Lord Sinister (Secrets & Scandals Book 3) (20 page)

A rumble of agreement went through the group of men.

“Oye knows,” one piped up with a chuckle.  “Poison ‘er food.”

Aghast, Amelia felt her mouth drop open.  Poison her food?  Were these men demented?

“If I were ye, I’d be prayin’ real hard right aboot now.” The new voice had a deep, ominous edge to his Scottish accent.  Amelia shivered.

A collective wave of startled gasps sounded.  “Connor,” one of the men began with a quiver in his voice, “we was just—”

“I know exactly what the five o’ you were doin’,” Connor said.  “Now march to the hold or I’ll throw ye overboard an’ let the sharks feed on ye.”

As the men stomped away, Amelia slumped back against the pillows.  She had to get out of here.  But where would she go?

****

Julian opened his eyes.  Each breath jabbed his chest like a dagger.  His skin was hot and tight, his body weak.  He felt hollow inside.  Raking his tongue over his dry, cracked lips, he fought the fatigue and the pain.

“Oh, darling, you’re finally awake.”

His mother stepped away from the windows and approached the bed.  She wore a sad smile and her eyes, slightly swollen and red, glistened with tears.  She’d been crying.  “I’m all right,” he said with great effort.  Of all the people in the world, he hated to see his mother cry the most.  It tore him up.

She scooped up his hand and brought it to her lips.  “Yes, dearest, I know.”  Closing her eyes, she kissed him.  “Your fever is broken.”  A tear skidded down her cheek.

Julian frowned.  If she had been crying because he had a fever, why was she still crying now that it had broken?  “Is something wrong?”  His eyes swept his surroundings, knowing something was wrong.  “Where is Amelia?”

His mother lowered his hand and wiped away her tears with a frilly piece of linen.  “Everyone is taken care of.”

His wildly beating heart slowed and he relaxed.  He closed his eyes.  “The man, did you catch the man?” he asked tiredly.

“What man, darling?”

Julian forced his eyes back open.  “The man who shot me.”

His mother’s face went white, her lips parted and she swayed slightly.  He thought she was going to swoon.  Then she blinked and focused back on him.  “What did you say?”

What in God’s name was going on?  His senses sharpened and he watched his mother carefully.  “When I walked into the stables, I saw a man standing in the doorway of an open stall.   I couldn’t see him clearly, but I knew he was a man from his outline.  Then he raised the pistol and fired without a word.”

She gripped his hand, her eyes anxious.  “And you’re certain it was a man, a full-grown man, who shot you?”

“Yes,” he said, perplexed by her reaction.  “He was about my height.”

“Oh, God.”  She spun around.  “I’ll be back, Julian.”

“Wait…Mother…”  But she had already vanished through the doorway.

CHAPTER 21

It felt damn good to be back on a ship.  Julian closed his eyes, feeling the sun’s rays kissing his face with warmth, the ship swaying gently beneath his feet.  He breathed in a deep breath, filling his lungs with tangy ocean air.  The breeze ruffled his hair, reminding him of how Amelia would wind her fingers through it…

He shook his head and gazed out toward the emerald horizon.  His hand automatically lifted to his chest, to the wound still tender there.  How could anyone have thought his wife responsible for shooting him?  She had saved his life, not tried to end it.

“The ship, Master, port side.”

At Lucas’s words, Julian swiveled to the left and squinted at the speck in the distance.  His hands went up to the rail, his fingers biting into the wood. “I’m coming, Pixie,” he whispered.

Two and a half hours later, Julian halted alongside the larger vessel and hailed its captain.  The man’s reluctance surprised him.  And only after he identified himself could he board.

“Forgive me, my lord,” Captain Elliott stated uncomfortably, “I thought the pirates had returned.”

Julian shifted his gaze from the portal leading below, back to the captain.  “Pirates?”  His brows shot up.  “Returned?”

Captain Elliott shook his head, though the outdated gray wig on his head remained stationary.  “Indeed, my lord.  We had a confrontation two weeks back,” he turned and eyed Julian’s ship. “The pirate’s vessel was like yours.  Quite a fast sloop.  Again, I apologize for the mistake.”

A nagging sensation started low in Julian’s stomach.  “Pray, Captain Elliott, did you catch the pirate’s name?”

The man shook his head.  “Too busy keeping my crew alive, my lord.”

Feeling edgy of a sudden, Julian asked, “What did the pirates want?”

Shaggy white brows snapped together.  “Just one of the prisoners, my lord.”  He sighed.  “It may not be my place to ask, your lordship, but why are you here?”

Julian’s mouth went dry.  “One of the prisoners was brought aboard by mistake.  She was wearing a lilac-colored dress, an expensive dress.  I’m here to return her.”

“Lilac, you say?”

From the captain’s twitching left eye, Julian knew.  The pirate had been Jack the Black Heart and the prisoner taken had been Amelia.

