what she sought in life. "I have a mate," she said. "Even if he refuses to make an honest woman of me."
"Elise." Her name was half-sigh, half-caress. "You and I both know we could never live a normal life together."
She took a step toward him. "I never said that I wanted a normal life. I want the life of an adventurer, remember?"
"Don't," he warned when she took another step toward him. "You know that I cannot resist you, and tonight is not the night to tempt me. The moon will be full."
Ignoring his warning, Elise stepped up close to him. "I am not afraid of you. I know that you would not harm me, or any person that you care about."
"But I do not know that, Elise," he stressed. "I won't take that chance. I cannot."
Gently she touched his face. "You must trust in yourself, Sterling - in your goodness."
For a moment their eyes held and she thought he would kiss her; then a knock sounded upon the door. Elise peeked out and saw Dawn.
"Philip says I'm to rouse everyone," she said, then stretched her neck to see past Elise. "Is Sterling with you?" Her eyes brightened. "He is here."
Sterling smiled at the girl. "Hello, Dawn."
"I knew you'd come back to us," the girl said. "Philip says no matter how different we may seem to the rest of the world, when we're together, we are a family."
Elise swore that Sterling's silver eyes misted over for a moment. "Philip is a good man," he admitted. "But aren't you afraid of me, Dawn?"
She shook her blond head. "Not if Elise isn't. She and I are best friends, you know?"
"Elise is a good friend to have."
Again Elise's and Sterling's gazes locked.
"I hope you'll stay with us," Dawn said, breaking the spell. "You and Elise together, as part of our family."
Sterling reached out and mussed the girl's hair. He did not commit to staying. Still, Dawn smiled, then scampered away.
"I must go," he said abruptly.
"Not yet," Elise pleaded. "Stay and watch me dance. I'll tell Philip I want to perform first, before night falls."
"I like to watch you dance," Sterling admitted. "I always feel as if you're dancing for me alone."
"That's because I am," she said, and kissed him.
He resisted, but only for a moment. They melted into each other, a fusion of warm, seeking mouths and bodies straining against each other. Elise was breathless and dazed when he broke from her. By the time she roused herself, he was gone.
She sighed, then said a prayer that Sterling would come to his senses and realize that he belonged with her and the caravan members. The crowd was small, and Elise was more self-conscious because she danced when night had not yet fallen. She felt eyes boring into her and wondered if Sterling had stayed to watch her. Hoping that was the case, she danced her most sensuous dance. A dance to inflame the passions of her own sultan. She became so caught up in the dance, she hadn't realized that a man had stepped into her circle and stood arguing with Philip. The stranger's voice stopped her dead in her tracks.
"Unhand me, you idiot! That is my niece parading herself around like a whore for all to see!"
"Uncle Robert," Elise gasped.
He marched forward and grabbed her arm. "How dare you embarrass me in this manner? Your future husband will have to beat some sense into you."
Fear paralyzed her for a moment, but Elise dug in her bare heels. "My future husband is not Sir Winston Stoneham," she snapped. "Take your hands off of me!"
"Ungrateful brat," her uncle sneered. "I took you in even though you were an embarrassment to my family name. I gave you fine clothes and an education. You belong to me, and I will have the bride's price for all my trouble!"
"Release Elise this instant," Philip warned her uncle. "She obviously has no wish to accompany you."
The troupe members now stood in the circle, rallying to her cause.
"I can make trouble for you," her uncle warned. "For all of you," he added, his gaze running coldly over the ragtag group. "My name and my influence will see you all hanged for kidnapping."
"No one kidnapped me," Elise protested. "I stowed away upon one of their wagons in order to escape you. They are guilty of nothing but kindness to me!"
Her uncle's grip tightened around her arm. "If you care about what happens to them, you'll come along as you've been told to