Season glanced at the slashes in the black hood and knew The Raven was watching her closely. Why was he defending Edmund to her? He spoke as if he knew what had transpired between her and Edmund in the morning room on the night of the ball.
"I do not think what takes place between my cousin and myself is any of your affair," she said with as much dignity as she could manage. "All I want from you is to know when you will let me go."
The black-clad shoulders shrugged indifferently. "I will let you go, my lady, when—and only when—I have what I want."
"What do you want—money?" she asked in a contemptuous voice.
The Raven was silent for several moments. Finally he stood up. "I see you have cleaned up your plate like a good little girl. I will take you for a stroll on deck as I promised. I would suggest you bring a cloak since it is bitterly cold topside."
Season scrambled off the bed, showing a flurry of white petticoats in the process.
The Raven saw the eager look on her face, and was once more reminded of her youth. She didn't look at all like the femme fatale she had been accused of being, but rather like a frightened young girl who was unsure of her future. He somehow wanted to assure her that he would do her no harm, but he remained silent.
Picking up her cloak, with the intention of placing it about her shoulders, he noticed her reluctance to come too near him so he tossed the cloak to her. Crossing to the door, he waited for her to join him.
Season quickly pulled the blue velvet, fur-lined cape about her shoulders and hurriedly walked toward The Raven, fearing he might change his mind and not take her for a walk on deck. She followed him through the companionway and then up onto the deck.
Season took a deep breath of invigorating salt air. The wind was cold, but it felt good against her face. It is wonderful to be alive, she thought, turning around in a circle.
She watched with interest as the crew scurried about tying off ropes and working on the riggings. Some of the men smiled at her and doffed their hats. Season remembered how much she had enjoyed the voyage to the Colonies, and she decided that if she had been born her father's son, instead of his daughter, she would have sailed the world.
Season had completely forgotten that The Raven stood just behind her until she felt his hand on her shoulder. She flinched as he took her arm and would have pulled away, had his grip not been so firm. She made no objections as he led her to the ship's railing.
Glancing at the horizon, Season noticed that the sun had gone down, leaving a bright red glow in the sky which made it appear that the sea was being swallowed up by the sun.
Season's hood had fallen from her head, and the rosy glow in the sky seemed to cast its light on her golden hair, making it appear as though it were on fire.
The Raven resisted the sudden urge to push a stray wisp of golden hair from Season's face. Where is the seductress? he wondered. Where is the woman who is supposed to have shared her charms so readily with a stable boy? Could an enchantress be locked inside the innocent face of this angel? The Raven was confused. Could this girl have two personalities—could she change her face as easily as she changed the color of her gown?
"How old are you?" The Raven asked bluntly, staring at the lovely childlike face.
Season turned her face away from the sunset and gazed at the hooded man beside her. "A gentleman should never ask a lady her age, sir," she said indignantly.
"I thought we had already established the fact that I am no gentleman."
"That's the one thing we are in agreement on," Season spat out.
Amused laughter came from behind the black mask. The Raven had never been so charmed by a woman before. She amused him and she made him laugh. She was witty and brave; she would fight him at every turn. He began to feel a deep admiration for this girl who hardly came up to his shoulder.
"No matter. I have always been a good judge of a woman's age. I would say you will never see twenty-five again."
Season bristled instantly. "How dare you insult me, sir. I have but celebrated my nineteenth birthday this last November."
The Raven's deep laughter seemed to dance on the night air. "It is as I thought," he said in his disturbing, raspy voice, "Although I would have placed your age more at the sixteen-year mark. You look hardly more than a child, my lady."
Season turned angry green eyes on The Raven's face. "You are a trickster, sir. I am not amused by your cunning sense of humor!" she declared heatedly.
"Be that as it may, my lady, I am very amused by you. I can almost find it in my heart to envy Edmund Kensworthy."
"I do not wish to talk to you any longer. I would rather go below than suffer your presence another moment," she stated angrily, brushing past him and heading for the companionway.
