Sea of Desire

by Christine Dorsey

  “Why?”

  “Why?” Why. The question he’d been asking himself all night as he rode through the Low Country. Why did he care so much that she was gone? The answer was not easy to accept, but nonetheless Jared knew it was true. Looking up with bloodshot eyes, Jared met his cousin’s gaze. “I need to see her, Daniel,” he said as calmly as he could. “Now please tell me. How long ago did she leave?”

  Settling back in his seat, Daniel took his time spreading a lace napkin in his lap. Then carefully he took a bite of his muffin. Butter oozed between his teeth and he gently dabbed at his lips. “You haven’t said how you like my house. It’s not so grand as the one on Tradd Street, I know, but then ever since your parents died that’s belonged to you and John. And no one expects me to have something quite as good as the Blackstones born on the right side of the sheet.”

  “What in the hell are you talking about? You were always welcome at both Royal Oak and the house in Charles Town.” Jared wished Daniel would just tell him about Merideth and be done with it.

  “Welcome, perhaps, but we both knew who owned it... everything. Didn’t we?” When Jared said nothing, only sat staring, his eyes narrowed, Daniel jumped to his feet. His palms flattened on the table, his sleeve caught the knife handle, sending it clattering to the floor. “Didn’t we!” he yelled, his face growing red.

  “I own both properties,” Jared said without emotion.

  Daniel’s smile was triumphant. He jerked his head and sank down into his seat, seemingly pleased by the admission. “But you don’t have everything you want. Do you, dear cousin? You don’t have Merideth Banistar.”

  Leaning back, Jared stayed in his chair for a moment, studying Daniel. He’d thought Daniel was odd before, but he’d always tried to reconcile his feelings with an understanding that people were different. But Daniel’s actions now were something he’d never witnessed before. Taking a deep breath, Jared bent forward. “Where is she?”

  “She doesn’t want you, you know. She wanted to get away from you.”

  “Where is she?”

  “Actually...” Daniel picked up an orange and began peeling it, the tangy scent of citrus filling the air. “After the night we spent together, she said she preferred me to—”

  Jared was across the table before Daniel could finish his sentence. Grabbing his cousin by the lace about his neck, he hauled him forward, across his plate. Orange peels and muffin crumbs scattered. “If you hurt her—if you touched her—so help me, I’ll kill you.” Jared’s jaw clenched. “Do you understand me?” He held on till Daniel nodded... reluctantly. If Jared believed Daniel’s claim about spending the night with Merideth, he wouldn’t have let him go so easily. But Jared had long suspected his cousin’s tastes didn’t run toward women.

  With a shove Jared sent him back into his chair. Daniel landed in an undignified heap, his composure badly mauled but not broken.

  “You uncivilized brute,” Daniel yelled, swiping the lace handkerchief down the front of his soiled banyan. “You’ve ruined this silk. And all for the sake of that slut.”

  This time Jared went around the table. His teeth gritted in anger as he yanked Daniel from the chair. “I’ve put up with as much of this as I intend to. Tell me where she is. And never... never refer to Lady Merideth that way again.”

  “Of course you’d choose her over me, one of your own family. Or have you forgotten?”

  “I haven’t forgotten a thing. The only reason I haven’t beaten the information out of you is the memory of your mother.”

  “That whore!” Daniel spit out the words, his face the embodiment of hatred.

  Slowly Jared lowered him to the floor. He was surprised, nay, shocked, by Daniel’s portrayal of his mother. Jared’s aunt certainly hadn’t had an easy life, but the circumstances of Daniel’s birth were beyond her control. Jared reminded his cousin of that. Daniel’s only response was a snort.

  Taking a deep breath, Jared reached in the pocket of his frock coat. He would have to finish this conversation with Daniel at another time. For now, he needed to continue his pursuit of Merideth. He took out the gold oval and, following Daniel to a small desk in the corner of the room, laid it on the polished surface. If demands and threats didn’t work, he would plead.

  “What’s this?” Daniel hesitated, his hand on the drawer pull.

