Sea of Fire

  “Mistress Corry?” the courier asked.

  “Aye,” she answered and took the missive the messenger now offered her. “Thank you.”

  He nodded, turned and left.

  Instantly, she ripped open the note. It had to be from Christian. Pray to God he was all right. She glanced over the fancily penned script and she knew at once the message was from Charlotte.

  Disappointment weighted her shoulders. She read the note. Charlotte wanted her to come practice tomorrow. She sighed, closed the heavy oak outer door and placed the missive in the porcelain dish on the entryway table.

  She should have known better than to let her hopes rise, thinking the caller was Christian. She returned to the kitchen and tub. No sooner had she placed her hand on the back door, the knocker on the front sounded again.

  As before, she raced to answer it. This time she was not disappointed when it wasn’t Christian, but the man Turner who had called on her father twice before.

  “I’d like to speak with Edward Corry, please,” Turner said.

  The sun poked through the trees in front near the road and was now directly behind the tall thin man.

  She squinted up at him. For the first time, she took a good look at him. His nose resembled a beak and his head overall reminded her of a turtle. She had not meant to stare or be impolite.

  Quickly, she said, “I’m sorry, sir. My father is still too ill to have visitors.”

  “If it’s not too much of a bother, can you give him this.” Turner handed her a sealed missive addressed to her father. Apparently, the man had not expected to gain entry inside the Corry household.

  “Certainly,” she answered and took the note.

  The man nodded, like the courier earlier had, turned and left.

  Once inside, she placed the missive in the porcelain dish along with Charlotte’s. Barely had she time to turn around when the knocker sounded yet again. Turner must have forgotten something. She opened the door and was shocked to see Christian. She knew her mouth hung open, but she was unable to close it or speak. He smiled at her, briefly kissed her mouth shut and entered the house.

  She slammed the door behind him and followed. Though she was truly delighted to see him, she was annoyed that he was acting like nothing was amiss. She had worried about him and thought all sorts of non-trusting notions. Consequently, she said in a sarcastic tone, “How kind of you to at last show up.” She walked past him through the drawing room passageway on to the kitchen.

  He remained on her heels. “What’s that supposed to mean?” He grabbed her by the shoulder.

  She broke free. The tub of water now separated them.

  “I was worried about you. Why didn’t you come as soon as you spoke to Adam?”

  “I see. That’s what this is about.”

  “Aye. Answer me.”

  “I was tired and ...”

  Whatever he was going to add was lost. She said, “You were tired? That is your excuse?” She reached for the nearest object—her empty cup and threw it in the tub in such a way to cause a big splash to spray his obviously newly pressed coat and breeches.

  “That’s what I think of your answer,” she added. She placed her hands on her hips for emphasis.

  His handsome face clearly showed astonishment. Lightning fast, he reached for a muffin tin on the table and threw it in the tub. The water splashed her gown.

  Stunned, but not so much she couldn’t react, she made for another cup. Instantly, Christian scooted around the tub and grabbed her hand. She shoved him hard. He backed into the tub and fell into the water. Both were too shocked to move. Next moment they broke out in laughter.

  “I’m sorry,” she said.

  “Not as sorry as you’re going to be.” He grabbed her hand and yanked her into the tub onto his lap. She squirmed and tried to get away, but he held her tight. At last she reconciled herself to defeat and relaxed. The two sat still for a few seconds. She turned a bit to face him better. He pulled her closer to him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he kissed her deeply before they broke apart.

  Where the cool air and water had earlier caused her to be chilled, his touch now heated her. “You make me act like a wanton woman,” she said, and gazed deeply into his eyes. He was as moved as she was.

  “Good. That’s the way I want you.” He kissed her again.

  She returned the kiss with equal fervor. Yet, her sense of rightness was strong today, and she ended their embrace. “We must change our clothes.”

  He perked up at her announcement. “Together?”

