Tempest(49)

“I’ve already explained that I won’t go.” Cathy refrained from telling her mother that she was resolved to remain at a distance from her, but her firm tone underscored the words she did speak. “I intend to remain here on Barbados.”

“Don’t worry, Mrs. Parrish, I’ll look after your daughter,” said Theo, stepping between them. “We’ll hire a maid and a respectable companion for her, so that her reputation won’t be compromised. I’ll see to it that she has a lovely rest here, with plenty of sea air, and then when she is stronger, she can face the future.”

Hermione peered at him through her pince-nez. “I suppose I shall have to trust you, Mr. Harrismith, but this situation is extremely improper. My only consolation is that we’ve gotten rid of that horrid man.”

A shadow passed over Cathy’s face. “I’ll say good bye then, Mother.” She leaned forward so that their cheeks brushed, then they went outside in search of her cousin.

Auggie was standing next to the carriages, talking to Basil Lightfoot, but he broke off abruptly at the sight of Cathy. “Mr. Lightfoot was just passing by and I was saying that he must visit Newport one day!”

When more farewells had been made and the little procession of carriages had started off toward Bridgetown, Cathy felt as if an enormous weight had been lifted. The air was sweeter, and she inhaled deeply.

Walking onto the verandah, Cathy gazed out at the white-frilled waves rolling in across the deep turquoise ocean. The departure of her mother and cousin removed an enormous obstacle from her future, but it still hurt to think about what might lie ahead. Raveneau was like a ghost, haunting her night and day...

“Hello, Cathy.”

The sound of his voice was so real! She spun around to see him standing just a few feet away, tall and sun-darkened and strong in his fresh, tailored clothes. Her heart leaped, so powerful was the urge to run into his arms, and yet she resisted.

“You shouldn’t have come here,” she heard herself say.

“Should I not? You are my wife.”

Dazzled as always by his physical presence, she reached to her upswept locks, relieved to find them all in place.

“You’re lovely,” he said, walking toward her.

“Adam—”

His dark gaze devoured her, lingering on her wide eyes, her full lower lip, the high curve of her breasts and tiny circle of her waist. “There are shadows under your eyes. Are you ill?”

“Of course not. You just saw me yesterday.” Walking away to a corner of the verandah that was sheltered by a row of potted fan palms, she perched on the edge of a cane settee. Of course he followed and sat beside her, so close that she felt her palms grow damp. “Adam, I have left you. You mustn’t come here like this, do you understand? If it’s the money that concerns you, you needn’t worry. It is yours now; my leaving won’t change that—”

“Stop that!” He was so furious at her words that he nearly covered her mouth with his hand. “Devil take it, Cath, you can’t mean it! Not about the money, I don’t give a damn about the money, but about our marriage. I won’t allow you to walk away from our marriage.”

“I’ve done it, though.” Tears pricked her eyes but she quickly blinked them back. “We can’t have this conversation every day. I told you when I left Tempest Hall how I felt.”

“I don’t accept it. Where is your blasted mother?”

“They are sailing for America today. Theo’s taken them to Bridgetown, to the yacht.”

“But you have stayed.” He closed his eyes for a moment as a wave of sheer relief swept over him. Every fiber of his being ached to take her in his arms, to bend her back and kiss her until he felt her surrender and respond.

Her endearing blush deepened. “I have stayed, but not because of you. I am investing in the Ocean Breeze—”

“Not that nonsense again!”

“It is not nonsense! You insult me, but of course it is not the first time. Remarks like that only serve to strengthen my resolve.” Glancing down, she was distracted by the sight of thigh muscles flexing through his trousers. She prayed he wouldn’t touch her. “I mean to buy a house of my own, and find rewarding work. I know I could contribute to improve life on Barbados, perhaps by tutoring students or helping in a hospital. You, meanwhile, have a son who needs you, and a plantation to restore.”

“A house of your own? What about Tempest Hall?” He wanted to throw her over his shoulder and carry her off. “Cathy, for God’s sake, come home with me.”

