A Pirate's Wife for Me (47 page)

Taran talked over the top of her. "I've hired as many people from town as can be spared to clean and repair the cathedral so we can repeat the ceremony while you visit Cenorina."

Kiernan nodded. "'Tis right and proper that I represent the MacLean clan and give the bride away. Our mother will be most pleased."

Cate glanced at Jeannette again. "But Jeannette — "

"I think Jeannette can be convinced to stay long enough to enjoy the celebration. You will stay, won't you?" Taran asked.

Jeannette shuffled her feet. "I had hoped to go on to my next assignment."

"Of course she will stay," Queen Sibeol said. "She is one of the heroines of Cenorina and should be celebrated as such."

Jeannette looked at Cate as if seeking sympathy from a kindred spirit. When Cate spread her hands helplessly — the plans had been made, and they were sweeping her along without caring about her input — Jeannette glared at Queen Sibeol's back, crossed her eyes and stuck out her tongue.

Cate changed her laughter into a compulsive cough. She was starting to think her suspicions of Jeannette had been foolish and a trick of pain and fear and thwarted love.

"It is always good to plan a coronation early enough to allow foreign dignitaries to grace the ceremony and prove the lineage is safe, but in this case an earlier coronation is definitely in order to reassure our people that all is well and … for other reasons. I do wish we had found the crown jewels." Queen Sibeol studied Cate's auburn hair. "Cate would be lovely in the queen's crown with the stormstone above her forehead, and she has handsome hands and long fingers, and the wedding ring would sit well upon … well. It is sad to lose those traditions, but we will soon make new ones."

Cate began, "I'm afraid—"

Taran half-turned on the lounge to face her. "You are not to reproach yourself for not finding them."

"I'm not."

"No, indeed," Queen Sibeol said. "Since I have returned, I have also searched the house. I thought I had discovered Davies's hiding place in the king's study, but alas, the case was empty."

Cate didn't want to explain, but she had to. "That's because Zelle —"

Taran took her hands, massaged them, and looked deep into her eyes. "Zelle has disappeared."

That irritation was back. "I
know
. Zelle believes strongly that—"

Zelle stepped around the corner of the house holding a silver tray covered in a cloth. "I believe the crown jewels are for all Cenorina. "

"Ohhh." Cate lit up with pleasure. "I was right about you. I knew I was."

Zelle came forward.

Blowfish bobbed along behind her and pointed, grinning like a lad under the spell of his first infatuation.

With his help, she knelt at the foot of Cate's chaise lounge. Looking Cate in the eyes, she said, "I couldn't do it. You were right — the prince is generous and just, and these are for all Cenorina." She told Taran, "Your wife, the princess,
did
discover the jewels. She knew where they were. She told me about them."

"
Zelle took them for safekeeping until the battle had been won." Cate was so proud, of Zelle, of herself, of these people who surrounded her and looked with anticipation to the future of their country.

Taran slid his arm around Cate, hugged her, put his face into the curve of her neck, and laughed deeply. "You darling!"

Zelle gestured to Blowfish, who pulled the cloth off the tray.

A gasp rose from every throat.

Taran looked up, and laughed again.

A pile of rings, necklaces, earrings and bracelets sparkled in the sunshine. Atop them sat the king's crown, with the massive seastone glowing as purple as the deepest sea, and the queen's crown, with the stormstone sporting a bright strike of lightning deep in its heart.

No one on the veranda could look away. Every eye was riveted to the glorious display.

From the bottom of the stairs, a rough voice spoke, "Beautiful jewels. Thanks for finding them for me. Now I'll take 'em." Lilbit walked up the stairs, a knife in his belt and a pistol in each hand.

CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE

On the sunny terrace,
everyone's gaze moved from the crown jewels to the intruder. The sight of Lilbit froze them in place. No one spoke except for a lone, frightened female voice — Cate thought it was Gracia — who said, "He's a living corpse!"

Lilbit's adventures in the wilds of the island had changed the handsome, strapping sailor into a cadaverous monster. He had lost weight, so that his grimy clothes hung on him. Patches of sweat stained his armpits and stuck the white linen of his shirt to his belly. At the same time, his face was puffy and red, so swollen his skin was peeling off his cheeks and his eyes were mere slits.

Taran groped at his waist for his pistol or his knife, but he was dressed like a gentleman. He wore no weapons.

Kiernan was the same.

Jeannette half rose in her seat, then sank back down.

Blowfish eased back. He pulled a knife from his sleeve and cradled it in his palm.

Lilbit knew Blowfish too well; he waved the pistol at Cate. "Drop it, Blowfish."

Blowfish looked between Cate and Lilbit.

He whispered a curse word and dropped the knife.

The clatter of the steel onto the stones broke the profound silence, and made Cate jump. If Blowfish, who had taught her to defend herself, couldn't disarm Lilbit, what could anyone do?

She wet her lips. She looked for anything that would serve as a weapon.

She saw nothing.

None of the servants were prepared. No one had foreseen an attack. Why would they? Here, at Giraud, in the middle of the island, knowing the first moment of peace they had enjoyed in nine long years?

The only sound now was the wheeze of Lilbit's breath, and beside and behind Cate, the slow and steady click of Queen Sibeol's knitting needles.

If Lilbit rushed them, Cate could take him out with those needles.

He wasn't going to rush them; not as long as he held loaded pistols in his hands.

"Bring those jewels here … Zelle." Lilbit had been hiding in the bushes, listening to their conversation. He had listened as they exchanged affections, he understood their pleasure in their triumph, he knew how close the connections were that bound them … he knew their names. With one pistol pointed at Zelle and one at Taran, he said, "Zelle, bring them now."

