Velvet Chains (Historical Romance) (24 page)

Season was painfully aware of the passing days. Deep in her heart she feared that when The Raven returned her to America, she would never see him again. With each passing hour her heart seemed to grow heavier. She hadn't even seen The Raven since they had reached the French shore.

Her only companions had been James and Briggs. For some reason that Season couldn't understand, Robert Wolf was avoiding her, and she missed his company. He had always made her laugh, and right now she could find nothing to be happy about.

Each day in the cool of the evening, Season and James walked the deck. At those times, her eyes searched the ship for The Raven, but he was never there. She felt as if she were living in a void with no past and no future, but sometimes she found herself wishing she could sail throughout eternity aboard the
Andromeda
.

Season was lying on the bed, looking over a map. She had studied the maps so often they had begun to make more sense to her. When she heard the key in the lock, she sat up. Her heart leaped into her throat when The Raven entered the cabin.

"I have something I want to show you, my lady," he said in his raspy voice.

Feeling neglected by him, Season was in no mood to be forgiving. "I don't want to see anything you would show me," she answered, a pout on her lips.

The Raven laughed, thinking how lovely she looked with her golden hair streaming down her back. "I think you will want to see this. Few human beings have ever been fortunate enough to witness what I want to show you."

Season slid off the bed. "What is it?" she asked, her interest piqued.

"Come and I will show you," he said, holding his hand out to her.

Season placed her hand in his and allowed him to lead her out of the cabin and up the companionway.

When they reached the deck The Raven led her to the railing and pointed out to sea. Season watched as several large fish weaved their way through the water.

"I wanted you to see this. As I told you, few men have been privileged to watch this phenomenon of nature."

"Those are whales are they not, Raven?" Season asked with interest.

"Yes, and if you will look closely you will see that there are five of them swimming together. The one in the middle is very old and the two on either side of him are what we call pilot whales."

"Why do they swim so near the ship?" Season wanted to know.

"No one knows for sure. The one in the middle has come to die, and the others are keeping him company. They will stay with him until he is dead; then they will disappear and swim out to sea."

"I never realized a fish could have feelings. It is as if the one who is ill is their grandfather, and the others want to bring him comfort in his last hours. How very sad it all is."

"Whales do have feelings, Season. For some strange reason, they seem to like and trust man, which is a pity. The whale has no natural enemies other than man, my lady. They have never been known to attack one another, and regardless of what you have heard, they will not attack a ship unless they have been wounded by man and are fighting to survive."

Season watched as the old whale came to the surface very near the ship. It seemed to be having trouble staying afloat and she realized it was suffering. "It's almost as if the pilot whales were asking us to help the old whale, is it not?"

"That's what it seems like, Season."

"Can you not do something to put the poor creature out of its misery?" she asked, tears in her eyes.

"No, it is best not to intervene in any way. The pilot whales will take care of their…grandfather as you put it. I do not believe we should interfere."

Season looked up at the black slits in The Raven's mask. "I think it is very sad," she said. "I no longer want to watch."

He took her hand. "Season, I didn't ask you to watch this to make you sad. I do not look at it in the same way you do. To me it is rare and beautiful to watch how nature's children take care of their own. I thought you might be able to see the humane side of the death of the whale."

Season smiled weakly. "Yes, I suppose you are right. It is admirable that the whales look after their old. I fear our society is not always so thoughtful."

"You may stay and watch if you wish," The Raven said. "I must return to the helm."

Season's gaze followed his retreating form and she wanted to call him back. She could sense something in him that she had never felt before. What was it? Sadness? She turned for one last look at the huge fish and saw that one of the pilot whales was very near the ship. She looked directly into the animal's eyes and shivered. She was almost sure the whale wanted the help of the men on board this ship. She wasn't sure whether the pilot whales wanted the sick animal put out of its misery or whether they thought the men might be able to make it well.

She turned away and rushed down the companionway to her cabin. Nature was sometimes cruel. Living and dying, love and hate, they all came together in the end. Season stretched out on the bed and rested her head on her arms. Had she not once hated The Raven? Now she would love the faceless man until the day she died.

