“Are you certain he saw you?”
She nodded. “He looked right at me. Christ, the look in his eyes gave me nightmares for months. If I were a betting woman, I’d swear he was behind my attack. I’ve been hiding out ever since. He’ll stop at nothing to find me. I rejected him, and you can’t know how that infuriated him.”
“I’ll turn this carriage about and we’ll go speak to the police commissioner. He’ll hear all of it.”
“No, Aaron.” She clung to him tighter, the tremor leaving her voice. “He’ll go to Standish and demand to hear his version. Standish will retaliate against you. He’ll kill you.”
“I won’t let him harm us.”
“I’ll leave. There’s no other way. It’s too dangerous for you if I stay. He’s already killed once. I wouldn’t forgive myself if anything happened to you like it did to Anna.”
“What happened to Anna, love?”
“I was homeless that night I left his mansion and I snuck as close to the house as I dared. Anna’d offered to help me. Standish apparently heard of it, and I saw him beat her to death. I ran. He must’ve had me followed and that’s why he carried out that attack on me.”
All the pieces slammed into place: Why Cathlene desired the money and her freedom. Why he’d seen the sadness in her eyes when she thought he wasn’t looking. He’d still grant her freedom, as he’d agreed if it was what she wished, but he wouldn’t allow her fear to drive her from him, as it would mean certain death for her. Nor would he let her worry over him.
“If I took care of the matter myself, quietly, would you stay?”
“Don’t, Aaron,” she warned again. “You know I can’t.”
“I make no promises,” he said, knowing Cathlene needed to hear the truth of it. “He must pay for what he’s done to you, and to that poor soul he murdered. I’ll only look the fool if I accuse him before others. That would surely then set a fire under him, and society. He would have every right to call me out for publicly questioning his honor.”
“What will you do?”
“Nothing tonight. I won’t put you in harm’s way.”
For the first time in minutes, relief crossed over her features. “Thank you.”
“I won’t put you through an entire evening with this bastard.” He shook his head. “I’d heard rumors of Standish’s…escapades, but I…I don’t involve myself in the personal affairs of my associates. I’ll tell Donegal to return us home.”
She jabbed an insistent finger at his chin. “You will do no such thing. This is important for your business.”
“I’ll find other wealthy upstarts to swindle their fortunes away at my bank. I won’t have you be around Standish. He isn’t fit enough to breathe the same air as you.”
“I’m tired of hiding from him and being afraid. It’s time I face him. He can’t hurt me anymore. No one can.” Her tone filled with conviction as though she were promising herself and him she was untouchable by pain.
Aaron knew the truth. No matter how hard you made yourself, pain always found you.
They arrived at the theater. Their carriage lined up behind the dozens of other conveyances waiting to let out their passengers.
“Are you certain this is what you want?”
Not a trace of tears swam in her eyes. They were clear, bright and unwavering. “Aye.”
By the time they reached the entrance, Cathlene had set herself to rights, looking everything like the perfect society wife out for an evening with her husband. Aaron escorted her into the theater. Heads turned and gazes fastened on them. He could hear the tongues wagging from several feet away. The sheer mystery of this lovely, enigmatic woman at his side would clear a path for them to their seats. All the better so he could keep her close to his side.
Cathlene gazed in awe at the beauty surrounding her. The stares striking her from all sides made her stand taller and prouder. Tonight, she was once again a lady.
These sumptuous surroundings, with the women in glittering jewels and silk gowns accompanied by equally finely garbed gentlemen, were no longer her world. This world where fake smiles abounded, and where reputations could be made or ruined in a matter of moments.
Holding Aaron’s arm, they followed an attendant up the wide winding staircase and into the auditorium.
The attendant led them to the fourth row from the stage. “Here we are, sir, ma’am.” He indicated they should precede him.
“Thank you.” Aaron extended a tip to him.
The handsome young man smiled, the money quickly disappearing. “Very kind and generous of you, sir. If there is anything you need this evening, just ask for Timothy.”
