Suddenly she gasped and stiffened. Was it possible? Surely she was seeing things…
“What is it?” Her mother, who was lying down on the bed, sat straight up and stared in alarm. “What do you see?”
“I thought I saw Mr. Garris just now,” Julie whispered incredulously. “But it couldn’t have been. He’s probably well on his way out to sea by now, though this man looked just like him. He was staring up at this window, and when he saw me looking, he ducked into an alley and disappeared.”
“You’re just tired, dear,” her mother sighed, lying back down. “Try to take a nap, and you’ll feel better. Mr. Garris has no reason to be in Bermuda. His captain got everything he wanted.”
Julie continued to watch the activities below while her mother slept. No matter how hard she tried to control them, her thoughts kept creeping back to Derek. He was a beast…but a beautiful beast. Her body flushed with warmth when she remembered the sight of him naked. Oh, what a magnificent body, perfectly formed, hard-muscled, sinewy, tantalizing. And he’d been a glorious lover. Right or wrong, she thought guiltily, she had to admit to herself that she had enjoyed his every kiss and caress.
He could be so gentle one moment, then almost painfully brutal the next, but she had thrilled to it all. Never had she known such a man, and she probably never would again. She wondered sadly if she would fantasize that it was actually Derek touching her every time Virgil took her in his arms. His brand had been left upon her body, her very soul, and never, no matter how hard she tried, would she be able to forget him.
I have to. She gritted her teeth, clenching her hands at her sides. I meant nothing to him. I was just another woman, one of many. I’m a fool to keep thinking about him.
And suppose he’d been right about Virgil? She felt a stab of fear. What if he was an impostor? But no. Derek didn’t know what he was talking about. He was only trying to frighten her into changing her mind about marriage, make her want to become his mistress. He was wrong. He had to be.
Finally she assuaged her conscience by reaching the firm conclusion that any normal woman would be smitten with a man like Derek. She had no reason to be ashamed. A skilled lover with a magnificent body, he knew exactly how to use that body to make a woman writhe with pleasure and joy. He was also intriguingly handsome. What female could resist him? Julie owed no apology to herself over the fact that she had been unable to deny herself or him. Her guilt, she decided, lay in the knowledge that she could not now put him out of her mind.
When Mrs. Odom brought their supper tray, she remarked that their servant was enjoying herself immensely. “She gets along well with Demora, the island girl who’s been with me for several years now. They’re going marketing in the morning and wanted me to ask if you two would like to accompany them.”
“Mother, let’s do,” Julie said, unable to contain her excitement over the prospect of looking around the island once again.
“Well…” Mrs. Marshal shook her head doubtfully. “I don’t think so, dear. True, there would be four of us, but—”
“I don’t have much to wear on board ship, since my luggage was left behind,” Julie pointed out. “I’m sure Virgil wouldn’t object to our spending some of my dowry to buy me some suitable clothes.”
“I know a nice dress shop not too far from here,” Mrs. Odom offered. “They work quickly on alterations too.”
So the next morning the four women set out. Mammy Sara went to the vegetable and fruit market with Demora, and Julie and her mother visited the dress shop Mrs. Odom directed them to.
Julie let her mother select for her, as she really was not enthused about buying clothes. What she really wanted was to explore the beautiful countryside.
“Do you like this?” Her mother held up a pale mauve dress with a lace overskirt. “And look at this lime velvet and the darling matching bonnet. Oh, they have so many lovely things here.”
Julie nodded at everything, dutifully trying on the garments for alterations.
“You have such a beautiful figure, madame,” the lady on her knees beside Julie talked around the pins she held in her mouth, “but you are such a tiny thing.”
“Isn’t she?” Her mother laughed admiringly. “Her waist is so tiny she’s never needed stays. And even though she doesn’t try to look provocative, her bosom pours from a normally designed bodice.”
Julie felt embarrassed. “Can we just hurry this along? I’d like time to take a walk, and we haven’t had lunch.”
