Sea of Fire (2 page)

Having patted her curls in place and straightened her pale blue muslin day gown, she left her bedchamber to seek him. When she arrived in the dining room, the sideboard was conspicuously empty. Hannah always had it filled with breakfast treats for her father at this hour and complained how she’d love the two of them to dine together. Elizabeth assured her she’d make an effort to come down earlier more often. Where was the food? More importantly, where was her father? What had happened to him and Hannah?

She was a bit concerned. She ran from the dining room, to the kitchen, back out to the parlor. There lay Hannah upon the sofa, sound asleep.

“Hannah, wake up,” she said, and shook the woman.

Instantly, the woman’s soft brown eyes opened.

“Have you slept here all night?” Elizabeth asked.

“I was waiting for yer father and must have dozed off. Unless he slipped by me, he hasn’t come home,” Hannah told her, rising from the sofa.

“He’s always up by now, though he retires late.” Elizabeth lifted her skirts and ran from the parlor up the staircase.

“Father,” she called, still at a distance from his door. “Sleepyhead, ‘tis time to awake.” She tapped on his chamber door and, when she heard no stirring, opened it.

His bed hadn’t been slept in all night. She raced from his room back down the steps.

“Hannah, he’s not here.” Elizabeth rubbed her forehead and paced the floor at the bottom of the staircase.

“Do you think something has happened to him? It’s so unlike him not to come home. I’m worried.”

“Let’s not be jumping to any conclusions now,” Hannah suggested. “He probably fell asleep over his paperwork and will be here any moment.”

“Do you think so?”

“Aye. Now come along and I’ll prepare ye some nourishment,” Hannah said. She grabbed Elizabeth’s arm to escort her to the kitchen.

As she did so, a loud knock sounded on the door. Elizabeth looked to Hannah. “Were you expecting anyone this early in the morn?”

Hannah shook her head, tucked her mop of grey hair back under her house cap and attended the door. Elizabeth peered over her shoulder.

“Good morning.” A tall, thin gentleman removed his hat and nodded. Behind him, the birds sang their early morning song in the trees near the street. “I have an appointment with Edward Corry.”

Elizabeth frowned as Hannah informed the man her father wasn’t available. Her father always kept his appointments. He was never late.

“I’m sorry. Mr. Corry has taken ill, and I beg his apologies, but he cannot meet with you today,” Hannah quickly told the man.

The man frowned in disappointment, yet said, “Thank you. I hope he feels well soon. I’ll come again another time.”

Hannah nodded and started to shut the door when Elizabeth pushed it wider, calling out to the man. “Your name, sir, that we might tell him who called.”

“Tell him Turner. He’ll know me.”

“Have you ever seen the man before?” Elizabeth asked Hannah when the door was shut.

“Nay.”

“Why did you tell him that about Father?”

“We don’t know who the man is or why he came. There’s no need in him knowing your da is not here, now is there?”

Elizabeth nodded, and said, “I’m glad one of us is thinking clearly. I’m really worried and must forgo my repast. I need to go over to Four Courts.”

“I’ll get me cloak and go with ye.”

“Nay. One of us needs to be here should father return while I’m gone.”

“All right, but ye be careful. ‘Tis early and not many people will be about yet, except maybe the scum of Dublin.”

Elizabeth grabbed her heavy wool cloak, hat and gloves and left their town house. It would take too long to have a carriage prepared, so she decided the quickest way would be to walk and hail a noddy, a one-horse chaise for single persons, as soon as she saw one.

Barely had she gone two city blocks when the very vehicle raced towards her. How fortunate, she thought, and stepped out into the street to wave it down.

To her horror, the noddy traveled faster towards her. The speeding vehicle was practically upon her when she fell backwards and hit the ground in a sitting position. She watched as the noddy sped by her.

She sat a few moments in order to catch her breath when she heard footsteps scurry from behind. Strong, lean fingers quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet. A muscled arm held her by the waist and helped her to the side of the road as a carriage flashed by the spot where seconds earlier she had been sitting.

“I know the streets are usually deserted this hour of morn,” her unknown male rescuer commented, “but I don’t think it’s a good place to rest.”

Elizabeth was about to protest that it was no accident that she’d almost been run over—when she glanced at the man. He winked at her, and she managed a smile in return. “Thank you for your assistance.”

He boldly studied her up and down, and it was at that moment she noticed his amber-colored eyes and his overall good looks.

“It’s my pleasure.” He doffed his hat, turned, and left.

She watched him for a few moments. He was one of the most striking gentlemen she had seen in a long time, besides Adam, of course. She brushed her skirts and continued on her way to Four Courts where she hoped she’d find her father asleep or at work—one of the two, but at least well.

By the time she reached Inns Quay, her final destination a half hour later, she at last saw another noddy.
Now you get here.

She glanced up at the impressive dome of the structure before she entered and hurriedly walked to her father’s office. To her dismay, the room was dark with no indication he had been there recently. She retraced her steps back towards the entrance, questioning any of his fellow-workers along the way if they had seen him. No one had.

What could have happened to him? With a heavy heart, she headed back to their town house on Henrietta Street. This time, she was able to catch a ride within a block of Four Courts and managed to be home ten minutes later. Her only hope as she walked through the entryway was that her father had arrived in her absence and was safely upstairs asleep.

Hannah approached her immediately. “Child, you have a visitor.”

“I don’t care about visitors. Father wasn’t at Four Courts. Has he come home while I was gone?” She removed her cloak, hat and gloves and handed them to Hannah.

“ ‘Tis sorry, I am, but he has not.”

“Oh Hannah, whatever are we to do?” she asked, and hugged the woman.

“If he doesn’t return by this eve, we’ll notify the authorities, but first you must see this visitor.”

