Island Flame Part 16

She turned sharply at the sound of marching feet behind her to see a score of sailors bringing the condemned men to the makes.h.i.+ft gallows. The prisoners were blocked from her view by their uniformed guards, but some sixth sense froze her in place. An instant later she was thanking G.o.d that she had stopped. On a rickety platform, hastily erected beneath an overhanging spar,hands tied roughly behind them and blindfolds covering their eyes, stood the five parties who were soon to be hanged. Third from the left was Jon. And ablackhooded executioner was placing a noose around his brown neck.

Eleven.

"Stop!"Cathy wanted to scream, but the words wouldn't come. She could only open and shut her mouth soundlessly,Like a fish out of water, her throat closed up with pure terror. Her limbs seemed frozen to the deck, refusing to carry her across to where Jon stood with that horrible rope around his neck. Oh, G.o.d, this was worse than any nightmare! They were just moments away from hanging him, and she could neither speak nor move!

A hand caught at her arm, squeezing familiarly, and Cathy suddenly recovered the use of her limbs and whirled viciously on her a.s.sailant. The vituperations quivering on the tip of her tongue died a quick death as she stared up into the grim, tired, but suddenly vastly relieved face of her father.

"Cathy!" He made the words sound like a prayer. "Cathy, child, I thought you were dead. . . ."

"Papa!"Cathy cried on a note of thanksgiving. "Oh, papa, thank G.o.d! You have to stop them from hanging that man!" She pointed to Jon. The sailors about them turned at her desperate plea, their faces curious. Cathy didn't care. She was beyond feeling embarra.s.sed, or thinking of the proprieties. Jon was the only matter worth considering.

When her father just stared at the blindfolded man, making no move to go to his rescue, Cathy shook his arm frantically.

"Papa, hurry!Oh, G.o.d, please hurry!"

"Is that the man who abducted you?" Sir Thomas asked viciously, his eyes never leaving the man on the gallows.

"Yes! Papa, stop them!"

"Let them hang him! Hanging's too good for the dog! I'd like to draw and quarter him! I want him to suffer as he's made you suffer!b.l.o.o.d.y b.a.s.t.a.r.d!" Sir Thomas flashed a hateful look to where Jon stood, too far away to hear Cathy, pale and quiet as he nodded in answer to the earnest questions of a priest. As Cathy and her father watched, one horrified and the other gloating, the priest made a sign of the cross over him and moved on to the next man, where he started to repeat the ritual.

"Papa, you have to stop them! He's the father of my child!"

'What?" Sir Thomas cried, his voice cracking with pain and outrage.

"I'm going to have his baby! Oh, papa, I don't want my baby's father to hang! Please stop them!Hurry!"

Sir Thomas stared at Cathy for a full minute while she thought she would go mad. The priest granted absolution to the last of the five and stepped back. The drum roll that preceded all executions began.

"Papa, please!" Cathy begged urgently, clutching at her father's arm. It was too late now for her to appeal to the captain of the "Lady Chester." If her father would not relent, what was there left to do?

Sir Thomas's eyes moved from her pleading face tothe man on the gallows and back again, his lips compressed in a straighthne . "Papa.. . . !"

"Halt!" His deep, authoritative voice rang out."Iwant that man, third from the left, brought to me for questioning! Cut him down!"

The executioner hesitated with his hand just above the lever that would send the five men swinging into eternity, and looked to the officer in charge for confirmation of the brusque order. The officer identified Sir Thomas with a glance,then nodded curtly at the black-hooded man. With a shrug that clearly renounced all responsibility for what he was about to do, the executionerHfted the noose from Jon's neck. Cathy felt a lump rise in her throat as she saw the broad shoulders, which had been held rigidly erect in antic.i.p.ation of the coming ordeal, slump a little. Two of the armed sailors dragged Jon down from the makes.h.i.+ft gallows and led him roughly away, still bound and blindfolded. Cathy turned to Sir Thomas anxiously.

"Where are they taking him?"

"To the brig, I imagine, untilIsend for him. He'll be quite safe." The bitter mockery in her father's voice made Cathy wince.

"Papa,Ican explain. . ." she faltered uncertainly, wanting to ease the hurt anger in his eyes. He grimaced, catching her arm.

"I'm sure you can, daughter, but.i.think you had better do it in private. We seem to have attracted quite an audience as it is."

