Ill Wind and Dead Reckoning: Caribbean Pirate Adventure (Valkyrie) Read Online Free Page B

feet, colourful sashes around their waists, and the brightest, most heavily decorated frockcoats I’d ever seen. One was in cochineal red with lace at the cuffs and collar, braiding around every hem and seam, embroidery in between, plus large brass buttons.
    The other wore bright yellow over an emerald green sash with similar fripperies. They had clashing silk scarves over their heads, and large-brimmed hats on top. I’d never set eyes on such gaudy gentlemen in my life, and I giggled to myself, imagining the reactions if they walked into the puritan Massachusetts Bay Colony dressed like that.
    Hans and Hendrik appeared leading a couple of horses for them, but I turned as the door to the room opened and didn’t see them leave.
    Mr van Ecken entered ahead of a younger man. Erik? They didn’t acknowledge me at first, but continued arguing in a language I didn’t understand. I looked from one to the other as they quarrelled, wondering what they were saying and feeling very uncomfortable.
    The younger man – presumably my husband-to-be – looked presentable enough. About my height, he wore a tightly curled periwig – the yellow of which clashed with his dark, exaggerated moustaches. He’d dressed with care, his clothes of obvious quality. Although the gold buckles on his shoes are overdoing it a bit . I looked back at his face – his lips were thin and eyes cold. There was very little expression on that face, and I shuddered a little. He didn’t look like a man who smiled very often.
    ‘This is her,’ the elder van Ecken finally said in English. ‘Gabriella Berryngton.’
    I stepped forward. ‘Pleased to meet you.’
    He looked me up and down, then said something else to his father that I couldn’t understand. It did not sound complimentary. He stepped towards me, bowed stiffly and took my hand to kiss.
    ‘Welcome,’ he said, coldly. ‘I’m Erik van Ecken. The wedding is planned for next month so you have time to prepare. There’ll be five extra for dinner – tell Belinda and organise the menu. I have work to do.’ He left the room.
    I looked at the father. ‘Belinda?’ I asked.
    ‘You haven’t met Belinda yet?’ He sounded angry. ‘What is that bloody girl thinking?’ He marched to the door and shouted for Klara. I flinched. When did he think Klara had had chance to introduce me to anyone? Why hadn’t he made any introductions himself? He hadn’t even introduced his son – I’d been forced to guess that was who he was.
    I realized then what Erik had said. The wedding’s arranged for next month. Did they make the arrangements before finding a bride?
    My thoughts were interrupted by Klara’s entrance. I noticed she gave Jan a wide berth.
    ‘About time, girl! Your mistress hasn’t been introduced to Belinda yet – see to it! She has a dinner party to plan, apparently our nautical friends are joining us.’ He marched out and Klara and I looked at each other in amazement.
    ‘He doesn’t seem to like these “nautical friends”,’ I remarked.
    ‘With good reason,’ muttered Klara. ‘I’ll fetch Belinda,’ she continued before I could ask what she meant.

Chapter 8
     
     
    I lay my head against the edge of the bathtub and sighed. Klara looked up from her unpacking and giggled. ‘You’ve had a bath nearly every day that I’ve known you. I’m surprised you don’t wash away!’
    ‘I know.’ I laughed with her. ‘I hated them at home, barely had one a month, but it was the only way I could think of to keep you out of Hornigold’s cabin – there’s only so much sewing I can do in a day. They must have thought me mad!’ Klara stopped smiling and put her head down. ‘And it’s so hot here, I’m going to need one every day just to cool down,’ I carried on, trying to rescue the mood.
    Klara looked up at me again. ‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘He’d have carried on taking me every night if you hadn’t stopped him.’
    ‘I’m sorry about that first night, I didn’t