He caressed her cheek and she snuggled against his palm. “I believe you now, but what about the premonition you received? I don’t want to take that chance.”
“I understand, however, what if Robert comes here to kill me while you are all gone?”
Felix nodded. “Point taken.” Turning his head, he peered at Felipe. “I think she will be just fine in her father’s room. Faro won’t go there anyway, especially since he knows Mr. Landon is dying. Also, if Faro knows we have the house surrounded, all he’ll want to do is escape.”
The other men verbalized their agreement.
“Then let us go,” Felix said. “No need to waste another moment.”
Katrina slipped her palm against Felix’s as his large fingers closed around her delicate hand. She hugged his arm and smiled fully now.
“I won’t let you down, Felix. I promise.”
He gave her a wink. “And I promise that no harm will come to you. I shall continue to protect the woman I love.”
TWENTY
Either the rain had eased up, or being with Felix made it more tolerable. Katrina figured it was the latter, because he kept her by his side as the group of them trudged back through the mud to the main house. Felix held her hand all the way, and he even carried her across patches of mud when it became unbearable to step through.
Although her heart was light with the knowledge that he had chosen his love for her over his life as an earl, she still worried about her father. He was so sick, so weak. Could they find a doctor with an antidote that could stop the poison? She feared it was too late. She didn’t want him to die this way, and she tried to maintain faith that there was a cure.
“We are almost there,” Felix told her. “Are you certain you will be all right?”
She smiled into his rain-soaked face. “Yes. I’m not only fighting for my father’s life, I’m fighting for our lives. Robert is a despicable man and I cannot let him come out the victor. How could we have a happy marriage if he is trying to control us?”
Felix wrapped an arm around her shoulders and brought her up against him. “You are correct. I just want to make you aware that this battle might end in Faro’s death.”
“If that’s the way it must be, then I shall be prepared.”
“You are an amazingly brave woman.” He leaned in to give her a quick kiss on the forehead. “I’m so fortunate that you entered my life when you did.”
“Not as fortunate as I.” She smiled.
It didn’t take long for them to reach the main house. The group came to a stop before leaving the fields of rubber trees. Felipe motioned for the first two men to take their positions.
Katrina held her breath as they ran to the right side of the house. She watched the grounds carefully for any sign of Robert, or any trouble that may arise.
Felipe gave the signal for the next two. Those men ran to the left side of the house.
He met Katrina’s gaze. “Are you ready, Miss Landon?”
“Yes.”
“Go, and may God be with you.”
“Thank you.” She turned and searched Felix’s caring eyes.
He winked and smiled. “I believe in you, my love.”
That’s all the encouragement she needed. As she darted toward the house, she kept her hand over the dagger stuffed inside her raincoat. When she entered the house, she quickly removed her muddy boots and left them on the rug inside the door.
She scanned the grand hallway. Not one person in sight. Taking careful steps, she continued up the stairs and toward her father’s bedroom. Worry threatened to overwhelm her, but she fought against the looming feeling. Felix believed in her, which meant she must believe in herself as well. She couldn’t let these men down. And she for certain would not let her sight come true.
Her heart pounded like an African drum when she reached her father’s bedchamber door. Taking a deep breath as she tried to calm her nerves, she pulled open the door and entered.
At first she couldn’t see anything because the room was too dark. The fire in the hearth had fizzled out. She stopped and blinked, trying to adjust her vision. Finally shapes began to take form so she slowly entered, closing the door behind her. A few candles burned, but they didn’t bring much light.
She listened intently. Nothing in the room but dead silence. Immediately, she swung her gaze to the chair where her father always sat. Empty. As she peered toward the bed, she saw the outline of his form...just where she had seen him earlier this morning.
There was something odd about him this time. Something different, even eerie.
Holding her breath, she took measured steps toward the bed. The blankets covering her father weren’t moving. When she came to a stop right beside him, tears filled her eyes, making it harder to see. But she didn’t need to see. She knew it...felt it.
Death hung thick in the room like a cloud of doom.
“Oh, Father.” She sobbed and fell to the bed, grasping his stiff, cold hand. “I’m so sorry. I should have been here sooner. I could have—” Her voice choked to finish her thought, and she realized she wouldn’t have been able to save him. He’d been poisoned for too long. It was only a matter of time before death took him.
Lowering her head, she kissed his very motionless hand. “May God take care of you now and keep you in His arms.”
Another sound rumbled in the room, sounding like someone chuckling. She jerked upright and shifted her gaze around the emptiness until she saw who had made this noise. Robert! Her heart dropped, knowing he was going to try and kill her.
“Oh, my dear stepsister,” he said, moving from the corner of the room, out of the shadows and into more light. “What a tender scene I had the privilege of witnessing. Tell me, how long have you felt this way about Henry? Seems to me you should hate him for abandoning you when you were a child.”
She swiped a tear away before fisting her hands. Anger poured through her so hot she wanted to lash out at him. She wanted nothing more than to take her dagger and sink it deep into this man’s cold heart. Never had she felt such hatred and resentment for anyone. And Robert deserved every bit of it.
