Captive Embraces (33 page)

Sirena barely heard him, she was so intent on her thoughts. She had been a fool. Again! The wine had already gone to her head owing to her empty stomach. She tried to review the reasons she had married Stephan. Somehow they all became confused and muddled in her mind.

Sirena shook her head and drained her goblet. She couldn't think. Relaxing against the plush interior of the coach, she allowed Stephan to refill her glass.

 

Camilla Langdon sat before the mirror applying the finishing touches to her buttercup-yellow hair. The timepiece on her nightstand told her it was nearly ten o'clock. Her father would have married Sirena by this time, and they would be headed back toward London if they had not already arrived. The Langdons had at last secured their futures, Camilla thought sourly. Or at least Father had, she amended. Her own future was still uncertain. She was entering into a bigamous marriage. A vision of Tyler stepping forward to protest her marriage to Regan flashed before her.

Camilla wasn't certain what had gotten into Tyler lately. He seemed more self-assured, self-confident, as though he harbored a wonderful secret. At times she wondered if his financial condition had improved, but then she would think of the paltry amounts he gave her on loan and discounted the idea entirely.

Along with these reflections came the memory of her first wedding day. She had been young, so young and in love. The way only a sixteen-year-old girl could be. They had spent the summer at the Sinclair's country estate, and Tyler and she had been immediately attracted to one another. More than attracted, wildly in love! Stephan had kept a wary eye on the young couple, giving them excuses to be alone together, covering their trysts, condoning their relationship, and, at last, helping them elope and giving his blessing. At first, she thought herself lucky to have such an understanding parent, but then she learned the truth. Stephan had his goal set for the Sinclair money, and what better way to get his hands on it than to have his daughter marry the heir to the title.

Her wedding day to Regan was so different from that day nearly four years past when she and Tyler had run off together. Then she had been breathlessly in love; today she was going through the motions. Though she considered- Regan one of the most fascinating men she had ever met, she was frightened of him. Regan was no schoolboy who could be toyed with. He was a worldly, intelligent man who knew what he wanted from life and went after it. While his treatment of her was always courtly and gentle, she knew his ire could be aroused. She still shuddered to think of the night they had gone aboard Caleb's
Sea Siren
and Regan could not find her. Regan was a challenge and would never knowingly allow himself to be manipulated. Camilla gulped when she thought of Tyler's threat to expose her to the Dutchman. She could almost feel Regan's strong, capable hands closing around her throat. Perhaps that was why she found herself So enamored of Caleb. He was a younger version of his handsome father without that terrifying aura of power which Regan exuded.

Suddenly, a heartrending sob tore from Camilla's throat. “Damn you, Tyler! Why couldn't it have worked for us?” she cried, lowering her head to her folded arms on the dressing table. “We're both too greedy for our own good.”

That was how the maid found her when she brought the freshly ironed wedding gown to Camilla's room.

 

Stephan ushered Sirena through the front doors of his house on Drury Lane. Guests were thronging through the rooms, looking for the best vantage point to witness the wedding of Camilla Langdon to Regan van der Rhys. Gratefully, he realized the shabby furnishings and worn carpets were not noticeable because of the gay decorations and crowds of people. As he led Sirena through to the drawing room, several gentlemen clapped him on the back and congratulated him as father of the bride. He answered their good wishes with a smile, but was concentrating on Sirena, who had had more than enough wine. He felt a slight tug at his arm as she stumbled once and decided the safest thing was to seat her near the doors to the garden where the vows would be said.

As he glanced around the room, he felt an uncontrollable desire to announce that Sirena and he had been married that very morning. The sooner word spread that he had become the husband of an heiress, the quicker his credit would improve.

Sirena allowed Stephan to seat her and she tried to focus on the milling guests. She had definitely drunk too much wine and she knew it, but somehow it seemed the only way to get through the day. An ominous pall hung about her as she saw Stephan smile and speak first to one guest, then another. She hoped he thought she was the blushing bride and that was why she was so remote. She would hate to have him know she was holding onto her chair for dear life as the room spun around her.

