Raised By Wolves 2 - Matelots (52 page)

Gaston kissed my cheek.

“Oh good Lord,” Theodore sighed and downed his cup. He refilled it as he said, “That does indeed lend a great deal of perspective to the matter, and all matters related to it.”

Agnes appeared confused.

Striker met my gaze and nodded with silent understanding.

Pete asked the question I had always dreaded from others if the matter were exposed. “Ya Didna Kill’Im?”

I shook my head sadly. “Nay, I loved him, and I hoped he would change. I had not yet killed a man when I left. I have rued that Shane was not my first every day since then. Out of all the men I have killed, he is by far the most deserving.”

“Sometimes Ya Canna Kill The Ones That Deserve It Most,” he said sadly.

“Nay, we cannot,” I sighed. “Even now. Though, apparently my sister has nearly done it for me.”

She shook her head with a small smile. “These last weeks I have wished that I aimed better or used a larger piece, but…” She shook her head again and went on with her tale:

“After the incident at the wedding, and Father’s reaction, I no longer felt any would protect me. I was very careful when Shane arrived for Mother’s funeral a month later. I took to carrying a pistol in my handbag and sleeping with it near my pillow. I also took to blocking the door with a chair as you had done. I was quite careful not to allow him to catch me alone for the fortnight he was in residence. I took perverse pleasure in shadowing Father about and not leaving the two of them alone, as I knew Shane would dare not do anything in Father’s presence. But, whenever Father’s back was turned, Shane would look at me as if I were a mouse and he the cat. I saw lust and hatred and little else in his eyes.

Our aunt even remarked upon it and suggested I stay with them for a time. So I did. Father returned to London with Shane and the house sat empty. I suppose the servants either rejoiced or mourned.

“So I stayed with our aunt for a month, and then returned home when I was sure Shane was safely in London. It was… strange. With mother gone, and Elizabeth, and their servants, I was expected to be the mistress of the house and it was… most uncomfortable. But that is another matter. Your letter arrived at the house in the middle of October, along with the letters to Father and Rucker. As I was bored, and could no longer stand the house, and your letter spurred me to seek adventure in some small way, I decided to take the barouche to deliver the letters myself.

“So I delivered Master Rucker’s letter to him, and we spent a delightful evening discussing your tales and descriptions. To my maid’s utter dismay, I even spent the night there at his sister’s home.

“Then I took Father’s letter to him at the new house in London. It was there that I learned of his arrangement with the Earl of Whitlock and your proposed marriage.”

She paused and met my gaze with a wry smile. “I do not know how you will perceive the matter: hopefully with amusement. Miss Barclay was due to sail in December. There were concerns regarding her relationship with her former suitor. Rumor of impropriety had surfaced, and well, Father was livid. I feel he would have stopped the entire affair if events had not taken place with Shane as they did. And for that, Will, I am truly sorry. Not that Father’s next choice might have been any better.”

“Wonderful,” I sighed. “How did…?”

“Shane was at the London house,” she sighed. “He wished to know why I was there. I said nothing. I do not know what Father might have told him, but my maid complained of spending the night at Rucker’s to the other servants, and this of course got all around the house to Shane, along with the knowledge that I had delivered letters from you.

And thus Shane was apprised for the first time of my friendship with you. He leapt to a number of accurate conclusions as to the reason I had put him off, and he confronted Father and me over the matter at dinner. Father suggested I let them talk, and I retired.”

She took a deep breath. “There was no chair that could be easily moved to the door. So I sat with the pistol in my lap and waited for the house to quiet. I dozed. I woke to find Shane standing by the bed, reeking of wine.”

I gasped, as I knew that image well. Gaston took my hand. I squeezed his in return, grateful again for his presence. Then I took Sarah’s again, as I could see she was lost in what had occurred.

She looked up at me and smiled sadly. “So I shot him. I did not think. I did not wait for him to speak. His eyes said all that needed to be said. I will never forget how he looked at me in that moment. It will haunt me.”

