Billie strained to hear a response since it wasn’t forthcoming. She heard only frightened gasps.
“Le-let go,” the strangled voice begged.
“She’ll obey me this time, understand?” Derry said.
The man sounded as if he struggled to speak and struggled to free himself. “Ye-yes.”
A thud to the ground sounded his release.
“You’ll gather the others and I’ll have no refusals on this wreck. They’re all to participate, every last one of them or there will be hell to pay. Understand?”
The other man must have nodded because Derry continued. “I’ll have the finalized date and time soon.”
“What about this cave? Have you spoken with the vicar?”
Derry laughed. “That stupid fool won’t give us any trouble and besides, I plan to finish off him and his lovely bride after this job.”
“The information I found out in the study proved enough?”
Billie tensed, realizing the other man in front of the crates was the man who had invaded her study and privacy.
“She’s all alone, not a relative to give a damn about her and the same for the vicar. The manor will sit empty long enough for us to finish the jobs planned, store the necessary booty and then we can move on.”
The other man grunted as if annoyed. “If that Maximillian Radborne hadn’t stirred up so much fury over the wrecks and smuggling activity we could remain.”
“If you had finished him off the first time like I told you to, he wouldn’t have had time to get the other lords all riled up and the magistrates involved.”
The man attempted to argue. “He was a smart one, not like his father.”
This time Oran stiffened and Billie squeezed his hand in reassurance.
“Yeah, you took him down fast even though he tried to protect that stupid woman,” the man continued.
Billie shut her eyes. What woman would Oran protect with his life? A woman he loved’? A woman that loved him? Who in the village . . .
She didn’t need to hear the name that spilled from Derry’s lips, she knew.
“Claudia Nickleton is far from stupid. She ran this wrecking operation with the other women for a whole year before I came along.”
“Then why did she let you in on it?”
“She didn’t have a choice. After I killed Oran Radborne I threatened her. She was frightened for her life as well as the lives of the other women involved.”
“Why not do away with her?”
“Because she has the connections when it comes to the ships’ cargos and their departure times.” A throaty laugh sounded from Derry. “But when I was away I made my own connections, and after this wreck I won’t need the Nickleton woman anymore. So after this wreck is when we’ll rid ourselves of the old lady and the vicar and his wife.”
Their voices began to fade as they walked away, discussing Claudia, Billie and Max’s demise.
Billie stood frozen in disbelief. “Clau—”
“Shhh,” Oran cautioned with a whisper. “Sound carries in these caves. We’ll wait.”
She nodded, her thoughts focused on all she had heard. Everything made sense now. The women were protecting themselves and Claudia. They were fearful for Claudia’s life as well as their own. And Oran had given his life for Claudia because . . .
“You loved her, didn’t you?” Billie whispered.
Oran spoke softly. “Since we were young. I had wanted so very much to marry her I pleaded with my father to secure a marriage arrangement with her family, but he refused. He explained quite calmly that she wasn’t of the proper lineage to become an earl’s wife.”
Oran shook his head, his sadness almost pliable. “I pleaded with Claudia to run away with me and marry me. She refused, insisting I had a duty to my family and she to hers. Even after my wife died she wouldn’t marry me.”
His voice quivered and Billie didn’t have to see to know that tears filled his eyes.
“We remained secret lovers for all these years, Claudia not wanting to cause Maximillian any embarrassment and ruin his chance in arranging a good marriage contract.
“I hadn’t known that she involved herself with wrecking. The money her family had left her had fallen prey to bad investments and she wouldn’t dare ask me for help, though I would have gladly given it to her. By the time she did seek my assistance, she was deeply involved. Everyone assumed that it was the smugglers I did business with that killed me.”
Oran shook his had slowly. “But it wasn’t. Claudia told me of a meeting with the man who had invaded her business. A business she desperately wanted to abandon. I told her I would go in her place and take care of everything. She insisted on going to the meeting with me. I argued with Derry. He threatened me. He reached for his pistol as I reached for mine and I mistakenly thought he intended to shoot me. He aimed for Claudia. I threw myself in front of her as I fired and missed him.”
“And his shot found its mark,” Billie finished softly.
“With my dying breath I begged her to seek Maximillian’s help, but I assumed she feared for his life, and when attempts were made on his life she probably thought them a warning to her.”
Oran slowly led Billie out from behind the crates after making certain no one lingered at the mouth of the cave.
Billie sat on a crate, a chill racing through her not only from her damp dress but from Oran’s story.
“Why didn’t you just tell Max when you returned in spirit form?”
“I couldn’t bring myself to name Claudia,” he said gently, sitting on the crate beside her. “I feared what might become of her and I feared Maximillian might turn against her once he discovered her involvement in my death.”
“He never suspected in all these years that you two were involved?”
Oran shrugged. “He was a young man who had far more important matters on his mind than his father’s personal life. He always looked toward Claudia as he would a dear aunt.”
“Do you think he’ll believe me when I tell him?” she asked, doubtful her husband would open his mind to the possibility that women were involved with the wreckings.
