Marie Higgins

by Amazon Sunset

  Katrina scrunched her forehead. “Who would have told you that?”

  “Master Robert, of course.”

  Although Katrina really didn’t mind drinking tea, it upset her to think Robert was ordering the staff to do his bidding and telling them things he clearly didn’t know. “Actually, I would like some coffee this time.” She offered a polite smile.

  “Uh, oh yes of course. I shall get it now.” The maid picked up the tray and hurried toward the door.

  Footsteps boomed on the wooden floor in the hallway, making the maid pause. The other woman hesitated as she swung her gaze around the room, almost as if she was looking for a place to hide. Instead, she lowered her head and rushed out the door, barely missing bumping into Robert as he strode in the room. He held himself tall like a man of power would, and Katrina wanted nothing more than to spit in his face or cut him down from his pedestal.

  “So I hear you don’t like our tea,” he stated as he walked toward her.

  Shrugging, she turned her attention back out the window. “There are a lot of things I don’t like around here. What of it?”

  A deep chuckle rattled in his chest. “Have you always been this obstinate?”

  “Yes.”

  “I came to tell you that your time at the plantation has come to an end.”

  She turned her head, arching an eyebrow at him. “Oh really? What makes you think that?”

  “Because I have received word that Mr. Knightly is on his way to England. Now that he has boarded a ship, I feel it’s safe to take you back to Macapá and make certain you and your harlot mother return to Boston.”

  A knot of emotion stuck in her throat, and her heart broke into smaller pieces. Her eyes burned as she held back the tears. Although she’d told Felix to go to England, a part of her wanted him to stay and fight for their love. Hearing of Felix’s departure was almost more than she could bear, because this was indeed what reality was all about, not one of her silly girlish dreams of a knight in shining armor coming to her rescue. Her heart cried out for him to return, for him to sweep her into his arms and rescue her from this evil man and the wretched plantation. But then she realized it would never happen. She must admit it and move on with her life as Felix had moved on with his.

  She took a deep, calming breath. “When would you like us to leave?”

  “Tomorrow morning, very early.”

  “I shall be ready and waiting.”

  His lip curled up in a jeer. “I’m sure you will. I hope you don’t mind hurrying during our journey. I’m very anxious to get you back home.”

  “Not any more anxious than I am.”

  “Good. I’m relieved to see we are thinking the same thoughts. I suggest you say your goodbyes to Henry. I assure you, he’s dying quickly. Make certain you see him before we leave tomorrow for it will be your last visit with your father.”

  “I will.”

  He turned and walked toward the door. She glared his way, wishing her hatred for him would somehow come through her eyes and burn him to a crisp. “Robert?”

  He reached the door, stopped and turned toward her. “Yes.”

  “How are you so certain Felix has left?” Her voice shook, but she couldn’t help it.

  The smirk he wore earlier came back, but fuller this time. “Have you forgotten so soon? I’m a powerful man in this part of Brazil. I have many contacts. I make it my business to know what goes on.”

  She didn’t doubt that for one moment. Robert was just the kind of man who wouldn’t let anything slip through his fingers. No wonder he was able to create such havoc during the trek.

  Nodding, she said, “Fine.” She turned her attention back out the window. The rain hadn’t let up, and she prayed that it would so they could return to Macapá quickly. Hiking through mud wasn’t her idea of traveling fast.

  She moved out of her chair and walked out of the parlor. The house seemed empty—void of voices. The only sound was the rain slapping the room in a steady rhythm, making her more tired.

  I hate rain!

  Yet, she hadn’t cared about the rain when she was with Felix.

  Silently, she groaned, wishing she would stop thinking about him. Praying, she wanted God to take away her memories of Felix. She wanted them to leave her and allow her mind—and heart—to be at peace.

  As she passed a window, a movement from outside caught her eye. Robert was leaving the house. Thank the Lord! She, along with her father’s servants, seemed to walk carefully when Robert was around.

