Seacrets

by Adrianna Wingate

  “Look Daniel, the last thing I recall was that Demon returned to the main house, riderless and you jumped up upon him and raced toward the guesthouse in search of Maura. Do ya naught remember? She made off with ya horse, after yet another one ya stubborn arguments?” He prodded Daniel’s memory.

  “Barely…Go on.” His head, still foggy from the opium tea.

  “Well when ya took off on Demon, I was on the porch awaitin’ ya return. That is when I heard a shot ring out. I jumped up upon my horse and made my way ta the guesthouse and found ya just inside the gated area faced down in a pool o’ ya own blood,. I dragged ya inside and then went ta find help.” Aiden stopped briefly to give Daniel’s mind time to catch up with his accounting of the events. “Then Godsey, myself and Mother managed ta get ya inta the carriage and up ta the main house, where Doc then carved ya up like a prized turkey, extracting the bullet lodged in ya right shoulder. As for Maura brother, she was nowhere ta be found. I checked the house and the surroundin’ grounds, but no Maura.” Aiden’s tone was of extreme worry for Maura’s fate. “The scoundrel that made off with her is probably the same brigand that took her the first time she went missin’.” Aiden surmised.

  “I feel just awful, Danny. The bastard was most likely here, at the house tonight during the party, and we didn’t even realize it!” Aiden ran his hands through his hair in frustration. “Look Daniel, obviously this black hearted son of a bitch, either with an accomplice or alone, has taken Maura for whatever reason. I can only surmise that money is at the root of this whole mess. Does Maura have something of value? Why would anyone want to kidnap her?”

  Daniel searched the far reaches of his mind, but came up with nothing.

  Aiden pushed his brother to think further on the matter. “Think hard Danny. Think!”

  “Well she had dowry money that Godsey confided ta me. The money had been sent on ahead to Mary Turlington. Other than that, Maura has no monetary wealth that I am aware of.” There was a worried agitation in his tone. For the first time in his life, Daniel felt helpless. He ground one clenched fist into his other palm.

  Aiden placed a hand to his brother’s shoulder to give comfort. “Danny you’ve got to think logically, now. Ya canna be losin’ ya head with worry. Ya willna be of any help ta Maura, if ya are scattered in ya thinkin’.” He tried to give solace to his brother.

  “I can tell that ya are blamin’ ya self for leavin’ Maura’s back door open, so ta speak, for the bastards ta gain access ta her. Nevertheless, this is naught ya fault, Daniel. Ya had no control over the situation ya find ya self in.” Aiden continued to talk reason to Daniel, to keep him thinking straight and logically and not thinking with his heart. “I’m feelin’ certain the beggars that have Maura, have taken her for a reason and want ta keep her in one piece or she’ll be of no value ta them. We will be figurin’ this out, brother, that I promise ya.”

  Aiden was now the voice of reason because Daniel had lost all of his resolve.

  Mary came to check on her sons, bringing clean linens for dressing changes and medication for pain. “Daniel ya brother is right on this. Ya must not allow ya feelin’s for Maura ta cloud ya judgment on how ta approach this. It will do her more harm if ya don’t have a solid plan of how ta get her back from these scoundrels.” Mary rationalized. “Let’s see, now, when you and Maura were reunited on the dock, you were at question then as to what had become of her from the day you had docked ship. Correct?” Tapping her forefinger to her chin in thought.

  “Yes, yes, that’s correct mother, what of it?”

  “Well…when she showed up on that night with a bullet in her back and dressed in that attire she was discovered in…?”

  “What are ya sayin’, Mother? That Maura is a common tavern whore!?” Daniel nearly leapt from his bed in rage that anyone would dare to denigrate his sweet angel.

  “Calm ya self, Daniel! Mary’s tone was strong and firm. “I’m strongly suggestin’ Maura had been kidnapped from your ship, that first time of her disappearance, and was possibly sold into sexual slavery. Whoever owns her wants their property. ”

  Mary braced her hands firmly on her son’s shoulders, keeping him from lunging further from of his bed. The thought of Maura being held against her will and forced into God knows what had him feeling like a caged animal. Daniel’s jaw was tight with anger. His eyes filled with rageful tears, but he would not let them fall. He wanted to hold onto his anger. It would keep him strong.

