Free The Pirate's Desire by Jennette Green Page A

day.”
    She nodded. “Do come in. Perhaps my father could rest in the parlor.”
    “Of course.” He bowed again, and Lucinda, Riel and Mrs. Beatty stood aside as two soldiers carefully carried in the large mahogany box.
    It did not seem real that her father lay within that sealed box. Lucinda turned back to the soldier, her vision blurry. “You have had a long journey. Would you like tea, or perhaps refreshments?”
    “Thank you Lady Lucinda, but no. We will refresh ourselves in the village. I also have a flag for you, and a tribute written by Admiral Smythe.” He pressed both items into her hands, and then, with another bow, he and the wagon driver made their exit.
    Lucinda looked into the parlor, and then anxiously at Mrs. Beatty. She whispered, “Should we leave the door open, or shut?”
    “Whatever makes you feel comfortable, miss.”
    Lucinda blinked quickly. “We will leave it open. It’s Father’s home. He’s welcome, and he belongs here.”
    “Very good, miss. But perhaps you would like a spot of tea in the kitchen?”
    “Yes, thank you.” Gratefully, Lucinda latched onto this excuse to move away, at least for a few moments, from the coffin holding her father. It was too much to bear, to know he was in the next room, but would never speak to her again in this lifetime. Sorrow billowed up and tears slipped down her cheeks.
    Still, as Mrs. Beatty disappeared, Lucinda glanced back, feeling guilty and remiss in her duty. She should say something to her father, and be with him for a minute, instead of running away like a tearful coward.
    Yes. Her father deserved nothing less. Slowly, Lucinda returned to the parlor. “I love you, Father,” she whispered, and touched the box. “Welcome home.”
    Tears overflowed, and she sat on a chair and let them come, sniffing and sopping them up with the handkerchief she’d begun to carry with her. Mr. Bilford had said to cry whenever she needed to.
    She sniffled into silence. A low rumble of voices tickled her ears. They came from the next room, which was her father’s study. Riel. She frowned, puzzled. To whom was he speaking?
    The man on the dun colored horse. Could it be him? She hadn’t seen him enter Ravensbrook, but then again, she had only focused upon her father when the soldier arrived.
    Rising to her feet, Lucinda slipped close to the waist high bookcase which was pushed flush against the wall that adjoined with her father’s study. Sure enough, she heard another man’s coarse voice. Not Wilson, the butler’s, for it sounded far too rough. Curiosity and suspicion arose. If he was indeed the man on the horse, why would Riel speak to such a disreputable-looking stranger?
    Unless, of course, the man was no stranger to Riel at all, but one of his crewmen. Unsavory, too, by the look of him.
    From the first, she had suspected Riel possessed a dark secret. Now could be her opportunity to discover it. A plan sprang to mind. Unfortunately, she knew quite well that her father, lying silently behind her, would have heartily disapproved of her intended course of action.
    Lucinda tried to ignore this fact. She pulled out a thick book and found the round peg imbedded in the back of the bookcase. She pushed it hard, and the bookcase shifted left. Quickly, she withdrew her hand and slid the rolling bookcase left. A small, dark opening appeared, about three feet high and two feet wide. It was the only secret passageway Ravensbrook possessed; at least to Lucinda’s knowledge. She’d loved playing in this one as a child.
    Stooping, she slipped inside, and swiped at spider webs drooping from the ceiling. A soft, filmy one caressed her face, and she shuddered, although she knew it had to be an old web, for it wasn’t sticky. Not to say there weren’t new ones, and new spiders lurking nearby.
    Lucinda shivered again and silently minced four steps to the right inside the secret passageway. No need to announce her presence. Hopefully, if the men heard her, they’d think