Fortune's Flames (33 page)

In the rented carriage Jared had quietly watched his wife absorb her new surroundings. Finally she met his gaze and said, “It’s magnificent, Jared. Even our place wasn’t this large or well laid out. Mr. Lawton, your overseer, is a jewel; you never want to lose him.”

“There he is now,” Jared pointed to the muscular man approaching them on horseback. “He lives with his wife and three children on a small parcel of land west of the house.” Jared halted the carriage and waited for Jim Lawton to join them. After introducing Maren as his wife, he instructed the overseer to watch over her for him, explaining that he must return to sea.

When Jim had swept off his hat and nodded at Maren, he’d revealed a steadily balding head. At forty-one, his skin was deeply tanned and wrinkled from countless days beneath the sun, but his dark gaze appeared gentle and friendly. After wishing them a happy married life, Jim quickly gave Jared a report on the plantation. Then he wished Jared safety and success at sea.

Jared asked the overseer to show Maren around the plantation on the morrow and to help her with any problems before the man bade them farewell and rode off. He then smiled at his wife and said, “You’ll like Jim and he’ll take good care of you. There is one
thing I want to explain: our slaves are treated better than most hired workers. We feed and clothe them properly, and they’re never whipped, not by Willa or Jim or any of the black bosses. And we allow them to marry and to keep their children. If you ever catch anyone breaking any of those rules, correct the situation at once, no matter who it is. My place is a happy one; that’s why things go so well here.”

Maren hugged him and said, “I’m glad, Jared. I’m going to love it here. Suddenly New Orleans and Lady Luck don’t seem to matter. When the war’s over, let’s get rid of everything there and live here.”

“That sounds good to me, love. You’re home, Maren Morgan,” he remarked, halting the carriage near the front door.

Instantly three servants left the house and joined them. Jared greeted them like old friends and made the introductions. “Robert is our butler, and he takes good care of me when I’m home. He’s been with us since he was knee-high. Suzy is our housewoman and she sees that everything’s kept clean. Little Suzy was born here. Her mother still helps out when she’s able, but most of the time she looks after children while their parents are in the fields. And Bertha is our cook, the best in the land. I hope you’ve got something special cooking for tonight, Bertha, ’cause I’ve brought home my wife. This is Maren Morgan.”

All three servants—the petite Suzy, the stout Bertha, and the elderly Robert—were overjoyed.

“Lordy, Mister Jared, you done found yourself a beauty,” Bertha said. “I’ll git myself in that kitchen
and cook up a storm for you two. A shame your papa ain’t here to see this glorious day.”

Jared told her, “I can only stay until midnight; then I must sail. This infernal war’s still going on and there’s no end in sight.”

“I’ll git your room ready, Mister Jared,” Suzy declared, “and I’ll take care of your wife whilst you’re gone. Don’t you worry none about her. Robert, help me git them trunks upstairs for Missy Morgan.”

Jared protested gently. “They’re too heavy and awkward, little Suzy. Fetch a couple of the men to carry them upstairs. I don’t want you and Robert hurting your backs or falling. I need you three healthy to take care of this woman for me.” He drew Maren against him and kissed her forehead, revealing his deep feeling for her.

“Where are Willa and the children?” Jared asked, knowing they should have appeared by now.

“Missy Morgan done moved them chillun into town with Bessie so they be near the school,” Suzy revealed. “She buyed a little house, and they lives there when school’s going on. Missy Morgan says they hasta git up too early to git there from here when the weather gits bad this time of year. She says they git more resting and studying done living in town. She only let’s ’em come home one time a month and on holidays. Big Bessie lives with ’em and looks out for ’em.”

“When did Willa get this crazy idea?” Jared asked, annoyed.

“When school started this time,” Suzy replied.

“That’s too long for those young children to be away from home.”

“You’re right, Mister Jared,” Bertha agreed. “Ever’ time they comes home, they cries and begs Missy Morgan to let ’em come back, but she tells ’em it’s best for ’em.”

