Wild Bells to the Wild Sky (6 page)

"Are you ill, Don Pedro?" he inquired
solicitously
.

"It is nothing, nothing. I will be fine," he said, but his complexion was still a pinkish hue.

"I am sorry to hear that Francisca is suffering so," Don Rodrigo commented. "If you would allow me, Magdalena, I will have a word with her."

"Please,
Padre
. I think it would help her. If Geoffrey were here, he would have her laughing at her fears. He always knows what to say. She is so terrified of this witch chasing her that I cannot even bring the subject up without her looking frightened to death. She keeps talking about those strangely colored eyes. How they stare at her with such hatred. She thinks the witch wants to kill her. She even said that this creature threw her into the water, and then stood on the edge of the pond and watched her drown. Which, of course, is nonsense, because Lily can swim. But she does not remember that when she is shaking with fear. I think she even believes that the witch is the cause of her grandmother's death. That is why she is frightened to speak of it. I truly believe she is petrified to mention it, lest the creature harm me, or Geoffrey, or even you, Sir Basil. She seemed concerned for your safety as well."

"How awful," Catalina murmured, clicking her tongue. "I myself should be scared senseless to be dreaming of such a horrid beast. And especially one with a blue eye and a brown eye," she said, crossing herself as a shiver shook her shoulders. The
n
her eyes grew round as she suddenly remembered where she herself had seen such a creature. "Why, do you know that sounds like"
-
-she began to explain, then abruptly took a sip of wine, her eyes pleading with Don Pedro to forgive her for her slip of the tongue
-
- "like a fable we once heard."

"I wish that were true, but I am afraid that Lily has actually seen a man with such eyes. He's English and
-
-"

Don Pedro turned purple in the face as he choked on his wine again, only this time his eyes bulged and he made strangling sounds as he sucked air into his lungs and sought to halt Magdalena's confidences with an upraised hand.

Sir Basil left his place and hurried around the side of the table. Several lusty, well-aimed slaps on the back had Don Pedro no longer choking, and soon he was breathing easier. Sir Basil remained behind Don Pedro for a minute longer, giving himself time to think, then he returned to his seat, his face mirroring concern for the discomfited Don Pedro.

"Are you quite sure you are well?" he asked. At Don Pedro's nod, he glanced over at his host. "I am so sorry, Don Rodrigo," he apologized, gesturing at his overturned goblet, the spilt wine leaving a vivid, red stain across the linen tablecloth. "I must have knocked it over when I stood up," he said, although both he and Don Rodrigo knew it had happened moments before.

"Please, do not concern yourself with that," Don Rodrigo entreated him, for Sir Basil, despite his calm visage, seemed ill at ease.

"Thank you, Don Rodrigo. Hmm," Sir Basil continued on a thoughtful note. "You say one blue eye and one brown, and he's an Englishman. Sounds familiar, but I cannot quite place the gentleman. He is a gentleman?" Sir Basil asked mockingly, keeping the conversation light.

"Yes, indeed. I cannot remember his name, but he was a guest at Highcross when Her Majesty and the court came last year for a visit. That is where Lily must have seen him, and now that she is upset with the death of her grandmother, she remembers him. For a child, such a person might be disturbing. It is all very confusing for the child. Time means little. Today, yesterday, last year, it is all the same."

Sir Basil didn't dare glance over at Don Pedro, for he had heard the deep sigh of relief that the Spaniard had breathed when Magdalena had so convincingly explained away Lily's nightmare about the creature with one blue eye and one brown.

"Indeed, Doña Magdalena. Why, my son, Simon, who is not more than a year or two older than Lily, has had some bloodcurdling nightmares. Woke up the whole household one night when he claimed that an Awd Goggie was lurking in the corner of his bedchamber. I had to search the whole room before he would settle back down. And then I had to leave a candle, and his nurse, by his bedside before he'd sleep."

"What is an Awd Goggie?" Catalina asked in fascination.

