Captive Embraces

by Fern Michaels

  Wren gagged and threw up in the chamber pot, her shoulders heaving and arms trembling. She had lived on the streets long enough to know what his next step would be. She wanted to escape down the hall and throw herself into Missy-ma’am’s arms and tell her what he did. But she couldn’t. She remembered his heavy threat. Frau Holtz was too good to know how to watch out for herself. And Missy-ma’am. Beautiful Missy-ma’am. He would hurt her. Terribly.

  For a moment she thought of running away, but she knew she couldn’t. Frau Holtz and Sirena would suffer for it if she did.

  Perhaps she could ask for a bolt on the door. Hugging her knees to her chest, the child pondered her problem. The housekeeper would want to know why she wanted a lock and what could she say? Perhaps she would say she was afraid of spooks. Yet, in her heart, she knew a lock could never keep the master out.

  Caleb walked back through the crowds into the gaming parlor, saw Regan notice his return, and knew he could not escape his father’s company. Regan was signaling him to pay his compliments to Captain Dykstra. The pleasant amenities over, Caleb joined them for a drink. In quiet tones he explained about Stephan’s gambling methods and the warning he and Farrington had issued. “I know he’s Camilla’s father, but I couldn’t allow him to continue his practices. We run a clean ship here, and we wouldn’t want to sully our reputation. The question is, do you think Sirena should be told. He’s bound to get himself into difficult straits and, perhaps, she should be warned. Also, he’s lost fantastic sums of money, and I’m certain it is hers he’s so generous with. What do you think?”

  “Yes, definitely. Though, she probably already knows what effect Stephan is having on her finances. However, I shouldn’t advise you what to do, Caleb, you’re your own man. Whatever you think is right. Actually, I came here tonight to talk business. Do you have time to listen or should I return in the morning?”

  Caleb cast a practiced eye around the room. “Now will be fine. Lord Farrington has matters well in hand. What is it?” he asked, his heart pounding in his chest. Surely Regan didn’t know about Camilla coming to see him during the afternoon hours. Then he remembered Regan had said business, and Caleb sighed with relief.

  “I want to invest in your enterprise. Captain Dykstra has come to England with profits from the nutmeg crop in Java and I don’t like to keep reinvesting in my own venture. Whatever terms you decide upon, I would find most agreeable. Do you have to consult with Aubrey Farrington, or can we keep this between ourselves?”

  “Between us,” Caleb answered. “It would be part of my share.” How could he refuse? He couldn’t. Because of his guilt over Camilla, Caleb would have to compromise. “Of course, I would only agree if you consented to a binding agreement that the shares be sold back to me and no one else.”

  Regan smiled at Caleb. His son was a level-headed businessman and he was proud of him. “Of course,” he readily agreed. “Actually, I hesitated to ask you, but there is nowhere else to turn. Your ship would be a wise investment to earn some ready capital. I hate to admit it, son, but I’m nearly wiped out.”

  “And without Sirena’s help,” Caleb couldn’t help adding. Somehow it gave him pleasure to see the wounded look in Regan’s eyes. “I agree. I’ll arrive at the figures tonight after closing. Aubrey will be told, naturally; I feel it only fair. I’ll stop by your offices in the morning on my way to see Sirena.”

  “Sounds fine to me,” Regan smiled. “Caleb, Dykstra here has a yen for a—”

  Caleb laughed and pointed a finger. “She’s been waiting for somebody like you to come along. Tell her I said to give you a drink on the house.” Dykstra grinned and sauntered over to a voluptuous serving maid who was eyeing him openly.

  “Now that Dykstra has been taken care of, I think I’ll go home. I have a bride waiting for me,” Regan laughed. “Keep Dykstra here and see that he gets to my office in the morning.” He clapped Caleb soundly on the back and left.

  Caleb stared after him with tortured eyes. What would Regan do if he ever discovered that he and Camilla ... He swallowed hard and began to make his rounds, stopping to talk to various patrons and having a drink here and refusing one there.

  A few quick rolls of the dice and he found himself near Lord Farrington. He drew Aubrey into a secluded corner and quickly explained that he had agreed to sell Regan shares into the business.

