The Captain's Pearl (10 page)

“No!” she shrieked.

Weston pulled away. Sitting, she pulled her shawl tightly around her.

“Lianne, if I've forced the moment, I apologize. I find it difficult to restrain my ardor for you.”

“You needn't apologize,” she whispered.

“I shall be very gentle with you when we're man and wife. As a doctor, I know how different it is for men and women.”

“Different?”

“It's a man's place to enjoy and a woman's to endure. Although that seems hardly fair, that is the way of relations between the sexes.”

Lianne knew she should not argue, since he was an expert. Yet Mother had spoken of the infinite joy of love to be found in a man's arms. Lianne had heard other women in the shadow of Canton's wall, speaking of their rapture with their foreign lovers. If it was so horrible, why did they find such pleasure in a man's touch? Why had she when Captain Trevarian held her?

Choking at the thought of a man who had no place in her head when she sat beside her fiancé, she whispered, “Let's go to the meeting, Weston.”

“I must apologize to you first.”

“I said it wasn't necessary.”

“And I said it is,” he stated with rare obstinacy.

Lianne thought of halting him as he pulled her against him again, but he gave her only a chaste kiss. Allowing herself to relax against him, she sighed. Once they were married, her past would stay in the past. She was sure of that … wasn't she?

Lianne fanned herself as she fought to stay awake. For some reason, she could not concentrate on the meeting. Maybe because Riva Charles was speaking, and the president of the Stormhaven Abolitionists' Society had nothing new to say.

A hand tapped her shoulder. Lianne turned to see Reverend Dover.

The gaunt man folded his long frame to squat beside her as he whispered, “There is someone from your house asking to see you.”

“Thank you.” She rose. “Weston, I shall return directly.”

He nodded, not looking away from Riva as he listened intently.

Lianne tiptoed toward the back of the church. In the entry, a young girl waited. “What is it, Shellie?”

“The captain wants you up at the house. Right away! The
China Shadow
has been sighted just beyond Storm-haven Cove!”

“Are you sure it's the
China Shadow
?”

Rubbing the back of her hand against her freckled nose, Shellie whispered, “Hyett told me to tell you and to say that the captain wants you home right away. That's all I know, Miss Lianne.”

“Tell Father I'll be back as soon as I can excuse myself here.”

Lianne went back into the meeting room where the drone of Riva Charles's monotone continued. Lianne did not look at the blond woman as she inched to the bench where Weston sat.

“I have to go back to the house,” she murmured.

Weston's concerned gaze left the podium. “Is it the captain? Is he—?”

“Father is fine.” She hesitated, not wanting to share the news with Weston until she was more sure of it … and her own reaction to it. “Business.”

“I'll take you home.”

“No, no,” she retorted too hastily. When she saw his astonishment, she forced a false smile. She did not want him to think she was avoiding being alone with him after his attempt to seduce her on the way here. “Give my apologies to Riva.” She glanced at the woman waving her hands.

“Shall I stop by after the meeting? We can—”

“Not tonight, Weston. Come by tomorrow and help me finish plans for the ball on Saturday.” She gathered up her lace shawl and rushed out.

Why now
?

Thinking of the memorial service Reverend Dover had led when the
China Shadow
was six months overdue, she shuddered. Where had the ship been? And who was returning home? Who was not? As she hurried along the dark road, she could not silence one thought.
Bryce Trevarian might be returning
.

Lianne pushed aside that thought as she opened the front door. The house was in an uproar. When she left her shawl with Hyett, she asked, “Is Father in his room?”

“Yes, Miss Lianne. Miss Tildy insisted he not overdo.”

“Send up a bottle of Father's best wine. It's time for a celebration.”

He nodded, his white hair fluttering.

Calling her thanks over her shoulder, she raced up the stairs. The door to her father's room opened just as she reached it.

Great-Aunt Tildy came out. “Isn't it grand, child? The Shadow Line's reputation for never losing a ship remains untarnished.”

