The Captain's Pearl (12 page)

“Then a challenge, for you know you can never have me.”

She laughed shortly. “Has it ever occurred to you that I may not want you, Captain?”

“Not when your sapphire eyes suggest sweet secrets each time they look at me. You don't look at Newberry that way. Why not? Because he's never has tried to seduce you?”

“You don't know what you are talking about, Captain.” Lianne rushed out onto the wharf. She was glad to be flooded with memories as she walked up the plank to the deck, so she did not have to think of him. The
China Shadow
moved to the rhythm of the waves. Smells which she always associated with her trip here assaulted her. She wondered if Captain Trevarian would laugh if she mentioned that she could not drink a cup of tea without recalling the aromas of the tea chests in the hold.

She noted damage that even the shadows could not conceal. Grief struck her. If she could see such holes in the darkness, she could imagine how many more would be visible in the daylight. She had known it had taken skill to bring the crippled ship to port, but she had not realized how much.

Captain Trevarian picked up a lamp and lit it. “Worse than you expected?”

“Much.”

“She can be repaired.”

“And she will be if the cost is not too high.”

“Not too high? The
China Shadow
is a fine lady. All she needs are a few refittings.”

Crossing the deck, she stared at a hole in the railing. “This is more than minor damage. I'm not sure if the Shadow Line can afford to rebuild her. It might be better simply to let the
Sleek Shadow
replace her.”

“The
Sleek Shadow
does not have enough cargo space.”

“She is built like a Baltimore clipper.”

“Which is fine for Chesapeake Bay. Lianne, if you want to make a profit, you must have a ship which is fast and has room for a decent sized cargo. The
China Shadow
is both.”

She was shocked to see the naked emotion on his face. He loved this ship. “Captain Trevarian, what she is must be determined. I owe an obligation to my father and the stockholders in the Shadow Line to make a decision based on facts, not emotions.”

“Do you want facts? I can give you all you want.”

“Not tonight. Tomorrow.”

“Tonight,” he insisted. “In the morning, this ship will be swarming with landlubbers making decisions about things they can't understand. I want you to understand. This ship was your brother's sole command.”

She glanced about the deck, seeing Davis in her memory. She heard his soft laugh when he had comforted her in Sun Niang's brothel.

“Don't try to influence me that way,” she whispered. “It isn't fair.”

“No, it isn't, but I'll do anything to save the
China Shadow
.”

Surprised at his honesty, she said, “Show me your facts, Captain, if it won't take too long.”

“I promise to have you home soon.” He motioned toward the steps leading belowdecks. “Trust me, Lianne.”

Although the last thing she dared to do was trust him, she preceded him down the companionway. She paused to look at the pitted walls.

Captain Trevarian stopped directly behind her. His breath curled beneath her bonnet to tease her nape. “Those blasted Chinese pirates tried to board us. The crew fought them back off the ship.”

In horror, she jerked her fingers back from the indentations made by lead balls striking the wall. Her motion bumped her full skirts into him. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Captain Trevarian's smile. When he brushed her cheek with the side of his finger, she trembled with a longing she could not halt.

Was she out of her mind? She was betrothed to Weston. She should not be thinking of how Bryce Trevarian's kisses had thrilled her. She had been a silly child then. She was a sensible woman now. “Captain, show me why you think the
China Shadow
is salvageable.”

“Aye, aye.” He executed a sharp salute, and she smiled in spite of herself. “That's better, blue eyes. I was beginning to fear that you had forgotten how to smile.” Before she could retort, he urged, “Come on. I'll show you.”

Hurrying after him, Lianne was determined to keep distance between them, because being too close to him in the dusky corridor might be dangerous. When he opened a door, she entered.

Trying to appear nonchalant, she glanced about his quarters. “This hasn't changed that much. Why don't you give me whatever you think will influence me toward saving the
China Shadow
? I can take it home and read it.”

“I would rather you read it here, so you can ask me any questions tonight.”

