Once a Mistress Read Online Free PDF

what she looked like,” Chilton answered, sipping fine burgundy pilfered from some unlucky French vessel. “As a matter of fact, you were most annoyed when I asked you to abduct her.”
    “But red hair.” Marcus reached for the silver goblet containing his wine and caressed it. “I adore redheads. They often have the type of pale delicate skin that bruises so well. And most of them are so very stubborn.” He lifted his goblet, drained it and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “I love breaking the spirit in a woman.”
    Chilton curled his lip at Marcus’s crude table manners. “At this point I don’t care what you do to her. Just don’t kill her, for I still intend to wed the bitch.” He glared at the unconscious woman. “She will pay for cuckolding me.”
    Marcus looked at him, his piercing green eyes glittering with amusement. “Peter, only a husband can be cuckolded.”
    “She betrayed me. She knew I wanted her to be my bride.”
    Marcus leaned back in his chair and raised his eyebrows. “You don’t suppose she took you in dislike?”
    The sarcasm only rubbed salt in the raw wound of Chilton’s pride. “She is but a woman and does not know what she wants.”
    Marcus grinned and picked up a jeweled dagger lying on the table. “I could teach her respect.”
    “Be my guest. Just do not leave scars where anyone might see them. I will not have tongues wagging about the future Lady Chilton.”
    “You surprise me, Peter.” Marcus jabbed the point of the dagger into the gouged and burned wood of the table, leaving it stuck there. “I always thought you to be more squeamish.”
    “Mayhap you underestimated me.” Chilton gulped his wine.
    “Then you will stay for the entertainment?” Marcus rose and chose an iron from the brazier in the corner. Examining the poker, he cast a jubilant smile in Chilton’s direction. “I will make her scream your name if you like.”
    Chilton shuddered. “My thanks, but no. I would not dream of infringing on your enjoyment.”
    Marcus lowered the poker. “Why, Peter, I am touched by your generosity. Allow me to respond in kind.” The irons clattered as he replaced the one he held with a careless motion.
    “How?” Wariness crept over Chilton. When Marcus was this happy, someone usually died.
    “I shall save you a lock of hair! Is that not an excellent suggestion?” Marcus rattled the chains on the wall and then picked up a cat-o’nine-tails. His exuberance as he handled the instruments reminded Chilton of a lad set loose in the confectionery.
    “Leave her hair alone. I will not tolerate a bald bride.”
    “Not that hair.” Chuckling, the pirate put down thumb screws and cracked his knuckles. Muscles in his chest and arms bulged beneath his white cambric shirt. “I will begin as soon as she awakens.”
    “Why not now?” Chilton swept a hand at the helpless woman. “She is at your mercy.”
    “Peter, Peter, Peter.” Marcus shook his shaggy head. “Anticipation is half the game. Besides, she will suffer more if she is awake.”
    Chilton finished his wine in one gulp. “I care not how you do it, as long as there is no visible damage. Just keep her alive long enough for me to enjoy my wedding night.”
    “I have hope for you.” Marcus laughed, a robust sound that sent dread rippling down Chilton’s spine.
    “I will inform Frederick of his daughter’s fate,” Chilton said, pushing the fear to the back of his mind. “After he gives us those ledger pages, I will marry Diana and we can each take a share of her dowry.”
    “That reminds me, Peter.” Marcus came to the table and yanked the dagger from the wood. “About that ledger you were keeping…”
    The wine turned sour in Chilton’s stomach as he stared at the gleaming blade. Then someone pounded on the door to the cabin, breaking the tension. Chilton fell back in his chair as Marcus stalked to the portal and threw it open.
    “What the devil do you want, Scroggins?” he snarled.
    The