Pirate's Conquest

by Mary Martin

  "I don't think you were," Rayne stated solemnly.

  Benton swallowed, and continued. "I wanted to go back. Father surfaced several times for air and to tell us he had almost reached the galleon. The last dive, he was down so long. Too long. I told Gwen to pull him up, but she said Father would be furious if we did that. We waited .. . and waited .. . and finally I grabbed the line from her and pulled with all of my strength. The line felt light... and I knew even before I pulled it up that Father was no longer attached. Gwen became hysterical. She snatched the line out of my hand, and before I could stop her, she dove over the side. I was in shock, and it took me a few minutes to react." His voice fell to barely a whisper. "They died—both of them."

  "And you just left them—without even trying to dive for them!" Starlin sobbed, her eyes wide from the horrible story he had just told.

  Benton nodded miserably. "There was nothing left to do. I didn't wish to die, too!"

  "And you were found in the ocean because the boat capsized," Rayne said.

  "Yes. I don't know how I got out of there. It was a nightmare!" he sobbed. "Both of them . .. victims of that place. I can't really say what happened down there near the galleon. It might have been the barracuda. It was big enough to... to ..." His shoulders were. shaking and he bowed his head. "And I couldn't let anyone know what had happened .. . don't you see? How could I explain it. I knew they were dead—that the Devil's Sea had managed to claim them. I didn't want people to think I was such a coward. I just pretended I couldn't remember anything."

  Starlin placed her hands over her face. Rayne wrapped a comforting arm about her.

  "Tell me what you saw going on out here before tonight?" Rayne probed.

  "A man has been out here, watching me ... Father I'm certain." Benton glanced at Starlin. "You know that sailor's cap and jacket he always wore, Starlin. It was him ... or his ghost."

  "I can't believe that," Starlin gasped, her hands falling to her sides.

  "Nor I," Rayne agreed.

  "Well, who else could it be?" Benton yelled. "Someone has been out here around this playhouse. And he looks just like my father ... right down to the same clothes!"

  "It's someone trying to scare you. He wants you to think it's Carl so that you stay away from here. I think he might suspect that something of great value is out here," Rayne explained.

  "The journal." Benton laughed shrilly. "Let him have it. I'll never go back there again."

  "Oh, Benton," Starlin breathed sadly. "All of these years you've carried this awful secret inside you."

  "I have had a pretty good idea who is behind your problems," Rayne told them. "And I had even thought you were in league with him at one time, Benton."

  "Who?" Benton and Starlin echoed in unison.

  "I have to make certain that I have your word that you will keep quiet about my identity. I can't have my activities exposed until I've caught the culprit re­sponsible for everything. The confiscation of your goods, the burning of your ships and warehouses."

  "I was beginning to believe it was Father—or his ghost—come back to make certain that I never received anything. But, of course, in my sober moments I know how foolish that is." He held Rayne's gaze. "Very well, Morgan, I give you my word. Now, tell me this man's name?"

  Rayne wasn't certain whether he could trust Benton. He considered it briefly, then said, "It's Wells .. . he's your midnight prowler."

  "My own attorney?" Benton was stunned.

  "I am not surprised," Starlin said. "But how do you plan to expose him, RayneT

  The nerves of everyone in the room were taut. Rayne was amazed to find himself actually contemplating saving the Cambridge salvaging operation. But then, his gaze shifted to Starlin. Her eyes were imploring him.

  "There's talk that your attorney, Malcolm Wells, is behind a man by the name of Foster. He's buying out the salvors who reportedly have been financially ruined by Scorpio. Foster seems to know before anyone else when the salvors are close to bankruptcy and willing to sell out. Unfortunately, instead of manning the boats with the same crews, he mans his newly acquired ships with crewmen from other ports. Key West seamen are suffering double, while Wells is in the background, reaping a fortune on the side."

  Suddenly, all of the pieces fell into place. The man responsible for their misfortunes was none other than the firm's own lawyer. Benton swore softly.

  "What a fool I have been. Wells has been making certain that I'm kept supplied with liquor. And even when Starlin tried to dry me out, he'd send out satchels of papers for me to look over. Inside, he'd always place a bottle or two."

  "I wondered about that, you know," Starlin said. "But Mammy Juno was always the one the satchel was delivered to. I never had a chance to get my hands on it before you did, Benton."

  "Wells knows how easily I manipulate Mammy Juno," Benton explained. "He would make certain you were nowhere about before coming out here."

  In the flickering darkness Starlin's eyes met Rayne's.

  "And I'd be willing to bet that Malcolm Wells was the man behind the awful events in England," Starlin stated, her voice low.

  "He was," Rayne replied. "Fredrick has a piece of cloth that Merlin tore from Wells's cloak at the scene of your grandfather's accident. Ely snuck into Wells's office at the warehouse one day. It was the exact color, and when he compared it to a mended section on the garment, it matched perfectly."

  Starlin looked up at Rayne. "I have wondered about something. Fredrick. How is he involved in all of this?"

