"The beard is new since I saw you last," Danielle said, eyeing the curly hair on his chin and neck. She had to get her thoughts off how attractive he was and what it did to her. It wouldn’t do to jump in bed and try to ravish a wounded man. She had to smile at her ridiculousness.
Scott raised his hand to rub his outgrowth of beard. "Would you care to shave it off?"
"Are you up to it?" she worried.
"Yes. It itches like mad." He proceeded to scratch the hairy mound. "I only have to lie here and let you do all the work. I will enjoy that," he teased.
Danielle rushed around the room heating the water and laying hot towels on his chin to soften the beard. After applying the soap to his face with a soft brush, she carefully removed the growth of beard. His eyes never left her face as she went about her motions. When she got to his neck, beneath his chin, he spoke.
"You won’t slit my throat will you?"
Caught up in his joviality she smiled, putting his mind to rest. "I would not harm you, pirate. It seems you are already disabled enough." She smiled wickedly.
"God has chosen to give me a wife with a sadistic bent," he spoke to the ceiling.
Her job completed, she finished wiping the remaining suds from his handsome face and sat back in the chair to survey the masculine features so dear to her. She noticed how tired he looked.
He reached over and grabbed her arm, pulling her up and over his body. "You have to try it and see if it is smooth enough," he whispered, his breath making shivers down her spine.
"But your wound…"
"To hell with my wound," he growled as his lips closed over hers. Her mouth opened to admit his tongue and she sighed aloud with the emotion surging through her body. Her hands threaded through his hair at the nape of his neck, holding him close and he turned her head sideways to cover her mouth again and again. His tongue danced the dance of love with hers, twisting, wrapping together, before he sent his deep into her throat.
Danielle was losing all control and luckily he was the one who finally pulled them apart. He cupped his chin on the top of her head, his breathing ragged. "I want you so bad, Danielle, but I’m too damned weak to do anything about it!"
She knew it took a lot for him to acknowledge that fact he was truly weak. "It’s all right, love. We have the rest of our lives."
He scooted over in the bed, wincing as the pain ran through his shoulder. "Lay beside me." He didn’t ask, he ordered.
She gladly crawled in next to him fully clothed. She rested her head on his uninjured shoulder while he wrapped his arm possessively around her, pulling her close. A delicious warmth engulfed her. She noticed his eyes were weak with exhaustion. She closed her eyes and felt his lips gently touch her forehead. He became still and she could tell by his even breathing, he was back asleep. Gently, so as not to wake him, she slid from his embrace. He was resting peacefully now and she would leave him to his dreams. She tiptoed out the door and closed it behind her.
She entered the parlor to find Sir Francis with Jenny, Ricardo and Scotty.
"I was just hearing, Scott is recovering. That’s nice to hear," Sir Francis said.
"Yes, he was awake a little longer this morning so he must be getting some of his strength back."
Sir Francis had been so kind when he had found out that Danielle was pregnant with Scott’s child. He never questioned her and on Scotty’s birth he had brought her a beautiful hand-carved cradle that had been in his family for generations.
"How was your trip to France?" she asked. "No mishaps I hope." Even with the passing of time, Danielle still sometimes missed her adventures on the seas, short-lived though they were.
"The trip went smoothly. We didn’t even see a French ship this time. So far, our new pick up spot has not been discovered. I think I will make this one my last trip for a while. Elizabeth hasn’t been feeling too well of late and I’ve begun to worry about her. She asks about you often, Danielle. She wants to know when you and Scotty are going to visit us on the island?" He smiled at her as he sipped a glass of claret.
Suddenly they were interrupted by a loud banging on the outer door.
Ricardo, scowling mightily, rose from his chair. "What could be so blasted urgent that they have to bring down the door!"
The messenger, a young man, panting and out of breath, came hastily into the room. "Sir Francis! I have a message for ye’. It’s Lady Elizabeth, Sir! She is very sick and the doctor sent me ta’ fetch ye’ home." The young man gasped for air as if he had run the entire distance from the village.
