4

David wanted to hit himself immediately after his harsh response had left his mouth.

I did it again!

Recently, he realized that he often took out his anger on Isabelle. Not to other women, but to Isabelle Reed he had a tendency to show his upset and knowing that made him even angrier.

He had never been like that with other women, not with Lavinia, of course. When he was with other women, he could cover a part of his soul or something like that. But with Isabelle…

It probably had looked so easy to her to catch him.

He had been careful not to be caught. He had never wanted to hear his father say that he knew his son would fell for a pretty face and it would be his downfall.

He had liked Isabelle, but he had thought she might be able to manipulate him with her charm. And he would regret it when it happened. He had feared it.

Even though he had been wary, he had often found himself teasing her without thinking. He had made himself close to her. It had been felt so natural. He hadn't even thought about it back then.

When he had found that, he had treated Isabelle with harsh words or used rough behavior to punish Isabelle -punish her for charming him.

He had been so stupid! And he was stupid still.

He had really felt badly for Isabelle. He would do something to make it up to her.

Otherwise what may come from that woman? He shook his head, remembered the voyage she had destroyed almost all his shirts for her revenge.

He touched his shirt sleeve lightly. The fine linen felt very comfortable on his bare skin. Isabelle had given him this red shirt a few days after her mischief. He wondered how she had managed to find such good material in that short a time.

Could that woman manage anything, always?

He hadn't wanted anyone near him after Jenny.

He had tried to make Isabelle regret being his partner. He had given her a lot of hard physical work on the Rattler. He hadn't talked to her for days during a voyage to make her feel uncomfortable.

She had shrugged off all of that and gone on.

He hadn't been able to make her leave the Rattler, - leave him alone, even just before the end of Jenny.

David could recall a strangely clear image of Isabelle's face the time she had come to him when he had just been about to search for Jenny. She had jumped in his dinghy like a curious and spirited young cat which was bored and looking for a new adventure. She had acted almost amused. But her eyes, her large green eyes had had some expression, he couldn't say what, but very pure. And he had allowed her to come with him.

Isabelle's slender back, her strong and womanly hands, that open laughter. David often found himself thinking about her these past months.

A year ago, he had been irritated by her charm. He hadn't wanted to get involved with her.

His faint smile faded remembering he'd let her go to see Winston alone. He didn't think the old man would allow them to keep the contract. And it was all his fault. He had decided to go to Winston alone before. But he had put it off day after day, avoiding Winston's accusations and most of all hearing the name of - that woman.

Coward.

Now, Isabelle might pay for his cowardice -alone.