“I’ll take care of that tonight before I leave. Where is Willa today?”

“She went to the Clarys yesterday. She’s suppose to be home by now,” Bertha answered.

“I’d like to speak with her before I leave, but I hope she doesn’t return until after dinner. Let’s get Maren inside and settled.”

Maren and Jared had enjoyed a romantic dinner and were about to sneak upstairs for an hour alone when Willa arrived. It was after dark, so they had assumed she would not be returning that night.

Jared met his stepmother, who was only seven years older than himself, on the front porch. She was a strawberry blonde with hazel eyes, and she had not had time to collect her poise after being told Jared was home. Still, she eyed him up and down as she smiled and said, “Nice to have you home again so soon, Jared. Can you stay long?”

“I’m leaving within the hour. I was afraid I would miss you before I sailed.” Before he could explain what he meant, Willa had stepped closer to him and was trailing her fingers over his chest. Jared seized her hand and pushed it away. “I wanted to introduce
you to my wife and to get things settled before I return to the war. She’ll be living here.”

“Wife?” Willa echoed. “You got married? She’s here?”

“Her name is Maren James Morgan. She’s the daughter of Papa’s old friend Cameron James of James Shipping in New Orleans. We got married there on July tenth. Maren’s parents are dead, so I brought her here to wait for me. She’ll be the mistress of Shady Rest, not you. I hope you understand that and don’t give her any trouble.”

The situation struck Willa hard. She started to protest, but decided to handle Jared’s wife after he departed. However, she was not prepared for the woman who joined them. Maren was beautiful, and she had strength. Willa realized she had a formidable rival in this stunning creature. She smiled with feigned warmth, then hugged Maren. “This is quite a surprise. I’m sure you’ll be very happy here, Maren. I’ll introduce you to everyone, perhaps even throw a welcoming party. We’ll get along wonderfully, Jared; you don’t have to worry.”

“One thing that does worry me is what you’ve done with Cathy and Steven. They’re too young to be living away from home.”

Willa frowned, sighed heavily, and tossed her reddish gold hair. “You know how far it is into town, Jared. Every morning those children had to be up before dawn to get to school, and they didn’t get home until dark. They were so exhausted they couldn’t study, and never had time to play. They
were getting scrawny and sickly covering so many miles every day, especially in stormy or cold weather, so I rented a nice house near the school and moved Bessie in with them. This way, they can sleep later every morning, they’re close to the schoolhouse in bad weather, and they’re home before dark. They have more time to study and to play. They’re near other children, and they’re healthier. Bessie cooks and cleans and protects them.”

“But they must be miserable,” Jared asserted.

Willa covered her vexation and slyly said, “What’s a little unhappiness when their education and health are at stake? I haven’t deserted them or sent them off to boarding school. I visit them every time I go into town, and they come home every few weeks. I have to do what’s best for them; they are
my
children, Jared.”

“I want Maren to see them and talk with them. If she agrees it’s best for them to live in town during the school year, then it’s fine with me. If she disagrees, I want them brought home immediately. Understand?”

Willa glared at the handsome Jared for a moment. “You have no right to interfere. I’m not your slave. We’re family. If you want me to leave Shady Rest now that you’re married, just say so. Don’t try to embarrass me or make me cower before your new bride.”

Maren excused herself from the unpleasant confrontation by saying, “I’ll let you two talk for a few minutes while I freshen up.” She went into the house, and as she retrieved her shawl from the sofa in
the sitting room, which opened onto the porch, the tone of Jared’s voice caught her attention and she halted to listen.

“I promised Papa I would take care of Cathy and Steven, and I intend to keep that vow. Remember, Maren is in charge here until I return, and don’t give her any problems.”

Willa inquired angrily, “Did you tell her about us? Does she know Steven isn’t your father’s child?”

“I told her part of it, but not about Steven. Maybe I’ll tell her one day, and maybe I’ll let it lie. But I won’t let you hurt that boy, Willa. He’s a Morgan, and I’ll never let you make him a bastard.”

