‘They will hang you together,’ he said softly. ‘Unless of course they save you for the fire.’
She winced. ‘Perhaps I deserve the fire,’ she muttered, ‘for what I have done to Kells.’
He caught both her hands, as if to make her his prisoner here in the gloomy fortress of El Morro, where he alone commanded. His dark face was intense, his voice held an urgent appeal.
‘Carolina, forget all this - run away with me! There is a galleon in the harbour - the El Dorado.' Carolina looked at him thoughtfully, for she had seen that great white and gold ship on her way here. ‘Her captain and her crew will be drunk tonight, for there are festivities in the town. The captain and his officers will be attending a party given in his honour - there will be only a skeleton watch to guard the ship. Here in the dungeons of El Morro are the captain and crew of the ship that brought you here - the Ordeal. I could release them, I could find them a longboat. It would be an easy matter to overpower the watch on the El Dorado. We could sail away on that white and gold vessel, Carolina. We - ’
‘Sail where?’ she cut in sadly. ‘To Spain where I would be found out, for I am, as you say, conspicuous? To England where you would doubtless be turned over along with your ship to the Spanish ambassador, who would get in touch with Spain and have us both burned by the Inquisition? To the Dutch who would not have us? To the French with whom my people are at war? Oh, no, Ramon, there is no place in this world for us.’ She studied him wistfully. ‘If I had met you before I knew Kells, loved Kells . . . but I did not. And in any case, it is too late. For the Marquess of Saltenham will not go to his death easily - he will fight for his life. He will ask questions and it will dawn on him why I have done this, why I have accused him falsely.’
‘Yes,’ he agreed. ‘That would occur to a man.’
‘And he is most marvellous persuasive.’
‘You seem to know him very well,’ he said sadly.
She caught her breath. She had not expected that question. ‘I am sorry, Ramon. But I do know Robin - very well. He is not to be trusted and you should not feel sorry for him. He masqueraded as Kells and sank English ships. It is because of Robin that we are here instead of living in comfort in Kells’s country seat in Essex.’ Her voice was bitter. ‘Were it not for Robin Tyrell and his cursed mother-in-law, Kells would be a viscount and I would be a viscountess. But because of their lies, Kells could not return to England to take his rightful place and was driven back to buccaneering!’
Ramon del Mundo’s tawny eyes widened. It had simply not occurred to him that the dauntingly lovely lady before him might be wife to an English peer.
He frowned. ‘But surely there must be some other way than for you to - ’
‘Robin Tyrell is eloquent,’ she cut in with a sigh. ‘He will persuade everyone within the sound of his voice that Don Diego is the real Kells. And with what can Don Diego refute him? With a past he cannot remember because it never existed? And so the trap would close on him, Ramon. He would be in its jaws without ever knowing who he really was - or why I loved him so much!’ No need for Don Ramon to know what she had told Kells! ‘He would go to his death crying honour to God and Spain. I cannot let it happen, Ramon. Surely you can understand that.’
His grip on her hands tightened.
‘I understand that you are my captive here in El Morro,’ he said evenly. ‘I understand that if you disappear tonight, no one will know where you have gone. I understand that much!'
‘If you think to carry me away against my will,’ she said slowly, ‘I promise you this: I would hate you forever.’ Her silver eyes flashed him a challenge. ‘Is that what you want?’
He winced. She had struck on the one flaw of his whole scheme. He would have given up everything for her - position, honour, his future, but - he wanted her regard, he wanted her to love him.
‘We are all of us trapped,’ she said soberly. ‘And we cannot get out. Mine is the only way, Ramon. I will denounce the marquess.’
You will die beside him, he thought unhappily.
The thought was unspoken but it must have shown on his face for when she next spoke it was on a note of sadness. ‘And when I am gone, Kells will forget me. He will - with your help, Ramon - become that true caballero of Spain that he seems today. And you, too, will forget me, querido.'
The soft sound of that caressing word ‘querido’ went through him on a long tremor. ‘I will not forget you,’ he said huskily. ‘I will never forget you.’
