Love's Fiery Jewel (18 page)

Dressing quickly as the first light of dawn creased the
night sky, Amethyst snatched up the small bundle of
clothing she had prepared the night before and walked
quickly into the living room. Standing outside her door,
Tillie urged quietly, "You ready now, missey? Best you
get started before him wake and come looking fe you
again."

Swallowing the small lump of fear Tillie's words had
evoked, Amethyst responded in the same quiet tone, "Yes, I'm ready, Tillie."

Handing her another small bundle, Tillie offered
quietly, "This be some food fe the way, Amethyst. It be a
long walk without breakfast."

Accepting the bundle, Amethyst tucked it into the
larger one she carried and turned back to Tillie's
concerned expression. "Don't worry about me, Tillie."
Doing her best to smile despite the peculiar stiffness of
her face, Amethyst continued lightly, "I'll be fine when
I'm with William again. Just make sure you get word to
me when Captain Straith has left port so I may return.
I've told Mr. Douglass that I'll not be performing for a
while, but I don't want to wait too long. It would not do to
come back and find myself replaced in the company."

Suddenly stepping forward, Amethyst threw her arms
around the motherly mulatto and laughed as the woman
hugged her tightly in return. "Don't worry, Tillie. I've
walked this road so many times I could walk it with my
eyes closed. I'll be at the plantation well before noon and
I'll try to send word with Quaco when everything is
settled."

Her dark eyes bright, Tillie said in a low voice, "Tillie
not be worried anymore, Amethyst, but best be going
now before it gets any lighter."

Nodding her head, Amethyst walked to the door, and
was moving quickly down the street within a few
minutes, stopping only a moment as she turned the
corner to wave a last farewell to the woman who watched
from the doorway.

The rising sun brought the heat of day to the familiar road Amethyst traveled. She had not walked the
distance to Sheridan Plantation in almost a year, since
William had taken to bringing her supplies to town as an
excuse to visit. She had almost forgotten the intensity of
the sun as it beat on her uncovered head, the sensation of perspiration trailing down her spine as she walked, and
the gritty taste of dust in her mouth. "And," she
muttered softly as she stopped to shake out her shoe, "I
had forgotten these nasty pebbles." Slipping her shoe
back on her foot, Amethyst adjusted the bundle on her
arm and continued on the road, her heart skipping a beat
as the first glimpse of Sheridan Plantation came into
view. As confident as she had tried to appear for Tillie's
sake, she was uncertain about her reception at the great
house. In all the years of her association, she had never
entered the house itself, her visits confined to the outhouses in the rear where the cooking was done and the
buttery was located. Despite his acceptance of her needed
contribution to his household stores, William Sheridan,
Sr. had always treated her courteously, but in a manner
that left no doubt in her mind that he considered her a
business acquaintance only. But today she would not go
to the plantation out-houses. She intended approaching
the great house by the front door, as disheveled and dusty
as she was. She was not a servant and was coming to visit
the son of the master of the house, and that fact alone
afforded her the dignity she needed to approach as a
guest. Her true trepidation lay, however, in her plans for
the next few weeks. Was she not desperate, she would not
put herself at such disadvantage as to ask sanctuary that
would be extended at best grudgingly, but she had no
recourse. And there was William... she was certain he
was suffering countless agonies at his ignorance of her
fate, and she did not wish to be the reason for his coming
to any further harm.

Her mind thus set in the direction she was to take,
Amethyst passed by the path to the buttery with her head
held high, and continued on the grand roadway that
approached the front door of Sheridan Plantation.

Making a last simple adjustment to her hair by lifting
the tendrils stuck to her slender neck with perspiration and smoothing back the straying wisps that curled at her
hairline, Amethyst lifted the door knocker and rapped,
she hoped with authority. Dismissing the startled
expression of the well dressed slave that answered the
summons with a raising of her brow and as haughty an
expression as she could manage, Amethyst stated firmly,
"I'm here to see Master William, Jr. Please tell him
Amethyst Greer is calling."

Nodding uncertainly, the old Negro showed only a
moment's more hesitation before stepping back to allow
her entrance. Leaving her standing in the hallway, he
progressed up the elegantly curved staircase to the
second floor. Within a few moments he had disappeared
around the corner of the hall and utter silence reigned in
the household until a familiar voice shouted joyfully,
"Amethyst! Amethyst! Come up here right now, or I will
get out of this bed and come down!"

