"That wasn't a cannon shot, it was your ship hitting Cobbler's Reef!"
On the beach, Xavier Crowe stood in the sheltering palm trees and considered his predicament. Horner was an oaf. It seemed that only he could calm this captain and crew sufficiently. Even if it meant inviting them all into Crowe's Nest for soup and rum, then locking them in the storage cellars, he would have his way.
When Abraham saw his master waving from the beach, he went back with his skiff to fetch him, and they rowed through the waves to the ship. Crowe held a lantern and wore a worried look.
"Foolish captain thinks the reef is cannon ball," Abraham muttered, shaking his head.
"I shall tell him otherwise."
The boats holding Horner and the rest of the slaves made room for Abraham to pass with their master. The packet's sleek bow rose before him as they came near, and a man who appeared to be the captain called down from the darkness.
"Call off your sharks or we'll attack."
Crowe laughed as if that were a marvelous joke. "My good friend, you are new to our waters, and you do not know Bajan ways." He nearly introduced himself but was worried that rumor of his past crimes might have reached America. "I am a respected planter on this island and these men you would kill are my simple slaves. Quite harmless, I assure you. You see, you have happened onto our reef by mistake, and I sent them out to offer assistance. I fear that you will have to disembark before you sink."
"What about those lanterns hanging on the trees? We thought we had reached Carlisle Bay!"
"Ha-ha-ha! Ah, my friend, we never dreamed such a mistake could occur. You see, my slaves are sweet, but quite primitive, and they amuse themselves with African rituals these summer nights. The lanterns were their doing."
The captains seemed to be considering this. "I shall allow you, and you alone, to come on board, sir. I would look into your eyes before I decide what to do."
"Well, certainly!" Chuckling indulgently, Crowe grasped the rope ladder that someone lowered from the deck above. As he climbed, Crowe added, "You must see, however, that you really have no choice but to put your trust in me and my men. Your ship will be taking water, and it is only a matter of time—"
Nathan Raveneau was standing at the rail when Xavier Crowe, sweaty and salty-haired, clambered over the top. Nathan drew off his cap and spectacles while Crowe brushed mud from his shirt.
"I fear," Nathan said, "that you won't be able to convince me."
Crowe let out a yell. "Where the devil did you come from? That wasn't you speaking—"
"No, it was my esteemed father." When he gestured, Andre Raveneau came forward, tanned and silver-haired and a commanding presence at more than seventy years of age.
"Crowe," he murmured, and sketched a mock bow.
Nathan narrowed his eyes at his nemesis. " 'Twould seem that you have been ensnared in your own evil trap. Shall we do unto you as you were prepared to do unto us?"
"Christ, no!" Sweat ran into Crowe's eyes. "I'm warning you, Raveneau! If you lay a hand on me, my men will hunt you to the ends of the earth—"
"Spare me." He held up a hand. "It's far too late for such dull speeches." Then, briefly, their eyes met and it came to Nathan that Xavier Crowe was terrified because he was imagining what he would do if the situation were reversed. "You think I'm going to bury you in the sand, up to your neck at low tide, don't you? It's an extremely tempting thought."
Crowe went dead white. "Please. Please, no. You can have everything. Even Eloise—"
"You are a revolting excuse for a human being. Don't say another word, I beg you." A muscle twitched in Nathan's jaw, and he exchanged glances with his father. "You deserve that pirate's punishment, but that sort of thing is not in my nature, I fear. Nor is it my place to decide your fate. We'll take you to Bridgetown and deliver you to the authorities...."
Crenshaw and several other seamen were standing by. They shackled Crowe and led him away to the hold at gunpoint, and Nathan felt as if a tremendous weight had been lifted.
"Well done," Andre said. "This is one of the proudest nights of my life."
"Because you see that I've turned out so much like you?" They laughed together, then embraced, and Nathan's eyes stung. "Not so long ago I would have said we were different men and I didn't need your approval, but now I can admit that it means a great deal. Thank you, Father. I would say that this night's work was a joint endeavor, and that you and Zach and all the crew deserve a great deal of the credit."
"Thank God it all worked out," Minter said weakly. "I had my doubts...."
