Silver Sea (42 page)

Just then the barest hint of voices touched his ears. Was he imagining it? He pulled out his brass telescope, scanned the edge of the cliffs, and there were Xavier Crowe and Huntsford Harms, scarcely visible but headed toward Cave Bay.

"Unbelievable. Crowe and Harms are coming," he whispered. "Go in the house and find a hiding place, preferably one with some view of the bay. I'll hide too, where I can watch and—I hope—hear. If anything goes wrong, you take Ben and ride for Tempest Hall, understand?"

"Yes, but I'm not afraid of them, and neither are you."

"Don't argue, chit. Just once blindly obey."

Adrienne agreed, but she knew she'd never leave without him. She watched Nathan climb halfway down the cliffs and tuck himself into a big clump of sea grape bushes before slipping inside the villa. There was one tall hurricane shutter clinging to an inner door, and Adrienne folded it back so that it made a corner hiding place for her.

Down on the cliffs, Nathan opened his telescope and watched as Crowe and Harms used the stone steps to descend into the cove.

"I say," Huntsford cried when he'd gotten halfway down, "is this quite safe?"

Crowe waited on the sand below, rolling his eyes. "If you're going to live in Bimshire, old boy, you'd better learn to keep up."

A gray plover flew overhead, giving its plaintive cry, and the breeze fluttered saucer-shaped leaves against Nathan's face. It couldn't be going better if he'd planned it. Now that Huntsford had gained the beach, the two men were walking, moving in his direction across the sand. They both wore white shirts that caught the wind, and Huntsford's face was dark pink from too much sun. Crowe was opening a large sheaf of parchment, pointing.

"How on earth can you expect to locate the exact spot?" Harms's voice rose in frustration just enough to allow Nathan to make out the words. "Your map is a century old!"

"My dear chap," Crowe rejoined forcefully, "don't you trust me? A map like this, in Stede Bonnet's own hand, is worth a fortune. We would be
mad
to dismiss its importance." He paused. "What difference does a century make in this place? 'Tis not as if a city has sprung up over Bonnet's hiding place!"

Nathan blinked. They were talking about Stede Bonnet, the gentleman pirate. What sort of ridiculous treasure-hunting scheme was Crowe trying to trick Hunty into swallowing?

"But, sir," Harms whined, "don't you have better things to do than dig holes all over this beach?"

"Indeed I do," came the stern reply. "That is why I have agreed to share this treasure with you when
you
find it. Old boy, I fail to understand your plummeting enthusiasm. Surely a strong fellow like you isn't put off by a bit of physical labor?" Again Crowe paused, then drove in his point. "What do a few holes matter when you will be discovering a treasure that will provide tremendous wealth for the rest of your life?"

"But—what if someone else has already found it? Or what if it isn't as grand as you think?"

Raveneau couldn't make out the speech that Xavier Crowe delivered in response, but whatever he said, it seemed to work. Huntsford's blond head was bobbing up and down amid the trees.

"Yes, yes, I am honored that you chose to share the map with me," he exclaimed. "I'll do my best."

"You do come with the recommendation of my esteemed colleague Frakes-Hogg," Crowe intoned. "I would hate to think that he underestimated your mettle."

"No!" Harms cried. "I'll find the treasure and prove myself to you, sir. We have more in common than you know. Actually, I had another reason for coming to Barbados, besides the matters relating to Walter Frakes-Hogg."

"Yes...?"

"It's Nathan Raveneau. You are not the only one who hates him. He kidnapped the woman I love and brought her to this island." Huntsford's voice grew even louder. "I mean to rescue her!"

"How terribly noble you are. I must confess that I have met Miss Beauvisage, on the day she arrived at Tempest Hall."

Listening from the crest of the hill, Nathan wondered again how Xavier Crowe had known her name. Had he employed spies? Perhaps Walter Frakes-Hogg, whom Nathan hadn't realized was acquainted with Crowe, had written him letters?

"If you've met Adrienne, then you know how exquisite she is."

"Indeed. Far too lovely to be wasted on that lout Raveneau." Crowe took snuff, then added, "I'll do what I can to aid your cause, but you may be too late. I've heard that they are betrothed."

"What?" Huntsford made a choking sound and pounded his fists on the trunk of the nearest coconut palm. "I cannot bear to think of her purity being besmirched by one such as he!"

