Love's Vengeance (48 page)

“Why Stephen! That hurts me deeply. I know that we disagree upon your choice; I would much rather be in her shoes, I will not deny that. You know well enough my feelings for you by what occurred last night or I should say by what did
not
occur.” She sobered and paused intentionally.

“Last night was a terrible mistake on my part Vanessa…”

“I understand.” she interrupted, “Stephen I was there today.” A tear slipped from her eye on cue and she quickly wiped it away as if annoyed, “I saw the passion you feel for one another, even from the distance I could tell how very much you love her. I did not mean to watch, I left as soon as I realized you were—making love. Please forgive me.”

She looked up sadly into his eyes to see the confusion and flames smoldering. She nearly lost her nerve to continue as his wrath for her lies might well be brutal but then she could always claim innocence, blaming the distance for the distorted scene.

“And where was this, my dear?” he asked suspiciously, doubting her words totally.

“Why on the bluffs of course, facing the ocean! Do you mean to tell me you flounced about in that state of undress at other locations about the island today?” She looked up at him coyly as if a bit embarrassed and shocked. She could see the rage beginning to take hold. The muscle twitched along his jaw and she could feel his arms tensing. She had to make sure he understood exactly and she fired her last volley. “I could not mistake the black hair of Miss Chandelle but you know…” she giggled as if nervous “I could have sworn, even from the distance, that you had perhaps lost weight. Your build looked a bit slimmer than what I recall of you in your unclothed splendor. Are you taking care of yourself Stephen?” She crooned, lightly rubbing the well defined muscle along his ribs and feeling the solid strength there, while concern for his well being showed upon her face. She could see it all clicking within his mind. It was all coming together now and his deadly gaze turned to Tim and Desiree as they glided about the dance floor.

Tim was holding Desiree possessively and whispering softly in her ear. No wonder Tim had told him Desiree had made his day, he thought through a shroud of black rage and no wonder Desiree had been so uncomfortable with the questions earlier. With a stilted motion he came to a stop and without looking into Vanessa’s eyes, he spoke softly, “Please excuse me for a moment Vanessa. We will have to finish this dance a bit later.”

Stephen released her and started away, while Vanessa smiled gleefully, turning with a light step and crossing the room to join the crowds along the border of the dance floor, where she would have a better view of what might transpire.

***

Desiree giggled playfully hugging Tim, “Oh Tim you were so right. I honestly think this may work out after all.”

Tim chuckled and hugged her close, “You just have to be patient and problems will usually work themselves out.”

Tim swung her about and as she looked out over the room, she saw Stephen striding toward them with purpose. His eyes fastened on her and the smile slowly waned from her lips. She felt a cold chill up her spine. Something was wrong, terribly wrong.

“Desiree I would like a word with you—outside.” He rasped quietly.

“Stephen wait until the dance is over!” Tim scolded with a laugh, turning to take the first look at his brother and his face sobered as well. The glare of death Stephen shot him made him recoil.

“Tim you had better stay the hell out of this and get the hell out of my way or by God I will lay you low right here and now.”

Timothy knew he meant every word and even though he also knew Stephen could easily knock his head off without much effort, he would not back down to him in most cases. The thought of the room full of guests and the fact that his parents would not appreciate a brawl in the midst of their party though caused him to think better of it and relent. He released Desiree and Stephen took her by the arm, none too gently, and headed out the veranda doors.

Once out on the back grounds, Stephen came to an abrupt halt and pulled Desiree around to face him. The light from the lanterns brought the evil glare upon his face into bold relief and tears sprang up in Desiree’s eyes although she knew nothing of what had brought him to this state.

“I was dancing just now with Vanessa…” he began, releasing his hold on her arms for fear he might do her some bodily injury and he began to pace before her with hands held in restraint behind his back, “when she informed me of her happiness that I had found a woman I cared for so deeply. She told me she could tell how much I cared for you by what she had witnessed today from some vantage point near the bluffs.”

“No!” Desiree gasped as her hand flew up to her mouth and terror gripped her. Had Vanessa witnessed she and Tim’s innocent embrace and kiss and taken it for something more.

