Keeper of My Dreams (St. John Series Book 4) (23 page)

Eli shoved Matthew’s arm away from him and turned to face his younger brother. He attempted to take a defensive stance only to feel his body sway.

“Take it easy, Eli,” Matthew said as he held up his hands in a surrender pose. “If I hit you again, it will be liable to knock you out.”

“I’m hoping you’ll just kill me.”

“You got in that deep with her, huh?”

Eli just looked at his brother and stumbled. Matthew caught Eli before he fell again. “Why didn’t you tell her?”

He tried to shove his brother away. When Matthew let go, Eli stumbled again. Matthew caught Eli before he fell.

“Because she is in love with another.”

Matthew gave him a puzzled look. “Snowdon? He’s a half-wit. He’s been gone for over two years now.”

“That’s why she came to the Caribbean.”

“What are you talking about, Eli?”

Eli went on to explain how he ended up involved with Reanna, ending with, “The man she intended to wed was a pirate. He’s dead now and she mourns for him. I cannot compete with a dead man. A ghost.”

“How hard did I hit you?” Matthew asked as he gave Eli a concerned look. “Why in this world would she love Snowdon? He kidnapped her, drugged her and then sold her.”

Eli’s dark eyes were shadowed with despair. “I saw her tears.”

“When?”

“When she was speaking with her brother. She mentioned his name and began crying.”

“Are you sure they were for him and not you?”

“Why am I discussing this with you? You are a confirmed bachelor. The only thing you know about a woman is how to avoid marriage to one.”

“And it has worked out splendidly for me. Besides, look at the mess you’ve become over love. That is not for me. Now, I have someone who might help you forget your little brown-haired mermaid.”

“That’s all right, Matt.”

“You sure? She’s quite . . . flexible.” A lascivious grin crossed Matthew’s face.

Eli snorted. “That’s quite all right. You enjoy your flexible woman. My head is still spinning and I think I’m about to pass out.”

“Please wait until we’re in the house first. You’d be a bugger to get up the steps.”

“You’re all heart, do you know that?”

“That’s what brothers are for,” Matthew replied with a wry grin. “Now let’s get you inside before the neighbors call the authorities on us. Would hate to add more slander to the St. John name. I could see the headlines now. ‘St. John brothers arrested for fighting.’ The
ton
would feast upon that one for months.”

Eli shook his head as he listened to his brother babble about the headlines they could cause. But the only one that interested Eli would be the one he would cause by marrying below his station and that would never happen. As Eli felt the first step under his feet, he swayed again and allowed the dark abyss that had been encircling him to come.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Eli looked out across the ocean as his mind wandered. The warm Caribbean breeze caused the palm trees to gently sway under its command. He took a deep breath and the smell of the salty sea air invaded his senses. It had been four months since he left England. Upon his return, he was no longer plagued by nightmares of Meredith’s death. Instead at night London haunted him.

His life had changed. His entire world had changed. When he arrived home, Natasha greeted him with a warm embrace and a kiss, informing him that she was taking a holiday . . . here. And to expect visitors . . . frequently. Apparently her son had finally located her and he and his new bride were coming to visit. Imagine Eli’s surprise when he learned that Natasha’s son was none other than Slim. Eli was worried that the pirate might try to kill him. But when Slim saw how well Natasha was being treated, he thoroughly thanked Eli and vowed to always be faithful to him and Emerald Shipping.

Eli now had another beautiful niece by his new brother. Her name was Amelia and she looked like her mother. Madison was expecting another child in early spring, along with Michael’s wife, Andrea. Noah had surprised them all upon his arrival by returning married to Andrea’s little sister, Alyssa, the stowaway—who kept up with the “family tradition” when Peterson kidnapped her. However, the biggest shock was when Jacob returned from Kingstown married to a pirate named Julianna who held him prisoner for a short while. Eli’s mouth curled upward as he remembered Jacob introducing his new bride to the new brother. All were taken aback when Kristina threatened to kill them both. It came to be found out that Julianna and Max were acquaintances and that Julianna had fancied herself in love with Max.

Shortly after Eli’s return to Harbour Island it was discovered that the Baroness Marina was involved with the arrangement to have Reanna and Kristina abducted. Robert saw to it that she was returned back to France—which involved her marrying a much older, very stern and heavy-handed Baron. Yes, his whole world had changed. The only thing that was the same was Eli’s outlook on life. He returned to his normal character . . . the true pessimist. He threw himself into his work and rarely left his home, except to travel to the docks to gather the ledgers as the ships arrived. He drank more than he ate and slept less and less each night.

