Pirate's Conquest

by Mary Martin

  Under topsails alone the Tempest sailed toward the island. They went in slowly due to the deadly reefs prevalent in the area. The leadsman chanted each change of depth.

  "Ten fathoms!"

  "Keep her on course!" Rayne yelled to Ely, who was at the helm.

  "Anchors all clear, sir!"

  The ship was buzzing with action and excited voices. Home port for the crew. A tropical prison of a sort for Starlin. Less than a mile from shore, Rayne gave the order to drop anchor.

  "Aye, aye, Captain" came the eager reply, and soon after, the topmen were busily furling the sails as the anchor cable roared into the sea.

  "We'll be climbing down the rope ladder," Rayne explained to Starlin. "It isn't dangerous if you take your time. I'll be right beside you."

  As Starlin stared up at him searing anger surged through her. Right beside her, he'd said. Of course, he would not wish to lose the prisoner he'd worked so hard and sacrificed so much to capture.

  She had dressed in a pair of the cabin boy's breeches and a faded blue shirt. The breeches molded to the fine lines of her legs and rounded derriere and were secured at the waist with a dark sash. She had also confiscated a pair of Matthew's knee-high boots that were a tad big, but would protect her feet better than satin slippers. Around her ebony hair that the damp air prompted to curl in riotous ringlets around her face, she tied a piece of scarlet cloth. She also wore the gold scorpion medallion on a chain around her neck.

  Rayne had taken one look at her and grinned appreciatively.

  Across the expanse of crystal blue water a crowd of people were beginning to gather on the shore. She could see them waving and laughing gaily. Rayne's hand at her elbow prompted her forward.

  "I'll go over the side first. You wait until I'm on the ladder then it's your turn." At her nod, he swung easily over the rail and motioned her to follow.

  Starlin copied his actions, earning a nod of approval from him as she began the descent on the rope ladder. Midway, she somehow lost her footing, and before she knew it she had slipped two rungs and was dangling by her fingertips. Rayne swung behind her, a protective arm wrapped around her waist. She could feel his heart beating rapidly against her. Had he been alarmed by her near fall, she wondered? No, just afraid he would lose an important pawn.

  "Now—slowly this time," he ordered in her ear, his warm body pressing close against her. "One step. Good .. . that's better."

  She grumbled beneath her breath, grateful that none of the men, or Rayne, could see her flushed face. Somehow, she must learn these barbaric ways if she had any hope of surviving to ever see England again.

  Once inside the longboat, Rayne saw to her comfort, then took a position at the fore of the boat, one booted foot braced before him.

  Starlin stared at the proud set of his broad shoulders, the fluid way his body moved in perfect timing with the sway and dip of the rowing craft. His tawny hair, long and rakish now, stirred in the light breeze. Since finding her jewels behind the secret panel in the trunk, he appeared once again, the stranger. She was more certain than ever that he was intent on something, something so awful she feared to even contemplate what it might be.

  Chevaz and the two other men put their backs to the six oars, and it wasn't long before the boat ran lightly across the ivory sand of the shore.

  Rayne leaped onto the beach and offered his hand to Starlin.

  "Watch your step."

  His expression was unreadable but his reference plainly understood.

  Starlin allowed him to take her hand, but she barely felt the touch of his fingers. She was staring unbeliev­ably at the familiar sight of the schooner Ice Princess moored in a sheltered cove.

  "Rayne, how is it the Ice Princess is here ahead of us?" she could not stop herself from asking.

  "A better sailor than any on board The Tempest brought her." He glanced over toward the cove.

  "Who is this mysterious person?' Starlin persisted, her brow creasing slightly.

  "Not now, pet," Rayne teased, with his usual charm, deftly changing the subject. "Come greet some of the villagers who no doubt are most anxious to meet the captain's new bride."

  "And how did they know that you had taken a wife?"

  "There are ways" was all that he said before turning away, leaving Starlin continuing to wonder who it was who had piloted the Princess. Her attention was drawn to several women who stepped from the crowd to hand her a bouquet of colorful flowers.

  "Welcome, milady. We hope that you will be happy here."

