Secrets In Savannah (Phantom Knights)

by Amalie Vantana

  She sniffed and shrugged a defiant shoulder. “I left a note.” She grabbed my hands, holding them imploringly. “Can I stay, Jack? Please. I knew that if anyone understood my need to help, it would be you. Please.”

  As much as I wanted to put her back on a boat to Charleston, I could not do it. Her spirit reminded me of Bess when we were younger. Charlotte had stayed beside me while I recovered from Lucas shooting me. She went so far as to refuse to go to parties just so that I would have someone to talk to during my confinement. I owed her a debt.

  Sam and Bess would be in Savannah within a week, so all that I needed to do was to see that she came to no harm until then.

  “You may stay.”

  She shrieked and threw herself against me as the door opened.

  Guinevere and Hannah stood upon the threshold, neither looking amused.

  Pulling Charlotte’s hands from my coat, I placed my arm around her shoulders and led her to Hannah. “Charlotte is to remain with us for the week. Charlotte Mason, allow me to present Mrs. Hannah Lamont. She will be your companion while you are here.”

  Hannah smirked, and Charlotte frowned. “I do not require a nursemaid, Jack!”

  “Oh-ho, a fine thanks that is,” Hannah said. She stepped forward, standing nearly eye level with Charlotte. “Count your good fortunes, child, for if it were up to us,” she motioned between herself and Guinevere, “you would be on the first boat back from whence you came and no mistake.”

  “So I do.” Char turned her back on Hannah, taking my arm and leading me toward the fireplace. “I cannot believe this slander against Uncle George. He would never harm any person. Surely you know that, Jack.”

  “He is not the same man that you know, Char. He has indeed taken Guinevere’s sister. He told us so.”

  Charlotte sighed. “Then you should know that I met a man aboard the ship who was charged with procuring lodgings for a large party. They are to occupy an Inn called the Pirates House in two days’ time.”

  Guinevere and Hannah looked as if they did not believe her, but I did. It was just such a place that George would stay because it would be the last place people would search for someone of his mien.

  “What shall we do first?” Charlotte asked.

  “After such a fatiguing journey, you should rest, child. Jack, Guinevere, and I have a party to attend, but I am sure that Mrs. Short shall send you up some broth to your chamber.”

  “A party! How fortuitous that I thought to bring my best frock.” Charlotte eyed Hannah as one would a bug. “I do so hope that you can arrange hair like a proper maid, but I shall not hold my breath.” Charlotte floated out of the room, and I swallowed my desire to laugh as Guinevere and Hannah turned on me.

  “Have you lost all of your good sense?” Hannah demanded. “The child will ruin all, mark my words.” Hannah took Guinevere’s arm and swept her from the room.

  Leo leaned against the door with his arms crossed and a slight amused rise to his brows.

  “I am quite certain that when the good Lord created patience he did so because he had dealt with women,” I mused.

  “Indeed.”

  òòò

  Guinevere had not been lying when she said she would have to see what she could sew to wear to the party. As she had not planned on attending any parties, she had not brought any suitable dresses. When Hannah told me, because Guinevere never would, I had sent Hannah out to find the most suitable gown she could. Expense did not matter. I wanted Guinevere to be the best dressed woman at the party. As she came down the stairs that evening, Hannah had exceeded my wishes.

  Ivory lace covered her gown in delicate artwork and complimented her auburn hair that was atop her head with a glittering diamond pin nestled in the curls. I knew that I had never seen a more angelic looking woman. I also knew that if she did not agree to marry me soon, I would quite possibly do something to entrap her. With Guinevere’s audacity, it would have to be something extreme.

  Stepping nearer, I spoke for her ears alone. “I struggle for the right words to describe your beauty, for what I wish to say cannot be spoken before company.”

  Instead of blushing, she smiled. “Then we are in the same predicament.” My brows rose so high they hurt. She laughed. “I cannot find the proper words to thank you, Jack, for all of this.”

  “I can think of seven words that you could say,” I informed her, leaning next to her ear. “Yes, Jack, I will marry you tonight.”