“I hit him in the shoulder, as I said,” she continued with renewed calm. “He had a lamp in one hand and bottle in the other, and he dropped both and dove for me. I threw myself onto the floor. I was tangled in the sheets. By the time I freed myself and escaped out the door, the room was in flames and he was screaming.

“All was chaos for a time, as the fire was put out and a surgeon summoned and the like. My room was gutted. They had put Shane in Father’s room. He was not burned as badly as I had thought from what I had seen as I ran. He will be scarred, though, if he still lives. Despite the bullet wound and the burns, the physician had high hopes. I realized that, as you have noted, if he had been mean before, he will be rabid now.“Father was very distraught. When he at last caught sight of me, he grabbed me by the shoulders and shook me until I thought my neck would break, all the while yelling, “Why?” over and over again. When I was finally able to speak, I told him I had thought Shane would harm me. Father said that was a foolish notion that you had placed in my head. He was… not himself, or perhaps he was truly himself and this is the side of him I had not chosen to see.”

She was weeping. I slid my chair closer and held her until the quiet sobs subsided.

Over her head, Gaston met my gaze with a grim smile of reassurance. Theodore was downing another cup of wine. Pete was frowning at Sarah, and Striker was studying the table with concern.

Agnes was weeping in sympathy.

I released Sarah when her weeping stopped. She composed herself and pawed tears from her eyes before awarding us all a sad smile.

“That is the part of it that… hurt the most,” she said.

I nodded. “The night I left, as I stood watching Goliath’s body burn, I realized that if burning a horse in the yard beyond his study did not get his attention, nothing would. I knew then I would never be loved in that house. I think I always held out hope before. But all hope died for me that night. I realized Shane would not change, and Father would never care, and Mother never had.”

“I thought Father loved me,” she said. “But he does not. Of all of us, Shane is the only one he has ever cared for: thus my ruminations on the cause of that.”

She shook her head again and squared her shoulders. “I fled from him, and knowing not where else to go, I went to our uncle’s, as it was closer than our aunt’s. Uncle Cedric was quite distraught over events, in the proper fashion, as in he was very alarmed that I had been in danger.

He went to speak with Father. They quarreled, apparently, and Uncle Cedric returned with a blackened eye and the news that he was going to see me off to safety. I told him I wished to come here and he readily agreed. And since there had been talk of arranging a proper escort for Miss Barclay, it was decided that all of us should travel together. I extended an invitation to Mister Rucker, and he accepted.

“So, we boarded a ship for the Massachusetts colony ten days later…

And had a miserable crossing of the sea, and then another cold and stormy trip down the coast, until we at last reached the tropical region.

Most of us spent the voyages in abject sea sickness. Rucker swears he will never board another vessel. Miss Barclay swears she will only board another to get home, which she wishes to do as soon as possible.”

“And how is Miss Barclay?” I asked.

Sarah shook her head sadly. “Angry, Will. She is filled with such anger. She steams with it like a kettle. She snaps at everyone. She even strikes her maid, poor girl.”

“Lovely,” I sighed.

“Aye,” Sarah said, “on a good day she would make our mother appear endearing in comparison.”

Sarah laughed at the expression on my face.

“Must I marry her?” I asked.

She nodded sadly. “If you wish to retain any standing with Father whatsoever.”

Theodore was studying his wine cup with grim regard and did not look up to meet my gaze.

Gaston was equally contemplative.

“Ya Do Na Need Yur Father’sMoney.” Pete said.

“Nay,” I sighed, “but… there are other things held in the balance.”

I turned back to Sarah. “I will at least meet the witch. Where are Uncle Cedric and Rucker?”

“They went to see a plantation today.”

“Ithaca?” I asked.

She shook her head. “A planter offered them a tour of his fully developed one. Uncle has decided that he will remain here to care for me, as we were not sure when or if you would return. To that end, he has developed an interest in plantations.”

“Do you feel you will be here for a long time?” I asked.

She nodded. “Do you see how I can return, without…?”

I could not, and wondered at my question. “Nay. So whatever shall you do?”

“I do not know,” she said with a weary shrug. “Uncle speaks of my marrying, but I feel the eligible men I might be interested in will already be taken here.”