  Starlin could read nothing but kindness in their eyes. They seemed genuinely pleased by her arrival.

  "Thank you. I must say your thoughtfulness pleases me." She smiled. Everyone certainly seemed to be going out of their way to make her feel welcome. The women were gracious, and the children curious. Starlin did not realize that the entire island was in awe of the woman who had managed to capture their captain's heart. Everyone, that is, save one.

  Bettina stood aloofly distant from the throng of well-wishers, observing the scene with narrowed eyes. With a hiss of rage, she spun about and left the beach for the thick covering of trees.

  Starlin quickened her steps to catch up with Rayne, following him along the path of crushed shells that wound through a sweep of coconut palms.

  They walked through a lovely village that contained rows of neat cottages and several shops, all well kept, the grounds surrounding them immaculate and color­ful with wild tropical flowers. By the time that they climbed the steep mountain trail to the whitewashed cottage nestled in the hillside, Starlin was weary and longing for a hot bath. She followed Rayne up the stairs onto the veranda, impressed by such elegance in the primitive surroundings.

  "Like it?" he asked her softly, pride gleaming in his eyes.

  "It is not at all what I expected," she replied, then glanced around him at the sound of the door opening.

  "Scorpio! At last you have returned!" a female voice exclaimed happily.

  Starlin could only stare dumbstruck as a young girl hurtled herself into Rayne's outstretched arms. Rayne swung her around in circles seeming to delight in her joyous giggling.

  "It's good to see you, Jamie. I've missed you," he said, his eyes regarding the young girl warmly.

  "I'm so glad that you had a safe journey," Jamie replied, eyes shining brightly. "You'll be staying for a while, I hope?"

  Rayne released her. "I'm afraid I can't stay very long." He saw her blue eyes glance furtively over his shoulder. "Although I think that it is someone else that you wish to see more than me ... hmmm?"

  "Well, maybe just a bit," the girl admitted with an impish grin. At that instant her gaze fell upon Starlin. With a sheepish expression, she stepped away from Rayne into a quick curtsy. "Excuse my manners, it is a pleasure to welcome you, milady."

  "My wife Starlin, Jamie." Rayne performed the introductions and then turned away to give instruc­tions to the man who had just appeared with his sea chest.

  "It's a pleasure to meet you, Jamie." Starlin smiled warmly.

  "I hope my enthusiastic welcome didn't offend you," Jamie said, looking somewhat sheepish. "It wasn't very ladylike, I know. But sometimes I tend to forget to do. things as I should."

  "I understand perfectly," Starlin replied, laughing softly.

  "You are not at all what I expected," Jamie said on impulse.

  "My wife is full of surprises, I assure you," Rayne's voice cut in.

  Starlin cast him a look designed to let him know that she did not find his remark very amusing.

  Jamie glanced back and forth between them, ap­praising the two volatile people. She saw a muscle quiver slightly in Scorpio's lean jaw, a hint of rebellion in Starlin's eyes. Why was there such a strained relationship between the captain and his new bride? She wondered if Bettina had welcomed them as yet. Jamie knew her sister was seething because of Scorpio's marriage. And when Bettina was unhappy about something, everybody knew it. When word of Scorpio's marriage had reached Antare, Bettina had thr
own an enormous tantrum.

  "The servants have everything ready for you," Jamie said. "You both must be exhausted and hungry. Why don't you go on inside, there is time enough to talk on the morrow." She met Rayne's eyes, and asked quietly, "Did Ely go to the villager'

  "Aye, and most likely wondering why you have not come to greet him as yet," Rayne told her, smiling briefly.

  Jamie smiled back at him, her dimples flashing. "If you both will excuse me, I think I'll leave you to your privacy.

  With a flurry of ruffled skirts, the young girl hurried off the veranda and disappeared along the path that led down the hillside.

  Rayne held the door for Starlin.

  "Whatever you wish while you are here, you only have to ask. Anything and everything is at your disposal."