Nathan went to the rail then and shouted down to the boats filled with slaves. "I am Nathan Raveneau, and this was no shipwreck. We came around the island to trap Xavier Crowe, and he is below, in irons, at this very moment—"
Strenuous cheering broke out and filled the warm, misty air. The slaves who had obeyed their master rather than face his wrath were able at last to express their true feelings. When the noise subsided a bit, Nathan looked for Owen Horner.
"Horner, I must ask you to come up and join your employer in the hold. I suspect that we can find crimes to charge you with as well!"
The overseer tried to dive into the ocean, but the other men in his boat caught him and held a knife to his throat. Abraham promised to escort Horner on board the Golden Eagle.
Before all the boats filled with slaves could return to the beach, Nathan had one more announcement to make to Zach and his father. "I am counting on you, and the crew, to alert the magistrate and see to it that Crowe and Horner are jailed."
"Where will you be?" cried Zach.
"I am going home from here. I know that Adrienne is worried to death about me, and it's the first time in my adult life that anyone has ever cared so deeply about my well-being. I want to see her face before dawn breaks." A wry smile curved his mouth. "You see, I am changing. Do you suppose I might borrow one of Crowe's horses?"
Andre laughed, but another thought had struck him. "Adrienne will be happy to hear the news about Xavier Crowe for more reasons than one. Now, with his arrest, she won't have to worry any more about the safety of Lady Thomasina and Crowe's wife!"
Chapter 25
When Nathan discovered that the occupants of Crowe's Nest were missing, he went back down to the beach to look for Abraham. In the distance, he could see that the Golden Eagle was in full sail once again, tacking southwest for Bridgetown.
The slaves were crowded together on the beach, talking all at once, and Nathan realized that he couldn't just leave them in this state of uncertainty. Clearly, Abraham was the authority figure among them, so Nathan walked through the gleaming coral sand to meet him.
"I must have honest answers," he said. "You were Xavier Crowe's assistant. How do you feel about his downfall?"
The tall, handsome man was somber. "Good. I feel good. I seen too much ugliness and deceit these past two years, and I had no choice but to go along. Now I can do right again."
"Where do you come from? Your voice sounds—"
"American," he confirmed. "Master Crowe bought me from a planter in Carolina. Lots of Barbadians live there." He shook his head. "I never had respect for Master Crowe, and I hate the things he makes me do, but he didn't beat me, and he let me have my wife. He just treat us all like pets, not people."
"Abraham, would you like to come and work for me? I'll give you your freedom, but I can't pay much—not yet. I'll hire as many of Crowe's slaves as I can. Perhaps with more field hands, I can find a way to free all of you, and my slaves as well."
"I'd be honored and blessed to labor in your fields as a free man, sir! I come with you now. I tell them what you said, and come back tomorrow to talk more."
"Yes. Good God, I am exhausted. I have to ride home yet tonight, so perhaps you will watch me to see that I don't fall off the horse!" Nathan paused. "I also came back to find you because none of Crowe's family or guests are in the house. I have to tell Mrs. Crowe the news about her husband. Do you know where they might be?"
Abraham looked down at his bare feet. "I know where the young Englishman is. Master want him out of the way tonight, so he had him dig for treasure—"
"Never mind. I know exactly where he is—and perhaps Harms can tell me the whereabout of the others. I can't go home if there is any chance that they are in danger."
With Abraham's calm assistance, Nathan soon found himself riding a magnificent gray gelding up the road that skirted the dramatic limestone cliffs. The two men were separated while Abraham hurried back to his hut to explain to his wife where he was going, but, after taking Owen Horner's horse, he caught up with his new employer just north of Crowe's Nest.
They were galloping along side by side, in silence, when they came over the brow of a hill and sighted a carriage in the distance.
"Devil take it, I think that is my carriage!" Nathan cried, outraged, as he squinted through the moonlight. "How can it be?"
"A thief?" Abraham speculated. "You have a pistol, sir?"
"Yes, but I don't think it's a thief."
"Who else, in the dead middle of the night?"
"I think—" Nathan winced. "I believe it's my blasted wife, on a mission of her own."