  Farrington. didn’t take the news well. An angry spark lit the depths of his eyes and his body tensed.

  “He’s my father and the shares I sell him won’t have any effect on your profits. As a matter of fact, your share will improve in that we have more working capital to help us reap higher profits. It’s my ship and my money, don’t make me remind you of that again,” Caleb said coldly.

  “And does he pay you for these shares by the use of his wife?” Aubrey muttered to himself as he watched Caleb’s retreating back. “We’ll just see about that!” Every gambler kept an ace in the hole and sweet Camilla would be just that!

  Caleb deposited a bleary-eyed, satisfied Captain Dykstra at Regan’s office the following morning. He winked at his father and pointed a thumb at Dykstra. “He’ll never be able to say I wasn’t hospitable.”

  “That you were, boy. That you were,” Captain Dykstra smiled.

  “Here,” Caleb said, extending a slip of paper to Regan. “I worked out an informal agreement. If you have no revisions to suggest, sign it and bring your investment to the ship. I spoke to Lord Farrington and, while he was less than enthusiastic, he had no other choice than to accept it. With the money you invest, we can seal off a portion of the quarterdeck and buy more equipment. More space, more equipment, and we can raise the limit of patrons we take on every night.” Caleb held out his hand and his father shook it.

  Later, Caleb rang Sirena’s front doorbell and was surprised when she answered it herself. Her face lit up and she hugged him soundly. “How nice of you to come, Caleb.” Her expression sobered instantly. “Is something wrong, did something happen?”

  “No. Everything is fine. Sirena, where can we talk undisturbed?”

  Sirena frowned, but ushered him ahead of her into the library. She closed the door and waited expectantly.

  Caleb was blunt and to the point. “Your husband is losing vast amounts of money, and I suspect it is yours. Last evening, I caught him cheating. I discreetly brought him out on deck and, with the help of Lord Farrington, properly dressed him down. I don’t know if we made an impression. It was our intention to put the fear of God into him. Instead, he became downright nasty. The reason I came here was to ask if I should allow him to patronize the ship. I’m almost certain he will continue his swindling methods and it could be dangerous. I can’t keep my eye on him every moment One of these days someone else will realize what he’s doing and call him out. It’s bad for business and I may have to take extreme measures. I wouldn’t want anything to come between us, Sirena. Whatever you decide should be done, I will abide by it.”

  “There’s no decision to make, Caleb. There’s nothing I can do. Let him continue as he is. Their damn English laws are not made for the likes of me. I should be so lucky to have someone challenge Stephan out and kill him for me. I really don’t want to discuss it. I do, however, appreciate your coming here. I might not approve of what you’ve made of the Rana, but I also know a gift is a gift and I do wish you well. I love you, Caleb, and whatever makes you happy will make me happy. Please believe that.” The library doors opened and Frau Holtz and Wren entered. The old woman’s eyes lit up and she clutched Caleb to her stout bosom.

  Sirena glanced at Wren, whose eyes were as large as saucers and full of disbelief. “Come here, Wren, there’s someone I want you to meet. This man is very dear to me and he comes from the Spice Islands the same. as I do. His name is Caleb and he is Mynheer van der Rhys’ son.”

  “We were just coming in to show you Wren’s new dress,” Frau Holtz explained the intrusion. “Pink is her color, ja?”

  Wren was staring at Caleb. Oblivious of her froc
k, she slowly moved toward him and softly asked, “Do you know the story of the Sea Siren?” Her amber eyes lit like tapering candle flames.

  Caleb laughed, his strong, white teeth catching the light. “I know the story very well. She was a beautiful lady.” He took a step closer and dropped to his knee. “I think she was almost as beautiful as you are,” he said, taking her hand and bringing it to his lips. His smiling eyes sobered as he looked into Wren’s.

  When she spoke, it was quietly and her words startled Frau Holtz and Sirena both. “I hope the man the Sea Siren loved looked like you.”

  Caleb temporarily tore his gaze from Wren and looked at Sirena. After a brief period he whispered, “I hope he looked like me. I would be proud to have someone like the Sea Siren love me.”