  "He is my uncle—my mother's brother," Rayne explained. "But he is very loyal to you, Starlin. He has been your friend from the first time he met you. He wanted to make certain all was well with you, so he sailed from England to Antare to find out."

  "Oh dear," Starlin said in dismay. "And I ran off again."

  "I'm certain he'll understand," Rayne said wryly.

  Benton appeared lost in his own thoughts. "Damn Wells. My own attorney seeking to destroy me?"

  "You aren't the only one he sought to ruin," Rayne told him. "But you were making it easy for him. He thought he could have it all by simply encouraging you to stay drunk while he ran the business, charting the courses for your ships, his own men interceding and taking your finds to his warehouses. He knew there was a journal somewhere." He met Benton's bloodshot gaze. "I'd be willing to bet he's the one prowling about the estate. When he began to figure that Starlin might be the one with knowledge of the journal, he kept you both under constant surveillance. He's clever. But we can still beat him."

  "How can we stop him, Rayne?' Starlin blurted angrily.

  A cunning smile crossed Rayne's lips. "A friend of mine will help us out. She'll tell Wells that she has heard the Cambridges are going after a big find. After having met Starlin, he'll start to wonder if she's decided to search out the treasure."

  "But won't that be risky?' Benton asked.

  "We have no choice," Starlin said firmly.

  "She's right, Benton. We either try and outsmart him, or he'll eventually get everything that he's after. He's giving a masquerade ball on Friday. It will be easy for us to slip in as guests, spread a few rumors, and then slip out without notice."

  Benton looked dubious. "You can't tell me it's not going to be dangerous. His men are very good at what they do. They're true pirates in every sense of the word."

  "It's going to take something like this to flush him out into the open," Rayne told them. "He has been blaming Scorpio for his evil deeds for so long now, that who will believe otherwise unless we catch him in the act. He's very much like that barracuda near the galleon. He waits, and watches, and guards his own safety well. But we'll have dangled the perfect bait before him. He'll come . . . and we'll be waiting."

  "So you believe he'll follow us with every intention of forcing us to show him the way to the treasure?' Starlin asked tensely.

  "There's no doubt in my mind," Rayne responded with a grim look.

  Starlin shivered, and stared down at the jour
nal. "I know Carl never intended anything like this to happen. He only wished to leave us something special... something that was very meaningful to him."

  "I won't allow anything to happen to you, love," Rayne assured her. "I'll watch you every minute." He favored her with a wolfish smile. "And I suppose that means that I'd better have my belongings moved from the ship over here."

  Starlin was all too aware of those magnetic eyes as he watched her closely. She said nothing.

  Rayne turned to Benton. "What say you, Cam­bridge? Can we depend on you to help us capture Wells and put an end to his piracy?"

  "Well... I really have to think about it," Benton stammered, his hands shaking, his eyes cast downward.

  Starlin was livid. "If you run from this, you may as well turn around and go back in the house and drink yourself into a stupor, for you'll never be able to hold your head up again. I think you owe it to both of our parents . .. don't you?"

  Benton flinched, but he made no move to leave. With a huge sigh he said, "No, there will be no more running. You are right. I must take a stand if I am ever going to gain control of my life again."

  "Then let's go inside and Starlin will make us some coffee. After you've sobered up a bit, we'll discuss the plan until everyone knows what they're expected to do," Rayne suggested.

  Malcolm Wells took the last bite of his Key lime pie and sat back in his chair with a resplendent smile. "That was divine," he told the woman sitting across the table from him. "Extend my compliments to your cook."

  Beaming, the big woman offered Malcolm a cigar from a pearl smoking case.

  "Why thank you, Lucy, I don't mind if I do," Malcolm said. He watched in amusement as Lucy took a long, black cigar from the case and placed it between her own lips. A servant, who had been swishing a palm fan over them during the entire meal, hurried to light their cigars.

  Lucy took a deep drag of her cigar and exhaled. Blue smoke floated upward about her face and drifted in wavering lines toward the ceiling.

  "Vincente makes the best damn cigar on the island," she said, referring to the first man in Key West to open up a small cigar factory. "He's gonna be rich one of these days, I just can feel it in my bones," she added with a wide smile, her brown eyes all but disappearing in her fleshy face. "Cigars are gonna be a big business here. Don't take much to make a man rich in this town. Just a bit of forethought and the nerve to act."

  "Yes, I think you are right about that on both counts," Malcolm agreed, looking around him at the occupants in the saloon. "Civilization is definitely creeping in on us. And all of them getting wealthier by every day by one means or another. Why, who ever would have thought that the wrecking industry would boom to such proportions in such a short period? Look around you, Lucy, all of your customers are associated with it in one way or the other. Auctioneers, salvors, even the wharf owners are making fortunes." He suddenly scowled. "I just happened to pick the wrong people to associate myself with, that's all."

