Signs of Love and Deliverance

by Tracy Kay

  “You are not taking another of my barmaids to your bed,” she berated. Cassandra owned the Snaggletooth, along with several other taverns around the world. At some ports, it was very difficult to find decent lodgings, and she found it more convenient and profitable to own a tavern in the ports she frequented most. “I had to dismiss the last girl you seduced, Raven. She was so smitten with you, she was completely useless.”

  “I can do nothing about the devastating effect I have on women, luv,” Raven replied nonchalantly, leaned back, crossed his arms over his muscular chest, and gave her a slow wink.

  Maxine snorted, Damon choked on his ale, Conrad and Brandon laughed out loud, and Cassandra tossed her head. “You are impossible.”

  “I know,” Raven grinned. “But on a more serious note.” He uncrossed his arms and leaned forward, placing his hands, palms down, on the table. “What are we going to do about Farrington?”

  “For now, nothing,” Cassandra answered.

  “Are you sure, Cassie? It would be quite easy to eliminate the man,” Conrad stated calmly.

  Cassandra regarded Conrad steadily. “That would be murder, Connie, and I refuse to lower myself to his level.”

  “As I see it,” Damon added, “our best bet is to wait and let the man hang himself.”

  “I didn’t know you were a betting man, Damon,” Maxine teased, knowing full well that Damon never gambled. He believed it was a waste of good money and time. She on the other hand, loved to gamble and was quite good at it.

  Ignoring her, Damon continued. “Eventually, he is going to get himself in a situation he can’t handle and we will be there to expose him.”

  “It may not be that simple, Damon,” Conrad commented. “Farrington is very careful and he covers his tracks well.”

  “Connie is right,” Brandon nodded. “He is good.”

  “Too good,” Raven added irritably.

  “But not good enough.”

  “How so, Cass?” Maxine inquired, looking at Cassandra over her mug.

  “When Farrington believes he has the upper hand, he is clever. He makes few mistakes, but when something does go wrong, that is when he is vulnerable,” she explained. “He gets flustered and panics. We need to watch for those times, but they are few and far between.” Brandon picked Cassandra’s hand up off the table and gave it a squeeze in silent encouragement and affection. She gazed at him with love and squeezed his hand in return.

  “Then we watch,” Raven commented. He quietly observed the exchange between Brandon and Cassandra and gave them a slight nod of approval. “Have you come up with any proof that it was Farrington who shot Madeline and is after Joselyn, Cat?”

  “As I have said before, I can’t prove anything, and as Cassie said, unless he makes a mistake, I won’t know for sure.” Brandon exhaled, running a frustrated hand through his hair.

  Maxine sat forward and played with her mug. “Then all we can do is wait and watch. And keep an eye on your family as well as Cassie.”

  “I will stay close to Cassandra.” Conrad nodded towards her. “The rest of you keep watch on Brandon’s family. I don’t want Farrington, or whoever it was, to get another opportunity to hurt Madeline or any other family member.”

  “Madeline seems to be his current target, and I believe he has given up on Joselyn, at least for the moment. There haven’t been any more threatening notes, and I don’t believe that Parez had anything to do with the threats or with the shooting,” Brandon added.

  “Parez didn’t shoot Madeline,” Raven confirmed. “Connie and I had a chat with him the other day. He only wanted money. Yes, he raped Joselyn, but that is his way, not killing,” he stated bluntly.

  “Will Parez be a problem in the future?” Maxine inquired.

  “Possibly, but one never knows,” Raven answered with a shrug.

  “If he is smart, he took our advice and left London,” Conrad added, but not believing the man had. He expected they would have to deal with Parez again one day.

  “It is sad what happened to her,” Damon commented, not understanding why a man felt it necessary to rape a woman. He really hated that, considering it wasn’t that hard to find a willing woman.

  “Don’t pity her, Damon. She did what she did because she thought it was all she could do. She doesn’t want your pity or anyone else’s,” Maxine said sagely, even though she had never met the girl.

  “I am sorry, Maxine, but I can’t help how I feel,” Damon answered and stood. “If there isn’t anything else, I need to go see a man about a cargo.”