Aaron stretched out his hand. Timothy hesitated before clasping it in a brief grasp, his surprise at her husband’s openness written on his features. “Good to meet you, Timothy. I’m Aaron O’Connel and this is my wife, Cathlene.”
Timothy gave her a deep bow. “Pleasure to make your acquaintance, ma’am. Welcome to the Gardens.”
Another attendant arrived with a second couple, followed by another escorting two others. To Cathlene’s relief, Standish had yet to arrive.
Her stomach tossed and turned as she glanced about the auditorium and the crowd of well-dressed men and women filling the seats.
With Aaron so near, she would have nothing to fear from Standish, but her heart still accelerated at the thought of simply seeing his beady, evil eyes again.
Timothy slipped away while Aaron made introductions all around. All were polite, but mostly cold and distant. All except the Mansfields, a middle-aged couple who welcomed her with ready smiles and firm handshakes.
Aaron sat her in one of the seats in the center of the row, where she might see and be seen. Elizabeth Mansfield took the chair at her right, as the men and the other wives chatted amongst themselves.
With her senses on high alert, Cathlene wanted to turn about and watch the entrance for Standish, but Mrs. Mansfield began to engage her. “I am so looking forward to this performance this evening. I could not believe my good fortune when my darling Arthur,” she sent an affectionate smile in her husband’s direction, “informed me that we would be attending. And what a surprise to meet you, my dear. We didn’t know Aaron had a wife.”
Aaron put an arm about her shoulders, his hand resting possessively on her arm. She sat close to him, so close she felt the tension emanating from him. The hairs at the back of her neck stood on end. Her shoulder blades itched. The urge to glance behind her to confirm if her intuition was correct sent spurs of frigid heat through her.
She feared Standish had arrived.
Cathlene swallowed the nausea that churned through her stomach. “I’ve been in Ireland these past two years,” she lied easily. Better to not divulge the truth, since her adventures since arriving in America were less than respectable.
“Oh how lovely you finally decided to join him,” Mrs. Mansfield said airly, openly scanning the occupants of the rows across the aisle.
Cathlene snuck a sideways glance behind her. She recognized Standish out of the corner of her eye. Ice passed through her veins, the fear trotting through her sending her to the edge of her seat. She gave an involuntary gasp which she covered as a cough. Standish turned his cold gaze toward the sound. Cathlene quickly glanced forward, while she felt his dead gaze boring into her back. Aaron held her tighter.
Memories of Standish’s attack barreled through her. She clenched her fists to keep her hands from shaking, and her body stiff to halt the tremors racing through her.
Aaron drew her even closer to his side. “Don’t acknowledge him,” he whispered against her ear, his breath warm against her chilled skin. “He wouldn’t try anything here. I’ll have to present you to them, but the performance is about to start. We’ll wait until after.”
“My niece, Millie should have arrived by now,” Mrs. Mansfield continued. “Oh there she is,” she chirped cheerfully, waving at a striking dark-haired woman who lifted her fan in greeting.
Cathlene found her
open manner refreshing yet distracting. She didn’t stand on ceremony. The other women, except Mrs. Standish, took seats behind them. Mrs. Mansfield easily drew them all into a conversation. She informed them of her being newly arrived to the city. Before Cathlene knew it, she’d received several invitations to take tea. All the while she felt Standish’s boorish gaze glued to her back.
A hush fell over the crowd as the theater darkened. A cacophony of sound rose up from the pit below before falling silent. The curtain parted and Jenny Lind stepped out on stage.
Quiet and restrained, the orchestra began to play. The soprano joined in, her notes clear and crisp, floating to all corners of the theater.
Cathlene sat enraptured by her voice. It mesmerized her, transporting her to a place she’d never been. She floated free and happy on this cloud of joy and pleasure. She was here with Aaron, and there was nothing else which mattered. The performance drowned out the horror of Standish’s crime against her, taking her from the hell she’d been living in and bringing her out into the light.