  She smiled and said, “Nay. I’m afraid I have nothing for you to change into,” she said. “You’ll have to go.”

  “Then let’s just undress. What’s your hurry?” he asked.

  “Roderick wants me to pick up some coins at the harbor. I also want to hear what you and Adam discussed.” She stood.

  He let her and did the same. He was much more wet than she. He said, “I’m afraid I didn’t get to talk to Adam. There was another door to exit the room. He must have left as soon as you and Roderick did. Did you learn anything?”

  She pulled out a wooden chair and sat at the table. “My father sent a note. All he said was that he was well, and to do as Adam requested.”

  Christian walked over to her and placed his hand on her shoulder. “It should make you happy to know he is unharmed.”

  She patted his hand. “Thank you. It does. It’s just that I asked Adam when this will all end, and when my father and I would be free to live normal lives.” She pursed her lips and gathered her thoughts. She didn’t want to break down in front of Christian.

  “What did he say?”

  She took a deep breath and answered, “Apparently, not any time soon. He told me when he was ready.”

  He reached for her hands, pulled her to her feet and gathered her close to him. They stood in wet clothes locked in a hug.

  “We didn’t have good fortune last eve, did we?” she said.

  “It wasn’t a total loss.” With one hand he caressed her hair. “If Adam has used the secret room at the Sword and Shield once, he probably will do so in the future. I’ll hire someone to watch the door that leads to the mews in back.”

  He ceased his caress to gently shove her from him. He raised her chin and gazed into her eyes. “I promise you. We’ll solve this mystery, so you and your father will be free to lead normal lives.”

  “When I hadn’t heard from you, I thought maybe you played me the fool as Adam had.” As she confessed, she was hoping that if he had been considering such a course, he’d be a gentleman and admit to it. At the least, be honest with her.

  “Your trust in me was faltering, Elizabeth.”

  He was right, but it was difficult. “What about Adam?”

  “I can’t explain his actions, but I repeat as I have said before, I’m certain there is a logical explanation.”

  “And if there isn’t, would you be able to see Adam swing from the gallows?”

  He turned from her, ran his hand through his hair and refaced her. “He’s my brother for God’s sake. Surely you don’t expect me to turn over my own brother to the authorities.”

  She simply stared at Christian. She didn’t know what to expect. Even if this nightmare ended one day and Christian declared his love for her, Adam would always be a barrier between them.

  Chapter Twenty-one

  The sooner Elizabeth returned with the two pouches of spurious coins, the more relaxed Christian would become. He didn’t feel comfortable about this meeting, but there was no need to alarm Elizabeth.

  “I’ll watch from here,” he told Elizabeth when the hired carriage came to a halt. “It’s an inconspicuous distance from the ship.”

  “I didn’t think I’d have to wear this friar’s garb again,” she said in a tone that reflected her aversion. “And, this face paint we used to make me look older smells bad.”

  “Aye, however, it’s daylight. This exchange is not like the brief one at the coffeehouse. I d
on’t want this Captain Desmond, his crew or anyone else along the wharf, to have the slightest intimation that you are a lady. No one would dare harm an elderly friar.” He reached for the handle of the carriage door and shoved it open.

  She raised the hem of her robe, stepped outside and scuffled down the wharf until she reached the suspension bridge to the ship. One of the sailors met her at the rail and guided her below deck to the Captain’s quarters.

  He continued to study the ship docked at the landing while his thoughts returned to earlier that morning. After he returned home to Dawson Street to change his wet clothes, he returned for Elizabeth. The silly woman was planning to march right to the wharf dressed as the beautiful young lady she was. Obviously, her mind had been too preoccupied with Adam’s refusal to anytime soon set her father free to consider her own safety.

  A sick feeling washed over him. If any harm were to come to Elizabeth, he’d murder the person responsible. Even if it was Adam? he wondered.