  “This late in the day, Damon?” Conrad questioned. Even though they were all grown, he still worried about them.

  Damon nodded. “The man couldn’t meet me earlier, but he is interested in the cargo of linen I brought back from France, and I am more than happy to unload it.” Turning to Brandon, he informed, “By the by, tell Madeline, Amy is doing fine. She is settling in and will write to Madeline under her new name soon. If you need me for anything, let me know. I will be close by.”

  “I will tell her, Damon, and thanks.” Brandon also stood. “I need to get back home. Cassie, I will see you soon.” He placed his hand on the back of Cassandra’s chair, leaned over her, and placed a kiss on her lips. He straightened and turned to give Maxine a penetrating gaze, still not convinced she was well. “Maxine, I would like to talk to you in the next few days. I will stop by the office.”

  “Fine, Brandon,” Maxine replied, assuming he wanted to check her over for any injuries. Brandon would never change. He would always be like an over-protective brother to her. She nodded her head and turned to Cassandra. “I would like to take a look at the books, if you have the time.”

  Cassandra winced. “I am afraid I made a mess of things. I am thrilled you are home and happy to give them to you. If we are finished here, why don’t we go look at them now.” She and Maxine left the table, leaving Raven and Conrad to reflect.

  “It seems like it was only yesterday we were wiping away their tears and solving their problems,” Conrad commented.

  “I know what you mean, old man,” Raven agreed. “Their problems were much easier to solve when we were younger. Now, danger surrounds them.”

  “It always did, Raven,” Conrad reminded him.

  “So it did.” Raven took a drink before slapping his hand on Conrad’s shoulder. “Come, my friend. Why don’t we go aboard the Deliverance and reminisce over some brandy, not this swill Cassie calls ale?”

  “After you, puppy.”

  Madeline was sitting up in bed thumbing through a book of poetry, wishing her head would stop pounding. It was next to impossible to concentrate and the wound under the thick, white bandage wrapped around her head itched unbearably. Brandon had to cut away some of her hair to clean and sew up the nasty gash the bullet had caused. Actually, her wound itched incessantly and was making her irritable, but Brandon said the itching was from the wound healing and that would ease after he removed the stitches, which he would do before the ball. She was grateful for that. She hoped her hair was going to turn out all right for the ball, but she doubted it. She would have to hide the bald spot somehow. She supposed she was lucky to be alive and that the bullet had only grazed her skull. She was fortunate the shattered glass had left only small cuts and abrasions. She could have been killed. Yes, she felt very lucky.

  Madeline sighed and placed the book on her night stand. She hated being kept in her room, but Brandon refused to allow her to leave her bed. She had been grateful for her brothers, Deirdre, and Joselyn’s company the past few days. It helped with the boredom and loneliness. However, she was getting a bit tired of Joselyn’s continuous apologies. Madeline didn’t blame her for the shooting and she could only pity Joselyn. Madeline never realized Joselyn had so many secrets. The past few days Joselyn had been telling her about her many affairs and her relationship with Manuel. Joselyn had gotten herself into a dangerous life. She hoped that Joselyn could find some happiness and peace now that the truth was revealed.

/>   Joselyn believed all their troubles were over since Manuel was accused of the threats, but Madeline was of a different mind. This Manuel Parez fellow did not write those letters nor did he shoot her. She couldn’t explain her feelings, but she knew that it wasn’t over. There was a lot more to this than one of Joselyn’s past lovers, and although she felt that Farrington was a part of this, there seemed to be more to it than it appeared. She could not dispel the feeling that there was something they were all missing.

  Madeline was musing over the possibilities when a knock at her door and her mother’s entrance invaded her wandering thoughts.

  “Madeline, dear. How are you feeling?”

  “Mother.” Madeline was not in the mood for her mother.

  “I came as soon as I heard, Madeline,” Elizabeth remarked in an overly sweet voice as she peered down on her bedridden daughter.

  “Thank you, Mother.” Madeline realized that her mother did not come to London only to visit her, that would be completely out of character. No, her mother only came to London when it suited her, such as a fitting for the gown she would be wearing at the Malany ball or to attend one of her friends’ parties. “Would you like to sit?” Madeline politely indicated the chair beside her bed.

