Stormfire (76 page)

"I want to touch . . . my son."

She guided his hand. "He's there, waiting." Sean felt the ring on her finger and closed his eyes.

Two weeks passed before Culhane was able to sit up again. In four, he was restless. Although O'Donnell squelched any notions about getting out of bed, he permitted him to be shifted to the divan near the windows. Catherine and Flannery made an occasion of the transfer and Peg brought up brandy-laced cocoa. She did not linger. Noticing Sean's gaze follow the Irishwoman out of the room, Catherine squeezed his hand. "I'll be right back. I think Peg's forgotten some pastries."

She found the housekeeper in the kitchen preparing a roast lamb for dinner. "Peg, are there any pastries?" Silently, Peg pointed to a napkin-covered pan. Catherine peeked. "Oh, wonderful. Eclairs are Sean's favorites." She looked up. "Won't
you
bring them to tea, and join us? This is a special day for Sean, particularly because he spent his birthday in prison." When Peg ignored her, she added, "I imagine you always brought in his cakes."

"Since he was ten. Looked like Satan's imp. Didn't need me then and doesn't now."

"You know better," said Catherine softly. "That's why you've loved him all these years." She left the pastries and went upstairs.

In moments, Peg followed.

Four days later, Catherine scowled as she dropped a 4stitch while awkwardly knitting a tiny sock. Sean looked up from a book when she swore aloud at dropping another. "The babe will be more impressed with your lullabies, nimble fingers."

"He ought to have something made by his mother."

"He'll be thrilled. With so many holes, he'll be denied no access to his toes."

"Well, that wooden doll you've been carving is no
Donatello,"
she shot back. "It has ears like a monkey."

"Then it'll
be
a monkey," he replied placidly.

She giggled and his deeper laughter joined in. "What if we have a girl, Sean? We keep saying 'he.' Will you mind very much?"

"Only the mooning swains cluttering our doorstep." His smile faded and he was silent for a moment.
"Artois
is in love with you, isn't he?"

She put down the knitting. "I won't be living with him for some time, if at all. If Liam creates an uproar, any such arrangement will be impossible." She took his hand. "By now he knows I'm safe and you're alive, but he doesn't know your name. You must never go near him, Sean. We'll devise some way for you to see the baby."

He smiled grimly. "You were right. Charles and I are much alike. I'd like to put a bullet through his skull, too. Shall I see you on these family occasions?"

"Wouldn't that be unfair to all of us?"

"There's nothing fair about this whole mess!" he flared bitterly, then subsided. "I'm sorry. I'm getting edgier these days."

"You're getting well. Another month and you'll be charging around and losing your temper without a twinge of remorse."

He shrugged. "Why not? Even Rafferty's no longer impressed." He looked at her, then said bluntly, "I want you to leave next week, Kit; before I'm on my feet."

Her fingers crushed the knitting. "But. . . must it be so soon?"

"Charles may be interested to know that half a man may lust as much as a whole one. Will Friday next suit you?"

*
  
*
  
*

A few days later, Catherine was reading to Sean when O'Donnell burst into the room. "You've got to evacuate! One of the villagers on his way to Donegal Town spotted troops headed toward Shelan. They're less than four miles away."

"Find Flannery and tell him to set the fuses," Sean said swiftly. "Tell Rafferty to hitch up the wagon and tie Mephisto to the rear gate. Have them waiting out front for Peg and Nora. They're to head north to Kenlo and camp there until things die down. Kit, Flannery, and I will take the boat." O'Donnell nodded and ran out the door, snatching up
Orfeo
as he went.

"Kit, fetch my clothes."

She stood up. "Not unless you promise to stay in bed until Flannery can come get you."
      

"Don't argue, woman!" he roared. She did not budge. "Alright, dammit, you stubborn wench!"

She ran to the
armoire.
Although she was as careful as possible, he was pale by the time she finished dressing him. Knowing she was giving him pain, Catherine fretted as she slipped his bad arm into his shirt. She started to do the buttons, but he waved her away. "Get your things."

She started toward the other room, but as she paused briefly to scoop up his little carving from the rug, a drawl from the doorway chilled her blood. "Pretty tits when ye bend over, girl. Always did have."

"Rouge!" she gasped.