He glanced scathingly around at the grinning crowd of men who were listening unabashedly to their exchange. Cathy saw the lecherous looks being cast over her, and realized, sickeningly, that by her own words she had branded herself wh.o.r.e. An unmarried woman who was with child, no matter what the circ.u.mstances were, could be nothing else according to the morals of the time. She held her head high as she moved with her father to the stairway that led below, but could not control the crimson flood that rose to stain her cheeks. Behind her the execution went on. She flinched at a hoa.r.s.e scream that resounded across the deck; it was followed by the sharp cracking sound of necks snapping. Cathy shuddered, her hand tightening convulsively on her father's arm, bile rising in her throat and threatening to choke her. Despite the irretrievable ruin of her reputation, she could not repine over what she had done.Better for her to be spat upon forever than for Jon to lose his Life. But the shame wasn't hers alone to bear. There was her father. . . .

"Papa . . ." she began in a small voice.

"Hush," he bade her gently, pus.h.i.+ng her before him down the stairwell. 'You can tell me all about it when we're in my cabin."

Sir Thomas, as an extremely rich and influential man, had been given the best cabin on the s.h.i.+p. As he allowed Cathy to precede him inside she was taken aback a little at its luxury. Compared to Jon's neat butspartan accommodation on the "Margarita," this cabin was positively opulent, almost embarra.s.singly so. Her eyes flickered as she considered what Jon's reaction would be to such elaborate comfort. He would sneer, she knew, at the plush carpet and velvet drapes, the fine furniture and crystal ornaments, just as he had once sneered at her expensive clothes. Cathy looked at the ornate room with his eyes, and feltfaindy uncomfortable.

"Now, child,Iwant you to tell me everything that happened," her father directed, his eyes grim as he directed her into a chair and took the one opposite her.

Cathy swallowed, blushed, and obeyed to the best of her ability, leaving out only the most intimate parts of her relations.h.i.+p with Jon. She emphasized that he had been kind to her, seeing that she was adequately fed and sheltered and protected from all harm. Describing how he had risked his life to save hers in Cadiz, her eyes glowed lovingly, although she was unaware of it. Sir Thomas, however, took full note of her expression, and his own eyes narrowed. She told about Jon's terrible wounding, and how she had nursed him, and her father's eyes narrowed even more. Cathy became suddenly aware of his quietly rising anger, and broke off. He was silent for a long moment, staring blankly at the opposite wall. She fidgeted finally, and he looked at her.

"Are you sure-that you're with child,Imean?" Sir Thomas asked in a carefully neutral voice.

Cathy felt the hot, betraying color flood her cheeks again. In her present condition, she could be nothing but a liability to the father who had always been so proud of her. Sir ThomasAldley's daughter with child by a pirate. . . . Cathy could almost hear the malicious talk. It would destroy her father as well as herself.

"Yes, Papa.I'm sure," she managed, not quite able to meet his eyes.

Sir Thoma.s.sawr her shame and his heart quickened with protective love for her. She was, after all, his daughter, and what had happened to her was not her fault. Fierce hatred rose in him for the man who had been vicious enough to visit such degradation on a seventeen-year-old virgin, a well brought up young lady. He thought of his own role in saving that man from a well-deserved death, and his eyes glittered. But he had just granted the pirate a temporary reprieve, he promised himself. For now, his daughter's happiness and good name had to be his first concern.But later. . . .

"My child, you have no reason to look so distressed,"

Sir Thomas said soothingly, catching her small hand in his and patting it. "Your condition came about through no fault of yours, I know. The child you carry was conceived through a brutal act for which you cannot be held accountable. We must now take steps to safeguard your reputation. It was unfortunate that you had to blurt out the news within hearing of every sailor on the s.h.i.+p, but I believe that we can remedy that mistake. Now, Cathy. . . ."

Cathy was feeling a resurgence of nausea. Plainly, in glossing over the intimate details of her a.s.sociation with Jon she had misled her father. For Jon's sake, he had to know the truth, no matter how much it might pain him.

"Papa," she ventured hesitantly, her eyes on their clasped hands. "Papa, it wasn't rape, you know."

"What did you say?" Sir Thomas exploded after a stunned instant.

"Jon-Jon didn't really have to force me, Papa," Cathy whispered, feeling more humiliated than she had before in her life. "I-I was willing."

"My G.o.d, do you know what you're saying?" Sir Thomas leaped to his feet in agitation, glaring angrily down at his daughter. Cathy looked up at him, going almost as white as her dress.

