Bittersweet Endeavors

by Tamara Ternie

  He looked at her disheveled appearance. Dirt still remained on her clothing from her cramped space when she hid in the walls, and he obviously assumed the worst. When Seth tried to continue onward, she grabbed his shirt with both her hands and set her heels firmly into the ground and prevented his departure.

  “Tis the truth, I wasn’t harmed,” she nearly shouted. “Only frightened.”

  “If it isn’t Zachary who has you frightened, then who?” he demanded.

  “Men of Zachary’s,” she said. “Come, we must leave.”

  Seth perused the dim hall. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

  “Aye, now we need to make haste before you’re seen,” she said, and Myra took him by the hand and he reluctantly followed her. They avoided the servants in the upper level of the house, and Seth ascended the steps, following Myra to her room.

  “Where’s Frederickson?”

  “He has gone out.”

  A blond brow rose. “Then that gives you ample time to explain what happened below…as well as in here,” he said, warily, when he noticed the room was in shambles by Zachary’s earlier outburst. “To risk summoning me here, it must have been very significant.”

  “I didn’t know what to do.” She turned her back to him and fought the urge to run into his arms and seek comfort. She wanted nothing more. Her insides churned from the threat that she and Lucia had escaped.

  “Your sister was in trouble and I didn’t know if I could help her all alone. As she is your family, and it’s your place to help her when in need. Tis why I sent for you.”

  “She’s not my sister,” he bit out.

  “How can you say that, Seth? She is your sister, and if you’ll look past your father’s sniveling, you’d see that there’s more love in Lucia’s heart for all of you than any of you know.”

  “You know how I feel when it comes to her.”

  ”Say her name, Seth. Not she, or her, or that maid, but Lucia! Your sister,” she practically shouted. It enraged her to know what Lucia endured, and yet he showed no regard to her or her wellbeing.

  “Lucia. All right, I said it.”

  Myra’s voice softened, almost into a whisper. “If only you’d give her a chance, Seth, you would see that she can be as much of a sister as Margaret, Patience, or Polly. Although she fears your scorn if she admits it aloud, she cares very much for all of you, Seth.”

  He didn’t say anything. Wandering to the window, he looked out. “I should take my leave before Frederickson returns,” he said, his tone cold. “If danger is lurking in the cellar, it may be best if you leave this house as well. I’ll escort you to safety, even back to my home, if you like.”

  “Oh no, your father would never allow it.” Myra didn’t want him to leave, especially since it was the last time she’d see him before his departure to England. “I’ll remain here for now. The men below frightened me, but they didn’t harm me. I think they are here on business with Zachary. I’m sorry I needlessly bothered you,” she said, and hoped she relieved his worry. She knew it wasn’t wise to have Seth distracted with worry prior to his quest in retrieving Mary. He’d need all his faculties intact.

  “Guests?” he asked. “Who dwell in the cellar? Odd accommodations Frederickson provides his callers,” Seth quipped. Seth touched her cheek in a soft caress. His eyes glistened gently in the warm hue of the candlelight. “Truly, Myra, are you all right?”

  She nodded but her insides still trembled with fear. The longer she looked at the kindness within his eyes, the more she wanted to be held by him. “I’m fine, Seth.” She put on her bravest smile and led him to her door.

  “I need to know you’ll be all right. Did these guests touch you, Myra? Harm you in anyway? When your maid—” He rolled his eyes when she gave him a stern look. “When Lucia met me down the lane, she said you were in grave danger.”

  “I was in no danger,” she lied.

  “I don’t like this, Myra. You know as well as I, there’s something amiss here. If he has strangers lurking about, especially hidden beneath his home, they could be associated with Frederickson’s illegal trading.”

  “So you’ve heard the rumors as well?”

  “I don’t think there are many who haven’t. It’s well confirmed by the supplies he’s been selling, for they haven’t arrived on any ship by way of a reputable company.”

  “Those men, in the cellar,” she finally admitted. “They were pirates, Seth. All of them, full-fledged pirates!” she said, and her eyes widened. She grabbed Seth’s arm to prevent him from quitting the room. “Nay, you cannot go back down there.”

