Chapter Eighteen

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

"S antiago!"

Adriano couldn't have been more astonished to see Santiago ride through his gatehouse with a small contingent of men. He'd been expecting Robert, because the man had sent word ahead that he would be arriving today, but what he hadn't expected was his seafaring cousin.

Santiago was very glad to see him.

"Ah!" he said as he dismounted a gorgeous silver horse he'd stolen along with cargo from Lisbon a couple of years ago. "My favorite cousin, Adriano. How have you been? You are looking well."

Adriano embraced his cousin, who hugged him hard enough to crack his spine. "That is kind," he grunted. "But after that embrace, I am not so certain. I think you nearly squeezed me to death."

Santiago laughed. "Because I am very glad to see you," he said. "Where is your lovely wife? And your lovely daughter?"

"What about my lovely son?"

Santiago continued laughing. "Aristeo is dead to me because he will not join me at sea," he said. "I do not care about him. However, you can tell me anyway, and I will decide if I have an inclination to care about him or not."

Adriano laughed at the man. "You are the same as always, Santi," he said. "Happy and angry. But I am eager to hear about your voyage. We saw your ships return several days ago. You were gone a very long time."

Santiago had his arm around Adriano's shoulders. "My voyage was fruitful," he said. "But I have come to discuss other things. Let us go inside and share some wine and conversation."

"Of course," Adriano said. "I would be honored. Téo and Sybil will be happy to see you also."

Santiago's eyebrows lifted. "And Lisi?" he said. "Will she not be happy to see me also?"

Adriano's smile faltered. "Of course she will," he said. "But you should know that Lisi is very unhappy these days."

"Because you are forcing her to marry your brother-in-law's stepson?"

Adriano's eyes widened. "How would you know this?"

Santiago tapped his head. "I know everything," he said, forcing Adriano to walk toward the great hall because the man seemed to be stumbling. "I have my ways. You will tell me about this betrothal and I want to talk to Lisi about it. You will send for her immediately."

Adriano wasn't terribly compliant. "She is not herself these days," he said. "You have no idea how difficult she has been. How rude she has been to her mother and me."

"Because you are forcing her to marry a man she does not wish to marry?"

Santiago seemed to have all of the answers, and Adriano was growing increasingly puzzled as well as irritated. They ended up in the great hall, at the dais, as Santiago's men lingered back by the big double entry doors that were embedded with the carving of a tree. A strong, immovable tree that was the de Verra family crest.

A tree that seemed to be splintering.

"I will send for Diaz and Esteban," Adriano said, trying to divert the subject. "My parents are also still here, your Uncle Jorge and Aunt Alicia. Elisiana was named for my mother, you know. Surely you wish to see them?"

"In a moment," Santiago said. "I love Uncle Jorge and Aunt Alicia dearly, but you and I have something to discuss, Adriano. I have been hearing unpleasant things about your treatment of Elisiana. I want you to send for her immediately. I wish to speak with her."

That was the second time he'd asked for Elisiana, and it didn't make Adriano happy in the least. He thought about denying Santiago, but no one denied the man. No one sane, anyway. Somehow, someway, Santiago had been told about the betrothal and now he wanted to interrogate Elisiana about it. That would put Adriano on the defensive because Elisiana would make it sound like her father was condemning her to death by marriage.

Adriano didn't want to be put in a bad light.

But he had no choice. With the greatest reluctance, he sent a servant for his daughter simply to keep the pirate happy. He also ordered food and drink to be brought forth as Santiago went around the table trying to find the most comfortable chair. When he found it, across the table from Adriano, he sat heavily and put his feet up on the table.

"Ah," he said, "much better. Now, while we are waiting for Elisiana, I will tell you a little of my travels. We went to the Great Sea far to the south and sailed the islands near Rome. I have many wonderful things from there."

Adriano wasn't so thrilled with his cousin's visit anymore and even less enthused with the conversation. "You took a chance going so far away," he said. Too bad someone didn't sink your ship! "Was it dangerous?"

Adriano shrugged. "Sometimes," he said. "There are primitive people in villages around the Great Sea, but they are fearsome. We traded with some, stole from others. I've brought back spices and other things to sell. You might be interested."

Adriano nodded. "Possibly," he said without much excitement. "Were you able to go to Pontevedra?"