  “Would it extricate us from the duty of attending this party?” she asked and I assured her that it would. She appeared to contemplate it, and I found myself holding my breath.

  It was Charlotte who interrupted, saying that we had to set out, or we would be late. Hannah and Guinevere followed her out the door, the latter looking rather disappointed. I knew I had her; it was only a matter of time.

  The drive was short, only around to the other side of the square. As I escorted them into the house, we were the first of the guests to arrive and as we walked toward Mrs. Stanton, I pressed Guinevere’s hand reassuringly. I was determined that the old woman’s opinion of my bride would be changed, and Hannah had done wonders in helping my goal.

  Mrs. Stanton and Dudley, who was dressed with precision and elegance, were standing in a parlor as we walked in.

  Mrs. Stanton greeted me heartily, and when her eyes glanced over Guinevere then moved to Hannah only to immediately flip back to Guinevere, I inwardly cheered. One for the Martins!

  “Well, well,” she said then gave me a look that could only be described as roguish. “Your wife does clean up well. Dressed like this, I can see why you married her. Lovely.”

  “Thank you, ma’am,” Guinevere said sweetly before holding her hand out to Dudley.

  As he bowed over it, I heard what he said to her. “I am glad that you and Jack married. He deserves to be happy.” Dudley then added, “Oh, and you do as well I am sure. Did not mean to imply that I wished you were not happy. Don’t wish anyone to be unhappy. Well, possibly some merchants. Robbers are what some of them are. I met this one who wanted to charge me three times the price for a particular waistcoat because he said it was imported silk. Imported my heel. Made in Delaware more like. Well I told him that he could take his waistcoat and—”

  “Dud, have you met Miss Mason?” I interrupted before he could say more. “Allow me to present Miss Charlotte Mason, the sister of Bess’s husband.”

  “Oh, by Jove. Yes, indeed. Miss Mason, you honor our humble abode with your loveliness.” Dud bowed over her hand in his usual flourish and Char giggled. I left her to Dud’s charms as more guests were arriving.

  Mrs. Stanton instructed us where to stand beside her so that we could be introduced to all of her guests. We met some thirty or so persons and with each one I was searching their eyes and faces for recognition, but none came except for Andrew.

  When Mrs. Stanton dismissed us from our posts, I immediately went for the champagne, giving a glass to Guinevere before drinking mine down in one try.

  Charlotte’s enthusiasm over seeing her cousin and Andrew had caused the beginning of an ache in my head. It grew to a tumultuous throb when Anne Crawford asked Charlotte to stand up with her at the wedding in two days.

  Hannah and I alternated staying close to Charlotte and Guinevere. Guinevere did not need us to protect her, but we felt safer with one of us watching over her should one of the guests not be whom they presented themselves as.

  Throughout the evening, Guinevere conducted herself with modesty and consideration for others.

  When Dud approached me, I left Guinevere to Hannah and moved apart to speak with him while Char was with Mrs. Stanton.

  “I was surprised to hear that you had moved from Philadelphia.”

  “Ah, yes,” Dud said before taking a sip from his glass. “It was a difficult decision for me but after,” he paused and his contemptuous gaze bore into the back of Andrew’s head as his voice lowered, “the scandal, I found that city to hold too many painful memories.”
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  As much as I wanted to believe Dud’s sincerity, I could not. Dud and Hannah had been at an Inn together. They were involved, and it was more probable that it was the end of that which drove Dud from the city.

  If Dudley cared for her enough to flee the city after her, what was standing in the way of his making her more than a passing fancy? And why did Dud feel that he had to hide his feelings toward her?

  “It did turn out well for Bess in the end. I think you would like Sam, and you should see his book room. Two stories full of books,” I said, watching his face closely.

  He smiled in earnest. “I wish them all the happiness in the world. Bess deserves it.”

  Dudley and I spoke about a few more friends from Philadelphia, but my gaze hardly left Guinevere.