Two weeks had passed since the day The Raven had shown Season the whales. Once again it seemed he had forgotten her. Twice while strolling on deck, she had seen him, but he had paid her no heed.

Now, as she lay abed, Season was dreaming, and in her dream she could feel The Raven's hands move over her body. She could feel the softness of his caress and the magic of his kiss.

A noise roused her from her dream and she sat up. She could feel the difference in the way the
Andromeda
rode the water. Instinctively, she knew the noise that had awakened her was the lowering of the anchor.

Scrambling off the bed, she raced to the porthole and climbed upon the chair to peer out. Seeing land in the distance, she realized that they had reached their destination. Sandy beaches led to dense forest. They were off the coast of America.

Season stepped off the chair and closed her eyes, willing herself not to cry. She was being abandoned by the man she loved, and he hadn't even had the decency to tell her why he was casting her aside.

She heard the key in the lock and raised her head proudly. She knew it would be The Raven before he entered, and she wasn't about to let him see how much she was hurting.

When he entered, Season realized she was wearing nothing but her thin white nightgown and she pulled the spread off the bed and held it in front of her.

"Wouldn't it behoove you to knock before you enter a lady's room? Suppose I had been undressed," she scolded, using her anger to cover her hurt.

He merely shrugged his shoulders. "I have felt every inch of your body and can well imagine how you would look undressed. There is no reason to pretend maidenly modesty with me, my lady," he said in his deep voice.

"You have left me with nothing. No gentleman will ever want me for his wife. You have reduced me to nothing better than a street woman."

His shoulders shook with silent laughter. "The thought of you plodding the streets selling your…charms is highly unlikely. Fear not, my lady, you will find some poor misguided fool who will offer you marriage and make an honest matron of you. I am sure Edmund Kensworthy will more than likely vie for that role in your life."

"You are a horrid beast and a libertine. How dare you laugh at me and make light of my virtue!" she shouted, picking up the book which lay on the desk and throwing it in his direction.

He artfully dodged the missile, and it landed with a thud against the door. "Tsk, tsk, the lady does have a temper," he said in amusement.

Season was stunned by his cruelty. He had never before mocked her so. It almost seemed that he wanted her to hate him. Her anger at its peak, she ran across the room and grabbed his hood, but the captain seemed undaunted by her action. He merely took her hands and held them fast, laughing all the while.

"You are a regular little wildcat. I thought I had partly tamed you . . . apparently I was mistaken."

"You beast! I look forward to the day when I can watch you hang for what you have done to me!" Season cried, trying to jerk her wrists from his grip.

"I would do many things to please you, my lady, but forgive me if I don't hasten to dance at the end of a rope for your amusement."

"I
will
see you dead, Raven, upon my word I will," she said softly.

"That may very well be, my lady, but you will have to wait your turn. There are many who would like to see the end of The Raven."

"How many other women have you had at your mercy? Should we all form a line to watch you get what you so justly deserve, Raven?"

Again his shoulders shook with mirth, and he released her hands. "I have never found it necessary to force a lady to my bed. Perhaps they line up to get into my bed."

"Oh, yes. I'm sure of that. Why didn't you take one of them instead of me? I detest you!"

There was silence from behind the dark mask for a moment; then he spoke softly. "I never did require that you hold me in high esteem. It is hoped that when you look back on the time we spent together, you will think a little more kindly of me."

"Are you sending me ashore here, or am I required to swim?" she asked, feeling defeated as she always did when she came up against The Raven.

"Unless you are a stronger swimmer than I recall, I would suggest you stay with us for a while longer."

"What land did I see from the porthole?"

."That would be Virginia, my lady."

Season felt confused. "Why have you brought me here? I don't understand."

"I have come to you now with the express purpose of telling you what is to occur. "I have heard you speak of Lucas Carrington in glowing terms. Since he is a relative of Edmund Kensworthy, I will place you in his care and trust him to see that you are safely returned to your intended bridegroom."

In that moment Season called on all her inner strength. Her heart was breaking because The Raven was abandoning her, but she couldn't allow him to see that. He would merely make sport of her if he knew of her love for him.

