“’Twas a deathbed statement,” Sir Morgan explained, as if reading the captain’s doubting mind. “Unfortunately for one Daniel Lewis, the captain did not die immediately. He lingered for several days; then, before he died, he named his murderer. Daniel Lewis denied it all, saying the captain was trying to protect the girl by blaming him, when actually it had been a lover’s spat. Few believed him, though,” Sir Morgan said quickly as he saw the denial trembling on Rhea’s lips. “The man had a most unsavory reputation, so few were taken in by his story. And now, with this Alys’s testimony, he will not be long on this earth.”
Rhea drew a shuddering breath as she remembered that horrible man too vividly for comfort. Dante’s hand relinquished hers and moved to stroke her cheek lightly, a gesture of affection that Sir Morgan was not likely to miss.
“What has happened to Alys?” Rhea asked, shaking off the unpleasant memories of that voyage, Daniel Lewis, and the murder of his captain. “I promised her I would buy her indenture papers and free her. I wished her to see Camareigh. I owe her my life, for without her by my side I would not have survived the voyage from England.”
Sir Morgan smiled with genuine pleasure. “I should think she is enjoying Camareigh right now, for the agent sent to the colonies to search for you returned to Charles Town from Savannah, where he had been looking for you, and decided that the best way of serving the duke was to take this girl back to your home. He realized, after hearing her story, that you had become friends. Also, I am quite certain that the duke and duchess will have wished to express their gratitude to her in person.”
Rhea sat silent for a moment, a great happiness enveloping her as she thought of her friend Alys, who had dreamed of seeing Camareigh one day, who had kept her alive by asking questions about life at Camareigh, and now, because of a brave act, would have her dream come true.
“However,” Sir Morgan was continuing, his face hardening with his words, “what I have to say next may not be so pleasing for you to hear. I am under orders to return you to London,” he said, sounding now like the dutiful captain of HMS Portcullis.
The gray eyes of the captain of the Sea Dragon met Sir Morgan Lloyd’s, the message clear in their pale depths. “I am afraid, Sir Morgan, that you shall be disappointed in the carrying out of that order,” Dante informed the tense naval officer. “Rhea Claire is my wife,” he said softly as he stood up and moved behind his wife’s chair, resting his hands on her shoulders. “We were wed in New Providence, in church, and although we did not have the consent of her parents, the marriage is indissoluble.”
Sir Morgan stared up at Dante Leighton, noting the tender way his hand played with one of Lady Rhea’s golden curls. He had been well aware of the lovers’ glances they’d exchanged during this conversation, and now as he watched in almost embarrassed fascination, Lady Rhea pressed her lips to the back of Dante’s hand, then rested her cheek against it, as if gaining comfort from his touch.
“I see, well,” Sir Morgan commented, hesitating for a moment, “since my orders are to return Lady Rhea Claire Dominick to England, should I find her, as well as to apprehend one Dante Leighton, captain of the Sea Dragon and Marquis of Jacqobi, I see no reason why HMS Portcullis cannot lend escort to you on your voyage home. Since you are no longer Lady Rhea Claire Dominick, I think my orders must be adapted to suit the circumstances.”
“Thank you, Sir Morgan,” the captain of the Sea Dragon told his onetime adversary, a smile of genuine warmth lighting his eyes as he met the relaxed, slightly relieved gaze of the captain of HMS Portcullis. “My wife and I would consider it an honor if you would dine aboard the Sea Dragon as our guest this evening. My steward is really not to be bested by anyone on land or sea.”
“Please, Sir Morgan,” Rhea urged, “we would indeed be honored. We never thanked you properly for your timely assistance in St. John’s, a debt of gratitude not easily repaid, and now you bring me good news about my friend Alys. I am deeply in your debt, sir,” Rhea told him, her violet eyes wide with entreaty, making Sir Morgan feel that he’d be churlish to refuse so warm a request.
Sir Morgan smiled, the expression softening what was usually a stern-visaged face. “Thank you, m’lady, ’twill be my pleasure,” he responded, taking a sip of his brandy now that his business was safely concluded and he’d not had to draw his sword. He glanced around the warmly lit cabin and believed he was truly looking forward to this evening, and to the prospect of returning to England.
“’Twas quite fortunate, you falling in with us,” Dante remarked casually as he refilled Sir Morgan’s glass.
“’Twas no chance sighting, Captain,” Sir Morgan replied, a satisfied look in his eye. “I calculated that once you completed certain business, you would be steering a course this way. I suspected the general direction and have been circling the area for over a week now, hoping I would cross your bow. Of course, I did have a bit of assistance,” he added with a grin reminiscent of one of Dante’s own devilish grins.
“Oh, and what was that?” Dante asked, enjoying himself.
“I did fall foul of Bertie Mackay off the coast. He was returning to Charles Town, apparently believing that you were too. He was only too happy to inform me of his last sighting of the Sea Dragon, especially when I just happened to mention the warrant for your arrest.”
Dante raised his glass in a silent toast.
“If you would humor me, Captain, was your business successful?” Sir Morgan asked.