“He looks more and more like you, Jared. He’s quite handsome and bright. I wish you would spend more time with him after you come home. He needs you. Stop downing me and help me with him.”

“I have to get back to the ship. Behave yourself, Willa, or…”

“Or what, Jared love? You’ll tell little Maren all about me?”

“You’re a bitch, Willa, a real bitch. Why don’t you latch on to another rich man and get off my plantation?”

“Half of this plantation should be mine, or my son’s!”

Jared said coldly, “Don’t worry about Steven; I won’t let him lose his rightful inheritance.”

“Why did you marry that girl and bring her here?”

“Because I wanted to.”

“And you always get everything you want, don’t
you, Jared?”

To annoy Willa, he replied, “Yes, I do. Now, let’s go inside.”

Maren did not know what to make of
the
conversation. She took a seat on the sofa, sipped the cold tea, and when Jared entered the room, she rose and smiled at him. “Is it time for you to leave?”

“I’m afraid so, love, but I’ll be back soon,” he promised. Taking her hand, he coaxed, “Walk me to the carriage.”

As they headed for the door, Jared glanced at Willa and said, “Remember, behave yourself, or you’ll be sorry.”

At the carriage, Maren softly chided, “You shouldn’t treat her like that in front of me and others, Jared. It will only create more trouble between you two, and between her and me. I would like things to run smoothly during your absence.”

“You’re right, love. She just riles me because I want her gone and I can’t get rid of her. And I have to think of Cathy and Steven.”

“I can hardly wait to meet them.”

Jared pulled her into his arms and kissed her hungrily. “Lordy, I crave you, woman.”

“I’m going to miss you terribly. Please hurry home.”

“Stay safe and well, Maren Morgan, or I’ll make you pay dearly,” he teased, then planted searing kisses over her face and throat. “I have to leave now, or I won’t be able to go.”

Maren watched him until he vanished from view.

Then she sighed heavily and returned to the house. Willa was nowhere in sight. Bertha told her that she had gone to her room and wouldn’t be back down that night. Maren thought it odd that the woman didn’t want to study her or to make her feel welcome, but she decided that perhaps Willa needed time to get accustomed to her presence, or to get over her embarrassment and irritation.

Maren went to Jared’s room, put on a nightgown, and got into bed. She felt strange in this huge room with such large furniture. It was too masculine and dark, too quiet and depressing. She wanted to brighten and enliven it. None of Jared’s fragrance lingered in the room, and she missed him already.

She wondered how she would get along with Willa and what the woman’s conversation with her husband meant. If Benjamin Morgan was not Steven’s father, but the boy was a Morgan, whose son was he? And how did Jared know the truth? She wondered why he had chosen to keep this matter a secret, but she was tired. She decided that when Jared returned, she would ask for an explanation of the implications that simmered dangerously within her.

Maren spent most of the following day in Jim Lawton’s company. The overseer gave her a tour of the plantation and introduced her to the workers and to his family. She enjoyed herself and was quite relaxed.

When Jim left her at the door of the main house,
however, Maren noticed something odd; none of the servants came to greet her. She called out their names after entering, but received no response.

“Hello, little cousin.” The man’s voice filled her ears.

Maren whirled to find Willa standing between Eric James and Horben Wolfe. She was grinning devilishly.

“Eric! What are you doing here?” Maren asked incredulously. She did not like the familiarity she perceived between her cousin and Willa, and the wicked grins on their faces made her uneasy.

“Maren, my sweet,” he began playfully, “whatever are you doing here in Savannah? Why aren’t you at home?”

Maren did not know how to answer because she couldn’t surmise how much Eric knew. His next response partially enlightened her.

“Why did you allow Captain Hawk to trick you into betraying me? I’ve just come from New Orleans and France, following your traitorous wake, little cousin. What will the President have to say about you two?”