Season feared that she might have said too much when he grabbed her arm and turned her around to face him. He seemed to loom above her like an ominous shadowy figure.
"You may go below later. First you will take a turn about the deck," he declared in a voice of authority.
"I do not wish to be exposed to you and your band of cutthroats. My guess is that each and every one of you are unsavory characters."
"Do you really think so?" came the amused reply. "Briggs you have met; he is my first mate. Did you find he treated you with less than kindness?"
"No, he was…kind," she admitted. "Perhaps he is the only one aboard who knows how to treat a lady."
The Raven's hand tightened on her arm and he steered her about the deck. Near the quarterdeck he stopped beside a young boy who was winding a long length of rope. "My lady, may I present James to you. I will not give you his last name for obvious reasons. He is the ship's cabin boy and is sometimes called Jim. I wonder, does he fit your description of an unsavory character?"
Season looked into the face of the young boy. His hair was a mass of brown curls and his blue eyes were shining brightly as he bobbed her an awkward bow. "I'm pleased to make your ladyship's acquaintance," he said, hurriedly removing his cap and tucking it under his arm.
Season didn't acknowledge the introduction, but turned her back to study the other crewmembers. It was true none of the men seemed to fit her concept of a pirate. They either avoided looking at her or smiled politely when she caught their eyes. They appeared to be neat and clean. In truth, this ship was far cleaner than the Good Hope on which she had sailed to the Colonies.
As Season assessed the crewmembers, she saw no eye patches, pegged legs, or hooked hands. Turning her glance back to the dark captain, she wondered what he would look like if he were stripped of his disguise.
"Do you fly the skull and crossbones?" she asked.
"I have on occasion flown the Jolly Roger, my lady, as I have sometimes flown the Union Jack. You should know that a pirate owes his allegiance to no country and no flag. I will now allow you to go below, my lady. Jim here will accompany you," he declared in a voice of authority, putting an abrupt end to their conversation.
The young cabin boy appeared at her side and waited for her to go below. With one last glance at The Raven, Season swept past him and walked away. She was confused. The captain had as much as admitted to being a pirate, and yet there was a small doubt nagging at her. Somehow he didn't fit the part.
When they reached the cabin, the door was open, and Season swept inside. James followed her and smiled brightly. His brown curly hair hung down his neck, and she thought he could do with a haircut, otherwise he was neat in appearance. She would judge his age to be somewhere between ten and twelve years of age.
"Why did your captain send me below?" she asked.
"I can only guess it was because the weather is so cold," he replied earnestly.
"James . . . will you stay and talk to me for a moment? I am very lonely."
The young boy closed the door and stood stiffly before Season, not knowing how to handle her request. She sat down on the bed and motioned for him to be seated in the chair.
"Why are you at sea and not home with your family, James?
Surely you are too young to be exposed to a bunch of cutthroats and pirates."
James sat on the edge of the chair and turned his blue eyes to Season. "We who sail aboard the Andromeda are not pirates, ma'am. The crew are all good honest men who fight for freedom," he told her with conviction.
"Do you call holding a lady hostage for money fighting for freedom, James?"
The young boy stood up quickly. "The captain won't be getting no money for your release, ma'am."
Suddenly Season's eyes filled with tears. The ordeal of the last two days had finally taken its toll on her. "What then does your captain intend to do with me? I have been frightened half out of my wits. It isn't pleasant to be held captive, James."
The young cabin boy shuffled his feet uncomfortably as he watched tears roll down the beautiful lady's cheeks. He had never seen anyone as lovely and graceful as she. He wished there was something he could do to assure her that his captain would never harm a hair on her pretty head.
"Begging your pardon, ma'am, but the captain will see that no harm will befall you. He's a good man and there ain't one sailor aboard this ship who would do you ill—even if you are the enemy."