The relieved tears springing to her eyes were silent
testimony to the secret fear she had nourished during her
long walk to Sheridan Plantation, and overjoyed at
William's obvious impatience to see her, she started up
the curving staircase hesitantly. Within a few seconds,
the slave appeared at the top of the stairs, and preceded
her down the hallway to William's room.

Her eyes moving quickly past those standing at
bedside, Amethyst's glance moved directly to William.
His pale face shining with delight, he held his arms out to
her, urging softly, "Quickly, Amethyst, come quickly or
I shall get up and come to you."

Her eyes filled with emotion, Amethyst made a small
gulping sound deep in her throat as she rushed toward
the great four-poster and into his waiting arms. Held tight
against his chest, Amethyst was almost off her feet as
William continued to hold her pressed against him,
murmuring softly in her ear, oblivious to those
surrounding them, "Amethyst, darling, thank the Lord you are here. I was so worried when I regained
consciousness yesterday and found myself at home and
realized I had abandoned you again to that madman. You
are alright, aren't you, darling?"

Allowing her to pull away just enough to search her
face, his deep mahogany eyes perused her expression
fearfully, awaiting her response. Nodding her head with a
brilliant smile stimulated by his obvious concern,
Amethyst said softly, "I'm fine, William. My greatest
fear was for you."

Glancing to the gray-haired gentleman standing at the
bedside, William's response was cautious. "Dr. Martens
assures me I will be quite well within a week, provided I
stay in bed and rest until the headaches and dizziness
pass. I was certain the treatment would be past
endurance until I heard your voice, darling, but now that
you are here to stay with me, my recuperation will be a
pleasant idyll. Promise me you will not leave until I am
well enough to accompany you to town, Amethyst." His
dark eyes intense, William urged again, "Promise me you
will not leave, darling..."

Grateful that William's concern had spared her the
discomfort of asking refuge, Amethyst nodded silently,
adding a few seconds later, "I will be happy to stay until
you are well, William."

"Miss Greer," a thin nasal voice from behind drew
Amethyst's attention to Dr. Martens's stooped figure,
"you do understand that William is to have no
excitement while he is recuperating. He is to keep his
emotions at a very low level and must not have any undue
stimulation."

His direct stare and the slight raising of his brow as he
stressed "undue stimulation" brought a hot flush of
color to Amethyst's face. Drawing herself out of
William's arms, she stammered quickly, "I understand
perfectly, doctor. You need not worry ...I certainly should not...I do not intend to `stimulate' William in
any way!"

Laughing softly at her obvious embarrassment, William said lightly, "Then I'm afraid I shall have to keep my
eyes closed for the duration of my confinement,
Amethyst, because I'm afraid just to look at you
stimulates me beyond measure."

"William!" The quick ejaculation by the slender grayhaired woman at bedside brought a hearty laugh from
William, causing him to clutch his head suddenly as he
winced with pain.

"Perhaps, Mother," William said softly as he slowly
opened his eyes, "perhaps it would be best if I had a little
quiet for a while. I would like to rest and you may be
assured that I will take Dr. Martens's advice very
seriously." Slowly sliding a meaningful glance toward
Amethyst, he continued, "I have an all-consuming desire
to be on my feet again."

"Certainly, dear," Sylvia Sheridan responded lightly,
bestowing a loving glance on her only child just seconds
before she quietly began herding those at bedside out the
door. When she touched Amethyst's arm, William
protested softly.

"I want Amethyst to stay, Mother. I will be better able
to relax knowing she is here beside me."

Until that moment, William Sr. had chosen not to
speak, his dark expression adequately conveying his
distaste for the situation, but his son's request brought
an instantaneous protest from his lips. "Certainly you
cannot ask us to leave this woman here with you
unchaperoned in your bedroom, William!" Shooting a
quick glance toward Amethyst, he continued softly,
"Think of Miss Greer's reputation, son."

"Father," William's voice was weakening, but his
purpose was firm, "if you truly wish to comply with Dr.
Martens's instructions, you will allow Amethyst to stay, and the hell with convention! I am, after all, Father,
temporarily incapacitated."

Shooting her son a worried glance, Sylvia Sheridan
said quietly, "William, please, let the girl stay."

