Silver Sea by Cynthia Wright

Author:Cynthia Wright [Wright, Cynthia]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Adult
ISBN: 2940013093102
Publisher: Cynthia Challed
Published: 1995-06-27T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

The Golden Eagle was spared the calamity of hurricanes or attacking ships, and the trade winds sped her four-week voyage to Barbados. During that time, Captain Raveneau immersed himself in all the duties he'd neglected for so long. Every waking hour was spent poring over charts or on deck, overseeing the ceaseless activity of the crew. At night he slept in a hammock at one end of the cabin. Nathan explained to Adrienne that since his hours were so erratic, it was best that he not take the chance of disturbing her.

Besides, their interactions had reached a new stage. No longer bantering and bickering as in the past, they now behaved as a cordial betrothed couple. Nathan asserted that he had already broken enough rules; until they were married, he would be the soul of propriety.

Adrienne knew it was all an excuse to avoid her, but told herself that she could afford to bide her time. There were dozens of fine books to lose herself in, and when her thoughts wandered to Nathan, she allowed herself the luxury of fantasy. Most of the time this tactic worked. She would imagine their exotic life on Barbados, coloring in the details of a fine manor house and a deep feather bed where she and her husband would pass the sultry nights in conjugal bliss. On the evenings when Nathan was especially short with her, she sometimes lay in her bunk in the shadowy cabin and let the sea rock her until images of their beautiful, laughing babies lulled her to sleep.

Yet, when Adrienne wore the other woman's clothing, unwelcome questions about the mysterious Eloise, whose name Nathan had called in his sleep, crept into her mind. At last she firmly reminded herself that whoever Eloise had been, she was gone and now Adrienne was with Nathan. And that was that.

The afternoon that land was first sighted, her world grew rosier still. Nathan took Minter's suggestion to invite her on deck for a look through the spyglass.

"The ocean is breathtaking," she marveled. When they'd first sailed from England, the Atlantic Ocean had seemed dark and dramatic. Now the tropical waters dazzled. The sea, a brilliant azure, seemed friendly with its silvery flying fish, warm breezes, and heartbreakingly stunning sunsets.

Nathan said nothing, but watched from a distance as she looked through the spyglass. Secretly he felt that the beauty surrounding them was no match for Adrienne. Her afternoons spent reading on deck had lent her skin an appealing golden-peachy glow, and her eyes were vivid in contrast. Many a night he had lain in his hammock aching for her.

Sometimes Raveneau wondered if Adrienne was a curse.

"Look!" she exclaimed with a radiant smile. "Is that really Barbados? It's not at all what I expected—"

"It's shaped rather like a pear with a lower half that swings out toward the east," Minter said. "You're looking at that side of the island, which also happens to border the Atlantic Ocean. The west coast is gentle; the east is wild, even treacherous.

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