Free The Captain's Pearl by Jo Ann Ferguson Page A

not intimidated. He offered respect to her father.
    Captain Catherwood’s mouth tightened. “Your mistress? Do you think this is wise?”
    Captain Trevarian’s stiffness disconcerted Lian. She wished he would be honest. When she dared another look at him, she saw he was struggling to speak. She longed to touch him, to let him know she shared his grief, but that would embarrass him. She could not imagine what would infuriate him more than that.
    â€œSir,” he said, “it was Davis’s wish that Lian be brought here. He—”
    â€œDavis?” The old man grinned. “Then it’s my son who must be congratulated on his excellent taste in ladies. I should have known he’d inherit the Catherwood talent for finding the loveliest rose in the garden. Where’s the young rascal?”
    â€œDavis is dead, Captain Catherwood. Killed in Canton.” He glared at Lian. “Murdered, I should say.”
    The old man gripped the arms of his wheeled chair. His smile vanished. “Lieutenant Trevarian, if this is your idea of a jest—”
    â€œCaptain Catherwood, honorable sir,” Lian said, “Davis died trying to rescue my mother.” She sensed rather than saw Captain Trevarian’s anger. Over and over, he had warned her to remain silent.
    â€œYour mother? What is this nonsense?” demanded Captain Catherwood.
    Captain Trevarian snapped, “Why don’t you tell him everything as heartlessly?”
    Lian wanted to beg both men to forgive her. All her English fled, as she sought the words to explain that Davis had died bravely and with honor. In Cantonese, she whispered, “I don’t know how.”
    Captain Trevarian growled something under his breath, then said, “According to her mother, Lian is your daughter.”
    â€œMy daughter?”
    â€œHonorable sir—” Lian began.
    â€œYour mother’s name,” ordered Captain Catherwood, but his voice shook.
    â€œHonorable sir, she is called Ch’en Mei.” From under her ch ’eÅ­ng shaam , she pulled out the thousand stories box. “She told me you gave her this.” She gasped as Captain Catherwood’s face became as gray as Davis’s had just before his last breath. Whirling to Captain Trevarian, she cried, “Help him! He’s ill!”
    He caught her arm as a swarm of servants surrounded the man in the chair. “Be quiet, you little fool!”
    Lian tried to sort out the cacophony of voices. When someone shouted, Captain Trevarian jerked her backward, as servants pushed the wheeled chair from the room. She started to follow, but his grip on her arm tightened.
    â€œStay here!” he ordered.
    â€œI must—”
    â€œYour brother is dead because of you. Do you intend to kill your father as well?”
    In horror, Lian stared at him. Repeating his order not to move, he walked to the door. She wavered between obeying and going to stand where she could see what was happening.
    Captain Trevarian stamped to the hearth and clasped his hands behind his back. The seams of his coat strained at his shoulders, but he seemed unaware of it or the increasing clatter of rain at the windows.
    Lian hesitated. If she spoke, he would lash out at her in anger. If she said nothing, she would be labeled as callous.
    A shadow appeared in the doorway. When she saw the man named Hyett, she inched toward him and bowed.
    â€œNo, no, Miss Lian,” he murmured.
    Looking up, she regarded him with dismay. How many more mistakes could she make? “If I have offended you—”
    â€œNo, no,” he repeated. “Miss Lian, you’re wanted upstairs immediately.”
    Captain Trevarian turned from the hearth. “Hyett, you must be mistaken. She caused the captain’s heart palpitation.”
    The butler tried to smile. “Sir, this request is from Captain Catherwood himself.”
    â€œAll right.” Crossing the room, Captain