Season wiped her tears on the back of her hand and managed a weak smile. "How did you come to be aboard the ship, James? You seem so young."
"I been sailing on the Andromeda for nigh on three years, ma'am. The captain seen me on a fishing dock once and he sat down beside me to inquire if I'd caught anything. We got to talking, and I told him about my ma recently dying and that my pa ran off before I was born. When he learned I had no family and I was sleeping in the back of the tavern, he asked me if I'd like a seagoing life. He took me in and now each night I go to bed with a full belly and I feel like I belong to someone. The crew is all my family."
"Oh, James, you are so young to have suffered so greatly. I wish it were within my power to help you, but I can't even help myself." Season could easily relate to the young boy. While she hadn't known the poverty he had been exposed to, she had never had a sense of belonging to anyone.
"Don't you go being sad for me, ma'am. I have a good life, I have. I wouldn't want to trade places with nobody in the whole world."
"Then be sad for me, James, because at the moment I have no life to look forward to. I don't know what your captain will do with me."
James took a hesitant step toward Season. She is a finely dressed lady, he thought. He was willing to bet that her gowns alone had cost more than he would earn in a lifetime; yet he still felt her sadness like a knife in his young heart.
"I'd best be going topside, ma'am," he said, thinking he had better leave before he started crying himself. "I 'spect the captain will be wanting me."
Season watched the young boy leave the cabin, wishing he could stay with her a while longer. When she heard the key turn in the lock, she lay back on the bed and lost herself to the misery of tears.
James made his way to the quarterdeck, where he found the captain gazing out to sea. The young boy thought the captain wasn't aware of his presence until he turned to him and spoke.
"What kept you, Jim?"
"The lady wanted to talk, Captain. She was kinda lonesome and I felt sorry for her."
"What did you talk about, Jim? I warned you about revealing anything to her."
"She weren't prying, sir. She was just wondering why I was aboard ship." James looked at the unmasked face of his captain. He all but worshiped this man, however, seeing the beautiful lady so miserable made him question his captain's reasons for kidnapping a woman.
"Captain, sir, couldn't you let the lady go free. She is very sad and frightened. I couldn't stand it when she was crying."
The Raven turned his gaze on the young cabin boy. "Beware of a woman's tears, Jim. Always be on the lookout for the tender traps laid down by a lady. Older and wiser men than yourself have been caught in a beautiful lady's alluring web—especially this lady's."
"Have you ever been caught in a beautiful lady's web, Captain?"
The Raven laughed, showing his flashing white teeth in the lantern light. "Not yet, Jim, but I have come mighty close a few times."
Suddenly The Raven grabbed up the lantern and blew out the flame. The Andromeda was nearing the New Jersey coast so he fastened his eyes on the shore. Suddenly a flashing beacon of light pierced the darkness.
Briggs joined them on the quarterdeck. "It's the signal, Captain. What does it say?" the first mate asked.
The Raven took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "It says that my Uncle Silas had been transferred to Boston, but Lord Clinton has given orders that he is to be brought back to New York immediately. He has agreed to the exchange!"
"That's good news, Captain!" Briggs said, beaming. "We've won, haven't we?"
"Never underestimate the British, Briggs. They may yet have some trick in mind. I think we will call on the help of our friend to see what he has learned about my uncle."
"Captain, how is it that you can always find out what the British are doing?" Jim wanted to know.
The captain smiled and clapped the boy on the shoulder. "I have a spy among their numbers, Jim. He is someone they would never suspect. He keeps me informed of the enemy's every move. That's all you need to know."
Edmund Kensworthy climbed the stairs of the fashionable Horse and Groom Inn where his cousin, Lucas, lived when he was in New York. He rapped on the door of the suite and waited for an answer.
"The door's unlocked; come on in," Lucas called out.
Edmund found his cousin sitting in a chair with a glass of brandy in his hand.
"Help yourself to a drink," Lucas said, swirling the dark liquid around in his glass.
