Fire Glow

by Linda Ladd

  Richard stared at her in awe, and Sir Henry struggled to his feet as Caitlin curtsied in front of him with the most enchanting smile he had ever beheld.

  "Welcome to Windsway, Sir Henry," Caitlin murmured demurely, her exquisite golden eyes on his face. She had not looked at Trey on purpose, determined to show him that she could mimic the fawnings of fine ladies if she so desired.

  "And you are the notorious Caitlin Alexander," Sir Henry said, kissing her hand. "Your beauty outshines even your daring exploits."

  "Thank you, milord," Caitlin answered, her eyes going to Richard, who still stared at her, his mouth agape. She inclined her head to him as he bent in a low bow, his eyes full of undisguised admiration.

  "Do you remember my daughter, Marianne?" the governor asked her. "Your mother used to bring you to Bridgetown often to visit her."

  Caitlin turned to the other girl, who was smiling at her in a most friendly way. She was surprised that a host of pleasant memories came flooding back now that she saw her again.

  "I think it's wonderfully exciting, all the things you and Christian have done," Marianne said, pulling Caitlin down beside her. "I often begged Father to let me join you on the Anna, if for only a day. Will you tell me all about it tonight before I leave?"

  Caitlin smiled and nodded, savoring the thought of talking about her friends and her brother. Trey had forbidden her to speak of them.

  "I hope Christian plans to join us as well," Marianne went on excitedly. "Is he as handsome as I remember?"

  For the first time since Caitlin had entered the room, she put cool eyes on Trey.

  "Christian is held prisoner aboard Captain Cameron's ship, and I am not allowed to see him."

  Both the governor and Marianne put mildly accusing eyes on Trey, and he shifted uncomfortably, glad when Richard spoke up.

  "I have been entrusted with a letter for the Lady Caitlin," he said, smiling as he removed a note from his coat pocket. "'Tis a letter from your brother, milady," he added, and was rewarded with a brilliant smile that lit Caitlin's eyes with happiness.

  "Is it truly from Christian?" she asked breathlessly, quickly unfolding it.

  Trey frowned, but Caitlin no longer thought of him or the others as she read her brother's familiar scrawl:

  Dear Caitlin,

  I take this opportunity to assure you that I am quite well. I have become very friendly with the man who most kindly agreed to deliver this letter, and he assured me that you are being well treated by his captain. He has often whiled away hours in my company over a chessboard, and has intimated that we might perhaps be allowed a visit soon. Do not worry about me, but think only of the time when we will be together again.

  - C.

  Caitlin looked up at Richard, who had remained near her, oblivious to Trey, who now conversed with the governor in low tones, although his eyes returned frequently to his ward and his cousin.

  "How can I thank you?" she asked, and Richard smiled.

  "There is no need. I consider your brother a gentleman and a friend. It was little for me to do."

  Caitlin looked down at the letter as she carefully refolded it. "It means very much to me to hear from Christian, and I feel bad about what I … " She paused, embarrassed. "Did to you. I regret it deeply, now that I know how kind you are."

  A flush rose to the roots of Richard's white hair, and Marianne looked at them curiously. Richard quickly changed the subject before she could ask.

  "Your brother takes his air in the morning at ten o'clock, then again at six in the evening. You would be able to see him from here if you have use of a spyglass."

  Caitlin smiled in gratitude. "Again, I am in your debt, sir," she said with genuine warmth.

  "I believe we are ready to dine," Trey said, but before he could cross the room to offer his arm to Caitlin, Richard had claimed that honor. Trey was left to proffer his arm to Marianne.

  The dining room was ablaze with candles, and the flames danced at the tops of the white tapers as Trey seated Lady Marianne at his side, and Caitlin took her place between Sir Henry and Richard. He was pleased to see that she remembered her lessons, but he hid his displeasure at the way she smiled at Richard as if he were one of her suitors. It seemed that the art of coquetry was inborn of all women, he thought irritably, for Caitlin certainly needed no instruction in that subject.