He was speaking of Santiago's home base in Castile and the city that Adriano held dominion over. Santiago nodded to the question.

"I saw my wife and children," he said. "Three of my sons serve with me on my ships, you know. I am very fortunate that they will, but I still think having Aristeo aboard my ships will give him valuable experience."

Adriano snorted. "Experience in what?" he said. "Piracy? Stealing?"

"Battles and warfare."

Adriano waved him off. "Téo can do without that kind of experience."

Santiago cocked an unhappy eyebrow, watching his cousin and wondering why the man seemed so uncomfortable. He could hardly look him in the eye. Servants began to bring out food and drink, distracting Santiago for the moment, but as soon as the wine cups were full and food was in front of him, he was back on the offensive again.

"Your wine is rubbish," he said, smacking his lips after tasting what had been put in front of him. "I have better wine for you."

Adriano frowned. "Better wine that you will charge me for," he said. "This wine is acceptable. I purchase it from France."

"French rubbish wine," Santiago said stubbornly as he set the cup down and went for the bread. "Now, let us discuss Lisi. Why did you pledge her to your brother-in-law's stepson? Does he come with lands and title?"

Adriano wasn't interested in eating. He just wanted the wine to dull the irritation at this conversation. "Aye," he said. "He inherited the title of Lord Wynford from his father."

"Is he rich?"

"He has money."

"But he serves the Earl of Lincoln?"

Adriano sighed sharply. "Who has told you all of this?" he asked. "How do you know so much about my business?"

"Why?" Santiago said. "Are you ashamed of it?"

"Of course not," Adriano snapped. "But who has been telling you such things? Has Lisi written to you? Is that how you know?"

"Nay, I have not written to him." A voice came from the entry. Elisiana was heading toward the dais, her gaze on Santiago. She smiled at the man when their eyes met. "I have not written to him but I am very glad to see him. Buenas tardes, Tio. "

She had always called him Tio , or uncle, because he was more of an uncle than a cousin. Santiago stood up with a big smile and embraced her.

"Lisi, mi hija ," he said. "My beautiful girl. I trust you have been in good health?"

Elisiana hugged him in return. "I am very well, considering," she said. "Have you come for a visit?"

Santiago shrugged. "A little," he said, standing back to get a good look at her. "But I mostly came to speak with you."

"Her?" Adriano said with confusion and concern. "What do you want—"

Santiago hissed at him to quiet his question before continuing with Elisiana. "I have heard you are unhappy, mi hija ," he said, taking her hand and sitting her down next to him. "What is troubling you?"

Elisiana seemed surprised by the question. She glanced at her father, who had a furious expression on his face, which led her to believe she had been the topic of conversation. She'd been quite surprised when the servant who fetched her told her that it was Santiago who had come to visit, not her Uncle Robert. Santiago was an ally and always had been. If Uncle Robert and Adolph did show today, then Santiago would stand against him because he had never liked Robert. With that knowledge, Elisiana had unbolted the door and hastened down to the great hall.

She could hardly believe the luck.

In fact, she was rather speechless at the moment. She didn't know how much Santiago knew, but clearly, he knew something. Someone had told him something, which she assumed to be her father. And there was no telling what spin Adriano had put on the subject, trying to make himself the sympathetic character and his daughter a rebellious ingrate. But, as always, Santiago was her ally, as she'd told Sinclair, so she knew he would listen to her. If anyone had a chance of talking her father out of this betrothal, it was Santiago.

She wasn't going to let this chance slip away.

"I have been unhappy, dear Tio ," she said. "It all started when Papa betrothed me to my Uncle Robert's stepson, a man who is a knight for the Earl of Lincoln."

Santiago was listening patiently. "And you have met this man?" he said. "Was he kind to you?"

Elisiana sighed sharply. "He was polite when we were around others," she said. "But once we were alone, he was lascivious and wanted me to touch his manhood."

Santiago's eyes flew open. "He said this terrible thing to you?"

"He did," Elisiana said. "He was vile and vulgar. I told Papa what he did but Papa has told me I must marry him regardless."

Santiago was still holding her hands, now giving them a gentle squeeze. "That is terrible, indeed," he said. "But is this the only reason you do not wish to marry him?"

Elisiana had nothing to lose by telling him everything. Perhaps if he understood, he would stand with her. He could do more than convince Adriano to break the betrothal. Perhaps he would even threaten him if he didn't.

