A Taste of Paradise Read Online Free PDF Page A

legs encased in expensive boots. She was wet and chilled to the bone, and her teeth began chattering so loudly she had to forcibly clamp them together. Hugging herself for warmth, she watched as the cabin’s occupant bent over a brazier and fed coal into it. She shivered, waiting for the heat to reach her.
    She offered a silent prayer of thanks when she felt warmth seeping into her chilled bones. After a little while, it became so cozy beneath the bunk that Sophia’s eyelids drifted shut despite her best efforts to stay awake.

Chapter Two
    Sophia awakened to murky daylight and a gentle rocking motion. She started to rise and bumped her head on a hard object located scant inches above her. She let out a yelp, then clamped her hand over her mouth when she recalled where she was and why. When she sensed no movement in the cabin, she rolled to where she could peek out without being seen.
    The cabin appeared empty. How long had she slept? Long enough to be hungry, she decided when her stomach growled in answer to her question. Had the cabin’s occupant slept in the cabin last night without her knowing?
    Sophia scooted out from beneath the bunk and examined her surroundings in the light of day.
    Since the cabin was fairly large, Sophia assumed that it belonged to the captain. She knew she had to leave before he returned. With luck, she could get off the ship without being seen. But her hopes were dashed when she glanced out the porthole and saw water, lots and lots of water.
    The unwelcome knowledge of what had happened slowly seeped into her brain. The ship had weighed anchor and entered the channel while she slept. Where was the ship bound? China? India? America? No! She wanted to go home. She had to find the captain at once and demand that he turn back.
    Sophia heard voices outside the door. Not yet ready to face anyone, she dove under the bed, intending to remain there until she found the words to address the man who held her fate in his hands. But if she waited too long, she feared she’d find herself journeying somewhere she had no intention of going.
    The door opened, admitting a man Sophia assumed was the captain. He moved about the cabin a few minutes before stopping before the desk and spreading out a map. His hand brushed against a cup. Liquid splashed from it as it hit the deck and rolled under the bed. Remarkably, it didn’t shatter. Sophia held her breath, praying the captain wouldn’t decide to rescue the cup.
    She heard his footsteps approaching. Squeezing her eyes shut, she prayed harder, but to no avail. She heard a sharp intake of breath followed by a curse. She opened her eyes and met the startled gaze of Christian Radcliff, a man she remembered very well, a man who had every reason to hate her.
    â€œWhat the hell! Who are you and what are you doing on my ship?” he roared. “Come out of there!”
    Apparently, he hadn’t recognized her yet. She scooted as far away from him as she could get, but he had long arms. He reached her with little difficulty, dragged her none too gently from beneath the bunk and yanked her to her feet. She heard a ripping sound and realized the remaining sleeve of her dress had been torn off.
    Sophia gazed into Chris’s enraged countenance and nearly fainted as her past came rushing back to her. His was a face she would never forget. She’d known that Christian Radcliff had gone off to sea after the duel, but she’d heard little of him since.
    â€œYou!” Chris snarled. “What are
you
doing aboard my ship? I thought I was rid of you years ago, Sophia Carlisle.”
    Sophia swallowed the fear gathering in her throat and tried to brazen it out. “Hello, Chris.”
    He narrowed his eyes. They were the same mesmerizing blue she remembered. “I asked you a question. What are you doing aboard my ship?”
    â€œI didn’t know this was your ship. As to what I’m doing here, I needed to escape the Watch, and your