I could see the effort she put into not glancing at Striker. I put effort into suppressing a sigh.

“Surely not all,” Theodore said.

“Perhaps,” she sighed. “Either way, I would do something useful. I have little interest in becoming a planter’s wife if I am to live as the ones I have seen so far. Though, perhaps if I am married and have babies I will be pleased to spend my time speaking of trouble with my servants and what lovely damask I have endeavored to secure for curtains.” She frowned. “That was actually one of the reasons I was keen to marry Shane. I felt that if I were his wife, he and Father would continue to include me in their business dealings.”

I thought it likely they would have, and I sighed again.

“There is no rush for you to marry,” I said. “I am sure you might do whatever you wish here. There is money to order books and… if you wished to engage in some enterprise, I am sure it could be arranged.”

I looked to Theodore; and he frowned, first at me and then at Sarah before nodding thoughtfully. “Aye, I would be willing to front such a matter if it were necessary,” he said.

“Truly, thank you,” Sarah said brightly. Then she dimmed a little.

“But I have no money, and yours stems from Father and…”

“You will have money,” Gaston said quickly. “That need not be a concern.”

“Thank you,” she breathed. “Well, what business is lucrative here?”

she asked. “Other than sugar, as from what I have seen that requires far too much capital for an uncertain profit. I would imagine shipping is very much in demand.”

I happened to glance across the table and find Striker slack-jawed and staring at her. I smiled and turned back to Sarah.

“That and fleecing buccaneers,” I said. “Several members of our cabal have suggested an interest in developing a shipping concern.

Roving does not occupy the entire year, or hold the promise it once did. I am sure Theodore and Striker can give you copious information on what might be needed or desired. Perhaps you could even serve as our agent in town for such matters. And maybe those of us who own the Virgin Queen should form a company.”

“That is an excellent idea,” Theodore said.

“Aye,” Striker said with awe. “That would meet many ends.”

Gaston was nodding agreeably, but Pete was frowning and studying his wine cup.

“It would allow all of us to stay at sea,” I added for his benefit.

Pete shrugged at that.

I looked to Agnes, who, though she was directly across the table from me, I had forgotten was present. She was gazing at my sister with lovestruck eyes. I sighed.

“Might I live here?” Sarah said. “I do not wish to share a house with Miss Barclay.”

“I would be well with that,” I said. “However, I am not sure if I wish to share a dwelling with her either… if I do marry her.”

“Oh Lord,” Theodore sighed. “I should tell you now, I suppose. Miss Barclay has emphatically stated to me that she will not share a roof with Gaston, and that she expects you to live with her.”

I shook my head.

Theodore rubbed his temples. “I know, I know…”

“We will build another house for all of us,” Gaston said. “The Bride can live here until a suitable house can be built at Ithaca.”

“She will not find that acceptable,” Theodore said doggedly.

“Then I will not find her acceptable,” I said.

“Will…” Sarah said with concern.

“I know what is at stake,” I told her. “I will not live a lie.”

She nodded thoughtfully.

“So,” I said, “let us return to the King’s House so that I might meet the woman and parley. I would know the result sooner rather than later.”

“I suggest you meet with her alone,” Theodore said. “Truly.”

“I will wait outside,” Gaston said and stood.

“Will you require us?” Striker asked.

“Nay, I think not, and as Theodore has already introduced me to her Cerberus, I feel I shall be able to enter the gates of Hell alone. Perhaps you should all discuss future plans.”

Sarah stood and embraced me before we left.

“I never want to be our father,” I whispered.

“It would be impossible,” she whispered back.

“Be careful where you tread with Striker,” I said even more quietly.

“Pete is a formidable opponent and will not take kindly to you.”

She tensed in my arms. “I will remember that.”

She was sober when I released her.

Gaston and I left them to discuss what they would. We were silent for a block.

“Do you wish to see her?” I asked.

He snorted. “From the description of others, non. Yet… If there is any chance of maintaining your inheritance, I would have you take it. There is a chance she will die here within the year. There is also a chance she will die in childbirth. And if she does not, we can send her back to England and keep any issue. But I will not ask you to do a thing you might be loathe to do.”