

“What’s the meaning of this, sir?” she cried out in dismay. “Let me go this minute!”

“I’m sorry, milady, but you’re coming with me. Your family owes me a debt and I’ve come to collect.”

“Then see my father,” Alexa retorted. “I’m sure he’ll be glad to pay you.”

“Oh, he’ll pay, all right. With something dearer than money,” insisted Adam cryptically. “Come along quietly and you won’t be hurt.”

Alexa’s first thought was that she was being kidnapped for ransom. But she quickly discarded the idea when Lord Penwell said he wanted more than money. What could he want? Alexa wondered fearfully. Some favor? He said he wouldn’t hurt her, could she believe him? For want of a better idea she decided to scream, but Adam anticipated her and clapped a
restraining hand over her mouth.

“I told you to come along quietly,” he reprimanded, annoyed. “I’m afraid you’re forcing me to become rough.”

Without warning a cloth was jammed into her mouth and she was slung over one of Adam’s broad shoulders, her head dangling helplessly down his back. Her arms and legs beat ceaselessly against his well-muscled body but he paid it little heed. When he reached the carriage Alexa had failed to notice, he flung her inside and flopped down beside her. Almost immediately the carriage jerked forward and Alexa cast one frantic look back at her home slowly disappearing as the carriage gathered speed.

Alexa had no way of knowing, but from that moment on her life would never be the same.

Finding her hands free Alexa pulled the cloth from her mouth, gasping and sputtering in an effort to catch her breath. Fear and anger knotted inside her and she began to shake as fearful images built in her fertile mind.

That Lord Penwell was a dangerous man she never doubted. He exuded strength and authority from every pore. His very presence commanded respect and attention. Alexa held little doubt that the man could be brutal when crossed. But what did he want with her? she asked herself, puzzled. From the few words he spoke she gathered her abduction had something to do with her father. And her mother, even though that poor woman had been dead and buried these fifteen years.

Beside her. Adam was tense, his eyes and body alert for any sign of pursuit. He doubted if Alexa had even been missed yet, especially since she was last seen with her fiancé. And if Mac had done his job, Charles should be safely in his bunk sleeping off his hangover. If luck was with him
The Gallant
would sail off in search of the elusive Fox without Charles ever knowing Alexa had
mysteriously disappeared.

When they reached the deserted docks Adam heaved a sigh of relief and turned to face an enraged Alexa. “We’re nearly there, milady,” he coldly informed her.

“Nearly where?” shot back Alexa, peering into the darkness. Though the tangy odor of the sea assaulted her senses she would not give him the satisfaction of admitting she knew where they were.

“You’ll know soon enough,” replied Adam as the carriage skidded to a halt.

Grasping Alexa by the wrist Adam hauled her from the conveyance and pulled her toward a long wharf at the end of which a shadowy ship rode quietly at anchor. The moment she realized their destination Alexa balked, digging her heels into the rotted wood of the quay.

“No!” she gasped, panting in terror. “I won’t go! Why are you doing this to me, Lord Penwell?”

“You may as well become accustomed to using my name,” Adam replied, ignoring her outburst. “It’s Adam. Adam Foxworth. Lord Penwell is too new and sits uncomfortably upon my shoulders. In America a title means nothing.”

“Please. Lord Penwell … Adam,” anything to placate him, she thought, “if you release me now I won’t tell anyone what happened. I’ll return quietly to my room and you can go about your business.”

“You are my business, milady.” Adam smiled tightly. “I’ve waited too many years for my revenge.” So saying he scooped up her resisting body in his brawny arms and hastened to the end of the dock, closing his ears against Alexa’s loud protests and cries of distress, telling himself that one insignificant woman mattered little in his scheme of things. Using the daughter was his one chance to avenge himself on a man he had despised for almost half his life.

Nearly to the end of the dock, Alexa saw that the
gangplank of the ghostly ship had been let down and that Adam, impervious to her pleas, was heading directly for it. Panic like she’d never known before welled up in her throat. It seemed impossible that this could be happening to her. Wasn’t she the daughter of Sir John Ashley, a powerful man at court? Just what was Adam Foxworth going to do with her? That quick and disturbing thought tore at her insides.

Up the gangplank of the seemingly deserted ship, across the deck and down the ladder to a dark passageway. Then a door opened and Alexa found herself inside a small, damp cabin with little to commend it. A langern hung from a hook on the ceiling swinging slowly too and fro as gentle swells lapped against the dark hull of the mystery ship that was to be her prison. Once inside Adam set her on her feet. Gazing at him, Alexa could read nothing in his expression for it had become a mask constructed of stone.

“Your castle, milady,” he mocked, affecting an exaggerated bow.

Forgetting everything she had ever learned about how ladies should act. Alexa flew into a rage. “Damn you!” she cursed. “You’ll pay for this! My father won’t rest until you’re caught and punished for this cowardly act!”

“He’ll have to catch me first.” Adam smiled grimly, his dark face set in a vicious expression. With trepidation Alexa noted his tightly clamped mouth and glazed eyes and her heart sank. Instinctively she realized none of her wiles, or even her anger, would have the slightest effect on a man of Adam Foxworth’s calibre.

“Why do you hate my father?” she asked in a burst a resentment. “I’m sure he doesn’t even know you exist.”

“He’ll know, all right, after tonight. And he’ll remember, more than you know,” Adam assured her confidently. “Now I’ll bid you goodnight, milady. I hope you’ll be comfortable.” His tone suggested he cared
little for her comfort.

“You’re leaving?” asked Alexa, dismayed. “Where are you going? You’re not going to leave me alone, are you?” As if to emphasize her words she clutched convulsively at his satin-clad arm.