“Jared left that gold with the President’s men, so he should be quite glad about that,” Maren replied, hoping her voice did not quaver. She tried to remain
poised and clear witted, but it was difficult. She was shaking, and her palms were damp. Trying to focus attention on Eric’s foul deeds, she asserted bravely, “You lied to me about my parents’ deaths. Lilibeth Payne told me there was no hurricane last year.”

Eric did not appear to be bothered by her words or her tone. He asked casually “Is that why you turned against me and sided with that so-called hero? If you had given me a chance, I could have explained. I’ll do so right now; I thought that story would sit better with you than the truth. They were robbed, beaten, and murdered by runaway slaves from another plantation. I only wanted to spare you such gory details. Willa tells me you and Morgan are married. Is that true?”

“Yes,” Maren replied tersely, keeping her eyes fixed on his.

“Why?” Eric probed, his jaw clenched and his gaze impenetrable.

“That’s none of your business,” Maren told him.

Annoyed, Eric nonetheless asked in a deceptively calm voice, “Speaking of business, Samuel Lewis and Dan Myers tell me Morgan’s been sticking his nose into my affairs back home. Is that true?”

“Why would your hirelings lie to you?” Maren responded sarcastically.

He grinned and vowed smugly, “They wouldn’t.”

“Then why the foolish question?”

“I don’t want an answer,” he clarified. “I want an explanation.”

“Do you really need one, Eric? Do you think I’m
too stupid to comprehend what you’ve done, and were doing?”

“No, but I was hoping you were loyal and smart.”

“Loyal to the man who stole my inheritance? Surely you jest!”

“I see you found your secret partner and located those deeds for me. Thanks, little cousin.” Seeing her shocked response, he chuckled and said, “Oh, did I forget to tell you? I kept the second key to the bank box.”

“You took my papers?” Maren was frantic.

“I took everything there, everything,” he declared pointedly.

“How dare you trick me again!” she exclaimed, then artfully changed her tone to ask, “Why, Eric? We were so close. I can’t believe you would do such horrible things, especially to me.” When he approached her and stroked her flushed cheek, Maren did not flinch. She did not want to reveal her terror. If she was going to get out of this dilemma, she had to fool him.

“Ben, take Willa for a long walk. I want to speak privately with Maren. There are a few things she needs to hear about me and Morgan.”

After Horben Wolfe and Willa left the house, Eric coaxed, “Sit down, Maren, you’ve got a few shocks coming.”

Maren knew she could not escape at that moment, so she did as Eric suggested. She sat on one end of the sofa and faced him. “Well?” she demanded. “Why did you betray me and try to destroy me?”

“Where to begin…” he murmured, eying her intently.

“What about with spying and treason; then the theft of my inheritance? How could you, Eric? I loved you and trusted you.”

“Maren, my sweet, you’re so wrong about everything. When this messy war was over, I was going to share everything with you.”

“You were?” she scoffed. “After you left New Or—”

“Be quiet and listen to me. I really am working for the American government, but in a tricky way. I’m pretending to be a spy for the British, and I can prove it. As soon as it’s safe, I’ll take you to see the President, and he will convince you that I’m no traitor. Things aren’t as they seem, Maren; I swear it. That gold I got out of London was delivered to Jamaica to be picked up by another American agent. Since I’m supposed to be working for the other side, I couldn’t risk being caught passing it along. The same was true of that French shipment. You and Morgan have nearly destroyed my contacts. I’m not even sure I can carry out my missions anymore; everyone is suspicious of me now. Not that my life matters that much, but I hate to lose it without a good reason.”

He moved a little closer to her. “I spoke with the President before coming here, and he’s going to order Captain Hawk to stop intruding on my missions. You two have really jeopardized my position, and I’m afraid I can’t allow any more interference. The
war is at a critical stage, and your recklessness could lose it for us.”

“Do you really expect me to believe this—”

Eric interrupted curtly, “I’ve reached a point at which I don’t care what you think or feel! I’m hurt and disappointed, Maren. You’ve not only turned against me, you’ve been working against me and trying to get me killed. I took over James Shipping so I could use the ships to help our side. I couldn’t even tell your father what I was doing. I hurt him badly, Maren; he thought I was a real British spy, and I never got the chance to tell him the truth before he died. I don’t want your damned inheritance. Taking it over was only a ruse. You can have everything back the minute this war’s over. But I asked you to trust me and help me. Why didn’t you?”

