The Sea Maiden (16 page)

“Yes of course, she’s probably out back chatting with Clifton.” Karina said.

“Well perhaps I will take a quick look. I hate to leave without saying goodbye. I wish you all a wonderful evening.  Good night.” Captain Drake bowed slightly then turned and walked away.

At the door he was briefly detained by some of the departing guests, Karina who was still watching the alluring Captain Drake sighed then she noticed something fall from his sleeve. The loud talking and laughter of the men drowned out the sound of the small item that fell on the marble floor. Then Dorothea said.

“Oh look! Eric dropped his cufflink again.”

Karina was about to warn Captain Drake when Dorothea stopped her by gently holding her back. Karina looked at her.

“Wait till he leaves dear.” Dorothea winked.

Then Nate called Karina from the hallway.

“Miss Karina, your father wishes a word with you.” Nate announced.

Karina turned toward Nate then turned back and watched Captain Drake walk out the door; she turned and looked at Dorothea confused as to what to do,

“Take Eric his cufflink dear and tell him to put it away in the box until he fixes the eyelet in his sleeve or he will end up losing my gift which is meant to remind him I still exist.”

Then she gently pushed Karina on the arm.

“Now go give it to him dear.” She urged.

Dorothea who had not missed Karina’s sigh or their exchanging glances at the dinner table thought it would be a good opportunity to possibly cause a few sparks to fly. Karina started walking toward the door.

“Are you meddling Dorothea?” Mathias asked his wife.

“Of course I am dear.”

Karina picked up the cufflink and was about to go out the door when Nate once again summoned her to her father’s bedside. Karina, thinking it could be serious decided to quickly investigate what was the urgency with her father first.

Captain Drake wondered were Lynnette disappeared to and if her disappearance had anything to do with Peter. To satisfy his curiosity he decided to take a quick look around the back. As he approached the rear of the house he heard talking in a low voice. Upon hearing footsteps Peter and Lynnette quickly hid in the bushes.

There was two empty glasses of wine on the grass and an empty plate. Captain Drake looked toward some tall bushes, tall enough to hide a man. He saw the cream colored ruffles of a dress and a pair of black male boots much like the one’s he wore. Captain Drake smiled.

“Miss Attoms I almost left without saying good-bye. Now why would you be back here hiding behind a bush I wonder?”

Hesitantly Lynnette stepped out of from behind the bush.

“Captain Drake…um.”

Lynnette was at a loss for words.

“Peter is that you there?”

Realizing he had been caught Peter stepped out too.

“Captain Drake what a surprise? How did you know I was here?”

“Wild guess.” He shrugged.

“Well the truth is I just cannot stay away from Lynnette,” he hugged her, “And since we will be leaving soon I just wanted to spend more time with her.”

“Understandable.”

“Miss Attoms please excuse us for a moment.”

“Yes Captain.”

Captain Drake pulled Peter off to the side; he delighted in Lynnette’s child like charm and was compelled to give Peter a stern warning not to take liberties with her.

“Peter I hope your intentions toward this young lady, who is now a mutual friend, are well intended and not for mere entertainment, there are plenty of girls for that down by the harbor.  By the way, this is not advice this is a warning, don’t take advantage of her in that manner Peter.”

“I understand Captain; but I assure you, I am not just seeking entertainment. I don’t know if meeting Lynnette was luck or fate, or both, I simply believe in grasping an opportunity when it comes along that’s all. I have fallen in love with Lynnette, Captain and when I come back I intend to marry her.”

Satisfied Captain Drake smiled and nodded his approval.

“Very well Peter glad to hear it, than I shall see you on deck.”

“Yes sir.”

Captain Drake turned back to Lynnette.

“Miss Attoms, it has been a pleasure, I look forward to seeing you again.” He bowed in her direction.

“Likewise Captain, thank you for everything…bon voyage!” She waved.

