Crushing Desire

by April Dawn

  Howard stood at the top of a long gangplank, gazing down. Gunner, who had become Joshua’s business associate and closest friend, ran up to grab the heavy bag that George was lugging down the plank. George, physique younger and eyes brighter than Joshua had ever seen, turned and escorted the glowing Mrs. George Lynton down the plank. She was glowing with newlywed bliss. Joshua thought back to the day when he’d escorted his new bride from a ship at this very port. What a different experience that had been. He smiled with the memories of the days he’d spent with his lovely wife caring for his wounds. It had been a trying time, but he had finally been married to the woman he loved, and that made the whole experience almost blissful. Even if the end result meant he still required a cane on damp days.

  Pushing the thoughts from his head, he asked how the new arrivals were fairing.

  “Fine. Just fine, my boy! I’m only too glad that we can say the same thing about you.”

  Emily smiled at some jest they seemed to share, but George seemed almost as uncomprehending as Joshua was. They couldn’t be talking about his injury, even though Reena had told them all about it in a letter after they had arrived in Massachusetts. These two looked like fat and happy cats that had just caught the pet canary.

  “The coach is waiting, but let’s get the items you need from town first.”

  Leading them down the plank and past the coach, Joshua asked about their trip and received the proper replies.

  Joshua accompanied them into the local shops, so that they could purchase the necessary sundries for the trip. While they ordered their items, Joshua found that his curiosity had gotten the better of him.

  “What did you mean that you’re glad you can say the same about me?”

  Emily and Howard shared a chuckle, and Joshua couldn’t suppress his scowl.

  “I suppose we can tell him now Howard, the damage has been well and truly done.” Emily grinned, barely keeping the glee from erupting.

  “Well, I guess it is all right to reveal our little scheme to you now.” He leaned in, as though speaking confidentially. “We set you up, my boy.”

  “To a grand result,” claimed Emily, clapping her hands. The two glanced at each other and nodded.

  “What the bloody—for God’s sake, just tell me what you are saying,” Joshua said.

  “Yes, dear, what is this all about?” George asked, eyes wide.

  “Never you mind. It has not a thing to do with you. Now sit quiet, my handsome stallion.” Emily leaned in as she spoke the last words, and George turned a brighter shade of red than any man ever had, in Joshua’s opinion.

  “Well, my boy, you see, when my brother sent his youngest to me, she had… ah… shall we say, bloomed rather early. Naturally, I was concerned for her safety and virtue,” Howard said, and Joshua wanted to ask what this had to do with it, but he held his tongue and waited.

  “I tried everything I could to keep the men away. I dressed her in children’s styles long after she was too endowed for them. I even kept her inside, rather than let her out to wander, though she often found ways to sneak out anyhow.” He rolled his eyes. “I could see from your first few meetings that you two shared a fondness for each other. Anyone that had eyes in his head could see how she doted on you,” he said. “Why I remember one day when I came home from—”

  “Stay on point Howard,” Emily chastised, and Howard glanced up, pulling himself out of the memory.

  “Anyhow, we thought that surely there was no hope for it but to keep you two apart. You were married, and she was but a child,” Howard said.

  Joshua tapped his foot and crossed his arms over his chest. He was starting to suspect where this was going.

  “I was about to host her coming out when your wife, God rest her, died so tragically.” He and Emily shook their heads, showing respect for the dead. Joshua was touched that they would still make such a gesture when her death had been so long past. His memory went to his first wife. She would always be special to him, but he loved Reena more than he ever thought possible. Besides, he knew his first wife would surely approve of Reena.

  “I decided to postpone her coming out and give you the time you needed to grieve. I was sure you would court Reena when she came out, if only you had the time to mourn first. That was when I went into business with you and insisted on meeting so often. I wanted you to spend time together, especially when the suitors came in droves.” Howard shook his head, smiling absently at some distant memory.

  “Come to it, Howard,” Emily said, but Howard held up a hand to silence her.

  “Never did I think that girl would have so many suitors.” Howard glanced at George, and Emily smiled, affectionately slapping her husband’s arm.

  George grinned sheepishly as he gazed at his wife. “I must say, my sweet one, I am sorry I didn’t marry for the sake of business. It would have saved me from such a spirited and willful wife as I have now.”

  Emily punched him, but this time, hard enough that he rubbed his arm. Joshua could see the love shining between these two and knew that they were meant for each other.

  “Anyhow,” Howard continued waving a dismissive hand at the pair. “I was worried one of those suitors would convince her to accept his suit while you were sitting idly by, content to watch others try to win her hand.”

  Joshua had many times accused and berated himself for that very thing, so he remained silent, twirling the head of the cane between his hands.

  “Just when I thought you would at last begin courting her, I received a missive from Carolyn. She told me of Richland’s illness, and that the doctors were uncertain about the outcome. I knew Reena would and should go home, but I was a tad concerned.”

  Joshua’s mind wandered to Reena at home with their son and her mother, preparing for the visitors. Gratitude washed over him.

