house,” he said as they rode. “The?apartment next to mine is for the Countess of Lynmouth, and we?will redo it for you.”
“I don’t know, Geoffrey. I have my own home, and I plan to bring my daughter up from Devon soon. I haven’t seen her in several?months. She should be in her own house, not in yours.”
“Then keep Greenwood, darling, but let me redo those rooms for?you. You can travel easily between the two houses using the un-?derground passage beneath the garden. You can be with your little?girl during the day, and with me in the evenings.”
“Very well, Geoffrey, as long as I may keep my own home. But?until the rooms are redone I will remain at Greenwood. Will you?dine with me this evening?”
“I will, sweetheart, but first I must return to Court and pay my?respects to Her Majesty.”
Soon they turned their horses into Greenwood’s driveway.
“Welcome home, ma’am,” called the gatekeeper.
Skye threw him a smile and waved. Approaching the house, Skye?was pleased to see a groom hurry from her stables. As they reined?in their horses the Earl dismounted and lifted her down from her?horse. His arms remained wrapped around her and, flushing prettily,?she looked up at him.
“Do you love me, Skye?” he demanded softly.
“I love you, Geoffrey,” she answered, her bright blue eyes never?wavering from his.
“And will you be my lady fair, sweetheart?”
“Yes! Oh, yes!”
He bent and kissed her lingeringly, lovingly. “I’ll send word?when I can come this evening,” he said. Mounting his stallion again,?he cantered off down the drive.
She entered the house dreamily.
“So you’re back, and looking as dewy-eyed as any foolish maid.”
“Good day to you, Robbie.” She smiled sweetly at him. “Come?have a glass of wine with me.”
“Wine, is it?” he grumbled, following her upstairs to the little?salon.
“Yes, wine! Wine to celebrate the fact that I’m in love! Oh,?Robbie, I’m in love again! I never thought I would be able to love?after I lost Khalid, but I love Geoffrey!”
Lord have mercy, thought the sea captain as Skye, humming a?tuneless ditty, poured out generous portions of ruby-red wine for the?two of them. Robbie sat slumped in a chair, his gaze on the floor.?
She raised her goblet high. ‘To my Lord Southwood! Long life!”?she toasted.
Robbie raised his goblet lifelessly. “Aye,” he answered tone-?lessly. Christ! She’s so happy! I haven’t seen her happy since Khalid?died. Ah, hell! It’s too late for me to save her from him. Let her find?out on her own. Let her be happy for now. He gulped down his wine?and sat back against the velvet cushions.
“I’ve news too,” he said. “We’re to see the Queen and Cecil the?day after Candlemas. We’d best have that first voyage mapped out?by then.”
She was suddenly all business. “Have you decided where? And?what?”
“Jewels and spices. In case of shipwreck,” he crossed himself,?”at least we can save half the cargo. We’ll go down and around the?Horn into the Indian Ocean, across to the Spice Islands, for a cargo?of pepper, clove, nutmeg, mace, and ginger. Then on to Burma for?rubies, for the best rubies come down to Rangoon from Mogok in?the central part of the country. In India we’ll take on cardamom,?diamonds from the Golconda, and pearls. In Ceylon there’s cinna-?mon and sapphires to be had.”
“Be sure,” said Skye, “to buy only the Kashmir blue sapphires.?Khalid always believed their color was the best.”
“I know. It’s going to be a long voyage, lass. I may not be back?for a year or even two, depending on conditions.”
She smiled at him affectionately. “You look forward to it, Robbie,?don’t deny it. You’ve been landlocked for almost two years now?and your feet itch to walk a deck. It’s all right, my dear, I understand,?and it’s time for you to go. I am so grateful to you for your friendship,?but I am myself again at last, and I must build my own life.”
“I know, lass, but I don’t want you hurt, or taken advantage of?by anyone. That damned trick memory of yours worries me. In many?ways you’re still an innocent.”
“I have Geoffrey now, Robbie.”
“Rely only on yourself, Skye! Love Southwood if you must, but?put your trust in no man!”
“Robbie! How cynical you are!”
“Not cynical. Truthful.”
There was a scratching at the door, and Skye called out, “Enter.”
A footman brought in a piece of paper on a small silver tray.?Skye took the folded parchment and opened it. “Damn!” she said.
“What is it?”
“Geoffrey has been called away.” She turned to the footman.?”How was this delivered?”
“One of the Earl’s grooms, mistress.”
“You may go.”
The servant turned and left.
“What does he say, Skye?”
“Very little,” she said, frowning. “Just that there’s a problem in?Devon.”
“You could probably use a good night’s sleep,” remarked Robbie?wryly, and she laughed at his irreverence.
“Considering your reputation as a swordsman, this is surely a?case of the pot calling the saucepan black,” she teased.
He guffawed heartily.
The days sped by. She heard nothing from Geoffrey. And then?came the day of her appointment with Cecil and the Queen. She?dressed elegantly but soberly. William Cecil, Lord Burghley, Her?Majesty’s chief advisor, was not a man to be swayed by a show of?bosom. Her gown was dark-blue velvet, its severity relieved by a?small white lace ruff at the neck. The sleeves were slashed and edged?with gold, her white silk underblouse showing through the openings.?She wore a gold chain interspersed at intervals with small flat plaques?of carved white coral roses. Her shining hair was parted in the center?and drawn into an elegant chignon at the nape of her neck.
The river was frozen solid, so they went to Greenwich in Skye’s?coach. Cecil awaited them in a book-lined room. He wasted no time?but came directly to the point. “If we grant you a royal charter, what?does Her Majesty gain?”
“A quarter share in the cargo, an accurate map of the area-for?we’re carrying two cartographers on each vessel-and of course?we’re available to do any errands Her Majesty may require along?our route,” replied Robert Small.
“How many ships?”
“Eight.”
“That will be the number going. How many will you bring back?”
“Six at the minimum.”
“You overestimate, I think, Captain Small,” snapped Cecil.
“No, my lord. I don’t. Barring a typhoon, I will actually return?with all eight. But a serious storm could lose me one or two.”
“What of pirates, or mutiny?”
“My lord, every captain in my fleet has been with me for several?years, as have all my ships’ crews. These men are used to working?together under both good and bad conditions. They are a loyal and?disciplined lot, unlike most crews. They’ll bring their ships through?Hell if necessary, but they’ll bring them home to England.”
Cecil smiled thinly. “Your confidence is commendable, sir. I shall look forward to being amazed.” He turned to Skye. “And?where, madam, do you come into this?”
“I finance it,” said Skye quietly.
