Wild Bells to the Wild Sky Read Online Free PDF Page A

England,” Elizabeth told him, holding out her hand for him to kiss.
     
     
     
    For the good of England , that was what Sir Basil had to keep repeating to himself as they’d crossed the Atlantic. Now, as he stood on deck watching the sunrise, he idly wondered whatever would he do when they reached Hispaniola. He was not a spy. He could translate Greek and Latin better than he would be able to decipher any Spanish missives he might stumble across. And only too obviously stumble it would, he feared.
    “Such a beautiful morning following a storm should bring a smile to your face, Sir Basil.”
    “Indeed madam, it is a glorious morning, and all the more beautiful for your presence,” Sir Basil greeted Doña Magdalena, who had come up on deck and now stood beside him, with a courtly bow and phrase.
    Doña Magdalena smiled archly, “Were not Geoffrey watch ing and listening from above, I would suspect you of a flirtation, Sir Basil,” she said.
    “Doña Magdalena, truly, I meant no such thing,” Sir Basil said in order to quickly disabuse her of that idea.
    “You think I am not beautiful enough to flirt with?” she asked, looking offended before she hid her expression behind a feather fan she expertly wielded.
    “Madam, please, you misunderstand me,” Sir Basil said in growing concern, “You are one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen.” He did indeed speak the truth. Doña Magdalena, dressed in a gown of gold-patterned green brocade with a richly figured underskirt worked in gold threads, was breathtakingly lovely. A fiery emerald dangled from several long ropes of gleaming pearls. A girdle of precious stones and golden chains sparkled around her throat and framed the dark red curls crowned with a heart-shaped lace headdress.
    “Sir Basil, I had no idea you felt that way about my wife. What will Lady Elspeth have to say when she learns of your indiscretion?” Geoffrey Christian called down from above.
    “No, really, ‘tis not true. I—“ Sir Basil began, then, hearing their laughter, realized that both Magdalena and Geoffrey had been making sport of him.
    “Dear Basil,” Doña Magdalena said, a smile of genuine affection curving her lips as she stared up at him, for Sir Basil was a tall man who often had to stoop when in conversation if he intended to catch what was said. “Will you never learn not to be quite so serious a gentleman?”
    “I fear not, madam,” Sir Basil admitted, very seriously.
    “Not at all? Hmm? Not even a little?” Doña Magdalena teased him while watching him carefully, for no one could be so grave.
    Sir Basil laughed softly, for he could not resist her charms. “Perhaps just a little, but only when on board the Arion . I do have a reputation to live up to in London.”
    “There, did I not tell you, Magdalena, that we would make a changed man of Basil by the end of this voyage?” Geoffrey reminded her as he and Lily carefully began to make their way down from the rigging.
    “Now, if only I had the other Whitelaw brother on board. . .” the captain of the Arion speculated, allowing the rest of his sentiment to remain unspoken, which left Basil in little doubt of what Geoffrey Christian’s influence on the spirited, adventurous brother would have been. He was thankful that he had not had to witness the many years of gentlemanly training go completely unheeded while Geoffrey Christian taught Valentine the finer points of being a successful privateer.
    “So, I’ve been betrayed, have I, and he signed on with Drake, eh, Basil? Preferred that Devonshire sea dog to me? ‘Sdeath, but there’s no loyalty among the thievin’ rascals,” Geoffrey Christian complained good-naturedly, for he had supped with Drake on the eve of their departure.
    “He was most disappointed that he could not sail with us, Geoffrey,” Basil called up to the captain. “But he could not break his word to Drake.”
    “Nor would I have wished him to. Wouldn’t want a man who could break his