Bowing his head, Julian balled his hands into tight fists.  Controlling the amount of rage eddying within his body took every ounce of strength he possessed.  But control it he did.  Relaxing his hands, he lifted his head and turned to Lucas.  Although he knew what the results would be, he gave the order anyway.  “Search the ship for the marchioness,” he said in a tight voice.

Lucas inclined his head.  “At once, Master.”

****

“Amy.”

Although Amelia heard Jack, she continued to stare at the rocks and trees beyond the cove where they had anchored several days before.  He approached and placed a warm hand on her shoulder.  “It’s getting late.”

“I can never go back,” she said numbly, verbalizing what had been bothering her all day.  Tears glazed her eyes and stung her nose.  “I’ll never see my little boy again.”

Jack moved closer.  “Oh, Amy,” he whispered, pulling her into his arms.

Fat, scalding tears raced down her cheeks.  Burying her head in her friend’s chest, Amelia cried bitterly.  “Y-You sh-should have l-left me on th-that ship,” she sobbed into his waistcoat.

“You would have died, Amy.”  He planted a small kiss on the top of her head.

She hiccupped and nodded.  “That w-would have b-been better than n-n-never seeing,” she released another hiccup, “Alex a-again.”  And Julian, she silently added.  Squeezing her eyes shut, she cried harder.

“Please, Amy, don’t cry.” His hands moved up and down her back.

“I can never go back.  I’m a fugitive.”  Jack tensed at her statement.  She didn’t care if she had hurt his feelings or made him feel guilty for plucking her off that ship.  At the moment, she was distraught and angry at Jackson for his intervention.  Yet she couldn’t seem to rip herself away from the comfort his embrace offered.

He didn’t speak again until her sobs had subsided into shuddering breaths.  “The messenger I dispatched has returned.”

She didn’t give two ripe figs about some messenger Jack had dispatched.

“Don’t you want to hear about the message?”

“No.”

Against her cheek, she felt Jack take a deep breath, heard the air swooshing into his lungs.  Then he released it slowly, stirring the hair at the top of her head.  “There is a seaside village not far from here that has but one doctor.  Although the village is relatively small, one doctor is not enough.  He desperately needs assistance and would love to have you come work with him.”

Amelia opened her swollen eyes, intrigued despite not wanting to be.

“Dr. Landon is fully aware you are a woman.  He wants you anyway.”

Clearing her throat, Amelia asked, “Does he know about…?”  She couldn’t say the words out loud.

Jack seemed to understand.  “No, he doesn’t know about your false conviction.  Dr. Landon was told you recently lost your husband, a physician whom you assisted for many years.”

Amelia lifted her head.  “And he believed you?”

The corners of Jack’s eyes crinkled with humor.  “He believed Sir Mortimer Mountjoy, the gentleman dandy.”  His lips twitched.  “Your cousin.”

Turning, she scanned the cove and the rocky cliff beyond.  Her eyes lifted and she knew what she would find if she were to climb to the top.  A stone house with a pinched-face housekeeper who liked to run a tight ship.  “This village,” she asked, facing Jack, “is it near here?”

His lips spread into a full-blown smile.  “Three miles up the coast.”

****

“You need rest, Master.”

Julian didn’t bother lifting his eyes from the charts before him.  He knew exactly what he’d see.  His frowning ship’s surgeon.  “I’ve already rested, Marcus.”

“Oh, and when was that, sir?”  The doctor’s words oozed displeasure.  “Last May Day?”

“Oh, for pity’s sake.”  He snapped his head up.  “My wife is out there,” he pointed to the windows at his right, “at the mercy of a murdering pirate.”

Marcus crossed his arms, his expression turning cool.  “Are you going to completely ignore the fact that this ‘murdering pirate’ might very well have saved her life?  Remember Captain Elliott’s words, sir?  Lady Amersleigh looked hours from death as the pirate took her aboard his ship.”  His expression hardened.  “And, I might add, Elliott commented on how gently the lady was treated when transported.”

With a sigh, Julian rubbed his eyes.  He did recall Captain Elliott’s testimony about the gentleness toward Amelia.  That should have made him feel better.  Those words should have brought him solace.  They didn’t.  They made him feel…jealous as hell.

“I insist you rest for at least an hour,” Marcus said on his way out of the cabin.

Frowning at the closed door, Julian stormed to the bed and flopped down on it.  Plumping the goose-down pillows behind his head, he closed his eyes and expelled a weary breath.  Visions of Amelia sprang into his mind.  Swearing out loud, he rolled to his side and tried clearing his head, picturing an endless stretch of sea, the water a clear aquamarine lapping gently over a white sandy beach.  His body relaxed as the scene unfolded before him.  Palm trees rustling in the warm breeze, the soothing sound of waves crashing in the distance, the feel of powder-soft sand at the soles of his feet… Amelia lying there naked with her arms stretched out to him, calling his name.

Julian wrenched his eyes open as three brisk knocks sounded.  Wiping away the sweat that had accumulated on his forehead, he stood and cleared his throat.  “Enter.”

