Saved by My Blackguard (Linked Across Time Book 1) (2 page)

Paul sighed. He glanced over his shoulder and an idea took root. There was a lot on this island to see and maybe it was time he started to explore it. The hotel was nice and had every luxury known to man, but he wasn’t used to taking advantage of it. His father made sure he understood what was important. The family fortune rested squarely on his shoulders. It was his responsibility to ensure the rest of them lived in the style they’d become accustomed to. The Dewitts came from old money, well as old as an American could come from money anyway. They founded their business early on in the history of the country and managed to hold onto their fortune by sheer will and grit.

If only dad had instilled the same values in his worthless brother and debutante sister.

Paul stood up and headed toward the lush vegetation on the island. A hike along the mountain ridge might be what he needed to loosen up. Sitting around and being lazy didn’t suit him, but he could get behind some good old-fashioned exercise. He put his sunglasses back on and started the long trek up the Blue Mountains of Jamaica. He’d meander up a bit, check them out and then head back to the hotel for dinner.

After a short while he stopped at the edge of a cave and looked out at the ocean. It was quite a view. Overhead he saw some cloud formations that had an angry gray appearance. A storm must be heading toward the island. He should head back toward the hotel before he got caught up in a torrential downfall. He started to walk back when he saw a shadow out of the corner of his eye. He turned, startled, as a woman raced ahead of him. Her dress was something from another time. He’d seen enough old pictures to know it wasn’t normal to see a woman prancing around in clothing straight out of the eighteenth century. She had long golden blonde hair that fell down her back in waves. Paul was instantly intrigued.

“Wait up, you shouldn’t be out here alone. There is a storm coming in.”

She ignored him and kept running. The fear in her eyes alarmed him when she glanced over her shoulder. He raced after her as lightning crashed and a thunderous boom followed. Paul had to help her. If he left her alone in the storm he would be the worst cad ever.

“Miss, don’t run. I can help you.”

Maybe she couldn’t hear him. The thunder was rather loud and getting closer with each rumble. The rain began to fall in waves. After a while, he couldn’t see two feet in front of him and he’d lost sight of the blonde. He slowly made his way to where he last sighted her. A huge blast of lightning blinded him as a gust of wind blew over him. He scrambled to find his balance, but soon lost it and fell forward. Pain shot through his head and he began to lose consciousness. His arms flailed out as he plummeted toward the bottom of the mountain. His mouth fell open with a silent scream.

So much for being a good samaritan, next time, if he lived through this, he’d leave the woman to her own fate…

SAVED BY MY BLACKGUARD

CHAPTER TWO

St. Kitts

August 18, 1722

Lady Evelyn Beckett
finished dressing in a light muslin gown. The summer heat on the island didn’t leave many options for a lady, and she was dying in the sweltering heat. Her long golden blonde curls were drenched with sweat. She sat down and began the tedious process of plaiting them and wrapping them into a tight chignon. Even the smallest loose strand would lead to unwanted warmth on her already overheated skin.

“Lady Evelyn,” a maid said. She curtsied quickly before speaking again. “Pardon my interruption, but your father requests your presence in his study.”

Her father, the Earl of Ashland, owned the plantation they currently resided in. She’d lived in England during her formative years, but when her mother died he packed them up and started a new life in the West Indies. Evelyn hated every moment of her time on the island and looked forward to returning to the cooler climate of England. Maybe this was the moment she’d been waiting for. Her betrothed, the Duke of Southington, might have finally summoned her for their wedding.

“Tell him I will be down in a moment.” She hid her excitement. It wouldn’t do to show her emotions. Her father frowned upon a lady doing anything untoward. “I need to finish my coiffure.”

Her father had very strict ideas of what a lady should and should not do. He took being overprotective to extreme lengths. She had a footman, or rather a guard as she thought of the man, who followed her everywhere she went. He denied her a personal maid forcing her to learn how to dress herself properly and see to her own needs. It was supposed to teach her humility. The entire household watched her every move. She couldn’t sneeze without someone reporting it to him.

After feeling her hair and glancing over her dress, she was satisfied that she would be presentable and made her way to her father’s study. A servant stood outside his door. Evelyn glanced up at him and asked, “Is he available?”

She learned early on not to barge into her father’s study. The one and only time she did it her bottom had burned for a week from the whipping he’d given her. It was a mistake she never made again. If there was one thing she did right it was never to repeat the same mistake twice. Living on the island and without a mother’s guidance oftentimes left her at a disadvantage—her parents were as different as night and day. Her mother had been loving, kind, and nurturing. She sheltered her from most of her father’s darker proclivities. Once she was gone, she saw him for the man he really was. A monster she couldn’t wait to escape.

He nodded. “Lord Ashland is expecting you.”

She steeled herself to deal with her father and walked stiffly into his study. Gray hair flopped forward, shadowing his face as he bent over his desk and studied a document. She folded her hands in front of her and patiently waited for him to acknowledge her presence and give her leave to sit down. After a few moments he glanced up and gestured her forward. “Evelyn, come in girl. Don’t dawdle.”