Her mother looked out the shop window doubtfully. “I don’t know, dear. Even in the daylight hours, there’s such a crowd of men milling about.”
The dressmaker spoke up quickly. “Oh, it will be quite all right. There are certain sections where it might not be proper, where the bawdy houses are located, if you know what I mean.” She lowered her voice meaningfully, as though hating to mention such a subject.
They left the shop, returned to Mrs. Odom’s long enough to leave their purchases in their room, then set out on a walk through the narrow, cobbled streets. They were delighted to find a little sidewalk café where they were served rice cakes and fish.
It was while they were sipping tea after their meal that Julie glanced up and saw a man quickly duck his head behind a leafy hibiscus hedge. Her cup clattered noisily to her saucer. She looked again, but there was no movement around the green foliage.
“What is it, dear?” her mother asked, concerned.
Julie shook her head. “Nothing. Nothing at all.” She had to be imagining things again, and there was no need to upset her mother.
Mammy Sara and Demora passed by on their way from the market, and her mother said they should be getting back. “I’d like to have time for a nap before the night noises begin. I’m afraid I didn’t sleep very well last night.”
“You go right along,” Julie urged her. “We aren’t that far, and I can walk around in this area quite safely.”
“But it wouldn’t be proper for you to walk alone…”
“I insist, Mother. Please. I’d like to be alone for awhile.”
And before Mrs. Marshal could protest further, Julie arose and hurried away, leaving the three women staring after her.
She felt like breaking into song right there on the street. Alone at last! She could hardly believe her good fortune. Alone with hours of peace and solitude stretching before her. It was wonderful.
She walked toward the beach, stopping finally at the top of a ridge. She could not suppress the gasp that escaped her lips at the sight of the breathtaking beauty sprawled below. The clouds had parted, and the aqua waters of the ocean sparkled and gleamed in the bright sunshine. White puffs floated across the satin cerulean skies. Sea gulls darted and swooped in the air, calling out to each other melodically. The ships in the harbor stood at attention, white sails puffed out with the tropical breezes. Palm trees bent gently, their graceful green fronds dancing in the wind to an unheard rhythm.
“Gorgeous…” Julie whispered, lowering herself to the soft velvet grass beneath her. Even the Savannah River, with its graceful tree-lined banks and magical, murky waters, could not equal this ethereal sight. Here was another world, one which she felt she had entered only for a brief time. Still, she would be forever grateful for having been touched by such splendor.
There was no one about. Behind and beyond her, the island and docks teemed with life. But here on this gentle slope there was only tranquility. Julie could not remember ever having felt so relaxed.
Resting her chin on her knees, which she doubled up after tucking her billowing skirt about her ankles, she drank in everything before her. She had to remember this moment. Oh, if only she were an artist, she thought wistfully, and could capture this beauty for all time.
Her eyelids grew heavy. The serenity of the place was causing her to drift away. Lowering her body to the soft ground, she curled up and gave in to the tropical breezes and warm sun. Soon she was fast asleep.
The sound of distant laughter awoke her with a start. How l
ong had she slept? Blinking against the shroud of purple darkness, she could make out below the lanterns burning on ships, docks, and along the wharves.
Behind her, in town, the merrymaking for the evening had begun. Her mother would be frantic. Julie leaped to her feet, not taking time to smooth her skirt or brush away the damp grass that clung to it. She had but one thought: to hurry through those crowded streets and return to Mrs. Odom’s as quickly as possible. It was not safe to be out on the streets alone at night.
Just as she was nearing the edge of the thick palmettos and palm trees through which she had passed earlier to make her way to the ridge, something caused her to stop short. Turning about in a circle, slowly, her eyes searched the darkness.
It had to be the night wind, she thought nervously. It whistled through the rattling palm fronds with a sound that only made her imagine someone was calling her name. She took a deep breath, then started walking once again, her steps quick.
She heard it again and froze in her tracks. It was not her imagination, she realized. A man’s voice had whispered her name. She told herself not to be afraid. Her mother had probably found some men staying at the boarding house who had agreed to search for her. There was no need for hysteria.