“You may need to convince him, after he finishes chastising you for disobeying him.”
Billie gave her predicament thought. “Perhaps if I convince Bessie to tell him, he’ll believe her.”
Oran laughed. “No woman in the village will agree to stand in front of Maximillian and confess their involvement.”
Billie grinned. “But they would confess to the vicar.”
Oran slapped his knee. “Such sharp intelligence! You will do well with Maximillian. You will challenge and encourage him and, most of all, you will love him.”
“With all my heart and soul,” she promised.
He reached for her hand and she reached for his. “Love each other as if each day was your first and last and never, never let anyone stand in the way of that love.”
“Don’t worry,” Billie said with confidence. “I’m too stubborn-headed to let anyone or anything to interfere in my marriage. Your son belongs to me forever and ever. We’ll raise a family together, grow old together and die together. I’ll have it no other way.”
“Neither will my son,” Oran said with a laugh. He jumped to stand and scanned the cave.
Billie stood, frightened by his unexpected actions. “Are they returning?”
“No, but your husband is and I cannot remain by your side,” he said with regret. “You must face him alone and convince him of the truth and . . . you must protect him.”
“He’s big enough to protect himself,” she said with a laugh.
Oran shook his head and began to fade. “No, protect him from himself.”
“Himself?” she asked, straining to hear his parting words.
“He is the lord of the manor. He will suffer the blame on himself.”
“I think not,” she said, her grin wide and fully confident.
Oran faded away completely but not before he sent Billie a wink.
She was standing in the middle of the cave, smiling foolishly when her husband rounded the entrance and stormed in.
He looked all the more intimidating when he dressed as himself. He stood tall, broad-shouldered and breathtakingly handsome and dressed in shades of the softest, to the deepest gray. And his temper was . . . mercurial.
He advanced on her with such quickness that her words caught in her throat. He grabbed her and roughly tossed her over his shoulder.
“What do you think you’re doing?” she demanded indignantly, pounding his back, though her flying fists did little damage to the thick muscles beneath his garments.
“I’m about to teach you obedience,” he said firmly and walked out of the cave.
Chapter Thirty
Billie found herself being dropped most ungraciously in the middle of her bed. She scurried to right herself and her disheveled clothes and blew at the wisps of hair that interrupted her vision. Not that she cared to view her husband, who steadily paced by the bottom of the bed, his expression grim and his eyes brimming with fury.
“What the bloody hell were you doing down in the caves?”
Billie was certain the room shivered along with her from the intensity of his shout. She dangled her feet over the edge of the bed, shaking the oversized boots off as she answered him. “Your father requested my assistance.”
“He knows I forbade you from going down there.”
“This was an emergency.” Billie scooted to the middle of the bed—it was less easy for him to reach her that way—and crossed her legs, tucking her stockinged feet beneath her.
She continued. “Derry Jones—”
“He was down there?” Max interrupted with a shout.
“You must listen to me, Max,” she attempted.
“No,” he snapped, his pacing having picked up considerably. “You will listen to me or I will lock you in this room until you do.”
“I think not,” she said indignantly. “And if you would mind your tongue for a minute you might—”
He abruptly stopped pacing. “Mind my tongue?”
Poor choice of words, she thought, but having already spoken she plunged on. “Yes, mind your tongue so I may explain.”
“I should mind my hand to your backside for disobedience.”
Billie laughed robustly. “Max, you say the funniest things.”
“You think I wouldn’t?” he said, bracing his hands on the bed and glaring at her.
She got to her knees and placed her hands on her hips. “I wouldn’t dare if I were you. I wouldn’t take kindly to be thrashed by my husband.”
“And what would you do?” He stood straight and attempted to intimidate her with his imposing size.
Billie blew wisps of hair out of her eyes, raised a tight fist and shook it menacingly at him. “I’d punch you in the nose.”
Max hadn’t expected a violent warning from his wife nor had he expected her disheveled appearance combined with her defiant stance to arouse him so. Her strong will charged his passion and brought a devil of a smile to his face.
“In the nose? With that puny fist?” He approached from the end of the bed, crawling deliberately slow on his hands and knees toward her until he stopped in front of her and braced himself on his haunches. “Go ahead, punch me.”
His threatening invitation was whisper soft and sent a shot of desire racing through Billie. She remained defiant while her insides quivered. “Are you going to thrash me?”
He removed his jacket, tossing it off the bed. “I’m going to teach you obedience.” His shirt followed his jacket.
“Does that include thrashing?”
His hands unfastened his breeches. “Oh, you will thrash, Belinda.”
Her lips curved in the most sensual smile. “Promise me I’ll thrash.”
He shook his head and to her disappointment left the bed but only to remove his boots and breeches. Then he returned, grabbing her tight fist. “No, I insist that you thrash.”
He twisted it gently behind her back and kissed her with an urgency that left her breathless and aching for more. He inched his hand beneath her damp dress, caressing her leg as he ran his hand up her thigh. He eased his fingers between her legs, gently entering her wetness and teasing her with slow, consistent strokes until she moved against his hand in a steady rhythm.