  The first course was a rich potato soup, and no one noticed Caitlin's impeccable manners as she regaled them with tales of her exploits aboard the Anna. Marianne and Richard were both delighted with her animated accounts and, to Trey's chagrin, it was he who was left to listen to Sir Henry's boring accounts of the latest developments in Barbadian politics.

  When the time came, he was more than ready to leave the dining hall for the music room, where they were to hear chamber music. Caitlin and Marianne sat on red velvet chairs in the front, while the three men took their seats behind them. Caitlin watched the musicians closely, rather curious to hear them play. There was a viol and guitar, accompanied by a harpsichord and woodwind, and Caitlin found the soft music most enjoyable. After twenty minutes, however, she began to feel restless. She much preferred the wild fiddles and pipes played in the taverns and dram houses she had frequented with her shipmates. After a time, she glanced at Marianne, wondering if her friend was as bored as she, but the other girl sat very still and attentive, her hands folded in her lap.

  Caitlin sighed, shifting positions, her mind gradually drifting away. She thought for a time about the letter from Christian, eager for the morning to come so that she could try to see him. Her mind next went to the feeling that had coursed through her when Trey Cameron had held her body pinned against the wall with his much larger, much stronger one. Warmth flooded her cheeks as a tingle rippled over her skin, and she closed her eyes tightly, determined that she would never let him get that close again. She had never known a man's touch, or a kiss, for Christian and Roger had been much too protective of her to let such a thing happen, but she wondered if perhaps it would not affect her in a similar way. She kept her eyes closed as the music went on and on; her restless nights were finally catching up to her. She grew quiet, trying to fight the threatening drowsiness that tormented her until she no longer cared. She leaned her head back, gradually sinking into the dark and peaceful depths of sleep.

  A long time later, something awakened her, and Caitlin jerked her eyes open, dismayed that she had dozed off. She looked around and, to her shock, the room was quiet and dark except for one candle that burned atop the harpsichord. The McSpaddens had gone as had Richard Hale, and only Trey Cameron sat in the large armchair beside her, holding a cheroot idly in one hand.

  "I thoroughly know how boring chamber music can be, Caitlin," he said with a leisurely smile. "But you really should make an effort to stay awake. Our guests were most understanding, but ‘tis considered rude to doze off as you did."

  Caitlin stood, afraid to be alone with him. She had taken only a few steps when Trey's voice stopped her.

  "Your first suitor will come here for a visit a week from today. The others will come at weekly intervals after that. Your wedding date has been set for the first week of September."

  Caitlin turned slowly to face him.

  "Someday I will make your life as miserable as you have made mine, I swear it," she said softly, and Trey stared morosely after her as she walked away, her head held high and proud. He had been the one to urge the governor to arrange a speedy courtship and marriage, but now he felt troubled and guilty, as if he had betrayed Caitlin. He cursed softly and closed his eyes, wondering what kind of a man she would marry.

  Chapter Seven

  Pearl fussed busily with Caitlin's hair, brushing it until it shimmered before twisting thick curls up behind Caitlin's ears, then threading blue ribbons through the reddish gold ringlets. Caitlin watched gloomily, not at all thrilled that her first suitor was now waiting with Trey for her to join them for the midday meal. She grimaced in disgust. Lord Wilton Longworth was his name, and as w
ell as being well connected in England, he bore the distinction of owning the largest plantation on Barbados.

  Caitlin had never met him, and she chafed at the idea of being paraded in front of him like some prize horse. A dark flush rose beneath her skin, staining her high cheekbones deep pink. She lifted her chin with pride. If she must suffer such indignities to protect Christian she would, but only until she came up with a way to send word to Roger and the Anna.

  For now she would play Captain Cameron's little marriage game, but she had already decided on how to handle her greedy suitors. Since she was not allowed to reject them, she had to make sure that they rejected her. Her lips curved wickedly, relishing the thought of making herself appear a less than desirable wife. The bloody captain could not fault her if they refused her. And if he became angry, so be it. He had been angry and sharp with her since the day she had ripped the sampler off her skirt, and she no longer cared what he thought.

  Pearl patted the intricate coiffure she had created, smiling at Caitlin.