Without looking to the left or right, she tried to keep her voice steady as she called, “Who’s there? Who calls to me?”
“I do, Julie.”
She whipped about at the sound, heart pounding as she strained to see his face in the darkness. She heard footsteps coming closer, moving slowly, deliberately, but from the direction whence she had just come. She felt frightened, and her heart was thumping. Frantically she wondered why he had been behind her.
“Who are you?” Julie demanded, trying to hide her bubbling hysteria as she took a few steps backwards. Could she break into a run and make it out of the shadows and into the streets where the people were, before he could catch up to her? Would anyone hear her if she screamed now? “Who are you, I say! Don’t come any closer to me.”
“You’ve no reason to be afraid, Julie. It’s me, Edsel Garris.”
He stepped into the halo of moonlight that filtered down from the purple sky. It touched his face, illuminating him with a ghostly silver glow.
“It is you!” Julie realized her legs had suddenly become as quivery as the palm fronds bending in the wind. She reached out to steady herself by placing her hand against a nearby tree. Her breathing was ragged, hoarse.
“Why are you here?” She forced the words past the apprehensive knot in her throat. “I thought you’d be on your way back to the Ariane. Isn’t it dangerous for you to be here?”
“So many questions,” he chuckled, moving to stand mere inches from her. “And there’s no time to answer them now. You see, Captain Guthrie and his crew were picked up by a passing ship this afternoon and brought into port. They’re combing the island for us now. We’re anchored off a remote point with a small boat that we ‘borrowed,’ and we’ll be leaving shortly. We set the Yankee steamer adrift, you see.”
Julie was bewildered. “Well, why do you risk being captured to come and see me? And how did you know I’d be here?”
Her mind danced suspiciously. Something was not right. Then she remembered the times she thought she had seen him and pointed an accusing finger. “It was you! You’ve been following me ever since we arrived here, and you were supposed to return at once to your own ship. You stayed—to follow me…and that’s how you knew I was here.”
The reality of her situation made her dizzy. “You watched while I slept, wanting darkness to come before I awoke. But why? What do you want from me?” She backed away, silently commanding her wobbly legs to move.
“It’s not me who wants you. It’s the captain. This was all planned before you ever left the ship. I’ve orders to take you back with me.”
“Are you insane?” she exploded, stunned. “My mother and I are leaving for England the day after tomorrow. I’m not going anywhere with you.”
He sighed impatiently. “Julie, I have explicit orders, so come along peacefully now. You won’t be hurt, and I don’t have time to stand here arguing.”
He moved forward.
She whirled about, ready to make a desperate attempt to run for the crowded streets. Surely someone would hear her screams and come to her aid.
But she found herself bumping into another man waiting to grab her as someone quickly stretched a foul-smelling rag around her face, covering her mouth to stifle her cries.
Struggling, she managed to free one hand to push the gag away as she cried, “Please don’t do this. I can’t go with you. My mother is waiting, and she’ll be worried sick…”
Edsel Garris clamped an arm tightly about her waist. “We can dispense with the gag, Julie, if you promise not to scream.”
“All right, all right,” she answered frantically. “Just tell me what Derek wants with me.”
“Everything is going to be all right.” He began to lead her away from the direction she had been headed and toward the dense woods and brush that led to the beach below. “You know you’ll be treated well. We wouldn’t hurt you. I’ve got my orders, and I’ll follow them.
“As for your mother,” he continued, “a message will be delivered to her within the hour, and she’ll know what’s become of you. She isn’t alone, you know. She has that old Negress with her.”
Julie was trapped, and she knew it. Several more crewmen emerged from hiding places and walked along with them. She was surrounded. “Just tell me why you’re doing this horrible thing,” she pleaded.
Garris took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Damn, he hated having to be so blunt, but it was obvious the girl was going to keep badgering him until he gave her an explanation. There was nothing to do but be completely truthful. “I believe, Julie, that Captain Arnhardt said something about a ransom.”
