Love's Fiery Jewel (47 page)

Her brow puckering into a small frown, Amethyst
stifled the impatience she felt building inside as thoughts
of Damien returned to mind. It was well into May, and
she was still not free. Even the Sally's sailing in March
had allowed her no respite from Damien's domination.
To her own unending amazement, Damien had seen fit to allow Jeremy Barnes to captain the ship for the spring
voyage to Jamaica. Claiming pressing business matters,
Damien had remained in Philadelphia at Amethyst's side,
carefully supervising her activities. Not that she could
complain of Damien's treatment. Endlessly considerate,
he saw to all her comforts, going so far as to provide her
with a carriage for her use which came equipped with a
rather large, burly fellow on loan from the Strathmore
household to accompany her whenever she left the
house. At first terribly annoyed that she could not move
without her shadow, Amethyst later came to have a
certain affection for the soft-spoken Arthur Mills. A
shade over average height, with a barrel chest and thick
muscular tone, his features were coarse, his thin graying
hair appearing decidedly out of place on the broad, jowled
face. But the small brown eyes were warm, the smile shy
but sincere, and she had come to accept Arthur as she had
almost every other aspect of her present life.

And, strangely enough, it had been through Arthur's
presence that she had come to gain her first insight into
the maze of contradictions that was Damien Straith.
Relating that Damien had been mysteriously abandoned
at approximately ten years of age, Arthur explained that
the youthful Damien had appeared at the docks,
soliciting work as a cabin boy on Captain Strathmore's
ship. Possessed of a quick mind and supreme determination, he had immediately won the approval of the
demanding captain, who had, over the years, come to
regard him as a son. Even after Hiram Strathmore had
retired from the sea with a fleet of three vessels, to
conduct his profitable business ashore, Damien had
remained close to him and his wife, Millicent. Attaining
his own captaincy at the youthful age of 24, Damien had
done his mentor proud by functioning to his country's
and his own benefit as a privateer during the war years,
and by attaining a position of respect and importance in his home port of Philadelphia as a shrewd businessman
and formidable naval opponent.

Now, guided by Hiram Strathmore's expertise, Damien
was reportedly preparing to enlarge his holdings with
another ship which he intended to ready for Orient trade
when it opened within the year. Having known Damien
as a boy when he was a wary visitor to the Strathmore
household where Arthur was employed as a servant, he
was truly fond of and loyal to the man he had grown to be.
Excusing Damien's faults with the explanation that they
were the result of a deprived and unhappy childhood, he
praised the captain's dubious virtues to the heave...
while shyly declaring that Amethyst was the first woman
he had met that was a suitable match for Damien's
outstanding qualities. Disagreeing silently with Arthur's
assessment, Amethyst had merely smiled her thanks at
the sincerely intended compliment, realizing the extent
of her good fortune to have the loyalty of so stout a fellow
as Arthur Mills.

Her daily routine considerably broadened by the use of
the carriage at her disposal, Amethyst arranged to spend
at least one afternoon a week at the establishment of
Philadelphia's most famous bookseller, Robert Bell.
Since the cessation of the war, music had begun to be
widely printed and it was with great excitement that
Amethyst went through the selections available. Recently passed in the Connecticut General Assembly, the
Act for the Encouragement of Literature and Genius,
securing the protection of copyright for authors, did
much to encourage writing, and Amethyst was also
anxious to take advantage of the literary boom that was
beginning to fill the bookstore's shelves. Her eyes ever on
the future, she hoped desperately to prepare for the time
when she would once again be self-supporting and,
hopefully, not out of touch with artistic advances.

Alienated from her native country's struggle for liberty while living in Jamaica, Amethyst had previously
had little interest in political events, but now situated in
Philadelphia, at the hub of political activity, Amethyst
found herself intrigued by the events progressing at the
new Congress Hall at Sixth and Chestnut. Holding the
same misconception as many that the painful revolution
had ended with Cornwallis's surrender at Yorktown in
October of 1781, she had not been aware that peace was
not yet confirmed. The text of the Peace Treaty having
finally arrived from Paris in March, she had been startled
to learn that it had yet to be signed and ratified by
Congress. Philadelphians, however, uncertain which of
the interminable formalities meant certain peace, celebrated them all, and the arrival of the March text had
done much to add to Damien's and her social life within
the last few months.

