Lady Be Bad by Elaine Raco Chase Page A

thousand, seven
hundred and ninety three islands," Captain Warren readily answered
Marlayna's question. The Indians called the St Lawrence 'river
without end' and it's populated by beautiful wooded islands that
the French named Les Milles Iies or Thousand
Islands."
    Looking out the wide port windows, she saw
islands that ranged from no more than rocks to others that were
verdant landmasses dotted with home sites. "The islands certainly
are beautiful," she agreed.
    "A million dollar playground with the first
five-and-ten-cent store." The captain recited a paraphrased version
of an old song. He laughed embarrassedly, and at her quizzical look
explained further.
    "During the late eighteen hundreds the rich
and celebrated came to relax in the great stone mansions and luxury
hotels that populated the islands. Frank W. Woolworth also came,
setting up his first mercantile store in Watertown. Today, it's a
boater's dream holiday to tour the 'jewels in the crown of the
Empire State.'" His deeply tanned complexion bore the unmistakable
imprint of weathering by sea and sun. "Is this your first trip to
the castle?"
    Marlayna nodded. "My first boat trip
too."
    "In that case, if you'll excuse me for a
moment, I'll instruct the bridge to slow us down so I can give you
the five-and-ten-cent tour."
    She gave the captain a relieved smile and
patted her stomach. But to be truthful, her butterflies had been in
evidence long before the launch left Blind Bay Marina and passed
Chippewa Point doing fifteen knots.
    Her blue-gray eyes matched the arrogant St
Lawrence and the river's white capped choppiness echoed her own
tremulous emotions. Marlayna's chaotic feelings suddenly threatened
her ability to breathe and to stand, making her stumble into the
comfort of a nearby deck chair.
    She felt like a tightrope walker, wondering
how far was too far. How much longer would it take for her to
falter and completely lose her very delicate balance? Trembling
fingers wiped the perspiration off her upper lip. It's amazing,
how the man I love most in the world is suddenly the man I
fear the most.
    "Here we are." Captain Warren's voice
interrupted her musings. "Thought this might help." He handed her a
tall plastic ice-filled glass of bubbling crystal liquid garnished
with lemon wedges. "Would you mind if I joined you? It's quite a
luxury for me to get a single passenger to entertain."
    "I'd be honored." She took a healthy swallow
and found the crisp tonic water refreshing. "This hits the spot.
Thank you." Marlayna flashed him a smile. "Am I your first
passenger to the island or the last?" She looked pointedly at
eighteen unoccupied chairs.
    "One hundred thirty passengers preceded you,
Miss O'Brian," the captain acknowledged, "and there'll be a few
more after you." Seeing the condensation from the glass begin to
drip onto her white slacks, he hurriedly pulled a small table
closer to her. "Mr. Kingman hired both of my charter launches this
weekend to transport his guests."
    An impressed expression settled on her face.
"I hadn't realized the castle was large enough to accommodate so
many people."
    "I'll be returning the majority of them back
to either the marina or to hotels on other islands." He relaxed
more comfortably in his chair. "I'm not going to spoil the surprise
of your seeing the castle on Jorstadt, but I will say it could
easily house that many visitors."
    Marlayna's dark head nodded starboard. "I've
been noticing a lot of river traffic. Tramp steamers?"
    "Ore and grain boats heading for Montreal
and on to Europe. We cross the main shipping channel." He was
interrupted by a bird honking and directed Marlayna's attention
toward the rapidly-moving V-shaped formation that was visible off
the stern. "Snow geese. The islands have the largest population in
the world."
    For another twenty minutes, Captain Warren
regaled Marlayna with amusing river tales and some rather
disputable fishing yarns that revolved the annual "muskie" derbies
— involving the wily