Wild Lord Taggart

by Tammy Jo Burns

  “I am so sorry my dear Robert could not come, Your Excellency, but he has been feeling a bit ill as of late.”

  “I do hope it is nothing to worry about, Lady Hayhurst,” the Governor said sounding most concerned.

  “Nothing more than a bit of the summer sniffles.” She curtsied politely and moved off to make her way through the crowd, visiting as she went.

  “I cannot believe her,” Circe said. “She just lied to everyone here.”

  “Let’s see what game she’s trying to play before we reveal our hand.”

  Circe was still openly staring at the woman when someone stepped in front of her, blocking her view. She looked up and met Reese’s eyes.

  “Circe, love, remember, there is nothing we can do for your uncle now. We can only hope that she stumbles and makes a mistake that we can catch her in.”

  “I highly doubt that will happen,” Circe muttered. “All right, we will do this your way. What do you suggest?”

  “I suggest we enjoy our meal, keep our eyes open, and eavesdrop on as many of her conversations as possible.”

  “I agree. Shall we?” Circe asked, looping her arm through his.

  “I thought you would never ask.”

  They tried to move about the dinner guests and hold conversations with them only to be given the cut direct by everyone they approached.

  “It seems no one wants to talk to us,” Circe said.

  “Yes,” Reese said by way of agreeing.

  “Why? Have we done something horrible?”

  “Now that you’re in love, and almost nauseatingly so,” Dorothea answered, “the women have lost their interest in you,” she said to Reese. “And the men were never really interested in you except for one thing and I’m certain you would have failed to satisfy them in that,” she said, eyeing Circe up and down in an attempt to make her feel wretched about herself.

  “I—”

  “The men don’t care for the way you run your plantation, or that you are friends,” Dorothea said the word with scorn before continuing, “with those who should be your slaves. You’re mocking their way of life.”

  “We only seek to make life better for the people we work with.” Reese heard the grumblings of several men. He could tell they had eavesdropped on his earlier conversation and was making their side known. “They worked hard to become free and earn our respect.”

  “You are wrong,” Sir George entered into the fray. “They were sent here as slaves for a reason.”

  “Because they were kidnapped and sold and forced onto a ship. Because they were accused of a crime they may or may not have committed. Because they were born to parents that were slaves so that automatically makes them slaves as well? What ridiculousness is that, Your Excellency?”

  “It is not ridiculousness, Lord Taggart, it is our life,” Sir George answered, his face turning ruddy with anger. “You are upsetting the life on this island. Your actions are giving the slaves on other plantations ideas.”

  “I’ve had to beat several of mine for talking about a revolt,” one man spoke up.

  “Aye, me, too.”

  “And I,” yet another said.

  A chorus of agreements could be heard throughout the crowd.

  “Have you ever thought to talk to the men and women that work for you?”

  “Why would we do that?” one rather paunchy man asked. “We know what’s best for them.”

  “Do you?” Reese countered.

  “Reese, it is not worth it. They are not going to listen to you. I have a horrible headache. May we leave?”

  He looked out over the crowd of angry faces and knew that Circe was right. This was a lost cause. The men and women that stood before them were too indoctrinated in the idea of slavery to even consider what it might be like to offer their people a chance at freedom. Bless his dear wife for giving them a way to leave this hostile environment.

  “Your Excellency, I apologize for causing any undue stress to your guests. It was never my intention. If you will excuse us, my wife is not feeling well, and I would like to take her home.”

  “Boy, you do not have to leave just because we don’t agree with one another.”

  “I have not been a boy for many years, Your Excellency, and I am afraid we do. I think the rest of your guests will enjoy their evening much more without our presence.”

  “Nonsense,” Beckwith blustered. “All parties should have some lively entertainment.”

  “Allow me to confer with my wife,” Reese said, turning his back on the crowd. “It is your decision,” he said looking at Circe and conveying the message that he would be fine regardless of what her choice was.

  “Lady Hayhurst, talk your niece into staying,” Beckwith ordered as the aroma from the food wafted into the room letting the people know that the butler would soon be announcing that the meal was ready for consumption. Dorothea broke away from the crowd and approached Circe and Reese. She stepped between the couple, completely ignored Circe, and turned to face Reese.

  “We really want you to stay,” Dorothea said as she ran her hand down his chest, over his stomach, and lower until she attempted to cup his genitals in her palm. She had a look of shock on her face when Reese took a step back, out of her reach, just in time. His back was to the crowd, so the only people that saw her actions were Reese and Circe.

  “You whore,” Circe hissed angrily, not caring who heard her calling out Dorothea for what she really was. She spun the woman around and received little consolation in the fact that there was a look of complete and utter shock on her face. “My husband is off limits to you. He loves me and there is nothing you, or your dark magic, can do to change that. Do you understand, Dorothea?”

  “Why, Circe, dear, I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re talking about,” Dorothea said.

  Circe looked at the woman and thought she would do just as well on stage in one of London’s theaters as making her way through the men in the Caribbean. “Yes, you do, now move out of my way before I move you.”

  Dorothea very wisely moved.