A bittersweet smile passed over her lovely mobile features. ‘You think that now,’ she said gently. ‘But time heals much. I wanted to die when I thought Kells was dead in Port Royal, but I think that in time I would have wanted to live again. And if I had met you - say a year or two hence, who knows? It will be the same with you, Ramon. You will find some pretty lady who cares for you as I care for Kells and you will forget all about me.’
He wished it could be so, but he knew in his bones that it was not. He would never forget her. He would carry her memory with him always.
Still holding her wrists, he sat and looked at her. He could see her as she would look tomorrow, fragile and determined, standing before the governor and pointing a finger at the Marquess of Saltenham and denouncing him as Kells. Pounding nails into the marquess’s coffin with every word.
He could see her as she would look later, when they had hanged the marquess and consigned her to a fiery death. He could see her high on a stake above the moaning, praying crowds at the auto-da-fé, with the orange flames licking her body and sending her fair hair up in a bright pyre.
His hold on her hands loosened.
‘Go, then,’ he said dully.
She paused. She bent and pressed a gentle kiss upon his forehead. He closed his eyes and fought against the desire to seize her, to hold her here, to shut her up like a bright bird in this fortress and fight the world for her.
But she had spoken truly - she would hate him forever if he did. And he would not be able to bear the sight of her mourning Kells. Even the knowledge that she was mourning him would be a rowel to his heart.
Don Ramon del Mundo, gentleman of Spain, turned away from her and closed his eyes that she might not see the bright tears that shone in them.
‘Good-by, Carolina.’ He said it softly and was never sure later that he had said it all. Had he really said it, or was he only saying good-by to her silently in his heart?
She was gone when he opened his eyes. He could see the hem of her black riding skirt just disappearing through the open doorway.
When he sank to his seat at the heavy wooden table, he felt old. It was as if his youth had gone blithely through that door into the corridor, following the beautiful reckless woman to whom he had given his heart.
And then with a great sob he dropped his head to his hands and his lean body rocked in silent misery.
He loved the woman who had just departed. And he knew that by letting her pursue her present course he had just consigned her to the flames.
After a while he sat up and poured himself another glass of wine. As he drank it, the story of the jaguar and the woman came back to haunt him. Carolina’s own words rang through his head, danced behind his eyes. Because she was beautiful and brave - and she was only protecting her own ... I could not let her die for it.
The jaguar had been ready to die for her cubs. Just as Carolina was now ready to die for the man she loved. Or die beside him.
If only he could have been that man! Don Ramon’s heavy sigh was brought up from the depths of him. This splendrous woman of light had entered into his blood. A few minutes later he set the glass down hard and stood up. His expression was very resolute.
Carolina was only protecting her own. He could not let her die for it.
32
Carolina returned to the house on the Plaza de Armas with a sense of destiny. She would hurl her life away. She would not let Kells die for her - going against everything he now believed in. Because of her folly he had lost his king’s pardon
. Because of her he had been forced back into buccaneering. Because of her caprice in sending away the necklace he had lost his chance to become a planter and so had nearly died in Port Royal, a circumstance that had resurrected him a Spaniard. She was the instigator of the long chain of events that had brought him to this place and to this desperate pass.
And tomorrow she would pay for it - she and the Marquess of Saltenham.
She must explain it all to Penny, she must make her understand. After all, someday Penny might be reconciled with the family again. In any event, Penny could explain everything to Virgie - no, Carolina would write a letter to Virgie and she would ask Penny to guard it with her life and to somehow get it sent to Essex. Penny was very resourceful - she would find a way.
She sat down and swiftly penned a letter.
