Captive Hearts

by Teresa J. Reasor

  Lady Willingham spoke for the first time. “What your

  uncle says is true, Katherine. Once your reputation has been sullied, it will follow you wherever you go. Should you come forward openly about what you saw that night, it will not matter whether or not they touched you. It will be what everyone will think.”

  “I think, in time, there may be a way for you to achieve justice without sacrificing anything, Katherine.” Talbot ran his hands over the wooden arms of the Chippendale chair he sat in. “But it will take patience.” How could they put speculation above seeking justice for her family? She rose to return to the French doors, separating herself from the group once again. She was not only disappointed by their attitude but hurt by it.

  “If I wait long enough, eventually they will die in their beds and God will serve them justice.” Bitterness put an edge to her words.

  “No one expects you to wait indefinitely, Katherine.” Talbot laced his fingers together. “Eventually these men will be caught and punished.”

  Though they all meant well, they spouted the same cautious platitudes Edward had been offering her for months. She turned to face Lord Willingham, as her rage thrust through her control and overrode her sense of propriety. “I wonder how differently you would feel if it had been your wife or daughter, who had been left lying in the street, beaten and bloody, her dignity torn from her, and her neck, bruised and raw, from a noose twisted until the life was strangled from her. I wonder how patiently you would wait, if every person you loved were suddenly ripped away from you, as my family has been from me.”

  She had been alone for months, but an overwhelming sense of abandonment swept over her. She turned away from them, her composure deserting her. With a twist of the knob, she opened the French doors and fled the room.

  Driven from his seat, Matthew strode forward to follow her. Edward grasped his arm as he passed, his grip surprisingly strong. “We must speak about what can be done to protect my niece, Captain Hamilton. In the state she is in, she may well attempt something foolish.” If she were tempted to do something foolish, it would be because she had received little or no support from her

  only living relative. “You forced her to marry me to get her out of the country.”

  “I did not force her. She agreed to the marriage once she met with you. It was the only thing I could think to do under the circumstances. I am sure you have noticed how headstrong Katherine can be. Frankly, I found it exhausting trying to reason with her about the situation.

  She is too driven by her need for justice to listen to anything.”

  He could understand that. Had it been his own family he would have spent every waking moment personally hunting down the men responsible. He wondered why, with all the resources available to him, Edward Leighton wasn’t doing that. He studied the man more closely. “Just what is being done to see these men are caught?”

  “The local magistrate has hired some men to look for them, as have I. There has yet to be any news from them.

  It seems the brigands have grown more cautious since the attack upon my brother and his family.” His gaze shifted to Talbot. His uncle’s frowning visage met his in silent communication.

  “Of course she has been tormented by dreams of the man who attacked her.” Edward’s expression grew mournful. “It wasn’t enough that she was nearly strangled to death, but for them to abuse her as they did her dear mother.” He shook his head.

  A dropping sensation struck Matthew’s stomach.

  With the force of a blow, the reason behind her behavior of the night before and the purpose of the dark droplets on the sheet became clear. The adage that a horrible injury is numbed by the sheer magnitude of the trauma was true. When the numbness wore off, he would know how to feel. His face felt wooden as he turned his attention to Edward. “You must be mistaken.” The man started and looked up at him. “What do you mean?”

  “It must be clear. Last night was our wedding night.” Edward’s brow creased and he narrowed his gaze.

  “It’s understandable, Captain Hamilton, that you wish to protect Katherine’s reputation.” Was that not what her uncle should want as well?

  The numbness began to recede as anger rushed in to replace it. He controlled the impulse to jerk the man out of the chair and shake him like the sniveling rat he was.

  Aware of Clarisse and Talbot’s presence, he glanced briefly at his aunt. “Forgive me for speaking so bluntly in your presence, Clarisse.” Focusing on Edward, he took a measured step toward the man. “Do you think me such a fool I wouldn’t know the difference between bedding a virgin and a woman who is not?” Edward’s mouth opened and closed as he sought an answer.

  “Shall I have the proof dragged from our marriage bed for your perusal? Should I call my valet down to testify to the blood upon the sheets?” Edward shook his head. “I meant no insult.”

  “Yes, you did.” He took several deep breaths at a bid for control that seemed just out of reach. He thrust his face close to Edward’s. “Should I hear you have even hinted that my wife was anything but pure, as you just did to me, kin or not, I will call you out and take great pleasure and satisfaction in extracting your apology before I drop your cold, dead carcass overboard for the fish to pick over.”

  The man grew pale and he seemed to have trouble swallowing. “You can not threaten me like this. I am a Lord.”

  “Lord or not, makes no difference to me. This is not a threat, Edward. It is a promise.” He studied the man’s sallow complexion with some satisfaction. “I hope I shan’t discover there are rumors already circulating. I would hate to have to enquire just who might have started them. Though it might take some time to track it down, eventually, the truth always surfaces.”

  Edward remained silent.

  Matthew straightened. “Talbot, Clarisse, please excuse me. I feel Katherine and I need a few moments away from the house. I thought it might be the perfect time for us to visit the Caroline.” He returned his attention to Edward. “I will be certain to tell Katherine you wished her well, Edward.”

