HF - 01 - Caribee (59 page)

Their grief. He had not taken half a dozen steps before their heads were close together, discussing the treasures which had fallen into their outstretched hands. Well, let them plot and even prosper. They were behind him, now.

And his cha
tt
els?

'We go home?' Yarico asked.

'And where would you call home?" he asked.

She gave a shriek of deli
ghtful laughter. 'Yarico home is War-nah home. And War-nah home is Antigua.'

She had even managed to bring a smile back to his face. 'Aye, sweetheart. So we will go home. Take the boy and I will join you on the beach.'

Yarico nodded and looked past him. She seemed about to speak, and then thought be
tt
er of it, grasped li
tt
le Tom's hand, and went down the hillside.

Edward turned. From these south-facing slopes it was possible to look at Nevis and Montserrat, and the islands beyond. It was even possible to look across the brow of the hillside and catch just a glimpse of Antigua. It should have been possible, had there not been a flu
tt
ering skirt in the way. The skirt alone had moved in the past hour, except once, when Joan had cried, and been imme
di
at
ely rocked back to sleep. She had stood
this
silently while her fate had been decided, the night Tom Warner had returned from England for the last time, and she had waited with equal patience, alone in the forest, until she could seek him, when her people had evacuated the island. Her strength was passive, but it was the greater for that. It was not a strength that word or rumour could tarnish.

And had not Father himself re
minded him that he was no less
v
ulnerable, could he but trust hi
mself?

He climbed, and wiped sweat from his brow. But then, it was an uncommonly hot day.

'You must be the most patient woman I have ever known," he said.

'For which I thank God, Captain Warner
.' 'No doubt we have much to th
ank Him for, you and I. Ill take the child for the walk. Your arms must be weary.' She hesitated.

'She is my daughter as well,' he said,
gently
. She held out the babe, and her arms fell back to her side. 'Are you coming?' he asked.
‘I
would know where, sir.' 'My name is Edward, and you are my wife.' "Yet am I walking in as much darkness as the night I first trod this hill.'

'Aye,' he said.
‘It
can have been the lot of very few women to have been so mistreated twice in their lives, and survived.' 'And you condemn me for that?'

He shook his head. 'No. I honour you.' He held Joan against his shoulder and pointed with his free hand. 'These islands, this very sea, are Warner's. And I am of that blessed name, and will hold what we have taken, as will my children. And you are Warner's woman, Aline. Nor can I conceive of any other, living or dead, who could sustain that burden, and that glory, and yet stand erect at the end of it.' He held out his hand. 'You'll walk with me to the ship, Mrs Warner.'

THE END