'"Yes, Papa."Her voice was low, but her eyes met his steadily. Sir Thomas's florid face got even redder. Cathy bit her lower lip, but refused to drop her eyes.

"The b.l.o.o.d.y b.a.s.t.a.r.d!"Sir Thomas breathed finally. "I'm glad I stopped them from hanging him! He's going to pay . . ."

The ugly light in her father's normally placid blue eyes alarmed Cathy. She stood up too,then swayed as a spasm of giddiness. .h.i.t her. Sir Thomas reached out a hand to catch her, and Cathy clung to him, her eyes wide and frightened.

"Papa,Ilove him."

She looked like death, and Sir Thomas couldn't bring himself to berate her further. Even if the b.a.s.t.a.r.d hadn't actually forced her, he thought furiously, an experienced man would have little trouble seducing an innocent young girl. What he had done was no better than rape. Cathy must be made to see that. She couldn't be allowed to continue thinking that she was actually in love with such a man!

"Daughter, this man is considerably older than you, is he not?" he began gently. He realized that condemning her affection for the pirate out-of-hand would only serve to alienate her.

"He's thirty-four," Cathy replied faintly, sinking back down into her chair. Her father's sudden volte-face surprised her. She had expected him to rave for hours.

"Ithought so." Sir Thomas sounded as if his gravest fears had been confirmed. "Have you reason to suppose that he loves you?"

"Well. . . ."

"Has he ever said so?" Sir Thomas pursued. A keen glance at Cathy's flus.h.i.+ng face told him that he was on the right tack.

"N-no," she had to admit. Her eyes dropped to study the rich red carpet, against which her sandal-shod feet looked totally out of place.

"I thought not," Sir Thomas sighed heavily and resumed his seat, once more taking Cathy's hand. "My child, a man of thirty-four, especially an unprincipled brigand, will have known scores of women in the biblical sense. Any feelings you may have aroused in him were no novelty to him, believe me. But you, on the other hand, totally innocent, sheltered from men, you mistook your very natural physical awakening for love. It's normal for a young girl to imagine a deathless romance with thefirst man who makes her a woman.Havent you noticed yourself that many young ladies who despise their husbands before marriage soon grow attached to them? Why do you suppose that is, daughter?"

Cathy thought. What her father said was true. She had known girls who had wept at the idea of marriage

only to appear later to be perfectly resigned to their fates, and even fond of their husbands.But. . . .

"It's not like that, Papa," she said determinedly. "I really love Jon. He's handsome and strong, and he can be very gentle and sweet. ..."

Her father gave a rueful bark of laughter.

"Of course he's been gentle and sweet with you, my poor child. Pleasure for a man is much enhanced by a willing partner. I know. I myself have used that technique on a female to ensure her compliance with my wishes. And the sweet young things have all supposed me to be madly in love with them, while in actual fact it was no such thing. A man doesn't dishonor a woman he loves, and a woman would be well advised to use the degree of respect a man accords her as a gauge of his true feelings."

Sir Thomas was satisfied with the effect of this speech. Cathy appeared to be struck, and if he could have somehow known her thoughts he would have been happier yet. It's true, she was thinking. Jon did prefer mewhenIwaswilling. Was his tenderness just a ruse to get me to accept his lovemaking? She could only judge by the depth of her emotions for him,buther father's wordshadopened even herownfeelingsto suspicion. Was what she felt for Jon really love, or was it the natural reaction of a youngfemaleto a handsome male? How could she besure?

Seeingthat he hadgivenherfood for thought, SirThomas wisely said no more on the subject. Instead, he turned his attention to an even weightier problem.

"Cathy," he said at last, startling her out of the maze she was lost in. "We must get you wed, child. As I see it, that's the only thing that will serve to restore your reputation."

Cathy looked up at him enquiringly, her blue eyes, so like his own, misty with thought. It was a moment before she answered.

"Wed, Papa?" she repeated stupidly.

"Yes, daughter.I have in mind a young lieutenant of good family who is presently stationed aboard the 'Lady Chester.' He's just three years older than you, a handsome, gentlemanly lad. Of course, it's nothing like the marriage you could have made, but under the circ.u.mstances any marriage at all is better than none. As it is, I am convinced that I can induce this young man to claimfathers.h.i.+p of the child. His family is rather low on funds just at present, you see."

