pardon?“

„You. heard me. He’s going to marry us.“ She paused and

moistened her lips with her tongue. „Or I’ll shoot you.“

„Indeed?“ Nicholas lifted his brow. „How bloodthirsty of

you. May I ask where you got that pistol?“

„I bought it in a shop on the wharf.“ She added reluctantly,

„With your money.“ She hurried on. „But I’ll pay you back.“

His lips twitched. „I should hope so.“

Father Jason straightened away from the door-jamb. „This

is outrageous,“ he said incredulously. „Young lady, I will

perform no marriage rites between you and his highness while

he’s under duress.“ He moved forward to stand beside Silver.

„You should be ashamed, threatening a man such as he. Do

you realize this gentleman is looked upon as a hero by the

citizens of St. Louis for his selfless charity toward those poor

survivors of the tragedy of the Mary L?“

„No.“ She kept the pistol trained on Nicholas. „I only

realize I must have a legal father for my child.“

Nicholas went still. „Your child?“

„I’m over two weeks late for my flux and this is not usual

for me. I have to go after Etaine and I can’t risk leaving

without protecting my child.“ She met his eyes. „I will not

bring shame to any child I bear. It will be enough that he will

have Apache blood.“ She paused. „Don’t worry, I realize the

blame lies also with me. I want only your name for my child.

When I leave here, you will never see me again. I’m sure

you’ll have no problem dissolving the bond when you return

to your own country.“

„That’s a comforting thought.“ Nicholas’s eyes were

narrowed on her face. „You’ve obviously thought a great deal

about this.“

„Not a great deal.“ She smiled shakily. „If I didn’t tend to

act impulsively, this situation would never have occurred.“

She lifted her chin. „But I will make it come right.“

Father Jason was frowning uncertainly. „You have known

this woman in the carnal sense, my son?“

Nicholas’s gaze did not leave Silver’s face. „Oh, yes,

Father, it couldn’t have been more carnal.“

„It is possible that the child is not of your seed….“ Father

Jason suggested tentatively. „Perhaps the young woman has

engaged in similar activities with other gentlemen.“

„If there is a child, it is mine,“ Nicholas said unequivocally.

„Have you no shame that you admit to disgracing this

woman?“

„He didn’t disgrace me.“ Silver said indignantly. „I was the

one who chose to – “

„Anyone in St. Petersburg will tell you what a base

scoundrel I am,“ Nicholas interrupted quickly. „No woman is

safe from my lust.“

„But you obviously repent your past. Perhaps if you vow

not to transgress again, a penance or two would be sufficient –

“ Father Jason broke off as his gaze alighted on the mural on

the wall facing him. Stunned, his gaze shifted from perversity

to perversity. „Dear sweet Mary, I seem to have been mistaken

in you. This is the’chamber of a debaucher and his whore.“

„I don’t have much time,“ Silver said impatiently. „I have

passage on a riverboat that leaves here in forty minutes. Marry

us, Father.“

„You seem to have no choice,“ Nicholas told the priest

solemnly. He glanced down at the derringer in Silver’s hand.

„And I most certainly do not. Perhaps we’d better accede

graciously to – “ He broke off as his gaze traveled over

Silver’s head to the open doorway. Something flickered in his

eyes and his head made a negative motion that was almost

imperceptible. „Best proceed with the ceremony, Father.“

„Quickly,“ Silver urged.

Father Jason gave her an exasperated glance. „You’re a

most demanding female. I’m not so sure his highness is

completely to blame for – “ His glance again happened on the

murals. He quickly drew out a black book and began reciting

the words of the marriage rite.

The ceremony was over in an amazingly short time, and

Silver understood very few of the Latin phrases. She watched

suspiciously as the priest closed the book. „It’s done?“

„It’s done,“ the priest said.

„I want a paper,“ Silver said firmly. „Something to prove

that a marriage has taken place.“

Nicholas gestured to the small elegant desk across the

room. „There’s pen, paper, and ink, Father.“

The priest hurried over to the desk and scrawled a few lines

on a piece of paper he found in the desk drawer.

Silver followed him, glanced hurriedly at the paper, and

nodded. „That should be sufficient. Thank you.“

„May I go now?“ Father Jason asked caustically. „This has

all been most irregular.“

Silver nodded absently, her gaze turned back to Nicholas as

the priest hurried from the stateroom. „It was necessary,“ she

whispered. „I couldn’t take a chance. I had to protect my child.

You don’t know the pain of belonging nowhere.“

„Don’t I?“ he asked „How can you be sure?“

„Perhaps I can’t be sure.“ She drew a deep shaky breath.

„You said we knew very little about each other.“ Her hand

tightened on the pistol. „Well, it’s over and you’re free to do

anything you wish now.“

His lips curved in a curious smile. „I fully intend to do just

that.“

She nodded and then folded the document the priest had

given her and slipped it into the pocket of her cloak. „Good-

bye, Nicholas.“

He didn’t speak but continued to look at her with that faint

smile.

„It really was necessary that I – “ She broke off, looking at

him helplessly. „Truly.“ She turned and ran from the

stateroom.

Mikhail’s huge form was blocking the gangplank when she

reached the boiler deck.

„Good-bye, Mikhail.“ Her voice was husky and she had to

clear it. „Perhaps we’ll meet again.“

She tried to slip around him but he deliberately stepped into

her path again.

She frowned. „You don’t understand, I have to leave now. I

have to catch a boat to New Orleans within the hour.“

He silently shook his head.

Her lips tightened. „Get out of my way, Mikhail.“

„You could always point your little pistol at him,“ Nicholas

said from behind her. „But I doubt if he’d be as easily

intimidated as I was.“

Silver drew the derringer from beneath her cloak. „Let me

pass, Mikhail.“

Mikhail smiled gently at her and again shook his head.

„Mikhail, I’ll shoot you.“ Silver said, trying to make her

voice convincing. It was very difficult when the big bull was

gazing at her with such cheerful affection. „Truly. You know I

– Nicholas!“

He had picked her up and slung her over his shoulder. „Let

me down!“ Her hair was cascading over her eyes and she

could see nothing as he turned and strode toward the staircase.

„What are you doing? I’ll – “

„Hush, I’m tired of threats.“ He was climbing the steps.

„And stop wriggling. This is the only way I can hold you

without hurting your back.“

„Where are you taking me?“

„Back to bed. I told you the doctor said you weren’t to get

up. I should have known as soon as I turned my back you’d be

running around as if that bastard had been stroking you with a

feather instead of a whip.“

„Etaine – “

„I told you I’d take care of delivering your little waif to

you. Why didn’t you trust me?“

„She’s my responsibility. I can’t expect you to – “

„You don’t expect anything of anyone and you don’t trust

anyone but yourself.“ The crimson carpet of the saloon

suddenly came into her line of vision. „I keep my word,

dammit.“

„Let me down. I have a boat to catch.“