Love's Vengeance

by Dana Roquet

  His brittle regard fell upon her and Desiree’s stomach fluttered with the brief encounter. Then he abruptly turned on his heels, going about his duties and the next hour flew by as the men prepared to land at Portsmouth.

  ***

  Stephen led the women up the narrow cobblestone path toward town and Desiree found herself looking at the foreheads of the men passing by for the brand Stephen had once told her indicated punishment from years past but she saw none. They walked amid a throng of people—men dressed in buckskin tunics and long breeches, women in styles subdued but not unlike France. Desiree noticed a peculiar absence of small children that lined the streets of Le Havre, begging for food or coin. All children seemed to be in the company of their parents and all were dressed well, if not particularly clean.

  A few shops dotted the road and Desiree stopped to admire a window displaying fine furniture. The styles were elegant, wonderfully carved—with brightly stuffed cushions.

  Stephen noticed her halting and stopped beside her, “Most of the finer arts of Europe are slowly being transported here. Wood for the making of furniture is abundant and there are local craftsman so imports of such are no longer in demand.”

  Desiree nodded her affirmation and looked away, losing interest in her browsing. Stephen shrugged his shoulders, with a shake of his head and continued on his way.

  As they walked close behind the captain so as not to lose him in the crowd, from somewhere up ahead, a shrill squeal above the bustle caught their attention and from out of the crowd, a young girl emerged. Dressed in a dark crimson gown, she stood out like a sore thumb and to Desiree’s surprise she rushed up and flung herself into Stephen’s arms. Desiree was taken aback by the ardent kiss she placed upon his mouth, in broad daylight and in public no less.

  The girl’s décolletage was indecently low, nearly spilling her charms forth, as she crushed herself against Stephen’s broad chest and Desiree felt her ire coming up. When the girl finally pulled back, she was truly shocked to see how young she was, possibly a bit younger than herself and so brazen. She was absolutely enthralled with Captain Colter.

  She was pretty, Desiree conceded, with auburn hair in bouncy cascading ringlets, falling about her shoulders, striking features, full lips. But it could be easily assumed by her daring garb that she was a serving maid, probably from a local tavern. The captain did not seem ruffled by the familiarity of the girl, in fact, he had welcomed her happily and his arms had come about her slightly buxom figure with ease, a broad grin breaking out upon his face.

  “Stephen Colter!” She cried with pleasure. “I haven’t seen ye for nigh on to six months now, luv. It’s been so long—too long!” Her eyes flitted down his frame, resting indecently long on his well fitting breeches, “Say ye will be comin’ to the Commons this eve. Ye will be won’t ye?” She beamed hungrily.

  Stephen inclined his head to the two standing beside him and Desiree’s eyes caught his for a moment. She glared at him, for once without looking away.

  “I have an errand to run first Lass.” He smiled broadly at the giddy girl, “Heather you do my sorry state good. Missed me did you?” he chuckled, ignoring Desiree’s glare.

  Heather opened her mouth to reply but looking past him to the two women instead pulled him close, whispering quietly in his ear and he roared with laughter.

  “I’ll see you later sweet. After I deposit my passengers safely at their destination.” He promised with a wink.

  Desiree watched the girl Heather pout prettily, kicking idly at the cobblestones with a slippered foot and then lace her fingers before her. "I’ll be waitin’ for ye.” She assured with another kiss and flounced off down toward the docks.

  Stephen turned to Desiree and Bridgett momentarily, “Sorry ladies, I hope your delicate sensibilities were not offended. The lady meant no harm. She is quite young and ardent.”

  His eyes purposefully fell to Desiree’s and she could feel the color coming up in her cheeks. She glared at him, angry and hurt, although she did not completely understand why. It was none of her business what he did, or with whom. Yet she felt as if the young woman and he shared some secret together, of which she was well aware, but an outsider. The feeling of envy was most disturbing.

