A Dangerous Love

Cliff took her elbow and started forward. Ariella now heard the newcomer speaking to the Gypsies in their strange, Slavic-sounding tongue. His tone was one of command. Instantly Ariella knew he was their leader.

And then the Gypsy leader looked at them.

Cold gray eyes met hers and her breath caught. He wasso beautiful. His piercing eyes were impossibly long lashed, and set over strikingly high, exotic cheekbones. His nose was straight, his jaw hard and strong. She had never seen such masculine perfection in her entire life.

Her father stepped forward. “I am Cliff de Warenne. Who is vaida here?”

There was a moment of silence, filled with hostility and tension. It gave her the opportunity to really look at the Gypsy chief. Of course he wasn’t English. He was too dark, too immodestly dressed and his hair was far too long, brushing his shoulders. Tendrils were caught inside his open collar, as if sticking to his wet skin.

She flushed but couldn’t stop staring. Her gaze drifted to a full but tense mouth. She glimpsed a gold cross he wore, against the dark, bronzed skin of his chest. Her color increased just as her heart sped more fully. She knew she should look away, but she simply couldn’t manage to do so. In the fine silk shirt, she could even see his chest rising and falling, slow and rhythmic. Her glance went lower. The doeskin breeches clung to his thick, muscular thighs and narrow hips, delineating far too much male anatomy.

She felt his eyes on her; she looked up and met his gaze a second time.

Ariella flamed. Knowing she had been caught, she looked quickly away. What was wrong with her?

“I am Emilian. You will speak to me,” he said, a slight accent hanging on his every word.

“I see you are already making camp. You are on my land,” Cliff said, his tone hard.

Ariella looked up, but the gray-eyed Gypsy was intent on her father now. She didn’t know why she was so flustered. She had never been as aware of anyone. Maybe it was because he was an enigma. He was dressed like an Englishman might in his boudoir—but he was not in the privacy of his home. His English seemed flawless, but he spoke the Gypsy tongue.

Emilian smiled unpleasantly. “Long ago,” he said softly, “God gave the Rom the right to wander freely and to sleep where they wish.”

Ariella flinched. She knew a gauntlet when it was thrown, and she also knew that while her father wished to discuss the situation, he had a dangerous side. There was a hint of ruthless savagery in Emilian’s cold gray eyes.

Cliff’s smile was equally unpleasant. “I am sure you think so. But recently, the government of England passed laws limiting the places vagabonds and Gypsies can stay.”

Emilian’s gray eyes flickered. “Ah, yes, the laws of your people—the laws that allow a man to hang simply because he travels in a wagon.”

“This is the nineteenth century. We do not hang travelers.”

A cold smile began. “But to be a Gypsy is to be a felon, and for such an unlawful life, the punishment is death. Those are your laws.”

“I doubt you understand the law correctly. We do not hang men because they are Gypsies. None of that changes the fact that you are on my private land.”

Emilian said softly, “Do not patronize me, de Warenne. I know the law. As for this camp, there are women and children here who are too tired to go on tonight. I am afraid we will stay.”

Ariella tensed. Why did their leader have to be so belligerent? She knew her father had not intended to send them away, not that night. But she now saw Cliff’s eyes flicker with real annoyance, and she sensed an impending battle.

“I did not ask you to leave,” Cliff said flatly. “But you must give me your word that there will be no mischief tonight.”

The gray-eyed Gypsy stared. “We will try not to steal the lady’s necklace while she sleeps,” he said scornfully.

Her father tensed, his blue eyes flaring with anger. “The lady is my daughter, vaida, and you will refer to her with respect or not at all.”

Ariella quickly stepped forward, uncertain if the men might not come to blows. The air was drenched with their male fury. She smiled at the Gypsy leader; his gaze narrowed. “We are more than pleased to accommodate you, sir, for the night. There is plenty of room to spare, as you can see. My father is only concerned because the townspeople are in a tizzy. That, of course, is due to their ignorance.” She spoke in a rush and was terribly aware of her nervousness.

