“Africa?” she echoed incredulously, stunned, unable to envision such a destination for her mother. Worriedly, she pointed out, “But she’s sick, and she’ll never be able to make that long a voyage.”
“There was no other choice, and she agreed it was the only thing to do. She’s got a lot of spunk. A lot of courage. She was plenty mad over what Tremayne did to her, and I think maybe she figured it best she get out of the country as fast as possible, or else she might be tempted to go back and take revenge on the son of a bitch. She also knew for your sake, she couldn’t go back and make trouble. She even told me she was praying Zachary wouldn’t tell you about your mixed blood. She was afraid you’d hold it against her.”
Erin was quick to let him know, “I’d never do that. I love my mother, no matter what, and none of it was her fault anyway, though I wish she’d told me long ago. I’m afraid her prayers went unanswered, because he told me, just like he told…”
Jason sensed her distress and put his arm about her shoulders in an awkward gesture of comfort. “I know all this is hard to swallow at one time, but you’ve got to get hold of yourself so we can concentrate on getting you out of the country, too. For several reasons.
“You see,” he rushed to explain, “I just can’t help every single slave I come in contact with, though God knows I wish I could, and only me and Him knows how it tears my heart out not to be able to. About the only time I can is when it’s an unusual situation, like Nate having other business to tend to and sending me off to the auction. I’ll divide up the price I get for one sale, tell him it was for two, and one slave goes free.”
“Dear Lord, how awful it must be for you to have to make the choice.”
“You just don’t know. I usually make my decision based on which one I figure to be the heartiest and able to stand up to the brutal life of a slave, and I send the weakest to the underground. But in special cases, like your mother’s, it’s a lot easier.”
“Because she’s in poor health.”
“No. Payment was up front. Like with you. Zachary paid Nate to get rid of your mother as quick as he could, because of the voodoo he blamed her for.”
“That’s nonsense.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter to me. All I know is Nate got his money, so he didn’t care what happened to her, and he turned her over to me and said I could keep whatever I got at the sale for my pay. The same is true with you. Your husband paid him just like Zach, so when he takes off in the morning, all I’ve got to do later is lie about how much you sold for, to some buyer from farther south, and he’ll never know the difference.”
“And neither will—” She hesitated, not about to speak his name. “Someone else. But what about Lucy Jane?”
Jason hated to have to say, “Her husband is hoping to get a good price for her. That’s why he married her, so he could sell her. It’s not the first time he’s done this, I’m told.”
Erin’s heart went out to the poor girl. “Then what’s going to happen to her?”
He gave a reluctant shrug. “I’ll have to sell her.”
“No,” Erin cried then. She reached in the pocket of her robe, which she’d been wearing at the time of her abduction. Evidently, it had happened during the night, or Nate would have noticed her diamond ring had he been paying attention. Thank God, she’d had her wits about her enough when she awakened to twist it about so it blended in with her wedding band. When she’d been allowed some privacy to tend to her personal needs later, she’d slipped it off her finger and into her pocket. She handed it to Jason. “Take this and whatever you can get for it, tell Nate that’s what you got for Lucy Jane.”
He looked at the ring in wide-eyed awe and knew, without a doubt, it would command quite a price, more than enough to represent payment for a mulatto sold at auction. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
“Do you think it means anything to me now? Take it. Whatever is left over, use it for the cause.”
“You can be sure of that.”
Erin was overwhelmed at his dedication and courage, and said so.
“Well, I’m impressed with you, too. I hear you’ve done a lot of good things yourself.”
“I only wish I could have done more. I had the perfect setup with the labyrinth, the way it opened out to the river for easy getaway. I guess I should have known it was too good to last.”
“Don’t look back. Just be grateful I was the one helping Nate this run. Sometimes he gets one of his other men to go with him, and if this had been one of those times, you’d have had a miserable fate, believe me.”
“Like what Lucy Jane is enduring right now?”