The Captain turned and walked away. Lynnette was smiling ear-to-ear after overhearing Peter say he planned to marry her when he returned. Peter and Lynnette embraced.

Back in the house Karina rushed to her father’s bedside in case it was urgent,

“What is it father?”

“Karina I just wanted to say thank you for your cooperation. I regret having such an unpleasant conversation with you back at Pembroke Hall. I believe everything is going well now I assure you Lord Harmon will make you very happy. He’s a powerful successful man, believe me child this is the best situation for you, and knowing that you will be taken care of gives me peace of mind.”

Karina was appreciative of her father’s concern but anxious to catch up to Captain Drake and give him his cufflink before he left. She never imagined he was so handsome. She pictured him towering over her when they met, tanned and lean; his dark hair tied at the nape, square smooth jaw line, and those temping full lips. Not to mention his impeccable attire, of royal blue waistcoat, tan breeches and boots, the mere thought of seeing him again was euphoric. Mean while her father was going on about life with Gunther.

“Forgive father me but I need to step out for a moment, one of the guests dropped a piece of jewelry, I shall be right back I promise.”

Karina kissed her father on the forehead and hurried out of the room; the door to the study was slightly open and she could see Lord Harmon reviewing some documents. She quietly passed by hoping not to be seen. She went down the hallway and walked across the entryway and hurried down the steps, it was dark now and many of the carriages were gone, she wondered if Captain Drake had already left. She walked to the edge of the house and turned the corner it was a far walk to the back of the property and a little chilly, then in the moonlight she saw the figure of a man approaching, as she realized it was Captain Drake, her heart started racing.

After saying goodbye to Peter and Lynnette, Eric headed toward his carriage with Peter’s words, “Grasping the opportunity” still ringing in his head as he walked along the side of the house when he realized his new gold cufflink was missing, at the same time he heard a woman’s voice calling him,

“Captain Drake! Captain Drake!”

He looked up…it was Karina, even more beautiful in the moonlight and coming straight toward him with her arm extended and holding something shinny in her hand that he recognized as the missing gold cufflink. He increased his pace and as he reached for the cufflink with his left hand, the touch ignited him with a sudden desire to feel her soft full lips and in one swift moment wrapped his right arm around her waist, arching her back slightly as he covered her lips with his own, the arresting moment caused Karina to let out a small moan as she fell into his fiery embrace. Sensing acceptance the kiss deepened.

A heated tingling sensation radiated through Karina at the unexpected intimate contact with the handsome Captain, a feeling so intense unlike anything she ever felt before. Gone was the earlier chill she had felt with the warmth of his body pressed against hers. His lips were warm and smooth and tasted like red wine; she was momentarily frozen in time. Not wanting the euphoric moment to end, she slowly began to respond to his touch, as she shyly placed her hands on his arms. Suddenly she was awakened by a deep male voice calling her name.

“Karina!” Gunther called.

Frightened Karina gasped and broke the embrace. She ran toward the voice but turned longingly once more toward the alluring Captain Drake, fingers lightly touching her lips, before disappearing around the corner. Eric himself stood still savoring the brief sensual encounter, one more minute and he would have carried her away. Normally composed Eric scolded himself for nearly losing his self-control under Karina’s provocative sensuality. Perhaps it was the fact that she belonged to someone else; the thrill of taking what was not his, he thought. Too unwise a path to take he concluded as proved by the taking of ‘Helen of Troy’, one of his favorite childhood stories of ancient history. Resigned, Eric took a deep breath and walked to his awaiting carriage perhaps the arms of the passionate Estelle would quench the fire inside.

Karina came up the steps keeping her head down.

“There you are I thought I saw you go past the study I wanted to share something with you.”

Karina avoided making eye contact with Lord Harmon as she went by.

“Is something wrong?” He asked.

She stopped momentarily looking down.

“No not at all.”

She answered still shaken from the intimate encounter; facing away from him she went inside.

