Wild Bells to the Wild Sky by Laurie McBain Read Free Book Online

Lily said proudly.
    “I see. Maria, Magdalena’s former maid, will assume those duties now,” Don Rodrigo told them.
    “A kiss for Mama?” Doña Magdalena inquired as she brushed a fold out of Lily’s underskirt and straightened the lace on the sleeve of Geoffrey’s doublet.
    Lily gave her a tight hug and a kiss, then waved to her mother and grandfather as she was carried up the stairs by her father. Don Rodrigo shook his head as he continued to watch her, for now she was making conical faces at Sir Basil, who was following them upstairs. His gentlemanly dignity was being sorely compromised as he unsuccessfully tried to resist her childish pranks.
    Sir Basil found himself in a dark-beamed, high ceilinged room that fronted a long, arched gallery overlooking the tilted courtyard below. A comfortable-looking bed with a carved bedstead and lace spread was positioned against one wall, and a mahogany chest, as chair, and a small table with a candle and mirror completed the furnishings of the room. Walking over the window opposite the door, he had a splendid view of the harbor, which afforded him the comforting sight of the furled masts of the Arion riding at anchor.
    Awakening the nex t morning, Sir Basil was surprised that he had been able to sleep so soundly in strange surroundings. He was reluctant to admit, having always thought himself to be a man of moderation, that it had been because of the wine.
    But seldom had he tasted such fine madeira or sherry. And Don Rodrigo had played the host to perfection. He had plied his guests with wine, never allowing a goblet to remain empty longer than it took his servant to refill it to the top. And with a negligible gesture of the ringed hand, he had kept course after delectable course coming, until Sir Basil thought he would have need of assistance in leaving the table.
    The meal had not been quite the ordeal Sir Basil had been expecting. Don Rodrigo had even managed to be courteous to his son-in-law, although he had not pursued any more personal conversation with the man than the expected pleasantries exchanged amongst dinner guests. Strangely enough, the bulk of the conversation had fallen to Doña Magdalena and himself, while Geoffrey Christian and Don Rodrigo had sat in silence, neither one caring to contribute more than a murmured comment now and then. Doña Magdalena had spoken in great detail of her life in both England and Hispaniola. Don Rodrigo showed the most interest when she spoke of Highcross Court, and Geoffrey smiled more than once when she reminisced about her childhood in Santo Domingo.
    Those remarks had elicited several comments from Don Rodrigo about the startling similarity between Magdalena and her young daughter. Lily had already been served her dinner and put to bed hours earlier, a situation Sir Basil had almost regretted when the dinner had begun with such uncomfortable formality.
    Yes, Sir Basil thought now, it had been a very wise decision to bring the child, for Lily just might serve as a means of bringing Don Rodrigo and his daughter, and perhaps even her husband, closer together.
    Sir Basil stood basking in the sunshine steaming in through the open window. He had awakened earlier than the rest of the household, for all was silent except for the busy chatterings of brightly colored birds.
    As he shielded his eyes against the glare off the water, Sir Basil realized that he felt quite refreshed. How nice it had been not to be awakened when thrown from his bunk or to find the floor slanting beneath his feet with each wave that pounded the ship. And as he thought of the blizzard-driven winds of January in England, he had to confess that is was rather pleasant not to have to hop around a chilled bedchamber in search of slippers and robe and then, huddling before a cursed slow-to-start fire, try to melt the ice out of his stiff limbs.
    Indeed, Sir Basil was quite surprised to discover that he was actually beginning to enjoy his journey to the Indies and his