She had nothing to lose by spilling the truth.

"Six months ago, I ran away," she said. "Did Papa tell you that? I ran away because he was forcing me to marry this lewd man. I found a place, a wonderful place, where I made friends. Where I was respected for being myself. Where I met a man… Tio , he is such a wonderful man. We have the most wonderful conversations. He was kind to me and showed me great respect before he even knew of my past. It is he I wish to marry, not this fool Papa has condemned me to. But Papa is being stubborn. He will not even listen to me."

Santiago sighed heavily and cast Adriano a look of great disapproval. "Why are you doing this to her?" he said. "Why sentence my Lisi to a life of unhappiness? What are your reasons?"

Elisiana dared to look at her father, who was so furious that he drained his cup of wine and poured himself another sloppy measure. "He is a knight," he said defensively. "There is nothing wrong with him."

"Except that he thinks I am cheap and common," Elisiana said angrily. "Someone told him about my drawings and about leaving Pevensey because of them, and he thought that made me as bawdy and common as he is. What kind of man asks a woman he has hardly known to touch his manhood? Would you rather that I had done it? Is that what you think of me, too?"

Adriano waved her off. "You make too much of it," he said. "It is not as if the man assaulted you. He did not touch you or strike you."

Elisiana looked at Santiago. "You see?" she said, tears filling his eyes. "He defends him. He defends this vulgar fool!"

"I am not defending anyone," Adriano snapped back.

"That is clear," Elisiana nearly shouted at him. "You certainly have not defended me in any of this. And I know why. You owe Uncle Robert a debt, don't you? And I am to pay it!"

Adriano was startled by the revelation of a secret he thought he'd kept buried. "Who told you that?" he demanded.

"I did."

The words came from the hall entry, and everyone turned to see Aristeo standing there. He'd come to the hall when he heard of Santiago's visit, but he was hanging back when he heard the tone of the conversation. Especially with Elisiana present. No longer able to hold his tongue, he came forward, toward the dais, his focus moving between Santiago and his father, but he ended up holding up a hand of surrender toward Adriano.

"Forgive me, Papa, but I told her," he said. Then he looked at Santiago. "Papa owes Uncle Robert money for the home he built our mother a couple of years ago. It is a goodly sum of money that we cannot repay in full, so Uncle Robert demanded Lisi for his wife's son. Papa felt that he had no choice."

Santiago turned to Adriano. "Is this true?" he said, incredulous. "You owe the man money so you pay him with your daughter?"

Caught in a truth of his own making, Adriano averted his gaze. "It is not as unusual as you make it sound," he said, weakly defending himself. "Such things are done all of the time. This is nothing special."

"Except your daughter is miserable," Santiago said, gesturing emphatically to Elisiana. "Are you truly so stubborn and cruel, Adriano?"

Adriano shrugged. "It is not a matter of being cruel," he said. "Robert loaned me eighty-three pounds for the country house. He wants his money or he wants a bride for his stepson. He assumed that Lisi would be the best candidate because she is his sister's daughter. And she brings a hefty dowry with her, so he would get his money."

"Ah!" Santiago said sharply, pointing at him. "There it is! Lisi's dowry would pay back the debt, not Lisi herself!"

"Papa, I have over fifty pounds that I have earned myself," Elisiana said eagerly. "Tell Uncle Robert you will give him the fifty and I will convince Mama to turn over the rest of it from my dowry. It comes from her, does it not? From her father?"

Another shameful revelation made bare as Adriano closed his eyes and turned away. "Aye, it does," he muttered. "Fremington comes from him. The money comes from him. There is money I cannot touch because he gave it to the bankers in London to hold for your mother and I cannot have it, so ask your mother for it. Shame me more than you already have, Elisiana. Beg your mother for her father's money!"

"I will pay the full amount. I will give it to you today."

Another voice had entered the mix. One of Santiago's men, who had been lingering by the entry door, was suddenly moving out of the shadows, heading for the dais. He was cloaked so that no one could see his face, but as he came closer, he pulled off the hood and Elisiana gasped. No one knew why she suddenly burst into tears. She looked as if she'd seen a ghost.

Perhaps she had.

It was a sight she wasn't sure she would ever see again.

Sinclair had come.