Sir Francis had jumped to his feet before the messenger had finished speaking, a look of apprehension on his face. "I’m sorry I must leave so quickly, my friends, but I’m sure you understand. My wife must be much worse for the doctor to send for me." He turned to Danielle and kissed her cheek. "I wish you could come with me, Danielle. I don’t think she will last long with this ague that has overcome her, and it would please her to see you. Will you think on it?" He was pulling his cloak on as he spoke.
Jenny, stood up. "Danielle, dear, you must go. Scott’s on the mend now and don’t worry about my grandson. He and Ricardo will keep each other company while I take care of our patient. You will be back by the time Scott is up and around."
Danielle could not refuse after everything Elizabeth and Francis had done for her. "Of course, I’ll come. Just let me stop by my house to put some things in a satchel. I must go and kiss my son good-bye first though." She ran to the other spare room where Scotty lay sound asleep on the bed. His little dimpled hand held his stuffed doll next to his cheek. She bent down and tenderly kissed him without waking him. "I love you, sweetheart, and I’ll be home soon."
Eleven
Scott was aware immediately upon wakening that Danielle was not in the room. He felt her absence in the very core of his being. God, he was going to be a possessive husband! She would be lucky if she got to bathe without his presence. In fact, that would be one time he would be in residence, he smiled at the thought. Finally, he was shore bound. He picked a crazy way to accomplish the fact, but it was done. He would never sail again. He would hire a captain for The Scarlet Eagle and turn it into a merchant ship. He clasped his hands behind his head and stared at the ceiling making plans for his and Danielle’s future. She had said his house was a mansion and he was anxious to get out of this bed so he could see for himself.
The door opened and his mother entered carrying a tray heavily laden with food.
"Good morning. I hope you’re starved because I brought enough to feed an army. You have not been eating enough." She set down the tray and came over to the bed to adjust his pillows. She couldn’t resist kissing him on his forehead. "You gave us quite a fright, my son."
"You didn’t think I would let a little musket ball get the best of me did you, Mother?" He teased as he sat up for her to tuck the pillows against his back. He winced at the pain shooting through his shoulder.
"No, of course not," she lied. She put his tray on his lap and poured him a cup of chocolate. "But you will please you old mother by eating every bit of this food."
He willingly started in, finding himself very hungry this morning. While she straightened the bed covers, he asked her.
"Where’s Danielle? Send her in, I want to see her." He said between bites.
"Danielle’s gone, Scott." She saw he stopped chewing and glared at her, his anger blazing from his eyes.
"Where the hell is she this time?"
"Scott, calm yourself. You’re not strong yet, you know. Calm down while I explain. Sir Francis was here and got a message that Lady Elizabeth was very ill. He asked her to accompany him and she agreed. After all, Scott, you have no idea the many kindnesses they have given your wife. She could not refuse to go."
"Yes, she could have!"
Jenny put her hands on her hips and glared at her son. It was a shame her son was too old to swat, because at this moment she sure felt like doing just that.
"How long is she going to be gone?" H
is voice had lowered to a sensible level. He knew he shouldn’t take his anger out on his mother. It was his damn woman’s fault. Was he going to have to tie her up to keep her at his side? He sure as hell wasn’t going to chase around after her for the rest of his life! He took a sip of chocolate. Yes, he would, if that was the only way he could have her. But she was his wife now, for Christ’s sake. Didn’t she know where she belonged?
After Scott had finished his meal, he was suddenly drained of energy. He slid down in the bed once his mother had removed the tray and immediately fell asleep.
The days went by and Scott remained irritable. His thoughts were constantly on Danielle and the punishment he would inflict on her once she was back home. It made for a wonderful pastime, these imaginings.
One day he decided to try his legs to see if he could stand. He made it across the room before he fell exhausted back into the bed.
A few days later he was standing, on wobbly legs, fully clothed, staring out the window. After making up his mind and without hesitation, he started down the hall toward the front door, his arm resting protectively against his side, favoring the still throbbing injury. He was a man used to being outside in all kinds of weather and the smell of the sea was like heaven to his nostrils. His mother was busy in the kitchen and Ricardo was out, so no one saw him escape into the fresh air.