“Oh, yes, indeed,” Dante grinned, his hand tightening on Rhea’s shoulder while his gaze lingered on her golden head. “I found my treasure.”
* * *
A full moon was climbing above the yardarm of the Sea Dragon as her bowsprit swung toward English shores, the grinning red dragon eating up the distance as she entered familiar waters.
Standing on the quarterdeck of his ship, his arms wrapped possessively around Rhea, Dante stared toward the stars guiding the way north.
“We shall have many questions to answer when we arrive in England. And I must confess that I am ill at ease at the prospect of facing the duke. I will meet any man, but I have never had to look a father-in-law in the eye and explain why he was not invited to the nuptials.”
“My father is wonderful, Dante. He will understand,” Rhea reassured him. There was no doubt in her own mind on that score. She sighed with contentment, for soon she would be seeing her family again. She had missed them so, and now she wanted Dante to meet them—and for them to meet her husband.
“Fathers are not very understanding where their daughters are concerned. And since you are now mine, I know what a loss he will feel. You are a treasure, my dearest love, and he may well resent me,” Dante mused, vowing that no one, including this family of hers, would take her away from him. He at times felt jealous when she spoke of them, for the love between these Dominicks was deep and lasting, and was something he had never experienced. He was the last of his family, and now he wanted Rhea to become part of it. Her own family still held a great influence over her, though, and knew a part of her that he never would.
“We are together, my love,” Rhea said quietly. “That is all that matters.” And her words sounded like a renewal of her wedding vows.
Dante pressed his lips to her forehead, rubbing his cheek against a golden curl. “You know very little about me, Rhea. I fear I shall disappoint you one day and lose that love you have so unselfishly given to me. When you could have walked away from me that day in St. John’s, I very nearly died. You could have gained your freedom by calling out to Sir Morgan, but you stayed because of a small boy you scarcely knew, but who needed your help. I knew I loved you then, but it frightened me more than anything else I have ever had to face. I realized I needed you more than my life, little daffadilly,” Dante said huskily, his lips finding hers for a long, treasured moment.
“Never fear that loss, Dante,” Rhea told him. “Whatever we may have t
o face in England, we shall be together. I shall be by your side. I am your wife, and no one can take me away from you,” she promised him, her head heavy against his heart.
Dante closed his eyes, his hard body warmed by her soft, gentle strength. He felt as if he had come home, and although they had not yet reached the shores of England, he knew that with her standing beside him, he could meet any challenge that the future might hold for them at Merdraco.
* * *
Houston Kirby smiled to himself as he sat in the shadows of the companion ladder. He gave a nervous start of surprise as something pounced on his lap; then, with a shrug, he let the big orange tom settle down. This was apparently what Jamaica had every intention of doing as he stomped around in a circle before curling up on the little steward’s lap.
“Aye, ’tis a fine night, Jamaica,” Kirby remarked softly, staring up at the billowing sails of the Sea Dragon. His grin widened and he snorted as he looked to larboard and saw across the distance the sails of HMS Portcullis, their personal escort to England, which would assure them a safe arrival in their home port.
Away beyond the horizon where the stars met the sea, on the rocky north coast of Devon, in the west country, lay Merdraco. Kirby glanced back at the two figures standing so close, as if they were one, on the quarterdeck beneath the proud sails of the Sea Dragon.
“Aye, reckon ’twas destined all along, the captain and his lady,” Kirby told the purring tomcat. “Always figured I’d be bunkin’ with ye one day, ye ol’ scoundrel,” the little steward muttered as he scratched the top of Jamaica’s head, thinking it a mighty fine night indeed.
Order Laurie McBain's next book
in the Dominick Trilogy
Dark Before the Rising Sun
On sale October 2015
Order Laurie McBain's next book
in the Dominick Trilogy
Dark Before the Rising Sun
On sale October 2015
Moonstruck Madness
Book 1 in the Dominick Trilogy
by Laurie McBain
New York Times Bestselling Author
She’s one thing by day, something else altogether by night…
After escaping the slaughter of her clan at a young age, Scottish noblewoman Sabrina Verrick provides for her siblings by living a double life, until the night she encounters the duke, and her secret and all she holds dear is threatened…
He’s so disillusioned, he’s completely vulnerable…
With his inheritance at stake, Lucien, Duke of Camareigh, sets a trap for the Scottish beauty with the piercing violet eyes, never imagining what will happen when the trap is sprung…
“With entertaining characters, intriguing plots, and steamy romance, this novel will have the reader eagerly turning each page.” —Night Owl Reviews Top Pick, 4.5 Stars
“It will keep you on the edge of your seat, with your heart in your throat. A must-read and a keeper.” —My Book Addiction and More
For more Laurie McBain, visit:
www.sourcebooks.com
Dark Before the Rising Sun
Book 3 in the Dominick Trilogy
by Laurie McBain
New York Times Bestselling Author
Newly wed Lady Rhea Claire and Dante Leighton must return to England, where their reception is anything but warm.
Now armed with wealth and power, Dante is a target for the murderous smugglers who despoiled his family home, while Rhea’s father, the powerful Duke of Camareigh, vehemently rejects their marriage.
