interloper in a highly intimate moment.
Morgan broke off the kiss abruptly and stepped away, strangely unmoved by his former mistress. His instincts had been right He knew now that sending Rouge away was right “Good night Rouge, I wish you nothing but the best.”
Glancing into her eyes, he noticed they were suspiciously moist. “Good-bye, mon amour, I wish you ck with your little nun. Something tells me you’ll need it” she whispered as he turned away.
Chapter 6
W hen Morgan wasn’t tempting her to sin, Luca found life on Andros quite pleasant. Fortunately for her peace of mind, Morgan was occupied most of the following days with his ship. They ate dinner together each evening, and she could find no fault in his behavior. Still, she didn’t dare deviate from her method of dress, continuing each day to don the oversized black widow’s weeds and mantilla. She did it to remind Morgan that she was off-limits to him. Despite his exemplary behavior, Luca felt that Morgan was toying with her.
Since there was virtually no means of escape, Luca was allowed to roam the island at will. She spent long hours studying the island’s unique flora and fauna and watching the natives fish from canoes fashioned from hollow logs.
Luca made friends with Lani and learned much about Morgan and his island. She discovered that Morgan returned to Andros for infrequent intervals. During his long absences he was either plying the high seas in search of Spanish galleons or in England. During his absences his island home was looked after by Lani and her relatives. There were a number of permanent residents on Andros; trusted then who had married native women and opted to remain behind to oversee the logging industry owned by Morgan.
During the two weeks of Stan Crawford’s absence, Morgan waited and watched and speculated. And kept himself busy. If he didn’t, he’d go mad from wanting. The little Spanish saint was driving him crazy. Just thinking about her was exquisite torment. Despite his conviction that she was no proper nun, he forced his thoughts elsewhere, for she continued fervently to invoke God every time he attempted seduction. He had no idea why he didn’t just send her away and be rid of her. He didn’t need the kind of aggravation she provided with her sultry beauty and tempting dark eyes.
Two weeks and four days after he left, Crawford returned from Havana. Morgan met him on the beach.
“Welcome back, my friend. Come to the house and you can tell me what you learned over refreshments.”
Stan Crawford nodded, wondering how Morgan would react to the information he brought back from Havana. He hoped he was doing the right thing by telling his captain, for he hated the thought of Morgan harming his captive.
Seated comfortably in his large office, Morgan waited anxiously for Stan to speak. “’Tis just as you suspected, Morgan. The name of the grandee’s daughter is Luca, not Carlotta. The captain of the Santa Cruz and her surviving crew were picked up by a Spanish galleon and taken to Havana, where they reported the sinking and abduction to Diego del Fugo, the governor-general of Cuba.”
Morgan tented his fingers in front of him and nodded thoughtfully. “Luca Santiego. No nun at all. I knew the witch was lying all along.”
“Part of her story is true, Morgan. Luca was raised in a convent and removed against her wishes to marry del Fugo. The governor-general was eagerly awaiting his innocent bride. There’s a new price on your head, my friend. One thousand gold doubloons.”
Morgan whistled. “So much? They must want me badly.”
“Very badly, especially del Fugo. You abducted his intended bride. A ship was dispatched immediately for Spain to inform Don Eduardo Santiago, Luca’s fattier. Rumor has it that del Fugo is furious over the loss of Luca’s dowry. Not to mention his intended’s virginity. It is widely assumed that El Diablo will ravish the girl before ransoming her back to her
Morgan broke off the kiss abruptly and stepped away, strangely unmoved by his former mistress. His instincts had been right He knew now that sending Rouge away was right “Good night Rouge, I wish you nothing but the best.”
Glancing into her eyes, he noticed they were suspiciously moist. “Good-bye, mon amour, I wish you ck with your little nun. Something tells me you’ll need it” she whispered as he turned away.
Chapter 6
W hen Morgan wasn’t tempting her to sin, Luca found life on Andros quite pleasant. Fortunately for her peace of mind, Morgan was occupied most of the following days with his ship. They ate dinner together each evening, and she could find no fault in his behavior. Still, she didn’t dare deviate from her method of dress, continuing each day to don the oversized black widow’s weeds and mantilla. She did it to remind Morgan that she was off-limits to him. Despite his exemplary behavior, Luca felt that Morgan was toying with her.
Since there was virtually no means of escape, Luca was allowed to roam the island at will. She spent long hours studying the island’s unique flora and fauna and watching the natives fish from canoes fashioned from hollow logs.
Luca made friends with Lani and learned much about Morgan and his island. She discovered that Morgan returned to Andros for infrequent intervals. During his long absences he was either plying the high seas in search of Spanish galleons or in England. During his absences his island home was looked after by Lani and her relatives. There were a number of permanent residents on Andros; trusted then who had married native women and opted to remain behind to oversee the logging industry owned by Morgan.
During the two weeks of Stan Crawford’s absence, Morgan waited and watched and speculated. And kept himself busy. If he didn’t, he’d go mad from wanting. The little Spanish saint was driving him crazy. Just thinking about her was exquisite torment. Despite his conviction that she was no proper nun, he forced his thoughts elsewhere, for she continued fervently to invoke God every time he attempted seduction. He had no idea why he didn’t just send her away and be rid of her. He didn’t need the kind of aggravation she provided with her sultry beauty and tempting dark eyes.
Two weeks and four days after he left, Crawford returned from Havana. Morgan met him on the beach.
“Welcome back, my friend. Come to the house and you can tell me what you learned over refreshments.”
Stan Crawford nodded, wondering how Morgan would react to the information he brought back from Havana. He hoped he was doing the right thing by telling his captain, for he hated the thought of Morgan harming his captive.
Seated comfortably in his large office, Morgan waited anxiously for Stan to speak. “’Tis just as you suspected, Morgan. The name of the grandee’s daughter is Luca, not Carlotta. The captain of the Santa Cruz and her surviving crew were picked up by a Spanish galleon and taken to Havana, where they reported the sinking and abduction to Diego del Fugo, the governor-general of Cuba.”
Morgan tented his fingers in front of him and nodded thoughtfully. “Luca Santiego. No nun at all. I knew the witch was lying all along.”
“Part of her story is true, Morgan. Luca was raised in a convent and removed against her wishes to marry del Fugo. The governor-general was eagerly awaiting his innocent bride. There’s a new price on your head, my friend. One thousand gold doubloons.”
Morgan whistled. “So much? They must want me badly.”
“Very badly, especially del Fugo. You abducted his intended bride. A ship was dispatched immediately for Spain to inform Don Eduardo Santiago, Luca’s fattier. Rumor has it that del Fugo is furious over the loss of Luca’s dowry. Not to mention his intended’s virginity. It is widely assumed that El Diablo will ravish the girl before ransoming her back to her
Similar Books