  He led the way again without another look at her and soon they arrived before a large two-story house. It was whitewashed, with flowerbeds in late bloom, adorning the foundation. It was a fine home, Desiree thought, large and gracious. A tower atop the roof, circled by a banister caught her eye and she wondered what purpose it served. She wanted to ask Stephen but thought better of it. He opened a black wrought iron gate and she entered, leaving him at the fence.

  Stephen waited at the gate as they knocked upon the door and a young servant opened the portal. The two followed the girl inside and the door closed. Just like that—they were gone, without a word of farewell. With a sigh of relief, he thought, “Free of that unnerving woman at last. Now I can clear her from my mind and get back to my normal state.” With a lighthearted whistle, he started down the road, feeling the weight of the past weeks lifting.

  ***

  The maid allowed Desiree and Bridgett into the front hall and when Desiree informed her of her name and relationship to her mistress, the girl curtsied and hurried off to find the lady of the house.

  While waiting, Desiree looked about the rooms visible from the front hall, taking note of the steep staircase stretching to the second floor. Finely polished oak banisters glistened in the late morning sun, spilling in from a small window at the top of the case. The floors were polished until they glowed with brilliant luster.

  The furniture was handsome and had an English air about it, not as ornate or fragile as French styles. A mammoth stone fireplace took up the majority of one wall on the far side of a spacious front room.

  Bridgett watched Desiree’s face, looking for some sign of her mood concerning the abrupt leaving of the captain, without so much as a word to Desiree or herself. He had looked as if he had wanted to say something, just as they entered the gate leaving him there, but had decided against it. This occurrence held with the mood of late, which had developed aboard ship, leaving her very much baffled.

  ***

  Within minutes gleeful laughter preceded Colette Dubois as she rushed through the front room with arms outstretched toward Desiree, “Oh my sweet! How you have grown! Bridgett my dear, how are you?” She squeezed Bridgett’s hand in her own; then embraced Desiree once more.

  Taking both Desiree’s hands, she held her back to get a better look, “Oh you have grown so very beautiful! You are the image of your mother at your age. What on earth are you doing here? Are your parents with you? How are they?” She gushed excitedly.

  Desiree was in confusion. She had sent word of the accident months ago, well before they had begun their journey, “Didn’t you receive my letter?”

  “No, not for six months, at least. What is it Desiree?” Colette could see something amiss in her niece’s face and fear gripped her.

  “Come.” Desiree urged, leading Colette by the hand into the front room and taking a seat beside her upon a sofa.

  “Aunt Colette—Mama and Papa were both killed in a carriage accident months ago—in May. I sent word to you then—honestly I did.”

  Colette covered her mouth in horror and she sobbed, grieving the loss of her sister and brother in law as though the events were fresh and new. Desiree found herself swept into the mourning as well and they held one another as Bridgett helped her to relate the events, which had prompted their visit.

  ***

  It was much later, when the shock began to subside that the three sat, shaken and drained, sipping at warm tea. They talked of their immediate plans for the future and Colette assured them, they would be welcome in her home for as long as they wished to remain.

  Desiree smiled softly at her dear aunt who looked so similar to her own mother, feeling very happy she had decided to make this trip. Colette seemed to have lost some of the gaiety and laug
hter that had once shown in her face but then her memory of her was limited. They had been in the colonies for over ten years now but she did remember how much she had loved her mother’s older sister. She was still beautiful, with the same dark hair and eyes her mother had possessed and yet her features were subdued, while her mothers had been as she had inherited, very defined and vivid.

  “Mum the ladies rooms are readied.” The young maid who had shown them in stated from the front hall.

  “Thank you Theresa I will show them myself.” Colette said dismissing the maid; then smiled brightly at Desiree, “Shall we?”

  ***

  “Here we are.” Colette announced stopping at a second floor room and opening the door, preceded them in, “I am afraid we have dispensed with sitting rooms over here altogether. It is simply impossible to keep such large areas warm in the winter.” she shrugged, watching Desiree take in her new quarters.

  “It’s lovely.” Desiree remarked approvingly.

