Wind Raven by Regan Walker

Author:Regan Walker
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2014-03-10T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Tara awoke to sun streaming in through the lace curtains of her one-room cottage. It was brightly painted in colors of yellow and coral—a small but cheery room. The windows, left open in the balmy air, allowed the chattering birds to inform her she had slept later than she normally would aboard ship. As she lay in her soft bed staring at the ceiling, her mind was flooded with the memory of the captain’s kiss of the night before. It had kept her awake long after she should have been asleep. She was wise enough to know that she should have been more disturbed by his actions than she was. She was worried that with each passing day, she was becoming more entranced with him. There could be no future with an Englishman, especially one who would likely want only a brief and very improper affair.

Rising to a sitting position, she reached for her brush on the side table and began to take the tangles from her hair. She had forgotten to plait it last night before she’d gone to bed. Perhaps it had been the captain’s drugging kiss combined with the swizzle and the wine. A deadly combination to be sure.

She stepped from the bed and donned her dressing gown just as Mrs. Albouy’s maid knocked on the door, offering her water to wash and a cup of tea.

“Is Captain Powell about?” she asked Hannah, in what she hoped was an unconcerned manner.

“No, mistress. He rose early and said he was leaving for his ship. Mrs. Albouy said to tell you he’ll be back around noon to take you to Elbow Beach.”

Tara thanked the girl, then quickly dressed in a muslin walking gown with a square neckline edged in blue ribbon. Tying the matching ribbons of her straw bonnet and tugging on her gloves, she walked to the main house. At the front door, the butler took Tara’s bonnet and gloves and showed her into the dining room, where Mrs. Albouy was just eating breakfast.

“Ah, my dear, your timing is perfect! Come join me. There is bacon on the sideboard as well as fruit and egg dishes. The rolls and butter are here,” she said, gesturing to a silver tray. The arrangement of yellow hibiscus flowers still graced the table from their dinner.

Tara took a plate and, fighting a yawn, began to select from the offerings on the sideboard. “I love the tropical fruits you have in Bermuda. There are so many varieties.”

“Try the cooked plantains. They are very sweet and one of my favorites.”

Tara studied the long, browned slices of pale yellow fruit dripping with butter and what appeared to be cinnamon and sugar. “Very tempting,” she said and took some onto her plate.

“There are some other local specialties,” said Mrs. Albouy. “You might like the conch fritters. They are quite good.”

Tara decided to try some of the fritters along with her eggs. Joining Mrs. Albouy at the table, Tara settled in for a delightful meal as the footman poured tea.

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