“I thought you’d be pleased to see me go.” Adam quipped. “Don’t worry, you’ll be well taken care of in my absence. No one will harm you.”

When she continued to cling to him, her wide violet eyes dark with fear, Adam nearly lost his resolve as her nearness began to affect him in a strange way. She seemed so helpless, so lost that he felt an urge to protect her, to keep her safe, even from himself, which was impossible. For some unknown reason he wanted no other man to touch her, not even the estimable Charles, particularly not Charles, he thought grimly. He wanted to be the one to initiate her to love, to awaken her desires, to hear her cry out his name in passion.

Frozen in the grip of his storm-gray eyes, Alexa could neither move nor breathe. Her mouth was dry, her breath a hard knot in her throat. His face wore the smile of a wolf just before it closed hungry jaws on the rabbit. There was a hard arrogant strength in his expression, a repressed violence about him that called forth feelings she had never experienced before.

Then suddenly, in heated, vibrant and explosive need, his mouth caught hers in a kiss so deep that she was filled with wonder. Never had she been kissed in such a manner. Not even by Charles. When his tongue plundered the moist cavern of her mouth, she felt shock … and something else. A yearning in the secret recesses of her young body. Almost like an awakening.

When Adam slid his lips against the soft skin of her neck, slowly stroking it with his tongue. Alexa gasped aloud, tossed on the waves of her near-surrender. The
sound served to clear her head. It also alerted Adam to the passage of time and he reluctantly pushed Alexa’s limp form away from his own hardening body. Now was not the time to dally with his enemy’s daughter, he thought ruefully. Plenty of time for that when they were safely away from London.

Finding herself without visible means of support, Alexa sat down heavily on the narrow bunk, eyeing Adam warily as he straightened his clothing. “As pleasant as this has been, milady, you’ll have to wait until later for my … uh … attentions. I must hie myself back to your party so I won’t be connected with your disappearance. There is also the matter of a note to be delivered to your father. Until later. Lady Alexa.” Then he was gone, the harsh grating of the key turning in the lock assaulting her ears.

“Wait!” cried Alexa. “Don’t go! Don’t leave me here alone!” Her words echoed hollowly through the empty cabin.

Dejected, Alexa bit her lip until it throbbed, her misery so acute it was like a physical pain. But she refused to be defeated. Until she found out Adam’s purpose she had to endure. And if the chance for escape presented itself she must be prepared. Tears would solve nothing. Furthermore, she must fight the strange attraction she felt for her handsome abductor. It was an indisputable fact that Adam Foxworth was a man who would have his way.

Forcing herself to be calm, Alexa lay back on the bunk and gave in to her exhaustion as sleep claimed her. She had no idea that hours later a black-clad, masked stranger quietly opened the door and stared at her through hooded eyes.

The first rays of errant sunlight filtered through the dirty pane of the small, round porthole, stabbing Alexa in the eyes until she was forced to rouse herself. She groaned and stretched, wondering how her soft down mattress had become so lumpy all of a sudden. She turned, thinking to ring for her maid, and nearly fell off the narrow bunk. Her eyes opened wide and she stifled a scream, abruptly recalling everything that had happened the night before.

Rising on unsteady legs she straightened out her torn and rumpled ballgown, pinned up her hair the best she could and walked to the door, gingerly turning the knob. Of course it was still locked, she thought, chagrined. Thoroughly enraged, she began beating on the panel, regardless of the pain it caused her, and crying out loudly for attention. Her efforts were met with silence. Rubbing her bruised fists she gave up in disgust, returning to the bunk to wait impatiently for someone to come to her.

From the sounds of activity filtering through the bulkheads she knew she wasn’t alone on the ship. Somewhere above men were working. Did anyone besides the despicable Adam Foxworth know she was being held captive aboard this ship? she wondered bleakly as she got up and began pacing.

Suddenly a noise outside her door alerted her and she whirled, prepared to face her abductor. But when the panel opened a tall, red-haired man entered, smiling disarmingly. “I trust you slept well, milady,” Mac said, a hint of humor lurking at the corners of his wide mouth.

“Where is Lord Penwell?” Alexa asked, ignoring Mac’s greeting. “Have you come to release me?”

“I wish I could, milady,” Mac said, sobering. “But it’s not up to me. I owe Adam a favor and promised not to interfere.”

“But what he’s doing is wrong!” cried Alexa. “I’ve done him no harm. Please, let me go! He doesn’t have to know it was you who released me.” His soulful expression gave her a surge of hope. But it was short-lived.

“I’m sorry,” murmured Mac. “Adam assured me you wouldn’t be harmed. I’m to look after you until he can join us.”

“Where is he?”

“He went back to the party last night. When he is certain no one links him to your disappearance he will return to the ship. No longer than a day or two.”

“So I am your prisoner.”

“A guest, if you will.”

“Like hell!” shot back Alexa, thoroughly incensed. “I’m here against my will, carried away from my own home by force!”

“Is there some problem with our guest. Mac?” a raspy voice interjected.

Both Mac and Alexa swiveled to face the speaker. “No, Captain.” Mac replied, darting a swift glance at Alexa’s startled features.

Alexa could only stare open-mouthed at the tall, imposing man who filled the doorway with his brawny frame. It wasn’t just his dark garb and commanding air that startled her but the fact that his features were completely hidden from view by a mask that concealed his entire face but for his lips and chin. His hair was covered by a scarf worn pirate style and knotted at the nape. But even more shocking was the mask itself. Upon its dark surface was superimposed the features of a fox. Though she had never seen him his identity was obvious.

“You!” she breathed, trembling. “It’s not possible! You’re the Fox! How could you be in London harbor? The entire British navy is looking for you. How did you
escape them?”