The two lovers thought themselves invincible together. But in the riveting conclusion of McBain’s epic trilogy, Dante’s determination to reclaim his family seat and Rhea’s desperation to win over her father threaten to cause an insurmountable rift that could break them apart forever.
What readers are saying:
“I absolutely adored this trilogy! Laurie McBain is a fantastic writer and wonderful storyteller.”
“The descriptions are vivid and detailed with rich dialogue capturing the period and personality of the characters. Well written and an exciting ending to this great trilogy.”
“Some books are worth reading and this is one of them. I loved this from beginning to end.”
For more Laurie McBain, visit:
www.sourcebooks.com
Wild Bells to the Wild Sky
by Laurie McBain
New York Times Bestselling Author
West Indies, 1571. Shipwrecked on an island for most of her life, Lily Christian has lived a life full of adventure, but none so great as when she falls in love with the dashing sea captain, Valentine Whitelaw.
Like her aristocratic mother before her, Lily radiates the selfless love and Spanish complexion that caught her privateer father’s eye when he captured a Spanish galleon for Queen Elizabeth. But Valentine must sort out gypsies, spies, and lost treasure all tied into plots to murder the queen before he can focus on the one woman who’s been there for him all along…
What readers are saying:
“A glorious romp through England and the Caribbean. One of the best romance escape novels that I have ever read.”
“Captivating! I think only a phenomenal writer like Laurie McBain could write novels like these.”
“Few authors can come close to the masterful storytelling of Laurie McBain… I highly recommend it.”
For more Laurie McBain, visit:
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When the Splendor Falls
by Laurie McBain
New York Times Bestselling Author
Virginia, 1860. For Leigh Alexandra Travers, life at her Virginia plantation was a paradise of summer picnics and sweet tea. Young and beautiful, she catches the sharp eye of Neil Braedon, raised to manhood by Comanches, not by the Braedons of Royal Bay Manor. Their stolen kiss inflames a passion that isn’t enough for either of them, and can’t be quenched even by the rising tides of war.
Though battles divide them, Leigh and Neil fight relentlessly to preserve their Southern roots and to win their future together, against all odds.
What readers are saying:
“This is the best romance novel I ever read.”
“This book swept me off my feet. I love history, the south, and Civil War. I’ve read it at least a dozen times.”
“Laurie McBain wrote some really engaging stories. This is one that still works today.”
For more Laurie McBain, visit:
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Devil’s Desire
by Laurie McBain
New York Times Bestselling Author
They called him the devil…
With his seductive golden eyes and sin-black hair, it’s no wonder Lord Alex Trevegne has earned himself the sinister title—not to mention his reputation as one of the most notorious rakes in England.
And she’s the only one who can conquer him…
When fate throws Alex and Elysia into a scandalous situation, Alex suddenly finds it surprisingly difficult to tear himself away from her.
As an unexpected passion blossoms between them, Elysia begins to wonder if after a lifetime of heartache she’s finally found heaven in the arms of the devil.
“A timeless historical romance that Stephanie Laurens or Rosemary Rogers would have wished they had written. Filled to the brim with historical richness and sexual tension.” —Night Owl Reviews Top Pick, 5 Stars
“A rich tale with various subplots that deliver a refreshing amount of mystery, suspense, and tension. When combined with the flourishing romance between the hero and heroine, it makes for an exciting read.” —Long and Short Reviews
For more Laurie McBain, visit:
www.sourcebooks.com
Tears of Gold
by Laurie McBain
New York Times Bestselling Author
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She has sworn never to love.
To many, she has a perfect life—freedom to travel the world, expensive gifts from wealthy men. Consummate actress though she is, Mara O’Flynn can never make herself believe the passion is real. One more job. That’s all she needs to ensure her family’s financial future. And California is just teeming with gold. There, her daring impersonation will fool everyone…except one man.
He has sworn never to forgive.
Mara didn’t plan for Nicholas Chantale. He has hunted her from the steamy streets of New Orleans all the way to the blinding brilliance of California gold country, only to have his dreams of vengeance crushed when he meets her in the flesh. For though he was sworn to kill her, she was the love he would die for.
“Spectacular…plenty of mystery and action to go around.” —Books Like Breathing
“Spunky characters and melodious dialogue.” —Long and Short Reviews
For more Laurie McBain, visit:
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The India Fan
by Victoria Holt
New York Times Bestselling Author
Blackmail. Arson. Murder. Obsession.
Beautiful as its peacock feathers may be, the priceless fan hidden deep within the Framling mansion has a legacy of death and destruction. And Drusilla Delany has no idea she’s been marked by its curse...
But the fan’s dark past might prove less of a danger than Fabian Framling himself. Dark, brooding, and dominating, will he be the one to save her from the fan’s cruel fate...or cause her demise?
“What a read! If you enjoy romance, curses, dark secrets, and a Gothic tale of epic proportions, then I would recommend The India Fan.” —My Book Addiction and More
“I would definitely read this story again and again for years to come.” —Long and Short Reviews
For more Victoria Holt, visit:
Chance the Winds of Fortune Page 56