  “No, dear, I can’t stay. I have a fitting,” Elizabeth replied, confirming Madeline’s beliefs. “You will be able to attend the Malany ball, won’t you, dear? You really should not miss it.”

  “I will be there, Mother.”

  “I hope you don’t intend on wearing that bandage, dear.” She pointed at the stark white bandage on Madeline’s head and curled her lip in repugnance.

  “No, Mother.”

  “Well, that is a relief,” Elizabeth sighed and wrinkled her brow, eying her critically. “Madeline, should you be wearing only a chemise at this time of day?”

  “I am in bed, Mother. What else would you have me wear?” Madeline blinked at her in annoyance.

  Ignoring her daughter’s comment, Elizabeth berated, “You know, Madeline, you really should be more careful. Getting shot, what a foolish thing to do.”

  “Next time, I will try not to stand in the way of a bullet,” Madeline stated sarcastically.

  “Am I intruding?” The male voice interrupted the tense discussion.

  “Oh, a . . . a . . . Mr. . . . a . . . Raven,” Elizabeth answered, never quite sure how to address the man.

  “Raven, it is so good to see you,” Madeline greeted in relief, stretching her hand out for him to hold. She didn’t think she could manage any more of her mother’s criticism. She was grateful for Raven’s visit and cared deeply for him, even if she was a little afraid of him. He could be intimidating at times.

  Taking her hand lightly in his, Raven inquired, “How are you feeling, luv?”

  “My head hurts,” she replied with tired and pain-filled emotion in her voice and tears in her eyes which she tried to blink away.

  “That is to be expected, luv,” he comforted, sitting on the edge of the bed beside her and tenderly wiping away a stray tear.

  Elizabeth cleared her throat and gave Madeline a disapproving glare. “Well, Madeline, I really need to be leaving. Mr. . . . a . . . Raven,” she nodded her head in parting and glided out the door, mumbling under her breath, “It is simply not proper.”

  “She was critical of you,” Raven commented as he began messaging Madeline’s tense neck and shoulder muscles.

  “She always is,” Madeline imparted sadly, letting Raven’s special magic pour over her. She had learned from experience that it was useless to fight him.

  “Madeline, you have a lot of people who love you. Don’t let her upset you.”

  “She is my mother, Raven.” Fresh tears welled up in Madeline’s eyes and she quickly blinked them away, biting her lip. She didn’t know why she allowed her mother to upset her. She should be accustomed to her disapproval by now. It must be the effects of her head injury and Raven witnessing her mother’s embarrassing censure that was making her feel so vulnerable and emotional.

  “I know, luv. It is difficult not having a mother to love you,” Raven agreed in an understanding voice, stroking her cheek with the back of his hand. He of all people knew how it felt to be abandoned by his mother. Raven’s mother had sent him to an orphanage at a young age, leaving him with no name and no family.

  “Come, my girl, turn over onto your belly for me, and I will give you a back rub. It should ease that headache a little, and if not, then it will at least relax you.” Raven lifted off her chemise, ignoring her modest protests. He rolled her onto her stomach and eased down the sheet exposing her naked back. As he began massaging her stiff muscles from lying in bed for several days, he crooned in a soft, soothing voice, “Everyone has been worried about you, luv. We have been doing our best to find the man who did this to you, but there is no trace of the man. Don’t worry though, we will find him.”

  Raven’s hands and voice were working his magic, lulling her into that place that was not quite sleep, but not wakefulness either. He was weaving some kind of web around her, making her feel safe and content. “Gretchen has been asking about you. She is coming to visit in a day or two. I had her wait until you were feeling up to more visitors. She has been very worried about you and quite busy planning that ball of hers.” Raven’s powerful hands slid further under the sheet, kneading her buttocks. When Madeline would have rejected his touch, he leaned close, and whispered in her ear. “Settle, my little one. I won’t hurt you.”