  “Merideth’s locket. She left it for me, when she departed Royal Oak. It was with her note.” Jared flicked open the clasp to reveal the miniatures inside. “She loves me, Daniel... and I love her. I must bring her back.”

  “Love,” Daniel laughed, the sound anything but joyous. “So you love each other.” The drawer slid open. “How...” He shrugged. “How very sweet.” He reached into the drawer. “Unfortunately, this romance is doomed to failure.” With that, Daniel picked up the locket with his free hand and threw it onto the floor.

  “What the hell are you doing?” Angrily Jared bent over to snatch it up. The miniature of Merideth and her mother had fallen out. Jared picked it up. He started to slide the painting back into the tiny frame when some scrolled writing etched into the gold beneath where the painting had been caught his attention.

  He read the words; blinked; then read them again. His expression changed from one of disbelief to one of rage. Clutching the locket, he looked up, ready to attack. But the small pocket pistol pointed at him brought him to a halt.

  “You,” Jared began. “You’re Lady Sinclair.”

  Daniel kept the gun trained on Jared’s chest, but he did glance down at the ribbon streaming from Jared’s hand. “So that’s where he hid the information. I suspected Lord Alfred might do something like that.” Daniel shrugged delicately. “That’s why I searched his library so carefully.” He sighed. “I’d hoped getting rid of his offspring would be the end of it, but...”

  Jared took a step forward until he heard the pistol cock. “What did you do with her?”

  “Lady Merideth is the least of your concerns, dear cousin.” Daniel thrust out the gun when Jared took another step. “Don’t think I won’t use this dear, dear cousin Jared. I’ve killed before.”

  “Lord Alfred?”

  “Why, yes,” Daniel smiled. “I did do the old man in. He knew I was being paid by both sides in this silly little conflict. Don’t look so shocked, cousin. We bastards of the world must earn our coin someway. Anyway, Lord Alfred threatened me with the information. I paid him at first to keep quiet. But that arrangement wasn’t to my liking. So I waited for him to contact someone in the American government... the old fool didn’t even realize the message went through me.”

  “And stopped there, I presume.”

  “Not entirely. That’s when I pulled you into the intrigue.”

  “Why? Why involve me if you intended to kill him?”

  “Let’s just say I enjoy seeing you Blackstones squirm.” Daniel giggled. “I’d been at Banistar Hall before, and knew the right places to hide. With their lack of staff, I could have stayed there a fortnight without being detected. But it didn’t take that long. You came along with your usual bravado, during the storm, and I just sat back and waited for the right moment.”

  “To kill him.”

  “Oh, not just him, dear Jared. You.” He laughed again. “You were to die also. Hanged, no less. Such a fitting demise for the descendant of a pirate, don’t you think?”

  “I think you’ve lost your mind.” Jared slipped the locket into his pocket.

  “You’d like to think so, wouldn’t you?” Daniel’s features contorted in anger. “You’d like to think me crazy. Just like John. That’s right, John discovered I was Lady Sinclair. Of course there was no love affair. I made all that up. But he found out about my very profitable undertakings with the British.”

  “And so you killed him too.” The deadly calm of Jared’s voice belied the surging emotions inside.

  “Oh, yes, I did. You figured it out,” Daniel smirked. “I always did think you as clever as the others, even if they did have their noses in a
book every moment of the day.”

  “What did you do with Merideth?” A knot formed in Jared’s throat, so large he could barely get the words out. “Did you kill her too?”

  “No. But don’t worry, I shall. What I can’t decide is whether to kill her first and let you watch, or vice versa.” Daniel bobbed his head as he spoke. “I think I shall let you see her demise. After all, I really don’t have anything personal against her.” His face contorted. “Though she did play the role of your whore.”

  Jared lunged forward, and the pistol fired. Something solid, like a fist, rammed into his side, and Jared faltered. But his anger was stronger than the pain. Jared caught a quick glimpse of the shock and fear on Daniel’s face as he knocked the spent gun from his cousin’s hand. The weapon went flying to the floor. And under Jared’s weight Daniel fell back, sprawling against the desk.