Eric was most persuasive, but Maren remembered everything she had heard and learned. Knowing she could not dupe him by making a sudden about-face, she argued boldly, “Because I know what you say is not true. There was a
real
American spy on your ship—Peter Thomas. He came to New Orleans and told Jared Morgan all about your plans. You used me, Eric. You’ve been working for all three sides, but only in your own favor. And if that isn’t bad enough, you’ve attempted to drive me out of Lady Luck and you’ve probably tried to have me… killed.”

“You’re wrong, Maren. Dan Myers was the one after Lady Luck. Those fools that tried to harm you were employed by him. When Lewis told me about your so-called accidents, I was furious. If Myers
hadn’t gotten rid of his hirelings before my arrival, I surely would have. I paid Myers to watch over you, but he got greedy and was afraid you and Morgan would get rid of him. He was a friend of your father’s so I thought he was trustworthy; he isn’t. As for Lewis, he was the only man who knew I was secretly working for the Americans. He forged papers to help me establish an identity the British would accept, but you scared the hell out of him when you wanted me investigated. That’s why he went along with Myers’s ruse to scare you out of Lady Luck; he thought that would keep you from exposing me. Unfortunately, that only made me look worse to you, and it made you susceptible to Morgan’s guile.”

Eric edged even closer to Maren. “I would never pay anyone to hurt you. To kill you? That’s absurd. Damn it, woman, I love you. I’ve always loved you and wanted you. I was hoping to take you with me to Jamaica after the war, to marry you. I’ve already bought us a home there.” His green eyes and his voice were filled with passion.

Maren gaped at him. “Marry you? But we’re…” She halted, her thoughts a maelstrom. Was her cousin crazy? she wondered. If so, how could she deal with him? How could she escape?

Eric jumped up and paced the room. “Maren, how do I tell you such humiliating news?” he asked, sounding as if he were frustrated and tormented, but totally honest.

“Tell me what, Eric?” she inquired apprehensively.

Eric turned and faced her as he admitted, “We’re not kin. I’m a bastard, Maren. My real father owned a tavern in Baltimore; my mother was in love with him for years. My parents never slept together after Murray was born, so there’s no doubt about my sorry lineage. My father knew all about her lengthy affair, but he kept her around for appearances. He couldn’t do or say much because he’d carried on with countless women. He and my mother hated each other, tried to hurt each other whenever they could. That’s why my father, or I should say John James, hated me and Marc; we weren’t his sons.” He rapidly fired the truth at her, then scoffed, “If John had lived, he would have exposed us one day. I’m glad he died in that fire. He was never a father to me. I’m not your cousin, Maren, no blood relation at all, and I’ve waited for the day when I could tell you the truth and marry you. I love you, and I would never harm you.”

Maren used this stunning revelation to her advantage. She exclaimed, “Sweet heavens above! You’re telling me the truth, aren’t you?”

In response, Eric asked painfully, “Why did you marry him and spoil everything? I was going to take you where nobody knew us and make you my wife. Didn’t you feel the attraction between us?”

Maren knew she had to think fast and take desperate steps. “Yes, but I thought we were first cousins. Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“I was ashamed. I had to make certain you trusted me and loved me. Now it’s too late. You’re married to
Jared Morgan.”

Maren realized her life was in peril, as was Jared’s. She quelled her nausea and went to Eric. “He forced me to marry him. He was going to jail me for the money you stole from him. He threatened to take Lady Luck and leave me without a home or money. He told me terrible things about you. I was scared and confused. Then all those accidents kept happening to me. I was helpless. What else could I do?”

Eric caught her face between his hands and stared into her misty eyes. “Do you love him, Maren?”