‘Dear Virgie,' the letter began. ‘I must make you understand what has happened to Rye and why it is probable that you will never see him again. ’ She went on to explain, adding, ‘I am sorry to do this to Robin Tyrell, for I think he once loved me in his way, but it is the only way I can save Kells.’ She scratched that out and wrote ‘Rye' firmly over the name 'Kells’. ‘I think it best that Mother not know of this - or Sandy Randolph. Fielding would not care. But I would prefer Mother to think of me safe and rich and happy in some far place - just let her go on believing that, Virgie. And I wanted you to know all of this for another reason, too. Robin - the Marquess of Saltenham - has told us that Rye’s father is dead and that Rye is now Lord Gayle. But in effect Rye has died, too, for he is now another person, and I hope and pray that as Don Diego Vivar he can find happiness and the safe peaceful home that I - with all my mistakes - have prevented him from having for so long. So Andrew can safely claim the title and you will be Lady Gayle. My conscience tells me that what I am doing to Robin is wrong, but my love for Rye tells me that what I am doing is right. I will never see you again and it may be that I will not live past tomorrow, but I hope you will find it in your heart to forgive me for bringing another man to his death to save Kells.’ Again she scratched out the name and substituted ‘Rye’. The parchment was blurred with tears. She signed it hastily, ‘Carolina’, and sealed it with red sealing wax.
Then she went to find Penny.
She found her in the governor’s courtyard, well concealed by palms, sitting thoughtfully with head in her cupped hands and her elbows resting on her knees.
‘I want you to see that Virgie gets this,’ Carolina said solemnly.
‘Well, how am I to give it to her?’ demanded Penny.
‘You will eventually escape from this place. Or at least gain some neutral territory where a letter could be given to a reliable sea captain whose voyage touched England.’
‘That is probably true,’ sighed Penny. ‘But if I escape, so will you. Did you know they have arrested Robin Tyrell?’
‘I know they have arrested the Marquess of Saltenham,’ Carolina said through stiff lips.
‘Oh, don’t be so formal,’ mocked Penny. ‘After all, you and Robin were quite close for a time!’
That was one thing she hadn’t told Penny! Carolina felt her colour rising. ‘Anything Robin told you about me he probably made up out of whole cloth!’ she said airily.
‘Oh, I do hope not!’ laughed Penny. ‘The story is too delicious not to be true. Making love there on the black sands beneath that great volcano in the Azores!’
Carolina gave her a worried look. ‘Now about the letter - ’ she began hastily.
‘Oh, stop going on about the letter. Anyone would think you were making your will! Hang on to the letter and take it to Virgie yourself.’
‘I - won’t be able to,’ said Carolina.
‘Carol.’ Penny peered at her. ‘Are you ill? Are you coming down with a fever?’ She felt her sister’s forehead. It was quite cool. ‘What is wrong?’
‘Nothing. I just see things clearly - at last.’ She paused and moistened her lips. ‘I’m sorry about Robin - I could see you liked him.’
‘Oh, nothing will happen to him.’
Carolina’s silver-grey eyes widened. ‘Why not?’
Penny shrugged. ‘Oh, because he’ll manage to get a stay of execution until proof can be brought from England. And it won’t be slow in coming. After all, he has a wife there.’
‘And a vicious mother-in-law,’ said Carolina. ‘They should bring her to Havana. Perhaps she’d be shipwrecked along the way!’ Her voice was bitter.
Penny looked up sharply. ‘I can see you’re upset,’ she said. ‘Very well, give me the letter. I promise to guard it well. I’ll sew it into my bodice.’
‘Use careful stitches,’ advised Carolina.
Penny laughed. That throaty laugh that so intrigued men.
And Carolina went back to walk through the rooms of this last of the houses that she and Kells had shared together and contemplate the last of her life.
It was there that Penny found her, in the big front bedroom.
‘I won’t let you do it, you know,’ she said.
‘You read the letter,’ gasped Carolina. Somehow she had not expected Penny to do that.
‘Of course I read the letter,’ Penny said scornfully. ‘When you come to me babbling that you won’t be able to deliver it yourself and all that rot? Of course I read it!’
Carolina moistened her lips. ‘Then you know what I am going to do.’
‘I know what you’re planning to do, but of course I’m not going to let it happen.’
