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

Trevarian put his hand on her arm. “Take us up.”
    â€œLieutenant—er, Captain Trevarian, the request was solely for Miss Lian.”
    â€œShe speaks very little English. I doubt if the captain remembers much Cantonese after all these years. They’ll need me to translate.”
    The butler nodded and urged them to follow. Lian twisted her arm away, but Captain Trevarian caught it again before she had taken two steps. Whirling her to face him, he put his nose so close to hers that she was surrounded by the emerald seas of his eyes.
    In an intense tone, he whispered, in Cantonese, “Don’t do anything to endanger the captain more, you little fool. You are a jinx. Give me one more reason to rid this world of you, and I gladly shall.”
    Her chin rose. “ My father awaits me.”
    Lian heard Captain Trevarian’s heavier steps behind her, but did not look back. If she did, he might make some cruel comment. She wondered how he could believe she wanted to see her father dead.
    Her hand quivered on the curved bannister. When they reached the dusk at the top of the stairs, Hyett motioned toward an open door. Taking a deep breath of the musty air, she entered the room.
    This room was crowded with people. They stood around tall cabinets and a variety of tables and chairs that concealed most of the scarlet carpet. A massive bed was set by the hearth. A row of windows offered a view of the harbor, but was blocked by the wheeled chair.
    â€œCome here, child.” From the bed, Captain Catherwood added in a weak voice, “Don’t be afraid.”
    â€œI am not afraid,” she whispered.
    â€œGood.” He smiled, deepening the creases in his face. “It proves Catherwood blood is in your veins.”
    Glancing at the servants, she stepped closer to the bed. She began to drop to her knees.
    â€œNo, do not kneel,” he ordered. “This isn’t China.”
    When Captain Catherwood held out his hand, she put hers on it. His skin was as dry as paper, but she hid her reaction behind the mask she had worn during years of taunts. He told her to sit on a chair beside the bed. Furtively she glanced at Captain Trevarian, who was standing behind her, frowning.
    â€œYour name is Lian?” Captain Catherwood asked.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œIt’s a good one, for you are like the willow, blowing with the winds of chance which I’m sure have been unkind, child.” His smile returned. “You may call me ‘Father.’”
    â€œYes. Yes, Father,” she answered dutifully, but tears trickled into her eyes. How happy Mother would be to witness this!
    Mother! Was she alive or had Mother’s Younger Brother taken out his fury on her? Lian clenched her hands. She was happy and she was sad and she was confused and she wanted … She did not know what she wanted.
    Her father said, “Do not look so sad, for that reminds me of how your mother looked when she came pleading for me to protect her from his cruelty.”
    His cruelty ? He must be speaking of Mother’s Younger Brother, who had tried to destroy her life, too. “Is that why she—she—?”
    â€œSomeday I shall tell you how I took her into my quarters and into my heart.” He touched the box she held, then looked at the mantel where another box was set.
    â€œThat is like my box!” she gasped.
    â€œBecause I made it the same voyage I gave your mother that box. Once it sat on a table in the back parlor, but I like it here where it reminds me of past voyages.” He ran his fingers along the clipper ship on the box. “It pleases me that Mei kept this small token.”
    â€œShe treasured the thousand stories box.”
    â€œThousand stories?”
    â€œWe had no books and little paper, but Mother wrote what lessons she could and stored them in this box for me along with the story of Captain Catherwood.”
    â€œWill you read it to me some