Love's Fiery Jewel (55 page)

Her words dwindling off as Damien stared wordlessly
in her direction, she watched silently as Damien
approached.

"No, don't cover yourself, Amethyst." Taking the
cloth from her hands, Damien bent to kiss the pointed
crest of her breast, his body beginning to swell
uncomfortably as his lips touched the warm flesh.
Drawing his lips from her with the sheer power of will,
Damien looked into lavender eyes raised questioningly to
his. His throat was tight with lov6 and desire.

"Just let me look at you a few minutes longer,
darling."

Reaching out, Damien touched the raven curls that
streamed past her shoulders, his hand tightening
convulsively the moment before his arms closed around her to hold her close against him as he buried his face in
the soft ringlets. His heart was pounding. No, he did not
want to take her now as much as his body cried out for
her. Having only begun to resume their lovemaking that
same week, their unions were more brilliant than before
Marian's birth, a particular poignancy surging inside
Damien with the thought that Amethyst was the mother
of his child as well as the only woman he had ever truly
loved. And within a few days she would be his
wife.. .his forever.

Slowly releasing her, Damien said in a whispered tone,
"I've come to tell you the Sally will sail for America next
week. All cargo has been contracted for and we will be
ready to sail by midweek." Noting the small frown on her
brow, he continued softly, "You may bring Tillie back
with you if you desire. We shall have to arrange for a
woman to help you with the child once we arrive in
Philadelphia at any rate." Lowering his head, he pressed
a light kiss against her lips. "I don't want all your time
spent in Marian's care, you know."

Nodding slightly, Amethyst made no comment, her
eyes jerking up to his as he continued in the same low
tone. "We'll be married the end of this week. I'll speak to
Reverend Sidley today and make the arrangements."

"Damien, please do not persist with this idea. I've told
you repeatedly that I won't marry you."

"You will marry me, Amethyst. We will return to
Philadelphia as man and wife."

Turning abruptly in his arms, Amethyst attempted to
break free of his embrace. His grip tightening, Damien's
tone dropped a notch lower. "If you value William
Sheridan's life, Amethyst, you'll marry me at the end of
the week as I say..."

The fear displayed so openly in the violet eyes that
jerked back to his face gnawing at his conscience, Damien maintained his steady gaze as Amethyst began falteringly, "Damien.. .what do you mean? William has
nothing to do with us. I've not seen him since that last
time when you were present. Surely you'll not hurt
William in any way."

"I'll not touch, William, Amethyst."

Her face whitening, Amethyst gasped, "You would
not...you would not use obeah against him... not
again...

Holding her gaze steadily, Damien did not answer,
allowing Amethyst the prerogative of judging his reply.
Tears flooding her eyes, Amethyst said softly, "I don't
want to marry you, Damien. Can you not content
yourself with the situation as it stands now?"

Still there was no answer as Damien continued to hold
her tearful gaze. Finally speaking, Damien's voice was
firm and unyielding.

"Reverend Sidley will marry us on Friday. Please
make sure that you are prepared."

Her body was trembling against his as Damien pulled
her close, his wide hands moving smoothly over the satin
skin of her back. There was a strong distaste inside him
for the manner in which he was forcing her assent to this
marriage, but he had determined long ago that he would
do anything necessary to keep Amethyst.

Lowering his head, Damien kissed thepath of the lone
tear that had slipped down her cheek, his mouth moving
to press light kisses along her brow and cheek, the heat
inside him slowly building as he trailed his lips to hers to
cover them in a deep, searching kiss. He was almost past
rational thought now, conscious only of the texture of
her skin beneath his palms, the sweet warmth of her body
against his. His eyes holding hers possessively, he slowly
unbuttoned his shirt, exposing the breadth of his chest as
he pulled it free of his britches. Slowly gathering her into his arms, he pulled her against him, the touch of her
naked breasts against the broad expanse sending him
over the edge of desire at the ultimate sweetness of the
warm intimacy.

Scooping her up into his arms, Damien carried her to
the bed in a few brief strides. Gasping as their flesh met,
Damien whispered softly against her lips the moment
before covering them with his own, "You will be my wife
this Friday, Amethyst. I will stop at nothing.. .will do
anything I must, but you will belong to me."