‘Penny,’ said Carolina soberly, ‘once I have admitted before all the world that I am the Silver Wench, nothing can save me. And Robin Tyrell goes with me.’
‘Oh, you can go to your death if you’re fool enough to want to.’ Penny’s voice was contemptuous. ‘But you’re not taking Robin Tyrell with you!’
That set Carolina back on her heels. ‘You mean you’re in love with Robin?’ she gasped. Oh God, that complicated things! She had never once thought. . .
‘I don’t know whether you would call it love exactly, but I want Robin - and I intend to have him.’ Penny was glaring at her.
Carolina passed a hand over her forehead. At the moment she felt torn and confused. ‘Penny, if I don't do it - ’
‘Then the trail leads back to Don Diego,’ Penny said ruthlessly. ‘And the truth!’
‘It’s because Robin impersonated Kells when he sank English ships that we’re in this mess!’ defended Carolina.
'Kells let Robin live because I begged him to, and then Robin turned on him with lies - ’
‘That was his awful mother-in-law!’
‘I don’t care who it was! Robin went along with it. It’s because of him Kells couldn’t return to England, it’s because of him Kells was hurt, for if Robin had stood by his confession we’d neither of us have been in Port Royal for the earthquake. If anyone deserves to die, it’s Robin!’
‘Oh, come along, be your age!’ Penny’s voice was impatient. ‘I wouldn’t mind if Robin confessed again to what he’d done - but back in England. Not here, not where he’d die for it. They might kill him just for lying about being the King’s emissary. And you seem to forget, no one has accused Don Diego of anything!’
‘But they will!’ cried Carolina desperately. ‘Robin will accuse him - the moment he sees him.’
Penny thought about that. She gave a fatalistic shrug. Carolina could see that her sister was shucking off the problem. Perhaps because she was in love. She made a last attempt to make Penny understand. ‘Penny,’ she wailed. ‘I don’t want to hurt Robin, I just - ’
Penny’s malicious smile flashed. ‘Hurt Robin?’ she echoed scornfully. ‘I doubt you could bring yourself to do so, you’re so squeamish! I might, but not you. Have you thought what it would be like to stand there, watching them hang him? For I have no doubt they’d insist on treating your tender eyes to that spectacle!’
Carolina shivered and closed her eyes. She had not got that far yet in her mind. Indeed she had not reached past the accusation stage. Now silen
tly she asked herself if she could do it. Really do it.
‘But I must do it, Penny!’ she burst out. ‘Can’t you understand? Kells is hurt, his memory is gone, he may never recover. I can’t let him be led blindly to his death, believing he’s somebody else! Oh, Penny!’ Suddenly she saw a way out - for Robin at least. ‘After I denounce Robin, you can sway the governor. After all, you’re sleeping in his bed!’
‘Not while he has an attack of the gout!’ Penny said cynically.
‘But afterward, you can talk to the governor, you can persuade him that killing Robin might precipitate an English attack on Havana itself, you can get him to arrange an escape!’
‘For Robin and you?’ Penny asked slowly.
‘Not for me, I don’t ask it!’ cried Carolina, for she could see that Penny was considering the possibility. Across from her those sapphire eyes were narrowing in thought.
‘An escape, not for you - just for Robin . . .’ mused Penny. Suddenly the corners of her mouth curled in wry amusement. ‘You really are the little martyr, aren’t you, Carol? And what do you think your precious Don Diego will be doing meanwhile? Do you think for a moment he’ll let you perish upon the gallows or at the stake?’
Oh, God, there was that! Carolina’s face went a shade paler. She had forgotten that Kells would try to save her. And if they spirited her away to Spain, he would undoubtedly follow - and die for it.
‘But it’s all a wild dream,’ Penny mocked. ‘Because I won’t let you do it - any of it.’ She turned to look out the window, and took a step towards it. ‘I think I see Don Diego coming now.’ She flung the words over her shoulder at Carolina. ‘Or should I call him Kells?’
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