His new father-in-law clutched his hands. “Thank you. Thank you! Remember, sir, that she fears the darkness above all else. Keep her from it! I left a locket with her picture in it on the table.” Kinsdale pumped his hand. Lord Cameron escorted his guest to the doorway. His coach, the lanterns swinging from the driver’s canopy, awaited him. “Cameron, I will trust in God Almighty, and in your fine name and honor!”
With that, Kinsdale was gone.
Roc Cameron wandered into the house and into the dining room. Spotswood had sat back down to venison freshly warmed for him.
“Eat up! ’Tis your wedding feast!” Spotswood said, holding the locket in his hands.
Roc Cameron scowled sharply and laughed.
“Don’t you care to see your bride?”
“Is she cross-eyed?”
“No. She is quite beautiful.”
“What can you tell from a tiny portrait?”
Spotswood closed the locket with a snap and pocketed it. He smiled. “I know the lady. I haven’t seen her in years, but the child gave great promise.”
“Wonderful,” Lord Cameron muttered darkly.
“She has a will of steel, my friend. A fine temper to match, and she is bold and quite intelligent and—”
“She will come here and mind her own affairs and that shall be that,” Roc said flatly.
The governor smiled, looking at his plate. “I think not,” he said softly.
“Your pardon, sir?”
“I said, ‘So, it seems that you will sail sooner than expected.’”
“Yes, so it seems.” Lord Cameron stood and poured himself a fair measure of whiskey. “To my cousin, Governor! To the Silver Hawk. May we negotiate the very best of terms.”
“To the Silver Hawk.” The governor raised his glass.
Roc Cameron slammed his glass down upon the table and left the room in a controlled fury. Lieutenant Governor Alexander Spotswood lowered his glass more slowly. He pulled the locket from his pocket and snapped it open and smiled down at the delicate and beautiful features that looked his way.
“And to you, Lady—Cameron!” he said softly. “Skye, it will be good to see you home. It will be most intriguing to see the sparks and feathers fly when you meet your new lord. Ah, if I wasn’t the governor, I would set sail myself, for this promises to be high adventure!”
He snapped the locket shut and nearly set it upon the table. After all, Kinsdale had left it for Roc Cameron.
A slow mischievous grin came to his features. He pocketed the locket again. Let him imagine that his bride was slack-jawed and cross-eyed!
His smile faded slowly. Pirateswouldgo after Lord Kinsdale’s ship if they heard that she had sailed. She would carry not only his daughter, a valuable hostage, but her personal belongings, and God alone knew what else. Of course, she could cross the ocean unmolested.
She could…
But it was doubtful. The world was indeed in sad shape.
“Pirates!” he swore vehemently.
Indeed, it was sometimes a sorry world. Pirates were plaguing the coast, and a German was sitting upon the throne of England.
He patted his pocket where the locket lay within it. “Take care, milady!” he said softly. “I’m afraid that for you the tempest has already begun.”
I
July 9, 1718
