Page 5 of Kiss of Steele (The Royal Occult Bureau #9)

FIVE

CLEANED FROM THE blood and with a bandage around his hand, Rennie was waiting for me in the passageway after I left the medical centre. He roamed his gaze over me, but it wasn’t the heated glance he’d given me when my dress had fallen apart. It was a clinical, searching-for-injuries look.

“Are you all right?” he asked, sounding sweetly concerned for me.

“Only a bruise.” I patted my ribs. “How are you?”

He stretched out a hand, as if to squeeze my shoulder, but then he withdrew it. “I stink of carbolic acid.”

I took a sniff. He was right. His heady scent had been replaced with the acrid smell of coal tar and the Burnett’s liquid physicians used to clean wounds.

“I prefer your clean scent,” I said before I could stop my stupid mouth.

His lips parted. “Do you?”

“Oh, well...” I coughed into my closed fist. “Let’s retire. I’m rather tired.” I didn’t miss the satisfied grin pulling up a corner of his mouth.

In silence, we dragged ourselves towards our cabins. The ship had stopped rocking, and an eerie quietness filled the passageways.

“Do you think Detective Norton will catch the man?” I asked as we approached my cabin.

He shrugged. “It shouldn’t be difficult. It’s a bloody ship.”

I rolled my eyes at his rudeness. I was about to tell him that Edward had seemingly disappeared and the nurse was ridiculously confused about his features, but I thought better of it. He would ask questions and pry around, and I didn’t want him to find out the connection between Edward and Sandro.

When we stopped in front of my cabin, I faced him, a hand on my bruise. “Good night, then. And please go to the doctor if you feel sick.”

He loitered, scratching his chin and studying me with his keen gaze. “Lock yourself in and put a chair against the door. Don’t let anyone in except me. Understood?”

I wasn’t going to argue with him. I doubted the man would attack me, but the pain in my ribs was a good reminder that anything could happen. “Understood.”

“Good night.” Without adding anything else, he staggered away.

“Rennie!” I called, gripping my door.

He stopped and turned to me. “Yes?” His large green eyes widened. Lord, they were pretty.

Why had I called him? I had no idea. It’d been a moment of irrational fear as he left me alone. Blazes, what was I thinking? Being alone was what I wanted, wasn’t it?

“Yes?” he asked more gently, stepping closer. For once, the harshness was gone from his eyes. Only concern shone in their depths.

“I don’t know,” I whispered. “I don’t know why I called you. Sorry.”

He lifted a hand and traced the curve of my jaw with a silky touch that made my knees weak. “Are you scared?”

“A bit, to be honest.”

“Would you like me to stand guard here?”

“Good Lord, no.” I frowned. “You need to sleep. I got bruised, but you got stabbed. I’ll be all right.” Actually, a tremor started in my legs, but I shifted my weight. I was used to having someone close at all times. In my parents’ mansion, a maid slept in the room next to mine. I wanted my freedom, but Hades if I wasn’t scared. Yet I wouldn’t let him neglect his own health for me.

His thumb brushed my jaw, sending a warm flutter down my spine. “If you need anything, you only have to call. Don’t worry about waking me up.”

I nodded as a sudden knot blocked my throat.

“Good night, Monia.” He withdrew his hand and limped away, leaving me somewhat colder than before.

brIGHT SUNLIGHT FLOODED my cabin the next morning. I brushed my matted hair from my face after a rough night’s sleep. Fatigue had won over my fears, allowing me to sleep. But nightmares had tormented me. Sharp teeth, a burning pain in my arm, and a strange creature. Visions of blood soaking my riding habit and the sensation of being stabbed in the arm had jolted me awake a few times. I rubbed my aching forehead, glad the sunlight made the cabin look bigger. Sweat soaked my nightgown, and I scoffed while cleaning myself up.

I smiled when I opened the door and found Rennie waiting for me in the corridor. “How are you? You should be resting.”

“Don’t worry.” He shrugged. “I’ve been better, but I’ve seen worse. Your bruise?”

“Painful, but better than last night.” I tilted my head, noticing he kept his posture straight. “How’s your wound?”

“It wasn’t as deep as you thought. Barely a scratch.”

“It bled a lot.” I wasn’t an expert in wounds, but his stab had been serious.

