Page 38 of Devoted to the Spanish Duke
“Believe me, I am always careful. And unlike in London, I don’t have any friends in this city whom I could call upon if we ran into serious trouble.”
Until they made it all the way to Castle Tolosa there was no one whom they could completely trust. Who knew how many people had been paid off by the kidnappers? The fact that they had used the head priest of the Cathedral of Santiago as part of their scheme was a clear indication as to how little regard they had for the rules of society.
Lisandro slipped a hand about Maria’s waist and pulled her close. She lifted her face, gratefully accepting his tender kiss on her lips.
“I will not do anything that puts us in danger. The visit to the head priest is only so we may gain some understanding of where any threats to us may come from. Unknown enemies are the worst to fight,” he replied.
She kissed him one last time, then drew away. “I will go and collect our things.”
As she headed toward the ladder which led down to the main deck, Maria stopped and looked back at him. Had Lisandro caught the meaning behind her words? She had saidourthings deliberately, with good reason. Once they were back on dry land, it would be just the two of them.
Lisandro, you and I are in this together. Not just now, but forever.
Chapter Twenty-One
The inn Lisandro had chosen for them was in Barrenkale, one of the seven streets of the old town of Bilbao which ran perpendicular to the river. At the end of each street was the original high stone wall which circled the town. At night, the gates of the wall were closed, and those seeking to move in and out of Las Siete Calles had go via the guards at the main gates.
After they passed through the gate, they stepped into a narrow street with tall buildings which towered over them on both sides. Wet washing hung from many high balconies, drying in the warm sun.
“Soy un tonto,” muttered Lisandro.
Why does he think himself a fool?
“What is wrong?” she asked.
He turned and pointed toward the high wall. “This has always been a safe place when I have stayed in Bilbao. The walls keep everyone in. I have just realized that it also means we have only one way out of here if we come under attack.”
Until that moment, Maria had been enjoying the view on the walk up from the river. Now, the ancient walls of the old town no longer seemed so inviting.
They continued up the cobbled street of Barrenkale for a short distance before entering a walkway through a small gate. At the end, they stepped into the yard of the inn. A sign hung over a nearby door with the picture of a blackbird.
“El Mirlo?” she asked.
“Yes, this is one of the oldest inns in all of Bilbao. It dates back to the thirteenth century. It’s been around for longer than the wall. Come. Let’s see if we can get a room,” he replied.
Maria pulled her hat down farther, hiding more of her face, and followed Lisandro inside.
To her surprise,The Blackbirdwas a well-run establishment, and the owner’s wife soon had a metal tub brought to their room. A small procession of housemaids, all carrying pitchers of warm water, followed it. Soon, Maria was staring lovingly at the sight of an inviting bath.
After tipping the maids, Lisandro closed and locked the door to their room. “I suggest you take a quick bath. In the meantime, I will go and see if I can secure an audience with the head priest.”
Maria sighed with disappointment. She had been hoping to spend a long hour soaking in the tub and then find a good bottle of Spanish wine. After that, a siesta on the bed was in her plans.
With a wry grin on his face, Lisandro came to her. The warm, delicious kiss he set on her lips brightened her mood a little. Maria pressed herself to him. There was a definite hardening of something against her stomach. Temptation beckoned.
Chuckling softly, he stepped back, hands raised. “If you keep playing that sort of dangerous game, we might never make it out of here.”
“Would that be such a bad thing?” she asked.
His face became a study of serious intent. “When I make you mine, and I think we both know that it will eventually happen, it most certainly won’t be in an old inn. And especially not when the clock is ticking, and I am about to go and see a priest.”
He came closer and whispered in her ear, “Your first time will be special. I want to have hours at my disposal when I make love to you, Maria. Because rest assured that when I do have you naked and beneath me, you will climax more than once.”
She swallowed deep, shocked and deeply aroused by his words. In her imagination, she had played out a time when he and she were together but hearing him say it with such certainty . . . it was almost too much.
“Will you stay while I bathe?” she asked.
Lisandro shook his head. “I am a man with more than a modicum of self-restraint but even I am not that strong.” He pointed at the door. “Just make sure to lock this after I leave.”