  Panic filled Daniel’s eyes and his hands flailed out. Feeling the solid strength of the candlestick, Daniel tried to grip the ornate silver. But Jared grabbed hold of the silk robe, pulling him up, then slamming his head back against the smooth wood surface.

  “Where is she? Where is she, damn you?”

  Daniel’s hand knocked the candlestick. Hot wax dripped from the top of the taper, down the side of the thick brocade drapes. The flame followed the arc. It took the fire only a moment to recognize the new supply of rich fuel. Then eagerly it sent tentacles dancing up the silk, consuming all in its path.

  “Fire! The room’s on fire!” Daniel’s voice squeaked as Jared tightened his hold. “We have to get out!” The wallpaper was next in the path of the voracious flames, and soon the entire wall was aglow. Choking threads of smoke filled the air. Jared’s eyes burned and his lungs cried for a breath of fresh air, but he didn’t move. “Nowhere, you bastard. We’re going nowhere till you tell me where she is.”

  “We’ll die!” Daniel’s face was purple and his eyes bulged. “We’ll die,” he choked out again. By now the rug was smoldering, sending off the nauseating smell of charred wool.

  “Tell me,” Jared rasped. “Or so help me God, I’ll kill you with my bare hands and leave your body to burn. You think I care about myself? You’ve taken all from me.” Overcome by a bout of coughing, Jared stopped talking, but he tightened his grip. Sweat poured from his forehead and rolled down his chest. But his eyes were deadly serious.

  “Smokehouse.”

  The word was so wracked with coughing, so choked, that at first Jared thought Daniel was complaining about the smoke. It wasn’t till Daniel said it again that Jared realized he was referring to an outbuilding.

  “She’s in the smokehouse? Are you telling me that’s where she is?” Jared realized he was shaking Daniel almost uncontrollably and stopped.

  “Yes... yes. Save me!” Daniel clutched at Jared’s sleeve. His wig was gone, his curls plastered to his head with sweat “Oh, please, save me.” His voice quivered piteously between hacking coughs. “Jared, cousin, don’t let me die.”

  The air was thick with smoke, disorienting Jared’s best efforts to find the door. He stumbled forward, yanking a nearly limp Daniel in his wake. The fire had a voice of its own, loud and roaring, punctuated by the shattering crash of a rafter by the window. Where Jared had stood moments earlier.

  It was too late. He’d stayed in the burning inferno too long and now the fire surrounded him. His side hurt and he glanced down, but the smoke was so thick he couldn’t see if he was bleeding. He just knew that Merideth could die if no one released her from the smokehouse. This last thought galvanized him to action. Eyes streaming, lungs raw and burning, he plunged forward, through the thick black smoke.

  Why he dragged Daniel along, Jared didn’t know. Perhaps if he’d thought, about John... even about Merideth’s father, the fingers clutching his arm would have slackened. But when he surged forward into the hallway where the smoke only laced the air with wispy streamers, Daniel was still with him, though he was almost a dead weight.

  Gasping for breath, Jared burst through the front door into the sunshine. Several servants were in the yard. One had grabbed a bucket, but the others simply stood, staring up at the house. They all jumped back when one side of the roof collapsed into the flaming caldron, sending sparks and burning coals spraying across the yard.

  Jared dropped Daniel’s body beside the huddled group of servants. It fell in a lifeless heap. Then Jared ran around the side of the house. His arms and legs felt as if they were swimming through molasses, and his hip ached, but he pushed on.

  Built of brick, the circular smokehouse was compact and windowless. And Jared couldn’t imagine how Merideth must feel, locked inside. As he raced toward the door he remembered her fear of dark places, of the way she threw open a window or door rather than be enclosed.

  “Oh God, please let her be all right.”

  Jared grabbed the heavy iron padlock and gave it a yank. It bounced back against the heavy wood door with a clunk.

  “Merideth!” Jared pounded the splintery wood. “Merideth, honey, answer me!” His hands flattened on the bricks framing the door, Jared leaned his forehead close... listening.

  But there was no sound, except his own shattered breathing and the heavy thudding of his heart.