"Am I to be cast aside like so much excess baggage now that you no longer have a use for me?" she asked, raising her head proudly. Her cheeks were flushed and her green eyes were blazing brightly.

"I thought it was your wish to be released," he said, hardly above a whisper.

"It is, of course," Season said, trying to cover up for her hurt and resentment, "but I would rather you had taken me back to New York, or better still England."

"I have already sent word to Carrington's plantation, asking him to meet me on the beach with a carriage tonight. If he is in residence, he will be there... if not, I will consider taking you to New York, but never England."

"Will you personally hand me over to Lucas Carrington?" she asked, hardly able to bear the thought of never seeing him again.

"Of course, my lady. I would never allow another to finish what I started. It was I who abducted you in the first place, it is I who will see that you are in safe hands."

"I never want to see you again. I will be glad to be rid of you," Season said softly.

"I am pained that you should say so, my lady. I will be sorry to be parted from you." Not allowing her time to reflect on his words, The Raven swept out of the cabin and locked the door behind him.

Season wiped the tears from her eyes and went about the cabin gathering up her meager belongings and tying them into a bundle. Soon the captain's cabin would show no trace that she had ever been its occupant, she thought sadly. She would be swept from The Raven's life and erased from his mind forever, but she knew she would never forget him.

Season knew deep in her heart that the man who had no name and no face would always be her one true love.

18

It was not yet dark when Season walked across the deck of the
Andromeda
for the last time. She saw The Raven waiting for her at the railing, and her heart seemed to rise into her throat. There seemed to be a tenseness about him, as if he couldn't wait to be rid of her.

Lady Season Chatsworth was proud, and she was determined she wouldn't let The Raven know that her heart was breaking. Although she wanted to beg him not to send her away, her feelings didn't show on her beautiful face. She had decided that if he didn't return her love she would be better off without him.

The only ones who seemed sorry to see her go were Briggs and James. She reached out her hand and James placed his in it. Pulling him into her arms, she felt tears run down her cheeks.

"Take care of yourself, James. I will miss you and all the wonderful times we spent together."

James raised sad eyes to her. "Nothing will be the same without you, ma'am."

"I will think of you growing straight and tall, James, perhaps one day you will have your own ship."

Tears brightened James's eyes and he looked down at his feet. He sniffled and then muttered, "Goodbye, ma'am."

She gave him a smile and turned to Briggs. "I will miss you, Briggs, and the tender care you took of me. If you ever decide to give up the sea, I could always find a place for you in my service."

"If I ever gave up the sea, my lady, there is no one I'd rather serve than you."

On impulse she threw her arms about Briggs and gave him a kiss on the cheek. The first mate beamed brightly and cleared his throat. "The
Andromeda
just won't seem the same without you, my lady. The crew wonders if you would accept a small remembrance from them?"

Season looked up and saw that all the crewmembers had lined up behind the first mate. "What is it, Briggs?"

Briggs reached into a pouch, withdrew something, and held it out to her. "It's a wooden model of the
Andromeda
, my lady. We all sort of took turns at carving it."

Season took the beautiful carved likeness of the
Andromeda
and ran her hands lovingly over the figurehead of the raven in flight. "Thank you all so much," she said, as tears gathered in her eyes. "I will treasure this always. Whenever I look at this, I shall remember each and every one of you, and all your kindnesses to me.

Season knew if she didn't leave soon she could not hold back her tears, and when she looked upon the faces of the crewmembers who had gathered about, she saw sadness in their eyes as well. She had come to know many of them so well, and they had always treated her with kindness and respect.

"I don't see Robert Wolf, Briggs. Tell him for me that I wish him well."

"I will do that right away, my lady," Briggs said in a strangled voice.

Season looked at the dark captain and could tell he was impatient to be off. With a nod of his head, he leaped over the side of the ship and descended into the longboat so he could assist her. Briggs helped her over the side and then she felt The Raven's hands about her waist. He seemed to suspend her in the air for a moment before he placed her in the boat.

Several crewmembers then scrambled down the rope ladder and soon began paddling toward the shore of Virginia.

