Chance the Winds of Fortune (67 page)

“Captain?” Dante queried with unusual politeness, an alert wariness in his eyes as he stared at this fellow Englishman, who could very well turn out to be an enemy.

“Captain Leighton,” Sir Morgan responded, not quite certain of what he should say next, for this was a most awkward situation, especially for a man more accustomed to facing his enemy while under fire. And, as of yet, he was not certain whether the captain of the
Sea Dragon
was to be friend or foe. But the next few minutes of conversation would surely decide.

“What can I do for you, Captain?” Dante asked, descending the steps, his eyes glancing across the width of sea between the two ships, which were so close that they were almost yardarm and yardarm. He could see the worried expressions on the small complement of red-coated marines standing at the ready on the quarterdeck of HMS
Portcullis
. Their concern for her captain's welfare was evident in the nervous way they fingered their muskets.

“I believe you've quite a valuable treasure on board, Captain Leighton,” Sir Morgan said casually.

Dante lifted a curious brow. “Indeed, Captain?” he commented thoughtfully, his glance casual as he measured the distance between the two ships should he have to train his cannon on her decks or rigging. “I've but a hold half-laden with casks of rum. Hardly a treasure to interest the captain of HMS
Portcullis
.”

“'Tis not what, but whom, that I am concerned with, Captain,” Sir Morgan retorted with a grim smile, his words eliciting a start of surprise from the now slightly bemused captain of the
Sea Dragon
.

“And which member of my crew is illustrious enough to command such an interest from a king's ship?” he inquired softly.

“Lady Rhea Claire Dominick.” Sir Morgan spoke the name, but it sounded more like a shout in Dante's ears. “I also have a warrant for your arrest in kidnapping the lady from Charles Town,” he said and held out the document with its official seal.

“I fear that this voyage of yours has been a waste of time, Sir Morgan,” Dante replied, not overly worried by the warrant.

“That may well be, Captain, but if I might have a word with the lady, then I shall be able to ascertain that for myself. Not that I doubt your word, but orders are, after all, orders, and must be obeyed,” he said quietly as he saw the anger kindling in Dante's eyes. “Of course, I am assuming that the lady is on board, but since I do remember quite vividly meeting her in Antigua and hearing her say that she could be found on board the
Sea Dragon
, naturally I supposed she was still sailing with you,” Sir Morgan said reasonably. But Dante received the distinct impression that the man would be most unreasonable about leaving the
Sea Dragon
's quarterdeck until he had spoken with the lady in question.

“By all means, Captain, speak with the lady,” Dante invited him, a slight smile curving his lips.

Sir Morgan Lloyd had forgotten how incredibly beautiful Lady Rhea Claire Dominick was. Of course, their last meeting had hardly been under the best of circumstances, but now as he faced her in the captain's cabin on board the
Sea Dragon
, he felt his breath catching in his throat.

Dressed in her white muslin trimmed in lace, her hair caught up in thick waves and glinting like newly minted gold, her gaze was politely inquiring. The orange cat curled up on her lap, however, ignored the king's officer with feline disdain. Rhea had hurried below when she had heard of Sir Morgan's desire to come aboard, and had changed from her leather skirt into a more respectable garment in case she had reason to meet this English captain for the second time in her life.

But she had not been prepared to hear that he had come looking for her intentionally. Having accepted the captain of the
Sea Dragon
's offer of a brandy, he had settled down like an old friend to tell his tale, but there was a watchful quality in his eyes as he glanced between his attentive listeners.

“My lady, you have become quite famous in the colonies. Every town and settlement has been flooded with handbills inquiring for information concerning your whereabouts, and carrying a description of you which, I might add, does not do you full justice,” Sir Morgan complimented her. “After what you must have been through, m'lady, being so brutally kidnapped from your home, I am very pleased to see you looking so well. I must say I was quite surprised, upon my return to Charles Town, to discover the unfortunate circumstances of your arrival. The experience must have been terrifying.”