“Master.”  His first mate stepped into the room and closed the door.  “Sorry to disturb your rest, sir.”

“What is it, Lucas?”  Julian stepped closer.  “Have you found the
Enigma
?”

Lucas’s face fell.  “No, sir.  I’ve come to tell you there is a nasty storm heading right for us.  Jonas says his old bones tell him it’s going to be bad.  Very bad.  And you know how accurate he is...”

Julian narrowed his eyes.

The younger man looked away.  “We are also running low on provisions, sir.”

His suspicions had been confirmed.  “So we should just go home and give up the search?”  He stomped forward.  “Is that what you’re saying, Lucas?”  He halted and crossed his arms, waiting for an answer.

Retreating a step, the man shook his head.  “No, sir, not give up.”  He swallowed hard.  “Just return for provisions and to wait the storm out is all.”

Julian knew Lucas was right.  But the thought of having to go back without Amelia… 

With gritted teeth, Julian inclined his head, giving permission to return.  It would give him the opportunity to check in with Thomas Porter, the investigator he’d hired, just in case Amelia somehow made it back to shore.

****

“Don’t look so sad, Alex.  She’ll be found.”

Alex glanced over his shoulder to find Megan standing several feet behind him.  He faced the windows again.  “I cannot help the way I feel.”  He watched the rain pelt the cobblestones in the drive.

She moved to his right.  Although he tried to stay focused on the splattering rain drops, he could see her reflection out of the corner of his eye.  She stood the exact height of his mother.  He adverted his eyes, his throat suddenly tight.

“You must stop feeling guilty, Alex.  None of this is your fault.”

He faced her fully.  “How can you say that?  This is all my fault!”

Megan shook her head.  “No it isn’t.”

He moved away, putting some distance between them.  “If I hadn’t told her I wanted Lord Julian dead, she never would have thought I did it.”  He swung around, chest heaving.  “She never would have lied and told them she shot him.”  As the last few words tumbled from his mouth, Alex felt another pair of eyes on him.  He turned to the doors and found his father standing there with rain dripping off the ends of his hair, watching him.  Paralysis seized his limbs.  How much had Lord Julian heard?

“Jules!”  Megan rushed to him and flung her arms around him.

“Ah, Moppet, you’re going to get wet,” Julian said, though he embraced his sister in return.

Alex turned away.  He could scarcely stand the sound of the man’s voice.  But he refused to leave.  Obviously, his mother hadn’t been found.  She would have already been through those doors.  No, he wanted to stay and hear what excuse his father had for not finding his mother. He wanted to know why the high-and-noble Lord Julian, the greatest commander of the sea, could not find one single woman who had been placed on a ship that sailed a plotted course regularly.

Aware of hushed murmurs, Alex turned back around.  He found Julian and Megan speaking quietly, heads close together.  Then Megan left the room.  Something in her expression, some hint of relief, made Alex’s heart pump faster.  He took a step forward then halted, torn between wanting to hear news of his mother and not wanting to have anything to do with his father.

It took great restraint, but Alex managed to keep silent.  He just stood there, arms crossed, jaws clamped…waiting.

“You have every right to be angry, Alex,” Julian said once they were alone.

Alex ground his teeth together, remaining silent.  Why hadn’t he noticed before how much they favored?  Dark hair, gray eyes…even the shape of their noses.  That made him furious.  Flinging his arms out to his sides, he stormed to Julian.  “Why?” he demanded, not halting until he stood six inches away.  “Why did you throw my mother away?”  Ignoring the regret that flashed across his father’s face, Alex waited for an answer.

Plowing his fingers through his damp hair, Julian blew out a sigh.  “It’s rather complicated.”

He did not want to hear that.  “Just tell me what happened.”  When his father looked to refuse, Alex shook his head.  “Why won’t you tell me?”

“Perhaps when you are older…”

Alex couldn’t remember being so mad.  He balled his hands at his sides.  “I want to know what happened, and if I don’t understand something, I will at least know you tried to explain.”  His cheeks burned with anger.  “Or maybe you were happy to do that to Mama.”

“All right, Alex, you want to know what happened?  I’ll tell you.”  Julian set his shoulders.  “But know that I was anything but happy about it.”  He closed his eyes briefly.  “Two nights before your mother came to see me, I was warned she would come and lie about carrying my child in order to secure wealth and title.”

Alex didn’t know what he had been expecting, but that surprised him.  “Someone told you Mama was going to come and lie to you?”

“Yes.”

“And you believed this person?”

Julian’s shoulders slumped slightly.  “Yes.”  He walked to the liquor cart and splashed some brown liquid into a glass.  After tossing back the contents, he poured another.  “I had no idea of the truth until I saw you aboard my ship, Alex.”  He gulped down half his drink.  “You see, Amelia left for America the very next day.  I thought she left because she felt ashamed for what she had been trying to do.”