Zelle glanced at Taran.

Taran nodded to her, a slow, deep nod.

As Zelle got to her feet, she staggered. The jewels clattered on the tray.

"I'll kill you if you drop it," Lilbit promised.

Cate believed him.

So did Zelle. The tray trembled in her hands; the jewels shimmered and flashed.

Perhaps it was a trick of the light, but to Cate, it looked as if Lilbit's eyes had lost their color; the irises were an eerie white.

His failed mutiny, his failed attempt to murder Taran, his lonely trek into the depths of a strange island, had driven him mad.

Zelle dragged her feet as she walked across the porch.

In a clear, steady voice, Taran said, "Lilbit, you can't get off the island with those jewels."

"Not all of them. But I only need one to be a wealthy man. And I'll take all I can carry." Lilbit wheezed when he breathed, his skin glistened with perspiration, and his gaze slid from side to side, encompassing every man and woman on the terrace.

He hated them all; for surviving, for thriving, for their moments of happiness.

His gaze touched Cate.

She shrank back. He hated her most of all.

And why? She had done nothing to him … except survive, thrive, be happy.

Beside and behind, the click of Queen Sibeol's needles slowed.

"Stuff the rings into my bag," Lilbit told Zelle.

Zelle slid toward him like a skater afraid to advance.

"Ye insolent young whoreson." Blowfish vibrated with fury. "I should have killed ye while I had the chance."

"Old man," Lilbit said with lethal intensity, "you're a dog panting to stuff your nose up your master's arse."

Blowfish started to rush forward.

"Stop!" Queen Sibeol snapped.

Blowfish came to a halt.

Taran eased around to fully face Lilbit, to present him with a larger target. "You realize we will hunt you down."

"Really? Will you? You destroyed my ambitions, and for trying to kill you, you sentenced me to die." Lilbit lifted his shirt and showed them the red streaks across his skin and the oozing, festering wound on his side.

Jeannette winced and turned her face away.

Zelle made a gagging sound.

"You smell like decay," Taran said.

Cate smelled it, too — the faint trace of putrefaction wafted on the breeze.

Lilbit snarled, showing gray teeth and red gums. "So, prince, will you kill me like a mad dog who has destroyed everything you love?"

Slowly, so as not to alarm him, Taran waved an arm around. "Look at us. There are too many. You can't kill us all."

"Hold your tongue," Cate said out of the corner of her mouth.

Taran continued, "You can't destroy everything I love."

"I can. All I have to do is this." Lilbit held one pistol pointed steadfastly at Taran’s chest. His hand tightened on the trigger. At the last moment, he turned his aim toward Cate —

Taran flung himself at Cate.

Cate flung herself at Taran.

A pistol roared.

Cate screamed in rage. "No!" She would not lose Taran now.

But when she looked up, Taran was alive, holding her with trembling hands, asking, "Are you all right? Were you hit?"

"No. No. You?"

"No. But —"

Lilbit was sprawled on the steps, a smoking bullet wound in his chest.

Kiernan helped Enid up off the floor; he had shoved her down and out of the range of fire. She cupped her wrist as if she was in pain. Jeannette hurried to assist as Kiernan helped Enid into the house.

The crown jewels were scattered across the terrace, ignored while Blowfish embraced Zelle.

The palace staff was standing, stunned and bewildered, until with a gesture Harkness directed them to face Queen Sibeol.

She stood calm and straight, a pistol held in her firm grasp. She said clearly, "After Davies took me prisoner, I swore I would never again be unprepared. So I always carry a loaded pistol in my knitting bag. And I can shoot, you know. I
am
the queen."

Cate could almost see the change come over the servants. Before, even though they knew better, they had remembered only the queen who lived in the tower and oppressed them.

Now Queen Sibeol was a heroine in her own right.

The servants bowed and curtsied, ignored everything but their awe of their queen.

"My God." Taran gathered Cate close against his chest. His voice was choked. "My God, I never thought to worry about an assassination attempt."

She burrowed close, trying to rid herself of the teeth-chattering fear that would forever haunt her dreams — that Taran had been killed. "We were so happy, we forgot about Lilbit."

"Maybe I should let you go," he said. "Maybe you would be safer."

She muttered into his chest, "I could go on adventures with Jeannette." Jeannette, who Cate now knew had never been a threat to her. Jeannette, who he had never loved.

"You taunt me. You terrorize me. You love me … you give me courage to do the right thing. It is you who makes me work to be a better man. And when … when I thought you were dying, I wanted to die, too. When Lilbit was going to shoot…" Taran took her hand and placed it over his pounding heart. "I can't live without you. Tell me you'll stay. Tell me you'll marry me again. I will make you happy. I will crown you with the jewels of my family. I will worship you."

She wanted to laugh at him, but he looked so intense, so desperate, and his heart pounded so frantically beneath her palm, she had to try and bring him to sense. "Taran, you must be not serious. If we stay married—"

"There is no other choice."

"You won't worship me. We'll fight. You'll try to boss me around. I'll do what I think is best. When I wear the crown, it will slip sideways or I'll put it down somewhere and lose it. You know I don't care about those things." She choked up. "I only care about … you."

"You love me."

"You know I do." Tears rose in her eyes. "And I wish I could make you love me."

"My God, woman!" He tugged at his hair until it stood up in all directions. "When you were unconscious, I carried you here all the way from Arianna in my arms. I bathed you when your fever rose, made you drink water and broth, changed your nightgown and held you in your delirium."

"Queen Sibeol said you had stayed with me, but I didn't know…" She was balanced between laughter and weeping. "Did you really do all those things?"