  Wren giggled. “When I grow up, I’m going to be like the Sea Siren, then I can...” she hesitated. “Will you wait for me to grow up?”

  Caleb laughed and suddenly became serious. “I very well may do that.”

  “Caleb, this is my ward, Wren,” Sirena said, putting her arm around the girl’s shoulders. “Soon she’ll be off to school and, when she returns, she will be a proper young woman.” Wren couldn’t seem to take her eyes off Caleb, and the young man seemed to share her fascination.

  Sirena’s gaze sought Frau Holtz’s. He doesn’t know it yet, Sirena thought, but he’s looking at his destiny. Wren is Caleb’s future.

  “It’s time for Wren’s lessons, Frau Holtz,” Sirena said softly. “I want to be alone with Caleb for a bit.” She smiled at her “little brother,” who seemed intrigued with the bright-eyed youngster in her frothy pink dress.

  “Ja, the lessons,” Frau Holtz murmured as she drew an unwilling Wren along with her.

  “Caleb, can you stay and have lunch with me? It’s been so long since we have spoken.”

  “I’ll stay a while longer, but I must refuse your invitation for lunch. Sirena, did you know Captain Dykstra is here? Regan brought him to the ship last night. Sit down, there’s something I must tell you.”

  Sirena could feel the tension in him and her own nerves grew taut “Of course, I should have realized you wouldn’t come all the way to tell me about Stephan. You could have handled that yourself; you didn’t need my opinion. I’m not stupid, Caleb.”

  “I know you aren’t. That’s why I came today. And you’re right, I could have decided what to do with Stephan on my own and you need never have known. You taught me too well, Sirena.”

  “Get on with it, Caleb. Whatever it is must be important.”

  “As I told you, my father came to the ship last night. He told me his business is failing and he is in difficult straits. Most of his capital is tied up and he needs money now or his business will go under.”

  “And he managed this all by himself,” Sirena said in amazement. “Are you telling me he has only himself to blame?” She laughed. “What makes you think his business affairs interest me? I couldn’t care less.”

  “You can’t deceive me, Sirena. Right now, you’re delighted Regan is going bankrupt. The money he took from you has brought him no luck, and you’re glad. Once again, you’ve proven yourself victorious. Is your victory bitter or sweet?”

  Sirena leaned over and looked Caleb square in the eyes. “I did teach you well, little brother. Believe what you will; I love Regan and always will. I’m not a whole woman without him. I’ve lost him and I’ve nothing left except bitterness and humiliation. Now, why have you come here to give me this information?”

  “So you’ll understand why I allowed Father to buy shares in the gambling folly. I dropped off the agreement this morning.” He watched anxiously for some sign of her anger, but instead saw sadness. “I felt I owed you an explanation. I wanted you to hear it from me and not someone else. Least of all, from your ... from Stephan.”

  “I think it’s time you left, Caleb,” Sirena said, standing and moving to the door.

  “Tell me you understand, Sirena,” Caleb pleaded, his face young and boyish in his apprehension.

  “I understand, Caleb. I understand you are doing what you swore you would not do. Take sides. I don’t think I can forgive you. You’ve compromised yourself, and I think I know why. It’s because of Camilla.” Caleb was about to deny her accusation, but she raised her hand to silence him. “Yes, I saw the two of you together the night of your grand opening. You’ve been sleeping with her, haven’t you?” she questioned rhetorically.

  Caleb was stunned and his lean jaw trembled slightly. He became a boy again in her presence. He tried to defend his actions, but Sirena held up her hand again.

  “Somehow, Caleb, I thought there was one small portion of you that belonged to me. In many ways I felt we were bound to each other by an invisible cord from those days long ago when we risked life and limb to right a wrong. I’ve misjudged both you and Regan, and for that I’m sorry. I don’t know who has hurt me more. I’ve had all I can take from the van der Rhys men. Good-bye, Caleb, and good fortune.” She turned on her heel and stalked from the room. Moments later, she was running, tears streaming down her cheeks. She felt as though a part of her heart had been cut away.