“I’ve never heard anything sound so beautiful,” Aaron whispered. “Only thing better than hearing her sing of love is hearing you confess yours for me.”
She couldn’t answer. She couldn’t break this fragile spell, this link the music created between them, seeming to dissolve the barriers that separated their lives and hearts.
The beauty of the music, every note that filled the air ringing with emotion, brought tears to her eyes. From what Italian she understood, the Nightingale sang of love found but lost. Every phrase seemed to be torn from her soul, the pain of the heartbroken lover in the story burrowing its way into Cathlene’s own soul.
She was just like this overwrought lover. Both yearning for days long past, time that couldn’t be recaptured. Both wanting their love the way they used to be, but deep down, both knowing it was lost to them forever.
Their sorrow was almost palpable to her, for Cathlene felt her own pain as she thought of being parted from Aaron. She’d again fallen in love with the man she’d once known. Trouble was, he wasn’t the same; then again, neither was she. Her lip quivered. He didn’t feel as strongly for her as she did him. Dredging up past memories couldn’t save them.
Mrs. Mansfield sent her a concerned glance. She leaned over and whispered something, but Cathlene couldn’t hear for all the emotions that swamped through her. How she wished she had someone to confide in. Sitting amongst these strangers – even Aaron was still a stranger to her in many ways. He fit well into this world, whereas she was completely on her own and alone.
Before their reunion she wouldn’t have minded this self-isolation, but now, she could hardly bear it.
Despite how improper it was, Cathlene stood and made her way to the back of the theater. She couldn’t continue with this charade with Aaron. It was too dangerous. She’d have to forfeit their agreement. Losing him and the opportunity to live the rest of her life with him crushed her heart into tiny shards. She wouldn’t skulk away, but make her intentions known. They needed to work together to catch Standish at work and trap him.
She exited out into the lantern-lit hall and headed down the staircase she’d climbed minutes before. No one followed her.
She made her way to the cavernous foyer and took in the silence around her. Save for a few gentlemen in deep discussion on the far side of the room, she was alone.
She loved Aaron, and despite how much it would hurt, she wouldn’t continue further with their agreement unless their marriage could be real; one with love, rather than bargains and blackmail. If not, she’d leave. If he did agree, and Standish did go to the police, she’d suffer the consequences.
She believed that Aaron would defend her, which was more than she thought even days ago. She trusted him with her life.
She started to turn as two dark shadows approached from behind, grabbing at her arms and twisting them behind her back, securing them with a rope. Cathlene’s scream echoed through the entryway, Aaron’s name on her lips.
A large hand covered her mouth. “Our master wants a word with you,” the ruffian jeered, dragging her toward the exit. “Seems you got away last time.”
She bit down hard on the base of one of his fingers until she broke through to the skin. He cursed and drew his hand away.
Cathlene fought, but their strength was too much for her. They hauled her off her feet and carried her outside, while she put every ounce of strength she had into screaming for Aaron.
She was tossed roughly onto the floor of a carriage that sprang forward as they closed the door. “Our master’s mighty furious with you. Don’t think you’ll be getting away this time.”
Huddled between her kidnappers’ less-than-clean boots, her skirts spread around her, made moving rather impossible. “Who’s your master?” she asked. “What does he intend to do with me?”
“Standish. He’ll be wanting payment for that bloke you carved up,” the other replied. “Who knows, he might let you live. Might be lucky since Jonny’s alive, but not by much.”
Her relief that she hadn’t killed her previous attacker was short lived. The implications of what her kidnapper didn’t say should’ve frightened her. Cathlene had wondered when this moment of confronting Standish would come. She had every faith in Aaron, but it wasn’t up to him to save her. He’d come after her, but there was no way to know if he’d find her.
Adrenaline pumped through her veins. She couldn’t leave Aaron again, not like this. Not when she could be carrying his child. Now that he was alive and well, she had to do all that was necessary to get back to him, because there was nowhere she’d rather be.
