Read Online Dark Before the Rising Sun by Laurie McBain - Free Book Online Page B

room.
    â€œWell, I daresay you now have as bad a reputation as I have, my dear,” Dante commented with a grin of satisfaction. “Of course, I shall have a devil of a time keeping you from being burned as a witch, and ol’ Jamaica from being thrown into the Thames as your familiar.”
    â€œHe is not black,” Rhea replied, unconcerned.
    â€œAh, but some might claim that you have cast a spell over him and over the captain and crew of the Sea Dragon . The men already think you are an enchantress, and I would have to swear that you bewitched me,” Dante said provocatively, the look in his eye causing a blush to spread across Rhea’s pale cheeks.
    â€œLittle daffadilly,” he murmured softly, thinking of the exotically bright, at times discordant colors of the Indies, and how like an English garden Rhea had seemed by comparison. Even her scent was reminiscent of spring flowers for it was a delicate fragrance with a tantalizingly elusive hint of piquancy.
    â€œI do not need to be my Aunt Mary to know what your thoughts are,” Rhea said enigmatically as she pressed her cheek against Jamaica’s head.
    â€œIndeed? And what would this Aunt Mary of yours be able to tell you of my thoughts?” he asked. “She is not a soothsayer, is she?”
    â€œIndeed she is,” Rhea responded, her smile widening at his expression of surprise. “However, she is also very much a lady, and I doubt whether she would feel it quite proper to put your thoughts into words.”
    â€œMy feelings exactly. Why waste breath talking about something when you can be doing it instead?” Dante queried softly, and started across the room toward her. There came another demanding knock.
    â€œMost likely the good innkeeper come to assess the damage,” Dante predicted, beginning to think he would never again have a moment’s privacy with Rhea. “Sorry, my love.”
    A slight smile curved the corners of Rhea’s mouth. “I am not going anywhere,” Rhea promised. “Besides, there is always tomorrow,” she told him, making herself comfortable before the fire while Jamaica yawned and curled contentedly in her lap. “And I am a very patient person.”
    â€œDamned if I am,” Dante cursed as he went to the door.
    Rhea held out her hands to the fire while the conversation of the innkeeper and the serving girls droned on, but soon their voices faded and Rhea’s thoughts drifted far from London. She stared hypnotically at the flames dancing in the hearth, and suddenly she saw a peaceful valley where the wild iris and daffodil blossomed in the woodland, and the meadows were covered with bluebells. The crystalline reflection of swans floating across a sylvan lake was disturbed only by a soft breeze rippling the surface.
    And in the distance, on a gently rising knoll, was Camareigh, its golden-hued walls basking in the warm glow of a somnolent late-summer afternoon.
    That was the Camareigh she remembered, though it had been autumn the last time she saw her home. Almost a year had passed since the dawning of that fateful day when she had been kidnapped. The innocence of her life had vanished that autumn day redolent of rain and wood smoke. Her destiny had been changed forever.
    The girl who had ridden her mare, Skylark, along that narrow country lane with carefree abandon was no more. Rhea wondered how different it would be when she saw her family again. During those long months at sea aboard the London Lady , when she had known such a desperation of mind and spirit, she had despaired of ever seeing them again. How they must have suffered on her account. How many hours into days into months had they agonized over her fate, wondering perhaps if she were even still alive?
    She was home, but had yet to see her family. She was so close, yet still so far. She had wanted to let her family know of her safe return immediately upon her arrival in London. But out of concern