Charlotte raised her chin defiantly. "Anything."
"I want you to ask your brother for the truth of the matter. He says he saw Erin with Lieutenant Chambers while I was away and that they--well, I need to know the truth of the matter. Will you?"
Charlotte's eyes widened. "Don't believe anything bad about Erin, James. She loves you, I'm certain of it. There's some explanation, I'm sure. I will find out what my brother is saying and why. I promise."
James smiled at her slightly and she could see that his heart was on the verge of breaking. Far bolder than she could imagine herself being, Charlotte reached out and patted James on the wrist, giving him a smile of encouragement. But when she turned to leave the room, the smile became a snarl of sheer determination. She wasn't sure what Winston had done but she had no doubt she would get the truth out of him. She knew exactly what torture worked best on her little brother.
)O(
Aaron sensed something was wrong the moment James set foot into the house. Normally, when James entered the house, he called out to Aaron, usually by Erin's name. Today, though, James said nothing, just went directly into his office. Cautious, Aaron stepped to the door and knocked on it.
"Come in," James' words were clipped and his voice cool.
Lifting the latch, Aaron stuck only his head into the room. "James?"
James' eyes as they met his blazed. Fear nearly made Aaron retreat but he remembered James telling him once that he wouldn't hurt him. Mustering his courage, he stepped into the room though he stayed right by the door.
"What did you do, Aaron?"
Aaron's hand sought the door handle again and closed on it with gratitude. "What d' ye mean, love?"
"What have you done that would cause Winston Edwards to spread rumors that you and-and Chambers, of all people, are-are . . ." James suddenly seemed unable to speak anymore and Aaron saw tears gleam in the corners of his eyes.
"'S not true!"
"How am I supposed to believe that, Aaron? Winston Edwards, the Governor's own son, has been telling the tale that he was riding by and saw you and Chambers--He claims he saw the two of you kissing," James's face grew even more pale and he swallowed visibly. "I know you haven't been happy with me. I can sense it whenever we make love or just sit and talk. Your mind always seems to be with someone else. If you wish, I will release you from your vows and you can leave me. I'll put your happiness above my own and if Lieutenant Chambers will make you happy--."
"NO!" Aaron tried to step forward but tripped on the dress he wore and ended up on his knees. "Please, James, don't say it."
"Then tell me what's going on!" James snarled and leapt to his feet, approaching Aaron hastily. "Why would he say such a thing?!"
Aaron cowered and began to rock. "I-He . . . It's . . ."
Aaron couldn't resist an outcry of alarm when Dunbar seized him by the arm and started to draw him to his feet. He was shuddering uncontrollably and felt so sick at heart that he couldn't look up at James.
Once he was upright, James pushed him into the chair and returned to his own seat across the desk from Aaron. "Take your time but I must have an answer. Do you love Ellis Chambers above me?"
"No," Aaron said as clearly as he could manage, his eyes seeking James' face but unable to hold his gaze. "He-He's my friend but I-If ye ask, I'll ne'er see him more. 'Tis you I love, James, I swear it upon pain of death."
"'Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once,'" James said, scorn clearly dripping from his lips.
Aaron could make no reply. It was clear to him that he was a coward. James had finally seen him for what he really was. If he believed in a god of any sort anymore, he would be praying to die. If James hated him now, there was no reason for him to be alive anymore. He pressed his fingers against his eyes and tried to regain his composure.
"When d-d' ye want me gone?" Aaron managed to say after a moment, his throat afire after his outburst.
There was a long sigh from James. "Winston Edwards says he saw you kissing Chambers. I have been told that Master Edwards is cultivating a reputation as a rogue, pursuing women married or not. Please tell me he's lying."
Aaron shook his head, unable to deny that he had kissed Chambers that day. He heard James stand and move around the desk until he stood in front of Aaron. Aaron nearly flinched when the strong fingers cupped his chin and lifted his face so that he looked into the green eyes.
"What happened?"
