Claire Delacroix Read Online Free Page B

grim determination.
    Incredibly, his suggestion that she might cheat him if left alone seemed to have struck a nerve. That aroused Thierry’s curiosity. Surely these town people did not expect foreigners to trust them?
    Or mayhap she simply disliked that he had guessed her game so early.
    “Mayhap you should have the pearls assessed back at camp,” Nogai suggested.
    Thierry stiffened, hearing the leer in his old companion’s voice. He did not have to look to know full well the path his anda ‘s thoughts had taken. Though the woman’s garb was cut full, ‘twas clear enough that she would be small and shapely. He stifled an uncharacteristic surge of annoyance at his old companion’s appetites.
    “They will be assessed here,” he said flatly, hating Nogai’s knowing chuckle. Thierry felt the other man lean closer, fully anticipating that his next words would be for his ears alone.
    “Tempted, are you not?” Nogai whispered mischievously. Thierry did not acknowledge the taunt, staring resolutely forward. He was not tempted. Women did not tempt him. “Well should you be, for she is a tasty morsel, indeed.” When his words still garnered no response, Nogai dropped his voice yet further. Thierry struggled not to bristle.
    “Mayhap should you not be interested, I should sample her myself.”
    “Nay!” Thierry bit out the denial more harshly than he intended.
    The woman glanced up like a frightened doe, her startled expression making him consider apologizing.
    Apologizing? Khanbaliq loomed in Thierry’s mind and he straightened his shoulders deliberately. ‘Twas only the soft folk of Khanbaliq and other courts who apologized to women. Urban folk. He tried unsuccessfully to summon a sneer. A Mongol would not apologize. Thierry held the woman’s startled gaze for a charged moment, then her color rose and she turned abruptly away.
    A Mongol he was these days and he had best recall that fact. This woman he owed naught. Thierry felt his eyes narrow as he recalled the way the pearls had spewed from her lips. And the tingle she had launched over his skin when their hands had accidentally brushed.
    “A witch is she,” he pronounced, as much to remind himself as anything else. To his completely unwarranted relief, Nogai’s manner cooled immediately.
    “Touch her not,” Thierry added testily.
    “Nay,” Nogai concurred. He even took a wary step backward, unconsciously granting the woman more space. “No telling is there what price she would extract for that.”
    The scholar drew himself up taller as though he personally took insult for the charge. One cold glance from Thierry silenced any protest he might have made.
    The woman’s gaze flicked between the three of them uncomprehendingly. Clearly she sensed that they discussed her. All three men remained stubbornly silent, even the scholar refusing to clarify the charges for her. The woman’s lips thinned in annoyance and Thierry almost smiled.
    Smiled? First apologizing, then smiling. Surely his wits were addled this day. Thierry scowled. ‘Twas the witch and her sorcery that did this to him. She spun with a defiant flick of her chin and carried a broad vessel back into the shadows.
    Where was she going? Thierry panicked and jumped to his feet.
    For his obvious suspicions he earned a scathing glance from the lady in question that effectively checked his pursuit. Thierry almost smiled at her indignation, but the ripe curve of her buttocks outlined when she bent to scoop water from an urn halted that rare impulse before it had truly begun.
    Nogai made an admiring sound under his breath that Thierry alone seemed to note. She was yet more shapely than he had guessed and Thierry’s mouth went unexpectedly dry. How long had he been chaste? He could not cease fingering the hilt of his blade, though he told himself the gesture was merely a habit.
    She propped the brimming clay bowl on her hip as she returned. The further evidence of the slender curves hidden beneath the