  "Lord Longworth will no doubt find you very beautiful," she said, her eyes roving over her young charge with satisfaction. "And Captain Cameron will be most pleased with your appearance this day."

  "That is certainly the least of my worries," Caitlin replied carelessly, lifting her skirt to make sure her dagger was strapped securely to her thigh. "I am only meeting Longworth because I have no recourse, but no man will treat me like a possession. This will see to that."

  Pearl stared at the small lethal-looking knife glittering with jewels, chilled by the deadly look in Caitlin's dark amber eyes. She had worried much about Caitlin in the last days, and she secretly wondered if Captain Cameron was not wise to insist that she marry. Young ladies were not intended to sail the seas and fight with knives and swords. She shuddered to think what Caitlin's sweet mother would have thought if she had seen such a weapon tied upon her daughter's leg.

  "Do you really think that you should have that, child?" she asked hesitantly, hoping she might persuade Caitlin to leave it off. "Captain Cameron will let no harm befall you. He has been treating you kindly, has he not?"

  "Kind? That black-hearted villain? He cares nothing for me or my feelings! He only wishes me off his hands as soon as possible so that he can return to England! I despise him!"

  Pearl remained quiet, taken aback by Caitlin's vehement words. She helped straighten the wide skirts of pale blue lawn over Caitlin's heavy satin petticoats before she looked at the matching blue slippers lying near the bed.

  "Will you not wear your shoes, Caitlin?" Pearl suggested, and Caitlin gave a nonchalant shrug.

  "Nay, I cannot abide them. The heels make it hard to walk, and no one will see anyway."

  Pearl shook her head helplessly as Caitlin crossed the room, having a distinct premonition that the afternoon would end in disaster.

  Caitlin decided to walk along the upstairs gallery to a vantage point above the gardens, so she could get a good look at the visiting lord before he saw her. If he was too vile, she could always return the same way she came and find a hiding place until he left. She moved stealthily to where she could peer through the urn of geraniums and observe the two men where they sat at the table. To her chagrin, Trey glanced up and saw her just as she peeked through the greenery. Caitlin cursed at her own bad luck as he stood, her eyes going to the man with him.

  Her eyes narrowed with anger at the sight of the short fat man struggling to rise. His grossly obese body seemed to balance precariously atop incongruously stumpy legs, and she needed to see no more. Heedless of Trey's massive frown, she whirled away and raced down the gallery, her skirts bunched in both hands. She rounded the wall and flew down the interior stairs, all the while cursing Trey Cameron for having the nerve to inflict such a horrid suitor upon her.

  Her headlong flight was brought to an abrupt halt at the bottom of the steps as Trey stepped calmly out of the breezeway to block her path. She immediately turned to flee in the opposite direction, but before she could move, a strong hand closed firmly around her arm.

  "Damn you, let go," she hissed, and Trey smiled tightly.

  "I am sorry, Caitlin, but I am afraid you will have to join us. We cannot insult Lord Longworth. He is the largest landowner on Barbados."

  "Do you not mean that he is the largest thing on Barbados," Caitlin said furiously, and to her shock, Trey gave a low laugh.

  "Come along and get it over with."

  Caitlin ground her teeth in frustrated rage as he pulled her along with him, then glared up at him as they reached the garden gallery.

  "Caitlin, my dear," Trey said smoothly, disregarding her less than subtle attempts to pull away. "Please allow me to present Lord Wilton Longworth of Longworth Plantation."

  Lord Longworth lumbered to his feet as they neared, wetting thick pale lips, and Caitlin looked at him coldly, realizing in disgust that the pig had not waited for her, but had already started his meal. A shiny smear of grease from the roast fowl he had been eating shone on his double chins and cheeks, and Caitlin could not suppress her shudder as the tiny blue eyes in his smooth flat face darted rudely up and down her body.

  "My pleasure, mistress," he said, bowing slightly over his gargantuan stomach.

  Caitlin had to force herself not to pull away as he grabbed her hand and pressed his oily mouth upon it. She stared in revulsion at the oil left on the back of her hand as he sat down suddenly, as if his legs could no longer bear the weight. He immediately began to eat again, and Caitlin took advantage of his preoccupation with his plate to wipe her hand across Trey's spotless white sleeve.