Aaron pulled away, lowering his head. "It started the night o' that party. That nasty faced little prick t-took me outside an' called me a French whore after tryin' t' feel me goods. When I tried t' fight back, he wasn't about t' take 'no' fer an answer. 'Twas all luck his mum came out t' find him an' interrupted him."
"No wonder," James muttered softly. "But that doesn't explain the rumor."
Aaron sat up a little, raising his head some. "Chambers told me he-what the little scoundrel was up to with all them women an'-an' that he was sure t' try somethin' while you were gone. So--So we decided t' teach 'im a lesson. Beatrice let it be known she was goin' t' be absent from the house that mornin' and, sure enough, Master Edwards came a-ridin' up as if he belonged here. Only he didn't know that Chambers was already here an' had brought me a pistol with shot an' powder. I pretended t' be mad in love with Chambers an' mad t' do the Edwards lad some harm. That's how he saw me kissin' Ellis. He was standin' in the doorway demanding t' know why Ellis was here when he had no more cause t' be here than the Governor himself. So I took aim an' I fired a shot across his starboard t' warn 'im off."
"What?!"
Aaron jerked up to look into James' face, suddenly afraid again. At the look on his face, James' expression softened. "Please go on."
"He got away but-but I got one partin' shot off an' took his hat off. 'Tis in the hall closet if ye care t' see it," Aaron couldn't resist a slight smile at the memory but the notion of leaving James still oppressed him. "I jus' didn't want t' cause trouble fer you, love. I never want t' give ye a problem, Jamie. 'Tis bad enough ye're saddled with a coward who ain't got the sense of a flea. Ye shouldn't have t' deal with such nonsense atop it all. If ye want me t' go . . ."
To Aaron's amazement again, James was suddenly kneeling before him, his hands stroking across his cheeks and into his hair. "Never, my Raven. I'm sorry I ever doubted you. I just-Can you forgive me?"
Aaron found himself staring at James, not quite sure what to do. "D' you for-forgive me?"
James kissed him softly on the lips. "There is nothing to forgive. I wrongly accused you of being unfaithful. I should be ashamed."
"So I-ye don't want me t' leave?" Aaron began to nuzzle his face against James', pleased that James wasn't turning away from him.
"Why would I want that?" James asked and drew Aaron into a hug. "So you'll pardon me if I pardon you?"
Aaron nodded then buried his face in James' shoulder. It made him feel so secure to be held like this. He had been so afraid after he confessed to James about what McSwain had made him do that James would be thoroughly repulsed by him. To his amazement, James had responded with complete and total acceptance, even forgiveness, and it had put his mind at ease. He knew that James hoped he could become more like he used to be but it hadn't happened that way. The one good thing was that his nightmares weren't as intense now and he no longer woke trying to throw himself off the balcony or holding a knife to his own throat. That relieved some of James' burden and, for that, Aaron was truly grateful.
)O(
Chapter 50:
Sibling Rivalry
"Winston, may I have a word with you?" Charlotte said as sweetly as she could manage.
Winston was paging through a novel and glanced up warily. "Of course, Lottie. What word?"
Charlotte kept the smile on her face as she swept into the room airily. "I believe the word I'd like to discuss with you is 'witness.'"
"Witness," Winston replied. "Whatever do you mean?"
"Oh, you know, witn
ess as in telling someone that you saw something when you really didn't. Or that old passage in the Bible 'Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor?' That witness," She perched on the arm of the sofa and regarded Winston with an enigmatic smile.
"That's a fine word. Why do you want to discuss it?" Winston pretended to find something on one of the pages intensely interesting and sighed.
"Well, it seems that someone has been running around telling others that they saw something that they shouldn't have seen."
"Oh?" Winston shrugged. "You know gossip doesn't interest me, dear sister."
Charlotte snorted, aware how unladylike it was and not caring. "Now, Winnie, don't lie to me. I absolutely know that it does matter to you--especially when you started it. I would like to know why you started the tale about Erin and Lieutenant Chambers."
Winston turned disinterested eyes on her. "And what tale would that be?"
"That you saw them kissing," Charlotte's smile faded and her eyes blazed, making Winston suddenly regret that he'd elected to stay and talk with her.
