The hefty man turned and, using a cane, limped away, leaving behind an odor of ink, herbs, and seawater along with a growl of displeasure.
His departure allowed Desi to see the black woman more clearly.The scarf wrapped around her head matched her plain cotton dress.Her features were kind, her expression pleasant, until she swept spiteful eyes back at Desi and opened her mouth to speak.
But the captain’s raised hand silenced her.
“That’ll be all.Leave us.”
A moment’s hesitation, then slow obedience.The black woman shot her one last warning glance, Alden’s boots thudded reluctantly against the planks, and Liam winked at her before slipping out with a grin.
And then, it was just the two of them.
The ship creaked and groaned, rays of sunlight swaying with the rhythm of the sea.Desi clutched the coat tighter around her shoulders.
“Now then, lass.Let’s start with your name.And how the devil you came to be aboard my ship.”
Chapter 6: Pirate or Preacher?
Caleb drew a deep breath, studying the lady’s eyes, the brightest blue he’d ever seen, as they shifted over him, across the cabin, then back to him again.You could tell a lot from someone’s eyes if you looked deep enough and long enough.And within this woman’s he saw naught but fear, confusion, and oddly, strength.No malicious intent or nefarious purpose.And especially no evil, as Ayida had proclaimed.
But then again, Caleb had been bewitched by a woman before, having not seen the trickery in her eyes.And his foolishness had cost many dearly, including his sister Esther.
“Surely you have a name?”He attempted again, narrowing his eyes.“Or are you a mermaid after all and have no ability to speak?”
She swallowed, her voice emerged not more than a whisper.“I am no mermaid.”
“Ah.A fair start.”And a sweet feminine voice to match her pleasant face.Her quiet, arresting beauty unsettled him more than he cared to admit.Damp strands of golden hair fell in waves to her shoulders, framing a face both delicate and dignified.A fine, regal nose, cheeks kissed by the sun, and eyes the hue of shallow Caribbean waters—beautiful, dangerous, and far too easy to drown in.But it wasn’t their color that held him.It was the feeling that he’d seen them before… somewhere beyond memory.Somewhere that still echoed in his dreams.Perhaps not a mermaid, but a siren nonetheless, come to draw him toward a fate already written, a death already determined.
Such dismal tidings were more than warranted after all the strange misfortunes that had overtaken theSentinelof late.
Pushing from his desk, he moved toward her…slowly, awaiting her name, yet wanting to get closer for a better look.
At his advance, she took a step back, both determination and fear in those lustrous eyes.“Desi Starr.”
He halted.“Desi.An odd name that, Miss Starr.”
“Desiree.”She hugged herself.“Desi for short.”
A fitting name, for the closer he came, the more he struggled with his desire.“And to the second question?”
She drew a deep breath.“Your guess is as good as mine.”
Caleb found the words as confusing as the woman herself.Not to mention her strange accent, one he could not place.“My guess has naught to do with the truth, Miss.Which you will tell me posthaste.When did you sneak aboard?Was it at St.Johns?”
The lady shook her head.“I did not…” She gripped his coat tighter and glanced out the stern windows.“I don’t know how I came to be here.I was diving…I found a shipwreck...”Her voice cracked as if she were about to cry, yet she raised her chin and no tears came.
“Diving?You were swimming in the sea?”
“Deep underwater.Searching for treasure.”
Ludicrous.He snorted.“You should know, Miss Starr, that lies aboard my ship are punished severely.”
“I’m telling the truth.”She met his gaze head on.“I was diving.I found… and then I appeared on your ship.Just like the first time.Remember?”
He did, indeed.’Twas a moment hard to forget.
The tightness in her expression softened.“Why did you say, ‘you found me’?”
Now ’twas his turn not to answer.Spinning, he retreated to his desk, his jaw stiffening.How could he tell this strange woman that he’d oft seen her in his dreams?“I mistook you for someone else, someone I must have met before.”