  Pushing away from the building, Jared loped around the yard, frantically searching for something he could use to pry open the lock. He finally spotted an ax left by the woodpile. Snatching it up, he hurried back to the smokehouse.

  Sparks shot out as metal rang against metal. Jared lifted the ax high, then with all his might brought it down across the lock. Again and again. Wood splintered and split. And the metal hasp flew off.

  Tossing the ax aside, Jared pushed open the door. Now that the moment was at hand, he was afraid of what he’d find. Daniel had said Merideth was in the smokehouse, and that he hadn’t killed her yet. But what if he’d lied or done some other unspeakable thing to her?

  Jared took a deep breath and widened the wedge of light spilling into the darkness. His eyes narrowed and he stepped inside. He heard movement behind the door and turned just as Merideth started toward him, a meat hook raised high above her head.

  Her hand stopped midway through its downward arc. Blue eyes widened in surprise. “Jared? Oh my God, Jared!” The meat hook thudded to the packed earth and she flew into his outstretched arms.

  “Merideth. Merideth.” Jared couldn’t get enough of holding her, of saying her name. She was crying and clutching at him, and together they sank to their knees. Jared kissed the top of her head, ran his hands down her back. She smelled of woodsmoke and ham and Merideth, and Jared thought there’d never been a better scent.

  With his hands he gently cradled her face. His thumbs wiped the tears that streaked through the dirt on her cheeks. “Are you all right, Merry? Did he hurt you?”

  “No, I’m fine.” Merideth shook her head. It was then she noticed Jared’s face, his singed hair. “What happened to you?”

  “There was a fire, but it’s all right now.” Jared paused. He’d almost forgotten about Daniel trying to shoot him. At first Jared thought his cousin had succeeded. But the pain he’d experienced initially was now only a dull ache. Reaching down, Jared found the hole in his jacket where the ball had torn the fabric. But there was no blood and no wound.

  “What is it? What’s wrong?” Merideth watched as Jared reached into his pocket. “My locket,” she said as he slowly pulled the gold oval out by the ribbon. The light from the open doorway shone on the polished surface. “It’s dented.”

  Jared ran his thumb over the metal, then looked up, his expression one of disbelief. “I think the locket saved my life... at least saved me from taking the bullet Daniel fired at me.”

  Merideth stared down at the locket, then back at Jared. “Daniel tried to shoot you?” Her eyes widened when Jared nodded. “Oh, how could I forget, Jared? It was Daniel.” She grasped his shoulders. “He killed my father... and your brother. He was going to kill me. He locked me in here...” Merideth took a deep brea
th. “I was so terrified.” Memories of the fears she’d faced locked in the small, dark building momentarily flooded her. She raised her chin. “But I didn’t give up. I crawled around till I found the hook, and then I waited for him to come back.”

  “My brave, brave girl.” Jared touched her cheek, her hair. He couldn’t seem to keep his hands off her.

  “I wasn’t going to let him just murder me, like he did the others. I had to try.”

  “Shhhh. You don’t have to worry about him any more.” Jared pressed her close to his heart.

  “Are you certain you’re all right?”

  “Aye, thanks to your locket.” Jared took a deep breath. “God, Merry, I was so worried about you. And it was all my fault. I pushed you away with my doubts and suspicions—” His voice cracked, and for the first time since he’d gotten word of his brother’s death, tears threatened. “Oh God, Merideth, can you ever forgive me? I love you so.”

  She looked up, searching the clear green of his eyes with her own. “You do? You love me?”

  “With all my heart.”

  Her own heart was near bursting as she stared at him. “I never knew a thing about any spy.”

  “I know that, Merry. I was wrong, so wrong to think you did.” His fingers tangled in her golden hair. “Can... can you ever love me?”

  Merideth’s smile was beautiful... angelic. “Oh, Jared,” she said, her voice full of emotion. “I do.”

  His lips brushed hers lightly. Then he gently tied the dented locket around her neck. Soon he would tell her of the secret message she’d worn. But not now.

  Jared took Merideth’s hand and together they stood. And walked out into the light.