Her ear pressed tightly against the door, Tillie listened
intently, her mind filling in the picture at the silence that
ensued. Shaking with frustration and fury, she searched
her mind wildly for a solution. She could not allow
Amethyst to tie herself for life to the obeah man.
Amethyst was too strong of spirit. Eventually she would
displease him and she feared for the result. Her heart
twisting in her chest at the soft moan that issued from
behind the closed door, Tillie turned abruptly toward the
front door. She was unable to find a solution, but she
would go to the only person who could help her. Moving
quickly through the doorway, Tillie made her way with
unerring purpose toward the market. Her eyes searching
the bustling scene, Tillie's glance finally settled on the
object of her search, and within minutes was seated on
the wagon beside Quaco as the worried Negro urged the
horse toward Sheridan Plantation with obvious haste.

His young, tired face flushed with anger, William's
tone was incredulous. "Surely he doesn't intend to use
the same ruse again to make Amethyst do his bidding?
What was her reply, Tillie? What did she say when he
threatened her with my safety?"

Her face tightening, Tillie replied in a low voice, "Amethyst say nothin'. That obeah man know Amethyst
not gowan let you die."

"Tillie!" William's voice was harsh with impatience.
"Damien Straith holds no power over me or anyone! He's
using Amethyst's fear against her!"

Her thin brows raising, Tillie said in quiet compromise, "It not matter what the obeah man can do, Mr.
William. It matter only what Amethyst think him can do,
and Amethyst believe... Amethyst believe..."

"Damn him! Damn that Damien Straith," William
muttered under his breath, the truth of Tillie's statement
frustrating him even further.

Turning around, William paced the small confines of
the kitchen in the rear of Sheridan Plantation's great
house where Tillie had called him to conference, his
mind desperately seeking a solution. Suddenly coming to
a complete standstill, William hesitated a brief moment,
his back toward Tillie before turning back in her
direction. A small smile covering his lips, William
reached out a hand to grip Tillie's shoulder in a
reassuring gesture. "I'll have Quaco bring you back to
Kingston now, Tillie, and you may rest the night knowing
that Damien Straith's plans will be thwarted tomorrow."

Her expression questioning, Tillie searched William
Sheridan's face, only to have William respond quietly,
"It will be better if you are unaware of my plans, Tillie.
But I promise you this. Damien Straith will not use me
again to gain control over Amethyst! Go home now,
Tillie. I don't want Straith getting suspicious before I'm
able to complete my plans."

Searching his face a moment longer, Tillie nodded
briefly before her deep voice again broke the stillness of
the room. "Tillie thank you, Mr. William. Tillie and
Amethyst thank you."

Her face pale, Amethyst looked into Tillie's unreadable expression. She had hesitated to tell Tillie, but it was
almost afternoon, and she could wait no longer. Her
voice was low, almost shamed.

"Damien and I will be married on Friday, Tillie, so we
may return to Philadelphia as man and wife."

Startled when Tillie showed no expression at all at her
declaration, Amethyst inquired hesitantly, "Did... did
you hear what I said, Tillie?"

"Tillie hear."

Frowning at her unexpected reaction, Amethyst said
curiously, "Have you no comment to make, Tillie...
nothing to say?"

Turning away unexpectedly, Tillie said casually over
her shoulder, "Tillie say nothin'...nothin' at all."

Her frown deepening as Tillie walked from the room,
Amethyst shook her head. What had come over Tillie?
She had been so adamant against her marrying Damien
and now appeared to accept the fact without a second
thought. Something was amiss, but for the life of her, she
could not figure out what it was.

Giving his head a hard shake, Damien again attempted
to add the column he had been working at for the past
fifteen minutes. He was quick with figures, and impatient
with his inability to concentrate long enough to add the
sums in his mind. He had gone that morning to speak to
Reverend Sidley. All arrangements had been completed
for Amethyst's and his wedding on Friday, but now, for
the life of him, he could not understand why he had put
the date off for three days. Surely tomorrow would have
been ample notice for Amethyst. She need ready nothing
but herself, and her wardrobe was such that she need buy
nothing for the occasion. It mattered little to him what
she wore anyway. She was beautiful in any garment that touched her body, and, he thought with considerable
warmth, even more beautiful when she lay unclothed
beneath him. Suddenly laughing at his own thoughts,
Damien shook his head again, but this time in
amazement. He was insatiable when it came to Amethyst.