Through blurry eyes, Sirena looked toward the rear of the room and saw a manservant open the door to admit yet another guest. Fuzzy though her mind was, she wondered snidely if Stephan had invited the whole of London to witness Regan make a fool of himself. Her eyes adjusted and her attention strained to see the person was Caleb. He entered and fumbled uncomfortably with his cravat and his fashionable narrowly cut waistcoat seemed to strain against his broad shoulders. Her first impulse was to rise and rush to greet him, so relieved was she to see a familiar face from the past. But her feet were anchors and her knees wobbly from the wine, and she sat back down on her chair, hoping Caleb would notice her and cover the distance between them himself.

Caleb scanned the crowd and almost immediately observed Sirena. He turned away, hoping she hadn't seen him. He didn't want to speak with her, to open himself to her possible sarcasm, to expose his vulnerabilities to her. He strongly suspected Sirena knew what had transpired with Camilla.

Before coming to the Langdon house on Drury Lane, Caleb had contrived several excuses which would prevent him from attending the wedding. He knew none of them would be acceptable to Regan, who had made it clear he wanted his son present.

Gnashing his teeth, Caleb reached for a glass of wine from the tray of a passing servant. Two swallows and the glass was empty. He reached for another. He was a cauldron of boiling emotion.

Caleb had never desired a woman the way he did Camilla, and in a few moments she would be his stepmother, married to his father. He had never felt so ashamed as he did for his betrayal of Regan. Even worse was the knowledge that he was allowing Regan to march innocently into a marriage with a woman whose disloyalty would ultimately destroy him. And yet, selfishly, Caleb could say nothing. If he implicated himself in Camilla's infidelity, whatever bond existed between Regan and himself would be severed beyond healing. He hated Camilla for what she was doing, and yet, just thinking about her made him want her. Her pale yellow hair in the silver of moonlight creeping through the porthole of the
Sea Siren;
her skin, alabaster white against his own darker body. Her scent . . . her feel ...

Unexpectedly, a hand clamped on his shoulder. Caleb turned to see a handsome man smiling lopsidedly at him. “So you came to bear witness to this farce, did you?”

Caleb realized this gentleman was worse the wear for drink. “What do you mean, ‘farce'? Who are you?” Caleb challenged.

“Oh, rather rude of me, chap, not to introduce myself first. Tyler Sinclair. I gather you're Caleb van der Rhys. Spitting image of your father, you know,” Tyler awkwardly tried to correct his faux pas, with little success. Giving up the effort, he continued, “Surely you don't think it's love for the Dutchman that makes our pretty Camilla stand before the preacher, do you? Ha! More likely your father's prospects! You know, originally I'd planned to be elsewhere today. However, I couldn't bear not seeing the Langdons pull this one off!”

Caleb bristled. Whatever private thoughts he might entertain concerning Camilla, his protective instincts made him rise to her defense. “Sir, you seem to forget you speak of my father's bride.”

“And it would serve you well if you remembered that fact yourself. Camilla is Regan's bride, not yours.” Tyler seemed a bit unsteady on his feet and his color was ruddy.

Caleb paled. How many people suspected his connection with Camilla?

“Oho! Don't look so alarmed,” Tyler soothed. “I've known our pretty, fair-haired sparrow too long not to know her tastes, Caleb.” The musicians struck a chord. “If I'm not mistaken, here comes our little bird now on the arm of London's cockiest rooster!”

Caleb looked to the stairs where Tyler's attention was directed. Camilla came into view on Stephan's arm. She was a vision of purity and loveliness. For one insane moment, Caleb imagined he was the only other person in the room and that Camilla was walking hesitantly toward him. He imagined it was to him she came, wreathed in a smile of innocence. That her smile was for him, her eyes, her lips . . .

Camilla's gaze fell on the two men and for one instant she was frightened. Disregarding Caleb, she studied Tyler's features, trying to read his intentions. Would he dare hold to his threat and interrupt the wedding and declare publicly that she was already married, to him? For what seemed an eternity her heart stopped beating and she willed Tyler's eyes to meet hers. When they did she breathed a silent sigh of relief. There, instead of a burning resolution, was the familiar amused expression she had seen countless times. So, she assured herself, Tyler would keep her secret for as long as she wanted. The Dutchman would be hers. And so would his money.