“You are the only person in the room that I hate.” Slowly, she rose from the bed and faced him. “You are the reason my father is dead. You have been lacing his tea with poison.”
His eyes narrowed, but he didn’t say anything. Of course, he couldn’t deny it, but what surprised her was how well he accepted this. Something wasn’t right. Panic gradually filled her chest.
“I have been slowly killing him,” Robert nodded, “but there was nothing you—or anyone—could have done about it.”
“Don’t be too certain about that.” She pierced him with a heated glare. “You will pay for your crimes, Mr. Faro. All of your crimes!”
Tilting back his head, he howled with laughter. He moved closer to her, folding his arms across his chest. “You have a short memory, Katrina. I specifically remember telling you how powerful I am. Because I have so much power, and because there are many men who are frightened of me, I really don’t think anyone will try to make me pay for my wrongdoings.”
She cocked her head. “You honestly believe you are invincible?”
“I know I am.”
She snickered haughtily. “Then you are wrong and very foolish.”
He moved and stood right before her. His gaze ran over her wet hat, and down her raincoat. Reaching out, he flicked the collar of her coat. Excess water fell to the floor. “Katrina, why were you outside, dressed in men’s pants?”
Hitching a breath, she fought quickly for an answer that wouldn’t let him know about Felix and the other men. They had to be aware that Robert was here with her. They would be coming to rescue her soon, wouldn’t they? “What? Now I’m a prisoner and can’t even leave the house?” she snapped.
“No, you’re not a prisoner, but why would anyone in their right mind go out into this kind of weather when you’re not used to it?”
“Perhaps I’m not in my right mind. Have you
ever thought of that?”
His eyes turned a steely gray as he aimed her with a harsh stare. “Then I suggest you get in one quickly. I will not tolerate this kind of attitude from the likes of you.”
She shrugged and moved past him. Keeping her back to him, she cautiously slid her hand inside her raincoat to grasp the dagger. “Are you saying you can’t handle a stubborn female?” She peeked over her shoulder. He hadn’t moved, but his gaze still followed her. “I thought you of all people could handle a woman such as myself. After all, you are all-powerful, are you not?”
“Of course, I am.”
She stopped in front of the hearth. Only a few embers were red. She needed to keep stalling—to keep Robert here for when Felix and the others came to rescue her. “Mr. Knightly was able to handle me just fine, so what’s your problem?”
Heavy footsteps boomed on the floor, coming in her direction. Panic surged through her and she turned around just in time for him to grasp her shoulders. He shook her once so hard her head snapped back on her neck. Pain pierced through her skull, and she closed her eyes, praying it would go away quickly. The hilt of the dagger dug in her palm the harder she gripped it, but she wouldn’t let go. If he so much tried to choke her, she’d kill him.
“I’m certain Knightly could handle you. After all, you are your mother’s daughter.”
It was a struggle to open her eyes because of the pain shooting through her head, but finally, she was able to glare at him through slit lids. He was too close—just as in her vision—and his nearness frightened her more than she was prepared for. She smelled the nuts and mango he must have eaten earlier mixed with the tobacco from his cheroot.
Taking a steady breath, she fought for control. He must not win!
“Indeed, I am my mother’s daughter. I’m also my father’s.”
Robert arched a quizzical eyebrow. “What exactly is that supposed to mean?”
“It means, you imbecile, that I’m tougher than I look.” She nearly spat out each word as she tightened her fingers around the dagger’s handle. Not yet.
He chuckled again. “Your father was a weakling.” Robert’s fingers dug into her shoulders.
“Only because you poisoned him. Tell me, dear stepbrother, why did you poison him? Was it because you needed him weak in order to take the plantation?”
“Oh, my dear Katrina. I must admit how surprised I am, not only from your boldness, but your intelligence as well.”
She shrugged. “Like I mentioned before...I’m my father’s daughter. Here, let me show you.”
She yanked out the dagger from her raincoat, and plunged the steel blade into his stomach. His eyes widened, and he stumbled backward. She wouldn’t release her weapon, so it slid free from his body as he moved away. Blood dripped from the blade, and also down his dark blue evening jacket and matching trousers.
Shock—laced with pain—darkened his expression. Slowly, his face lost color. He staggered toward the door.
“This isn’t the end, Miss Landon,” he wheezed.
“Actually, I believe it is. You will probably not live through this, Faro.”
“Even if I die, I will make sure you do not get this plantation. If I cannot have it, nobody will.”
As he headed to the door, she screamed at the top of her voice. Lunging after him, she held the knife high in the air.
He stopped and turned toward her. Just as she was prepared to stab him again, he swung his fist and knocked the dagger from her hand. The weapon skidded across the floor, underneath her father’s bed. Before she could think of what to do next, Robert drew back his fist and belted her across the face.
Excruciating pain exploded in her head. Her jaw throbbed and she fell back. Her head hit the floor before any other part of her body could. Dizziness swam inside her, causing her vision to become fuzzy. She couldn’t allow the agony to take her. She must stay focused.