“Don’t worry,” he said with a proud grin. “Your husband isn’t the only one who knows how to drug somebody. I imagine Nate is passed out cold by now, and Lucy Jane is giving thanks and crediting all the liquor he drank.”
Erin was washed with relief, but also stung by the reminder of betrayal.
She was thankful that freedom from a fate probably worse than death was only hours away.
And she was grateful beyond words to think that soon she might be able to find her own way to Africa and be reunited with her mother.
Yet Erin could not deny the vindictive emotions smoldering within. Maybe, once upon a time, she had dared to believe she might be falling in love, but was bitterly reminded that even as the best wine could make the sharpest vinegar, so could the deepest love turn to the deadliest hate.
The next morning, it was just as Jason had predicted. Nate took off, looking like death warmed over. Lucy Jane quickly confided to Erin that he’d passed out before he could ravish her and been too miserable when he awoke later to finish what he’d started. So he’d retied her ankles and secured her to a tree while he slept off his whiskey.
Erin told her what had actually happened, all about Jason’s secret, and by the time she’d finished sharing everything, Lucy Jane was sobbing with relief and gratitude.
When Nate left them, Jason took them on the raft the rest of the way to Jamestown. There, he rented a wagon and horses to get them quickly. to Yorktown at the mouth of the York River and the Chesapeake Bay. He left them only long enough to make his contact, then returned with a kind-faced old man who would escort them to the next point along the secret way north.
“This is the part I hate,” he told them gruffly, fighting against the tears sparkling in his china-blue eyes. “Seems in just a little while, I really get attached to my younguns. That’s the way I look at all of you, don’t you see? Like you were my very own, just like we’re all God’s children, no matter what color we are.”
Erin and Lucy Jane both threw their arms about him at once. Clinging together in emotional farewell, they knew they would never forget him.
Erin didn’t want to leave her new friend, just as she knew it would be with deep regret when it was time to part ways from Lucy Jane.
It would be harder still to set sail eventually from America, for she longed to stay and do her part for the cause. Yet she would never know real peace till she found her mother.
Only then would she be able to concentrate on the future and bury the past completely.
Everything looked peaceful, Ryan thought as he rode slowly up the main drive. The air was crisp, cool, and all around the leaves were splashes of brilliant color as autumn made ready to bow out, yielding to winter right around the corner.
He was tired, because he’d stopped along the way only a few times to sleep. He felt driven with the need to get home as fast as possible.
He didn’t see any of the workers around the stable, but then he remembered it was Sunday, and traditionally Youngblood slaves were allowed to rest that day, except for a few of the household and kitchen staff.
Anxious to get to the house, he rode straight to the front hitching post. Later, he’d see his horse got a rubdown.
He took the steps two at a time and flung the door open to call, “Hey, where is everybody? Erin? Mother?”
Eliza appeared in the doorway to
the back hall. Her knees were knocking together, and she could feel her hands becoming sweaty. Lordy, she wasn’t going to be the one to tell him.
“Well, where is everybody?” Ryan was so happy to be home, he was even glad to see her.
“Church,” was all she could trust herself to say, not about to reveal it was only Miss Victoria she was talking about.
Ryan was glad to hear that. If Erin and his mother were attending church together, then that meant they were getting along a little bit better, anyway. “Well; I’ll just ride over and meet them.”
Eliza walked out on the porch to watch him ride away.
He was going to be awful hurt, she knew.
Once again, she was washed with guilt to know she was partly to blame.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Victoria was aware all eyes were upon her as she sat with head bowed during most of the morning worship. She pretended to be praying, and, of course, everyone regarded her with pity. After all, word had spread like butter on hoecakes how her daughter-in-law had run away with another man. Disgraceful, folks said, especially coming right on top of the mystery concerning Erin’s mother’s sudden disappearance. It was even being whispered Arlene might have been guilty of an indiscretion herself. Zachary Tremayne wasn’t saying, but then no one was asking him, because the fact was few people cared what happened to that wretched man and his family. Victoria, however, was the object of profound sympathy.