  She turned away from the window and decided to check in on her father again. Too bad his doctor couldn’t do anything to make Henry well. It was very unfortunate that she would lose her father right after getting to know him. Better late than never, she supposed.

  After the climbing the stairs, she paused at the top. Another large window stood right before her, giving her an ample view of one section of the fields outside. Even through the downpour, she detected a cluster of houses off in the distance, almost like a small village. She moved closer, narrowing her gaze. Perhaps it would be easier to see if the rain wasn’t coming down in buckets.

  The rustling of a woman’s skirt came from behind her, and Katrina spun around to see who was coming up the hall. The housekeeper hummed a tune as she carried a stack of towels in her arms.

  “Mrs. Cooney, would you answer a question for me?” Katrina asked.

  “Sho, dearie. Wut is it”

  Katrina pointed to the houses out the window. “Who lives out there?”

  “De field workers.” The older woman smiled.

  “Thank you.” Katrina gave the older woman a nod, and then the housekeeper wobbled away with the towels.

  Up the hall a little more, the squeak from an opening door captured Katrina’s attention. The servant who’d brought her tea earlier was maneuvering herself and a tray carrying a teapot and cup out of one of the doors leading to a different corridor. Once she closed the door, she wiggled a key from her pocket and locked the door quietly. The woman then took soft steps toward Henry’s chambers. Steam rose from the teapot, giving off that incredibly strong odor Katrina had smelled before.

  The solemn expression on the maid’s face made Katrina curious. In fact, many things made her wonder what was going on. First, why was that particular door locked when the other doors weren’t? Second, why was the maid being so discreet? But the main question in Katrina’s mind was why was she carrying the fresh tea out of a regular room instead of the kitchen?

  Once the maid disappeared into Henry’s chamber, Katrina hurried to the locked door. One good thing about being raised in the slums of Boston was that she had friends who taught her how to pick a lock, among other vices. She fished through the coil on the back of her head and pulled out a hairpin.

  Within seconds the lock clicked and she opened the door and stepped inside. Another long hallway ran before her, and she walked slowly, following the all too familiar scent of the tea. She stopped when the stench was almost more than she could bear.

  Holding her hand over her nose, she opened another door. The room held lots of shadows, since the windows appeared to be covered with plant-like leaves. As her vision adjusted, she realized it was because the room had wall-to-wall plants—two kinds to be exact. In the center of the room sat a long table with bowls and kettles and teacups littering the length.

  Katrina dared to walk closer to the plants. Something was on the tip of her memory, and she wanted to know what was bothering her so much. When she was able to clearly see what kind of plants were here, her heart sank. Castor bean and physic nut.

  Both were poisonous.

  She recalled what Felix had told her about these plants. The Castor Bean had deadly toxins, and although the Physic Nut had a sweet taste, if taken in large quantities, one could vomit so much it would eventually kill them.

  Why in heaven’s name would Robert have this hidden?

  Blanca had brought that tea to Katrina, hoping she’d drink it. Did Robert want her dead? Sudden
ly pain, sharp as a knife, cut through her skull and went directly to her heart. He’s been killing my father!

  She dashed out of the room, flinging open the door so violently it cracked against the outer wall. She rushed down the hall, needing to get to her father’s room before he drank any more tea.

  Tears burned her eyes. Would she be able to save her parent, or had he already consumed too much poison? Another thought nagged at her…who else was helping Robert besides Blanca? Was there anyone here she could trust?

  Once she reached her father’s chambers, she pushed open the door and stumbled inside. The maid was gone, but the tea kettle was still on the tray sitting on the small table next to her father’s bed. He was propped up with pillows behind him as he sipped from the cup.

  “No! Don’t drink that,” she cried out and rushed to him.

  His eyes were wide with wonder as he lowered the teacup.

  She grabbed the cup away from him and threw it into the fire. The low-burning flames sputtered until finally fizzling out.

  “Katrina, what has gotten into you, child?” her father rasped.