“I’m starving. Shall we go to the dining hall?”

“Of course.” Odd.

He walked next to me, shooting glares at anyone who brushed past us. His shoulders were stiff and tense.

I put a hand on his arm. “Don’t be so tense. He won’t attack us in broad daylight.”

His gaze dipped to my hand before returning to my face. But he didn’t say anything.

Having skipped supper last night, my stomach rumbled in appreciation as I scooped up spoons full of porridge.

Rennie sat next to me, barely touching his scrambled eggs, his gaze lost on the sea.

“I thought you were hungry. Are you thinking about the man from last night?” I asked, polishing my bowl.

He leant back, drumming his fingers on the table. “I don’t understand how he entered my cabin. I opened the door with my key. The door was locked and wasn’t broken, so he didn’t force it. He either picked the lock or had a master key. Odd.”

“Both explanations are reasonable. A professional thief should know how to pick the lock of a cabin, and he could have stolen a master key from a member of the crew. Why don’t you find those two explanations valid?” I poured myself another cup of tea, studying Rennie’s profile.

His rough charm started a flutter in my chest. Sandro was handsome with his fine features, but I could see the appeal of a wilder, rougher appearance. No bruise marred Rennie’s skin. I thought the man had punched him. He had to be a fast healer. Very fast.

“I don’t know. It’s just a feeling I have.” The sunlight lit his eyes, turning them into two emeralds. His cheeks were pale though. “Listen.” He lifted his gaze to me. “Why don’t we go back to England? Now. Leave this bloody ship and return home.”

“What?” I lowered my cup, nearly spilling the tea. “What are you talking about? I’ve just started to enjoy myself now that I don’t feel sick every two minutes, and you want to leave? Besides, the trip would be a rather uncomfortable one. We’d either travel by train, stopping countless times across countries with names I can’t even pronounce and spending weeks in a carriage, or take another ship, and what would the difference be then? Not to mention that we need to stop in Tunis anyway.”

He chewed his bottom lip, and for some stupid reason, my eyes focused on the way the tip of his tongue appeared from between his white teeth. He had nice white teeth, I guessed.

“You’re right. Forget it.” Rennie waved a dismissive hand. But I wasn’t fooled.

“Why are you so worried?” I asked. His hand lay a few inches from mine, and I stifled the odd urge to brush it. The truth was he radiated sadness and fear, and my chest tightened for him. “I understand the whole ordeal must have traumatised you, but we can’t let that thug scare us, can we?”

“I’m not traumatised .” His usual scowl was back, erasing his moment of weakness. “I’m worried about your safety. Obviously, this ship has her share of criminals. You aren’t safe. I don’t like it.”

I took another sip of tea, spying on him from over the rim of my cup. “Are you worried about me, or are you overzealous about doing your duty?”

His emerald eyes, which I’d admired so much, turned into two stormy pits. “Now you’re being unfair. Of course, I’m worried about you. Sod the work. This is about your safety.” His voice cracked when he said the last words.

I blew out a breath. “I think you’re overreacting. At the end of the day, nothing really happened, and Detective Norton?—”

“Help!” A woman barged into the dining hall, her grey-striped hair bouncing over her reddened cheeks.

I was on my feet before I knew it. Rennie was faster than me, though. Attendants and other passengers rushed to her aid.

“What is it, madam?” I took her trembling shoulders. “Are you hurt?”

“A man attacked me.” Her voice was so high-pitched it could cut glass. Gasps echoed in the room. “I was coming here to have breakfast when he emerged from a dark corner and jumped on me.” She clamped her hands over her rising bosom.

“Here, sit down.” I gently led her to my chair and helped her sit, ignoring the whispers and mutters from the crowd. “What is your name, madam?”

She swallowed a couple of times. “Mrs Agnes Francis.”

“You’re safe now, Mrs Francis.” I patted her shoulder. “Here, have a cup of tea.”

“Call the doctor,” Rennie barked at the attendants who were standing close, gaping at us.

A few people darted out of the hall, and the attendants dispersed the crowd.

“Can you describe him?” Rennie asked Mrs Francis in a gentle tone.