  An hour before Stephan was due home, Sirena sought out Frau Holtz in the kitchens. She drew her aside and whispered to her. “In a fortnight, Frau Holtz, I want to leave this house. I want you to seek Jacobus out and get word to the men. Little by little, so no one will notice, I want our things taken to the ship—in the dead of night if necessary. There must be no mistakes to make Stephan suspicious. We’re going back to Batavia. Tomorrow, I will pen off a note to Tyler and Wren is to deliver it after Stephan leaves for the academy. Do you think you can handle this in secrecy, Frau Holtz?”

  The old eyes lit up happily. “Ja, Mevrouw. I can take care of it. What about the child, is she to come with us?” she asked anxiously.

  “But of course, there is no one else to look after her. I plan to take you all to Batavia and make certain that you are settled there.”

  The Frau grew agitated. “And you, Mevrouw, where are you going?”

  “I have a yen to see America. Perhaps I’ll go there, or perhaps I’ll just sail the ship till I see someplace that takes my fancy. I don’t belong anywhere anymore, Frau Holtz.”

  “The Mynheer, what of the Mynheer?”

  “What about him?” Sirena snapped. “That part of my life is over. It was over back in Batavia. I acted the fool. When something is over, it’s over. I should have realized this before. Regan doesn’t belong to me; Caleb doesn’t belong to me. I’m alone. Father and son have struck up an alliance and that is as it should be. There is no room in either of their lives for me. It would appear that you and the crew, as well as Wren, are saddled with me.”

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Stephan, in a lighthearted mood, talked endlessly through lunch. Sirena couldn’t have cared less. She allowed him to drone on and on, listening with half an ear. She tried to be amicable to Stephan since he currently left her totally to herself.

  “And what have you planned for the next few days, Sirena?” he asked, nibbling on his lamb chop.

  “Whatever could I have planned, Stephan? I haven’t left the house in weeks.” Although she tried to keep her voice level, even she heard the note of contempt which crept into it.

  “Ah, then you have none. Good. I’ve organized a little outing for us. I’ll expect you to be ready in approximately half an hour.”

  “Where are we going? I must know so I can wear something suitable.”

  “What you have on will be fine, darling,” he said in his most unctuous voice. “It is only a short carriage ride, nothing more.”

  “I don’t think so today, darling,” she imitated his tone. “I have a violent headache coming on—”

  Stephan threw his flatware against a china plate, creating a loud clattering sound. “I said I would expect you in half an hour. You have no choice, Sirena. Go prepare yourself!”

  Sirena watched the muscles work in his jaw and his lips compress. God,
how she hated him. “And I told you, I don’t care to go.” Her voice was level and strong, meeting his in challenge.

  Stephan took his attention away from her and continued eating his lunch. She knew he wasn’t finished with her and she waited for his next move. “Sirena, darling, have you noticed any of your jewelry missing? I was looking for my gold timepiece this morning and it was nowhere to be found. I wondered if you, too, were missing any valuables. How long did you say your stoic Frau Holtz worked for you?”

  Sirena gasped. He wouldn’t! In her heart she knew he could and would. It wouldn’t be the first time an employer had accused a servant of thievery and had the poor unfortunate sent to prison. “It won’t work, Stephan. I would swear to Frau Holtz’s innocence. Your accusation won’t hold water.”

  “Ah, darling, you women are so loyal, so sentimental. The courts would see at first glance that you would forgive your servant of so many years almost anything. Especially when you protested the poor woman was getting on in her years. But I’m afraid, darling, the judicial system is not based on sentimentality and, as master of this house, it is my word that would stand.”

  Sirena sprang up from her place at the table. Thank heaven she would only have to endure another two weeks of this insanity. By then, the Sea Spirit would be ready to sail them back to Batavia.

  “Where are you going, darling? You haven’t finished your lunch?”

  “I’m going to prepare myself, as you requested, Stephan!” she retorted hotly, feeling his cold glare as she turned from the room.

  In the coach, Sirena stared silently out the window. Jacobus had not been in sight when the carriage had been brought around to the front drive. At the reins was Stephan’s own driver. Rathbone acted as footman. The day was bright. Early summer had warmed the air and the people of London were taking advantage of the fine weather. The busy streets were more crowded than usual, and from several pubs the sounds of minstrels’ music wafted out into the open.