More Than You Know (37 page)

Macauley glanced at the chart again. “Hamilton's figured it out, hasn't he? This is his riddle. The
Hamilton
riddle."

"I'm sure I don't know. My understanding is that the journal is scientific in nature."

"Then perhaps your husband has not been as trusting as you might have hoped.” Macauley regarded Claire's composed features with a critical eye. “Or perhaps you are a more facile liar than I credited."

"Rand will be returning soon. If you give me the page, I'll accept blame for the damage. I'll say nothing to him."

"You overplayed your hand, Claire. Now I
know
you're lying."

Claire felt her cheeks warming. “What is your interest in the treasure?"

"I imagine it's the same as yours,” he said. “Finding it."

It was the answer she was expecting, yet Claire felt as if her breath had been stolen. Pressing her hands against her midriff, she sat down slowly. “Who are you?” she asked. Even to her own ears her voice sounded odd, adrift.

"Macauley Stuart,” he said simply. Then he understood what was at the root of her question. “Oh, you mean am I a Waterstone or is there a Hamilton on my family tree? The answer is no. Neither. I'll tell you something else. I'm not Mercutio either."

"Mercutio?” Confused, Claire's brows creased. Her voice was just above a whisper. “But how ... when?” Her eyes widened fractionally. “You were spying on us ... on Pulotu ... at the lagoon."

Stuart shrugged. “I was doing a bit of exploring on my own that morning. I didn't know you and the captain were gone from the camp."

"You're lying.” Then she realized he had said
morning,
not evening. He had overheard more than her discussion with Rand about Mercutio.

Macauley saw the change in Claire's expression. “Yes, I know the Waterstone riddle. But then, I've always known it. It was only a revelation to discover you've known it as well."

Claire tried to understand what he meant. She found her breathing was coming more easily, but now her head hurt. She rubbed her temple. The ache moved behind her eyes. The darkness that was her constant companion seemed to have substance. It was actually painful. Claire tilted her head toward the cabin door. She listened for the sound of Rand's light step in the passageway. Where was he?

"The captain's been delayed, I think,” Macauley told her. “An outrigger was coming into the harbor when I left the deck. I heard someone say it was Tiare. I suppose your husband is welcoming her back."

Claire started to rise. Immediately she felt the weight of the doctor's hand on her shoulder, halting her. She did not try to resist. “I want to see Tiare. She's going to take me to my brother."

"In a moment. Hamilton will bring her here. He knows where you are.” He lifted his hand but didn't remove it completely. It hovered just inches above Claire's shoulder. “Tell me what you know about the treasure,” he said. “Is it on one of these islands?"

"I don't know."

"Why did Rand connect them on the chart?"

"I don't know."

"What's the significance of the Big Dipper?"

"I don't know."

He raised his hand to strike her, then held back. He watched Claire sit there unflinchingly, unaware of his intent to send her reeling. He lowered his hand slowly. “We can join forces, Claire. You and I and the captain. Hamilton will accept my help if you suggest it. And I
can
help you. You can depend on it."

Claire's lips merely tightened.

"What say you, Claire?"

"I don't believe you."

Macauley shrugged. “I wish you'd reconsider."

Claire was still for a moment; then she nodded. “All right, but there's nothing I can tell you that you haven't worked out for yourself already. I really
don't
know the answers to the questions you asked."

He wondered if he could believe her. The opportunity to question her further was lost when Stuart heard footfalls in the companionway. “I believe the captain is coming now,” he said. “Think about what I've said."

Rand opened the door to the workroom, then paused on the threshold. “Doctor,” he said, nodding in Stuart's direction. “I didn't expect to find you here.” He stepped to one side and ushered Tiare into the cabin. “Tiare, you remember Macauley Stuart, don't you?"

"The liar,” she said succinctly. Watching the doctor flush, Tiare was satisfied. She ignored him after that, crossing the room to Claire's side. Her hand curved gracefully as she reached to touch Claire's forearm. “I am going to take you to Tipu,” she said, her voice lilting. “As I promised."