  “Your Excellency, I am extremely sorry to have turned your lovely dinner into a sideshow, but I am afraid it would be best if we leave.”

  “If you insist, Lady Taggart.”

  “I am afraid I do.”

  “Well, then, it was nice meeting you. See if you can’t change your husband’s mind about how he operates his plantation, will you?”

  “I am sorry, Your Excellency, but that is impossible.”

  “That stubborn, is he?”

  “Perhaps, but more importantly, I completely agree with him and would not ask him to forsake his beliefs and principles to satisfy the wants of a lot of stuffy old plantation owners. Good evening.” She left the Governor blustering for an answer. Circe did not see the dopey grin on Reese’s face at the way his wife had stood up for him and put down the whole island of Barbados in one fell swoop.

  “Good evening, Your Excellency, and thank you for the invitation.”

  “You won’t be getting another one,” the man barked.

  “I didn’t think so. I was quite surprised I received the first one,” Reese said matter-of-factly.

  “Trying to change your mind.”

  “As you can see, you failed,” Reese said before he turned to Dorothea. “Lady Hayhurst, I truly am a happily married man in all ways, so kindly leave me the hell alone or I shall have to spread news that you are hiding with the world at large,” Reese whispered so that only she could hear.

  “You wouldn’t dare,” she practically growled.

  “Try me,” he challenged before turning to the rest of the guests. “Ladies and gentlemen, good evening.” Reese nodded his head as he passed all of them in search of his wife. He found her standing outside, shaking in the warm air. “Circe,” he called softly.

  Her head whipped around and her gaze lit on his. “I will not stand for you going to her. Do you hear me?”

  “Perfectly. Does it help you to know that I don’t want her?�
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  “But you do not know what she is capable of, what she can make a man do. And in the end the only person left unscathed is her.”

  “I promise you, I will never want any woman but you.”

  “I hope you are right,” she said ominously.

  “I am. Let’s return to the inn and we’ll leave for Windcrest early in the morning. You’re distraught and need to—”

  “Please tell me you were not going to say calm down,” she interrupted him after she climbed into the coach that had waited for them. “That…that…woman put her hands on you like only I should. She is lucky I did not claw her eyes out and cut off her hands.”

  “Vindictive?”

  “Territorial.” She allowed Reese to tug her so that she was straddling his lap, her dress rucked up around her waist. He found the slit in her underthings. “Reese!” she shrieked, “What are you doing?”

  “Enticing you to relax.”

  “We are in a rented carriage.”

  “So?”

  “Reese,” she sighed his name.

  “Let’s quit talking.”

  “Yes,” she readily agreed.

  * * *

  They stayed at the inn, but Reese was restless in his sleep. On several occasions Circe attempted to wake him, but was unsuccessful. Each time he fought her off and pushed her away, lost in the dream he was caught up in. His body was covered in sweat and his muscles were tense. Unable to sleep herself, Circe dragged a chair to the side of the bed and sat on it through most of the night, watching him.

  She must have dozed off at some point, because she felt as if she were floating through the air and then landed with softness at her back. Her eyes fluttered open and she saw Reese looming over her, a look of concern on his face.

  “A wife is supposed to sleep with her husband,” he admonished.

  “A husband is supposed to accept his wife’s presence in their bed and not fight her and push her out of it.”

  “I did no such thing.”

  “You did,” Circe argued, sounding concerned. Gone was the sweat-glistened skin, and the wild look about his face. His body was still hard beneath her fingers from the physical labor he put in on the plantation, but not tense as it was last night.

  “Well, that’s just silly. Why would I do those things?”

  “I have no idea. Perhaps you were truly angry at me for what I said to all those people.”

  “Those pompous people deserved to hear all that you told them and more. Now, enough of this. You’d best get dressed before I make mad passionate love to my wife.”

  “I believe she would be more than happy if you pursued that line of thought.”

  “Oh, really?”

  “Yes.”

  “Never let it be said I did not do everything in my power to keep her happy,” he said before ravenously attacking her.

  * * *

  Upon arriving back at the plantation, they put up their horses and Reese went to find Sean. Circe entered the house to find Ruth.

  “Sissy!” Tally exclaimed. Circe feared she would forever be Sissy to this little girl, her brother, and any future children Ruth and Sean had.

  “Oh, no, miss sticky fingers,” Ruth rushed to intercept her daughter. “First we wash you up and then you can give Circe a hug. How was the dinner?”

  “An absolute disaster. I did get a beautiful new dress and Reese got me this as well.” Circe held out her hand so that her friend could see the ring.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything so beautiful in my entire life,” Ruth said in awe.

  “Me see! Me see!” Tally said. “Oooo pwetty,” the little girl cooed as she touched it with her finger.

  “Put your things away and then you can tell me everything.”

  “There is not much to tell, but I will return momentarily.” True to her word, she was back with Tally shadowing her the entire time.

  “She missed you and Reese somethin’ awful,” Ruth said.

  “We were only gone a day.”

  “Imagine if you were to go back to England.”

  Circe’s heart constricted at the thought of leaving behind this woman who had become a dear friend. “Let us not discuss that right now.”

  “Ye’re thinkin’ of goin’ back, aren’t ye?”