Glancing around the small confines of his cabin, he
smiled again. He and Amethyst would share this cabin on
the return voyage, but he had already made arrangements for the first mate's cabin to be turned over to Tillie
and Marian for the duration of the voyage home. He was
almost certain Tillie would return to Philadelphia with
Amethyst. She no longer had anything to hold her in
Kingston now that her man, the slave on Conway
Plantation, had been forced to take another woman.
Amethyst tearfully confided Tillie's misfortune to him
their second night in Kingston. There was true affection
between Amethyst and Tillie, for which Damien was
grateful. Amethyst sorely needed a woman to talk to, and
it was far better it be this woman who loved her with the
dedication of a mother. Tillie's presence on the return
voyage would ensure them considerable privacy that
might otherwise be unattainable with Amethyst subservient to the baby's needs for the duration of the voyage.
Yes, he was definitely looking forward to the close
quarters he and Amethyst would again be sharing...

Frowning at the harsh knock on the door that
interrupted his pleasant flow of thoughts, Damien's
response was an impatient "Come in!"

Expecting to see Barnes's stalwart figure at the door
when it opened, he was startled to see an English
lieutenant, with three other soldiers visible behind him.

"Damien Straith, Captain of the ship Sally?"

"Yes, that's right, Lieutenant." Drawing himself to his
feet, Damien frowned at the young soldier, his mind
racing. "Is there a problem?"

"Yes, sir. You are under arrest, Captain Straith. You
and your crew will be delivered to await trial on charges
of smuggling."

"Smuggling! But certainly this is a joke! We are quite
legitimately in port, Lieutenant, preparing to sail next
week with a cargo we have contracted in a legal manner."

His outward appearance that of startled innocence,
Damien's mind worked feverishly. What could possibly
have gone wrong? He had been safely in port for over two
months. What evidence could they possibly have against
him after all this time? Who would dare testify against
him in Kingston? His "obeah" had always provided him
adequate protection in the past.

"Kindly come with me, Captain Straith." The bright
young officer was not to be swayed from his duty.
Signaling his men forward, the young officer watched
carefully as Damien reached for his coat, making certain
no false moves were intended, before turning to lead
them again on deck.

Blinking against the bright afternoon sun, Damien
arrived on deck to see his crew under guard, their eyes
moving directly to him as he appeared. His voice
exuding a confidence he did not feel, he said reassuringly, "I'll have this situation straightened out in
short order once I've been able to speak to someone in
authority. Don't worry, we'll soon be free."

The young lieutenant's quick glance showing exactly
what he thought of Straith's confident declaration, he
motioned his men silently forward. Falling into place at
the head of the small contingent, Damien could not help
but wonder what information had inspired the lieutenant's scornful reaction. He was anxious to face his
accuser.

Still puzzling at Tillie's strange behavior, Amethyst worked quietly around the bedroom, careful not to make
any sudden noises that might disturb Marian. The infant
had been fretful most of the day, a reaction, she feared,
from her own disturbed state of mind. But Damien had
efficiently eliminated all her protests against their
marriage yesterday with the threat that still hung heavily
on her heart. Was this what the future would hold for her
as Damien's wife? All opposition from her met with a
threat on the life of someone she held dear? Who would
he threaten when they were far from Jamaica? Would
Tillie be the focus of his evil spells should she dare
oppose him? How could she bear spending her life with
the threat of black magic hanging over her? And worse
yet, would Marian grow up influenced by a father who
practiced the black art of obeah? A small shudder shook
her slender frame. Knowing all this, how was it that she
still thrilled at Damien's touch and longed for him when
he absented himself from her? Perhaps she was becoming
as perverse as he! Her only salvation lay in getting away
from him, and now all avenues of escape were closed.
William... dear William. She could not allow him to
suffer for her again. She would not be able to live with the
guilt.