"A demon, and not one to be trifled with, Doña Catalina. They say, or at least according to Simon's nursemaid who had told him the story, that the sprite protects orchards from thieves. And it would seem that Simon had raided the apple orchard that very afternoon, and 'twas a stomach ache and a guilty conscience that had him dreaming such nightmares," Sir Basil concluded with a chuckle, successfully dismissing such stories, and among them Lily's, as nonsense.

Later that evening, Sir Basil, safe in the confines of his room, slumped down on his bed in a cold sweat. And it was Sir Basil who suffered the nightmares that night about a man with one blue eye and one brown. When Sir Basil awoke the next morning, he could not shake the strange feeling of melancholy that hung heavily about him. It was, therefore, with a sense of foreboding that he glanced out his window to see the
Arion
anchored in the harbor.

"
'Od's heartling!" Geoffrey Christian exclaimed, and not for the first time since hearing of Sir Basil's daring exploits. "I should have stayed in Santo Domingo. There was more adventuring to be found at Casa del Montevares than off the coast of Nombre de Dios!" he said with another deep chuckle. He continued to eye his somber-faced friend, then glanced at the innocent-looking stern of the
Estrella D'Alba
anchored nearby, and the chuckle gradually turned into a rick laugh that had several busy crew members smiling as they went about their tasks.

"Ah, Basil, my old friend," he said, the laughter crinkling the corners of his eyes.

"I am glad that you find the situation so amusing. What, pray tell, would have kept you amused had I met my death that night?" Sir Basil inquired, slightly offended that his friend should find such humor in what had been an emotional experience for him.

"I do apologize, Basil," Geoffrey said with a grin that should have warned Sir Basil of what was to come. "But I find myself wondering about the scandal it would have caused had you been washed up on shore in your underclothes. Whatever would I have said to Elspeth, or, 'Sdeath, to Her Majesty?
For
that reprieve alone, I am thankful you managed to get back to shore in one piece."

Sir Basil shook his head, for he would never fully appreciate Geoffrey Christian's sense of humor, but he was learning. "Indeed, better 'twas I than you, my friend. Think of the mortification it would have caused Don Rodrigo had it been his son-in-law who had been found washed up on shore and clad only in underclothes."

Geoffrey Christian grinned. But as he glanced again at the
Estrella D'Alba
, his smile faded. "So, it would seem that Don Pedro plans to sail with the tide on the morrow? And Doña Catalina and her children remain here in Santo Domingo," he mused. "I should be offended that the good captain sails immediately upon my arrival in Santo Domingo. I do believe he has taken a disliking to me."

"I was afraid the two of you would come to blows when you met accidentally in the entrance hall of Casa del Montevares. If it had not been for the presence of the ladies and the children I wonder if there would indeed have been bloodshed."

Geoffrey Christian smiled crookedly, his handsome, bearded face all innocence. "I have no grudge against Don Pedro."

"I wish he could say the same. He looked as if he could scarcely contain himself from plunging his dagger into your heart, my friend. I would not turn my back on that gentleman," Sir Basil warned. "He disliked me so much that it was an effort for the man to acknowledge my presence, and I was just an Englishman he hated as a matter of principle, but you-
-
you he hates with a personal vengeance."

"Well, I do believe I gave him some small cause," Geoffrey admitted modestly.

"Yes, I should say so. You blew his ship out from under him and stole his cousin's bride, if I remember correctly," Basil reminded him.

"You do, and I believe it was one of my most inspired decisions. I've yet to capture a finer prize. I have never regretted taking Magdalena as my wife. She is a remarkable woman, Basil. She is also the mother of my only daughter, and"-
-
he hesitated as if considering his next words with great pleasure
-
-"perhaps my son."

"Magdalena is with child?"

"Yes, she told me yesterday that she has suspected as much for the past couple of months. Magdalena has desperately wanted to give me a son. I have told her that Lily is enough, that I am not disappointed in having no male heir, but she continues to think I long for a son. I suspect, however, that she wants to make certain that my dear cousin Hartwell does not inherit Highcross."

