Pirate's Golden Promise (41 page)

All became quite clear to Cort on a balmy October afternoon. He was going over the account books in his study when he heard voices from the garden outside the window. He paid no attention until he realized that the voices belonged to Somerset and Katrina, and they were raised in anger.

“I told you I'd give you the money. However, the funds are tied up in New York, and Cort must be the one to approve the transaction. I can't ask for such a large amount at once. He has already approved a small portion which shall be sent by the end of the month. You shall simply have to wait.”

“When we made our agreement, I didn't think I'd be paid in trickles. I want all of the money now.”

“That's impossible!” Katrina protested. “Besides, you haven't even started in your attempt to seduce Wynter. You've been at Lindenwyck for three weeks, and all of you do is make cow eyes at her.”

“For what I've been paid, that's all you'll get out of me. Remember, Vrouw Van Linden, it was you who suggested I pursue Wynter, to make her husband so jealous he'd think she was unfaithful. I shall do little else to get her attentions until you pay me my due! Now think on that and decide how much you want to be Cort Van Linden's wife. Until you get the money, I shall be staying at the tavern in the village.”

After that, Cort heard nothing else. He sat at his desk, breathing hard, almost breathing fire. He was so angered by this conversation that he'd have gladly found Katrina and strangled her.

He went outside and saw her standing on the bluff. Her blue-eyed gaze was turned downward to the river, and when she glanced up at him, it appeared cold. However, she greeted him warmly.

“I haven't seen much of you,” she said. “Does Lindenwyck keep you so occupied?”

He nodded curtly. “It appears you've been well occupied lately, too, Katrina.”

When she came close to him, he smelled lavender about her and felt her warm breath against his cheek. “I think only of you, Cort.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

She backed away, and glanced at him in puzzlement. He appeared so stiff, so foreboding. “Whatever is the matter, my love?”

Cort grabbed her arms and pushed her away. “You are what's wrong, Katrina. You're like a festering sore. Years ago, I loved you, desired you, but you made a fool of me and married my cousin. You'll never know how my heart broke, or how, when I left here, I thought I'd never find love again. And I didn't, until I met Wynter. Now, she and our daughter are my life. Believe me when I say this, that I will allow no one to interfere in my life in any way.”

“No one has done that, Cort. Certainly not I.”

“Liar!”

“Cort, please.”

“I heard you minutes ago, outside the study window. This filthy plan you hatched with Somerset has come to an end. I assume you thought you were quite clever to enlist him, that he would do your bidding because he always loved Wynter. Well, Katrina, you learned a hard lesson about Somerset. He might love Wynter, but he loves money more. You'll never carry out your plan now. For one thing, your money is tied up and needs my signature to release it, which I will gladly do. Believe me, I shall turn over all your money to you.”

“I don't believe you, Cort.”

“I will. By tomorrow afternoon, the necessary paperwork shall be at the bank in New York, and your money shall be yours. You can use it in whatever way you please, Katrina. Of course, it's too late to buy off Somerset, now that I know what you and he planned to do. However, you should be quite set for life and never want for anything.”

Something didn't sound right to Katrina's ears. Cort was being too magnanimous. She eyed him in suspicion. “What must I do to receive the money?”

“Leave Lindenwyck and Mikel. I shall raise the boy and love him. Wynter will be his mother, and a better mother than you ever were. You never loved the child, only used him to insure your place as Rolfe's wife. I think you're coming out very well, under the circumstances. There's nothing for you here, Katrina. Nothing at all. Pack your bags and I'll arrange a sloop to escort you to New York. By this time tomorrow, you shall be a wealthy woman.”

Katrina's face visibly paled. She knew he meant his words, that he would run her off without anything if she argued with him. But she wouldn't admit defeat, not yet. Oh, she'd gladly leave Lindenwyck to receive the money, and very happy she'd be, too. She'd even miss Mikel a little bit, but Cort was right. She wasn't a good mother, and that Englishwoman would be better for the boy. But not for long. Before she was finished, Wynter Van Linden would be in worst straits than Cort could ever imagine. And when things died down, perhaps in six months, she would return to claim the man she had always loved. By that time, Cort would be a widower.