  “The party was horrid,” she said as a way of avoiding answering Ruth’s question. “It felt more like a trial. No one wanted to speak to us. The Governor only invited us in an effort to change Reese’s mind in regard to how he runs the plantation.”

  “With slaves instead of free people.”

  “Yes.”

  “Circe, you do know that most of the people working here are not truly free. They escaped their masters and managed to stay in hiding until they found out about this plantation.”

  “Like you and Sean.”

  “Yes.”

  “And if their owners found out? What would happen then?”

  “They could come and claim them and press charges against you and Reese sayin’ we were stolen property.”

  “That will not happen.”

  “Ye can’t prevent it.” The women were quiet for some time before Ruth gently prodded Circe for information. “Ye look tired and it’s not from a woman who’s been well-loved.”

  “Dorothea was at the party. She told everyone that Uncle Robert was merely feeling ill and that was why he was not in attendance. Then she made a pass at Reese in front of everyone, but only so that I could see. I lost my temper.”

  “Ye’re tellin’ me a story. Ye never lose yer temper. Not even when ye found the women. Ye were sad, but then ye were calm.”

  “I did this time. I cannot even remember what all I told her, but I do remember it was something about leaving Reese alone. Then we left the party.”

  “That’s not good, Circe.”

  “I know, I should have had more control over myself.”

  “Dorothea’ll take that as a direct challenge. She might’ve only been playin’ wi’ yer mind before, but now she’ll really seek t’ steal Reese from ye.”

  “Reese slept horribly last night,” Circe said. She explained how the night had passed to Ruth and fell into silence when she finished.

  “No wonder you look exhausted.”

  “This morning he acted as if nothing was wrong. He remembered nothing and was upset that I had spent the night in a chair.”

  “Perhaps he was just restless.”

  “I hope that is all it was,” Circe agreed but could not stave off her worry.

  Chapter 28

  Two days and nights passed since they returned home from the failed dinner party. Each night was spent like the night at the inn. Reese was beyond restless and she dozed in a chair beside the bed. Each morning he woke her with a hurt expression on his face. She tried to explain to him his behavior during the night, but he scoffed at what she told him.

  It was the third night when true terror made itself known in Circe’s life. They settled into bed and for the first time since the dinner party, Reese seemed to be able to sleep calmly. Sometime around midnight she felt the bed shift as he stood up. She turned on her back to see him pull on his pants and boots.

  “Reese, is something wrong?”

  No answer.

  She tugged on his shirt she always began the night wearing, and crossed the room to him. “Reese, what is it?”

  Nothing.

  A shiver ran through her as she noted his eyes were open, but it was as if he was looking through her at something only he could see. “Reese, talk to me, please.” She gripped his arm in an attempt to stop him.

  He brushed her off and continued walking past her. “I’m coming, Dorothea,” he mumbled.

  She froze at his words. Dorothea was calling for him as she had Samson. It was different because Samson had been aware of the pull, but she was luring Reese at his weakest time—at night. She watched him open the door and knew she had to do something.

  “Bloody hell, I will not lose him to that evil bitch! Sean!
Sean, help me!” she yelled as loud as she could. She dashed over to the chest and went through their clothes until she found what she was looking for. “Sean!” she yelled again as she spun towards the bed.

  “What’s the matter?” Sean stumbled into the room, pants on and hair askew.

  “Dorothea is summoning Reese. Bring him back in here.”

  “You’re speakin’ nonsense.”

  “What’s nonsense?” Ruth asked joining her husband.

  “She said Dorothea’s summoning Reese.”

  Ruth was suddenly wide awake and saw Circe frantically ripping fabric into strips and tying it to the bedposts. “Go, Sean. Do what you have to. Just bring him back.”

  “Aye.” Sean said, trusting his wife. He turned and left the two women tying the cloth strips to the bed. He walked through the kitchen and out the door, looking for some sign of the man. Nothing. He made his way around the house and saw him walking down the drive. “Taggart! Stop!” The man kept walking as if he hadn’t heard him. Sean jogged after him, ignoring the pebbles he stepped on along the way. He caught up with him, grabbed his arm, and swung him around. “Taggart, come back to the house.”

  Reese turned back around, ignoring him. “Dorothea,” he muttered.

  “Oh, hell,” Sean said. Reese was a big man, but so was he. He just hoped he could do what was needed and get the man back to the house without killing one of them in the process. Sean jogged to catch up to him and managed to maneuver in front of him. “Taggart, ye need t’ go t’ yer wife, t’ Circe.”

  “Circe?” Reese asked sounding confused.

  “Aye. Circe, yer wife.” For a split second Sean thought his friend would be able to overcome one of Dorothea’s dark spells, but when Reese said, “Dorothea,” Sean knew he would have to take desperate measures. “I wish I didna’ have t’ do this t’ ya’ friend.” Sean hauled back and with all his strength behind him, landed an uppercut to his friend’s chin. Reese’s head snapped back, and he staggered backwards. Sean rushed up to him, dipped low, and pulled him over his shoulder before standing with the now inert man. He managed to make it back to the house and dump his friend on the bed.