She patted her dishevelled curls. “Oh, he was a strapping young man with curly red hair and lovely blue eyes. Straight nose. Strong jaw.” As she talked, her breathing slowed and she stopped fiddling with her hands. “Quite handsome. And he was wearing a beautiful kilt that left his legs bare. Strong, muscular legs, that is. Broad shoulders and strong arms, too. When he swept me off my feet into his embrace, like a knight of old helping the damsel...” She coughed, her cheeks flushing further. “Well, he was strapping and handsome. That’s all.”

I exchanged a glance with Rennie. Mrs Francis didn’t seem terrified by the attack but rather excited by the encounter.

Rennie bowed to her. “Madam, I’ll have a look around and inform the police on board. Please stay here.”

“Thank you.” She put a hand on his and smiled.

While Rennie made his way across the hall packed with whispering passengers, she tilted her head to stare at his rear. Good Lord. Was she admiring Rennie’s bottom? After being attacked? Although I couldn’t blame her. Rennie could be scary, but his rear end wasn’t bad at all. All firm and taut, stretching the fabric of his trousers. Naked, he must be a sight to behold. Dear me. What a thought to have. Mrs Francis’s excitement had to be contagious.

“You must be quite upset,” I said to distract myself from my inappropriate thoughts.

“Oh, it was exciting as well.” She winked.

I was confused. “Exciting?”

“He kissed me, and good gracious, it was such a passionate kiss.”

I was even more confused. “I’m sorry, madam, but did he force you?”

She gazed around, ignoring my question.

“Here I am.” The red-haired nurse hurried towards Mrs Francis. “Please come with me, madam. I’ll take good care of you.” She narrowed her gaze at me, probably still annoyed by our conversation.

“Thank you, dear,” Mrs Francis said, walking away.

I stayed in the dining hall, enjoying another cup of tea while waiting for Rennie. Wasn’t that odd? Two attacks, one after another, from two different men, although I doubted Mrs Francis was as distraught as I’d been after the man had kicked me.

Rennie walked over to me, his face tense and the tendons in his neck standing out under his skin.

“Is something the matter?” I asked, lowering my cup.

Worry lines marked his brow as he sat next to me. “I couldn’t find any trace of a Scotsman. Among the passengers, there are only five Scots, and none of them fit the description of Mrs Francis’s attacker.”

“Anyone can wear a kilt.” My voice lacked confidence, though. There was something plainly bizarre about the attack.

“Yes, but who would be so foolish to attack a woman in broad daylight, on a ship, surrounded by other people a few yards away while wearing a rather noticeable kilt? I can’t find any—” He fell silent and ran a hand over his face. “Hellfire.”

“You can’t find what?” I edged closer.

“Nothing,” he muttered.

“Rennie.” I couldn’t help it and put my hand on his, stroking the rough skin over his knuckles. I wasn’t prepared for the shock of sensation coursing through me as he stared at me with an intensity that made me gasp. “What is it? You can trust me. I’ll help you. I’ll do my best.”

“I know you’ll help me.” His thumb caressed my fingers. “And I trust you.”

A warm flutter started in my chest and went lower, heating my body all the way down. I explored his hand, touching the tiny scars and calluses. I wanted to ask him how he got the scar on his neck, but speaking would break the moment, and I didn’t want to stop touching him.

We stared into each other’s eyes. I didn’t know what was happening to us and didn’t care. Then he gently turned my hand, so that my palm faced up, and dipped his head. A breath tore out of me as he placed a soft kiss on my inner wrist. My mouth dropped open. The kiss was gentle, yet passionate, and the soft scratching of his stubble against my hand fired energy through me. A tingle burned my skin, and the flutter deep in my belly became a storm of emotion. His soft lips brushed another kiss that made me catch my breath. He paused, his gaze on the inch of scarred skin peeping from underneath the hem of my sleeve.

“An incident,” I whispered.

He kissed the scarred spot before stroking it with his thumb. Each stroke sent a shot of pleasure through my body. Too much pleasure. I didn’t expect that.

He released my hand. “I apologise. I don’t claim to be a gentleman, but my behaviour is inexcusable.”

“I beg to differ.” I couldn’t lie. I enjoyed his touch.

His lips parted in surprise. “Are you sure?”

“Very.” I caressed his fingers, listening to his breathing speed up.