  The room was light and airy with a sloping ceiling following the steep roof. Two window seats were nuzzled in alcoves formed by dormers. A plush yellow rug lightened the dark walnut floor and the same yellow was carried throughout the room with the spread and canopy of a poster bed and draperies at the windows. After so many weeks at sea, on a small lumpy pallet, the heavy feather ticking of the bed felt like heaven as Desiree took a seat there.

  “Desiree dear, while I show Bridgett to her room, why don’t you stay and rest. We can talk more later.” Colette suggested, seeing Desiree relish the unfamiliar comfort.

  “Thank you Aunt Colette. I am rather worn and this glorious bed is calling to me.” She sighed.

  The door closed behind them and Desiree removed her hat, placing it upon a dressing table, then walking to a window seat; she reclined in the cozy alcove, leaning back against the wall and looking out at the busy street below. Large old trees dotted the lane here and there, heavy horse drawn carts rumbled down a cobblestone road. Watching one pass by, she followed it with her eyes until it cleared the end of the lane, heading toward the docks.

  As the cart turned the corner, she saw a man in tan breeches and a simple white shirt, striding down the road, with hair the color of spun gold—with a certain gait to his walk. Stephen Colter—there was no mistaking him. He turned toward the dock area and then disappeared from view. She wondered where he had been, causing him to just now be returning to his ship. He had left them here, more than an hour ago. “Probably giving some woman a helping of his charm.” she thought with jealous ire.

  Reminding herself that it was none of her affair, Desiree stood from the seat dismissing him from her mind. She lay across the large expanse of the canopied bed and it seemed that before her head touched the down filled pillows she fell into a very comfortable sleep.

  Through a blur of rolling, frothing waves, the light blond curls and brown eyes loomed in gigantic proportions just above the crest of the thundering sea. She ran along the deck of the Windward, grasping the rail and raising on her toes to catch a glimpse, unable to keep him in sight as the ocean roared forlornly about her.

  Abruptly he was there beside her on the deck. His hands were folded, hanging over the rail as he leaned his arms there. The wind rippled his shirt and ruffled his hair as he gazed solemnly across the open ocean. He seemed unaware of her and she drank in his presence greedily studying his face, which at the moment was expressionless. The eyes were so dark that on another man they might appear evil or menacing but they were twinkling—warm and rich on him. The lips were closed gently—not full, not thin. Oh how she longed to feel those lips possessing her own. To be lost in the warmth of those eyes or see the flash of a cocky grin and the dimples that appeared at those times. He was so close and yet seemed a world away from her.

  The scene changed once more and then all of a sudden she was in his cabin, moving beside a bed where he lay deep in sleep. She watched his naked chest rise and fall with the slow regular rhythm of his breathing. The soft expression of slumber gave almost a boyish quality to his handsome face.

  She reached out to caress the furry softness of his chest and spoke his name in a whisper. His eyes opened and he smiled, reaching out to roll her over his body and onto the bed beside him. Her arms encircled his neck while his lips tested hers and she eagerly returned his kiss.

  “You do care don’t you Desiree? You do want me.”

  “Oh yes Stephen, so very much.”

  He chuckled then grew serious, “No pain—this is a gift for sharing.”

  He moved atop her and she welcomed him happily, holding him to her as his body possessed hers totally. She kissed him fiercely and then all at once he gasped, pulling back from her with a moan. His face was contorted with pain as he slipped from the bed, staggering to his feet. That is when she saw it—from out of nowhere, the hilt of the blue sapphire dagger protruded from his belly. He stared at her in amazement and she screamed his name as he fell to the floor.

  ***

  The late afternoon sun shone through the sheers when Desiree came abruptly awake. Tears slipped down her face unchecked, feeling a horrible loss, feeling heartbroken. The dream was still vivid in her mind until conscious rational brought her back to reality and she was spared, once more, the torture of what she had imagined she had done.

  The door opened suddenly and Bridgett hurried to the bedside, “Desiree I heard you call out child. Are you all right?”