  “Quit torturing yourself,” he said aloud, knowing he couldn’t answer his own question. Much to his chagrin, he cared for the woman. Not only that, she was right for him. She slipped into his arms like a hand into a fine kid glove. Never had any woman belonged in his arms more so. Still, she was holding back a part of herself. He wanted all of her.

  A loud thud captured his attention. He stuck his head outside the carriage window and called to the driver, “Are you all right?”

  When the man didn’t answer, he opened the vehicle’s door and stepped down to the pavement. Next instant, he experienced a sharp pain to the back of his head and fell forward onto the ground as everything went blank.

  * * * *

  Elizabeth’s heart pounded in her chest. What had happened? She wanted to run, as fast as her legs would carry her, to the commotion of people alongside Christian’s vehicle. Captain Desmond watched her departure and the crowd. She couldn’t risk his wondering if there was a connection between her and Christian. Consequently, she took her time to get to Christian. Finally, when she saw that the onlooking captain had lost interest, she pushed her way through the throng of people.

  “Did he see the red glow?” She heard one sailor ask another.

  “Don’t be a buffoon,” the other sailor replied. “ ‘Tis daylight. How could you see a red glow?”

  A few people who had heard the sailors laughed.

  Such foolishness, she thought and shoved her way through the crowd. “Let me pass,” she ordered in a deep voice. “He may need my prayers.” God in heaven, she hoped not.

  “The gent is all right. Just got robbed is all,” said one dockworker who made way for her.

  The driver, massaging the back of his own head, knelt beside Christian who now sat up on the pavement, but looked quite bleary-eyed. The driver nodded at her in recognition. She was so thankful Christian was not seriously injured, she wanted to cry with relief. Instead, she reached for his arm to encourage him to rise and said, “What happened, my son?”

  Unsteadily, he got to his feet. “A blow to my head.” He started to topple over.

  A man to whom she had paid little attention, except to note his towering height, grabbed Christian from behind to offer his support. “I’ll help you get him inside the carriage,” he told the driver.

  She had heard the voice somewhere before, but couldn’t place it. She stepped aside to enable the two men to assist Christian inside the vehicle. When Christian was seated, the lanky man turned to the driver rather than to her. It was fortunate, too, for she was certain, the man wouldn’t have missed the surprise she knew must have shown so clearly on her face. The voice that had sounded so familiar to her was that of Turner, who just that morn had called on her father. What was he doing here at the wharf? Had he been following her? Her temples pounded in her head as fast as her heart. She and Christian needed to leave at once.

  With her head bowed and in her deepest voice she said to the driver, “Are you capable of driving?”

  “Aye,” the man answered. “I’ve a knot on me head, but I fared better than the gent.”

  “Good,” she said. “You both need to be examined. Go to the hospital. Hurry.”

  Turner faced the crowd. “Move along. Off with you.”

  She chose the same moment to dart inside the carriage.

  Turner, who spun around at the slam of the door, peered through the window. “Thank you, my son,” she told him. Instantly, she closed the window shades and faced Christian.

  “Bloody hell. What hit me?” He leaned his head sideways against the back of the seat so as not to apply any pressure to the huge bump on his head. He rubbed his temples.

  “I understand you were robbed.”

  He sat forward and as quickly winced in pain. He waited for the hurt to apparently subside somewhat and searched his pockets. “Son of a bitch. I believe you’re right.” He glanced at her and next said, “Who the hell are you?”

  God in heaven. He’s lost his memory. “I’m Elizabeth.” She tore off the skull cap and wiped away the face paint with the sleeve of her robe.

  His eyes widened.

  “Don’t you remember?” She reached beneath her robe. “See, I have the pouches—the coins—for Roderick. Now, do you remember?”

  He gave her a more incredulous look.

  She scooted beside him and wrapped her arms around him. “How can I make you remember?”

  She actually said the words more to herself than to him, but he answered. “I might be able to recall if you give me a kiss.”

  She jerked upright.

  He grinned at her from ear to ear.