  She was surrounded by a group of young women close to her age. Their smiles were not quite genuine, and when they kept glancing at me, I asked Dudley if his mother knew about my fortune. He looked rather guiltily at me as he told me that she got it out of him. It was not his fault, as I told him, but I could see that all of Mrs. Stanton’s friends were aware. Guinevere looked as if she was about to say something cutting, so I began making my way to her side.

  “There you are,” Mrs. Stanton said as she stepped in my path. “Your Miss Mason is quite the social darling. She does not know a stranger. I understand that your sister and her husband are to arrive soon. We must arrange another such occasion to celebrate her marriage.”

  “Perhaps—” I tried to say, but she interrupted with a rap of her fan against my arm.

  “Yes, I know of Dudley’s past ardor for your sister, but my dearest darling is such a kind boy. He never thinks ill of anyone.”

  Except merchants. “I am sure that my sister would enjoy that, but she would not want you to put yourself to so much bother on her account. She and Sam will be staying at the plantation so perhaps a small dinner out there would be more appropriate for their wedding trip. My sister and my wife shall call upon you to arrange it.”

  “Jack, Mrs. Lamont tells me that she and your wife have always been friends,” Dudley said as he and Hannah came to my rescue, or so it appeared as they flanked me. “Now we both know that is a falsehood. She also says that you do indeed ride well. I could not believe it.”

  “I would not say well, but I do try. My wife enjoys morning rides through the countryside, you understand. As to the other, I am sure that Mrs. Lamont considers herself friends with every person that she truly means to vanquish. It is the mark of a skillful woman.”

  Dudley’s brow cleared. “Ah, yes. That is it. Machiavellianism.”

  “Truly, gentlemen, you are ridiculous. I have always had a fondness for Guinevere. If we have seemed at odds with one another, I assure you it was a farce. Two of a kind, I do assure you.”

  Oh, but I hoped that was not true. I liked Hannah well enough, but I would never want to be married to her. “Speaking of Guinevere, where is she?” I asked as I looked around the crowded room.

  Charlotte was in the middle of a lively group of young men; Mrs. Stanton was surrounded by elderly women, but I did not see Guinevere.

  “There she is,” Dud said, pointing across the room.

  As a gap appeared in the crowd, I saw her.

  The devil! My gut clenched as full, deep rage struck me. Lucas Marx was seated beside Guinevere.

  CHAPTER 13

  guinevere

  Mrs. Stanton’s friends were as welcoming to me as she was, which amounted to not at all. They smiled and complimented my attire, but they were as genuine as my name. It seemed that Mrs. Stanton had done well in making everyone believe that Jack had married beneath him. I was nothing more than an orphan and a fortune hunter. The laughable part was; I was neither.

  “Do pardon me, ladies, but I must speak with the guest of honor.”

  That voice raked across my skin, and a force like fire tore down my spine. What was he doing here?

  Panic set in, and my hand instinctively reached for my pistol, but I stopped myself and forced my expression blank. My tight hold on my emotions faltered when he took my arm in a strong clasp.

  Lucas Marx looked the same as when I was a child, eight years having hardly affected him, though the lines at the corners of his mouth I did not remember. I had thought as much when I first saw him on the day that I was about to marry Jack.

  Jack!

  Looking around the room as Lucas lead me to a sofa in the corner, I saw Jack standing with Dudley and Hannah. From his air of unconcern, he had not seen Lucas yet.

  The hand on my elbow tightened and as I glanced up at Lucas, he smiled. The lines curved, giving him a rather sinister appearing mouth. The gleam in his eyes made me nauseous.

  How he came to be in Mrs. Stanton’s house was highly suspicious and alarming. Though I needed to speak with Jack at once, I could not allow Lucas anywhere near him. Not only would Jack not hesitate to shoot Lucas if he saw him again, but I did not want Lucas speaking with Jack. Lucas had a way of spinning webs of deceit which surely would have increased in eight years.

  I felt the nausea creeping up from my stomach, and my nerves were quickly fraying, but I forced myself to remain calm, to all outward appearances at least.

  “Might I be so bold as to request the privilege of procuring you some champagne?”