“You are in a hurry.”

“I want to make sure you don't destroy the
China Shadow
in some attempt to prove to your father that you are capable of overseeing its repairs.”

Lianne walked to the table so he could not guess how right he was. “Your facts, please, Captain.”

“Those are the facts. You should rebuild this ship.”

Facing him, she said, “If you have nothing else to say, good evening.”

He did not step aside so she could open the door. “Are you going to listen to me, Lianne, or are you going to continue this foolishness?” His eyes twinkled as his lips tilted beneath his kohl mustache. “Of course, blue eyes, if you continue jabbering about nothing important, I may have to find another way to silence those lips, which I recall are delicious against mine.”

Lianne sat by the table. “Very well. I shall stay only a few minutes, Captain.”

“A compromise?”

“Yes, for I would rather compromise my pride than myself.”

He grimaced. “You have made that clear, blue eyes.”

“Odd that my father believes I am to be trusted with this job, but you don't.”

“No, it is not odd. I know nothing of you, except for the child who created all kinds of trouble.”

“And will again if you don't get me the facts you promised.”

Captain Trevarian chuckled. “All right.” He reached under the bed and drew out a stack of papers. “Here is what I think is needed.”

Lianne examined each page closely. She asked questions and heard the growing respect in his voice as he answered each one. With a sigh, she put the last one aside.

“One of the masts is cracked from top to where it goes belowdecks?” She shook her head. “I can't imagine how you kept it from capsizing.”

“It took some doing to keep it in place, especially when we hit rough weather near Tierra del Fuego.”

Taking the pages, she tapped them back into a neat pile. “Refitting her may be impossible.”

“She can be repaired.” There was no doubt in his voice.

“Don't be blind to the facts, Captain.”

“Me?” he asked with a humorless laugh. “I could give you the same advice about Newberry, blue eyes.”

Lianne stood. “This is going nowhere. I'm trying to do business, and you are being insulting.”

“You're right.”

“I am?”

“Yes.” Picking up the pages, he sighed. “The
China Shadow
may seem doomed, but I will do whatever I must to keep her afloat.”

“You've proven that already.”

He dropped the pages on the bed. “A compliment, Lianne?”

“A fact. You brought her back to Stormhaven. I cannot guess how.”

“Do you want to know?”

Lianne hesitated as she saw his tentative smile. Was this another trick to persuade her to repair the ship? When he pulled out the chair and motioned graciously for her to sit, she did. She took the glass of sweet juice he offered her. Pouring some rum for himself, he leaned against the desk and began the tale of the long trip back from China.

She was enthralled almost immediately. Weston had been wrong. Bryce did not make himself the hero of his stories. He gave credit to every man who had been a part of the battles against the Chinese pirates and the sea that tried to keep the
China Shadow
from reaching home. Soon she was laughing along with him, when he spoke of how the crew had plugged one hole in the ship just in time to find two more. She knew how horrifying it must have been at the time … and understood why he was so determined to save this ship that had saved him and his men.

When a knock on the door intruded, a pinch of regret surprised her. She stood when it opened, and Chester Simmons peeked in. He looked from her to the captain, his eyes wide.

“Cap'n,” he said, “I didn't think you'd be busy at this hour.”

“What hour is it?” Lianne asked.

Captain Trevarian drew out a pocket watch and opened it. “After two.”

“In the morning?” She went to the door. “I must get home.”

“I will take you there.” Captain Trevarian smiled. “Not all the pirates are on the seas.”

Lianne considered arguing, but knew, from the hard glint in his eyes, that she would just be wasting her breath. Bidding Simmons good night, she hurried up the stairs to the deck.

“Slow down,” Captain Trevarian said, as she ran across the deck.

“I must get home. If someone found out that I'd been here with you all night alone …”

He caught her by the shoulders. “Blue eyes, let's get some things straight. You have not been here
all
night, and that someone you care about is Newberry.”

