She stood firm even as her heart raced.
“Enough!” Father hollered. “She is doing her job, Jamie. Did you see Markham? I’d venture she could seduce the secrets out of him this day if we wanted.”
Revulsion rippled through her at his crude words. What manner of father spoke of his daughter in such a way?
Jamie’s eyes went wide. “No,” he said between gritted teeth.
“No?” her father asked.
Father was across the room in an instant. He had Jamie by the shirtfront and pressed against the wall. “Have you forgotten our goal? We lost most of our leadership in ’98 and cannot afford another setback.” He released Jamie and turned back to Georgina. “I’m proud of you, girl. Find out his secrets. Even if it means seduction. And to you, Jamie, each of us has a role. Georgina knows what hers is. I suggest you remember yours.”
The hard glint in her father’s eyes chilled her.
Jamie all but growled. “She’s not a whore.”
“Think of the information she can get out of him,” her father needled. “We’ve been running from those bloody bastards since ’93. Georgina destroyed our last chance…but she’s agreed to redeem herself.”
She kept her mouth closed. Better to let Father believe she’d agreed to his harebrained scheme. Father and Jamie could both order her to seduce Adam and she wouldn’t do it. She’d not whore herself for their vile goals.
Father drummed his fingertips against his chin. “You haven’t lost your courage, have you, gel?”
It took her moment to realize they were both studying her.
Georgina shook her head. She knew what she needed to do. “No.”
“Very well then,” her father murmured. “See to it. If you must seduce him, see to that as well.” Her stomach turned. Father spoke of her ruin as casually as if speaking of the weather. He continued, directing his attention to Jamie. “I’ve a meeting with Emmet. I want you to remain here with Georgina.”
Her mind screamed out in protest. She wanted Jamie gone. Only then could Adam be truly safe—even if for a short while.
Father turned back to her. “Prepare something for him to eat and return to his room.”
Georgina watched him leave and stared blankly at the crusty bread atop the table.
So that was why Father had tolerated the lavish meals she’d prepared for Markham. It had all been a part of his deeper plot for Georgina to earn Adam’s trust. Her stomach turned at her unknowing complicity in her father’s plan.
She gave her head a shake and set to work making a plate of food for Adam. Even with her back to Jamie, she was aware of him at the kitchen door, watching her.
Gooseflesh dotted the skin on her arms. She picked up a knife and sliced the bread. How difficult would it be to turn around and bury the makeshift weapon in Jamie’s black heart?
“I’m right, you know.”
Her blade froze above the flaky, white bread. She brushed back the stubborn curl and resumed cutting. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He crossed the room in an instant and wrapped his hand around her wrist. The knife clattered to the countertop.
She gasped as he dragged her tightly against him, crushing her body to his chest. “You’re falling in love with him.”
“I am not,” she said a touch too quickly.
It would be sheer madness to give her heart to a man who’d been taken captive by her father. Especially when his heart belonged to another. Why, it would be a level of foolishness that would merit committing her to Bedlam. She drew in a steadying breath. “I don’t even know him.”
Jamie lowered his forehead to hers. “I see the way you look at him and the way he looks at you.”
The only way Adam ever studied her was with bitterness and sympathy. The thought lanced her heart. She detested the idea of being the object of anyone’s pity, most especially Adam. “He does not feel anything for me.”
Jamie’s eyes went to her lips.
Her blood froze.
He snaked a hand around her arm.
She slapped at his hand. “What are you doing?”
He focused his hot, lascivious stare on her breasts. “Isn’t it obvious, love?”
Bile burned in her throat at the idea of him touching her. She yanked her hand free and turned to flee. A cry tore from her throat as he dragged her into his arms and kissed her. His lips pushed against hers, hard and unyielding, punishing. She tried to plead with him to stop and he pressed his vantage, slipping his tongue into her mouth.
Georgina gagged at the cool, moist invasion. His breath, a sick blend of stale brandy and violence filled her senses. He worked a hand between their bodies and roughly squeezed her breast. A moan rumbled from deep within his chest.
Her body shuddered at his violation. She gave a hard nudge. Though stronger, Jamie was so engrossed in his efforts she managed to stun him into releasing her.
He stumbled backward.
Heart hammering wildly, she swiped the back of her hand across her mouth, trying to drive the taste of him away.
Jamie studied her from beneath hooded lids, a glimmer of satisfaction in his cruel eyes. “Finish preparing Markham’s meal.”
Her fingers shook as she followed Jamie’s instructions. When she had the tray in hand, Jamie clasped her wrist. “Perhaps I should thank Markham for breaking you in.”
Oh God, he was pure evil. She stared pointedly at his hand until he released her. With a flounce of her hair, she hurried above stairs. Jamie followed at her heels. He unlocked the door and pushed her inside.
From the chair he was strapped to, Adam studied her.
She flinched as Jamie brushed a curl away from her neck. He leaned down. His hot breath fanned her nape. “Remember me, love.” With that, he took his leave and the door closed behind him.
The sound of the lock turning filled the small space.
Georgina set the tray down beside Adam’s bed and immediately dropped to her knees. Filled with a restive energy, she set to work on his bindings. The memory of Jamie’s advances so fresh and potent it burned like a poison, until she threatened to choke on the horror of his assault.
“Georgina?”
Adam’s voice came as though down a long hall. The knots of his bindings came undone and she sank back on her haunches. “Hmm?” To keep from descending into madness, she fixed on the purpose of caring for Adam, taking his hand between hers.
“Georgina?”
She didn’t pick her head up but continued to rub his bruised flesh.
He laid his free hand on hers, staying her movement. “Georgina, stop.”
At last she picked her gaze up.
*
Adam ran his gaze over Georgina. A faint tremor wracked her stiffly held body. He thought of Hunter with his hands on her silken nape, his lips close to her creamy, white skin and had to fight to keep from tossing his head back and roaring like a wounded bear.