Her avid perusal of current events in Philadelphia's
newspapers had gleaned yet another bit of information
that had set her heart to racing as a thrill of expectation
moved down her spine. According to a small article
appearing in an April newspaper, Lewis Hallam, Jr. was
bringing the theater back to American shores! Amethyst
remembered Lewis Hallam only vaguely as a member of
the American Company of Players, as he had returned to
England with John Henry when the main body of the
troupe had left for Jamaica, but her mother's respect for
the brilliant actor had been great, a strong recommendation indeed in Amethyst's eyes. Her hopes rising,
Amethyst realized that should Lewis Hallam succeed in
convincing the legislature to repeal the anti-theater laws,
the remainder of the troupe would be able to return to the
country, furnishing her with a means of self-support and
escape from her growing dependence on Damien Straith.

But all Amethyst's afternoons were not spent in avid
perusal of newspapers and political texts. Shopping
meticulously for yard goods suitable to touch the tender skin of the child within her, whose life grew dearer to her
each day, Amethyst carefully gathered the necessary
essentials to complete a layette.

Shaking her head, a small frown drawing her slender
brows together in puzzlement, Amethyst still found
herself perplexed by the complete enigma that was
Damien Straith. Despite Arthur Mills's generous contribution, in the long run, Amethyst was certain she would
never truly understand his complex personality. Treating her with a tenderness that was almost doting since the
announcement of her pregnancy, Damien obviously
enjoyed her blossoming figure, his attentions so constant
that he barely let a night slip by without making love to
her with a passion that was unrelenting. But as complete
as were his considerations of her needs, he was immune
to her embarrassment when her condition became
obvious, insisting that she continue to accompany him to
the many social affairs to which they were invited. It was
only by the strength of her own refusal that she was
spared complete mortification at the mercy of the vicious
tongues so anxious to do her in. So adamant had been
Damien's insistence that she had begun to grow
suspicious of his motives, wondering if for some deep,
dark reason he wished to emphasize in the minds of
society that the child was indeed his. But Amethyst had
remained firm, refusing all social invitations despite
Damien's vociferous protests.

A flush of color rising to her face, Amethyst recalled
her chance meeting with Merrell Bristol a few weeks
before on one of her shopping trips. Having stepped down
from the carriage to come face to face with Merrell
Bristol's haughty features, Amethyst had been startled,
her surprise showing on her face as she subconsciously
adjusted the folds of her cape to conceal the slight
protrusion below her waist. Noting her nervous gesture,
Merrell had arched her narrow brows, her eyes moving directly to the area Amethyst had attempted to conceal.
Never one for mincing words, Merrell had questioned
boldly, "Well, don't tell me you're expecting, Amethyst,
dear!"

The hot color rushing to Amethyst's face and her lack
of response speaking more adequately than words,
Merrell burst into shrill laughter. "Well, it would seem
that Damien's `ward' and `betrothed' is functioning in a
far more intimate capacity than those two titles would
have people believe! But, my dear," she continued, her
patronizing tone irritating Amethyst far more than she
revealed, "don't you think you are relying a bit too
heavily on Damien's sense of commitment? After all,
you've not yet exchanged vows and it would seem to me
that Damien would have little inducement to do so now.
Or..." Merrell continued without waiting for Amethyst's response, "or perhaps that was the inducement
for Damien's announcement in the first place.. .and
you are far more clever than I thought... Well, dear, he
hasn't married you yet, has he? And I think it would be
safe to say it's too late to save you the embarrassment of
disclosure of your condition, wouldn't you? Really,
darling," Merrell smiled insidiously, sharpening her
claws for the final swipe, "you may have instilled in
Damien a sense of responsibility for that bit of his flesh
and blood you carry, but I doubt if it will do you much
good in the long run. If I know Damien, when he's
finished with you, he'll merely make arrangements for
the child within his own household and allow you to go
your merry way."