  “Yes Daniel, our mother is correct. We’ve got ta come up with a plan for Maura’s rescue. Running off, half cocked, will leave her in more danger. Tis possible she is still within our grasp. Whoever has her is most likely hiding her in plain site. Let’s think about this. If tis debauchery and sex driven, tis feasible she’s being hidden in one of the waterfront taverns or mayhap be in one of the ordinaries along the inland, away from the docks. “We will find her, Danny.” He assured his brother. Aiden had never taken the front, where his brother was concerned, and it felt good to know he was helping his brother, instead of the other way around.

  Daniel did not want to give in to his exhaustion. He tried to ascend from his bed, but his Mother and brother pushed him back down onto it. “Oh no brother, you are not ready ta go traipsin’ the countryside after Maura…But I am. I’ll start lookin’ about the area for clues and report directly back ta ya. Mayhap tomorrow ya can start ya own search.” Aiden walked toward the chamber door, and then looked back at his brother, with grave concern. He had never experienced his brother in a weakened state. He knew it would take everything he had to keep Daniel down. He closed the door, gently, behind him.

  Mary was assisting Daniel to take a few more sips of the opium-laced tea. She kissed her son on his forehead and looked lovingly upon his sleeping face, before quietly leaving his bedchamber. His breathing was deep and heavy. Fairly certain her son was finally asleep, Mary gently closed the chamber door and headed to the kitchen to begin the plan for the evening meal.

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  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Daniel waited a few minutes before opening his eyes. Then he wrenched forward spitting out the herbal potion. Grabbing hold of his injured shoulder he pulled himself forward to the side of the bed. He reached back and almost lost consciousness from the pain as he pulled the casing from the goose down pillow to fashion a sling for his injured arm and shoulder.

  He dressed himself…all the while sputtering, “Are they mad that I should just lie about while Maura is missing? I’ve got ta find her before she is moved from this area and lost ta me forever!”

  His chamber door creaked softly as he opened it. He peered left to right to be certain no one would see him leave his room. He made his way down to the first landing, by his father’s library. Daniel could hear Cassie jabbering away to his mother about what to plan for the evening meal. Daniel ducked into the library archway. He looked about to find an open window. With his good arm, he elbowed the shutter aside, sat on the windowsill, and jumped out onto the grassy knoll, just below the window.

  He fell onto his uninjured side and rolled from the house, all the while cursing at the pain he felt from his wracked body. “Sweet mother of God.” He let out a muffled curse.

  The beads of sweat built up upon his brow, and the waves of nausea from the amount of pain he was enduring, were taking their toll. Daniel forced himself to a standing position then hobbled out back to the carriage house, where he knew Demon was waiting.

  Once inside the carriage house, Daniel grappled with his saddle and somehow managed to get it upon Demon’s back. He reined the beast over toward the trough and climbed up and onto it, giving him enough height to grab onto Demon’s saddle. He hoisting his weakened body up and across the saddle, onto his stomach and swung his leg over Demon’s hindquarters.

  Demon did not like this one bit. He became skittish and started to buck up onto his hind legs. Daniel pulled back and up on Demon’s reins with a force that was instantly familiar to the great beast and he quickly settled
down. “Whoa, boy, whoa…that’s a good boy.” He cajoled the animal to obey him. Then roughly patting Demon’s muscular neck he whispered to the animal, “We’ve got ta find Maura, now boy, I’m needin’ ya ta obey me, now.” As if to let Daniel know he understood, Demon grunted and whinnied once, then quietly settled.

  Daniel firmly dug his heels into Demon’s sides and the pair disappeared into the forest leading toward the guesthouse. That is the last place he remembered before he was shot and thought this would be a good place to start looking for clues to Maura’s disappearance.

  When finally he reached the cottage he dismounted Demon and tied his reins to the garden gate and walked around to the back of the guesthouse, by the double French doors.

  He noted globs of chew had been spat out, rather close to the archway. Someone would have to have been standing practically on top of the door to have the chew land that close.

  Neither he nor his brother used tobacco. Could have been Godsey. He would question him later.