Lord Harmon noted her shaken appearance. He wondered what spooked her, then he went down the steps and walked over toward the corner of the house but saw only a carriage, rolling away. Karina started walking toward her father’s bedside, where the lights were dim and she could compose herself when Dorothea called her. She hesitated for a moment, not wanting to be rude she went over and sat next to Dorothea, her husband, Mathias had fallen asleep.

“Karina, my dear I’m afraid we must take our leave. Did you give Eric his cufflink?”

Dorothea asked her as she affectionately reached for Karina’s hand. Then she noticed Karina’s trembling hands and flushed appearance, then noticed her lips no longer held the red tint they had before walking out the door to return Eric’s gold cufflink…had more than a cufflink been exchanged she wondered.

“My dear you’re trembling and flushed, that’s strange because the weather outside is rather chilly…why if I didn’t know any better I would say you just been kissed.” Dorothea whispered to her.

Karina stiffened at being discovered. She stood up at once.

“Please excuse me Aunt Dorothea, my father is waiting to speak to me, I shall return in a little.”

Karina claimed afraid of Aunt Dottie’s discovery. If she had noticed, so would Lord Harmon. Karina panicked; she desperately needed to get to her father’s bedside in the semi-lit room where no one could notice any changes in her appearance; But Dorothea gently urged her to sit.

“It’s alright child, I was hoping you and Eric…well…got a chance to socialize…but Eric can be a little direct sometimes, am I right?” Dorothea prodded.

Karina looked away and simply nodded. “Karina, you don’t really want to marry Gunther do you?” Dorothea continued her prodding.

Karina kept her head down and was near tears, she lightly shook her head. Dorothea put her arm around her and hugged her.

“Well you don’t have to dear. You know, I was once in a similar situation…but I ran away.” Dorothea confessed. Karina looked at her, her eyes asking for details. “Yes, I ran away and to make a long story short, I married Mathias here who was my true love.” Dorothea lightly tapped her sleeping husband on the knee. “Look at him so peaceful, we have had a very happy life together a little difficult at first but we managed. All I’m saying dear is that you should not let others dictate your life because in the end you’re the one who has to live it…mm?”

Karina smiled and rested her head on Dorothea’s shoulder, thankful for her understanding heart. Was this what it was like to have a mother she thought, as a tear streamed down her cheek? Dorothea placed a gentle kiss on Karina’s temple, savoring the tender moment.

Lord Harmon came back in the house and approached them.

“What’s wrong?” He asked harshly.

“She’s just unhappy to see her father so ill.” Dorothea claimed.

“Yes that’s a tragedy.” Lord Harmon answered still a bit suspicious. It suddenly occurred to him that it was the perfect time to spark some cheer by making a toast to a new beginning right now before Dorothea and Mathias left. “I shall not have any gloomy faces tonight I will be right back.”

He smiled and went into the study and in his desk he pulled out the sedative intended for Lord Pembroke he poured three glasses of wine and in one he pored the contents of the sedative, and stirred it with a medal spoon.

Meanwhile Charles was now sleeping, Nate had given him his sedative earlier to help him rest through the night and numb his pain. He was about to take the empty glass and spoon to the kitchen, where he recently stirred the sedative for Lord Pembroke, when he heard the same stirring sound; of metal hitting glass, coming from the study. He was about to enter the hallway but withdrew back in the room and peeked through the slightly opened door, Lord Harmon emerged from the study with a tray and three glasses of wine, one visibly still swirling. Nate who distrusted Lord Harmon, and disliked how he lusted after Karina, looked at the empty glass he held, and became suspicious, had Lord Harmon put something in a drink possibly meant for Karina he wondered? Lord Harmon had kept the original prescription for the sedatives. Nate became even more suspicious and placed the empty glass down on a table and quietly followed behind Lord Harmon to the end of the hall before the open entryway and stood watching the group from behind a large flower vase