Lianne hugged her great-aunt. “It's wonderful!”

Dropping to her knees by Father's chair, she clasped his hand. Her smile dimmed when it quivered in hers. Although she wanted to believe the weakness was caused by excitement, she knew that was wistful thinking. Softly she whispered, “They're coming home.”

“So they are.” He stroked her hair. “Does that make you happy, child?”

“Why wouldn't I be happy to see the
China Shadow
return?”

She was sure Father could read her thoughts when he asked, “And its captain?”

“Do you think Captain Trevarian is still mastering her?”

Father glanced toward the harbor. “Any ship lost this long needs a miracle to get home. I can think of no other man who could manage that miracle.”

Rising, she went to the windows. Would Captain Bryce Trevarian really be returning? She had not seen him since he had left her lips afire with his kisses the day he brought her home. She had been at the school during his few visits since. Then he and the
China Shadow
had vanished. Now he might be coming home.

“Lianne, will you go to my office and get the plans for the
China Shadow
?” her father asked. “I want to review them before she docks.”

She kissed his cheek, then nodded. “I'll get them right away.”

He put his hand on her arm and smiled. “You're a good daughter, Lianne.”

“I'll be back as soon as I find the plans.”

Again he halted her. When she regarded him, baffled, he added, “It does an old man good to have such a devoted daughter in his waning years. I know you would do anything I ask.”

Trying to laugh away her unease with his odd words, she teased, “I won't be able to get the plans if you keep talking.”

“Go!” he ordered with a laugh.

Lianne raced down the stairs. Quickly she discovered the ship's plans were not with the others on the shelf. She should have asked Father where they might be.

Hearing footsteps behind her, she did not look up as she paged through a folder. Hyett was the only other one who came in here. Before she could ask the butler if he knew where the plans might be, a deep voice said, “Here are the reports Captain Catherwood will want. I'll—”

Lianne turned slowly to meet the emerald eyes of the man standing in the doorway. Captain Bryce Trevarian's strong jaw was concealed by a low mat of beard, but his broad shoulders still strained his salt-stained coat. She noticed all that in the second before she was captured by his compelling eyes.

Carefully she placed the folder on the desk. “Good evening, Captain Trevarian. Father is upstairs, so I can take the report.”

“Well, I'll be damned.” He walked into the room. When he closed the door behind him, she started to protest. His laugh silenced her. “Have you changed into a puritanical New Englander, Lian?”

“Lianne. My father prefers a more American sounding name.”

“Does he?”

“I believe I just said that.” Despite the other changes in her life since she last saw him, Captain Trevarian still vexed her.

His gaze raked her from head to foot. She resisted raising her hands to cover herself. Something about his knowing eyes made her feel naked. A shiver careened along her as she recalled he had seen her almost nude in the brothel.

“Captain Trevarian,” she said quietly, “I am busy. I have no interest in arguing with you.”

He leaned a tanned hand on the desk to keep her imprisoned between his navy sleeve and the chair. With his eyes so close to hers, she could find no way to escape them. “Maybe,” he murmured, “I have some interest in hearing how you have been since the last time I saw you.”

“This is the most unseemly show of lack of manners I've ever seen. If you think—”

His roar of laughter halted her. Her mouth grew taut with rage. He acted as if she were a child again. When she tried to edge around the desk chair, he blocked her path easily. His eyes continued to sparkle. “They
have
made a puritan out of you.”

“You needn't make it sound like a curse.”

“But it is for you, Lian.”

“Lianne.”

“Lee-ee-ee-anne,” he repeated with another laugh. “Now there is some of that spirit I saw in Canton. Why are you letting them smother it?”

She pushed his arm aside and was surprised when he moved back a step. Putting several paces between them, she kept her chin high. “I am accustomed to being treated with respect in my father's home.”

“Still blurring the letter ‘R,' I see.”