  Starlin went inside, and was pleased by what she saw. She glanced around her in amazement. While the outside of the cottage had been well maintained, she had not suspected the inside would be so comfortably elegant. She was standing in the entrance hall, a drawing room to her left and a dining room to her right. Both were expensively furnished and tastefully appointed. Dark wood beams supported the ceilings in each room. There were thick carpets covering the floors in a pale moss green. The windows were long and without draperies, small panes partially obscured with white shutters that could be closed to shut out the afternoon heat. They were half open at the moment to allow the breeze to circulate throughout the house.

  A servant dressed in a flowing white shirt and baggy pants came forward to greet them.

  "We were told you would be arriving any day," the silver-haired man stated with a welcoming smile. He nodded politely at Starlin before turning his attention to Rayne. "I trust you had a good journey, sir?"

  "Better than expected," Rayne replied, casting a meaningful smile at Starlin. "Romani, this is my wife. Lady Starlin is to have anything that she wishes, with one exception—" His eyes held Starlin's. "A boat, or access to one."

  "Very well, sir," the servant replied, sounding a tad perplexed. "It shall be as you say."

  Starlin was affronted. She ignored Rayne's steely gaze and addressed the servant.

  "Romani, might I be shown to my bedchamber. I am really quite weary and would like to have a bath and rest before dinner."

  "Of course, mistress. There is plenty of time. Dinner is at eight o'clock."

  Romani hurried ahead of her down a hallway papered in grasslike silk, the walls adorned by watercolors of the island. Starlin followed behind the spry little man, having to quicken her pace to keep up with him.

  Entering a large room at the back of the house, Starlin was delighted to see that it was bright and airy, with wide louvered doors that opened out onto a veranda. Romani saw that she was pleased.

  "I am glad that the chamber meets your approval, mistress," he said. "My wife and I did our best to make the room presentable after hearing that the captain had married and was coming home."

  "Your wife?" Starlin exclaimed, glad that there was another woman living in the house. She walked about the room, admiring the furnishings, running a hand over the satin coverlet of deep rose on the large canopied bed. Rose silk panels wavered in the breeze on all sides of the bed. "I'll look forward to meeting her."

  "Maria should be returning soon. She went to the village to purchase some items that she needed for the dinner this evening." A speculative look gleamed in his dark eyes. "The captain sent word that everything must be perfect when you arrived."

  Starlin didn't wish to discuss Rayne. She deftly turned the conversation.

  * "Which of the rooms belongs to you and your wife?"

  "My wife and I do not live in this house. We live in

  the village. We arrive just before sunrise, and leave after the house is quiet for the night. The cottage has only this one bedroom." "I see. We'll have the house to ourselves then?' "Completely."

  "How like the captain," Starlin murmured under her breath.

  "Pardon, mistress?"

  , "Everything is very nice." Starlin told him. "Tell your wife I am pleased."

  After the servant had left, promising to return with water for her bath after she had rested, Starlin wandered over to the armoire which covered half the space of one wall and opened the door. She was astounded to find an assortment of gowns in every color of the rainbow hanging within. Silks and satins, from the palest pink to the deepest blue—all the same size, and by their appearance, made for one particular person.

  "They're all for you" came a husky voice.

  Surprised, Starlin whirled around. A tall, voluptuous woman with flowing dark hair and assessing eyes was standing just inside the doors off the veranda. She was dressed in a colorful print skirt and blouse. Several gold chains were around her neck and a thin gold chain was secured around one trim ankle. She was sun browned from hours spent in the tropical sun.

  Everything about her exuded sexuality. Starlin knew immediately that this woman had been Rayne's mistress. She could see it in the woman's eyes as they traveled the length of her—calculating, comparing.

  "You are Starlin," the sultry beauty said, her dark eyes sweeping over Starlin in a manner that immedi­ately forewarned the girl that this was not going to be a pleasant encounter.

  "And who, might I ask, are you?" Starlin inquired.

  "I am Bettina. I take it you have not heard of me, hmmm?”

  "From your tone, I suspect that you thought I might have," Starlin returned after a brief pause.

  Bettina stared unmoving at Starlin as if she could not

  quite believe what her eyes were telling her. I

  "I was right all along. I knew you would look exactly as you do," Bettina's husky voice whispered.