Stephen caught her surprised motion and the gut retching thought that it was true hit him. He had hoped it had been a catty lie but Desiree’s reaction told him all he needed to know. Vanessa had spoken true.

“It is true isn’t it?” He hissed, grasping her again and Desiree cried out from the bite of his hands upon her upper arms.

“It is true Stephen. Tim and I were on the bluffs today.” Desiree whispered. She wanted to explain at least part of why they had shared that tender embrace and hurried on, “Stephen I was hurt by the argument we had shared last night. I…”

“So Tim stepped in to give comfort.” He growled.

“Yes but please let me tell you…”

“Please…” he interrupted, “spare me the details! No wonder Tim said you had made his day. That treat often made my day as well—tell me Desiree what would possess the two of you to make love out in the open where any passerby might be a witness?” he roared.

Desiree’s mouth fell open with his words. Vanessa had lied and she had just admitted to the falsehood unknowingly, “No!” she whispered in anguish.

“It is too late to deny it my dear. You already admitted it. She was concerned that I might be losing a bit of weight due to the fact that my frame looked a bit thinner but we both know it was not my frame that rode atop you this day but Timothy’s—don’t we now?” Then over her head he saw Tim approaching through the dark and with a growl he released Desiree, launching himself against his brother as if a wild beast.

“Stephen stop!” Desiree screamed.

Stephen and Tim slammed to the ground in a string of curses and Desiree held her hands over her ears, looking wildly about the empty grounds for help. Then she turned, unthinking and ran on and on, into the dense foliage and the jungle beyond.

***

“Stephen have you lost your mind?” Ham growled, struggling to restrain him as he continued to punish Tim with his fists. “Stop it Stephen! Get hold of yourself!”

Ham shoved Stephen off his dazed younger brother and the two combatants lay gasping for breath upon the grass.

Wiping blood that trickled from a cut on his lip Tim came to his feet, “What the hell is this about?” he gasped.

“Don’t play innocent with me you little bastard!” Stephen came to his feet and immediately took another swing but his arm was caught by Ham and held fast, “Your tryst with Desiree!”

“What the hell!” Tim roared, “What the devil are you talking about?”

Stephen shook Ham off his arm with annoyance, “The bluffs!”

“Christ! You are insane!” Tim hissed, taking a step toward Stephen with intent. Ham placed a hand on the chest of each, keeping the two at arms length from one another, “Where did you get that idea Stephen?”

“Vanessa said…”

“Vanessa!” Tim barked, “And you naturally believed that little tramp!”

“Desiree admitted it!” Stephen roared back, reaching out to jab a finger against Tim’s shoulder, shoving him back.

“All she could have admitted to would have been crying on my shoulder because some
ass
paid her a late night visit and she was upset!”

“Nothing happened?”

“Not a thing! I give you my word! What do you think I am Stephen? I am your brother for Christ’s sake!”

“Then why did she…” Stephen began again but Tim interrupted him.

“Listen you fool I gave you my word. If you want to fight, go find sweet Vanessa and lay into her! I am going after Desiree. She ran into the jungle! You may not give a damn about her but I for one—do!” He turned, starting across the lawn.

“Stephen?” Ham questioned.

“What?”

“Are you going after her?”

“Tim will find her. I am going to have a few words with Vanessa Haines.”

“I do not think that is wise Stephen. Desiree needs your words more.” Ham stated softly. Stephen made no response but instead turned for the house.

“Stephen don’t be an ass—go after her. You did the damage. Only you can repair it.”

Stephen stopped in his tracks and turned back, locking eyes with his old friend. Then with a nod, he went in the direction Tim had gone.

***

Desiree ran through the dense weeds, between twists of palms until she stumbled onto the stone walkway that led through the jungle. She walked on the path; the same one Tim had brought them down, upon their arrival and was heading toward the docks. Her pace slowed as she moved further from the house and the scene she had left behind.

