Those on the estate became used to seeing them riding together, and everyone could see how much in love they were. Even the match-making mamas could not deny it, even if Aaron's sudden marriage had destroyed hopes for their own daughters. No one could ever recall seeing the Captain so happy and light-hearted.

Those bright, sun drenched days were indeed the paradise Miranda had mentioned upon her arrival. The island inhabitants liked her, and her confidence had never been greater. She was happy, and three months after their arrival, she watched Aaron standing at the window of their16.

room, looking out at the bay. He had been looking out to sea often these last two days, she thought. Always when he thought himself un.o.bserved.

She crossed to put her arms around his chest, pressing her cheek against his back. "You want to be out there."

"No," he answered quickly. Too quickly, perhaps. He turned into her arms.

"Oh, my darling. You have tried so hard not to let me see you looking out at the Sea Witch. We can set sail anytime, you know."

He shook his head. "I would - prefer that you remain here at Belle Mer."

"Why?"

"You will be safe here."

"And I would not be on the ship?"

He avoided her eyes and a direct answer. "It will soon be time for the harvest. I need you here to oversee it if I am not back."

"Aaron, do you think something is going to happen to you?"

"I do not know. Anything could happen. If I do not return-"

"Aaron!"

"If I do not return," he said again gently, "Belle Mer is yours."

Miranda's arms tightened. "Do not talk of such things. If you were lost, I would not want to go on. You must return, Aaron. And not just for my sake."

Aaron drew back enough to see her face. "What are you saying?"

She smiled tenderly. "That we have another to consider. Our child."

His eyes darkened. "You are certain?"

She nodded. "Marie saw it in the cards last week. They were correct."

"And did she happen to see if it was a son or a daughter?"

"A son."

His kiss was deep, soul rending. "I will return, Miranda. If there is any way, I will return to you here." He unfastened the gold chain and its fob from his vest. It had always fascinated Miranda, the fob being pure gold fashioned into a tiny replica of the

Sea Witch. "Take this as proof of my love and of my word that we will be together again."

She watched as he fastened the chain around her wrist to form a bracelet. The fob hung suspended like a talisman. "But - it is your good luck piece."

He smiled. "I want you to have it."

She waved him off from the top of the cliff, Marie by her side. When the ship rounded the point and was lost to sight, Marie put an arm around the younger woman's shoulders. "Come," she said. "We will return to the house. I will read the cards to see how long he will be gone from us."

Inside the house, Miranda stood at the window that overlooked the now empty bay, fingering the talisman as Marie began her reading.

"Yes. Yes, a good sign." Miranda was only half-listening until Marie gasped in horror. "NO!"

"What is it, Marie?" Miranda asked, coming to stand at the table.

"N-Nothing." She moved to pick up the cards, but Miranda's hand stopped her.

"Leave them, Marie." Miranda had learned quickly the meanings of the cards. She found Aaron, on his ship, surrounded by betrayal, danger, fire - and death.

"He has a powerful enemy, Madame."

"Judah is dead, Marie. Aaron and I saw him die."

"His body, yes. But one as evil as that one - the evil never dies. It infects others with its dark taint. This Judah, he had many followers?"

"There were thirteen in the coven," she said, shuffling the cards for another reading, then a third.

"It will not change, Miranda," Marie said softly as she took the cards from her mistress's cold hands. "The cards see the truth. Aaron will not return from his voyage. His enemy will destroy him."

She watched with worried eyes as Miranda stood and went to the window.17.

They were only three days away from returning home when the Sea Witch's crew was incited to mutiny by the spells and incantations of a new crew member - a follower of Judah Zachary. Barricaded in the hold, Aaron turned to the last remaining loyal crew members: Henri the cabin boy and Armand le Due, his second in command. "We will not get out of this alive," he told them, hearing the sounds in the corridor. "But they will not have my ship."

"You have a plan, my old friend?" Armand asked. After ten years of serving at Aaron's side, the Frenchman recognized the gleam in his captain's eye.

"I am going to scuttle the Sea Witch" he said calmly.

"Capitan!" Henri said, his eyes wide.

"Is there no other way, Aaron?"

"None. Drag those powder kegs here against the bulkhead. Set them in a row while I ready the fuses." As he set the fire alight, he said, "If either of you survive, tell Miranda what happened and that I love her."

"Oui, Capitan," Henri said shakily.

"Understood, my friend," Armand said solemnly.

Aaron stood with his pistol in one hand, saber in the other. "Open the door, Henri. And as soon as possible, make for the fore deck and get off of this ship."

The mutineers never noticed the slowly burning fuse. They were too busy fighting Aaron and Armand. Henri ducked out the door and ran onto the main deck. He had one leg over the rail when the powder exploded. The boy felt a searing pain in his leg, then was hurled into the cold water below.

Miranda looked up at the darkened horizon. "I heard thunder," she murmured.

Marie place her arm around her. "There is a storm brewing. Come in."