He stared at her. Her smile wavered and vanished.

Cliff flushed. “Ariella, go back to the house.”

She started. Her father hadn’t ordered her about in years. How had a simple reconnaissance mission turn into such hostility? She stepped closer to Cliff and lowered her voice. “You will let the Gypsies stay the night, won’t you?” It had become terribly important to her. “I am sure their leader doesn’t mean to be so abrasive. Father, you know that their ways are different from ours. He probably doesn’t realize how impolitic he is being. Please give him the benefit of the doubt.”

Cliff’s expression eased ever so slightly. “You are too kind for your own good. You may be assured he intends to be rude. But I will give him the benefit of the doubt.”

Relieved, she glanced at the Gypsy, about to smile at him, but his expression was so intense and so speculative that her intention vanished. It made him seem savage and even predatory— as if he was thinking about her in very inappropriate ways. Ariella swallowed. It was impossible to look away.

“We are Rom,” Emilian said to her and her alone. “And I do not need you defending me and mine.”

He had overheard her. In that moment, she forgot that her father stood beside her and that four Gypsies crowded behind Emilian. Suddenly it was as if they were alone. She became acutely aware of his pull, as if a charge of some kind sizzled and throbbed between them. Her heart beat thickly and swiftly, almost hurtfully, in her chest; she thought she heard his heavy, thudding heartbeat, as well, although they stood at least three yards apart. “I’m sorry,” she whispered hoarsely. “Yes, you are Romany, I know that.”

His lashes lowered slowly. She was certain he looked at her still, but it was almost impossible to tell. A frisson went through her, giving her the oddest feeling in her stomach. Her body ached with a new, terrible tension.

Cliff stepped forward. “Go back to the house, Ariella.” He was sharp.

He was angry, and she knew it was because the Gypsy had looked at her so boldly. She said, “Why don’t we both go back? It is late, and Amanda is delaying supper for us,” she tried.

Cliff stared coldly at the Gypsy, ignoring her. “I have been kind enough to allow you a night’s respite here. You may keep your eyes where they belong—on your own women.”

The Gypsy shrugged. “Yes, you are so very kind,” he mocked. “Do not expect gratitude from me.”

Why did he have to seek a battle? Did he have to be so hostile?

“I expect you to be gone in the morning,” Cliff said, his face set. “Let’s go.”

She didn’t want to leave, but there was no reason to stay. As Cliff turned away, she looked back helplessly. He stared at her, his silver gaze smoldering. No man had ever looked at her in such a way before. A terrible awareness of what it meant began.

That man was different. She wanted to pull free of her father and go back to him.

He almost smiled, as if he knew the effect he had on her.

Her father pulled on her arm and she turned to keep up with Cliff. As she did, a woman cried out loudly in pain.

Ariella turned back, alarmed. Their gazes locked again. She whispered, “What is that? Is someone hurt?”

He grasped her arm and murmured, “She does not need you, gadji.”

Ariella forgot to breathe. His hand was large, strong and burning hot. His breath feathered her cheek, and his knee bumped her thigh. Then he released her.

It had happened so quickly that Ariella was stunned. Emilian said harshly, “We take care of our own.” He looked at Cliff, his face hard and set. “Take your princess daughter away. Tell her we do not like gadjos. We will leave in the morning.”

Ariella trembled. “I can send for a doctor,” she tried, but her father cut her off.

“My daughter is just that to you, Rom—a princess. Never lay a hand on her again,” Cliff exploded.

“Father, stop!” Ariella cried, shaken and breathless, still feeling the Rom’s touch. “He didn’t want me intruding—that is all! The mistake was mine.”

But Cliff ignored her, too upset to hear. “Make sure nothing and no one vanishes in the middle of the night. If one horse is stolen, one cow or a single sheep, I am holding you responsible, vaida.”