  Desiree covered her face with her arm, “It was only a dream.” she whispered, hiding her tears from her nurse.

  “Dinner will be served soon and your uncle is downstairs. Would you like to go down now?”

  “Oh Oui of course. Would you help me to change for dinner?” she sat up and wiped her eyes with the back of her hands.

  “I will just call for your luggage. It was left in the front hall because you were sleeping.”

  Bridgett hurried out and Desiree rose from the bed, moving about the unfamiliar room. Stopping to look out the window to the place she had last glimpsed Stephen, her mind went again to the dream. The feeling of loss still persisted. A heaviness in her heart that made her want to burst into sobs.

  “Get out of my mind.” She whispered, with her forehead against the cool windowpane. “Please leave me alone.”

  ***

  Desiree came fluidly down the stairs to be greeted by her uncle’s smiling face, “Desiree is that you my dearest?” he teased. “Surely not! Our Desiree was as skinny as a rail, with tousled hair and all legs as I recall.”

  Desiree stopped upon the stairs, her rich satin gown of lilac frothing about her and smiled mischievously, “Surely you sir can not be my Uncle Maurice! Why—he was as tall as a tree and no growth of bristles covered his dear face.” She shook her head.

  “Get down here, you impudent child and give your uncle a hug!” he ordered, holding open his arms. Desiree hurried down the last few steps and into his embrace.

  “Oh my sweet Desiree, Colette told me of the sad fate of your dear family. I can not begin to express my sorrow for your loss. How are you, truly?” He set her upon her feet before him.

  “Uncle Maurice merci. I truly am better now. I miss them terribly but each day that passes brings less pain. I am coming to terms with my loss. I feel journeying here was a wise decision on my part. I am very happy to be here. I only wish that it would not have been a tragedy, to finally bring me to your home.” She placed a light kiss upon his cheek, “What possessed you to become a hairy bear?” she teased, touching his coarse whiskers.

  “The cold winters my dear. You shall see in but a few short months. You shall be taken to heavy mittens and woolen stockings as are the rest of our hardy lot.” He chuckled, taking her arm and leading her to the dining room.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Within a few short days Desiree had settled in, comfortable with the surroundings, and enchanted with the town of Portsmouth. Her dreams were still plagued by Captain Colter and he would come to her offering her pleasures and warmth sh
e longed to share with him still but now that the burden that she might be with child had been lifted she was able to relax and enjoy her Aunt Colette’s hospitality wholeheartedly.

  One morning the three women strolled leisurely up the cobblestone path edging the road that led to the main street of town. Colette did not own a carriage, an unheard of idea in France, but Portsmouth was so condensed that all parts could be comfortably journeyed to on foot and Desiree found the walk invigorating.

  Arriving at the main street, the walks were crowded with Colonials, as they favored calling themselves, going about their daily routines. The three glanced at the carts they passed, admiring the wares, stopping here and there to browse through the goods.

  Colette was at one such cart, fingering a bolt of heavy wool; thinking aloud of the winter and the need for heavy undergarments again coming upon them. Desiree touched the coarse fabric; almost recoiling as Colette spoke of the heavy pantaloons she could make. The idea of such roughness against her skin was uncomfortable for Desiree to even imagine.

  Glancing ahead down the street, Desiree happened to catch sight of a man. Pale blond curls gleamed in the sun and then in a blink he was gone, blocked from her view by the tricorn of a man before her on the walk. Her heart seemed to miss a beat.

  As they started off once more, Desiree walked on tiptoes briefly, trying to catch sight of him again. He was stopped, speaking with a hawker, and as they approached she held her breath in anticipation. His head turned and she expected the warm dark eyes, the lean suntanned face but it was not to be. The man was much older, with milky white skin, an obtrusive nose and a pointed chin. She nearly moaned out loud in anguish and quickly tried to turn her attention to Bridgett and Colette as they chatted gaily beside her but it was no use and thoughts of Stephen flooded her head.