“Yes, Captain,” Rhea said softly, her eyes still shadowed with the memory of that voyage, “it was a nightmare that I shall not soon forget. It was fortunate for you, Captain, that you met me in St. John's and discovered that I was on board the
Sea Dragon
. That has saved you quite a search. Otherwise, a suspected murderess might be hiding anywhere in the colonies,” Rhea told him bluntly as she remembered the murder of Captain Benjamin Haskell.

“Rhea,” Dante said, his hand capturing hers as he shook his head to warn her against saying anything further.

“You need have no fear, Captain, that I shall arrest Lady Rhea Claire,” Sir Morgan reassured him. “She should be more concerned about the warrant I have for yours.”

“Warrant?” Rhea said in confusion, glancing between the two men with growing alarm. “Whatever for?”

“For kidnapping, m'lady.”

Rhea swallowed something painful in her throat, for at one time that would indeed have been the truth. “I am here of my own free will, Captain.”

“Yes, I have come to believe that is the truth. But you see, that is not what the authorities in Charles Town were led to believe. You were wrong on both of your suppositions, for your presence on board the
Sea Dragon
in St. John's only confirmed what had already been learned concerning your whereabouts,” Sir Morgan said, looking at Dante with a slightly mocking smile.

“Helene Jordane?” As Dante supplied the name, he realized that she would have liked nothing better than to cause mischief for him by informing the authorities of Rhea's presence on board his ship, thus branding him a kidnapper.

“Yes, her rather vivid testimony was part of the reason for the warrant for your arrest. Only it seems that Mrs. Jordane was under the impression that the two of you were eloping. She seemed quite disbelieving, contemptuous even, of this kidnapping story, and content just to blacken your good names,” Sir Morgan told them, a smile lurking around his mouth. Then he added, “But, alas, she was made to look rather the fool when certain
other
testimonies came to light.”

“What other testimonies?” Dante and Rhea demanded almost simultaneously.

“The testimony of a certain young woman by the name of Alys, I believe?” Sir Morgan said softly, watching Rhea's expression with interest.

“Alys?” Rhea whispered in disbelief. She had feared that even after she'd returned to England and got her father to help in the search, they would still be unable to find her friend from the
London Lady
. “You have seen Alys? She is well? What happened to her?” Rhea asked excitedly, her restlessness disturbing Jamaica, who opened a slightly irritated green eye to stare at Sir Morgan, the apparent cause of this interruption of his nap.

“She came forward, frightened half to death of this Daniel Lewis and the retribution he'd promised should she have said anything. I suspect that the authorities were reluctant to believe her at first, but she had one, very important item which lent credence to her story.” Sir Morgan had spoken almost expectantly, but when Rhea remained blank-eyed, he said, “A locket.”

“My locket!” Rhea exclaimed. “I lost it. I thought it had fallen somewhere along the docks.” Then Rhea began to think back to when Alys had thrown herself at her, but had been pulled roughly away. Alys had been grabbing at her neck, frantic to remain with her friend.

“Yes, and that locket was described in the handbills as a piece of jewelry that you had been wearing. She apparently told a very touching story, m'lady, and also corroborated part of a sworn statement from someone else, which had exonerated you, although not by name, of the murder of Captain Benjamin Haskell,” Sir Morgan informed a bemused Rhea.

“Whose statement could that possibly be?” Rhea asked, thinking that Daniel Lewis would hardly have admitted his guilt.

“The victim's.”

“A dead man exonerated Rhea from the murder of this captain?” Dante asked disbelievingly. He took a sip of his brandy, thinking privately that Sir Morgan must have had his share before leaving his ship.

“'Twas a deathbed statement,” Sir Morgan explained, as if reading the captain's doubting mind. “Unfortunately for one Daniel Lewis, the captain did not die immediately. He lingered for several days; then, before he died, he named his murderer. Daniel Lewis denied it all, saying the captain was trying to protect the girl by blaming him, when actually it had been a lover's spat. Few believed him, though,” Sir Morgan said quickly as he saw the denial trembling on Rhea's lips. “The man had a most unsavory reputation, so few were taken in by his story. And now, with this Alys's testimony, he will not be long on this earth.”