"I do not blame her," Sir Basil said, for he cared little for Geoffrey's pompous cousin. "Please accept my sincere congratulations, Geoffrey."

"Thank you. And I shall rejoice whether I have sired a son or another daughter. 'Twould be nice, however, to have another Christian sailing the seas and making life hell for any Frenchman, Spaniard, or Papist who crossed his bow. 'Sblood, but I'd like to get my hands on those two cuckolds sitting pretty in the captain's cabin," Geoffrey swore, his green eyes glinting as he gazed across the water toward the galleon taking on supplies.

"We will, Geoffrey," Sir Basil spoke softly as he stood at his friend's side.

"A fine piece of work, Basil," Geoffrey said, eyeing him with new respect. "No offense meant, but I didn't think you had it in you. At least not to pull off a feat like that."

"Neither did I," Basil admitted a trifle self-consciously, for he was not used to playing the hero. "I am relieved you have returned, for I am not accustomed to such a role. The responsibility weighs heavy on my mind, Geoffrey. I would see no harm befall our queen."

"None shall," Geoffrey promised.

"I aged a lifetime the night before last when Magdalena so innocently recited Lily's nightmare. Don Pedro was so surprised that I do not think he noticed how surprised I was. I do not think he is overly concerned that Lily actually saw the man in the courtyard and not at Highcross as Magdalena believes. And, I am certain that no one but the fisherman knows that I went aboard the
Estrella D'Alba
, and he has a purse full of gold and thinks I'm a Spaniard. I do not believe I have made any mistakes, Geoffrey. I would have known had Don Pedro suspected the truth. I most likely would not have lived to welcome you back to Santo Domingo had they known I was a spy. No, I think we will succeed, Geoffrey. We must."

Geoffrey Christian nodded, but he did not feel quite as confident about the situation as did Sir Basil, although he was hesitant to admit as much. He was not one to underestimate an enemy, and Don Pedro was indeed an enemy. Basil had not been wrong in his estimation of Don Pedro's desire to seek revenge against his old nemesis. Geoffrey had not missed the hatred that had flared in Don Pedro's eyes when they had met face to face for the first time since crossing bows nearly eight years ago. Sir Basil, he knew, would find it hard to understand, but Geoffrey Christian knew that the Spaniard would not leave Santo Domingo without a final reckoning with the man who had defeated him once before. Geoffrey Christian, because he would have felt the same need for vengeance had he lost his ship to his enemy, knew that the battle was not yet over, nor the victory theirs until they safely reached the shores of England.

"Lily seems a changed child since your return," Sir Basil commented, for he did not like the
expression
on his friend's face as the captain of the
Arion
continued to stare unblinkingly across the water at the
Estrella D'Alba
as she prepared to weigh anchor.

Geoffrey Christian seemed reluctant to withdraw his gaze from the Spanish galleon, but finally he turned to glance along the deck of his own ship. "My sweet Lily Francisca. A priceless jewel, isn't she? If you are fortunate, one day I might allow Simon the privilege of asking for her hand in marriage," Geoffrey said, and Basil believed he was quite serious. "He will never have a peaceful day once he loses his heart to my fairest flower, but then what is life without a challenge?"

"I would be honored to have Lily a member of my family, Geoffrey," Basil responded, although he had his doubts about whether or not Simon and Lily would make a match of it. He feared Simon was far too gentle and quiet a lad to handle so spirited a lass as Lily Christian. And Geoffrey Christian as a father-in-law might mean the premature death of the boy should he ever cause Lily an instant of unhappiness.

"Aye, I like the sound of Lily Whitelaw. We shall have to give this further thought, Basil," Geoffrey said, his gaze now centered on his daughter while she played on the deck with her new companion, a woolly monkey her father had traded a length of colorful silk for in Borburata, a Venezuelan coastal town.

"I think he likes you, Mistress Lily," Joshua Randall, the bos'n, declared with a wide grin. "What are you going to name him?"