His thoughts were interrupted by a loud pounding at his front door. Now who could be calling this time of night? He pulled on his robe and trotted down the steps barefoot. As he approached the door, he pulled out the cutlass that Max had given him as a peace offering. He cracked the door open cautiously. His eyes grew wide as he spotted Zachary Hollingsworth standing at his front door. Eli opened the door the rest of the way. Before he could offer a greeting, Zachary’s fist sent him stumbling backwards.

“You damned St. Johns! Everyone in England told my father not to associate with you, not to affiliate our names with your family. And how do you repay us? By taking advantage of my sister!”

Eli touched his mouth with the back of his hand. His gaze locked with Zachary’s. “Those are strong allegations you have, Hollingsworth. Where’s your proof?”

“Proof? Proof? You want proof? Reanna left again . . . only a week after her return. She went to our aunt’s in Lincoln to hide. ‘To keep scandal away from our father’ was what her note said. When I traveled there, she wouldn’t even see me! It took me a month to convince her to see me and what did I find—my sister with a widening waist. She has fallen from grace and now is carrying your illegitimate child!”

“What?”

“You heard me, St. John. So pack your bags because you are going back to England with me to make things right. Your family’s sordid reputation will not dissuade my father from preventing this marriage.”

One of Eli’s black brows shot upward at the insult to his family’s name. “I suggest you downplay your tone there, Hollingsworth, and think before you speak again.” Eli replied with a cool curtness.

“Is der a problem here, Mr. St. John?” Slim asked as he silently approached the back of Zachary.

At first Eli had been put off by the fact that Slim would be visiting Natasha so frequently, but now he was thankful to have the formidable man present.

Zach looked over his shoulder. “Your hired thugs won’t scare me off, St. John. I will take you both on!” Zachary held his fists up, turning between the two men.

Eli held his hand up to signal Slim to stand down. A truly deflated sound left him. “Your sister does not want me. She came here to look for her love and found him to be a bloody sod. When I left her, she was in tears over returning home without him.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“I saw her. She went into her home and collapsed in tears.”

“You simple-minded ass! She wasn’t crying over David. She was crying over you.”

“Me?”

“Yes. All I could get out of her that day was that you were leaving because you thought she was trying to misappropriate funds from your company. How she had fallen for you and you accused of her being a thief! She left a week later, leaving a vague note but nothing else. She told Aunt Marie that the stress of being a jilted bride was too much for her to bear. Aunt Marie said she moped about for weeks after her arrival until she confessed the real reason for wanting to visit her . . . that she was carrying a child. She wouldn’t tell anyone who the father was. But it was quite simple to piece it together and deduce that it was you.”

“Accusations are all you come here with,” Eli replied in his normal droll wit. He still refused to believe that London had been so melancholy because of him.

“I spoke with Matthew. You give him enough liquor and he tells all. He told me you bedded her! So as I said earlier, St. John, pack your bags.”

“If Reanna has truly fallen from grace, then why did you come and not her father?”

“He doesn’t know. Reanna is his baby girl. I could not bear the thought of him disowning her because you had an itch that you needed to scratch.”

Slim chuckled. “Doz itches can get ya into lots of trouble, Mr. St. John.”

“Indeed. As I recall that’s how you ended up with that cheeky little minx of yours,” Eli retorted, referring to Slim’s wife, Ruth Ann. Eli made a derisive snort. “Better tell your wife that you will be leaving tomorrow.”

“Ya goin’ ta England again?”

“Yes. I seem to have left something important there.”

“Don’t act so cocky, St. John. Once you have made right by Reanna, I aim to kill you.”

Eli’s eyes lowered to dangerous slits. “And keep in mind, Hollingsworth, I do not miss what I aim for.”

At the dangerous tone in Eli’s warning, Zach felt uneasy. “We sail in a week’s time.”

“No. We will sail tomorrow.” Eli kept his gaze fixed on Zach as he addressed Slim. “Get
The Abyss
ready to sail. Tell the others I will double their fees for such a short notice.”

“Yes, sir,” the tall Jamaican said as he slipped silently back around the house.

“I’m not letting you sail on your own ship. You may double back.”

“Oh, I am and you will be with me.” A malicious sneer crossed Eli’s face. “I hope you like pirates.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Eli said nothing as he slammed the door in Zachary’s face. He had much to do before he sailed. He needed to make arrangements for Natasha and Albert while he was away. Granted they were free but many of the residents on this island still treated them as slaves. He would notify Madison to make sure they had the needed supplies. He had to make certain the repairmen would come while he was away since the door still needed repair. Lastly, he needed to visit his parents to get the family ring and to let them know he was traveling to England. Meredith refused to wear it, stating she was satisfied with the store-bought ring Eli had purchased for her before they left England.

Eli walked to his study and sat down. The mantel clock chimed twelve. A contented smile crossed his face. London was distressed because he left, not because she lost Snowdon. His smile dropped at the realization that he was going to be a father. He rubbed the side of his face as he leaned back in his chair.