He swallowed hard. “This shouldn’t… I think I need to go.”

I didn’t have time to add anything else before he scraped his chair back and rose. With long strides, he crossed the dining hall and disappeared. My skin prickled where he’d kissed me. I didn’t know what was more mysterious—the attacks or Rennie.

THE MOST EXCITING thing that happened in the next two days was seeing the Rock of Gibraltar as the SS Florentia officially entered the Mediterranean Sea.

The rocky white peak rose from the sea like a giant fang, a stark contrast to the turquoise waves. Rennie had been more taciturn than usual since our brief kiss, leaving me confused. I’d told him I enjoyed his touch. Why then was he so cold?

Even now that we were both on the main deck, admiring the view, he remained silent, hands in his pockets, glowering. Every time I caught a glimpse of his lips, the spot on my wrist he’d kissed tickled. But he hadn’t talked much in the past two days and had touched me even less. Which was a pity. Not that I craved his touch. No, sir. All I had to do was ignore the sudden lurch of my heart when he was close to me, the traitorous quiver of my knees when our gazes met, or the heat flooding my cheeks when he rolled his bottom lip between his teeth. Cup of tea, really.

For example, he moved closer and his elbow brushed mine. A sudden shot of excitement jolted through me and made me tingle in all the wrong places. But I controlled it. I wasn’t a woman prone to swooning over a gentleman. Sandro had made me swoon a little. But to be honest, Sandro’s touch hadn’t been so raw and exciting. Pleasant, yes. Charming, of course. But not soul-wrenching like Rennie’s. I cleared my throat and let the wind cool my warm cheeks. Maybe I was craving his touch.

“No news on the thugs roaming the ship?” I asked when the ship left Gibraltar behind.

“Nothing. Detective Norton searched every cabin but couldn’t find a man who matched the description I gave him or who matched Mrs Francis’s attacker.” He shook his head. “How hard can it be to find a young, bald man with a missing finger?”

“What?” I spun towards him, a hand on my straw hat. What bald man?

“Mr Steele?” The detective in question approached us. He flashed a nervous smile and bowed at me before focusing on Rennie. “Would you mind coming with me? I’d like your opinion on a... delicate matter.” He threw a glance at me. “Madam.”

“Of course.” Rennie turned towards me and paused. “Stay here. I’ll be back soon.”

For heaven’s sake, where would I go? I didn’t like his domineering tone, but I nodded, nevertheless. He glanced at me again before disappearing below deck. I shook my head. What could happen to me on the deck filled with people? Every passageway on the ship was full of passengers and members of the crew.

The beauty of the sea was capturing my attention again when a whiff of expensive male cologne reached me.

“Monia.” Edward stood next to me, handsome and elegant as usual in all his golden glory. I almost chuckled, thinking of the nurse’s description of him.

“Edward!” I couldn’t help the note of reproach in my voice. “I’ve been searching for you. What happened in the castle?”

He removed his tall hat, and the breeze shuffled his blond hair. “I apologise on Sandro’s behalf. He saw your... friend and decided it was better not to be seen by him.”

I pressed my lips together. “But why?”

He exhaled. “Your parents don’t want you to meet Sandro.”

Well, thank you. “So I gathered.”

“Your friend is here to keep you away from him, I guess.”

“Why?” I kept repeating myself, but no one was giving me any answers, and my questions were always the same.

He tossed a glance over his shoulder. “Sandro wants to talk to you about that. He’ll be in Tunis tomorrow. Please, do what you can to be alone.” With an elegant bow, he went to turn, but I took his arm. A rather bold gesture, but I was going mad, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to follow his instructions without some explanation. His eyes widened, but he didn’t withdraw his arm.

“I searched for you,” I said. “They said there isn’t any Mr Edward Marston on board.”

“Marston? Who’s Marston?” he said, brow furrowing. “It’s Morrison, my dear. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a quite urgent matter to attend to.” He slid out of my grip with a quick bow.

“Wait, how do you communicate with Sandro?” I asked his retreating back.

He ignored me, hurrying through the crowd of passengers with the agility of an eel. I glanced in the direction where Rennie had disappeared before following Edward. A group of passengers came out of the stairs, and I had to make my way through wide skirts and people chatting.