Edmund poured himself a stiff drink and sunk down in a chair. "He'll never give her back, Lucas. I don't trust The Raven."
"Have there been any more messages, Edmund?"
"No. Nothing since the note that was found in Season's bedroom." Edmund's blue eyes narrowed. "If he harms her, I'll hunt him down. I won't rest until he has been brought to justice. This is not some nobody he has abducted. The Raven reaches high when he kidnaps the Duke of Chatsworth's daughter."
"If he harms her, I'll help you hunt him cousin," Lucas said with feeling. "I was packing to go back to Virginia when I heard about Lady Season being abducted. I immediately canceled my plans and stand ready to help you in any way I can. Please don't hesitate to call on me if there is anything I can do for you."
"I appreciate the offer, but at the moment all any of us can do is wait. We are all at the whim of that damned Raven!" Edmund declared sourly.
"You were always the one who secretly admired The Raven, Edmund. I told you all along that he was out for himself, but you insisted he was doing it for a cause. I suggest his cause was, and is, to line his own pockets," Lucas said, taking a drink of his brandy and then setting the glass down on a side table.
"Yes, even though he is the enemy, I always admired his courage and daring. I damned sure didn't think he would stoop to using a woman to get what he wanted."
"I have learned not to trust anyone, least of all a man who claims to be one thing but proves to be the exact opposite." Lucas stared at Edmund lazily. "Take you, cousin. You appear to be the devoted king's man, but I wonder how far that loyalty goes!"
"My loyalty goes a hell of a lot farther than your loyalty, Lucas. You can't even decide which side of the war you want to be on."
"Wrong, cousin. I lean toward the British, since they will win in the end. I draw the line at backing a losing cause. The rebels will never win."
"Have you heard what The Raven has demanded for Lady Season's release?" Edmund asked, studying Lucas' face closely.
"No, I assumed he asked for money."
"He asked for the release of Silas Dunsberry!"
Lucas sat up straight and his hands tightened into fists. "What are you saying?"
"You heard the other night at the ball that the crown had arrested our Uncle Silas."
"Yes, but I decided it wouldn
't be wise to admit kinship at that time. When I inquired about his arrest from the captain of the guard, I was told they would be releasing him in a few days, Edmund. Why would The Raven want to interfere in this?"
Edmund stared into his cousin's face. "Perhaps one of us is The Raven."
Lucas smiled lazily. "That's an interesting thought. Suppose I were to admit to being The Raven? Would you turn me over to your superiors?"
Edmund stared into his cousin's strange golden eyes. "Without hesitation, but first I'd teach you a lesson you wouldn't forget," he said, reaching up and touching the hilt of his sword. "On the other hand, suppose I told you I was The Raven, Lucas? Would you turn me over to my fellow countrymen? I understand the one who delivers The Raven will receive a substantial reward for his troubles."
Lucas smiled as he picked up his glass of brandy, downing the remainder in one swallow. "On the contrary, Edmund. I would salute you for your ingenious cunning."
Edmund half smiled, but his eyes bore into Lucas. "I know you aren't The Raven, because I have had you watched these last two days. You haven't left these rooms. A widow by the name of Lady Lorona Southerland has been here with you."
Lucas smiled. "You are far too clever for me, Edmund. I had no notion you took such an interest in my love life. I would prefer, however, that you leave the lady's name out of our conversation."
"Dammit, Lucas, you are a cool one. Someday you are going to have to come to terms with this war and decide which side you are really on."
"I am called an American by accident of birth, Edmund. My father came from a fine old English family as did my mother. Where does that leave me?"
Lucas stood up and walked over to the sideboard. "Come, Edmund, have another drink."
Edmund reached out for the brandy Lucas handed him and drank deeply. "You know Lady Season seemed to prefer you to me the other night, Lucas."
"I think not. Do you find that your heart is engaged now that you have met your intended bride?"
Velvet Chains (Historical Romance) Page 10