Crowe looked bored. "I may know a way for you to see her. Major Carrington, who owns a fine plantation in St. James Parish, has invited us to a ball six days from now. There's a quaint festival among the slaves known as Crop Over—a time when they celebrate the end of the harvest. The Carringtons apparently have decided to join in, in a more civilized manner of course, and they are calling their party a Crop Over Ball."

"I was under the impression that you don't usually attend such gatherings. I thought that the people of Barbados had been spreading lies about you, and—"

Crowe interrupted. "Perhaps the best way to dispel such rumors is to show them that I am a man like any other. Besides, Eloise would doubtless like to go, and Bajan society will be clamoring to meet our houseguests!" He gave a mirthless laugh. "You see, I'm not a bad fellow!" Consulting the map again, Xavier Crowe pointed to a spot a few feet away. "I believe that is where you ought to begin digging, old boy. Shall we get the shovel?"

* * *

Nathan and Adrienne didn't have a chance to talk during the ride home. The wind increased, clouds gathered, and a warm rain began to fall, drenching them as they rode.

"I'm so anxious to hear your news!" she exclaimed when their horses slowed momentarily behind a wagon stacked with puncheons of sugar syrup. "Did you hear anything that they said?"

"We'll talk at home," he shouted over the wind. "I'm glad for this time to think."

Adrienne was too, for she had seen someone herself: the mysterious, beautiful woman who had warned her away from the ocean much farther north had ridden past today. From Adrienne's hiding place behind the hurricane shutter, she had watched the woman ride past Victoria Villa, then circle back and pause for a moment on the edge of the cliff. It almost seemed that she could be the ghost of Victoria.

Minter was waiting for Nathan when they reached Tempest Hall. The squally wind had caused all sorts of problems with the sugar mill, and Minter didn't know what to do. Adrienne went inside on her own, and no sooner had she washed and donned dry clothing than Hortie appeared and requested the tour she'd been promised.

"It's a very different world from England, ma'am," Hortie decided a half hour later, pursing her lips. "I don't think I shall ever feel comfortable."

Adrienne paused in the midst of opening a door. "Are you bothered by the climate—or the slaves?"

"I will admit," Hortie whispered, "that I don't care to live with heathens. There are many more at Crowe's Nest, and that's one of the reasons I left. How do you think it feels, ma'am, to be given orders by a black girl?"

Nearly biting her tongue, Adrienne managed to consider her reply. "I have a great deal of respect for Orchid and Lily and Philip and Retta, and the slaves who I have met here. In fact, I feel very sorry that they are not all free people. I also understand that you are unaccustomed to being with people of color. I believe that you will come to share my views, Hortie, and in the meantime, you must treat everyone here with courtesy and respect." She stared into Hortie's pale eyes. "Do we understand one another?"

"Yes'm." She grew paler. "I heard, at Crowe's Nest, that there was a terrible slave rebellion on this island just two years ago! Cane fields were set afire, and—"

"Not one plantation owner or family member was harmed by any slave, although several hundred
slaves
were killed!" Adrienne said. "I'm certain that the slaves feel their circumstances are very unfair, and I understand that that uprising came about because they'd been led to believe that their freedom was at hand. My hope is that their rebellion helped spur their cause, hastening the day of their emancipation."

Hortie tightened her mouth again. "Yes'm."

They went into Nathan's bedchamber, and Adrienne showed her the way the dressing room was arranged. It pleased her to discover that the changes Nathan had promised had been carried out during their outing. Her things were interspersed neatly with his, just as her parents had shared space throughout her lifetime. They went into the room where Adrienne had slept until last night and out onto the balcony. Tropical flowers scented the warm breeze.

"I do understand some of what you're feeling, Hortie." Adrienne gave the woman a smile. "This is a very strange place in comparison to England, and you didn't even choose to come. I have felt lost myself, but I'm getting better now. I'll do whatever I can to help you adjust as well."

"Our lots in life are a bit different though, aren't they?" The servant's expression said what she could not about her dreams of Nathan Raveneau. "I'll be all right. I'm glad to be here, rather than at that awful Crowe's Nest. Not one nice person in the entire house except for Mrs. Crowe."

"Her name is... Eloise?" Adrienne's heart began to pound.