Katrina solemnly nodded her acceptance of his terms. “I shall do whatever you want, Cort. I'll pack and leave Lindenwyck immediately.”

She left him standing on the bluff. A hot wind blew the strands of his golden hair about his head. He thought that she had given in too damned easily.

After Katrina's departure, Wynter found that Mikel scarcely grieved for his mother. She hadn't any idea why Katrina had departed in haste for New York, and was sorely curious, but when she asked Cort, he replied only that Katrina would fare better away from Lindenwyck. Whatever the reason, Wynter knew that she, herself, fared better at Lindenwyck without Katrina, and to her surprise and delight, Mikel accepted her as his mother. She felt as if she and Cort were truly a family now, and that nothing hung over their heads to disrupt their newfound happiness.

Lena finally left her bed and now bustled through the house. Rolfe's death had changed her. Wynter could see lines where before there had been none, and sometimes a stray tear would course down her cheek when she thought no one watched her. She was still jolly, still kind, but a sadness tinged her outlook on life, Wynter found that Lena had grown more protective of her and Cort, Mikel, and Lyntje. Many times when the baby cried, Lena would rush to see what was wrong and a slight frown would mar Gerta's forehead. However, all in all, Lindenwyck had never been brighter or glowed with more love.

The only problem was Lucy and her divorce from Adam. Each day, Lucy awaited word that the decree was final. Dirk had grown more impatient to marry her. The house he'd started was now ready, but there was no wife to warm his bed. Since Adam's arrival, Wynter discerned that her sister had grown thinner and constantly looked as if she wanted to cry. Her face, always pale, now was positively white.

“Lucy, please try not to worry about things. I know the divorce decree shall come soon and you and Dirk shall marry. Adam hasn't done anything to stop you from obtaining a divorce, has he?” Wynter patted her hand in a comforting gesture which she knew was futile. Nothing could bring a smile to Lucy's solemn face.

Lucy shook her head, and her hands trembled in her lap. She and Wynter sat on the stone bench overlooking the North River, and in the air the first traces of fall could be felt.

“He is still living in the village, Wynter. He has said nothing to lead me to believe that he will contest the divorce, but his silence is what causes me to think that he is biding his time. Why is he still in the vicinity of Lindenwyck? He should have left long ago.”

“Don't fret over this, Lucy. He might want his presence to cause you discomfort. Perhaps he wants only to torment you since you no longer love him.”

“Torment yes, but he never loved me, and I don't think he cares that once I adored him. I have to obtain a divorce, Wynter. I must marry Dirk very soon. Our child deserves a name.”

Shock and delight mingled on Wynter's face. “You should have told me you were expecting a child. This is wonderful, Lucy!”

“It's not!” Tears fell from Lucy's eyes onto her bodice and stained the cloth like raindrops. “I can't bear the shame of having a bastard child, a child people will scoff at, and ridicule. The shame of such a thing will be more than I can bear.” She blew her nose into her kerchief, and an apologetic look formed in her eyes. “I shouldn't have said that. I'm sorry, Wynter.”

“Don't apologize. The circumstances of my birth don't hurt me, and never did, really. My parents loved one another. You and Dirk love each other. Love is all that counts, not what others think. When Lyntje was born, Cort and I weren't married. I arrived at Lindenwyck and told everyone I was his wife. In my heart, I was. No one knew the truth. You must be strong, Lucy, and think of your own life and that of your child, and Dirk's. Whatever Adam might have in mind can't hurt you unless you allow him to harm you.”

Lucy quieted. Her tears stopped. Finally she hugged her sister. “I never cared for you when we were children,” she said. “Mother poisoned my mind against you, but, Wynter, I think deep down that I always loved you. I love you now. I want us to be sisters and friends.”

Wynter smiled in fondness at Lucy. “I think we always were friends.”

“Yes,” said Lucy. “Life would be perfect now if not for Somerset, but he can't really hurt me unless I allow him to. You're right. I must live for my child and Dirk.”