  ****

  Katherine watched the tiny brown wren pluck dismally through the fallen leaves for something to eat.

  The creature hopped close and cocked its head from side to side studying her. A breeze ruffled the heavy dark blue fabric of her skirt startling the bird and it skittered across the path and under a bush, it’s tiny feet a blur.

  She shivered beneath the chill of the wind. She preferred the cold to the oppressive atmosphere of the study. No doubt, they were planning to keep her under lock and key, as Edward had done. Resentment raced through her at the injustice of it. She had become a prisoner instead of the men responsible for her family’s death. It did not matter that the cage was gilded, only that she couldn’t go about with any freedom.

  A movement from the path set the wren to panicked flight and it soared upward and away. Turning her head to see what had disturbed the creature, her attention settled on Matthew’s tall form as he strolled toward her.

  She studied the masculine appeal of his features. The strong angular shape of his jaw, the cleft in his chin, more than hinted at a strong will. She found an unusual beauty in the lithe grace of his powerful body. Thoughts of how he had looked that morning in bed brought heat rising to her cheeks and settling in other more intimate places. He was proving to be a distraction to her peace of mind, just as Edward had hoped.

  He unfolded the cloak draped over his arm and, with a practiced movement, wrapped it about her shoulders.

  She wondered how many women he had performed such a service for in the past. “You are very adept at that, Captain.” The words were out before she could think to retract them.

  “It comes from dressing a four year old who is seldom still.” He took a seat beside her on the bench.

  Shocked at the comment, her gaze leaped to his face.

  “You have a child?”

  “Yes, a daughter.” His black brows snapped together in a sharp V. “You didn’t know?�
� She shook her head. “Edward did not tell me.” He

  had a daughter

  . The thought tumbled through her mind end over end. A sudden realization brought a sinking feeling of despair to the pit of her stomach. “Your wife,

  was it a recent loss?”

  “Caroline died in childbirth four years ago.” Though his features remained composed, a tightening of the muscles about his mouth belied the ease with which he said it. She rested a sympathetic hand on his arm for a brief moment. “I am sorry.” After a silence she added, “You must be eager to return home to your daughter.”

  “Yes, I am. I had promised her I’d be home for Christmas. Unfortunately, that isn’t possible. I’ve sent a letter explaining that I’ve been delayed and will be there as soon as I can.”

  How he must resent her for her part in his delay.

  “How long will it take you to prepare your ship for the journey?”

  “A month, if I’m able to hire a crew and get enough supplies aboard for the crossing.”

  “As I will be locked away here, perhaps you should be the one to inquire about the annulment. There must be someone who can offer you advice about it.” Instead of commenting on the matter he said, “Is that what Edward did, locked you away?” Her quick perusal of his features reassured her of the genuine interest he showed to the question. “As good as. I was not allowed out of the house without him. While he was away, the servants kept watch over me to insure I did not leave.”

  “Where would you have gone?”

  “Home.” She breathed the word like a talisman against all the pain. Summerhaven represented the one place that harbored memories of her family untainted by grief. She longed to be there away from the smothering strictures of London society and her uncle’s control.

  “To the country estate in Birmingham you mentioned. You don’t care for London then?” She gave the question some thought. “No. I feel smothered here.”

  Perhaps that’s because you haven’t had the opportunity to enjoy the city as you should.” She did not feel comfortable in a society where appearances meant more than truth. Nor did she have a place within the group. The women talked behind their

  hands and avoided her. The men made lewd remarks beneath their breath and more. “I will never be accepted here, nor do I wish to be.”

  His features settled into an aggressive frown. “Then why stay here, Katherine?”

  She thought he would have understood. “Because this is my home, and if I allow them to drive me from it, they win. If I leave before they have been punished for what they did, they win as well. I am the only one who cares that my family is dead.”

  “And why is that?”

  She shook her head. “My parents had many acquaintances, but few close friends. My father and Edward did not care for one another’s company and were not close.” After having lived with her uncle for a time, Katherine understood why her father had avoided his brother. His absorption in the frivolous concerns of dress and entertainment had worn on her patience. She had resented how easily he had stepped into her father’s shoes and claimed all that had been his. He had resented the responsibility of caring for her. The combination had been an unhappy one for them both.

  Guilt lay like a weight on her shoulders. Without compromising her own plans, there was no way for her to warn him of what she had done. Matthew would come to resent her as Edward had; she felt certain of it.“It is not my intent for you or your family to be harmed by your association with me.”

  His brows rose. “How might we be harmed?” She brushed at the loose curls that dangled against her cheek. “Lady Willingham said there had already been talk about me among her acquaintances.” She looked away from the steady regard of his pale blue eyes. “I suppose once a woman has been ruined, no matter the circumstances, she is expected to either end her life or hide herself away for the rest of it.” She bobbed to her feet unable to remain seated.

  His fingers curled around her elbow at the same time he rose to stand close beside her. “Was that the purpose of the blood upon the sheets this morning, to prove your innocence?”