  “Oh, Father.” She sank on the mattress next to him and clasped his frail hand. “I just discovered that Robert has been poisoning you.” She inclined her head toward the door. “Blanca who brings your tea gets it from one of Robert’s hidden rooms upstairs. The rooms are filled with poisonous plants.”

  Even though his face was normally quite pale, his skin turned a lighter shade as his mouth hung open. “Blanca was trying to kill me? Are you certain?”

  A tear slipped down her cheek as she shrugged. “Do your servants know anything about the plants castor bean and physic nut?”

  “I suppose, since they were born and raised in Brazil.”

  “Then yes, Blanca is working for Robert and trying to kill you.”

  His eyes filled with water as a forlorn expression clouded his face. “I should have known.” He shook his head. “Why didn’t I see that?”

  She touched his cold cheek. “Father? Do you think your doctor can stop the poison from killing you?” Her voice shook. “Do you think he has an antidote like he gave Mr. Knightly?”

  Lowering his head, he inhaled a ragged breath. “I’ve been drinking a cup or two of this tea for several months now. I’m surprised it hasn’t killed me yet.”

  “Oh, Father.” A sob clogged her throat as she sobbed, leaning her head gently against his shoulder. “There must be a way to keep you alive.”

  “Now I’m wondering who in my house I can trust at all. Can my doctor save me, or has he been working with Robert all this time?”

  She lifted her head and looked into his tired, sickly eyes. “Is there anyone you can trust who is on this plantation?”

  His gaze held a faraway look as if he was trying desperately to think. Her chest clenched with agony. She silently prayed he could think of someone who lived on the plantation that could help them.

  He blinked a few times before his gaze came back into focus and he met her eyes. “Yes. Davi and Felipe. They work in the fields. They live in the cabins just south of the plantation.”

  Hope bubbled inside of her and she sat up straighter. “I saw the cabins out the window earlier. I can go there and find them.”

  His gaze skimmed over her gown and he shook his head. “Not dressed like a lady. The rain will soak your clothes and ruin your shoes and you won’t be able to walk.”

  “Ah, you forget, Father, Felix had me dress like a man before he took me through the jungle. I still have those clothes.”

  “Go, quickly and change. We have not a moment to lose.”

  She stood, but before leaving his side, she kissed his cheek. “Father, I promise I’ll do all I can to help you.”

  Tears leaked from his eyes. “You are a good daughter. Please forgive me for not trying to get to know you sooner. You are such a delight. I have been blessed just to spend these few weeks with you.”

  Emotion choked her throat and she nodded. “I have enjoyed getting to know you, as well.”

  Before she could cry in front of him again, she hurried out the bedroom and to her own room to change. Right now she needed to think of her father and helping him to recover. Robert would just have to wait. He would not command her any longer, because she refused to do his bidding.

  If the only way to stop this man from harming another person was to kill him herself, then so be it.

  Chapter Nineteen

  One would think it was late at night instead of early afternoon due to the dark clouds hovering over the plantation. Katrina hoped the rain and shadows would help her stay hidden from Robert. She knew he was lurking somewhere, and she needed to look like the other field men and try to blend in.

  Her long hair was a problem. Thankfully, she had a hat from her supplies and was able to coil her hair and stuff it inside the covering. She had already changed into her shirt, trousers, and boots, and as she left her room, she shrugged into the raincoat.

  Taking careful steps, she sneaked down the servants’ stairs to the back door. She found it strange that she didn’t see one person who worked for her father. It was as if everyone was in hiding.

  She pulled the raincoat tighter around her throat and hastened into the rain. The pellets of water slashed from the sky and hit her hard. She cringed. At least when it had rained on them during the trek, they had the canopy of trees helping to protect them. But she was tough and knew how to handle a little stinging.

  Her vision wasn’t as clear out in the storm, but she pushed forward in the direction she knew the servants’ cabins to be. The mud was thick, and at times it nearly took her boots off. Even though she was moving as fast as she could, it was like her legs wouldn’t go fast enough. The quicker she tried to walk, the slower she moved. A scream of frustration rose in her throat, but she didn’t want to release it and draw undue attention to herself.