  Daniel continued out into the woods surrounding the guesthouse. He noticed there were carriage tracks leading out into the forest. He immediately thought no one from the main house would ever use that old pathway. He walked around to the side of the house and noticed the same globs of spat chewing tobacco at the side window, looking into Maura’s bedroom.

  “Someone was definitely stalking Maura, of that I am certain. Aiden was probably correct in his assumption Maura is being hidden somewhere close by, waiting for the dust to settle. Whoever shot me most likely believes I am dead. This may help in the rescue efforts because the bastards will have their guard down thinking they have me out of the way. I must return to Aiden’s estate and instruct my mother and brother to keep my survival a secret.”

  As soon as Daniel returned to his brother’s house, he could see his mother pacing back and forth on the front steps. Daniel John Hargendon! How dare ya scare ya poor old mother in this way. You’re in no condition…”

  Daniel dismounted Demon and blew right past Mary and into the foyer area.

  “Not now Mother! I’ve got a hunch and I need some quiet to piece everything together. If you really want to help me, don’t hinder this process, please!” Daniel was extremely tired and in immense pain but did not want to dull his senses with more opium. “I am sorry Mother. Ya know that I appreciate all that ya are doin’ ta help me, but I canna just lay about while Maura is out there lost and in danger.” He tried his best to soothe his mother’s tender feelings.

  After a few quiet moments between the two, Mary came to sit beside her son and asked him what she could do to help.

  “First off, where has Aiden gotten off ta?” He questioned his mother.

  “Well, he said that he was goin’ ta go down ta dock side and fish about for some clues and then go out ta the country side ta ask around at the ordinaries if any new girls have been hired.” She answered.

  “I need ta try and catch up with Aiden. I don’t want anyone ta know that I survived the shootin’”. I want ta be able ta act covertly, Mother.” Daniel explained.

  “Look at ya son, ya are exhausted. Ya need ta be getting’ ya self stronger.” Mary pleaded one last time for her son to listen to reason.

  “Mother I know that ya are meanin’ well, but if I stop now I’m afraid I’ll never find her again. I canna lose Maura again, mother. I won’t!” He winced in pain with that last shout.

  Daniel mounted Demon with much difficulty and rode off to try and find his brother.

  Mary stood in the entryway and let her tears flow freely for her son’s pain. No, not the physical pain that Daniel was feeling, but the pain inside his heart. For she knew there would be a fair chance the outcome might not be favorable for Maura and her son may never get over losing the love of his life.

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  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Maura, still bound and gagged, had inched herself over to the serving table, where Kilern had been eating before he passed out. She struggled to trap the end of the table cloth between her neck and shoulder, then yanked at it with all of the strength she could muster.

  The entire table’s contents came crashing down upon her.

  Red wine soaked her head and trickled down her face, burning her eyes and streaming onto her bodice, staining her gown through to her chemise. She froze. Her heart was pounding with fear. She immediately shot a look in Kilern’s direction, to be certain he was still passed out. She knew if he were to awaken and discover she was trying to escape, she would surely be punished severely.

  When she realized he had not been phased by the loud disturbance she had created, she continued searching the floorboards for something, anything that would aid in her escape.

  She caught a glint of steel out of the corner of her eye and inched her way further beneath the table. She rolled atop the carving knife, grasping it between her tightly bound hands.

  She struggled to stuff the blade into the sleeve of her gown. With one last shove, she winced in pain. She immediately felt a warm burning sensation. When she looked to her forearm, she noticed bright red blood to the outside of her sleeve. In her haste to conceal the weapon that would be her protector should Kilern keep true to his promises of rape, Maura had cut deep into her forearm with the knife. Fear not Maura, she consoled herself. You should rather die than be raped by such a vile being as this man.

  The sound of a riders approach stilled further plans of escape. Her eyes darted in Kilern’s direction. She saw he was beginning to stir. She sucked in her breath, fearful of what he would do to her once he realized she was trying to escape. The beads of sweat were building on her forehead, her heart was racing and she could hear it pounding in her ears.

  The sweat from her brow trickled from her forehead into her eyes. The salt from her sweat was stinging her eyes. She scrunched them closed to relieve their burning.