"Hmm? Oh, yes, I suppose so."

"I would have expected her to be unpleasant, if she is married to a villain like Xavier Crowe."

"Men like that always marry women like angels. I've seen it over and over again."

"Is she that lovely? And kind?"

Hortie gave her new mistress a long stare. "She's no lovelier than you, if that's what you mean. And yes, Mrs. Crowe is kind, but she has that air of sadness I've seen so often among titled folk." Her thin nose pointed a little more. "Wealth is rarely a guarantee of happiness. Just the opposite, I believe. I've seen a lot of wretched marriages—thoughtless men and lonely women."

"Well, we're not wealthy, so there's no need to worry about us," Adrienne replied distractedly, her mind on Eloise Crowe.

"Is it Lady Thomasina you're concerned about?" Hortie asked. "Mrs. Crowe has been very nice to her, but Lord Harms is always off with Mr. Crowe, and so she spends most of her time in her bedroom. They keep the draperies closed, and she was sleeping nearly all day when I left there...."

"But that's terrible! Poor Lady Thomasina!"

Hortie nodded, as Nathan came into the bedchamber through the dressing room.

"I thought I heard voices! Ah, good, you are showing Hortie around. We want her to feel at home." He drank in the sight of Adrienne.

"It's very different here from England," Hortie offered.

"Yes, that's true," he agreed. "But change can be a good thing. And you are here now, so let's make the best of it." The housekeeper seemed in no hurry to leave them alone, so he walked to the door and opened it. "Perhaps you can go downstairs and have a chat with Orchid about her methods for running the house." This didn't seem to inspire her, so he added, "I think Angus is looking for you as well. You'd better make certain he hasn't escaped from the gallery, or relieved himself on our furnishings!"

"I had nearly forgotten poor Angus!" With that, Hortie fairly dashed out the door and it closed behind her.

"At last we are alone," Nathan murmured. They met each other halfway and enjoyed a heartfelt embrace. "This is not the way I had envisioned our honeymoon."

"Sharing it with Hortie, you mean?" Laughter crept into her voice. "I don't think she wants me to be alone with you. Perhaps she believes she can stop us from consummating this... union."

"Fortunately, she's much too late for that." He kissed her lingeringly. "You taste better than anything in the world. It's amazing."

"You are silly. Now tell me everything that you overheard in Cave Bay! I was worried that Crowe and Huntsford might discover you and challenge you to a duel!"

Nathan laughed. "Can we talk while I change out of these clothes?" He led the way into the dressing room and began stripping off his soiled riding garb. His bride perched on the edge of a low stool, waiting. "I learned that Hunty is afraid of heights and has a nasty sunburn." Naked, he reached for a clean shirt and felt her eyes wandering over him. "Are you listening to anything I've said?"

"Hmmm?"

"Take heed! I'll take you to bed and make love to you quite forcefully if you don't stop staring at me like that."

"You
will?" Adrienne squeaked hopefully.

"Well—just as soon as I've had something to eat. I'm famished." Buttoning the shirt, Nathan saw that he had her attention again and turned serious. "I don't think it was a coincidence that we saw Crowe on our land today. I had the feeling that he's been treating your father's property as his own, since Nicholai lived half a world away. And I'm in no hurry to let him know that he's being watched by the new owners."

"What did they say?" Adrienne hopped up and followed him into the light of their bedchamber. They sat down in the chairs by Nathan's desk while he pulled on his boots. "I am fairly panting with suspense!"

"I know. I like it." He gave her a wicked grin. "All right. They were talking about a counterfeit treasure map that Crowe has invented to keep Hunty out of his hair."

"How do you know it's counterfeit?"

One of his black eyebrows arched. "Crowe maintains that it belonged to Stede Bonnet, the gentleman pirate who plied the waters between here and America a century ago. He was from Barbados, so Crowe has persuaded Harms that he buried his stolen riches on our property."

"You don't think that's possible?"

"I didn't entertain that thought for a moment," he scoffed. "In the first place, I don't believe that it is remotely possible that a map like that could have remained undiscovered and unused for a hundred years. Second, I know Xavier Crowe. This sort of scheme smells of his methods." He stood, then took Adrienne's hand and drew her into his arms. "I hate talking about him. He's a blot on our lives."