  Trey's frown darkened at her action, but he said nothing as he held Caitlin's chair, then took a place across from her. He was more wary than angry as he kept a close watch on Caitlin, who was in no way bothering to hide her disgust for the man beside her. Not that he could blame her, for he had felt the same repugnance at the sight of him. The man was a glutton, and Trey had already decided that Lord Longworth was not the man for Caitlin.

  "You're quite a lovely girl, I must say," Lord Longworth said between mouthfuls, eyeing with bright anticipation the new platter of broiled flying fish the maid had set before them. "A bit skinny for my taste, but after we are wed, I will see that you are fattened up in no time at all."

  He grinned magnanimously, as if his remark should please her, and Trey spoke quickly, aware that Caitlin had stiffened with offense.

  "Would you care to try the smoked salmon, my lord? I have found the fare here at Windsway to be most delectable."

  "Aye, fish is one of my favorites," the fat man replied, retrieving the largest fillet with his fork. "You must remember that, my dear," he added to Caitlin, giving her a shiny fat-lipped smile.

  Caitlin stared incredulously as he continued to spear up the rest of the fish on the platter. Astonished, she watched as he repeated his action with the other plates before them, leaving barely enough food for Trey and her to share.

  His boorishness made little difference to her, however, because she had lost any vestige of an appetite at the first sight of the grotesque little man. She turned her gaze out to the bay, refusing to even look at him as the maid served her a meager portion of what food was left.

  Trey made a valiant attempt to rescue the fiasco, but even his endeavors at conversation were thwarted by Longworth's narrow-sighted efforts to gobble down everything in his reach. He was relieved to see that Caitlin was holding her temper in check, for this time she had every reason to be angry. He watched Longworth in contempt as a fifth piece of bread disappeared into his unwiped mouth. Trey's eyes widened in dismay as Longworth reached across the table to Caitlin's plate, which she had yet to touch, retrieving her scone with fat greasy fingers.

  Caitlin first gasped in shock, then her golden eyes flared in outrage as she turned to Trey. How dare he choose this fat moronic glutton to court her, she thought, her hands trembling with anger. He mocked and insulted her by choosing such a swine!

  With effort, she forced he
r wrath back, the warning look in Trey's blue eyes doing little to assuage her rage. When the fat slob raided her plate a second time, this time taking the lone chicken wing she had been served, she had had enough.

  "There's a good girl," Lord Longworth was saying, his words muffled from the food in his mouth. "I am simply ravenous this morn. The long ride to Windsway was draining for me."

  "I daresay it was more draining for the horse," Caitlin retorted, and Trey winced as Longworth's jaw dropped. The fat man sputtered angrily, for once forgetting the meat clutched in his hand.

  "I see that you are as headstrong and rude as was rumored in Bridgetown," he said, his face red with anger. "I will certainly teach you some respect when you are my wife."

  Caitlin's face went scarlet.

  "Here, have the rest of my meal, your fat lordship," she cried, and Trey choked on his wine as she tipped her plate into Longworth's ample lap.

  Furious, Caitlin stomped away from the table, and Trey called for the maid to help clean the food off their assaulted guest. He hid his grin as he attempted to smooth the insulted man's ruffled feathers. He would have to deal with Caltlin later, but for now he concentrated on ridding himself of Wilton Longworth, for in truth, he had never in his life met such a disgusting excuse for a man.

  Caitlin stalked through the winding garden paths, not looking back, not caring what Trey Cameron said or did to her. She wished she could have rammed her fist into Longworth's huge hanging belly before she'd left. Her fingers tightened around the handle of the lacy blue parasol Pearl had cajoled her into carrying, and she jabbed it into the air ferociously, pretending it was piercing the mountainous flab of Longworth, then the hard and lean frame of her handsome guardian. She would never marry such a monster, and now that she had had her first taste of the caliber of suitors she would be forced to endure, she had no doubt the others would be equally as bad.