“Love a man who enslaved me? How could I? I’ve never slept with him, Eric. It’s a marriage in name only. He entrapped me for some reason, but I don’t know why. He said it was because I was Cameron’s daughter and he wanted to protect me and help me, but I don’t believe those were his motives. He took me to France so I wouldn’t be in New Orleans when you arrived. He probably knew you would explain everything to me and we would get matters straightened out between us. I didn’t give him the necklace, Eric; I didn’t even know the truth about it. Peter Thomas revealed its significance to Jared, and he took it.”

As if Eric had heard little of what she had said, or as if his mind was only concerned with one matter, he inquired, “Would you leave him for me?”

Maren forced herself to smile and go into his arms. Glad he could not see her face, she lied, “Yes, I would. Oh, Eric, I always thought it was so wicked of me to have these feelings for one of my kin, but we
aren’t related. What are we going to do?”

As Eric’s arms closed around her, he replied, “We’ll figure something out, after the war. I’ll send you to Jamaica so you can wait for me. Is that all right with you?”

When she made the mistake of looking up at him and nodding, his mouth covered hers and she was compelled to return his kiss. Afterward, his lips trailed over her face and he whispered huskily, “I love you, Maren. We’ll be together soon.”

Determined to carry off her desperate pretense, she cupped his face between her hands and looked into his smoldering eyes. “I love you, Eric, and I want to marry you. I’m so glad I can finally say that aloud. For years I’ve been tormented by my feelings for you. That’s why I agreed to marry Daniel Redford, to put distance between us. I was so afraid someone would guess my secret and think me evil.”

Believing another victory was within his grasp, Eric smiled. “I’ll complete my mission as soon as possible and join you in Jamaica. We’ll have your marriage to Jared Morgan dissolved; then we’ll be married. I can’t wait until we spend our first night together.”

Maren hugged him and replied, “A dream come true, Eric.”

“You’ll have to sail at dawn. Can you be ready?”

“I’ll be ready as soon as I’m packed. When can you join me?”

He cuffed her chin playfully. “Within a month, my eager vixen.”

“What about Willa? Can you trust her?”

“The only two people I trust fully are you and Ben.”

“How do you want me to behave when she returns, as your fiancée or as your captive? What do you want her to think and to tell Jared Morgan? If he finds us, there’s no telling what he’ll do to me for deserting him. Until I’m free of him, Eric, you must protect me and our secret.” Maren really wanted to protect Jared from Eric, and from his evil cohorts, until she could escape this agonizing trap, but she was not sure which ruse would work best for her and Jared.

“You’re right, Maren,” Eric replied. “You are legally married to him, so he could give us trouble. And from what I hear, Morgan isn’t one to challenge without the advantage. He would be angrier if he knows you’ve turned to me than he would if he thinks you were kidnapped by me. We’ll let Willa believe I’m taking you to my home in Baltimore. Act as if I’ve ensnared you and you’re frightened of me; that way, if Morgan catches up with you before I can handle him, he won’t punish you for siding with me.”

“We’ll have to confront him eventually, but your suggestions sound wise. Is there anything between you and Willa that should concern me?” she asked, trying to appear jealous while masking a reaction to his mention of Baltimore. She knew what he had done to his brother there, and Jared would suspect that Willa was misleading him.

Eric chuckled. “Nothing, my naughty vixen. I love
only you. I once told you I was waiting for the perfect woman, but I was actually waiting until I could lay claim to her. You, Maren, are perfect for me.”

“Maybe we’ve known this all our lives, Eric. Maybe that’s why we’ve always been so close. But will you change your name? What will people who know us think?” she asked, continuing her desperate deceit. Having recalled Murray’s fate, she knew he was deadly.

“We’ll have plenty of time to work out the details later. Right now, you must get packed. I’ll take you aboard my ship after dark. Ben will go along to protect you.”

Maren concealed her shock and dismay by asking, “But who will protect you if Ben’s with me? Jared will come after us the minute he learns about this. Since you’re heading him toward Baltimore, you won’t go near there, will you? Does Murray know about what you’re doing?”