  Lucy Belle was a big, attractive Bahamian woman who had been one of the first to open a saloon with female entertainment and keep it running profitably. She tolerated no rowdies or toughs, and if a man wanted to buy himself some time with one of her "girls," he paid her a goodly sum for the honor. If there was any social class in the waterfront area, "Lucy's" was the place. The decor was flashy, with bright pink walls, tropical plants everywhere, and conch shells filled with fresh flowers. Lucy liked to give her customers the impression that her place was a homey establishment, where they could kick back and hang around a spell and relax. As long as they had the money to afford her high prices, of course.

  "A hodgepodge of humanity," Lucy replied. "The wrecking business is turning this swamp into a boom town. Every one of them looking for the same thing as you and me—a way to turn a fast buck, and spend it just as quickly." She leaned closer to Benton, her ample bosom resting on the tabletop. "I heard tell from one of my girls that you just might be in for a substantial raise yourself, if everything goes as the Cambridge girl has it planned." Seeing his eyes widen slightly, she continued. "This is just hearsay, mind you. But it's something to do with the biggest find that anyone has ever come across. No word on the exact location, of course. But then, I expect you'll be hearing more about it from them any day now."

  Malcolm was staring blankly at her as if he were taking it all in by slow degrees. "That chit knew all along. Damn, but I was right," he murmured softly.

  "What's that sugar?' Lucy inquired.

  Malcolm grunted. "A major find, huh?"

  "That's what I heard. Everyone is right excited about it, too."

  "Well, I certainly can see why. And I am, too. ThatY a real uplifting piece of news, sweet." Malcolm rose suddenly from his chair. "You don't mind if I make it a short visit tonight, do you, Lucy? I have a lot of extra work that needs my immediate attention."

  Lucy shook her black ringlets. "You go right ahead, Malcolm, honey. Lucy knows where your heart would really rather be. You come back and visit me when you're less busy, and we'll have us a right good time."

  Lucy Belle watched Wells depart and motioned to the servant. "Manuel," she said. "I want you to go the back way, through the alleys down to the pier. Don't give this message to anyone but Ely Morgan. He's waiting." She lowered her voice to a whisper. "Tell him the fish is swimming in the direction of the net, and all that he has to do is reach out and catch him."

  Starlin took her time in dressing for the party at Malcolm Wells's home. She was thinking of the letter that she and Rayne had sent off to her grandfather, informing him of their safe arrival in the Keys and telling him that as soon as they concluded business matters they would return to England. Fredrick had told Rayne that the earl was recovering nicely and looking forward to their return to England. She was relieved.

  And Starlin hoped they could go home soon. She placed her palms on her abdomen. There was no movement inside her yet, but soon ... she mused with a gentle smile. She had been to see the doctor and he had confirmed her suspicions. She was going to have a baby in seven months. Wouldn't Rayne be thrilled— and Grandfather? A tingle raced down her spine. Just as soon as this nightmare was over, she would be able to tell them all her good news. But not yet. For she knew Rayne would never allow her to be a party to their clever scheme if he had the slightest suspicion that she was carrying their child.

  Starlin closed her eyes for a minute, trying to envision just what their baby might look like. Boy or girl? She shrugged. That really did not matter. But she did hope the child would look a lot like Rayne. She imagined most women in love felt much the same way. And she did love her husband, more and more with every passing day. His deep voice behind her brought her eyes open immediately to stare at him through the cheval mirror.

  "What were you dreaming about, my beauty?" he inquired, kissing the back of her neck, exposed by an upsweep of tumbling curls.

  He was attired in only a burgundy robe. His hair was still damp from his bath and lay in unruly disorder about his forehead.

  "Mmmmm ... you smell wonderful," she said throatily.

  "And you look wonderful. I'll have to watch you closely tonight, so those pirates don't steal you away.1' He pulled her against him, wrapping his arms about her waist and nuzzling her earlobe with his lips.

  Starlin prayed it would always be this way between them. Yet there was still something so uncertain that kept him from becoming completely hers. Was she only imagining a coiled tenseness about him? And perhaps it was just because of the dangerous scheme they would set into motion on this night. Was he concerned for her? She hoped it was because he loved her too much to want to think of what his life would be like without her. She was not afraid—she trusted him. Trust. She tested the word in her thoughts. It was wonderful to have someone to share your hopes and dreams with. True, this venture tonight was not without risk, but she felt confident that they could accomplish it together.

  He caressed her shining hair. "Damn! I hate having you involved in this. I'm almost tempted
to send you back to Antare instead."

  "I wouldn't go," Starlin said simply.

  "And if I insisted."

  "I still wouldn't go," she told him, an impish smile reflecting in the looking glass.

  "And how did I know that you would say that?" Rayne teased, turning her in his arms and kissing the tip of her nose.

  "Because you know me better than anyone."

  "Yes," he murmured, "that I do."

  She pressed her lips to the tip of his chin. "And I you."

  "But I wonder if I shall ever know you completely, my darling. You are the most intriguing woman I have ever met."

  Her arms encircled his neck and she peered up into his eyes. A slow flush of pleasure spread across his lean features. "As it should be. You will never grow bored with me then."