The Blue Diamond (The Razor's Edge Book 1) by P.S. Bartlett Page B

spoke.
    “You’re wrong, you know. I
truly believed there was a chance you were different, and that you were wrong
about your heart. If there’s any satisfaction to come of this for me, it would
be knowing never to let my guard down again—no matter how beautiful the man, or
how genuine the kiss may feel. You’ve schooled me, sir, and I thank you for
that.”
    “I’ve had quite the
education as well. I suppose we’re never too old, or too wise, for a lesson,”
he said, as he placed his hat back upon his head and continued toward his
awaiting ship in the harbor.
    * * * *
    “Madame, you have my apology
for this,” Zara said, untying the ropes which held Ivory to the bed.
    “Why? You didn’t do it.”
    “Well, I apologize on behalf
of the Captain. He can be so…mistrusting, even when he’s obviously been as
close to someone as he was to you last night.” Zara released the second tie and
Ivory sat up, rubbing her wrists and arms.
    “I blame myself. I have a
habit of pushing people away when they get too close. He appears to treat you
rather well though, Zara,” Ivory stated, taking the robe draped over Zara’s
arms and slipping it on.
    “Roman is waiting to take us
to your room,” Zara said with her head down, holding open the bedroom door.
Ivory followed her and barely made eye contact with Roman when she nodded at
him in the dimly lit corridor, and then turned into her room.
    “He loved my mother…once,”
Zara whispered in the dark as she closed the door and walked to light the lone
candle on the dresser.
    “I’m sorry? What did you
say?” Ivory asked, turning around and looking back at Zara.
    “Please, sit. I must fix
your hair. You’ve made a mess of it.”
    “Zara, answer me, please.
What did you mean by that?” Ivory asked turning and taking the comb from Zara’s
hand as she sat.
    With Carbonale safely away
aboard the ship, Zara’s thoughts flowed freely from her lips, of her childhood
when she and her mother arrived back in Kingston after being cast out from
Paris by her father’s wife. “My mother was very young when I was born—only a
year older than I am now. She was but twenty seven when we returned.   We had only my grandmother to depend on, but
she lived with a wealthy family here in Kingston as a maid and cook. We lived
in an abandoned shack near the mangroves, and my grandmother would sneak us
food.”
    “Sadly, that is something I
understand completely.”
    “The Captain was doing very
well as a privateer and was well acquainted with the family my grandmother
worked for. He had just built this house. He was looking for someone to take
care of things for him, and as my grandmother was trusted and respected in the
home, she recommended my mother, who joyfully accepted the position.”
    “Maddox fell for his house
maid?”
    “The Captain was not
always…the man he is today. If you knew of his past, you may possibly
understand him better.”
    “Oh, Zara, for a fleeting
moment I allowed myself to wonder. But now, I have no desire to understand him,
and…”
    “Wait, please. My mother
told him she had a child and he agreed for her to bring me here, if only to
assist her and live with her in her quarters. He took pity on me and allowed my
mother to teach me all of her French cooking, as well as everything else she
knew. However, even then he was not a trusting person. I cannot say that I
blame him.”
    “None of us in this place
are trusting, Zara. This is simply the world we live in, and none of us have
the power to change that.”
    “He trusted my mother.
Within less than a year, she slept in his bed every night, and they would spend
many hours together when he was ashore. They, of course, kept their secret, as
did I, but he showered us in gifts. He hated what my father’s wife had done to
us, as he had been treated much the same by his own family.”
    “What do you mean by that?”
Ivory asked, turning in her chair to see Zara’s eyes.
    “Madame, just know that he
is