  Raven removed the sheet and began rubbing her legs and feet. Madeline thought it was the most wonderful feeling in the world. Her head barely ached at all. “That is it, Madeline. Relax and let go for me,” Raven crooned, smoothly easing into her mind to manipulate her body, feelings and thoughts. Through her haze of relaxation and weightlessness, Madeline remembered thinking that Raven’s touch and voice were a deadly combination to a woman’s sensibilities. She had never felt this submissive and defenseless before. If Raven wasn’t Brandon’s best friend and like another brother to her, she would be truly frightened at her inability to stop his ministrations.

  Madeline groaned when Raven touched a particularly sensitive spot. “Easy, luv, easy,” he whispered.

  The only sound Madeline heard was Raven’s soft voice and even breathing as his strong hands explored her malleable body. He made it seem that the only thing that mattered was him and his touch. Madeline couldn’t think anymore. She could only feel, and follow Raven’s commands. As his magical hands traveled over her body, Madeline began to feel drowsy and everything seemed hazy with his suggestion. “Sleep, luv. The rest will heal you. Sleep.” Raven manipulated her with his hypnotic voice and eased her into a deep, healing slumber.

  In a quiet voice, Brandon commented from the doorway, “It never ceases to amaze me how you can do that to a person.”

  Raven ginned at him. “Talent.”

  Brandon gave a short laugh and entered the room. He gestured towards Madeline with concern. “Were you able to help her headache?” Brandon had asked Raven to try and rid Madeline of her headaches with his special touch when the potions he gave her had not worked.

  “I won’t know until morning when she wakes again, Cat. As I told you before, I don’t know if I can help her.” Raven stopped his ministrations, slowly rolled Madeline onto her back, and pulled the sheet and blanket over her. “But I do know one thing,” he added as he stroked her cheek. “She does not need the added pressure of her mother’s criticism. Keep her away from Madeline, Cat, at least until she is better.”

  “I will do that. If this first session doesn’t help Maddy with her headaches, will you try again?”

  Raven nodded as he stood up to leave. “There are a few more things I can try that may help, but I can’t be sure.”

  “When traditional and nontraditional medicine doesn’t work, Raven, I am willing to use anything that will, including your gift.”

  “I will do what I can.” Raven squeezed his friend’s shoulder in parting before
he left the room.

  Cassandra was examining a crate of silks when she felt his presence. With dark red silk dangling from her hand, she stared in surprise at the same youth who had abducted her the other night. When he didn’t say anything, she asked, “Do you want something, Trevor?”

  “I . . . a . . . I, that is,” he stammered, not sure how to say what he had to say. Cassandra waited as he looked around in confusion and embarrassment until he finally gathered his courage. “Is ye offer still good?”

  “Yes.”

  “I need ye help,” he blurted out, searching the large warehouse again, and praying no one was watching.

  Noticing his fear, Cassandra placed the silk back into the crate and suggested, “Why don’t we go to my office where there is more privacy?”

  He nodded and Cassandra ushered him in the direction of her office. Once he was sitting, Cassandra moved behind her desk, sat down, and folded her hands in front of her. “What can I do to help you, Trevor?”

  “I’m no’ sure ye can help me, me lady,” he stated in an unsure voice laced with the heavy accent and dialect of London’s streets.

  “Why don’t you tell me about your problem and we can go from there?”

  “Ye said ye could help me get ‘way from Farrington. How?” He questioned boldly.

  “That depends on your circumstance.” Cassandra studied him. He was too thin, she thought. His clothes were torn and dirty and he needed a bath.

  “Mine’s real bad, me lady. Farrington, he’s real mean and he threatens me and the other boys,” he explained

  “What does he threaten you with?” She inquired, already knowing the answer.

  “Me family. See, me stepda, he be mean too, but no’ like Farrington, but I’s no’ know this ‘till after I work for ‘im. Me stepda, he beat me afore I left, now he beat me younger brother and sister. Farrington said he help me if I’s do work for ‘im. So I’s do work, but nuthin’ change for me family. Me Mum was beat up real bad last night and I gotta find a way for it to stop afore me stepda kill ‘er.” Again, the young man looked around the room nervously. “Farrington, he won’t help none even if he do say he will. I be workin’ for ‘im up to a year now and things worse than ever.”