Isabelle couldn’t get to her fast enough. The waves pushed her toward the shore, aiding her along. Isabelle hadn’t heard that affectionate name her sister used to call her by in so long. This time, Sabine screamed, “ ISABELLE!” and again, “ ’Sabelle! ’Sabelle!” Grabbing her skirts, Sabine ran into the water, pressing against the lapping waves, fighting to get to her. Isabelle yelled out her sister’s name again. Sabine’s hand dropped for a moment, then returned to her brow as she slowly moved away from the crowd and closer to the shoreline. Isabelle yelled her sister’s name, emotions she hadn’t allowed herself to feel since leaving home surging inside her. “ Dieu.” Luc caught her around the waist to steady her. Isabelle leaped to her feet and waved both arms. But she recognized her sister’s form, her blonde hair-instantly. Sabine’s hand was over her brow, shielding the sun from her eyes. Her sister stood beside a man she instantly recognized as Luc’s brother, Jules de Moutier. She darted her gaze in the direction of his extended finger.
“She’s right there,” Luc said in her ear, as if he’d read her thoughts. Isabelle absently moved her hand to her belly and gave it a soothing rub. Where’s Sabine? The babe in her womb gave a light kick. “Not yet.” Isabelle heard the smile in her husband’s tone but didn’t turn around. “But they don’t know it’s us,” Isabelle said, still searching the faces in the distance for her sister. The only reason we have not been attacked is because they’ve recognized our ship is French.” “Pirates and Caribs? Are we in danger on the island, Papa?” This is a private island owned by Simon Boulenger, the commodore of the fleet of privateer ships that once sailed for France, before the war with Spain ended. They wanted no part of it, selling the French islands to their governors. Caribs, pirates, and civil wars became too much trouble. “ Papa, does this island belong to France?”
Isabelle’s heart pounded as she scanned the crowd, looking for the one beloved face she hadn’t seen in too many years. Two men from the crew rowed, carrying Luc, Isabelle, Gabriel, and Montague closer and closer to the shore.Ī large throng had gathered on its beaches.
Their tender bobbed on the blue-green waters that surrounded the lush island. The island of Marguerite lay in the distance.
0 kommentar(er)