The clock on the mantle struck the hour and Winston glanced at it, breaking eye contact with her. "Is that three? Oh, I must be going. I have an engage-."
Charlotte's hand when it landed on his shoulder was iron and her nails sank in hard enough that he could feel them imprinting his skin through the shirt and waistcoat he wore. "Answer me."
Winston gritted his teeth and relaxed back into Charlotte's grip. As soon as he felt her loosen her hold, he pulled away and stood. "Because it's the truth. I saw them kiss. Why shouldn't I tell people what I saw?"
Charlotte glowered at him. "How did you see it?"
"Does it really matter?" Winston rolled his eyes and started to turn away. "What do you care about a common tar and a French whore cuckolding her husband?"
He was rocked back on his heels when Charlotte rounded on him and slapped him with all her might. Her blue eyes sparked in fury and he raised a hand to nurse his cheek. "How dare you?!"
"How dare I!" Winston took a step into Charlotte, his hands knotting into fists to keep himself from doing something unwise. "How dare she? The slut lead me on at the anniversary party then-then had the nerve to have her lover there when I-."
"When you what?" Charlotte was still clearly furious but her calm voice and face made him recognize that he had let slip something.
"When I went to call on her, all right?" Winston ground his teeth together as his mind raced to come up with a lie that Charlotte might believe. "I-I wanted to apologize for my behavior. I'd behaved badly at the party and I wanted--."
Charlotte shook her head in disgust. "You are such a liar! Veronica Martin told me yesterday that you'd been calling on her and making improper demands. Was that what you intended to do? Knowing that Erin would be alone and vulnerable? My God, you're repulsive!"
"But she wasn't alone, was she?" Winston had had his fill of her nonsense. "She had her lover with her. I saw her kiss him most passionately, the whore."
"And what does it matter to you?" Charlotte's voice had dropped to just above a whisper. "You call her a whore but I've seen nothing to lead me to believe anything of the sort from her. You know those libertines you are so very fond of reading about tended to die either young or of horrible, horrible diseases. Dissolution is a wasteful way to expire."
"Don't be so melodramatic, Lottie. I'm just enjoying my youth, that's all. I'm sure Father wouldn't--."
"You're sure Father wouldn't what?" The sound of their father's voice caused both young people to fall silent.
"What, sir?" Winston pulled himself together after a pitiful look towards Charlotte gained him nothing more than an icy glare. "I was just saying that I'm sure you wouldn't mind if I--."
"Say nothing more, son, or you will certainly regret it," Tapping one hand with the riding crop he carried, Alfred Edwards turned to his daughter and granted her a grim smile. "Thank you for bringing this situation to my attention. Your brother's youth can be blamed for his lack of wisdom but only his upbringing can be blamed for his lack of civilization. Now, if you will excuse us, I believe we have some business to conclude."
"Yes, sir," Charlotte felt sick more than victorious. If Winnie had just shown the slightest bit of remorse for what he did to Erin, she might have intervened on his behalf with their father. As she pulled the door closed, she heard her father's voice.
"Take down your britches, Winston, and place your palms on the desk. This will hurt me far more than it hurts you."
Charlotte fled down the hall before she could hear anymore. Thrashings were a necessary evil betimes, she knew that, but it didn't make her any more comfortable with the notion. She wandered into the ladies' parlor and found her mother sitting at the window weeping.
"Mother, what's wrong?"
"Your father's decided that--He's going to have Winnie killed!" The older woman buried her face into her handkerchief to blot at the tears then blew her nose mightily.
"No, that can't be," Charlotte said gently, kneeling beside her mother and rubbing her arm. "Why would he have Winnie killed if he's giving him a sound thrashing? It don't make sense."
"But you don't understand," Her mother's face was very pale except for red spots high up on her cheeks. "He's going to make him join the army! They fight in wars, you know. Winston could end up dead!!"