“Yuh ‘ave ah ‘oppy luk ta yuh face, Masta Eli,” Natasha said as she slipped quietly in the room.

“Do I?” he asked in a supercilious tone, but his facial expression gave away his happiness.

“I hear yer takin’ mi boy wey fram mi an Ruth Ann,” Natasha said.

“Yes, I am. I need to return to England posthaste.”

“Would dat hav anyting ta du wid ah sea nymph?”

“Have you been spying on me, Natasha?”

“Mi boy told mi. Yuh keep him safe fer me, Masta Eli. Him a gud mon.”

“You have my word,” he reassured with humbleness. “We will return as soon as I wed London.”

A very unladylike snort escaped Natasha. “Yuh tink she’ll marry yuh afta wat yuh done went an said ta har? Yuh called har ah tief. An now dat yuh find owt she’s a carryin’ yuh chile, yuh want har back?” Natasha was trying to rile her employer. She’d lost count of the nights she heard him call for London in his sleep . . . when he would sleep. She recognized his mournful look. She had witnessed it for five years; however, this look was different. He was more despondent and snappy. He had lost his temper many times with her kind Albert over simple insignificant issues.

“Why would she not marry me? I am a St. John after all and my father’s title will come to me. I have more money than she could spend in a lifetime. Any woman would be thrilled with that.”

“But nah Miz London. Shi alredi has har own money an can tek care of harself. Aal dat won’t change har mind if’n shi don’t want ta marry yuh.”

“I would make sure she is well provided for. That her child . . . our child has my name.”

“Suh yuh jest wantin’ ta marry har ‘cause shi’s carryin’ yuh chile?”

“Yes,” Eli lied.

“Well, den ya might as well stay here. Dat feisty ‘oman don’t give a hoot ‘bout nun of dat. Any mon can give har chile a name. Wid da money har pa has, him won’t pay nah neva mind dat da chile belongs ta sum uda mon. I will jest mix up one of mi remedies an slip it in har broder’s drink. Once he’s owt, Slim can toss him on ah boat headin’ fah England an yuh can guh ‘bout yer business.”

“You will do no such thing!” Eli yelled as he abruptly stood.

“Why not? Yuh du nah luv da ‘oman, suh why would yuh be wontin’ ta marry har?”

“I do love her!” Eli shouted. When the words left his mouth, he sank back into his chair. His voice softened to a whisper. “I do love her. I always have.”

Natasha inwardly smiled upon his confession. “Den why didn’t yuh tell her ‘fore yuh left England? Dat’s aal dat girl wanted ta hear.”

“Because I thought she loved another,” he whispered.

“Shi luves yuh, too, Masta Eli. Aal ya haft ta duh is ta luk into har eyes an yuh can see dat.”

Eli looked to Natasha. “What would I do without you?”

“Yuh would be ah hopeless disaster, Masta Eli.”

“That I would. I thank you for your work and counsel Natasha.”

The Jamaican housekeeper smiled. This was the first time he had ever complimented her and recognized how much he needed her. “Yuh welcome, Masta Eli.”

He gave a big yawn. “I think I will retire now. I need to rise early in the morning to make arrangements before I leave.”

“I will give yuh tonic ta mi bwoy.”

“Very good.”

“While yuh a owt, mek sure yuh account has money at da governor’s store.”

“Absolutely. I will leave enough for you to buy any needed supplies while I’m gone.”

“An enough fi de nursery.”

Eli smiled fondly. “A nursery would be grand. Please feel free to arrange the house. If need be, hire a carpenter and place a doorway from my room to the adjacent room.”

“I wasn’t talkin’ ‘bout fah yuh.”

Eli smiled. “Congratulations, Natasha. You will make an excellent grandmother.”

Her beaming smile could not be missed. “Tank yuh.”

“I will leave enough for two nurseries then. You and Albert feel free to expand whatever is needed. In fact, feel free to arrange for construction for a home for Slim and Ruth Ann.”

“Yuh a gud mon, Masta Eli.”

Eli walked over to Natasha and placed an affectionate kiss on her cheek. She gave him a quizzical look. “I have to keep you happy. You might put a curse on me.”

She gave a hearty laugh. “Dat’s aal a ruse, Masta Eli.”

“I know and I love you for it. I love you for looking out for Meredith and I love you for making me see how foolish I have been. I never had the opportunity to have a caring grandmother in my life. Father’s mother lived in England and could not tolerate sailing. The few times I did visit her, it was more like staying with strangers than family—although she did try. And Mother’s mother is an old conniving prude. My mother did what she could but sometimes children need grandparents to look the other way so they can be rambunctious, to take their sides even when they have wronged. I would be honored if my child could call you their great-grandmother.”

Natasha’s hand went to her chest. “Oh, Masta Eli.”