Desire by Phoebe Conn

Author:Phoebe Conn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, historical, duel, gypsy, gypsies, forced marriage, ship wrecked, phoebe conn
Publisher: Phoebe Conn

Captain Boris Ryde was also eager for the California to set sail. He had been observing her for the last hour from a perch atop a nearby tavern. Spy glass in hand, he had noted Michelle's arrival although he could only speculate on who she might be. That she went below rather than approach Augustin confused him, but when she did not reappear, he soon became convinced that she must be Augustin's bride. He was then ecstatic that fate had provided him with this unexpected means to earn Antoine's bonus.

Because Boris had had but a limited amount of time to put a plan into effect, he feared his strategy was somewhat crude. Among his crew, Pablo Herrera and Norberto Macias were the two men he trusted most. Neither had ever served with Augustin Aragon, but they despised the handsome criollo simply because he had been born rich while they had barely survived the grinding poverty of their youth. The Aragon name alone filled them with such virulent envy that Captain Ryde had only to inquire if they might not enjoy doing Augustin some grievous harm to inspire them to volunteer for just such a mission.

Knowing the men well, Boris had stressed the danger involved rather than minimized it. He had outlined his plan and watched with growing satisfaction as Pablo and Norberto had nodded their enthusiastic approval. Once the loyal pair had been hired by Encario Vega, the rest had been surprisingly easy. The Salamander was not nearly as swift a ship as the California, but serving as Boris Ryde's spies, Pablo and Norberto had solved that problem by providing him with their approximate destination. That Augustin Aragon would trifle with a treasure map amused the English captain, but the more he considered it, the more likely he thought it was that Augustin would actually find some long forgotten pirate's cache of riches.

He was far too clever to scuttle a ship filled with treasure, and had given Pablo and Norberto specific directions in that regard. When at last the California set sail, Boris Ryde climbed down off the tavern roof and hurried back to his ship. In a matter of minutes, the Salamander also sailed out of the harbor to begin what her captain hoped would be an extremely profitable pursuit. His only regret was that if everything went according to his plan, the California and all hands would be counted as lost at sea. Only Antoine would credit him with ending the lives of Augustin Aragon and his wife. As long as he received the money he had been promised, as well as the satisfaction of knowing Augustin was dead, Boris had decided not to complain.

Luis was confident he had done the right thing in leaving Michelle in Valencia, but that knowledge failed to overcome the uncomfortable sensation of guilt he felt about the way he had left her. He had provided her with sufficient funds not only to keep herself amused but also to pay her way home should she be angry enough to leave him.

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