When her mother began to cry again, Charlotte simply wrapped her in her arms and let her sob. Better not to tell her that Winnie could end up dead just as easily here after being found in the bed of a married woman. Charlotte had seen the look in James Dunbar's eyes when they'd spoken last and he'd explained about Winston's attacks on Erin. Chambers had been with Erin at the time because James had asked him to be, to make sure she was safe. The look in those green eyes had been the most terrifying thing she'd seen. Dunbar was used to dealing death when it came to scoundrel and brigands who had broken the law only. She could tell he would have no hesitance at all about killing someone who hurt the woman he loved.
"It will be all right, Mama," Charlotte murmured. "I'm sure Father will provide a nice commission for him. It's all right."
On her own part, Charlotte was grateful that Winston would be going away. As much as she loved her brother, his behavior had proven a serious social liability. Once her mother was recovered somewhat, Charlotte sent for a pot of tea. A nice cuppa would restore everything to order.
)O(
Chapter 51:
Early February 1720 - The Masked Lady
Dealing death didn't stop the pain, no more than the mounds of gold and jewels or the gallons of rum he'd swilled. Nothing stopped the pain he felt whenever he thought about those bright eyes that had gazed so fondly upon him. Yet, there were moments when the grim satisfaction he got from making others hurt as he had--worse sometimes--made his lip curl up in a sneer. His hair was longer now, longer than Aaron's had ever been, with most of it in braids, beads and trinkets knotted into it as Aaron had taught him. The coin Aaron had brought him from the Orient hung on the longest braid, thumping occasionally against his chest above his heart.
"Cap'n Stern!" A rough voice called excitedly and the golden eyes turned to see what the problem was.
"Leave us be! We're passengers only. Take our valuables if you must but the Code--," They had found five women, all within a decade or so of twenty. The one who was protesting fought like an alley cat to the best of her ability, which was sorely tested as all five of them were bound together on one rope.
At her invocation of the "Code of the Brethren," the men herding them toward the boarding planks between the Masked Lady and the English Rose laughed heartily. The girl--for Ike could tell she had to be near his own age--looked worried. At that, Pete Morgan petted her hair.
"Ah, pretty, there, there. Since ye ain't but a passenger, the Code don't apply, do it? Seein' as how it's a pirate code, ye'd have t' be a pirate fer it t' work, wouldn't ye?"
One of the women, a slightly older woman but still attractive for all t
hat, spoke up. "Please, Abigail, don't carry on. Perhaps if we cooperate--."
"But they're PIRATES!" Abigail snapped.
"Aye, that we are!" Harry the Rat howled then the men burst into laughter again, just in time to step onto a pair of planks laid side by side and begin leading the ladies over to the pirate vessel. It took a while to get all of the women to the main deck of the Lady as a couple of them cowered and shrank from the idea of walking across the space between the two ships. With the encouragement of steel, however, they were soon all on board, huddling in a group like terrified birds, their silk dresses reminding Ike of some brightly colored birds Aaron had drawn him a picture of once. The memory pulled all the joy out of the moment.
"I demand to speak to your captain!" The loud one was saying now. Ike turned his attention back to the Rose's deck. Part of the reason the fight had been taken out of most of the women was that the crew and the male passengers were dead, injured or captive, the live ones tied to the rails of the Rose, the dead already robbed and tossed overboard.
"Make sure ye blow her magazine," Ike said to Archer, his first-mate.
The bigger man hesitated. "Ye want we should bring the men aboard?"
Ike smiled and Archer retreated a step. "Ye're too soft-hearted, Matt. Leave 'em right where they are."
"Aye, sir," Archer replied then scurried off to obey Stern's orders.
"Please let me speak with the Captain. I'm sure we can work something out," Abigail's voice carried well across the Lady's deck.
After a few more minutes of watching his men pulling anything of value from the English Rose, Ike descended to the main deck. It would be a little while yet before Archer would set the powder off in the hold and Ike had plans to bring a little more misery into the world. It was what he seemed to be best at anymore.
)O(
"Who's been callin' fer Captain Stern?" As the young man approached, the men crowding around Abigail and the other ladies fell silent and moved back.
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