His face reddening slightly with frustration, William
Sr. finally raised his shoulders in helpless assent
before turning on his heel and leaving the room, followed by his wife. Following closely behind, Dr. Martens paused briefly at the door as his glance moved
between the two remaining. Raising his finger, he shook
it warningly in William's direction, his wrinkled countenance adamant. "Remember what I said, William, no
stimulation!"

Turning, he left the room, his departure bringing
subdued laughter from the man in bed. Extending his
arms in her direction, William said softly, "Come here,
darling. I am truly fatigued, but I want to feel you in my
arms before I sleep."

Moving quickly into his outstretched arms, Amethyst
smiled at the soft groan of contentment in her ear as
William quickly enclosed her in his embrace. "Now I will
be truly able to rest for the first time in two days," he
whispered against her hair as he pressed her tight against
him. Within a few minutes his breathing was deep and
regular, and Amethyst drew herself carefully from his
arms. Kissing him lightly on the mouth, she whispered
into his unhearing ear, "As will I, darling, as will I..."

Damien strode quickly down the street, his eyes intent
on the small frame house, his mind intent on thoughts of
the beautiful girl/woman inside who drew him so
relentlessly to her. It was barely noon, but he had been
unable to concentrate on his calculations for the visions
of luminous purple eyes that invaded his thoughts. She
was with him in everything he did, every place he turned
until he was no longer able to think for the ache that had built inside him. He snickered lightly. Amethyst spoke of
his reputed powers of obeah. That was a joke. He was the
one who was truly possessed.. .by a woman who
professed she wanted nothing to do with him... who
claimed she loved another man. But she had not
protested last night. He was certain had he pressed her a
little further, had he told the driver to drive to his ship
rather than her house, the evening would have had a far
different conclusion. But he didn't want it that way. He
wanted Amethyst to come to him freely, not in a moment
of passion that might be regretted with the first light of
morning. No, what he felt for her was too special, too
beautiful...

Mounting the steps in two quick strides, Damien
pushed open the door, still unwilling to submit to a
request for entrance. Slow footsteps from the kitchen
brought Tillie to the doorway of the room, her strange
expression causing a slight chill of apprehension to rush
down his spine.

"Where is Amethyst, Tillie?" His voice was gruff, far
gruffer than he had intended, but the woman was acting
peculiarly.

"Amethyst not be here, Captain Straith."

"Where is she?" Walking quickly to the bedroom, he
pushed open the door without waiting for a response.
Finding it empty, he strode toward the kitchen, moving
Tillie roughly aside as he surveyed the empty room. In a
few quick steps he had pushed open the door to Tillie's
room to find it also empty. Turning, he faced Tillie, his
breathing heavy as tension knotted his huge hands into
fists.

"I said, where is she, Tillie? Where did she go?"

"Gone, Captain. Amethyst gone where him be safe
from you. Him free of you spell. Him not gowan..."

Taking her roughly by the shoulders, Damien shook
the woman hard, demanding in a voice deep with anger, "Tell me where she's gone. Tell me now!"

"Amethyst safe at Sheridan Plantation now. Mr.
Sheridan gowan take care of him...not gowan let you
take him away."

His face blanching white under his tan, Damien
muttered through clenched teeth, "When did she leave,
Tillie? Tell me!"

"Him left at dawn. Him safe now."

Turning quickly on his heel, Damien left the house,
walking back down the street in a quick stride that was
almost a run. Within minutes he had rented a horse and
was on his way out of town, urging the willing animal into
a fast gallop as soon as he hit the open road. But he saw no
one with the exception of a curious tinker and a few
slaves returning home. Still he continued to press on,
urging the horse to an even faster pace in the hope that
Amethyst had not yet reached her destination. Finally
reaching Sheridan land, he reined the horse to a slower
gait. His eyes moving across the landscape hopefully, his
heart pounding at each female figure he saw in the
distance, he experienced with each disappointment
deeper and truer frustration. Maybe Tillie had lied.
Perhaps Amethyst was still in Kingston, possibly at the
theater at this very moment! No, Tillie was too frightened
of him to chance his displeasure. Amethyst had indeed
headed for Sheridan Plantation as she had declared so
vehemently only yesterday. But that was before-before
last night when she could have been his, but for his
reluctance to press her. Urging his animal slowly
forward, Damien finally came to the main drive of
Sheridan Plantation, his throat tight with despair. She
had left...she was gone.. .there was no way he could
get her back.