Claire forced a smile. She experienced no joy at Tiare's announcement. In that moment she hated Macauley Stuart for robbing her of that. “I would like my husband to come. I want him to meet Tipu."

Tiare's voice was somewhat imperious. “It is already arranged."

Macauley cleared his throat. “Then I shall come along,” he said. “To attend Mrs. Hamilton."

Rand's brows rose. “Why do you think that's necessary?” He didn't wait for an answer. “Claire?” he asked. “Is something wrong?"

Everything, she wanted to say.
I've lost the Hamilton riddle.
“No, nothing at all.” It was so patently a lie that Rand saw through it immediately, just as Claire knew he would. She also anticipated that he would place the wrong construction on it. She was not disappointed.

"Your cheeks are flushed,” he said. He waved the doctor aside and went to Claire. He touched her forehead with the back of his hand. She was warm, but not overly so. Rand studied her again. He laid his fingers against her cheek.

Claire placed her hand over his. “It's nothing, I tell you. I was sitting at the table with my cheek propped on my hand."

Rand looked over his shoulder at Macauley. “Is she sickening again?"

"That's my assessment,” he said. “Perhaps the visit to her brother should wait."

"No!” Claire removed Rand's hand. “I'm going. You may come if you want, Macauley, but I'm not staying here."

Rand glanced at Tiare. Her beautiful features held no clue as to what she was thinking. “Tiare? May the doctor join us?"

"I do not trust him. He is a liar."

Claire appealed to her. She did not want the doctor left behind with nothing to do but study the stolen riddle. Claire was certain he had his own reasons for wanting to go, or he wouldn't have suggested it. They were working at cross purposes and arriving at the same end. “Dr. Stuart was trying to protect me,” she said. “He didn't understand the gravity of lying to you."

Tiare was silent for a long time. “Very well,” she said finally. “He may come."

Macauley was the last one to leave the cabin. He picked up Claire's cane and gave it a little toss in the air, smiling broadly to himself as he made a show of catching it again. Claire had maneuvered Rand and Tiare perfectly, he thought. It was not entirely unexpected. The Duke of Strickland had warned him at the outset that Claire Bancroft was in every way her father's daughter.

Macauley Stuart told himself he would do well to remember that.

The outrigger was crowded once they were all aboard. There were six men at the oars. Rand, Claire, and Macauley were each squeezed between a pair of rowers while Tiare sat alone in the bow.

Macauley tapped Rand on the shoulder. “Will it be a long trip, do you think?"

Rand only shrugged. Any other movement would have caused him to collide with the men pulling the oars. He glanced up at the sun and tried to mark the course they were taking. In the distance he could make out the dark shape of an island. He kept it in his line of sight and compared it to what he remembered of its location on his charts. The outrigger canoe was skimming the water at a good clip, helped by an easterly wind. He made their direction as north by northwest. He was also aware when they began their slow, wide arc.

The outrigger slowed when it reached the inlet. The breeze was diminished by trees on either side of the shallows. Claire leaned back so Rand could describe the verdant landscape as they passed it. Every sort of greenery covered the nearly vertical walls of the narrow inlet. Delicate ferns swayed gently overhead, almost as if they were fanning the voyagers. Seven warmly colored varieties of hibiscus lent their fragrance to the humid air. The sun was at its zenith. As the canoe went deeper into the interior of the island, a bright shaft of light guided them.

High above them water cascaded from an opening in the rock. Sunlight glinted off the shower. Where the mist rose from the churning and crashing waters, a rainbow was born. One luminescent arc disappeared into the trees but the other end, a liquid ribbon of shimmering color, quite clearly sank beneath the water's surface.

Rand extended his arm to Claire to help her from the canoe. He lifted her past the shallow water and set her down when they reached shore. “Is it really so beautiful?” she asked him.