Holding his bloody stomach, he staggered from the bedroom. On hands and knees, Katrina scooted across the floor toward the hallway. Just as she fell out of the room, she saw Robert going toward the corridor where his rooms were located.
When everything began to swirl around her, she closed her eyes, praying it would soon stop. Her stomach lurched, but the mere idea of throwing up only made the stinging in her head worse. At least she’d stopped him from choking her.
“Felix!” she cried out. “Help me!”
Footsteps pounded on the floor, but she couldn’t open her eyes to see.
“Katrina!” Felix’s voice raised in alarm mere seconds before his strong arms cradled her against his chest. “You’re bleeding.” He lifted the hand that had been holding the dagger.
“No,” her voice choked out. “It’s Robert’s blood.”
“Robert? Where is he?”
Once again, she struggled through the dizziness reeling in her head, and tried to open her eyes. She was able to open them slightly, but it was enough to see the door Robert had gone in. “There. He went there.”
Felipe’s loud voice issued instructions to the other men. Through her groggy vision, she saw them run toward the door and kick it open. Suddenly, heavy white smoke billowed like thick clouds in the air, quickly filling the corridor. Men turned away, coughing.
“The rooms are on fire!” Felipe yelled.
Felix lifted Katrina in his arms, holding her close to his chest. “Someone, get Mr. Landon,” he shouted.
“No,” she said quickly. “Felix, he’s already dead.”
His arms tightened around her. “Sweetheart, I’m so sorry.”
Smoke continued to fill the hall, growing fuller by the second. Screams from the servants echoed through the house as they rushed to assist, mixed with the shouts from Felipe’s men.
Felix bolted down the steps, darting past servants rushing to help with the fire. Felix ran outside into the rain carrying Katrina. As the wetness coated her face, she snuggled against his chest. A sob escaped her throat, more from the pain coursing through her body than the terror unfolding before them. Felix had her now. He would protect her.
She struggled to remain alert. Felix caressed her arm and back, while whispering soothing words of comfort. The commotion from within the house continued to ring through the evening. Felix’s voice soon overrode everything, even the sound from the rain beating upon the ground.
From off in the distance, a shout came from Felipe as he exited the house. He and another man were dragging a lifeless body. Felix’s body stiffened and he swung his gaze in that direction.
Panic grew inside of her. Now what? “What is it?” she asked with a tight throat.
“It’s Faro.”
She snapped up, studying the charred man’s frame. “Are they certain? Tell them to check his stomach for a knife wound.”
Felix yelled something at the other men in that odd language. Felipe lifted the burned shirt off the lifeless man. Quickly, he moved his gaze back to Felix and nodded.
“Faro is dead,” Felix sighed. As his body relaxed, he pulled her into his comforting embrace once more.
She expelled a relieved sigh. “We are free from him at last.”
TWENTY-ONE
As much as Katrina hated the rain, it was the downpour that saved the house from burning. In fact, only Robert’s quarters had been scorched. The heavy rain seemed to purify the grounds from that evil man.
She sat at the vanity table in her bedroom the following day and stared at her reflection. Gently, she ran the tip of her fingers across the ugly purple mark marring her skin. The whole right side of her face was bruised, but thankfully, that was the only damage Robert had caused.
Felipe, Felix, and the other men had gone through the house interrogating the servants. Felipe fired Blanca and one other servant. They even discovered the doctor had been assisting Robert. Felipe and Davi were tasked with taking those who had conspired with Robert into Macapá to let the law deal with those criminals. Remarkably enough, the housekeeper, Mrs. Cooney, was the one who set the fire in Rober
t’s rooms. The housekeeper had discovered what Faro was doing, and so she made certain the man burned to death in his own poisonous plant-growing rooms.
Earlier today, Katrina had taken a relaxing bath to ease her aching body. She picked up the brush and carefully pulled it through her damp hair. She braced her hands on the vanity and stood. She tied the sash on her wrapper tightly around her waist as she paced the floor in bare feet. It was still too warm for slippers.
There was so much to think about, but she must decide what to do about her mother. Lucy was still in Macapá, and Katrina knew her mother would be anxiously waiting for some word, especially since it had been several weeks since Katrina left with Felix.
It was a little strange to imagine, but she had inherited a plantation. She didn’t know the first thing about running a rubber tree plantation, but with Felix by her side she was certain they would make this place their own little paradise.
First things first. She needed to marry Felix. True, she should have her mother here for the ceremony, but she also didn’t want to give Felix time to change his mind. Not that he would...but she still felt very insecure that a man like Felix would want someone like her.
A knock came upon the door. “Who is it?”
It opened and Felix poked his head inside. “It’s just me. Are you dressed?”
She chuckled. “Not really. I’m still in my underthings.”
“Splendid. May I enter?”
She planted her arms on her hips and narrowed her teasing gaze on him. She loved the laughter in his voice. “Didn’t I tell you I’m not dressed?”
His grin widened as he stepped inside and shut the door behind him. “You did. However, I see that you don’t mind my presence in the least.”
“Not at all.” She walked to him and slipped her arms around his waist. “However, you must promise me that you will wait until after we are married before you ravish me.”
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