Bedazzled

cousin. 'Do you think I should know these things if I was not my lord's beloved, and trusted by him? Do you think the harem women knew of all of this, Thomas Southwood? But you would rescue me, and force me back to Scotland!' She glared at him.

Thomas Southwood had a momentary doubt that perhaps he had not done the right thing in forcing his cousin India aboard his vessel, but he quickly pushed it away. She didn't understand at all. Caynan Reis would have gotten a child or two on her, and then taken a second, possibly even a third and fourth wife. India, he knew, would not have stood for such rivals, and been unhappy. She was better off going back to her family at Glenkirk. Back to the life she knew and understood. They would explain away her year's absence, and find her a husband. She would forget Caynan Reis. Her great wealth would smooth over any difficulties.

He looked directly at her. 'It is too dangerous for me to continue on to England with you aboard. We may encounter Barbary corsairs, and have to fight our way out this time, particularly now that we are so well armed. I am taking you to Naples to your grandmother, Lady Stewart-Hepburn. When you return home in a few months' time, it will be said you have been with her all this time.'

'And what will be said about poor Adrian Leigh?' India demanded.

'God's boots, India! You don't still care for that arrogant little toad, do you?'

'No, I care nothing for him,' India said scathingly. 'I love my husband, but Adrian ended up in the galleys because of me. Why didn't you take him with us tonight?'

'I couldn't without involving all the galley slaves on Aruj Agha's ship. For God's sake, India! Your former swain is chained with four other men on a bench. I didn't have the authority to unlock those chains, and if I had attempted to take Adrian off that vessel, there would have been a riot. Our entire escape would have been thwarted. Besides, Adrian Leigh deserves whatever he gets for cajoling you into your rash runaway.'

'You really are a bastard, Tom,' India said. 'If this is to be my cabin while you make your run for Naples, then get out of it! I don't want to see you again. Ever again! How easy it is for you to ruin other people's lives, and all for the sake of your damned ship!'

'This damned ship will help to get you home,' he said angrily.

'El Sinut is my home now,' she replied stonily.

Chapter 15

The morning after their flight from El Sinut dawned clear. The Mediterranean sun shone golden in a cloudless blue sky, and the brisk winds left in the wake of the storm had swung about to the southwest, speeding their progress toward Naples. It would certainly have been discovered by now that the dey's wife and her servant were missing. It would have been ascertained that the English round ship was no longer in the harbor of El Sinut. The chief eunuch, Baba Hassan, would have connected the disappearance of India and Meggie with that of the ship. Particularly if someone finally saw the single grapnel atop the far wall of the dey's private garden. Mr. James had freed, and tossed down to the alley the grapnel by which his captain and India had descended, but having gotten to the ground with Meggie, he had been unable to loose his own grapnel. They had left it. It was unlikely they would be caught before they reached Naples. By the time Caynan Reis and Aruj Agha were sent for, returned to the city, and sailed in pursuit after them, another two days would have gone by.

They sailed on through virtually unoccupied seas that first day, and the next day as well. Finally, on the third morning, they approached Naples. India stood at the rail, enchanted with the muted peach-and-lavender sky. Pearly gray mist hung suspended in the air like sheer, shredded silk. Here and there tiny islands appeared out of the foggy waters. She could just see the small fishing boats in the fog. She heard the call of a church bell over the smooth seas. A gentle breeze puffed at the sails, causing the ship to glide along almost like a fairy vessel. The air was very damp, and warm.

'Well,' Tom Southwood said, coming up to stand by her side, 'you'll be at your grandmother's in a few hours, India. I want you to stay aboard until I have gone to Lady Stewart-Hepburn's villa and spoken with her. I'm sure she is aware of your disappearance a year ago. She'll send a message to your family posthaste, I have not a doubt. I'll be glad to have you off my hands, quite frankly. You're a very troublesome wench, India.'

'And you're a pompous fool, dear cousin,' she responded.

'In time you will forgive me, and realize that what I did was for your own good, India,' he said gently.

India turned her face to him, her golden eyes almost amber with her irritation. 'Go to the devil!' she told him, and then returned to her cabin where Meggie was awaiting her.

'Captain was seeking you, my lady,' the girl said.

'He found me,' India replied. 'I shall be glad to be quit of him. Hopefully Lady Stewart-Hepburn will not be so condescending.'

'You do not call her Grandmother?' Meggie asked.

'She is my stepfather's mother, and I only met her in France two years ago. She has lived in Naples for many years now. For my stepfather's sake, I call her Grandmama, but I was never comfortable with it. My Lindley grandparents were dead before my father and mother were wed. The only grandparents I have ever known have been the earl and countess of BrocCairn, Mama's parents, although the earl is also my mother's stepfather. Most of the women in my family have been wed to any number of husbands. We are very long-lived, Meggie.'

Knox had brought them a small repast, some flat bread, dates, and a small carafe of fresh water. The two women ate, and then Meggie fetched a basin of water so they might wash. They had no trunks, and were wearing the same garments in which they had left El Sinut. There was not even a comb for their hair, and all of India's precious jewelry had been left behind. At least that, she hoped, would tell her husband that she hadn't departed willingly from his side. Caynan! Her heart cried out to him over the many miles now between them. I love you! Please find me! Please!

***

The ship anchored in the Bay of Naples. They had exchanged the banner that flew atop their mast earlier that morning for two flags, one indicating they were an English ship, and the other below it to announce they belonged to the O'Malley-Small Trading Company. Captain Thomas Southwood left his vessel, and was rowed ashore. There he immediately registered his ship with the harbormaster, explaining they had escaped captivity in the Barbary States by stealing back the Royal Charles. He requested that a ship's painter be sent out to his vessel to repaint the correct name on its side and stern. Then, asking directions to the Villa del Pesce d'Oro, he rented a horse and made his way to the small estate, outside of the city and on the sea.

It was to this beautiful villa with its gardens that Catriona Leslie had come to marry Francis Stewart-Hepburn. It was from this place that she had been kidnapped, and taken into slavery in the Ottoman Empire. But Francis Stewart-Hepburn would not be denied the great love of his life, and, discovering where his wife had been taken, came to rescue her. He had, as he later told her, crossed three seas and two straits to find her. They had not returned to Villa del Pesce d'Oro, for Lady Stewart-Hepburn had been badly traumatized by her adventure. They had instead gone to another villa in the hills above Rome, Villa Mia.

In the next few years, as the shock of her sojourn had eased and finally faded almost away, they had taken to going to the Neapolitan villa each summer, and remaining into the autumn