After benediction, Victoria maintained her doleful expression as she turned in response to the tap on her shoulder from the pew directly behind. “Miss Pearl,” she said serenely, in acknowledgment of the old lady, “you’re looking well, praise the Lord.” She held out a gloved hand.
Miss Pearl Whittington took it to clasp between both of hers, faded blue eyes brimming with tears as she tremulously whispered, “You’re a strong woman, Victoria Youngblood. Most women would take to their bed with the vapors.”
For the first time, Victoria was grateful for the outspokenness of the elderly. Everyone around paused to listen as she seized the opportunity to detail her misery. “Don’t think I’m not tempted.” She dabbed at her nose with her lace hanky. “I’m so embarrassed. So ashamed. To think my son would marry someone who could do something like that.”
Miss Pearl snapped, “You’ve nothing to be ashamed of. Nothing at all. The girl came from a trashy family. We all knew that. Like Adam, Ryan was tempted by forbidden fruit.”
Murmurs from those gathered agreed.
Sophia, Ryan’s cousin whom he referred to as his aunt, frowned with disgust as she stood in the aisle. She had been charmed by Erin and could keep still no longer. “I disagree.”
Everyone turned to stare, and Victoria clamped her teeth together, stiff with indignity at the intrusion. “What do you know about it, Sophia?”
“I was at the wedding. I met her and her mother. Both lovely people. Ryan married her because he loved her, and that’s where the pity should be directed. It doesn’t help to tear Erin and her mother to pieces.”
“But she ran away with another man,” someone standing close to Sophia said shrilly.
At that, Sophia lifted her chin to respond, “I don’t know that for a fact. Do you?”
The woman who’d spoken hurried on her way without further comment, and those standing around Victoria began to move away also, including Miss Pearl. Sophia hesitated only long enough to accept Victoria’s scathing glare with a curt nod, then she, too, walked up the aisle.
Victoria was seething. After all, it was her intent to save face for Ryan by making everyone think he’d been manipulated into marrying Erin and love had nothing to do with it. While she didn’t dare come right out and say so, the inference would be Erin had made him crazy with lust. Ermine, being of good morals and class, could understand and forgive such temptations of the flesh and the Devil, but if she thought for one minute love had been involved, Victoria knew she could forget her dream of seeing the two married.
Absorbed with her musing, Victoria was not at first aware of the excited buzzing among the congregation filing out ahead of her Neither did she notice how they were stepping to one side in the narthex of the church, clearing the way for her.
Finally glancing up, she was at once alarmed, quickening her step and pushing aside those who hadn’t already got out of her way.
When at last she saw the object of everyone’s attention, she gasped and swayed, clutching her Bible to her bosom with trembling hands. “Ryan!” She was barely able to choke out his name as she saw him rushing up the stairs two at a time, grinning broadly.
He spoke in perfunctory greeting as he glanced all about, finally forced to ask, “Where is she? Where’s Erin?”
Victoria was well aware of once more being the center of attention, only this time she was anything but pleased. “She—she’s not here,” she managed to stammer amid the meddlesome faces of the onlookers.
“What do you mean—she’s not here? Eliza said you’d gone to church, and I naturally assumed she was with you.” He felt apprehension creeping as he noticed how everyone seemed to be waiting for something to happen. Taking his mother’s arm, he could even feel her tension as he led her swiftly down the church steps and away from vigilant ears.
Victoria had never dreamed it would happen like this and hadn’t expected him home for several weeks. By then, she’d have got rid of Erin’s things to make it appear she’d taken them with her. There were just so many loose ends to take care of.
“What is it you don’t want to tell me?”