“A what?” she yelped, jerking to a stop only to be roughly yanked along. “He’s crazy! He has to be out of his mind. This is a crime…”
Her struggles were futile. “I might have known,” she cried to the wind. “I might’ve known the greedy bastard would want more money. But he won’t get it. My mother and Virgil will hire men to hunt him and all of you down. You can’t get away with this—”
“Julie, I’m going to have to gag you,” Edsel said quietly.
“No.” She lifted her chin defiantly. “You won’t. I’ll go with you.”
He raised an eyebrow suspiciously as he stared down at her in the moonlight. “Is this some sort of trick? As I said, we don’t want to have to get rough and maybe hurt you.”
“No, it’s not a trick. But mark my words, sir. Ironheart will rue the day he chose to make me his prisoner.” Her voice was frosty, ominous.
He chuckled. “Aye, I can surely believe that, Julie. I surely can.” He seemed relieved that there would be no more need to struggle with her, at least while he was in charge.
Chapter Ten
Derek sat at his desk, shoulders hunched wearily over the clutter of maps and charts. The lantern began to flicker. He wondered absently when it was last filled with oil. No matter. He didn’t need light simply to ponder.
Outside the wind swooped and shrieked, reminding him of sounds he’d once heard coming from one of those places where they put people who’ve gone mad. Such people howl more when there’s a full moon, someone had said. Derek wondered why, then shook his head, admonishing himself for letting his mind wander to subjects that didn’t matter. Nothing mattered except getting his ship through the blockade and safely into port at Wilmington. There was a hell of a lot of cotton in the hold. Rose Hill cotton, he thought with a smile of satisfaction.
He leaned back, throwing his long, trunklike legs up and propping his booted feet on the paper-strewn desk.
He thought of Virgil Oates. He hadn’t liked the man from the first time they’d met. He was pompous, the sort to flaunt whatever power he felt he had, trying to make people think he had money to go along with it. Soon he was go
ing to find out he’d been taken.
Derek chuckled out loud as he imagined how Oates would sputter and stew when he learned his beautiful bride-to-be had been kidnapped.
A quarter of a million in gold. It was a high price. When Garris had seen the amount scribbled on the ransom note, he’d accused Derek of not expecting, or actually wanting, the sum to be paid. He accused him of kidnapping Julie not to collect money but rather to have an excuse to keep her on board for his own pleasures.
Derek liked Garris. He was a trusted officer. But that accusation had almost brought the captain to violence. And Garris had sensed he’d aroused his ire to the danger point and had immediately become contrite.
Now Derek wondered why he’d let himself get so angry. Perhaps until that point he hadn’t realized his true intention himself. Someone else had had to make him see it.
There was no denying he was captivated by Julie’s rare and delicate beauty. He had studied her features as he would a maritime chart, remembering everything until he could close his eyes and still see her clearly in his mind—the sensual shape of her mouth, her misty green eyes, mysterious, beguiling.
And how well he remembered what it was like to touch her naked body, the skin creamy, silky…as though carved from the finest ivory—but not as cold and dead. Not Julie. She’d stopped playing games and pretending to be indignant over his possession of her body. She’d returned his kisses, his caresses, and he was aware that she wanted him physically in every way. They’d spent many enjoyable, passionate hours together.
He frowned and reached into the bottom desk drawer to remove a hidden flask of rum. He uncorked it, tilted it to his lips, and took a large swallow. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he cursed himself for being so weak as to need a drink.
Outside the ocean’s swells grew larger, making the boat roll and pitch higher and higher. Thunder could be heard in the distance, and now and then Derek could see a hot white zig-zag of lightning fork across the inky black sky. The storm that had been brewing for several days seemed to be gathering strength to unleash its full fury at last. When it hit, Derek would need all his wits about him. He couldn’t have his crew thinking he sat in his cabin getting soused on rum.
Souls Aflame Page 14