Season watched the dense tree-lined forest draw closer with each wave that washed them toward the shore, and the nearer she got to land the heavier her heart became.

The Raven stood at the helm of the boat, looking at the coastline as if he were alert for trouble. Season realized the danger he was in should he be spotted by the enemy.

The evening breeze picked up his dark cloak and whipped it out behind him. Is he thinking about me? Season wondered. Could he be experiencing just the smallest regret at sending her away?

Sadly, Season looked back at the
Andromeda
when the longboat scraped against the sand. The crew quickly secured the line, and The Raven stepped ashore and lifted Season into his arms.

When he set her on her feet, Season turned to him. He stood with his arms folded across his chest, silently observing her. She watched him turn to look down the beach and then at the distant forest. She knew he was wary of being caught on the shore.

The other crewmembers remained near the longboat while The Raven took Season's hand and led her farther up the sandy beach. When he released her hand he moved a few paces away from her.

Season closed her eyes, willing him to come to her and declare that he loved her. Surely he must feel something for her. It wasn't too late; he still had time to take her back to the
Andromeda
. Season heard him move, and in two long strides he was beside her.

"Someone is coming, my lady, I hear the sound of a horse and buggy," he said in his raspy voice.

She reached out her hand and placed it on his shoulder. "It isn't too late, Raven. You can still take me back to the ship with you," she said, forgetting her determination not to beg him.

"My lady, we said our goodbyes already. Do not make this harder than it has to be."

Season swallowed a sob. He could hardly wait to turn her over to Lucas Carrington. She could feel his haste to be gone. So be it, she thought. If he didn't want her, she could easily do without him.

Season heard the sound of horses' hooves, and a carriage came into sight on the rise just above them. She watched as the carriage door opened and a man stepped to the ground. As the newcomer drew near, she could see that it was indeed Lucas Carrington.

He seemed to ignore The Raven and walked hurriedly up to Season. "Are you hurt in any way, my lady?" he asked, his golden eyes full of concern.

Lucas Carrington was just as she remembered him, but perhaps not as arrogant as before. "I am well," she answered, feeling as if her heart had been ripped to shreds.

For the first time Lucas looked at The Raven, and Season could see the anger in his eyes. "Please take me away from here," she said in a pleading voice, fearing there would be trouble between the two men.

Lucas' golden eyes swept her face for just a moment before he turned back to the hooded man. "You will pay for this, Raven. There is nowhere you can hide from the hangman's noose," Lucas said in a low, menacing voice.

The Raven merely laughed. "It will take a better man than you to catch me, Carrington."

Season watched the man she loved walk away without a backward glance. When he reached his men, he bowed gracefully to Season and leaped into the longboat. "Goodbye, my lady. God be with you," he called out, as the boat caught the waves and headed back to the
Andromeda
.

Season felt a burning behind her eyes and turned her back. No one would ever know that she had just died a little inside.

Lucas Carrington took her arm and led her toward the waiting carriage. "Let's get you home, my lady. My sister is most anxious to welcome you."

Season turned her head for one last look at the longboat which was already halfway to the
Andromeda
. She could hardly make out the dark, cloaked figure that stood at the helm. He was leaving her life as suddenly as he had entered it, and she had the feeling that she would never see him again.

Lucas assisted her into the coach, and Season sank down on the red Moroccan leather seat. A hasty order was given to the coachman, and they started off, the wheels of the coach spraying the loose powdery sand in its wake.

Season folded her hands in her lap and gazed up at Lucas to find that he was watching her with his disturbing golden eyes.

"I am sorry to be an inconvenience to you, Mr. Carrington, but I had very little say in this matter."

Lucas could see that Lady Season Chatsworth was very different from the young girl he had met at the ball in New York. Where once her skin had been white and creamy, it now had taken on a golden hue. There was also a new sadness about her that tugged at his heart.

"I can assure you, my lady, that you are most welcome in my home. My sister and myself are only too happy to place ourselves at your disposal. Should there be any way I can be of service to you, you have only to ask."

"You are most kind, sir."

"Not at all. I know you have been through a long ordeal, but I wonder if you feel up to answering a few questions for me? It would be best to answer while the incident is still fresh in your mind."