  “I cannot let you stay here,” he said incredulously. “In only a short few hours, I’ll set sail for England,” he reminded. “I’ll not leave you here with them. Tis bad enough that I’m forced to leave you with Frederickson,” he spat out.

  “Lucia and I shall devise a plan and leave tonight or on the morrow.” She reached for his face and cradled his cheek in her palm. “I’ll be all right.”

  “Perhaps I can talk to my father and convince him to allow you to stay there.”

  “Oh, Seth, he’ll never welcome me into your home.”

  “Consider it, Myra. If you cannot come up with another way, then go there. Despite how he feels about you, I am hard pressed to believe he’ll decline protection for his future grandchild. But I cannot leave Jamestown in good conscience knowing you are in danger.”

  “Tis fine,” she assured him. “I am no danger. Once Lucia returns, we shall leave first thing in the morning. If we cannot find safety elsewhere out of Jamestown, then perhaps I will chance going to your father’s home.”

  “As much as it pains me to say it, tis best you use your station to persuade him. If he believes he’ll receive personal favour from The King by aiding you, it’s doubtful he’ll refuse.”

  Myra nodded her agreement. “Do not fret, Seth. I will be safe.” Myra heard the sound of horses neighing outside and she stiffened. “You really must go, Seth,” Myra pressed. “That may be Zachary returning. I fear what he’ll do to both of us if you are found here.”

  “If not for the dangers of the sea and your present condition of being with child, I’d take you with me,” he said. “But after the event of my last departure, and the storms of late being so fierce, tis not safe.”

  Seth looked into her eyes and her heart began to race. The love she saw there made her believe that it was possible that all the injustices in her life were going to be made right. She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around him. That brief moment of safety within his arms needed to satisfy her for many months until he returned home.

  “I love you, Seth.” She finally allowed herself to say the words, as she feared she may never have another chance.

  “And I you, Myra.” He took her mouth into his and kissed her hard. He ran his fingers through her hair and then to her face. He pressed her tight against his chest. After a soft kiss she was reluctant to end, he quit the room.

  She memorized the aroma and taste of him, as well as the sound of his heart as it batted wildly within his chest. If he confronted her uncle, she feared that their moment shared was all she would ever have left of him.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  “I need to speak to you, Myra.” The rap on her door was gentle but it was loud enough to rouse her from her sleep.

  “Zachary?”

  “We must speak. Open the door,” he commanded.

  Myra jumped from her bed and grabbed her wrap. Without her layers of petticoats to cover her growing abdomen, her secret was threatened if he pushed his way through the chair that bound the door by its knob.

  “Can we discuss this in the morning?” Her voice shook and although she tried sounding calm and in control, her fear crept through. “Tis late and I’m in no mood for argument tonight.”

  “I don’t plan to ravish you, Myra, I promise.”

  She felt his smirk upon her as the words broke past the door. She didn’t trust him. His voice was gentle and almo
st human. Which meant it gave her great reason to distrust him.

  “It’s in regard to your visit to the cellar this evening.”

  He had something to hide, if not, she didn’t think he’d sound so full of concern. Myra bit her bottom lip and then nervously nipped at the tip of her fingernail. She wasn’t able to risk him barging through the door and replied with, “I’ll be down in a moment.” After his last visit, especially with his pistol, she refused to confront him in her bedchamber, but she still felt apprehensive about meeting him once dressed, in spite of where they met.

  She rushed and clothed herself but took extra caution and made the ties on her bodice extra tight. She figured a few extra knots may serve her well. Once dressed, she descended the steps until she saw the warm glow of light that burned steadily inside Zachary’s study. Although more than a mite concerned, she forged forward with a steadied gait. Myra was alarmed when she opened the door and the man she had confronted in the cellar sat inside with Zachary. Her heart nearly jumped into her throat. She took a step back and readied her escape, but she was deterred by the broad expanse of Zachary’s chest. She whirled around, raised her chin, and fought for courage.

  “What is the meaning of this?” she demanded. With Zachary’s proven depravity, she thought the worse.

  The dark-skinned man’s eyes were so extraordinarily brown that they almost appeared black inside the almond shape of his orbs. He looked incredibly menacing, which scared her all the more when he rose and offered her the crook of his arm for her to take.