  Shocked surprise held her still. There had been no

  consummation. Her thoughts raced from one possibility to another. They had been the only two in the room and neither had any injuries. She had not started her monthly flux. How? Her mind raced over the routine of the morning as she had dressed to leave. The only other person who had entered the room had been Hannah. She had tied her stays and buttoning her gown. She snatched back a groan. Hannah.

  Her breathing grew shallow and quick as she fought the desire to scream and screech and pound the stone bench they sat upon. The effort it took to fight off her rising ire left her trembling.

  “Now, I at least understand your locking me in the dressing room last night.”

  She swallowed and looked away from the compassion she read in his eyes. “I will not hold you to the marriage contract, Matthew. No matter what else should come to pass, when you sail to America it will be as a free man.” She had given him her word and she meant to stand by it.

  She understood Hannah’s reasoning behind what she had done. By passing the night untouched, proof of her innocence was lacking. Servants gossiped and consequently she would be damned for certain. Hannah had done what she thought she needed to protect her.

  Her eyes rose to Matthew’s face. His lips compressed, his features set in forbidding lines, he looked intimidating to say the least. She drew a deep breath and said what she thought she must to protect the woman. “As long as rumor is given more credence than the fact that my family is dead, I must do whatever I can to insure my credibility stands firm, Captain. I am their only witness, the only one left to speak for them.”

  “And you believe because you were attacked, that somehow weakens your credibility?” Bitterness darkened her laughter. “In the eyes of English society it weakens my moral fiber, it lessens my value, and strips me of the respect that at one time was my due. Because I refuse to hide behind closed doors or bow my head in shame, I give insult to all with whom I have congress. Yes, one could say, it weakens my credibility.”

  It took all the courage she could muster to raise her

  gaze to his face. The compassion she read in his expression brought a knot of tears to her throat. She swallowed against it, and grasping at her composure, raised her chin. “You need not feel responsible for me, Captain. I do not expect you to be.” The muscles in his jaw flexed. “Your expectations have little to do with it, Katherine. Lord Rudman and Edward might find it interesting should I neglect my new bride. I don’t plan on ending my days in an English prison.”

  “I do not plan on ending mine locked away in a gilded one either.”

  “I suggest you take my arm then, Madame. I need to make a visit to my ship, and I don’t trust you not to try an unescorted escape while I’m gone. You’re going to accompany me.”

  Too surprised to take exception to his autocratic tone Katherine stared at him. When he offered his arm, she hesitated. “Are you not afraid you might be tainted by being seen with me?”

  One black brow rose lazily, but his gaze remained steady. “I thought you were eager to escape the gilded cage, or do you prefer to be under the watchful eye of one of the maids?”

  The reason she wished to avoid marriage at all cost came back to her with a vengeance. Knowing he had that kind of control over her infuriated her. Heat flowed beneath her skin. “You have no right.” His expression hardened. “Yes, I do. You are, before the eyes of God and man, my wife. After your unannounced departure this morning, and until I have time to make other arrangements, I intend to keep you close to me.”

  A vision of how the skin of their thighs had pressed together this morning came to mind. Shocked at the thought, her protest died on her lips as he grasped her arm and marched her down the garden path toward the front of the house.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Matthew took in the hectic activity of the docks, and a smile spread his l
ips. The tension wound tightly inside him, eased just watching the scene. He had been dry-docked too long.

  Seamen, dressed in faded homespun shirts and the loose fitting long breeches, scurried about like bees swarming a hive. The dank smell of the water, raw fish, unwashed bodies and the pitch used in repairing the vessels blended with the strong odor of the oils and spices being unload from an East Indiaman close by.

  He grinned as he caught the delicate way Katherine wrinkled her nose as they exited the carriage. “The Caroline is anchored out into the channel. She’ll be brought back into dock when we load her with cargo for the journey home.”

  He tucked her fingers over his arm and led her forward. Wooden docking platforms ran parallel to the Thames, offering access to the many vessels being unloaded. He avoided them, but walked along the wide, cobble-stoned street that ran before the warehouses and businesses built along the river. Midway down the wharf, he halted to point out into the channel. “That’s the Caroline.” His gaze ran over the lines of his ship from the bowsprit to the stern. He gave a satisfied nod, his spirits buoyant with relief. The anxiety over the ship’s treatment had plagued many a day during his imprisonment. All looked to be in order. His gaze returned to Katherine to see her attention focused on the vessel.

  “What do you think?”

  “I think it is beautiful, Matthew.”

  “She. Yes, she is.” He grinned. “We’re going out to inspect her. Can you swim?”

  “Yes, but I was hoping we would be using a boat to get out to her.”

  He chuckled. “Of course, but my concern was about

  taking you out on the water.”

  He guided her across the busy thoroughfare. Hiring a small rowboat, he seated Katherine in the bow of the vessel and removing his long coat, draped it over the skirt of her dark blue wool gown. He settled in the stern and took up the oars.

  After weeks of sedentary living inside a cell, he relished the physical activity of rowing. Katherine looked about with interest and asked a number of questions about the other ships being loaded. His attention was caught again and again by the curve of her lips as she spoke and the graceful beauty of the profile she offered him as she turned her head.