“Really, Captain! If you would give me your report—” She flushed as he smiled at her soft lisp.

Sitting on a corner of the desk, he dropped the packet on the other papers. Locking his fingers around his knee, he said, “I understand congratulations are in order. I've been told that you are going to marry Dr. Newberry.”

“Yes.” She was amazed that he had been asking about her as soon as he came ashore. “We are being married next month. If you are here, you are welcome to attend.”

“No, thanks.”

“Oh, I forgot. Bryce Trevarian is married to his ship. He wouldn't want to be lured into thinking that a wife would be far sweeter in his hands than a ship.”

“Is that a proposal, blue eyes?”

Her breath caught in her throat as he spoke the nickname she had not heard in so many years. Shaking away the spell cast by his charming smile, she retorted, “I am marrying Weston.”

“I hear, as well, that you're having a fete on Saturday.”

She smiled coldly. “I'd be foolish to ask you to attend when you've turned down my invitation to the wedding.”

“Try me.”

“Very well. Do you want to come?”

Rising, he crossed the room and drew her down to sit on the settee. He took her hands in his before she could halt him. “Why not? Save a dance for me, blue eyes, so I can see if the captain got his money's worth from that fancy school in Boston.”

Drawing her hands away before the peculiar pleasure persuaded her to do something foolish, she smiled coolly. “We shall look forward to your company that evening, Captain. Now, as you have brought your reports, I—”

“That's it?” His finger beneath her chin turned her face toward him. “What has happened to the urchin who had as many questions about the
China Shadow
as stories in her box?”

“Box?”

“Your thousand stories box.”

“You remember that?” She did not want to admit she had not opened the box on her dresser in more than a year.

His finger brushed feather soft across her lips. When they parted to free her eager sigh of the longing for the delight she had discovered in his arms, he smiled. His hand slid along her cheek as he steered her mouth toward the madness of his kiss.

Madness … The word screeched through her head. She tore herself out of his arms. Rising, she edged closer to the windows, so that, if he approached her, he would do so in public view.

Not that Bryce Trevarian would let that halt him. As he walked toward her, his intent clear in his eyes, she asked, “Aren't you going to tell me where you have been? Father has been so worried about the
China Shadow
.”

“And you?” he asked as he stopped in front of her. “Were you worried?”

“Of course. I have friends on that ship.”

He smiled. “Were you worried about me?”

“I did spare you a moment of worry.”

“That is a pleasant shock.”

“I don't know why.” When she reached for the packet of papers on the desk, he put his hand on them. She fought the temptation to glare at him, because she did not want him to know how he infuriated her.

“No? Why should I believe that you were concerned about me?”

She shrugged. “You have proven yourself to be a skilled captain. It would be a great loss to the Shadow Line to lose both you and the ship.”

“Your compassion is touching, blue eyes.”

“My name is Lianne. The other captains call me
‘Miss
Lianne.'”

“I'll be damned before I do that.”

“Captain, I believe you're already damned.”

He ran his fingers through his black hair that settled in a wild array on his brow. “I thought you were unique, but you have become just like everyone else in Storm-haven.”

Holding out her hand, she said, “Captain, if you will let me take your reports to Father, we can be done with this.”

“You have become the princess of the realm, Miss Lianne. Just remember that I know you for what you are. Does your beloved doctor?”

“Weston is a founding member of the Stormhaven Abolitionists' Society. He knows the tolerance there must be for other people who aren't in control of their destinies.”

Laughter erupted from him as he captured her chin in his palm. “So you are content with this? A life in this close-minded little town? Never worrying about anything more important than which napkins to use with which dishes. It is a good thing you are no longer in Canton. You would never survive there.”

“I have survived here.”

“By becoming just like everyone else here. I thought better of you, blue eyes. I guess you
are
a little fool.”

“Get out! Just because you were wrong about my fitting in here, you …” Her voice faded into horrified silence as his grin widened.