The story she’d not had time to perfect came tumbling out with hysterical edge. “She’s gone. Ran away with another man. They were meeting in the labyrinth. I tried to catch him, but I couldn’t. It was all a scheme. She and her mother planned the whole thing. To try and get your money. Maybe take over Jasmine Hill. I’m not sure. All I know is once she found out I knew, she ran away. So did her mother. Nobody’s seen them since.” She shook her head wildly from side to side, and the tears sparkling in her eyes were genuine, but not evoked by sympathy for his anguished reaction. Victoria was merely frustrated by being caught unawares.
He steered her to her carriage where a groom waited. Tying his horse behind, Ryan got in beside her for the ride home.
“Ryan, I’m so sorry,” she began, once they were on their way. She was feeling a bit more sure of herself, since he seemed to wither in despair rather than go into a rage. “It all happened so fast. I think it must’ve been going on all along, but you just didn’t see it. I wouldn’t have noticed myself, except I happened to be sick one night, and I walked out on the veranda for some fresh air, thinking it would make me feel better. I saw her coming out of the maze.”
It was getting easier, she realized, except for having to make sure to keep the happy lilt from her voice as she went on with her lies. “When I mentioned it to Eliza the next morning, about how strange it was Erin could even find her way in and out of that place, she remembered having seen her at your desk, copying what looked like a diagram.”
Ryan’s teeth were clamped together so tightly his jaw was aching. He felt as if every nerve in his body were raw, being pulled, stretched, torn apart, as he listened to the nightmare revealed.
Victoria shook her head as though deeply dismayed. “I just didn’t know what to do. From the day you rode off, and Eliza heard her laughing over a letter she told Annie you’d left her, she turned into a shrew. I just locked myself in my room and wouldn’t come out. Poor Annie, she even begged to be sent to the fields to get away from her, and of course I let her go. Eliza was the only one strong enough to withstand her abuse, bless her.
“But then”—she paused for effect, as though it were painful to have to continue—“when I saw her coming out of the maze the next night with a man, actually saw them embracing, I knew I couldn’t allow it to go on. No matter the consequences. I ran out there, but by that time he had left, and when I told her what I’d seen, she tried to deny it. But the next morning she was gon
e. She knew I’d tell you, so she ran away with him.”
His brain was roaring as the cruel words attacked—laughing over a letter…saw them embracing…
“Of course, I had to make sure she’d actually run away,” she proceeded to fabricate. “After all, anything could have happened, I suppose, but after seeing the two of them together, there was no doubt in my mind she’d taken off with her lover. Anyway, I went to see her mother, and that’s when I found out she’d apparently gone with her, and that’s when I started thinking maybe her mother had known about it all along.”
If his mother knew of Arlene’s earlier threat when she manipulated him into the marriage, she’d realize just how justified her suspicions were. Ryan felt as if a fist had been slammed right into his heart. God, how he wished he knew who the bastard was. In that moment, he knew he was capable of killing him with his bare hands.
Victoria fell silent for a few moments to allow him to absorb it all. She thought she’d done a good job, though it made her a bit nervous, the way he was acting. She’d expected him to blow sky high and rant and rave and threaten to wring Erin’s adulterous neck if he ever got his hands on her. But never had she expected him just to sit there in cold and stony silence. His hands, she noticed, were clenched so tight his knuckles showed white.
Deciding to embellish a bit, she made a tsk-tsk sound of sympathy and commented, “Her lover became rather bold, too, daring to leave a rose as a signal he was waiting in the labyrinth.”
Ryan felt as though he’d been slapped by his own hand.
Only that morning, as he rode along in the crisp, cold air, he’d been struck by an exhilarating idea sure to delight Erin. He’d wanted to present her with a perpetual symbol of his love, and he wouldn’t even wait till spring to get started. He would ask the gardeners to start working right away. They would remove all but a few of the jasmine bushes that grew so abundantly and replace them with roses. All colors. All varieties. Bushes. Trellises. Vines. Anywhere and everywhere. The predominant shade, of course, would be blood red. For it had been in a rose garden where first he’d met his beloved, and thus would he rename the plantation—Rose Hill.
Midnight Rose Page 34