  “Stay calm, I mean no harm, Senora,” he assured. His arm tightened around hers and he guided her to the seat on the other side of the room.

  “Whatever business you and this man may have,” Myra began, as she looked at Zachary.

  “Rico Benitez,” he interrupted with a curt nod.

  “Mister Benitez,” she repeated. “Whatever business you have with my husband, I assure you, it’s no affair of mine. I see no reason why I should have been summoned here.” She rose from her seat and attempted to take her leave again, but Zachary came to her side and guided her back into her seat.

  “You had a visitor here tonight, wife.”

  Myra swallowed hard. What would he do now? She closed her eyes and fought to stay calm. It was the first time she was thankful that Seth aimed to set voyage to England. By morning’s break, he’d be safely away from Zachary’s wrath, as she knew that he’d not allow the offense to pass after being caught, again, with Seth.

  “What did you tell Preston about the men you saw?” His voice was soothing and too gentle. Frighteningly calm, in fact. If she was to do the choosing, she preferred the unpleasant Zachary to the composed man that stood before her.

  “I told him naught of what I saw.”

  Zachary quirked a brow, and with a snarl, he signaled that he didn’t believe her.

  “Truly,” she added. Myra shifted nervously in her seat. She tried to be discreet when she swiped the perspiration from her palms onto her skirt. “What would I have informed him? I know naught about your guests.”

  “Aye,” Zachary said sarcastically. “How could you, indeed?”

  “I’ll see to it this night that he doesn’t talk, Señor. He’d be asleep by now and ‘twould make an easy kill,” Benitez said calmly, as if killing was second nature to him, and Myra surmised that it probably was.

  Myra rose from her seat and faced Benitez after his threatening declaration. “You’ll not harm Seth in any way! Is that understood?” No matter what, she’d not allow it. “If either you harm him, I’ll kill you both, I swear it.” Benitez stood aside her and she saw a gold tipped dagger loosely placed within his belt. Without thought to the risk, she abruptly stood and grabbed it off his person. She waved it threateningly in front of her, warding off Benitez and Zachary who stood before her. To her chagrin, neither looked seemingly worried, as they both held matching smiles that relayed their amusement to her act of defiance. Although, Benitez’s anger quickly emerged when he approached and wrenched the knife from her hand, and the dagger sliced into his arm. He grasped her chin and his nails dug deep into her flesh and added to her pain. She winced inwardly, but she matched his deadly stare and refused him the satisfaction of seeing her pain or her fear. When he finally released her, he ran his finger down her cheek until it met her chin. He grasped her tightly, and with so much intensity that she felt her face bruise within his hands.

  “I shall complete my business in any way I see fit, Senora, and you’ll not tell me otherwise. As you have just proven, you’re incapable of stopping me.”

  She looked at her cowardly husband for the slightest assistance, but only panic showed through his eyes. Benitez was right when he announced that Zachary feared him. It unmistakably showed through as he cowered away to the other side of the room. It wasn’t until he was away from Benitez that he made an attempt to help.

  “Let her go, Benitez,” Zachary said, politely. “It’d be a shame to see harm come to her ‘fore I even have a chance to bed her,” he nervously laughed.

  He stared down at her but reluctantly let her go. Once released, Myra rushed to Zachary’s side, and was willing to beg at his feet if Seth was kept safe from harm. The thought of Seth being slain whilst he slept sickened her. They’re both cowards!

  “Please, Zachary, you mustn’t allow him to do this. Seth truly knows naught of them. He only came to help Lucia. As you well know, Lucia is his sister and it’s his right to protect her! By the time he arrived, she was already set free and we told him naught of the incident. He didn’t see any of them, I swear it.”

  “I shall handle this problem now. I’m sure you’ll already be departed by my return, so let me assure you now, I’ll keep the household in well order in your absence.” Benitez looked at Myra, as if the reference was for her, but before she could make any sense of his words, he walked to the door. He lingered there and didn’t leave.

  “Please, Zachary, don’t do this.” Myra fell to Zachary’s feet. “I implore you; do not allow him to hurt Seth. He’s done you no harm. I swear to you, I’ll do anything. Please,” she begged.