Cathy stared at him, the color slowly draining from her lips. Her hands clenched into tight fists in her lap.

"You propose to buy me a husband, Papa?" she asked tightly. Sir Thomas met her rapidly cooling gaze calmly.

"My dear, we have little choice. Not many men will take you without some inducement. Be realistic, daughter. Not only for your own sake, but for mine, and even for the child you carry. If any of us are to ever hold up our heads again, you must have a husband."

Cathy thought deeply. What her father said was true, and was indeed no more than she had told herself earlier. Did she want to bear a b.a.s.t.a.r.d child, to watch it suffer the stigma of illegitimacy? Did she herself want to face scorn and ridicule for the rest of her life, to be barred from polite society? No, she didn't. And marriage seemed to be the only way to prevent it.

"I agree with you, Papa," she said clearly. Sir Thomas regarded her with-some surprise. He had expected an argument, not this level acceptance. "Excellent!" His bluff features relaxed into a smile. "I'llmake arrangements at once. The sooner you are wed, the sooner the talk will die."

"I have just one condition, Papa."

Sir Thomas looked at her fondly. "What is it, daughter?"

"I want my husband to be of my choosing."

Sir Thomas spluttered. "But, my dear, there is no time for you to meet eligible young men. We must act

quickly if we.are to act at all. If we wait, we will no longer be able to claim the child as premature when it comes."

"The man I have in mind will take no time to find, Papa."

Cathy's meaning crept up on Sir Thomas like a bush fighter on an unsuspecting enemy regular. His eyes narrowed at her.

"I presume that you're referring to the pirate?"

"His name is Jon, Papa. And yes, I'm referring to him."

"But, daughter, I have already explained to you that what this man feels for you is nothing like love. And

you will soon come to realize that you don't love him, either. There's no reason for you to compound your mistake by marrying the fellow."

"There's a very good reason, Papa. I'm carrying his child." Cathy's blue eyes met her father's calmly.

Sir Thomas sighed. When he spoke, his voice had hardened. "Cathy, you must understand that I will not permit you to marry this man. Why, he is a murderer, a criminal! You would be ashamed of him as soon as you cameto your senses, and would reproach me for permitting such a thing to befall you! Good G.o.d, what do you propose to do with him after the ceremony? Take him back to London, and introduce him around the Court? We would be laughed out of England!"

Cathy's chin set in the mulish lines he knew and dreaded. Blast her stubbornness!

"Papa, if I don't marry Jon I won't marry anyone." The very coldness of her voice was horribly

convincing. Still, Sir Thomas tried. He glowered at his daughter, his face suffusing with the angry color that used to alarm her into compliance.

"By d.a.m.n, girl, you can't defy me! I am your father, and it is my responsibility to arrange your future.

You will wed whom I name!" "I am very sorry to disoblige you, Papa, but I will marry Jon, orIwon't marry at all!" Two sets of almost identical blue eyes warred with each other, both refusing to give ground.

"And what happens after the ceremony, if I were foolish enough to permit such a thing? You realize that your pirate is still under sentence of death, don't you? It is unlikely that he will escape the gallows forever. Hiskind rarely do ."

"I know how much influence you have at Court, Papa. You could easily arrange a pardon, if you so desired."

While Cathy was talking, Sir Thomas's thoughts raced on ahead. Now that he considered it, perhaps there was something to be said for her scheme. He had never liked the idea of his daughter being forced to throw herself away on some young puppy with neither money nor influence to recommend him. If he could somehow restore her good name withoutsaddhng her with a husband, at least not on a permanent basis, then something still might be salvaged from this shambles. Say, if she were to become a widow. ... Sir Thomas smiled inwardly. He had hit on the very solution. Cathy would be permitted to marry her pirate, and then steps would be taken to a.s.sure that the fellow was gotten out of the way. Not that he himself would ever stoop to murder, Sir Thomas thought cunningly. There would be no need. If the pirate were to be turned over to the Queen's justice, his end would be swift and sure-and perfectly legal. And Cathy would be free to choose another husband more in keeping with her own high rank. There were only two problems that he could foresee: the polite world must not know that Cathy's dead husband was a pirate, and Cathy herself must not be apprised of the man's fate until her infatuation for him had run its course. But there were ways to make sure of such things. . . .

"What did you say, daughter?" Sir Thomas smiled at Cathy genially. Cathy was taken aback by the constant s.h.i.+fts in her father's mood, but persevered with what she was saying.