  “My only real concern was that the two of you would drift apart, or settle foolishly with others if I let her go for an extended stay with her family.” Howard leaned forward, taking hold of Joshua’s cane and shaking it. “Pay attention, boy.”

  Joshua shook his head and looked back at Howard.

  “So I went and spoke with our crafty Mrs. Lynton here.”

  Emily nodded. “I told him that you two deserved happiness, and the only way to make that happen was to put total faith in the two of you.” Emily smiled slyly. “I said we should refuse her, and she would convince you to help her. I knew the two of you couldn’t fight your emotions for long if we put you together.”

  Joshua blinked in astonishment, surprised that these two would scheme in such a way that it jeopardized Reena’s life and her virtue. If he’d been a less scrupulous man, Reena could have had a very bad time of it.

  “I was a little concerned at first,” Howard said “I thought you would be so noble, you would feel it necessary to come and tell me of her plans—”

  His words were cut off by Emily who pointed a finger in Howard’s face, eyes on Joshua. “Well, I told him that Reena would cure you of that notion right quick, and that her life and virtue were safe with you, noble as you have always been.” Her eyes twinkled, and Joshua wondered if she knew more than she said but was too shocked to ask.

  “So we let you go. We knew that by the time you reached her father’s home, you would have her to wife and surely you did. Congratulations!” Howard patted him hard on the back, and Joshua was still too stunned to speak. He stared at the devious pair congratulating themselves on their cunning.

  Howard’s tale of an elaborate set up should have angered him. His life had been manipulated, and someone else had decided what was best for him. Truth told, though, all he felt was gratitude that he’d come to have the one woman in the world that truly suited him.

  “Sounds like they did ye a right favor,” Gunner said, from where he stood behind him.

  The congratulations went on for a moment, and then Howard and Emily began to fill him in on the news from home. Harriett had recently given birth to a healthy son, and both parents couldn’t be
happier. Dan Dubois had married a young and wealthy girl and had moved into a town house in London. Michael had died in service, and Martin had run from the service shortly after that. Lily was moving into a new home with her husband and had promised to visit the very instant that she completed the move. Aside from that, and the tale of George and Emily’s wedding, there was nothing of interest in what Howard said.

  The revelation and all the news from his former home brought to mind those days from so long ago. Joshua could see Reena as she stood in the corner of the hall during Harriett’s engagement, a woman trapped in the world of a girl. He remembered the flush of passion on her face when he’d kissed her that night on her birthday. Joshua couldn’t help but smile at the memory of her all sweet and innocent with her eyes wide and lips pouting as she sat on the log near the river after her clumsy attempt at a kiss. Then there was the way she’d stared so curiously at his body when he’d undressed that night on the ship, not recognizing her own arousal in her innocence. The way she’d looked when they had married, so happy and beautiful. Her glow as she lay there, spent from childbirth, their small wrinkled son in her arms, suckling life from her breast.

  He owed all his wonderful memories to these people. He could only feel gratitude for the trick which had changed his life so much. A lump formed in his throat, and he swallowed hard, forcing his mind back to his small party.

  When they moved to enter the carriage, Joshua caught sight of something that twisted his gut. Gregory stood on the deck of the Pampered Princess. He hadn’t even noticed that the ship was in harbor. The triumph in the man’s eye made Joshua wary. He was staring right at Joshua, and when Gregory’s eyes met his, he gave a mocking bow. Joshua’s insides twisted, and he rushed them into the carriage.

  Tossing a wad of bills to the driver, he said, “Beat all haste.”

  Three quarters of an hour later, they finally pulled up in front of their home. Joshua wanted nothing more than to see Reena, to hold her and make sure that she was all right. They entered the house, and Bradley ran to him, jumping into his arms and laughing gleefully as he was tossed into the air. Joshua held his son close, watching for Reena who would surely follow. Carolyn came forward to greet the visitors, smiling brightly.

  “Where are Reena and the others?” Joshua asked, shifting from foot to foot.

  Carolyn wiped at the flour that dusted her apron, mumbling an apology for her state. His stomach knotted further. He nearly throttled her and told her to get to the point.

  “Everyone should be here soon. Richland is resting. His lungs still plague him some when it is cold. The kids are coming with their families at dusk, and Reena should be back by then as well.”

  His heart stopped beating for a moment.

  “Where did she go?” He frowned.

  Carolyn took Bradley from him, resting him on her hip. “An old friend came to visit, and they went out to chat for a bit.”

  “Uncy Mawtin,” Lee said, and Joshua’s heart started again with a slamming thud.

  “Who?” he asked, recalling some of Howard’s barely heard words.

  “You remember, Martin, your friend from England. They went to visit Michael, but she’ll be back, and she promised to be discreet, there won’t be a scand…”

  Joshua didn’t hear any more. He was at a dead run for the stables where his horses were kept, Gunner on his heels.

  9

  Martin had stopped talking long ago and sat staring at her now. Reena was getting quite anxious that Boston had come and gone, and they were rumbling down an empty road. She was even more concerned that they were moving further and further from the port that the men were supposed to be leaving from the next day.