He strolled very slowly down to the beach watching the seagulls circling in the sky. The Scarlet Eagle lay at anchor in the bay, next to the ship he had captured from the French. He looked around the beach area. What a wonderful place to make a home. He raised his eyes in the direction of where he was building his estate. His breath caught in his throat at the picture of it in his mind. He could almost see the large white columns sparkling in the sunlight and the poplar trees lining the lane were growing tall and lean. The manor would be like a castle outlined against the sky. He wished he had the strength to climb the hill and investigate the site. He had painstakingly picked the best of the furniture and accessories for his home and sent them on to Ricardo for when the manse was finished. It was a peaceful setting for Danielle and he could visualize her standing at the huge front entrance to welcome him home.
He decided to take a slow walk farther down the beach before returning to his mother’s house. He saw a small boy staring out to sea as if in a trance. His dark curly hair was tousled in the slight breeze blowing off the sea. Scott was shocked when Ricardo went over to the tyke and picked him up and turned in his direction.
Ricardo waved and made his way toward Scott. When he came near enough he could see Scott scowling. What could he possibly be mad at now? He was beginning to think his former captain’s moods were even worse on land than they were on the sea. It didn’t take long to find out what the problem was.
"What in the hell do you and mother think you’re doing? Aren’t you a little old to start a new family? You must be out of your mind!"
Ricardo stopped in his tracks. What the hell was he talking about? Then the light dawned. He thought Scotty was his and Jenny’s. Jenny and Danielle hadn’t told him yet. Well, he was going to let Scott stew in his own juices till Jenny could explain. The rapscallion!
"Isn’t he handsome? Do you want to hold him?" Ricardo offered.
"No, I don’t want to hold him." He tried to calm down. "I don’t mind having a brother, Ricardo, really. I was just thinking of you and mother. I would think you would be wanting to settle back and enjoy the rest of your days is all."
"I’m not in my grave, yet, son." He kept moving down the beach, getting closer to his home and wife. He could beat her and Danielle both for not letting Scott know he had a son. Scott followed behind him, silent now.
The two men and little boy entered the house going directly to the kitchen where Jenny was busy preparing the evening meal. She looked up and seeing Scott she exclaimed, "Scott! Do you think you should be up and around? I saw you walking on the beach and I really don’t think…"
"Let me tell you what I think!" he bellowed.
Scotty hid his face in Ricardo’s neck for protection against the loud man.
"Scott, you’re scaring the boy, quiet down!"
"What do you think, Scott?" His mother stopped and stared at him. Had her son gone mad?
"I see this boy," he motioned to his son, "and he went right to Ricardo. As I got close I could see his eyes were going to be exactly like yours and I almost had a heart attack. I’ve told Ricardo and now I’m telling you, don’t you think you’re a little old to start a family?" He shook his head. "I’m just a little shocked that’s all. You could have told me."
Jenny stared at him completely at a loss as to what he was talking about, then it struck her. Before she could even think about what she was doing, she burst out laughing. She laughed until her entire body was shaking and huge tears were running down her cheeks. She dabbed at her eyes. She looked at her son who stood in the middle of the room, with legs braced apart and his hands clenched tightly on his hips. Then she looked at her husband, holding her grandson, who was smiling from ear to ear.
Ricardo walked over and slapped Scott on the back and burst out laughing as much as his wife.
Scott felt like he was going to explode! He was going to kill someone. It was true, they were both mad!
"What the hell is so funny?" he stormed. "I would appreciate it if one of you would tell me what is going on? I see nothing humorous in this at all."
Ricardo collapsed into a chair, balancing Scotty on his knees. He finally caught his breath and looked up at the ill-humored man still standing in the center of the room.