"Yes,” he said.

"A rainbow,” she whispered, sighing. “Water and sunlight. Proof of God's covenant."

For a moment neither of them moved.
At the end of one god's promise.
It was so obvious now that Rand wondered why he had never thought of it. A rainbow. It was perfect. He almost laughed out loud. Instead, he gripped Claire's elbow. The small squeeze he gave her was unnecessary. The revelation had effectively silenced her.

"Has something happened?” asked Macauley.

Rand turned to find the doctor watching both of them, but particularly Claire. “Just a misstep,” said Rand.

Macauley immediately went to Claire's side. He slipped his arm through hers. “In the event you feel faint,” he said kindly.

Claire knew exactly what his gallantry was in aid of: the doctor did not want her talking to Rand outside of his hearing. She accepted his assistance without demur.

"What is this place?” Rand asked Tiare.

Tiare didn't answer the question. “Come. We are almost there."

Tiare turned and moved with confident grace into a slim opening in the trees. The path was well marked because everything around it was grown. Only a steady parade of Solonesians kept one narrow route beaten down. They walked single file. Rand led Claire by holding one end of her cane and giving her the other. Macauley followed with all six of the oarsmen in his wake.

The path took them upwards at a gentle slope at first, then at a sharper angle. After a hundred yards they were actually climbing stairs cut from volcanic rock. The dark green overhang of ferns and fronds blocked most of the sunlight until they reached the summit. There, the canopy parted and the vastness of the blue sky was revealed.

Claire raised her face to feel the warmth of the sun on her skin. Rand had dropped his end of the cane and was now standing beside her. She found his arm. “What is this place?” she asked him.

"A temple,” Rand said. “There is an open-air altar at the center of a large, raised platform. The altar and platform are made from volcanic stones. It would have taken years to carry them all to this summit. Four wooden pillars are set a few feet from each corner of the altar. A tiki rests on the top of each of them. The forest is cut back ten yards on all sides and the platform is in good repair. I've seen temple ruins before in the islands. This isn't one of them."

Macauley Stuart listened to Rand's description. “Do you mean they still worship here?” he asked in hushed tones.

"That's what I think."

The doctor looked critically at the altar, taking in its height and length. “Do they practice human sacrifice?"

"When they find the right human,” Claire said dryly.

Ahead of them Rand saw Tiare's shoulders shake slightly, as though she were trying to contain her laughter. He found himself smiling. Indicating to Claire that it was time to move on, he led her carefully up the steps of the platform. It wasn't until they approached the altar that Rand caught a glimpse of the boy shyly hiding behind it.

Rand knew Tiare had picked this location with a single purpose in mind: to remind Claire of Tipu's Solonesian heritage. It didn't matter that Claire couldn't see the temple. She could feel the smooth volcanic stones beneath her feet and touch the ancient altar that once held sacrifices to the Solonesian gods. Beyond that, there was a sacred history here that transcended the stone.

Rand glanced over his shoulder and saw that the islanders who accompanied them had not stepped up to the platform. They stood back at a respectful distance, watchful, yet with the intention to give privacy to the reunion.

Rand released Claire's arm as Tiare brought her son forward. The boy came out from behind the altar with some reluctance. Rand could see that it was more than shyness that held the child back. He was afraid. “Here is your brother, Claire,” he told her quietly.

"Tipu?” Claire held out her hand.

Tiare nudged the boy forward. “He is frightened of you, Claire. I told him you cannot see. He thinks the spirits who have taken your sight will not let you know him."

Tears welled in Claire's eyes. She dropped to her knees beside the altar. “I will know you,” she said. “You are my brother, Tipu. I would know you among a hundred children."

Tipu's dark eyes regarded Claire warily. He did not like being afraid, especially not in front of the
papalagi.
His mother should not have said he was frightened. He inched forward as curiosity slowly overwhelmed his fear.