Despite her advice to Lucy, Wynter wondered why Adam hadn't left the village. He'd been there for a number of weeks, and she realized that he would not soon leave. Maybe he didn't intend to divorce Lucy. Wynter had to learn the reason why a man like Adam, a man used to life's luxuries, would willingly inhabit a small room in a tiny village. Shouldn't he be in New York with the English? Wasn't he still an officer in the navy?

“Have you perchance seen Adam?” Wynter asked Cort that night in bed.

Nearly asleep, he answered, “No.”

“Do you know why he might still be here and not in New York?”

Her question roused him. “Yes, but I thought Lucy might already know that he was discharged by General Nicholls. I contacted Nicholls when it became obvious that Somerset wasn't leaving. He wrote back that the man was a problem and thought he was above following orders. So he was discharged.”

“Oh, dear. Perhaps he intends to finagle funds out of Lucy. Cort, she doesn't have very much.”

“I'll make certain that doesn't happen, Wynter. Somerset's behavior has been above reproach, so I can't oust him from the village. He abides by the law, and practically never leaves his room. Believe it or not, I think Somerset might be waiting for fatter game, but he'll have a long wait.” Cort was thinking about Katrina and the money she had offered Adam. But now that she knew Cort was aware of the true situation, Cort figured she'd make do with her inheritance and not set foot near Lindenwyck again.

“Do you know something I don't?” Wynter queried.

Cort smiled seductively. “Definitely, but don't question me, love. Suddenly a more urgent matter comes to mind.”

Her giggles of delight turned to ecstatic moans when his hands and lips found her most vulnerable spots. Passion held them enthralled until they lay in each other's arms, completely satiated with love. After a while, Cort's steady breathing told Wynter he was asleep. However, she couldn't sleep. She worried over Lucy.

She decided suddenly that in the morning she would visit Adam and insist that he leave the village for her sister's well-being. With that purpose firmly in mind, she fell asleep.

Sometime during the night when the moon was an incandescent ball of silver, Wynter turned in her sleep, feeling as if a gentle kiss, like the tiny flutter of a butterfly's wings, had touched her cheek. She dreamed she opened her eyes and stared into the passion-laced visage of Rolfe Van Linden. A scream started in her throat, but as in most dreams, there was no sound.

A cloud darted across the moon and darkened the room. Bolting upright in bed, she finally managed a weak scream.

“What is it?” Cort asked, her scream instantly waking him.

Wynter trembled and held onto him. She looked at him with terror-filled eyes, and the moon again cast its light through the window.

“I thought I saw Rolfe.”

“You were dreaming, darling. Come here.” His arms enfolded her body and he brought her to lie beside him. It was after she had calmed down, and convinced herself that she had been dreaming, that she realized that the door to their room was ajar. She could have sworn she closed it earlier in the evening. Despite the warmth of Cort's body, she shivered.

The next morning a slight rain fell, and large dark clouds gathered above the horizon. Wynter hoped she'd be home before the deluge, but she had to see Adam and insist that he leave for New York. She didn't know exactly what she'd say when she saw him, but she guessed that forth-rightness would be best. Lucy needed to be free of him, and Wynter was determined that before this day was over, she would be. She dressed carefully in the hope that Adam would realize the importance of her position. Mary, however, worried her when she said that a glove was missing, one of the gloves Cort had bought for her in New Amsterdam. Mary had insisted that the glove had been laid in a drawer of the chest. Wynter wondered if Mikel had been in the room, but there was no need for the child to steal a glove, and she forgot the incident.

The carriage stopped in front of the tavern, and the black driver, Thomas, lent her his hand and helped her out of the carriage. “You going in here, Vrouw Van Linden?” Thomas asked and shook his head, frowning.

“Yes, I am.”

“This ain't no place for you, ma'am. Your husband won't approve. This inn has some bad character.”

“I shall be fine,” she assured him. Thomas had always been silent and never spoke out of turn. Could the tavern be as unsavory as he made it sound? But she must go inside and speak to Adam. Lucy's future depended upon it.

Moments later, she waited in the hallway outside the taproom until the proprietor came forward. Immediately he recognized her.