The Elusive Flame by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss

Author:Kathleen E. Woodiwiss [Woodiwiss, Kathleen E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Romance, Fiction, Historical, General, cookie429, Kat, Extratorrents
ISBN: 9781568956923
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 1998-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Eleven

THE AUDACIOUS APPROACHED Charleston on the morning tide in late January. At first light Cerynise ventured to the deck and strained to catch even a small glimpse of the city through the misty haze drifting tantalizingly along the coast. Seabirds soared overhead like welcoming friends or rode the white-capped waves that splashed against the bow, but as she watched them cavorting, she could only mark the contrast between their carefree spirit and her own growing despair.

The winds turned brisk as the solar orb began to rise to a lofty height, and the haze was swept away. Cerynise snuggled deeper in her velvet cloak, refusing to allow the crisp breezes to send her fleeing to the warmth of her cabin. Instead of the euphoria she might have expected to feel at her homecoming, she experienced only a growing measure of relief that the journey was at an end. Nevertheless she welcomed the sights as her gaze swept the glistening white beaches that framed the main channel into Charleston Harbor. Drawing a deep breath, she savored the mingled essences of the vast, stately cypress and mangrove forests growing along the shore that wafted toward them on buffeting winds.

How desperately she had missed her homeland. She hadn’t realized exactly to what degree until now, when her eyes could feast on the familiar land. The shock of losing her parents mingled with the gratitude that she had felt for Lydia had overshadowed recollections of her homeland from years past, locking them deep in her heart. Now the seals were broken, and the memories came flooding back, filling her with a strengthening serenity. It had been a long journey indeed, traversed not across the ocean but through the years of her own life. But it was finally over, and once she stepped to shore, a new journey would commence, one that would see her striving to make a place for herself here in this land where she had grown up.

A familiar awareness swept over Cerynise. It was unmistakable as always, and she turned with bated breath to find Beau eyeing her from very close range. He was wearing the cap that had become well-known to her in the latter part of the voyage. It was angled jauntily upon his fine head, but beneath it, the short black wisps at his temples were being whipped by the wind. He had condescended to wear a coat, perhaps for her benefit, and to Cerynise he looked every bit as admirable and princely as he always had and, no doubt, always would. Just gazing at him, she could feel her heart nearly thumping out of her chest, reacting to his presence just as it always had and, no doubt, always would.

“You seem rather pensive this morning, Cerynise.” Beau voiced the conjecture as he stepped near and leaned his elbows on the railing beside her. “Are you not glad to be home?”

“Oh, certainly,” Cerynise replied, managing a smile the likes of which he had not seen in some weeks. “But I can’t help but feel a stranger here after being away so long.

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