She repressed the urge to roll her eyes. Insolence was forbidden. “Yes, Father.”

“Sit. We have much to discuss.”

He stood and walked over to a nearby window. The sunlight illuminated him. He was a sturdy man and he’d worked hard to build his fortune in the West Indies. It was starting to take a toll on him. New wrinkles were forming on his forehead and around his eyes every day. Evelyn didn’t doubt the stress he put himself under would put him in an early grave. Sadly, she doubted she would miss him once he was gone. He made her life hell.

She sat, waiting for him to tell her why he summoned her. His lack of conversation was making her nervous. Why wouldn’t he get it out and tell her what she’d done wrong this time? If it was the duke summoning her for their wedding he’d have already said it. This had to be bad if he left her wallowing in misery.

“I’ve tried to do my best by you. Raise you right and humble,” he began. “I know you must think me evil, but I truly have your best interests at heart.”

This wasn’t good. He was gearing up to a lecture she wouldn’t leave unscathed from.

“Yes, father, I mean no”—she shook her head ardently—“I don’t think you’re evil.” He really was. “I know you only want to make sure I have a good life.” As long as she followed his rules and didn’t deviate from them in any way.

He laughed. “Don’t try and dupe me, girl. I am well aware of what you truly believe.” Her father waved a hand dismissively. “It doesn’t matter. It’s not why I summoned you. I received a letter from the Duke of Southington. It’s time for you to return to England for your wedding. It isn’t a good time for me to leave the plantation so I’m sending you with a maid as a chaperone. He expects you in England in six weeks for the wedding.”

Evelyn gulped. “I understand.”

She wanted to jump for joy. Surely the duke would be better than living under her father’s care. Six weeks and she’d be the Duchess of Southington, she could hardly wait.

He nodded. “I’ve already ordered your trunks packed. You’re leaving on a ship this evening.”

“So soon?” The words were out before she could stop them. She bit her lip and awaited her punishment. It was usually a slap in the face for daring to question him. When no reprimand came, she slowly opened her eyes and was surprised at the expression on her father’s face. He looked contrite.

“I’ve made a lot of mistakes. I won’t apologize for them, it’s the only way I knew how to raise you. Sometimes I wish…” He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter what I wish. If your mother were here she’d be better at this. I’m going to miss you, Evelyn. It’s harder to say goodbye than I thought it would be.”

This was a side of her father she’d never seen. She had no map to guide her. How was she supposed to respond to this sudden change? If she took a wrong move she could end up regretting it. So she said nothing and waited for him to continue. When there were no adequate words it was better to wait her father out, another lesson she’d learned the hard way. There were too many to count.

“What are you waiting for?” He shooed his hands at her. “Go prepare to leave.”

So much for sentimentality, it was nice to see, no matter how brief it was. It showed her that for a small moment in time her father had a heart. He kept it buried too deep for the world to see. In the grand scheme of things it didn’t matter. She still wanted to be as far away from him as possible. Surely there was something greater and more meaningful for her life than to be the daughter of an autocratic earl.

So she left him alone in his study, the way he preferred, and went to prepare for her new life.

***

Out at Sea, August 21, 1722

Evelyn had been aboard the ship for days. For too long they didn’t move because there was no wind to guide the sails. The journey was going to take forever at the rate they were traveling. The waves rocked the ship and made her stomach queasy. The daily walks on the deck did nothing to ease her discomfort. Sailing never had been something she enjoyed. The trek from England to St. Kitts had been equally as horrible.

“Lady Evelyn.”

Abby’s voice broke through her melancholy.

Evelyn turned toward the maid her father assigned to her for her journey and said, “Yes?”

“Perhaps it’s time we take shelter in your cabin. Your cheeks are getting red from too much sun.”

Evelyn had no desire to be cooped up in her sweltering cabin. She didn’t care if her cheeks burned under the sun’s heat. It was a blessing to breathe the fresh salt air. She was about to tell Abby that when a shout echoed on the breeze from above.

“Jolly Roger, ahoy!” A sailor called down from the crow’s nest.

The first mate scrambled forward, shouting, “All hands hoay!”

Chaos ensued as everyone hurried to get on deck. They forgot about Evelyn in the process and she got shoved against one of the masts. Her head hit it hard and she crumpled to the ground. She stared off into the distance, dazed for several hectic moments.

“Lady Evelyn.” Her maid shook her. “You need to get up. Pirates are attacking the ship.”

“What?” The words were not registering. “Who is attacking?”

“Have you taken leave of your senses?” Abby shrieked. “Get up now and go to your cabin where you’ll be safe.”

Abby grabbed her arm and yanked hard. Evelyn barely moved. She shook her head to clear it. What had Abby said? Oh yes, pirates. The words finally started to penetrate her mind and she got up. Her movements were sluggish and she swayed with each step she took.