The giant lounged against the doorframe, his pistol pointed at Sean's chest. "Good to see ye remember me." He nodded lazily to Sean. "Hello, Culhane. Ye can live a few more minutes if ye behave. Yer brother's not a bad lot to work for; if he wants the pleasure of killin' ye personal, I got no objections. Me, I get the pleasure of yer doxy before the troops take turns. They'll be along directly. Me and Lord Culhane was more impatient." He smiled at Sean's flinting eyes. "She filled out real nice."

"Touch her, and I'll tear you apart!"

Rouge smiled mirthlessly, his gray eyes flat. "Ye an't in shape to tear paper. Ye're bleedin',
boyo."

With a muffled sound, Catherine took a step toward Sean.

"Stay where y'are, girl," Rouge rumbled, then his voice altered. "Better yet, go in that bedroom. Unless ye want him to watch."

White-faced, she retreated as Rouge eased into the room. Sean hurled a candlestick at him. As the big man whirled with a pistol leveling, Catherine screamed, "No! Sean, don't! Rouge, leave him alone! I'll do anything you want . . . only leave him alone."

Slowly, Rouge lowered the gun. "Why not? Start strippin', girl, and be quick."

Hands shaking, she tore at her buttons.

"Kit, don't! They're going to kill me anyway!"

"We're going to fuck her anyway." Rouge's eyes followed the dress dropping to the floor, then roamed the silken flesh above the chemise. "Might even fuck her to death, pretty little thing like that."

Hearing Sean's savage curse and fearing Rouge would lose patience, Catherine pulled desperately at the chemise.

Rouge grinned. "See, Culhane, yer doxy wants it. She'd like to know what a real man's cock feels like." He moistened his lips as the chemise parted to the waist. "God, ye're a beauty." He moved toward her, unfastening his breeches. "Get into that bedroom," he said thickly. He took another step and his head blew apart. Stumbling backward against the desk, Catherine bit her hand in terror as he fell almost on top of her.

In the doorway, Liam's bloated face appeared above a eloud of smoke which issued from a musket bore. A pistol was in his belt. "Good God, darling, I am sorry! Thank heaven I was in time to stop him." A false note belied his tender concern, and sheer rage revived her wits.

"Liar! I think you were in the hall all the time! You deliberately waited until the last possible moment out of sheer spite!"

His eyes narrowed and his attention slid toward Sean. "What
is
my wife doing here, brother? I thought we had a gentleman's agreement."

"Gentleman!" Catherine shot in. "You wouldn't know the meaning of the word,
brother!"

He paled, then jerked out the pistol. "You told her, you bastard!"

Catherine darted forward, blocking his arm. "Sean didn't tell me! You counted on his being silent, just as you did when you betrayed him! You planned to reclaim me, didn't you? All you had to do was kill him, the only one in your way, the only one who knew!"

Liam's face turned florid and Sean tried to shove her. "Kit, get out of the way!"

She stumbled, but held her ground. "No! He'll have to shoot us both!"

Advancing into the room, Liam tried to placate her. "I've no intention of killing you, Catherine. I love you."

"No, Liam."

"I did it for you!"

"You did it for yourself."

"I'll prove it to you," he said icily. "I'll let him go. The others have left, but Flannery must still be around somewhere. Flannery can get him out of here before the soldiers come."

Her voice shook. "I don't believe you!"

"Oh, I won't do it for nothing. Come with me. Live as my wife. I can kill him and take you anyway. If you come willingly, I'll let him live."

"Always bargaining. Always a price, Judas!"

Liam's mouth tightened. "If you think you can anger me enough to use this bullet on you instead of him, you're mistaken, my dear. I can hold you both here until the soldiers come."

"Flannery will get you first."

"Not before I blow my dear brother's guts out." His voice dropped. "I advise you to decide quickly, my love. If the soldiers meet you in such charming deshabille, I may not be able to ihestrain them."

Abruptly, Sean thrust his foot against the small of Catherine's back and sent her sprawling sideways across the room. She fell to the floor, one outstretched hand sliding through Rouge's blood.

Liam chuckled. "Bravo, brother."

Frantically, she twisted around. "I'll go with you! Liam, don't hurt him!" He gave her a thin smile.
"Please!"

"From sparrow hawk to nightingale, how quickly you can change your song, my love; but it alters too late. If I let him live, I'll never be sure of you."