  “You cad. You despicable deceiving ...” Her hand curled into a fist. She took aim directly for his nose. He caught her hand in his. As fast, she made a fist with the other hand. He stopped the intended blow.

  “You win,” he said with amusement in his voice. “My head is killing me. I can’t bear to laugh or take any more of this wrestling.”

  “I was worried about you. How could you be so insensitive?” She pushed away from him to sit on the opposite seat.

  “I’m sorry. It wasn’t gentlemanly of me, but you see, I felt foolish—like an incompetent idiot. Here I was, supposed to be protecting you, and I end up in a less than heroic situation. It doesn’t set well with a man’s pride, you know. Will you forgive me?”

  He was being candid with her, and she appreciated the fact as well as his not being seriously harmed. She smiled and said, “Aye.”

  “Were you really worried?”

  “Christian,” she warned.

  He chuckled and said, “Tell me what happened with you.”

  “Nothing. It was all quite simple. I boarded the ship. The captain gave me the pouches, and I left.”

  “Great. I can’t wait to get home to take care of this throbbing head of mine.”

  “We’ve one small problem.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Remember, I told you about this man, Turner, who called on my father on several occasions. Well, he called a third time this morn. He left a missive for him.”

  “So why is that a problem?”

  “He was the man who helped the driver get you inside the carriage.”

  “Do you think he was following you?”

  “I can’t be sure. He has no reason to do so as far as I know. His appearance on the wharf could be coincidence.”

  “We better not take any chances. I’ll stop the driver and have him take us to an inn just in case.” He was about to pull a cord to notify the man when she tapped his arm.

  “We’re on the way to the hospital. There’s no need.”

  “Bloody hell. Are you trying to kill me? I’m not going to any hospital. I’m fine. That’s that,” he stated emphatically.

  “Christian, it wouldn’t hurt to have a doctor examine you. You were unsteady on your feet I know most who enter the hospital never come out alive, but it’s not like you have to stay. I simply want a physician to examine you. Besides, if we are being followed by
Turner, it will give us time to think of a way to lose the man.” She reached across from her for his hands and squeezed them. “Please. I’d feel better if you see the doctor.”

  “By God, I do believe you care a wee bit for me.” He indicated about an inch’s worth with his finger and thumb.

  Her cheeks turned warm. If the truth be known, she cared more than that, but she’d not let him know. When she saw the crowd and him sprawled on the ground, those feelings for him hit her with a brute force. She knew then just how important he had become to her in the month she had known him.

  She waved him off. “I’d do the same for anyone.”

  “Aye. I do believe you would, but your concern for me is all that matters to me.” He grew serious. “Once we leave the hospital, we must go our separate ways regardless of whether we feel we’re being followed.”

  She nodded.

  “I want you to go home and change. Though Roderick told you to hold onto the pouches until he gave you orders, I want you to take them to him immediately. We don’t know who this Turner man is. He may be working for the authorities and invade your home. Not only would it be incriminating with your father gone, but if the coins were found, you’d be arrested. That would present us with some serious problems.”

  The coach came to a halt. She lifted the shade. They were at the hospital. “Will you come this eve?”

  “Aye. After I’ve rested and hired several blokes to watch the mews door to the Sword and Shield.”

  She shoved her hair back into the skull cap and raised her hood. “What will I do about my face?”

  “Come here.”

  She moved across the interior of the carriage to sit next to him. He held her chin with one hand while he worked the leftover paint on her face with the other. “It’s not as convincing as before, but it will pass.”

  She started to rise to leave. He tugged her back. “What is it?” she asked, but knew the moment she muttered the question.

  His lips came down on hers to kiss her tenderly at first. His arms held her tightly. His fervor increased. She hungrily returned the kiss. Seconds later, the kiss ceased. His gaze held hers. He rubbed his forefinger over her lips. “I’d have waited for this until we said our farewells from the hospital, but I didn’t want to cause anyone else to black out like Brother Patrick had. Be careful,” he added.