Abraham lifted his brows, curious and slightly amused. "Doing what, sir?"
"Rescuing the occupants of Crowe's Nest, I surmise. She—ah—has mentioned such a plan...."
Unable to think of a polite reply, Abraham said nothing.
As they drew alongside the carriage, Nathan shouted at Philip to halt. As soon as the old man saw his pursuer, he obeyed, cringing a little as he watched Nathan jump to the ground and reach for the carriage door handle. "She mean good, Captain."
"The bloody chit will turn my hair white before the New Year," Nathan raged, and yanked open the door. The sight that met his stormy gaze was beyond belief. Lady Thomasina looked more outlandish than ever, if possible, with her hair wild and her clothes unfastened. Eloise and Martin cowered in the seat opposite, wide-eyed and pale, and Angus leaped toward the door and began growling ferociously while Hortie tried to quiet him. The terrier had a blue glove in his jaws! Finally, Raveneau saw Adrienne, her slight form tucked into a darkened corner. She wore the colorful garb of a slave woman, including a coral-striped headtie, and she was rubbing her eyes as if he'd roused her from a deep sleep.
"I beg your pardon, Madame, if I have disturbed you," Nathan ground out. "I would have a word with you."
"Don't hurt her!" Eloise begged.
He threw a sharp glance her way. "Pray do not judge me against the standards of your husband."
Adrienne's chin trembled as she struggled out of the crowded carriage. Standing in front of Nathan, she looked pitiful. "I have been so very worried about you!"
"That's a very interesting disguise you've chosen." He shook his head and gave a little snort of disbelief. Then, relenting, Nathan opened his arms and she threw herself into them. "If I had known what you were planning for tonight, I would have chained you to the bed. Naked."
"A game?" she dared tease. "I might like that if you were there." Her arms were fastened tightly round his neck. "Oh, Nathan, I love you more than I thought possible! Please, from now on, promise me that you will try to stay out of harm's way!"
"I was trying to go home to you, to put your worries to rest, when I discovered that the occupants of Crowe's Nest were missing! I am furious with you for rushing into such danger without even telling me!" He buried his face in her neck, drinking in the dear scent of her skin. "If Crowe had caught you, all of you might be dead!"
"I was too crafty for him. Have you no faith in me at all? Besides, I tried to tell you, and I tried to enlist your aid, but you had more important business." Her story tumbled out then, in a shortened form, and she listened to the outcome of his trap for Xavier Crowe.
"I'll tell you everything when we are at home, but for now I must know why Eloise and Martin are with you, and why you are on this coast road."
"Eloise insisted that we find Huntsford. She said that he has been digging for treasure all night and that she heard Crowe saying that he won't find anything." Lowering her voice, Adrienne added, "Oh, Nathan I've discovered so much tonight about Eloise and Xavier Crowe—and that entire coil. He is evil! Why, he—"
"We haven't time for this now," Raveneau said fondly.
"Well, as for Huntsford," she hurried on, "I think that Eloise decided that he was also manipulated by Crowe, and she feels sorry. I believe she wants to take Martin back to England, where no one will know about Xavier Crowe and they can have a decent life. Perhaps Huntsford can escort them, with Lady Thomasina, on the return voyage."
"I perceive that you are trying to take charge of this matter, my dear, but it won't be decided by the side of the road. I haven't decided what to do with Harms yet. I remain convinced that he plotted to murder Walter Frakes-Hogg—"
"Let's go and talk to him. I agree that Huntsford is weak and flawed, but perhaps he's worth saving."
"You aren't going anywhere except back to Tempest Hall!"
"Yes I am. I am going with you and—?"
"Abraham. I've taken the liberty of freeing Crowe's slaves, whether it was legal or not, and I have offered them work at Tempest Hall."
She beamed at him. "I am proud to be your wife, sir." And then, Adrienne's tired lips found his and she kissed him with every ounce of love in her heart. "I believe I would have died of worry tonight if I hadn't been occupied with my own adventure."
"All right, I surrender," he sighed. "Philip will drive the others back to Tempest Hall, and you may come with us."