Rhea drew a shuddering breath as she remembered that horrible man too vividly for comfort. Dante's hand relinquished hers and moved to stroke her cheek lightly, a gesture of affection that Sir Morgan was not likely to miss.

“What has happened to Alys?” Rhea asked, shaking off the unpleasant memories of that voyage, Daniel Lewis, and the murder of his captain. “I promised her I would buy her indenture papers and free her. I wished her to see Camareigh. I owe her my life, for without her by my side I would not have survived the voyage from England.”

Sir Morgan smiled with genuine pleasure. “I should think she is enjoying Camareigh right now, for the agent sent to the colonies to search for you returned to Charles Town from Savannah, where he had been looking for you, and decided that the best way of serving the duke was to take this girl back to your home. He realized, after hearing her story, that you had become friends. Also, I am quite certain that the duke and duchess will have wished to express their gratitude to her in person.”

Rhea sat silent for a moment, a great happiness enveloping her as she thought of her friend Alys, who had dreamed of seeing Camareigh one day, who had kept her alive by asking questions about life at Camareigh, and now, because of a brave act, would have her dream come true.

“However,” Sir Morgan was continuing, his face hardening with his words, “what I have to say next may not be so pleasing for you to hear. I am under orders to return you to London,” he said, sounding now like the dutiful captain of HMS
Portcullis
.

The gray eyes of the captain of the
Sea Dragon
met Sir Morgan Lloyd's, the message clear in their pale depths. “I am afraid, Sir Morgan, that you shall be disappointed in the carrying out of that order,” Dante informed the tense naval officer. “Rhea Claire is my wife,” he said softly as he stood up and moved behind his wife's chair, resting his hands on her shoulders. “We were wed in New Providence, in church, and although we did not have the consent of her parents, the marriage is indissoluble.”

Sir Morgan stared up at Dante Leighton, noting the tender way his hand played with one of Lady Rhea's golden curls. He had been well aware of the lovers' glances they'd exchanged during this conversation, and now as he watched in almost embarrassed fascination, Lady Rhea pressed her lips to the back of Dante's hand, then rested her cheek against it, as if gaining comfort from his touch.

“I see, well,” Sir Morgan commented, hesitating for a moment, “since my orders are to return Lady Rhea Claire Dominick to England, should I find her, as well as to apprehend one Dante Leighton, captain of the
Sea Dragon
and Marquis of Jacqobi, I see no reason why HMS
Portcullis
cannot lend escort to you on your voyage home. Since you are no longer Lady Rhea Claire Dominick, I think my orders must be adapted to suit the circumstances.”

“Thank you, Sir Morgan,” the captain of the
Sea Dragon
told his onetime adversary, a smile of genuine warmth lighting his eyes as he met the relaxed, slightly relieved gaze of the captain of HMS
Portcullis
. “My wife and I would consider it an honor if you would dine aboard the
Sea Dragon
as our guest this evening. My steward is really not to be bested by anyone on land or sea.”

“Please, Sir Morgan,” Rhea urged, “we would indeed be honored. We never thanked you properly for your timely assistance in St. John's, a debt of gratitude not easily repaid, and now you bring me good news about my friend Alys. I am deeply in your debt, sir,” Rhea told him, her violet eyes wide with entreaty, making Sir Morgan feel that he'd be churlish to refuse so warm a request.

Sir Morgan smiled, the expression softening what was usually a stern-visaged face. “Thank you, m'lady, 'twill be my pleasure,” he responded, taking a sip of his brandy now that his business was safely concluded and he'd not had to draw his sword. He glanced around the warmly lit cabin and believed he was truly looking forward to this evening, and to the prospect of returning to England.

“'Twas quite fortunate, you falling in with us,” Dante remarked casually as he refilled Sir Morgan's glass.

“'Twas no chance sighting, Captain,” Sir Morgan replied, a satisfied look in his eye. “I calculated that once you completed certain business, you would be steering a course this way. I suspected the general direction and have been circling the area for over a week now, hoping I would cross your bow. Of course, I did have a bit of assistance,” he added with a grin reminiscent of one of Dante's own devilish grins.