  A shiver raced along Starlin's spine. "What do you

  mean?”

  Bettina stared into Starlin's violet eyes and saw the truth of her words so many months before.1! told him all about you, you know. He knew as soon as he laid eyes on you what you were to him."

  "You talk as if you had somehow predicted our meeting," Starlin said, a note of disbelief in her voice.

  "Perhaps I did," Bettina returned.

  "That's preposterous," Starlin scoffed. Yet Rayne's own words the night of their first meeting had not been forgotten by her. A chill swept over Starlin. "How could you have known?'

  "It was the ring that drew him, but love is the only thing that can hold him," Bettina stated calmly. "And I do not think that you can give him that."

  Starlin was astounded by the statement. She felt trapped by the woman's penetrating eyes. "And I wonder why you should even care?" she said dryly.

  Bettina narrowed her eyes as if to take better measure of the young woman standing in front of her. "But you're worried that I do, aren't you? I see the answer in your eyes. Hear me well, Englishwoman. You and I will never be friends. For I know what will soon follow—what must transpire before he can be at peace within himself. I only came here to tell you not to fight the events. It will only bring more pain."

  Even though she thought the Gypsy's words ridicu­lous, Starlin could not stop the quivering of apprehen­sion that raced through her. Forcing her voice to sound calm, she said, "I don't need your advice, Bettina. I think you'd best leave now. I don't wish to hear any more of what you have to say."

  Bettina shrugged indifferently.

  "You'll never hold him," she said as she left. "If you were wise, you'd admit to yourself why he is so obsessed with you."

  Placing a hand to her forehead, Starlin sank onto a nearby lounge chair and stared up at the ceiling. Her hand crept to the gold medallion around her neck, her fingers tracing over the outline of the scorpion. More than ever now she felt that she must find someway to escape him. She wondered how it could be possible to care about someone, even though you feared that they might destroy everything you held dear. Tired from the long journey, Starlin slept for some time before she was awakened by a knock at the door.

  "Come in," she called out groggily.

 
Romani entered the room followed by two young boys carrying buckets of steaming hot water.

  "For your bath," Romani explained, gesturing to the boys to pour the water into a tub behind the silk screen. When everything was in readiness, he turned to leave. "Can I do anything else for you, mistress?"

  Starlin shook her head.

  He bowed his head. "Very well. Dinner will be served in one hour. The captain has secured a girl from the village to help you with your toilet. She will be here shortly."

  As soon as Romani closed the door behind him, Starlin stepped eagerly behind the screen and began to disrobe. After securing her tumbling curls on top her head with several combs, she stepped into the steaming water and sank down into the tub. The water smelled heavenly. It was scented with attar of roses. Coinci­dence, she wondered, or had Rayne ordered her favorite scent especially for her? A large sponge and a bar of soap floated on top the water.

  She washed herself with long, luxurious strokes that gave her skin a soft pink glow. Feeling totally relaxed, she rested her head back against the ornate copper tub, allowing the cares of the past weeks to slip from her mind. Several raven tendrils curled becomingly about her face and forehead, giving her an innocently provocative look that was heightened by the sleepy, lazy droop of ebony lashes.

  The night air wafted into the room, jasmine and hibiscus a delight to the senses. The sounds of the night on Antare drifted over the island. Starlin listened to it all, and it was then she heard the click of the door as it opened and closed. She sat up quickly and reached out for a towel.

  "Looking for this, Princess?"

  Her eyes met Rayne's. She did not move, willed herself not to, even though she would have liked to cover her breasts—the nipples rigid and glistening with moisture—from his disturbing gaze. He leaned for­ward to drape the towel about her shoulders, making no move to touch her. Starlin watched him closely. He was dressed in a black silk robe that was tied at the waist. He turned to pick up two glasses of wine from a tray he'd set on a side table. Starlin's eyes watched his every movement, were drawn to the gold scorpion emblazoned on the back of the robe.

  "I must say this room certainly seems to draw its share of people," she said stiffly, all of the sudden afraid to move with his eyes watching her so intently.