“Excuse me.” I elbowed my way out of the crowd, but it was wasted energy. I lost sight of Edward. Dash it.

I huffed. I was infatuated with Sandro, but not stupid. The whole affair was more tangled than a pretzel. But there was at least one thing I could do immediately. Grabbing a fistful of my skirt, I strode along the corridor and rushed down the stairs to the reception area. The same young lady I’d seen the other night greeted me with a nervous smile.

“Madam, can I help you?” she asked.

A little breathless, I put my hands on the desk. “Would you please check if there’s a passenger named Edward Morrison on board?”

Her scowl didn’t bode well, but she opened the register and skimmed through it. “Morrison... I’m sorry, madam, but there isn’t a... oh, no, wait. Yes, Mr Edward Morrison, cabin two-four-six.”

I exhaled. “Thank you.”

The first number of a cabin corresponded to a level on the ship. So two-four-six meant deck number two. As the SS Florentia sailed deeper into the Mediterranean Sea, more passengers rushed to the main deck to admire the view. I had to walk upstream, once again making my way through elegant ladies and too-perfumed gentlemen. Why did some people perfume themselves like that? Rennie, for example—why was I thinking of him? And what was the obsession with his scent?

Shaking my head at my own silliness, I took a corridor on the right and slowed my pace. Cabin two-four-six was tucked in a corner. Edward must have a spectacular view of the sea from that spot.

I knocked on the door, racking my brain for a plausible excuse to talk to him. But then again, I didn’t need any excuse. He hadn’t answered my questions. “Edw?—”

The door was pulled open, and a dark-haired woman came into view. “Good morning,” she said, arching a brow. Her words sounded like a question.

Confound it. I hadn’t thought Edward could be married.

“Good morning. I’m Miss Monia Fitzwilliam and I was looking for Mr Edward Morrison.”

“My husband isn’t here at the moment.” Her gaze roamed over me. “Why do you want to see him, may I ask?”

“I just wanted to... thank him for dancing with me. He’s the most agile dancer I’ve ever had the honour to dance with.” Oops! Of all the things I could have said, I chose the least appropriate one.

“I beg your pardon!” Mrs Morrison’s expression became pinched with annoyance. “What are you talking about?”

I wrung my hands. “Well, a few nights ago, he was, ahem, kind enough to dance with me.”

“Was he now?” She tilted her head.

“I’m afraid I’ve taken too much of your time. Don’t let me keep you.” I turned on my heels and cowardly sprinted away as fast as my petticoats allowed.

Mrs Morrison said something I didn’t catch, and I cursed my lack of judgement. If I’d put Edward in an uncomfortable position with his wife, he might decide to stop helping me. If he were helping me. But it wasn’t my fault either if he’d disappeared, pretending not to hear me. The whole situation was quite confusing. I groaned inwardly when Rennie swept into view after I rounded a corner. He marched towards me, broad shoulders swaying.

“What are you doing here?” we asked together.

His expression tightened. “I asked you to please stay on the deck. But you left to wander around.”

“No. You ordered me to stay on the deck. It’s different.” I went to sidestep him, but he mirrored my moves, blocking me.

“What were you doing on deck two?”

“Nothing of importance.” I was being harsh, but if he trusted me and told me everything he knew about Sandro, I wouldn’t be so unreasonable. So it was really all his fault. Yes, I was being a cow, but, oh well, the damage was already done.

“I need to know where you are and what you plan to do at any moment. It’s not only my job, but, as I told you, I care about your safety, and there are two crazy men on board.” His voice rose.

“I was never alone. There were always people around.”

“But not me.”

“You’re overreacting as usual,” I said, jabbing a finger at him. “Nothing happened.”

“You keep sneaking off on me.”

I opened my mouth but then shut it. Because he was right.

“Where did you go?” he asked through gritted teeth.

“To chat with Edward, the man I danced with the other night, but he wasn’t in his cabin and I spoke with his wife. That’s all.” I tilted my chin up, trying to gather my dignity. “Well, now I’m returning to my cabin to freshen up, if that’s all right with you.” I sauntered off without waiting for his reply.

The low growl he released haunted me as I walked towards my own cabin. I wasn’t sure what game I was playing, but I was sure I wasn’t winning it.