Page 30 of Ravished

"Damn you," Crane called furiously. "Goddamn you."

Harriet crouched in the tunnel out of range of the lamp. She could hear him pounding after her. She had hoped he would panic and give up his plan to grab what he could from the treasure room. Unfortunately, it appeared his lust for his ill-gotten gams was stronger than his fear of the caves or of being caught.

Harriet edged farther back along the ink-black corridor, feeling her way with her gloved hands. A ray of light from Crane's lamp warned her he was still in pursuit. His footsteps sounded on the stone floor. She could hear his labored breathing.

She drew back into the tunnel. Something scuttled across the toe of her half boot. A crab, no doubt.

The deadly game of hide-and-seek went on for what seemed like an endless time, forcing Harriet to retreat farther and farther into the corridor. The roar of the sea was louder now. She knew the fierce waves were starting to surge into the outer cavern, slowly but surely cutting off escape. In a matter of minutes the way out of the caves would be too treacherous to attempt. It might already be too late.

"Bloody damn hell," Crane screamed. "Where are you, you stupid woman?"

Then Crane shrieked, a ghastly sound of pure animal terror that reverberated through the passageways.

The distant, wavering glow from his lamp abruptly disappeared, plunging Harriet into utter darkness. She heard her pursuer's boot steps pounding back down the corridor to the outer cavern. Crane's fear had finally overcome his greed.

Harriet took a deep breath to steady her nerves and slowly, painstakingly began the task of moving back toward the entrance. She knew almost at once that it was probably too late. The sound of the sea in the outer cave reached her quite clearly Harriet forced herself to stop and think.

She could swim, but she certainly did not have the kind of strength it would take to battle her way through those surging waves. She would be dashed to pieces against the rock walls of the cavern.

She did not find the thought of spending the night alone in this intense blackness any more appealing than Mr. Crane had. Harriet shivered as it dawned on her that she might be trapped for hours.

"Harriet. Harriet, are you in here? Where the devil are you?"

"Gideon." Relief soared through her. She was not alone in this endless black pit. "Gideon, I am here. In the tunnel. I cannot see a thing. I do not have a lamp."

"Stay where you are. I shall be there in a moment."

She saw the wavering lamplight first. A short time later Gideon appeared, squeezing his massive shoulders around a bend in the twisting tunnel.

He was bareheaded and he had removed his greatcoat. He had the heavy garment draped around his shoulders like an untied cravat or scarf. Harriet saw that his boots and trousers were soaked and knew he had been forced to make his way through thigh-deep surf to get into the cavern. She realized he must have removed the coat in order to keep it out of the water.

He stopped when he saw her. He raised the lamp to get a better look at her. The glow cast his features into harsh relief, but Harriet thought that no one had ever looked more handsome than Gideon did in that moment. He looked so big and solid and strong. Harriet wanted to throw herself into his arms, but she managed to control herself.

"Are you all right?" Gideon asked roughly.

"Yes. Yes, I am fine." She glanced helplessly past him. "What happened to Mr. Crane?"

"Crane took his chances with the sea. If he did not drown, Dobbs will have him. I do know that by now there is no chance for us to get out of these caverns tonight. It appears we shall be obliged to spend what is left of this night in these damn caves, Miss Pomeroy."

"I was afraid of that. Thank heaven you have a lamp."

"I have this one and there are the ones the thieves left behind in the cavern where they stored their goods. Come, let us get out of this bloody tunnel. It fits me more tightly than a coat cut by Weston."

Harriet did not argue. She turned and led the way to the thieves' cavern. Gideon followed, swearing softly in relief as he stepped into the large chamber.

"Not exactly the most pleasant of inn rooms, is it?" He hung the lamp on a metal peg that one of the thieves had driven into the cavern wall. "Service is poor and I imagine this stone floor is going to become extremely uncomfortable by morning. Remind me not to leave a tip with the management."

Harriet bit her lip as guilt washed through her. "I know this is all my fault, my lord. I am very sorry for the inconvenience."

"Inconvenience?" Gideon arched one brow. "You do not yet know the meaning of the word, Harriet. Tomorrow you will learn how truly inconvenient this all is."

She frowned. "I do not understand, sir. What are you trying to say?"

"Never mind. There will be plenty of time to discuss it at a later date." Gideon sat down on a chunk of rock and began to pry off his wet boots. "It is fortunate you have that cloak and I have a dry coat. There is a definite chill in this room."

"Yes, there is." Harriet huddled more deeply into her cloak and glanced around uneasily. It was beginning to sink in that she was going to be spending the night here with Gideon. She had never in her entire life spent a night in the same room with a man. "How did you find me? Did you hear my call? Or Mr. Crane's shot?"

"Both." One boot dropped to the stone floor. Gideon went to work on the other. "I was watching for the third man you had reported seeing. I assumed that he probably kept the watch. But I did not expect him to come down the cliff path with you." The second boot hit the floor.

---