In the Tudor Court Collection. Amanda McCabe
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as if it were sticking to her. She had worn one of her best gowns for Justin’s approval, but wished that she had a simple shift and skirt, as Anna was wearing. Long branches brushed against her face and hair. There were insects on the greenery and in the air, some of them settling on her arms and face. She brushed them away, feeling that the density of the trees was overpowering and unpleasant, and wishing they were still on the beautiful beach. Feeling hot and sticky, Maribel was on the point of asking if they could turn back when she heard the sound of water and her curiosity was aroused. In another moment the trees thinned out and then they were in a clearing.
The sound of water came from a little waterfall. It cascaded down over rocks, making a rushing noise. Clear and cool, it looked inviting and Maribel ran towards it, bending down to scoop water from the tiny pool at the base of the fall and splashing it on her face and neck. A stream wound away from the falls, and without thinking what she did, she sat on the bank, slipped off her shoes and dipped her feet into the stream, relishing the coolness on her flesh.
‘This feels so good…’ she said, arching back so that the sun was on her face while her feet dabbled in the water. ‘This is a beautiful place, Justin. What are those flowers over there? They look like hibiscus but, I am not sure.’
‘They are probably a different variety to those you have at home,’ he said from just behind her. He sat down on the ground and hunched his knees in front of him. ‘Was it worth the walk?’
‘Oh, yes…’ She looked round at him, her eyes alight, mouth slightly parted, an expression of such delight in her eyes that he caught his breath. ‘Thank you so much for bringing me here. I think it is Paradise, though while we were in the trees I almost asked to go back. I was so hot and sticky.’ She bent down to scoop water from the pool and splashed it once more over her face and neck. It trickled down her throat and disappeared under her bodice. The thin material clung to her, caressing the softness of her breasts where the water had soaked through. ‘I did not think anywhere could be this beautiful…’ Her eyes followed one of the birds that called from branches high above her. In the distance she could hear a faint booming sound, which she took to be the sound of the sea crashing against the rocky coasts further round the island. She turned her head to look at him and saw that he watched her.
‘Last night…’ Maribel sought and found the courage to say what must be said. ‘I wept because I am a foolish woman, but after you had gone I wanted you to stay. I know you cannot love me, for you told me, but I…’ The words caught in her throat as she saw the heat in his eyes.
‘You are beautiful,’ Justin said huskily. He reached out, taking her hand, pulling her to her feet. For a moment he hesitated, then his arms went round her, crushing her hard against him. His mouth sought hers, hungry and demanding, yet tender. ‘You inflame my senses, Maribel. I vowed I would not do this, but you tempt me beyond bearing. Last night you wept and I thought—’
‘Do not talk, kiss me,’ she whispered and placed her finger against his lips. ‘I want you to kiss me.’
‘You know what it means if I kiss you?’ His gaze was dark, intense as his eyes drank her in. ‘I want more than a few kisses. I want…everything…you, your body, your mind, your heart.’
Maribel swayed towards him, her body melting into him as he kissed her, her mouth opening to his inquiring tongue, giving of her sweetness as she felt the desire race through her. This was what she had longed for. What she wanted more than anything else in the world. His hand found and cupped her breast, his thumb caressing her through the thin material. She whimpered with need and pressed against him, feeling the hot desire curl inside her. As he bent his head and kissed her, sliding her bodice down over her shoulder, his tongue caressing the dark rose nipple, she moaned with need.
‘Justin, I want…’
‘What do you want, my darling? Say it is everything…say it is me you want, as I want you.’
‘Take me, make me yours. Justin, I…’
Her words were lost as they heard the shot. She looked up at him, eyes wide and startled. Higgins had arranged that he would fire one shot if he needed them to return.
‘Damn!’ Justin let her go immediately. He looked back towards the shore, a pulse throbbing at his temple. ‘Higgins would not summon me unless it was important. I am sorry, Maribel. We must go back.’
Maribel inclined her head. She wished that they could stay longer in this beautiful place, but Higgins would not have given the signal had it not been urgent. Taking Justin’s hand, she let him hurry her back through the path they had cleared on their way here.
What could possibly be happening? Why had Higgins given the signal? As they heard a second shot, her heart started to pound. Something must be terribly wrong…
As they neared the beach Justin was ahead of her. He glanced back, signalling to her to slow down.
‘Wait in the trees until I call you,’ he warned. ‘Just in case there is trouble.’
Maribel would have argued, but she could not catch up to him as he ran out on to the beach. She hovered at the edge of the trees, watching as Justin spoke to Higgins. The sailor appeared to be pointing agitatedly towards the other side of the island. Maribel turned her head and saw the smoke rising into what had been a cloudless sky. A cry from Justin alerted her and she left the shelter of the trees to join him.
‘What is it?’ she asked. ‘What is happening?’
‘Something is on fire in the port. We think there has been an attack of some kind.’ Justin frowned. ‘We must get back to the settlement, but you and Anna should stay here until someone comes to tell you that it is safe to return.’
‘No!’ Anna and Maribel spoke together.
‘I would rather be with you whatever happens,’ Maribel insisted. ‘If we stayed here and you did not return, we might never reach the other side of the island. No matter what is happening, I shall come with you.’
‘I’m not staying here without Higgins.’ Anna said, her mouth set stubbornly.
Justin inclined his head. ‘Very well. I have no time to argue. Into the boat with you.’
He was frowning as he assisted Higgins to push the boat into deeper water and then helped Maribel to climb in. She sensed that he was anxious for the crew and friends he had left behind. There were no words of comfort to offer for the smoke did not lie. Something terrible must have happened and she could sense the urgency and frustration in the two men as they pulled on the oars. They must be wondering what they were doing on a pleasure trip when their comrades were in trouble.
Maribel caught her breath as they rounded the point and she saw the ships blazing in the harbour. At least three were on fire and the smoke was thick, blowing across the sea towards the land.
‘Damn it!’ Justin cried. ‘One of the ships burning is the Sea Siren! By the look of her she is finished.’
‘What of the Defiance?’ Maribel asked. ‘I did not notice it in harbour as we left this morning.’
‘Yesterday, I sent Defiance and a crew to fetch supplies from another island. We were running short of essentials like meat and milk and I bargained for livestock that can be reared here.’
‘Then she is safe?’ Maribel said, thinking that if he had not sent his best ship for supplies that too might have been destroyed. It was bad enough that he should have lost the Sea Siren, because he had given his third ship to Captain Hendry as a reward for bringing the information about her family. Maribel felt relieved for his sake, but he misunderstood her question.
‘You need not be concerned. A ship would be found to take you to England even if my ships were all destroyed. ’ His tone sounded scornful and she knew he believed she had been thinking of herself.
‘I did not mean…’ Maribel began but her words were lost as Anna cried out and pointed to the island and they saw that some of the houses had been damaged by what could only be cannon