Captive Splendors by Fern Michaels Page A

he would feel threatened by Caleb’s presence. She almost laughed aloud until it occurred to her that Malcolm thought she was old enough to be Wren’s mother. Sirena sniffed and threw her head back in a haughty gesture of indignation. Malcolm Weatherly would have a healthy shock coming to him when he discovered that Wren was not the wealthy heiress he thought she was.

Chapter Five
    Lunch had been a gay and lively affair, and much to Wren’s relief, there had been no mention of her outrage at breakfast. In fact, it appeared as though Malcolm was winning her family over in his own quiet way. Sirena, at least, seemed to hold him in high regard, judging from the way she had directed her attention to him time and time again.
    Sara had been totally captivated by Caleb’s stories of his adventures in the service of the Dutch East India Company, and Wren had to admit a twinge of resentment over Sara’s flirtation with him. But she really couldn’t blame her friend; Caleb was charming and extremely handsome. Then again, any envy she might have experienced had been assuaged by Caleb’s eyes constantly falling on her, and she hoped Malcolm had noticed Caleb’s attentiveness. It pleased her to think Malcolm might be jealous. Then she realized that Malcolm believed Caleb was her brother and had no grounds for jealousy. That belief was something Wren intended to correct at the first possible opportunity. Malcolm’s jealousy was an exciting thought, but first he had to know her true relationship with the van der Rhyses. Perhaps she could get him alone after dinner tonight. She was disappointed that she hadn’t been able to go for a drive with him, as she had promised, but the luncheon festivities had lingered far too long into the afternoon. Besides, a few minutes ago Sirena had invited her to go down to the wharves so that Caleb could show his family how he had careened the Sea Siren, and she had jumped at the chance. Even in Java, when Caleb had brought the Sea Siren into port on his infrequent visits, she had loved to see the warm glow in Sirena’s and Regan’s eyes whenever they inspected the vessel, and the way they touched each other when they thought no one was looking. The Sea Siren was the ship on which Sirena and Regan had first discovered their love for one another, and just the sight of her brought back tender memories for them.
    Tying the ribbons of her bonnet beneath her chin, Wren turned from the pier glass to face Sara. “Are you certain you wouldn’t like to come along with us? I know Sirena and Regan wouldn’t mind.”
    â€œNo, you go along. I’ve a terrible headache,” Sara whimpered. She was lounging on the high bed.
    â€œShall I have someone bring you a headache powder or cool cloths?” Wren inquired, moving over to the bed to touch Sara’s head. “You do feel warm. Shall I have Camilla send for the doctor?” A note of concern rang in Wren’s voice, and worry narrowed her eyes. She had never known Sara to be ill.
    â€œNo, no, I’ll be fine,” Sara assured her. “You go on and have a nice afternoon. Food just doesn’t seem to agree with me these days. It’s nothing to worry about.”
    â€œYou do look a little green about the edges,” Wren teased. “Are you sure I can’t do anything for you?”
    Sara groaned and rolled over onto her stomach. “If you don’t get away from me with that scent you use, I’ll be sick all over the bed! Now go!”
    After Wren had closed the door behind her, Sara tried to lie very still. What was wrong with her? She’d never been sick a day in her life. Lately she had had this queasy feeling every day before breakfast and sometimes after lunch. But she had always recovered before dinner. Through her misery she reasoned that the emotional upheaval of Malcolm’s rejection and the worry over her parents’ financial difficulties, not to