  The ride had begun well enough. She’d told him a slightly altered version of what had happened to her since he’d left to join the military. He in turn had regaled her with humorous tails of the brothers’ travels to join the army and their first days in their regimen. Soon she noticed that the funny and competitive things that the twins had always done had dwindled from the stories as it seemed had Martin’s pleasant mood. He’d been brooding and watching her for a long while now.

  “Where are you staying? We seem to be rather far from everything,” she said finally, her thumbnail slightly muffling her words.

  Martin’s eyes shifted to hers. There was such intensity in his gaze that Reena instinctively shrunk back from him.

  “Far from everything you know, are we?” He leaned forward, his eyes growing wider. “I know a little about that. Jungles, deserts, lands where none understand or care what you need. That’s a little far from everything, isn’t it?”

  Reena swallowed hard. This was not the boy she knew. This man was still Martin Dubois, though the face was familiar, the soul had changed.

  “Where are you taking me, Martin? Where are we going?” She peeked at him from the corner of her eye like one facing a dangerous beast, wanting but unable to look away.

  “A question that I, myself, asked many times over the years, yet I never got an answer.” Martin’s quiet sulking nature returned in a flash and that was more frightening than his moment of crazed ranting.

  “You know, when Michael wanted to join the military, I told him it was mad,” he said, his tone conversational as it had been in the beginning of their ride. “He said he had to make himself worthy of an angel like you. Too bad he never discovered what a whore you truly are. Perhaps then, he would have tumbled you and had done.”

  Reena’s chest ached at the rude and blunt words, which had come from a man she had always considered a friend.

  “You got into his mind. You bewitched him. You made him think he was nothing.”

  “No,” she said softly.

  Martin gazed at her as if she spoke a foreign language.

  “I’ll not take the blame for the life he chose. His self-doubt led him where he went, not me. I told him it did not matter to me. I told him he was brave for what he’d done. He was the one that couldn’t accept his actions.”

  Martin jumped at her, slamming his hands onto the sides of the carriage beside her head, his nose inches from hers. Reena’s pulse pounded in her throat, but she tried to keep her face impartial. If the man Martin seemed to be now was anything like Gregory Talbert, Reena felt sure that any fear she showed would feed his ire.

  “Don’t speak that way about him! Don’t you ever blame him!” Martin screamed inches from her face. “My brother was a saint compared to you.”

  Then he sat back, calm once more, except for a telltale tick in his jaw that showed his rage. There was no way to know what he had planned. She had to find a way out of this. For her husband. For her son. She just had to.

  “He told me time and time again that it wasn’t your fault that you weren’t to blame for his choices, but he couldn’t see what you truly were. When you were done with my brother, he was no longer a man, he was nothing. He had to go into the army, and I wasn’t going to let him go alone.”

  The coach turned onto a smaller road that lead into a copse of trees. Regardless of the situation, Reena couldn’t help but be relieved to hear that Michael hadn’t blamed or hated her after all. She looked out the window at the passing countryside, then turned back, wanting to ask where they were going. Not only did she fear he would hurt her if she did, but Reena wasn’t sure she wanted to know any longer.

  “He had to prove himself, and slowly, he started taking more dangerous missions.” His finger absently rubbed at the jagged scar that ran the length of his forehead. “And of course, I went with him.” He glanced up, eyes blazing again. “You drove him into danger, you harlot.”

  His hand flew out, and before she even realized that he had moved, she was on the floor of the carriage. Her cheek burned, her head swum, and she was sure his hand print remained on her face. She righted herself, rubbing her sore jaw. Reena knew now that she was dealing with a man far more dangerous than Gregory or the two criminals from the bushes could ever have been. His wrath was such that she realized with an
ache in her chest, Michael wouldn’t be waiting for her when they reached their destination.

  “He would volunteer for missions no man could survive, yet somehow we managed.” His demeanor again seemed that of a visiting friend. “He began to get a reputation and was sent on only the most dangerous missions that others feared to take. One day, after the two of us had returned from a hellish mission that we barely survived, he was called on to capture a Turkish warlord. Naturally, I went with him.”

  The carriage rumbled to a stop. Martin stepped down, his eyes never leaving Reena and held out a hand for her to descend. When she was on the ground, he tossed a substantial wad of bills to the driver. Martin told him to return in two days and to keep quiet if he knew what was good for him. She sent pleading looks to the driver, but he seemed more interested in his money and drove off without a glance in her direction.

  Reena peeked around the clearing in the trees. A dilapidated hunting shack sat deserted in the middle of the woods. She turned while he was distracted by the rattling carriage and ran toward the surrounding elms. Reena hadn’t moved more than two steps before he had her. He was more demon than man, possessing speed and strength that didn’t seem possible.

  “No, no, my dear Reena, you can’t leave yet. We have plans for you.” He grappled her waist, tugging her back into him and marched her toward their original destination.

  Reena eyed the deserted cabin and shivered. It seemed a place where inhuman creatures dwelled. She feared what this monster had in store for her—what she would see when she entered its lair. Martin jerked her arm and dragged her up the rickety steps.

  Chapter Thirty-one