Her face paling when Merrell spoke the same fear that
had been encroaching on her thoughts since Damien had
begun showing such a keen interest in their unborn
child, Amethyst managed to regain control enough to
retort, "I suppose I should pay some heed to your words,
Merrell. After all, you have considerable firsthand knowledge of Damien's short term of interest when
it comes to women!"

Her own face flaming, Merrell Bristol managed to
render the final barb. "Yes, my dear Amethyst. And you
may believe that I look forward with great anticipation to
the time in the near future-shortly after you have the
child, I should judge-when you'll join our ranks."

Not bothering with a farewell, Merrell had turned on
her heel and walked stiffly out of sight, leaving her words
to reverberate time and time again within Amethyst's
mind.

Considerably upset with the return of the memory of
their brief exchange, Amethyst dropped the small shirt to
her lap, her hand moving to her temple in an unconscious
gesture she used when disturbed. There was no doubt in
her mind that Damien would find someone sooner or
later with whom he would wish to replace her. In his most
violently loving moments he had never spoken of
love.. .merely his desire to possess her physically.
Subconsciously wincing at the picture of Merrell
Bristol's face when Damien had so coolly turned his back
on her, Amethyst realized that her time, too, would
come. But would he be able to turn his back on his child?
Somehow, she could not believe the abandoned boy
inside the grown, handsome man Damien had become
could reject his own child. What then? For it was with a
rigid, unfaltering certainty that Amethyst realized
despite the manner of its conception, she could never
give up her child.

But time was passing with frightening speed, and she
was still helpless against whatever plan Damien had
devised for her future. Carefully allowing her all manner
of luxury without the opportunity to handle money at
any time, Damien had made certain she was unable to
gather even the smallest sum so she might form a responsible plan to escape. And striking an even sharper
blow was Amethyst's realization that even had she the
resources, she would be unable to make the break.
Pregnant with his child, she had nowhere to go and no
one to help her in this large country of her birth where
she was still a stranger. A deep trembling beginning
inside her, Amethyst had also to admit to the greatest
obstacle to her escape. The magic ...Damien's obeah
was as strong as ever, holding her with him more securely
than iron shackles. His glance had not lost its power over
her emotions, his touch still faultlessly capable of raising
her past reasonable thought, his loving attentions
binding her to him with the desire he stirred so
unerringly within her. Oh, she was a weak fool! Unable to
break from his loving prison, she would have to wait until
he released her, and most chilling of all was her
conviction that the time was not many months away.

In an effort to shake off her somber thoughts,
Amethyst rose to her feet. It was her usual day to visit the
bookseller, and she could do well with the diversion.
Inactivity was beginning to make her despondent, and
she would not submit to the debilitating emotion. A small
wave of sadness slipping over her, she longed sorely for
the comfort of Tillie's presence. Mrs. Dobbs, while
courteous and efficient, managed to keep a discreet
distance from the woman she so obviously considered
past redemption. Harriet remained almost invisible in the
household, and Mary, endlessly cheerful and attentive to
her smallest wish, had not the necessary maturity to fill
her need. Only in Millicent Strathmore had Amethyst
sensed sympathetic understanding and a generous heart,
but the woman's eyes had looked on Damien with a
fondness that eliminated her unequivocally as an ally and
confidant. No, she would have to go on maintaining her
own good counsel. She was entirely on her own now and
could lean on no one for moral support.

Within the hour, Amethyst's carriage was pulling up
in front of Bell's Bookseller. Carefully gathering her light
cape around her, Amethyst waited for Arthur's hand in
assisting her down from the carriage. His small eyes
smiling warmly into her face, he said softly, "I'll wait
outside the door, Miss Amethyst, in case you should need
me."