Chapter 65
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 65
Vanessa raised a hesitant, suspicious gaze. The face of the man looking down at her from beneath his low-pulled naval cap was achingly familiar—from his deep-set, brilliant blue eyes that seemed to hold the light, to the teasing lips curved in a lopsided smile.
"It seems the lady is in a bit of trouble."
Vanessa let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding as a wave of relief washed over her. What could be more welcome than a familiar face in a strange place, especially in such an awkward situation?
"River Ross."
Her face on the verge of tears, she reached out for him. Half out of her mind, she clung to him like a storm-tossed survivor to a piece of wreckage.
River Ross elegantly took her desperately outstretched hand, accepting her silent plea for rescue. The only departure from the usual courtesy a gentleman showed a lady was that he rather audaciously slipped the lace glove from her small hand.
Holding her bare, pale hand, he slowly brought his lips to the back of it. Even as he bowed, his gaze remained fixed on hers.
"..."
The warmth of his lips against her skin felt hotter than usual. Vanessa quietly suppressed a trembling breath. Dressed in his naval uniform, River Ross looked even more dashing than ever. Her frantic pulse was unnerving; she feared that if anyone listened closely, they would hear its loud, frantic beat.
Perhaps it wasn't his touch that was hot, but her own skin that was cold. She felt a chill after being exposed to the river breeze for so long. Even in midsummer, the wind blowing over the water was as cool as an early autumn evening.
"How… did you get here?"
It took Vanessa a moment to gather her wits and force her voice to sound calm. She was incredibly glad and relieved to see him, but now was not the time to show it.
People were still casting glances their way, pretending not to look. Vanessa glanced around anxiously. A young naval officer and a young lady—it was exactly the kind of gossip idle busybodies adored.
"I was invited. Just like the other officers."
Fortunately, River stood with his back to the crowd, and the edge of the upper deck was only dimly lit. Though his low-pulled cap made it hard to discern his features clearly, drawing attention was risky, especially since passenger lists existed.
They had to move before someone recognized either of them. Vanessa gripped his sleeve tightly.
"First… let's go somewhere without people."
"Right now? I like this forward side of you, but…"
"This is no time for jokes, River. People are staring."
"I know. Does it matter?"
"It matters to me."
As she answered firmly, a large hand cupped her face and tilted it up. His thumb slowly brushed over her painted lips, as if he cared far less about the whispering crowd than he did about the color on her mouth.
His shadowed eyes met her innocent, upturned gaze. The fingertips she thought would let go instead pressed a little firmer. His thumb brushed against her parted, moist lips before he broke the taut tension with a lopsided smirk.
"That's why I'm giving you exactly what you want. I'm doing nothing at all."
The crescent-moon smile on his lips was pure provocation. To say he was doing nothing was a stretch when his gaze alone was so insolent. At her silent rebuke, he obediently withdrew his hand. Vanessa stared straight at him, her eyes sharp and cold.
"You did that on purpose, didn't you?"
"Did what?"
"Now everyone is looking at us."
"Good. Isn't that what you wanted?"
"..."
"Take my arm."
His manner as he offered his arm was perfectly gentlemanly, as if he had never been insolent at all. Vanessa straightened her posture and lightly rested her hand on his forearm.
Perhaps because her nerves were stretched so thin, she could feel the crowd's gazes boring into her back.
They were gazes that judged, measured, and tore her apart. Though she smiled serenely as if she felt nothing, her mind was a chaotic mess.
So many people had just watched her disappear toward the cabins with a naval officer. A naval officer. By morning, those words would cling to her name. Perhaps Logan Dawson would be recorded as her first conquest, another mark against her reputation.
Since there was no turning back, she might as well be shameless. At least she could achieve her goal of getting entangled in scandals with numerous men. Vanessa squared her shoulders, straightened her back, and walked with all the grace and confidence she could muster, completely unaware that the man beside her was watching her with an intrigued expression.
"Thank you for coming with me."
As soon as they turned into a deserted corridor, she let out a sigh of relief and thanked him. River Ross let out a soft chuckle.
"Were you really that desperate?"
"I panicked when everyone started staring… Anyway, it's good to see you."
"For someone who's glad to see me, you still look troubled."
"What?"
"You seem a bit different than usual."
"If I do, it's probably because of a personal matter. A rather troublesome issue has come up."
River Ross led her away from the corridor lined with suites. Aside from the occasional naval officer, the hallway was deserted. It seemed everyone had emptied their cabins to watch the fireworks and attend the ball.
"A troublesome issue?"
Vanessa bit her lip, debating whether she should tell him what she had discovered or hide it for as long as possible.
I don't know.
Sometimes, it all felt too overwhelming. Vanessa decided to follow her impulse.
"I think my uncle has been deceiving me for a very long time."
"That's a rather intriguing secret."
Though she had agonized over her words, River Ross remained perfectly calm. In fact, his arrogant gaze, which seemed to ask if she had only just now realized it, was incredibly irritating. She knew he had done nothing wrong, yet he was still so exasperating. The problem was, she liked him just as much as he exasperated her.
"Did you pull me aside just to tell me that?"
"...Technically, I wanted to talk about this, too. But my main reason is something else."
"Tell me."
"From now on, let's not act like we know each other in public. At least until we get off this ship."
"Ah, because you plan on starting scandals with other men?"
"Of course. That was our contract. I promised to make sure your name would never be brought into it."
"Until the end of summer?"
"Yes, and we must keep to it after that as well. It was a bit risky earlier, but almost no one saw your face, so it should be fine."
Vanessa mumbled, lacking confidence. River Ross stopped in his tracks and took a step toward her, his expression remarkably serious. She backed away in surprise, her back hitting a solid wall.
Though the corridor was empty, people could still pass by. Just as she looked up at him pleadingly, silently begging him to find somewhere more private, the door she was leaning against gave way and swung inward. In the next instant, they were inside a dark room.
"You asked me to treat you like a lover."
In the brief moment she lost her focus, the door clicked shut behind her. River reached out, planting a hand on the wall beside her head and trapping her completely. Tilting his head, he brought his lips close to her ear.
"And you're going to meet other men, leaving your lover behind?"
"...When you put it like that, it makes me sound like a terrible person."
"Are you not?"
"It's all to keep my contract with you."
"I didn't realize you valued our contract so highly."
"I have always been faithful to its terms."
"Then undress, Vanessa."
"What…"
"What else would a pair of faithful lovers do in a dark room?"
The ribbon of her hat, barely tied under her chin, came undone, and the hat fell to the floor. With it fell the will that had been tucked inside. River stepped on the paper as it fluttered to the ground, acting as if he didn't care in the slightest what it was.
Vanessa, who had glanced down at it, raised her head and stared straight at him.
"Are you… suspecting me because I disappeared with Logan Dawson for a moment?"
"Of course not."
"Then why?"
"This is just a trivial excuse. Or, should I undress instead?"
"..."
"You like it, don't you? My naked body."
His voice was pure temptation, offered in the full knowledge that she would be unable to resist.