"The humor of the whole thing, you son of a sea dog… is this is not our child at all. He happens to be the son of a certain Scott Dominion and his lovely wife. We call him our beloved grandson. Right, Jenny?" He looked at her, still wiping tears of laughter off her cheeks, who still unable to speak, simply nodded.
Shock came over Scott’s face. He felt like the breath had been knocked out of him. Then something akin to a new and more dangerous anger crossed his face. "Do you mean--" He spoke between clenched teeth, barely controlling his temper. "--to tell me that I have a son and neither of you dimwits thought to inform me about it?"
"Well, I thought Danielle…" Jenny tried to explain.
"Danielle, didn’t say a damn word. Wait ‘til I get my hands on that wife of mine! I may strangle her!" His eyes moved to the boy and glued there. "Why didn’t you try to get word to me?" It finally dawned on him how big the boy was. "Wait a minute, I saw Danielle not four months ago. We were married. She told me when I came home she had a surprise for me. I stupidly thought it had something to do with the house, that she was going to decorate it or something. I’m leaving for St. Mary’s tomorrow," he said without hesitation.
Well, it was a surprise," Ricardo couldn’t help saying. He’d never seen Scott so flustered and was thoroughly enjoying it.
Scott pulled a chair close to Ricardo and looked at his son. Scotty took one look at him and buried his face in his grandpa’s chest. "Do you think he’ll come to me?" Scott asked.
"Maybe, if you’ll stop your infernal yelling."
~ * ~
Danielle fluffed the pillows behind Lady Elizabeth’s back and helped her to sit up. She had regained some of her strength, but was still rather weak.
Sir Francis sat on the edge of the bed, clasping her fragile hand in his. He had been so afraid that his wife was dying, but with the care and attention that he and Danielle had given her, she appeared to have recovered remarkably. She was no longer coughing from deep in her chest and some of the color had come back into her face. She’d had no fever for the past twenty-four hours for which he was most thankful.
He bent down and kissed her on her mouth, a feather light kiss, showing his love for her. She smiled weakly into his face and reached up a small hand to pat his cheek.
"Dear Francis. This has all been so terrible for you, my dear. I must get well so I can make it up to you. I’m well on the mend now and before long
I shall be up, nagging you with all the vigor of before."
"Bah! You might rattle a little, my love, but nag… never!"
Danielle left them alone and quietly slipped out of the room. Seeing them together made her miss Scott more than ever. As she continued down the long stairs, she heard a commotion at the front door. The maid was standing in the open portal, shrieking hysterically. Danielle went across the floor to the maid. She saw a French officer and two of his men force their way past the frightened girl and approach her.
"We would like to see Sir Francis Dolphin immediately!"
Danielle felt sick with fear, staring into the face of the ranking officer, his French insignia sparkling before her eyes. He was an older man, very thin and gaunt and coughed excessively into a handkerchief, between his words. "Also, I am inquiring as to the whereabouts of Mademoiselle Danielle Rochette. Do you know her?"
"Sir Francis is occupied at the present. He will be down shortly." She tried to make her voice remain calm, though she was quaking internally. She was in England. Nothing could happen to them here. "I am Danielle Rochette, monsieur. What may I do for you?"
The officer nodded to his men who quickly came up to Danielle. One stood on each side of her and grabbed her arms in a tight grip. The anemic looking one spoke. "I am to inform you, mademoiselle, that you are under arrest. The charge is treason against the French crown!"
"No!" she yelled trying to yank her arms away from the two men holding her so securely. "You can’t arrest me! This is not France. You have no jurisdiction here! Let me go, at once!" In vain, she tried to free herself from the bruising grip the men had on her arms.
A snide look crossed the officer’s face, before he doubled over in a coughing spasm. When he righted himself, he continued.
"This island may be ruled by the crown of England, but I might inform you that you are sixty-five miles from the shores of Britain. Take her to the ship! And send in some men to deal with Sir Francis. Get this business over with as quickly as possible!" he ordered. When he marched out the door, he was followed by the two soldiers on both sides of Danielle forcing her forward. They painfully wrenched her arms in their haste.
The Gypsy Witch Page 22