* * *
Guided by moonlight, the trio rode farther along the cliffs overlooking the treacherous Atlantic Ocean. Sitting in front of Nathan on the gelding, Adrienne was flushed with excitement and thrilled to be in the circle of her husband's embrace.
When they turned off the overgrown road and came around a stand of fiddlewood trees, Victoria Villa loomed abruptly before them. The crumbling, hollowed-out plantation house was like a specter against the night sky, and for an instant Adrienne imagined the distant strains of a waltz and the murmuring voices of guests. The moon, glowing fitfully behind restless violet clouds, illumined huge cave bats that fluttered in and out of the verandah's arches. As the ocean pounded the cliffs below, Adrienne sighed.
Nathan laid a finger over his wife's mouth. "Shh." He then raised a hand to signal Abraham that they were near the beach where he guessed they would find Huntsford Harms. After tethering the horses to the cannonball trees, Nathan took Abraham off to one side and conferred with him at length. When they parted, the black man went off toward the south end of Cave Bay.
"What was that all about?" Adrienne queried softly. She was bursting with curiosity.
"I can't go into it now. I would only suggest that you forget anyone came with us tonight. Pretend we are alone, except for Hunty."
She tugged at his sleeve as they walked. "Isn't this a violation of your marriage vows? Didn't you promise to tell me the truth at all times?"
Nathan arched a brow at her. "The only marriage vow that matters right now is your promise to obey your husband. All else can wait until—"
His hushed voice broke off. They had reached the edge of the vertical cliffs that plunged down to the beach, and Nathan drew Adrienne down beside him so they were concealed by oleander shrubs. When a bat flew low over their heads and swept out over the water, they watched as it skewered a fish with its clawlike toes.
Seeing his wife's look of horror, Nathan whispered, "Are you still glad you came?"
She squared her shoulders, nodded, and stared down at the wide crescent of white sand shadowed by coconut palms. A movement caught her eye. Was it a man? Then, as clouds blew past the moon, a beam of light shone on pale hair and shoulders that she recognized as those of Huntsford Harms. He was digging into the sand with a shovel.
Nathan found her hand and squeezed it. Slowly they moved around the cliff to the place where steps had been carved into the rock. Adrienne knew a sudden t
ide of fear. The cliff went straight down, and the indentations were hard to see in the darkness. But Nathan bent down, boldly kissed her, and murmured, "I'll keep you safe."
He went first and she came right after, so that his arms shielded her lower body. Nathan helped her feet find the steps. Once or twice she slipped, but he was quick to catch her, and before long the sand was within jumping distance.
On the beach, they crept around palm trunks and through sea grape leaves, thankful that the crashing surf and the noise of Huntsford's shovel strokes were sufficient to drown out their progress. Drawing closer, Adrienne saw that all around the sand was pocked with dark holes, many of them half full of water. It was an eerie sight, rather like Adrienne's imagined vision of the moon. When she focused on Huntsford, it was a further shock to see that he was standing in one of the holes, water splashing as he flailed away with a shovel. His face was dripping perspiration, his clothes were torn and soiled, and he wore the expression of a madman.
"This is the spot," he muttered to himself with feverish intensity. "It must be! Yes, yes, keep going, that's it—"
Nathan and his wife exchanged glances in the shadows. There was the sound of metal clanging against a hard object. Huntsford Harms began to sob and laugh at the same time, his face contorted with joy. Bending over, he pushed his hands down into the watery mess to find his treasure and moments later brought an object out that was far too small to be a pirate's chest.
Adrienne nearly gasped aloud as Harms lifted the pale, curved thing higher, squinting at it in the moonlight. Pure horror spread over his face.
It was a skull—apparently that of a human!
Reaching down again, as if in disbelief, he yanked again and this time came up with a long bone, perhaps a femur. Back in her hiding place, Adrienne had to cover her own mouth to contain her shock. What could be more ghastly than to dig for treasure and find a skeleton instead?
Just as Huntsford began to scramble out of the watery grave, a deep, chilling voice called from above. "You betraaayed me, Harms! I trusted yooou, and you killled me!"
Silver Sea Page 36