She had been so close to settling their differences she felt sure. This night would have been a new beginning for them. She should have sensed trouble when Vanessa approached them in the yard. She should have asked Stephen to stay with her instead of trying to be gracious and mature and bowing out. She had played right into Vanessa’s hands. What had Stephen been about to say when she approached and interrupted him? Now she would never know.

How dare he accuse her of having sex with his own brother! How dare he believe that spiteful woman’s lies as truth and then trap her into admitting to something she was not guilty of. He had intentionally worded it to trick her into a confession. It was, no doubt, his intention all along.

Perhaps he had been having second thoughts about the talk they were to have shared later this night, concocting the entire hoax with Vanessa’s help. Twisting the innocent details to rid himself of her permanently; making it so difficult and embarrassing that she would have to leave the island—unable to share the same house with his family. He would be happy to know he had succeeded in that—she would make her plans to leave in the morning. Enough was enough. She could no longer endure the horrendous situations in which she kept finding herself involved.

As the end of the path loomed ahead, she decided that she had best turn back and return to the house. She would go directly to her rooms and avoid any more confrontations this night.

A rustle in the brush behind her was the only warning she had before a hand clamped over her mouth and an arm came about her waist, lifting her off the ground and then a harsh chuckle accompanied by a foul smell came over her shoulder and she kicked and wreathed, as she was plucked from the path and plunged into the blackness of the jungle.

Chapter Forty

Desiree awoke to the brilliance of the day and by the position of the sun, she surmised it must be well into the morning. Her head throbbed and she would have reached to touch the painful spot but found her hands bound behind her back by a length of rope. The rope went around a palm tree and then spanning between her wrists and although comfortable, she could not bring her hands up further than her shoulders. Another length stretched from her waist to the base of the tree she was seated against, preventing her from rising. Her mouth was dry and her lips bruised by the gag which was wedged between her teeth and her hair pulled each time she tried to move, apparently caught in the knot at the back of her head.

The dense trees loomed around her but for the small clearing she sat in the midst of and it was a few moments before memory came rushing back to her. A man—she remembered seeing his face bearing a long deep scar from his forehead across his eye, ending just below his ear. The eye was distorted and had healed in a way that had left the outer portion permanently closed. She had seen him only briefly before he lifted a pistol and brought the butt down upon her head.

Then the rest of the memories came back to her, Stephen and Timothy fighting; the accusations made concerning her. She wondered if Stephen was looking for her and she could not tell what part of the island she was being held at. She could see nothing but thick jungle and could not even hear the sound of the ocean. Fear suddenly engulfed her. Perhaps she was no longer on Somerset. She had been unconscious and all the islands looked the same. She could be alone on a remote isle; left to die bound and gagged, with no chance of rescue or escape.

A rustling close by caught her attention and she was almost relieved to know someone else was about until the man with the scar bounded his way through the underbrush.

“Well now I see ye decided to wake up.” he rasped with a toothy smile, the scarred side of his cheek pulling at an odd angle.

Desiree did not move but watched him closely as he came to kneel before her, leering into her face. His tongue flicked out to moisten thick lips, as he took in the features of her face. Stubby fingers reached out grasping her chin and he roughly turned her face to the side looking at her profile, which pulled her hair painfully.

“Ye be a beauty me sweet young thing. Aye, a fine piece.”

His breath fell upon her face and the odor of rotting teeth caused Desiree to hold her breath. His clothes, begrimed with possibly months of filth and sweat assaulted her senses. His grimy shirt, once bright crimson, was tawny brown and opened to the waist, showing a layer of filth covering his neck and chest, streaked with fresh perspiration. Creases on rolls of flesh stood out stark white against the filth beneath matted black hair.

“I would a finished with ye last night were it not fer them blokes lookin’ for ye but by the time they finds us here, ye will be long dead and meself well on me way. Besides I thought to meself, why not have a bit of fun afore I goes. Makin' no never mind when ye dies, sooner or later won’t make no difference.” He touched his grimy finger to the matted hair of his head. “Good thinkin’ don’t ye agree?” he asked with a laugh, seeing the terror etched upon her face.