  Kilern rolled to his back, forcing himself up upon one forearm. Through his drunken haze he looked about to set his sights on Maura hiding beneath the table. He chuckled with relief and then let himself fall back down onto the floor. He raised the back of his hand to meet his forehead and rested it there, with a deep sigh and a groan. His mouth was bone dry from all of the wine he had consumed the night before. He forced himself to a standing position and went in search of liquid, as he could barely muster up enough saliva to be able to swallow. He suddenly caught the sound of horse hooves approaching and went to peer out the mud-streaked window.

  Kilern cackled that, now familiar laugh Maura despised and she knew it must be an ally of his, or he would be trying to hide her. Maura’s heart sunk. She was not to be rescued. She knew she would have to rely solely on herself for her own redemption.

  Kilern looked in Maura’s direction and laughed at her attempts to shield herself from him. “That be fine, gel, you can hide ya self for a while longer. I’ve got droves of time ta have my way with ya. Hehehe.” Sniffing in, he wiped the thick moisture from bederneath his crooked nose, with his filthy shirtsleeve. Then made a second swipe to remove the stuck on crust from over his fetid upper lip.

  Maura’s view of the doorway was somewhat obstructed. She could hear the door hinges creak when he opened the door and then a heavy thud when it closed behind him. Maura strained to hear the voices on the opposite side of the door. She could tell the second voice was female and thought it sounded familiar. It was very difficult to hear them with the sound of her own heart pounding in her ears. She held her breath a moment to try and calm herself, then continued listening intently to the pair.

  “So, have you gotten rid of the little wench, yet? Have you sold her off yet?”

  Maura recognized that voice to be the same she heard behind the hedge with Daniel, the night before. Mallory, but why? Why would she have anything to do with Kilern? She continued listening.

  Now you listen ta me, Miss high and mighty. These things take time. I’ll have ta hide her out here for a few days 'til the ruckus has calmed down, then I’ll be able ta make my escape overseas on
one of the freighters. I’ll make the most coin for her away from here. And speakin’ of coin...where’s the, eh, disposal fee you promised for getting’ rid o’ her for ya?” Kilern rubbed his four fingers against his thumb as a sign of his greed.

  “Here, you disgusting pig.” Mallory threw the coined filled leather pouch, hitting Kilern squarely in his chest. “Just make sure you do your part of the bargain and get rid of her!” Mallory lifted her skirts in a huff and began to descend the steps.

  “Don’t be getting’ ya knickers all in a bunch, missy! I know what my job is. Just don’t be gettin’ ya self followed here, ya get my meanin’? Or we’ll both be in a world of trouble the likes of which you’ve never seen.” Kilern warned Mallory. “I’ll be handlin’ things the way I see fit ta handle ‘em. I’ll be movin’ her when and only when the time is right. The little wench’s virginity is worth hundreds, if not thousands ta the highest bidder, and for all the trouble this bitch has cost me so far, I intend to get all the coin I can.” He paused and then asked Mallory, “What happened after I made away with her, last eventide? I mean, who shot Hargendon? You was with me and I didna do it? Kilern’s curiosity was intense.

  “Well, never mind that right now. You needn’t know every bit of information. Let’s just say he did survive his wounds.” Mallory was almost trance like in her description. She delicately ran her fingertips over the swell of her breasts and continued to speak of Daniel’s ordeal. “A small lead ball wound is no match for the masculinity of my Danny.” She closed her eyes and breathed in deep.

  “Good god in heaven, this is sickenin’.” Kilern pushed past Mallory and opened the door into the cabin.

  “Well I hid out in the thick dark woods edge. I saw Danny’s brother, Doc, and his mother, tending to him. They brought him up to the main house. He’s still alive, thank God! I still have a chance to get myself back into his good graces. I’ll help nurse him back to health and then he’ll see how much I love him and he’ll be only too happy to rectify the damage he has caused to my good name and my family.” Mallory placed her hands to the sides of her coif and fixed a few stray strands of strawberry blonde curls. “My, but it is a muggy one today. I’d better be getting back to get freshened up to visit Daniel, later on.” Mallory continued to descend the stairs, when Kilern sarcastically remarked. “I’ll bet I know who shot the rogue. Ya father? Another jealous lover?” He ran his tongue across his cracked bottom lip.