“You only want me now because I’ve left. When I was there, you held me at arm’s length— unless you were laying claim to me in your bed.” Emotions surged up in her that were so strong, she almost felt faint. Her face was very warm, and when she instinctively raised her hand to one cheek, her fingers trembled. “Please, Adam. Go home.”

Her simple words were like arrows, and they found their mark. Still, he sensed her vulnerability, knowing that she would be powerless to resist if he touched her. He burned to kiss the pulse that beat at her throat and to cup her breast over the sheer lace of her shirtwaist, yet realized that, in the end, it would only drive her farther away.

“I’ll go because you have asked me.” His voice was hoarse. “Cathy, will you take my hand to say goodbye?”

How could she refuse so plain a request? To do so would betray the extent of her weakness. She looked at his hands, at once strong and elegant, with long, deft fingers that could make her melt with a touch.

“Goodbye, Adam.”

It seemed a good strategy to reach toward him first. When her small hand touched his, she felt a current of arousal that was shocking, even though she had expected it. His skin was cool and dry against her damp palm. For a moment, his fingers flexed as they held hers, caressing, and Cathy yearned to go into his arms.

A voice inside reminded her that nothing had changed, and that to return to Raveneau would only mean more pain. She managed somehow to stand up and slip her hand free.

Adam rose too, and looked down at her, searching her expressive face for a sign.

“Until we meet again,” he said, and walked away.





Chapter 28




“And here, my lord, is your new home.” Herbert Stoute stopped in front of a very old building on Roebuck Street and jangled the ancient keys at Raveneau. He nearly had to shout over the noise of carriages, drays, vendors with pushcarts, and passersby.

When the door had opened and they were inside, Adam told him, “This will not be my home, Mr. Stoute, but my law office.” He cast a dubious glance up the dark and dusty stairway. “Perhaps, if work keeps me in town, I may sleep here on occasion.”

“There’s a splendid view from the upstairs balcony, my lord! You can see the ships in the Careenage from there. It would be a fine enough home for any man.”

He watched the bent old man, who was scarcely taller than Cathy, rush about throwing open windows to let in what sunlight could be found on the narrow street with its tall buildings. Had he lost his mind, returning to the law?

“This room would be an excellent office, don’t you agree, my lord?” Mr. Stoute wore an ill-fitting black suit and a pearl tie pin. Standing in the center of the parlor that opened off the stairhall, he gestured with both arms thrown wide. “The previous owner has even left you some very serviceable bookcases!”

“Indeed?” With a derisive arch of his brow, Adam crossed to the collection of rickety bookshelves and touched them. “You have a flair for exaggeration, sir.”

“Well, perhaps the house needs a woman’s touch. Your little wife should put it all to rights in no time.” He began to back toward the door. “I won’t keep you from your work, my lord. If you would be so kind as to make the final payment...”

“Before I do that, I would like to make a closer inspection.” Raveneau shrugged out of his lightweight suit coat and loosened his four-in-hand tie before reentering the stairhall and heading toward the back of the building.

“I can promise you that you have made a fine bargain with this purchase, my lord!” cried Stoute as he trotted along in his wake. “In fact, I should like to show you something.”

He led him into a darkened, musty chamber that opened onto a tiny, overgrown garden, then turned, smiling triumphantly. “Did I mention that this building comes with a pedigree?”

“No, you didn’t,” he replied ironically, glancing up at the peeling paint. “However, I would prefer a workman to a pedigree.”

The little man pretended not to hear. “Yes, yes, indeed, the famous gentleman pirate, Stede Bonnet, lived here during the months he spent outfitting his sloop, the Revenge, to become a pirate ship! It was his last home before he went to sea, never to live on this island again.”

Adam wondered if he were hearing things. “You must be in jest.”

“Jest? Why should I jest? Have you not heard of Stede Bonnet? He was married, you know, and came from a fine family, with a prosperous plantation just east of Bridgetown. It will always be a mystery, what made him give up his respectable existence on Barbados and turn in secret to the life of a pirate!”

“How do you know so much about him?”