“My clothes, please,” she managed to say between his hungry kisses.
He obliged her and quickly stripped her of all her garments.
She fell back on the bed and welcomed him with outstretched arms.
He dropped down over her, his knees spreading hers and it wasn’t long before he was buried deep inside her and they both thrashed wildly together, exploding as one in a fiery climax.
“Promise me you will thrash me often,” Billie teased, stroking his back as he lay over her, regaining his breath.
He shook his head buried in the crook of her neck and then playfully bit her shoulder before raising his head.
“Mmmm, I like when you bite,” she said and moved suggestively beneath him.
“You’ll be the death of me,” he said with a pleased smile as he nipped at her nipples, still hard from their lovemaking.
“Don’t leave me,” she urged, locking her legs around his waist when he attempted to move.
He shuddered when he felt her squeeze around him and was shocked to find himself swelling again. Only in his youth had he been ready so soon afterwards. He suddenly felt young and carefree.
Billie tightened her legs around him, locking him inside her. “I won’t let you go.”
He laughed and flicked his tongue across her nipple. “I don’t want to go.” He moved inside her, slow at first and then more steady, more potent, more forceful, until Billie unlocked her legs and they both became lost in their own erotic world for the next three hours.
o0o
Billie soaked in the brass tub, filled to the brim with hot rose-scented water while Max towel-dried his freshly washed hair.
“You are a very thoughtful husband,” she said with a sigh of gratitude as she sank her shoulders beneath the steaming water.
He laughed, dropped the towel to the floor along with the one around his waist and walked to the wardrobe where his clothes had been added along with Billie’s. “It was only fair of me to have fresh bathwater prepared for you after having forced you to share mine and do everything but wash.”
She giggled and watched with admiration as her well-muscled husband slipped into his gray silk, floor-length robe. “The last few hours have been heavenly.”
Max walked over to the tub and planted a kiss on his wife’s wet mouth. “More like a combination of heaven and hell.”
Billie smiled her agreement and hugged herself beneath the water. She was so very happy and so very much in love.
“Now for business,” he said sternly and pulled a chair up beside the tub, planting himself in the chair. “Why did my father require your assistance in the caves?”
Billie sat up and soaped the sponge that floated with her in the tub. “Derry Jones and his cohort were making plans in the cave.” She paused and looked Max right in the eye. “Derry plans to do away with John and me.”
Max stiffened. “When?”
“As soon as this next wreck they are planning is over.”
“When is the wreck?”
“He mentioned that the time and date weren’t firm as of yet.”
Max scratched his chin. “What else did he say?”
Billie wasn’t certain how much to tell him. She feared that if she confessed all she heard that it would send him into a fury, especially when he discovered that Derry had killed his father. She decided that she would be sparing in her information until more was uncovered about this wreck and then. . .
She splashed the water over her body to rinse the soap off. “Derry named the person in St. Clair who heads the wreckers.”
Max grabbed a towel from the stack on the table and stood, holding it up for his wife as she
rose out of the tub. He couldn’t help but admire her body, blushed pink from the hot bathwater and, therefore, shook his head when he heard . . .
“Claudia Nickleton.”
Max wrapped the towel around Billie. “What did you say?”
Billie, seeing his distraction, stepped away from him and tucked the towel securely around her before she repeated, “Claudia Nickleton.”
“Preposterous!” Max said with a hearty laugh.
Billie reached for another towel to dry her freshly washed hair. “I knew you wouldn’t believe me.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Why? Because she’s a woman?”
Max nodded and Billie continued.
“Then you’ll be even more surprised to discover that many of the wreckers along the coast are women.”
Max stared at her, speechless.
“Most women are far from mindless, weeping fools. We are strong and resourceful mainly because we have no choice . . . life makes us that way.”
Max gave thought to Billie being entirely on her own after her mother and uncle’s deaths. She probably had friends—Billie was too gregarious not to—but she had no family, no special ties that bind. He had suffered the same when he had lost his father and he suddenly understood just how precarious life actually was.
Billie attempted further explanation. “Your father tried to help Claudia. She wished to terminate her illegal activities, but Derry threatened her.”
Max shut his eyes against the obvious. “And my father lost his life in the process.”
“Yes, but he doesn’t regret what he did for her.” Billie wanted to tell him of his father’s love for the woman, but she felt that it was Oran’s place to explain, not hers.
Max moved to sit on the side of the bed and held his hand out to his wife. She went to him without hesitation. He tugged the towel free and proceeded to make certain she was dry all over.
“Then all we need to do is see that Derry is captured for his crimes and Claudia freed of her involvement and protected.”
Billie smiled, having had no doubt Max would protect Claudia.
Max finished drying her and tossed the towel aside.
“Matilda is going to scold you tomorrow for making such a mess,” Billie teased as she watched him remove his robe and toss it to the chair.
Donna Fletcher Page 29