If Sirena saw Camilla make her way down the stairs, she did not show it. She only knew Camilla looked adorably young and innocent in her froth of white lace. All else escaped her when she saw Regan take his place near the garden doors, looking trim and fit in a suit of royal blue with silver accents. His doublet was cut in military style and hugged his slender waist while it emphasized his broad shoulders. Breeches worn inside knee-high boots of soft pigskin revealed his well-muscled legs and his sheaf of near-white hair blazed against the dark of his garments. He looked more handsome than she ever remembered. It was only when he turned to look at her, and she saw the faint outline of the S-shaped scar on his cheek, that the irrevocable past flooded back to her. Regan was marrying Camilla. He would be lost to her forever.

Where was the delight she was to have anticipated in telling him she had married Stephan earlier that morning? Where was the victory? Hopelessly defeated, Sirena slumped upon her chair and was an unwilling witness to the event taking place. As Regan stood framed in the doorway leading to the garden, Sirena imagined he was reciting his vows for her. In her befuddled state it was she who wore the white gown, not Camilla. It was she who Regan looked down upon, swearing to love and to cherish. It was she who looked up at him adoringly, waiting, longing for that moment when they would be alone and he would take her in his arms and turn the world upside down with his kisses. And it was she who would welcome him to her, feel his heart beating against her mouth, his smooth, bronze skin against her hands. And when she opened herself to him, the world would become a distant place as they soared to the heavens with their love to guide them.

A woman sitting beside Sirena tapped her gently on the arm and silently offered her a handkerchief. “I always cry at weddings, too, my dear. That's why I brought several hankies along.” Until that moment, Sirena had no idea that her cheeks were streaked with tears.

Tyler and Caleb stood beside one another, each lost in his own thoughts. Several moments into the ceremony, just before the vows were sworn, Tyler nudged Caleb. “What would you say if I invited you to the nearest tavern to drink to the happy couple.”

Caleb faced Tyler and saw his own misery reflected in the other man's eyes. “I'd say the first round was on me,” he smiled weakly.

Together, to the servants' astonishment, they clapped arms across each other's shoulders and marched out the door.

The newly wedded couple was toasted and glasses lifted in their honor. Somebody pressed a glass into Sirena's hand and, before Stephan could retrieve it from her, the burnished liquid had found its way down her throat.

“Darling,” Stephan cautioned, “you really will be quite ill if you take any more wine.”

For answer, Sirena reached for a glass from a passing servant and glared at Stephan.

“Sirena,” he said sternly, “it promises to be a very long day and, as father of the bride, I am duty-bound to stay until the last guest leaves. It will be quite late before we can be alone together.” Even as he spoke, Sirena took another gulp from her glass and glared at Stephan with hostility.

“I can see I must make our happy announcement immediately, while you're still on your feet to accept the congratulations from well-wishers,” he said through clenched teeth.

“Yes, do that, Stephan. It will be most interesting to note how our news is taken.” Her tongue had difficulty forming the words and her speech sounded slurred and thick, even to herself.

Regan looked over Camilla's head toward Sirena. He had never seen her this way, and he felt a small tug of remorse that his marrying Camilla had spurred Sirena on to drink.

Camilla glanced up at her new husband and noticed his intense gaze directed at the other side of the room. Following his glance, she saw that Stephan had picked up a spoon and was ready to clink it against the side of his glass. “Come with me, Regan, I think Father has a little announcement to make. I nearly told you about it last night, but Father swore me to secrecy.”

As Stephan clinked the silver spoon against the crystal glass to capture the guests' attention, Sirena saw Regan and Camilla come toward them. She was looking straight into Regan's eyes when Stephan made the announcement.

“. . . and lucky man that I am, our lovely guest from Spain, Sirena Córdez, consented to be my bride. We were married early this morning.”