"I…am fine, but I don't know what I can tell you that would be of any help," she answered, knowing he wanted her to tell him about The Raven.

"But surely you will be able to help us, my lady. You have been a captive of The Raven for over three months. We will be anxious for you to tell us anything that might help us find him."

Season hesitated. She knew she had no reason to be loyal to The Raven or his crew. He was an enemy of her people, and yet she couldn't bring herself to speak against him. "I am afraid I can be of little help to you. For the most part I was confined to a cabin."

"You must have some clue to The Raven's identity. I wouldn't press you this way, but time is of the essence."

"No, I never saw him unmasked. Sometimes he wore a leather hood and at other times he wore a leather helm. I haven't the slightest notion who he could be."

"What about the crew? Surely you could give me some of their names. Anything would be of help."

Season thought of Briggs and James. She couldn't bring herself to betray their identities. She would never forgive herself if anything she said to Lucas Carrington helped the authorities to establish their identities.

"I am truly sorry, Mr. Carrington. I can tell you nothing at all."

"Perhaps you would be willing to tell General Clinton what you observed," he suggested.

"I will be able to tell him nothing more than I have told you. Forgive me, Mr. Carrington."

He smiled kindly. "I must be a brute to grill you this way. You are tired now. Perhaps when you have had time to rest you will begin to remember something that will help us."

Oh, yes. I am tired, Season thought as she leaned her head back and closed her eyes. She hadn't realized how exhausted she was until Mr. Carrington had mentioned that she had been aboard the
Andromeda
for three months. Time hadn't existed for her while she had been at sea. She reflected on how strange it was that in such a short period she had become an entirely different person. Right now nothing seemed important to her. Perhaps one day she would begin to feel alive again, but not now. The hurt was still too new.

Season opened her eyes and found Lucas Carrington staring at her. His probing golden eyes disturbed her so she gazed out the window. Most probably he was wondering, as everyone else surely would, whether she had been ravished by The Raven.

She searched for something to say to him that would end the uncomfortable silence between them. "You once told me Virginia was lovely, Mr. Carrington. I never expected I would be seeing it for myself."

"Did I exaggerate?"

Season looked out the window of the coach at the lovely tree-lined roadside. In the green meadows they were passing, wild flowers of every color and description were in full bloom. She felt a pang of homesickness for Chats worth.

"No, you most certainly didn't exaggerate, Mr. Carrington. Your Virginia is very much like the part of England which I call home."

"If you will look to your left, my lady, you will see our destination."

Suddenly the trees thinned and Season saw a village in the distance. The carriage turned up a lane that led in that direction. "I thought you told me you lived on a plantation, Mr. Carrington."

"And so I do. Our American plantations are very like small villages, my lady. They are self-sustaining. We have our own blacksmith shop, storehouse, barns, and stables. To your right you will see the weaver's house, and to your left are the slave quarters. As you can see, we are pretty much cut off from the rest of the world, so we have to be self-sufficient."

"Are there no nearby towns or villages?"

"The closest would be Williamsburg. It is a good two-day ride."

Season turned back to Lucas. "Again I would like to apologize for being inflicted on you. If I can get in touch with my cousin, Edmund, I will not long test your hospitality."

His golden eyes rested on her face. "I can assure you that you will be most welcome. In fact my sister, Rebecca, will be overjoyed to have you stay with us. She is about your age and is starved for female companionship."

"You are very kind, sir."

Lucas saw tears in Season's emerald-colored eyes before she quickly looked away. "Why do you cry, my lady?" he asked softly.

"Forgive me, but you are so kind. I hate women who cry, don't you?" she asked, dabbing at her eyes. "It is not habitual with me, I promise you."

Lucas reached out with his gloved hand and pushed a golden curl from her face. "Have you suffered a great deal?"

Season smiled through her tears, warming to the concern she heard in his voice. "I wouldn't want you to think I have been beaten or abused. I was not treated unkindly. I suppose I just have to make an adjustment. For so long I have been confined to a small cabin, but now, suddenly, I can have all the space I want. I can tell you one thing, no one will ever lock me in a room again. I detest being locked up."