Princess Annie (45 page)

The motley crew boarded the bus, yawning and murmuring, and despite her decision not to think, Phoebe found herself studying each passenger out of the corner of her eye. She’d eat every postcard in the hotel gift shop if a single one of them could get a mortgage to buy a fancy island hideaway, let alone scrape up the cash to buy one outright.

The young couple who’d boarded the plane in Kansas City were newlyweds, Phoebe figured, because they’d been necking and staring into each other’s eyes for most of the flight. Some honeymoon. The man in the plaid pants and golf club sweater had come along strictly for the free liquor, from the look and smell of him, and the Human Beacon, whose batteries had finally run down, appeared to be the sort who’d try anything as long as it was free.

So what’s your excuse? Phoebe asked the sleepy and rumpled reflection gazing back at her from the darkened window of the minibus.

The hotel appeared suddenly out of the night, looming like smoke from some underground volcano, or an enormous genie rising out of a lamp. Phoebe’s breath caught on a small, sharp gasp, and she sat bolt upright on the bus seat. A strange progression of emotions unfolded in her heart.

Recognition, for one. And that was impossible, because she’d never even been to the Carribean before, let alone this particular building. Nostalgia. And a strange, sweet joy, as if she were coming home after a long and difficult journey. Underlying these emotions, however, was a poignant and wrenching loss, threaded through with sorrow.

Tears sprang to Phoebe’s eyes.

“Here’s the Eden Hotel now, folks,” the bus driver announced, with relentless good will. “It’s a grand old place. Belonged to a pirate once, name of Rourke, and before that, to a Dutch planter who raised indigo.” The minivan’s brakes squealed as it came to a sprightly stop under an ugly pink and green neon palm tree affixed to the wall. Two of the fronds were burned out. “Near as we could find out, the house was built in 1675, or thereabouts.”

Phoebe sniffled, dried her eyes with the back of one grubby hand and got off the bus, staring at the shoddy hotel in mute grief. She’d read a brief description of the place in Professor Benning’s book about Duncan Rourke; that explained her complicated and overwrought reactions. The odd sensations lingered, though—Phoebe had known every nook and corner of this house once, had loved it when it was grand and elegant, and taken refuge within its walls when storms swept in from the sea. She had come home, to a place she had never seen before, and she was too late.

Look for
Pirates

Wherever Hardcover Books
Are Sold
mid-June 1995

LINDA LAEL MILLER
began her writing career in
1983 with
Fletcher’s Woman
. Named “The Most
Outstanding Writer of Sensual Romance” by
Romantic Times,
Ms. Miller was nominated by the
Romance Writers of America for an award for her
thrilling
Wanton Angel
. The bestselling author’s
delightful novels include the exciting Corbin series,
Banner O’Brien, Corbin’s Fancy, Memory’s
Embrace,
and
My Darling Melissa
; plus two
romances set amidst the lush, rugged beauty of New
Zealand and Australia,
Angelfire
and
Moonfire
. A
heart-stirring trilogy features the adventures of the
Chalmers sisters,
Lily and the Major, Emma and the
Outlaw,
and
Caroline and the Raider
—and a
wonderful homespun romance,
Daniel’s Bride,
once
again skyrocketed her onto the bestsellers list.
Another series about the magnificent Quade family
began with
Yankee Wife,
and continued with the
intriguing
Taming Charlotte
. Now,
Princess Annie
adds to the fun with more high spirits and sparkling
sensuality. Ms. Miller has also penned an enchanting
contemporary romance,
The Legacy
. Linda Lael
Miller lives near Seattle, Washington,
with her family.