“No, it's Father.” She shivered. “If this is known, it will ruin my reputation.”

“I won't tell anyone. Nor will Simmons. That leaves only you.”

“I need to get home.”

Bryce released Lianne as she rushed down the plank to the wharf. He followed, cursing under his breath. Captain Catherwood should be more worried about the Shadow Line than his daughter's reputation. Lianne meant well, but she did not understand the bond between a sailor and his ship. He might have convinced her if Simmons had not come in just then.

Catching up with her, he drew her hand within his arm again. She tried to pull away, clearly determined to run all the way up the hill to her father's house.

She opened the gate in the picket fence. As she turned to close it, he put his hands over hers. He smiled as he stroked her soft skin.

“As you can see,” she said primly, “I'm quite capable of getting myself home. Good night.”

“I don't make it a practice to let the lady who has spent the night in my quarters walk home alone.”

“Captain!”

Pushing on her hands, he opened the gate enough so he could squeeze through. He took her hand and drew her up the walk. She remained silent as they walked up the wide steps to the porch. Pulling her fingers out of his, she reached for the doorknob.

Hyett's face was grim as he opened the door. Bryce cursed under his breath. He should have guessed the butler would remain by the door until Lianne returned home.

“Where have you been?” Hyett demanded. “If your father or Miss Tildy learned that you had been out this late with—” He gasped. “Captain Trevarian?”

“This is my fault, Hyett,” Bryce replied. “Lianne and I were discussing the repairs of the
China Shadow
, and the time slipped away.”

“Yes … yes, of course,” he answered, stepping aside to let them enter.

“Good night, Captain,” Lianne murmured as Hyett disappeared into the shadows.

“Lianne … Lianne, look at me please.” He hated the entreaty in his voice almost as much as he hated his ship's fate being in her slim hands. “I need to know. Are you going to authorize the overhaul of the
China Shadow
?”

“I don't know. I need to see her in the daylight. I shall see you at eight on the
China Shadow
's deck.”

“Eight? Faith, it's nearly three now. I won't be able to think straight without some sleep.”

“Maybe that is not a bad thing, because then you won't be able to twist everything I say.”

“Or maybe I will be unable to think straight and do this.” He tugged her into his arms and captured her mouth. The rumble of need in him became a thunder as her pliant breasts brushed his chest. His hand slipped up her back to her nape. Why did she wear her hair in this absurd chignon when he longed to see it loose around her, as it had been when he held her in that brothel?

For a moment, her lips softened beneath his. Then she ripped herself out of his arms. Her hand struck his face. As she backed toward the stairs, her eyes burned like the blue depths of a flame.

“Don't ever do that again,” she whispered. “I am going to marry Weston.”

“Then you are a little fool.”

“Not as foolish as you, if you think you can seduce me into giving you what you want.”

“Do you think this is about the ship?” He tugged her back to him and kissed her hard. When she struggled to escape, he released her. “Then you are more foolish than even I had guessed.”

He strode out, not slamming the door because he did not want to disturb Captain Catherwood. He paused at the edge of the porch. His fingers curled into fists as they longed to stroke her soft skin again.

Even before he first had seen her, he had known that Lianne was trouble. He just never had guessed how much.

Nine

The days until the ball sped by so quickly that Lianne did not have time to think of Captain Trevarian's bold kiss—or her reaction to it. How could she have enjoyed it—even for a second?

She could not avoid him, for she visited the
China Shadow
every day to gather information for her father. Each time, others were aboard the ship, so Captain Trevarian treated her with the respect due the daughter of the owner of the Shadow Line. Walking by her side on the deck as he pointed out the answers to her father's questions as well as her own, he never touched her.

Despite Captain Trevarian's cooperation, she came home from each meeting shaking as if with a fever. She was so unsettled during the meetings that she had trouble concentrating on anything he said. More than once she found her mind adrift as she imagined how his lips had seared hers.