Lost Lady Read online

  “You can’t do that! You have no right!”

  He towered over her, his face serious. “Last night I earned the right. We Americans take our responsibilities seriously, and last night you became my charge—at least until I find out who your true guardian is.”

  As he finished dressing, he watched her in the mirror, trying to puzzle out her reasons for not telling him who she was. When he had his coat on, he leaned over her. “I’m trying to do what’s right for you,” he said softly.

  “And who gave you the right to decide what was good or bad for people you don’t even know?”

  Chuckling deep in his throat, Travis replied, “You’re beginning to sound like my little brother. How about a kiss before I go? If I find your guardian, it may be our last moment alone together.”

  “I hope I never see you again!” she spat. “I hope you fall into the sea and no one ever sees you again. I hope—.”

  He cut her off as he lifted her out of the bed, one arm behind her back, and the other pushing the sheet from between them. As his hand caressed the soft, peachy flesh of her hip and thigh, his mouth touched hers. Gently, ever so gently, he kissed her, careful not to frighten her or to be too harsh with her.

  For a moment Regan pushed at him with her hands, but his big hands on her body, and the sheer power of him as he pulled her to him were overwhelmingly exciting. It surprised her that such an arrogant bully of a man could be so gentle.

  Putting her arms around his neck, she turned her head to one side as her hands lost themselves in his hair.

  Travis was the first to pull away. “I’m beginning to hope I don’t find your guardian. You make an awful nice armful.”

  As her arm went back to strike him, he laughed and held it, kissing her knuckles one by one. “It was only a wish. Now, you stay here and be a good girl, and I’ll bring you a pretty dress when I get back.”

  She heard him laugh when the pillow she threw hit the door as he closed it behind him. The key turning in the lock sounded as if chains had been clamped to her ankles.

  The awesome silence was nearly deafening as Regan sat, stunned, and gazed sightlessly at the big room. For a while she couldn’t believe that she wasn’t at home in her own blue bedroom, that Matta wasn’t going to bring her chocolate at any moment. Instead, in the last few hours her world had crumbled about her ears. She’d heard the man she loved say that he didn’t want to marry her and her only relative admit that he cared nothing for her. And now, worst of all, her virtue was gone and she was held prisoner by some savage American. Prisoner, she thought. She hadn’t known it, but she’d been a prisoner all her life, held in a gilded cage of a pretty garden and a rundown house.

  As these thoughts went through her mind, she began to look about the room. There was a large window along one wall, and it occurred to her that perhaps she could do something about her imprisonment this time. If she could escape, then surely she could find help, perhaps someone to take her in or to employ her. At that thought, she stopped. What could she do? How in the world could she earn her keep for five years until she came into her inheritance? The only thing she was really good at was growing flowers. Perhaps….

  No, Regan, she cautioned herself. Now is not the time to run off on a tangent. First she must escape and show this boorish Colonial that he could not kidnap an Englishwoman and have her remain docilely in custody.

  Once out of bed, she realized that her first problem was clothes. A trunk stood in one corner of the room, but a quick examination showed it to be locked.

  At a knock on the door, she jumped and had only time to slip into Travis’s shirt before a rosy-cheeked, plump girl entered bearing a heavy tray of food.

  “Mr. Travis said I was to bring you food and a bath if you want it,” the girl said nervously, her eyes searching the room, her back firmly against the closed door.

  “Can you get me some clothes?” Regan asked. “Please. I could return them later, but I have to have more than that man’s shirt.”

  “I’m sorry, miss, but Mr. Travis said I was not to give you clothes or anything else besides food and hot water and that I was to tell you he’d hired a man to stand below the window all day, in case you tried to escape that way.”

  Running to the window, Regan saw that what the girl had said was true. “You have to help me,” she pleaded. “This man is keeping me prisoner here. Please, please, help me escape.”

  The girl hastily set the tray down, her eyes wide with fear. “Mr. Travis threatened me life if I let you go. I’m sorry, miss, but I’ve got meself to think of.” Without another word, the girl was gone from the room, and the heavy lock was securely refastened.

  Regan wasn’t sure at first of the feeling that ran through her. All her life had been pleasant, uneventful, almost bland, with few problems to cope with and fewer people to know, but now everything was piling on top of her, weighing her down. She hadn’t wanted to leave her uncle’s house, nor did she want to remain the prisoner of some horrible man.

  Picking the tray up with both hands, she threw it against the wall and then stood watching as eggs and jam went sliding down the smooth plaster surface. Her outburst did not help her mood but instead made it worse. Flinging herself onto the bed, she screamed into a pillow, kicked her feet, and slammed her fists into the feather mattress.

  In spite of her anger and her complete frustration at her helplessness, her exhaustion was stronger. As her muscles began to relax, she fell into a heavy, lifeless sleep. She didn’t even wake up when the maid cleaned the food off the wall, nor did she awaken when Travis entered the room, his arms full of bright boxes, and leaned over her, smiling at her sweet, innocent face.

  Chapter 3

  “YOU’RE A SWEET TIDBIT TO COME BACK TO,” TRAVIS whispered, nibbling at her earlobe. As she began to awaken, he stepped away, wanting to watch her as she stretched, her curvy little body molding the shirt she wore into enticing hills and valleys. As she stretched, her eyes still closed, her breasts strained against the buttons, pulling the fabric apart and letting him glimpse an exquisite diamond of flesh. A little smile touched her lips before she opened her eyes and saw him.

  “You!” she gasped. With an agile leap, she flew out of the bed and dove for him, fists clenched, shirttail riding up.

  Travis caught both her fists in one of his. “Now that’s what I call a greeting,” he practically purred, pulling her into his arms. “It’s not easy for me to remember I’m supposed to treat you like a lady when you fling yourself into my arms like that.”

  “I did not fling myself at you,” she said, gritting her teeth. “Why do you always twist everything so? You couldn’t possibly believe I want anything from you except to be released. You have no right—.”

  A quick kiss cut her off. “You know I’ll release you just as soon as you tell me where to take you. Surely a young lady like you has relatives. Give me a name, and I’ll take you there.”

  “And have you brag about what you’ve done to me? No, I couldn’t possibly agree to such a thing. Release me, and I’ll find my own way home.”

  “You are not a good liar,” he smiled. “Those eyes of yours are as clear as a doll’s. Every thought you have is written across them. I’ve told you several times the conditions under which I’ll release you, and that’s the end of it. I’m not going to give in, so you might as well resign yourself to the fact that you will have to.”

  Jerking away from him, she set her jaw. “I can be as stubborn as you.” She smiled wickedly. “And besides, I know you’re leaving for America soon. You’ll have to release me then.”

  Travis seemed to consider this idea for a moment. “I’ll have to do something with you then, won’t I?” he replied, rubbing his chin. “I’d certainly hate to sail for America and leave those legs of yours without a proper protector.”

  Gasping, Regan grabbed an edge of the bed sheet and tried to pull it off, but a far corner was caught. As Travis moved toward her and leaned across the bed to release the corner, he slipped a