  Finally, she spotted the cabins up ahead. Her legs were tired of the strain from running, but seeing she was almost there, she pushed herself faster. She knocked on the door to the first cabin she came to. Within seconds, a middle-aged man with a scar on his cheek opened it.

  “I’m looking for Davi or Felipe. Can you help me?”

  He nodded, stepped outside and pointed. “See down the lane? Davi and Felipe live there.”

  “Which one?” she asked in a raised voice, hoping he could hear her over the loud rain hitting the metal roof.

  “Last cabin on the right.”

  “Oh, thank you!” Knowing she was close, she dashed toward her destination with more energy now. Not only that, but these paths didn’t seem as muddy.

  When she reached the cabin, she was out of breath, but she knocked furiously. “Davi? Felipe? Are you there?”

  From inside, she heard many deep voices. Some were raised in anger. Her heart thudded faster, and she pounded on the door harder, hoping they’d hear her. “Davi? Felipe? Please, I need your help!”

  Suddenly, the voices stopped and footsteps stomped frantically on the floor. While she waited for someone to answer the door, she wondered what they could be doing inside that took so long.

  When the door cracked open, it was only enough for someone to peek through. She could hardly see the man’s dark eyes because of the shadows behind him. “Are you Davi or Felipe?”

  “I am Felipe.”

  “I need your help. I’m Katrina Landon. Henry is my father. Something terrible has happened, and he sent me here to get your help.”

  The man’s eyes widened, and his mouth hung agape. Nodding, he stepped back and opened the door, motioning his hand for her to enter. When she came inside, she immediately noticed the other men in the room—all dressed like field workers. All of them gave her the same curious stare.

  Uncomfortable, and knowing she looked horrendous in her drenched raincoat and hat, she gulped hard before turning back to Felipe. He wasn’t much taller than her, but he was wide through the mid-section. His black hair was longer than the other men in the room
. Thankfully, he had kind eyes, and she hoped she could trust him since her father had. “Can we speak in private?”

  Felipe said something to the others in their language, and they grouped together in the corner. Felipe then led her to another part of the room.

  “What has happened?” he implored softly.

  “I discovered that Robert has been poisoning my father.” As she explained what she’d found in Robert’s hidden room, Felipe’s eyes grew misty and his frown deepened. She continued, “I don’t know if we can save my father in time, but we must try. That’s why he sent me here to find you and Davi. You are the only men he can trust right now.”

  “I worry it might be too late to save Henry, but this cannot continue. Robert must be stopped.”

  Sadness filled her, and her heart grew heavy again. “I agree. He had the maid try to give me the poisonous tea, but thankfully,” she wiped a tear off her cheek, “I refused.”

  “These men,” he pointed to the others, “are men we can trust. That is why they are here in my cabin today. We want to stop Robert. We did not know he was killing Henry. Now we must move quickly.”

  “I want to help.”

  “Come. Let me make the introductions.”

  After Felipe had introduced each man, she shook their hand, greeting them by name. In the depths of their eyes, she could see the love and devotion they held for her father. They were also hurt knowing Robert had been slowly killing Henry. Soon their expressions were replaced with determination. She knew these men would do anything to stop Robert.

  She met Davi who was slightly taller than Felipe, but still just as wide. He also had caring eyes. He took her wet raincoat and hat, placing them by the small fire to dry. He led her to a cushioned chair and urged her to sit. It felt nice to get off her feet, but she was still eager to start helping the others plan Robert’s capture.

  Most of the time the men spoke in their foreign language, which aggravated her because she couldn’t join in the conversation. Thankfully, Felipe tried to translate for her, but sometimes he would forget. During these times, exhaustion wanted to take over her mind and put her to sleep. The steady rhythm of the pounding rain on the roof and the warm fire was definitely making matters worse.