  “Anything?” Zachary’s sinister smile ripped her heart in two when she understood his price.

  “Anything,” she slowly repeated in a whisper. Bowing her head, unabashed tears stained the carpet. God help her, but she’d rather let Zachary mistreat her than Seth slayed.

  “Then, my sweet, we shall see how well you keep your promise. If you uphold your end, as you can rest assured…I shall mine,” he said provocatively, and it caused the other man to belt into a peel of boisterous laughter. “You may have just bought Seth his life.”

  Myra stood and swiped at her tears. She raised her chin and steadied herself.

  “For the time being, Benitez, I say we shall let this matter rest. But,” he added cautiously, “If young Mister Preston begins to sneak around here or seems even in the least interested in my business, we’ll take care of this matter posthaste.”

  “I’ll see to it,” Benitez added.

  “Shall you be coming to my room tonight,” she stammered and her tears choked her into silence. Sobs squeezed at her throat when she tried to hold them in.

  “And you’re being such a good sport about it,” Zachary laughed. “Nay, my dearest, unfortunately, I have a pressing business matters that requires my time in Baltimore.”

  “When shall you return?”

  “Eager for my return and I’ve not yet left?” Zachary smiled. “Dearest wife, I’m touched.”

  “I’m curious, tis all.” Myra prayed it’d be a long journey. If God should be so kind, it’d be never, but after the birth of her child would suffice.

  “A few months, perhaps more. But don’t get any ideas about clandestine meetings with that Preston boy,” he warned. “Benitez shall remain here and closely watch after you whilst I’m away.”

  She didn’t understand how Zachary could leave such a vile man as her guardsman. And by the following day, Seth wouldn’t be there t
o protect her. God help her, Myra thought.

  * * *

  “It’s quite late to be discussing this, Seth. I think it’s best to argue this on the morrow after we’ve both rested.” Anvil quickly made his way through the hall and toward the staircase.

  “So you can drum up more lies, father?” Seth refused to be fooled by him, and he’d not allow him to escape his fury. Seth wasn’t able to remember the last time, if ever a time, that he felt so angry. Due to him, father or not, he nearly lost the woman he loved, as well as his child, and still might lose.

  “What lie do you accuse me of?” Anvil stopped at the bottom step and bristled.

  “I spoke to Myra.” Seth crossed the rich, red rug to shorten the distance between them. “I know the truth.”

  “Truth,” his father nervously laughed. “And you believe that whore!”

  Seth grabbed his father by the lapels of his waistcoat. He had never been so brazen or harsh with his father, but paternal loyalty didn’t matter. His intention from the start wasn’t to have the conversation as father to son, but man to man.

  “Do not attempt to blemish her name again, do you hear me?” Anvil stood still and slowly raised his head to face his son. Anvil’s cheeks reddened in either embarrassment or anger. Seth didn’t know which nor did he care. By God he was going to have his say before he left for England.

  “You’d take her word over mine?” Anvil stared at Seth. He narrowed his eyes and attempted to intimidate him into his usual submission. It didn’t work. Not that time, and never again.

  “You will stand there and lie to me again, father?” Seth lowered his head and winced. “Have you no shame, father?” The pain of knowing the lengths his father went in ruining his life had no limitations, and the hurt he felt inside was bound to be long lasting. How did he ever look up to him and want to be like him? The disappointment came so great that by the time Seth raised his head, a tear made an escape down his cheek. “There have been times I’ve been angry at you, father, and oftentimes I questioned your motives, but I always followed your examples and orders, but after this day, I shan’t listen to you again. Today, the man who I thought was the greatest man on God’s earth proved he is naught but a fraud, and worst, a coward. I’m ashamed. Shamed to call you my father, and embarrassed that I have allowed you to take control of my life. Not only have you ruined my life, but you also destroyed an innocent woman like Myra. Worse still, you intentionally allowed my child, your grandchild, to take another man’s name.” Seth shrugged his father away when he reached out to lay his hand on his shoulder. “I need no comfort, least of all by you,” he hissed. “I’ll say my goodbyes to mother and my sisters and then I’ll be on my way.”