  To be poisoned? I think not. “No, thank you, sir, I am not thirsty,” I said, on the edge of rudeness.

  His eyes, the color of mud, were daring me to make a commotion. I knew him well enough to know a trap was set before me.

  We moved a little away from the groups of people, to the far corner of the room. I sat on the furthest side of a sofa, almost on the edge, and Lucas sat beside me, too close for my comfort.

  “Mr. Marx?” I asked with a mocking note to the name. There had been no opportunities to speak with him when he captured me before, so I had not questioned him about his false identity.

  He smiled as he ran his tongue over his teeth. I looked away, placing a hand to my churning stomach.

  “Guinevere. That name is a stroke of brilliance. That and the hair. It is no wonder that it has taken us this long to locate you.”

  There was no point in pretending that I did not know what he meant. He knew who I was, and I knew him better than I wished.

  “My uncle?”

  “Ah, Uncle Luther. He will be overjoyed to learn that we have been reunited. Now all that is left is to be joined by your dear sister and we will once again be a happy family.”

  “You are not family,” I hissed through gritted teeth, “nor will you ever be.”

  “Tut-tut, my dear.” He leaned toward me with his arm resting on the back of the sofa and his finger playing with the lace on my sleeve. I scooted away from his finger but had nowhere else to go.

  “Where is your sister?” The casual tone to his voice belied the seriousness of the question.

  “Someplace you will never find her.” My voice was so cold that I barely recognized it, but it matched the anger and fear burning inside me.

  Lucas smiled at me as if I were some child to be placated. “Such spirit, such temper. You need to be broke to bridle.” He looked around the room, still smiling. “I do believe that I will persuade Luther to let me have you when we return home.” His smile hardened, and so did his voice. “Though the husband does present a problem. One that I mean to rectify permanently this time.”

  My eyes followed his gaze to where Jack was standing, watching us with such fury on his face that it frightened me. Jack stepped toward us, but I shook my head, and he stopped, his eyes narrowing in on Lucas. He moved toward Dudley and Hannah instead and the three began speaking in low voices.

  Charlotte was watching us from the group that surrounded her. She appeared too interested to me. If she was going to try to make mischief, I would remove her from here regardless of Jack’s wishes.

  “I am not the same girl that I once was. You can no longer threaten me with your vicious words dripping with poison, and your despic
able attacks.”

  “No,” he murmured as if to himself. “I see that I cannot.” His gaze moved about the room, a smile hovering on his lips. “What could you have been thinking by agreeing to marry him, I wonder?”

  Lucas was once again watching me, with eyes as hard as stone.

  “My husband is no concern of yours. Let us speak of something that does concern you.” Lucas’s eyebrows rose. “You, and your little group of actors are going to get back on your ship and sail away tomorrow.”

  Lucas laughed and pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, dabbing at his eyes. “My girl, you are a treasure.”

  “I assure you that I am in earnest. I have an army, Lucas, one that is prepared to fight at a word from me. I am giving you the opportunity to flee with your life.”

  Lucas was still smiling, but his eyes were ablaze. “You lie.”

  “I have had years here. Years spent building a following who are prepared to lay down their lives for me and my sister. You are grossly outnumbered.” It may or may not have been a lie.

  “Ah, but I will not be for long, my dear. You see,” he leaned toward me, and I leaned away, “your uncle is on his way here, and he is bringing all of his guards. Your little band of farmers are no equal for the skills of the royal guards.”

  “You will not leave?”

  He laughed again. “My dear, I only just arrived but a few months ago. I will leave when Luther deems it time, and you and your sister will be with us.”

  “Then this is war,” I said with the same steel in my voice that was there when I met with Harvey. I stood and smoothed out my skirt as Lucas stood next to me.

  He leaned close to my ear, and I could feel his breath on my neck. “I wonder if your husband knew you were signing his death certificate when he married you.” I stayed facing Jack, not looking at Lucas as he stepped around me. He looked over his shoulder at me, his smile a warning. “He will soon enough.”

  My body was shaking, but I forced my head up high as I walked toward Jack. He met me in the middle of the room.