Chapter Seven
The echo of Cathlene’s scream sent Aaron flying down the stairs. He’d followed her, only after making sure Standish remained seated.
“This way, sir,” Timothy said running to his side and leading him to the doors heading out to the street. “Hurry, or we’ll lose them.”
They reached the street just in time to see two men lifting a struggling Cathlene into an awaiting carriage. A gentleman arrived on horseback. No sooner had he dismounted than Aaron snatched the reins from his hands to vault himself atop the gelding.
He sent Aaron an annoyed glare.
“Those men have my wife. Do not get in my way.”
The gentleman stepped aside. Without a word spoken between them, Timothy stole another horse and joined him on his pursuit to save her.
As they chased Cathlene’s kidnappers through the streets, thoughts raced through Aaron’s mind. Why the bloody hell had he been so stubborn? He should’ve promised her whatever she wanted. He’d give her the moon if he could.
Why hadn’t he just told her he loved her? To hell with their agreement. He’d do whatever she wanted if she’d stay with him and make their marriage true. When she became with child, he wanted her in their babe’s life. They needed a mother, and no woman would do but her.
Aaron and Timothy followed the carriage to a deserted, dilapidated building in the Five Points. They skidded to a stop as the men dragged Cathlene, kicking and screaming, out of the carriage. Observers faded into the darkness. They’d be no use to him.
Aaron jumped down from the exhausted horse’s back, Timothy not far behind. “Unhand her,” he demanded.
“Aaron,” Cathlene cried as they dragged her indoors. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry, love. I’m here.”
One of the kidnappers slammed Cathlene against the doorframe. She gave a small cry before sagging against him. “Our master won’t be pleased you’ve followed us,” he snickered. “He plans on havin’ some fun with the missus here.”
“Who’s your master?” Aaron demanded. “Who ordered you to kidnap my wife?”
During their time apart, had Cathlene had run-ins with anyone other than Standish? Were there other men who wanted revenge?
Aaron’s blood raged. The urge to kill these men, especially the one who’d injured his precious Cathlene rushed through his veins. But he woul
dn’t risk further harm to her.
“Ah, sir, we can’t tell ya that,” the other said. A calculating look came into his eyes.
Aaron knew that look far too well. He’d once been as poor as they. He knew of the desperation that could make a man do mad things. “How much?”
The man’s eyes filled with greed. “All depends how important your wife is to you.”
“How much?” he yelled again.
“Now, sir,” the other chided, as they deposited Cathlene roughly on a pile of burlap bags. “We’ll be glad to negotiate a telling price – and a price to set your lady here free.”
With a quick glance in Timothy’s direction, Aaron charged the men, knocking them to the floor. They came to their feet fighting. Despite his change in lifestyle, Aaron’s old instincts came to the forefront, and he fought dirty, giving and taking hard blows. One of the men brandished a knife. Aaron kicked it from his hand to the floor.
The four of them destroyed the room’s contents, throwing the broken old rubbish about with their kicks and blows. Aaron grabbed one of the men and threw him against the wall. He remained there dazed for a moment before slowly getting to his feet. Timothy subdued the other ruffian.
“Well, O’Connel, you’ve certainly reverted to your commoner roots.” Standish stood in the doorway, his cold eyes surveying the damage. “Just goes to show, money can’t change a man. You’re still the scum of the earth.”
Aaron froze, disbelieving the other man was standing there. “How in the bloody hell did you get here?”
Standish gave a sardonic chuckle. “I had no trouble locating you. You rode through the streets like a man possessed. You certainly know how to stir up trouble.”
The only one in any trouble is you. You dare kidnap my wife, not once, but twice. You bastard
Standish took a half step back. Aaron hoped he saw the murder in his eyes. If it was the last thing he did, he’d make Standish pay with his life for putting Cathlene in harm's way.”
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