“Please, send whoever it is away. I’m too concerned about my father to talk to anyone.” She started to climb the staircase to her room when Hannah grabbed her arm.

“The gentleman in the parlor has been waiting for you since practically the time you left. He said it’s important that he speak to you and vowed not to leave until he did so. Maybe he has some information about your da.”

Elizabeth considered it only a second and turned towards the parlor. “I’ll speak to him, but give me some time to at least freshen myself.”

“I’ll go tell the gentleman,” Hannah said, but before either could take a step, the object of their discussion entered the entryway.

Surprise must have clearly shown on Elizabeth’s face, and she instantly realized her mouth hung open and snapped it shut. The gentleman in front of her was the same one who had helped her from the street.

His surprise mirrored her own, yet he gained his composure much more quickly and said, “We meet again.”

The look in his amber-colored eyes for some reason did not appear as friendly as before. “Sir,” she said, “how may I help you?”

Hannah must have suggested the gentleman remove his overcoat and hat while he waited, for he stood before her in an excellently tailored coat and deep brown waistcoat with a crisp cream-colored cravat. The combination was impressive against his dark hair and the color of his eyes. She wondered if he was married and supposed, if he were not, many a female would stand in line to do so. Adam was handsome, but his mere presence never suggested such arrogance. Consequently, she was immediately prejudiced against the man before her. Aware of her own disheveled state, she uncomfortably shifted her feet.

“Pardon for the intrusion. I have been waiting a long time for your return. I’m Christian Corbett Traynor. I understand you were the last one of late to see my twin—my brother.”

“Adam? Adam is your brother?” she glanced at his dark hair and studied his face. “You look nothing like Adam.”

“Be God, I’ll say ye don’t,” Hannah spoke out and added, “Yet ye’re easy on the eye, too.”

“Hannah,” Elizabeth said and flushed. “Please leave us. We’ll be in the parlor. Mr. Traynor will be staying only momentarily.”

Hannah nodded, but hesitantly left the entryway as they entered the parlor.

“We’re fraternal twins.” Christian now appeared annoyed and abruptly got to the point. “I stopped at our family town house first. The housekeeper said she hadn’t seen Adam for over two months. Has he been residing here?” He eyed her from head to toe, and added, “as your guest.”

Had he not clarified the question, she would have personally thrown him out the door. “Sir. He is not living here as my guest. Odd as it seems, he hasn’t told me where he lodges nor have I heard so. Perhaps you should check with some other friends of his.”

“I already have, and I get the same answer. No one seems to have seen him for two months. As luck would have it, I was at the Crow Street Theatre and happened to ask a mutual acquaintance about Adam. Walter Bloomfield overheard us and suggested I talk to you. Walter said you were friends with his fiancée, Charlotte, and stated that Adam had been courting you for some time. The strange part about this whole conversation was that our mutual acquaintance asked me and Walter Bloomfield why Adam kept the woman he was courting such a mystery, and why he had chosen the same time to drop out of the social circle.”

Elizabeth turned away from the handsome man’s scrutiny. It had disturbed her that Adam had not wanted for them to participate in any social affairs yet. They attended suppers and small, private socials with Charlotte and her friends, but not with any of his friends.

“I saw your brother last night,” Elizabeth said, “however, where he is now is a curiosity to me, as well.”

“Woman! How can you court a man and know so little about him? And what of your father and mother? Surely, your father would have wanted to know more about him?” Clearly irritated, he angrily fisted one hand into the other and paced the floor before her. “I’m sure Adam must have met with an accident or has lost his memory. Why else would he court you this way under these conditions?” He stopped pacing and waited for her reply.

Outraged and stunned by the man’s insult, Elizabeth immediately said, “We had an agreement. He wanted me to know him for himself before he shared who he was. Nay, I didn’t question him. I sensed he was in need of this time before he shared his family and past. He was always a gentleman, and I granted him this request. My father knew his background, but said Adam wanted to tell me about himself.”

Her anger reached its pinnacle. She poked him in the chest. “Perhaps you can enlighten me. Who are you Traynors that you must keep secrets? Or, as I’m beginning to wonder, are you all a bit loony?”

Christian held his hands behind his back and was about to speak when Hannah entered the parlor once more. “Bethy, I must speak to you.”

“Perhaps now would be a good time for you to see yourself out the door,” Elizabeth told him.

“We’re far from done.” He stood his ground.

Elizabeth frowned. She pulled Hannah the short distance away into the entryway and whispered, “What is it?”

“This came by courier earlier. I was going to give it to ye after the man left, but maybe this will help ye both.”

She handed Elizabeth a sealed envelope. “Perhaps this is about your father, or from Adam.”

Elizabeth nervously opened the missive and silently read its contents.

Next instant, she flung the message aside and grabbed the object nearest to her, which happened to be a crystal vase that sat on the entryway table, returned to the parlor, and charged Christian. He saw her unexpected wrath and the vase come towards his head. He captured her wrists and knocked the intended weapon from her hands. It missed the carpet and hit the wooden floor with a crash before it shattered into pieces.

“Damn you and your brother,” she shrieked. Tears started to pool in her eyes, but she blinked them away. She’d not let this man know the true extent of her sudden pain.

He dragged her by the wrists a few steps towards Hannah, who had picked up the note. “Give me the letter,” he demanded of her.

“Aye. Please do, Hannah,” Elizabeth said, holding back a sob. “Let him read for himself that his brother is not only a scoundrel, but a black-hearted murderer as well.”

Chapter Two

Nearly noontime, an hour later, Christian still sat on a wing chair in the parlor and stared at the note. A sick feeling washed over him. The unique handwriting sprawled across the page was penned by his brother. Of this, he was not mistaken, though the script appeared to have been shakily written.

Damn! What the hell had Adam been up to these last months? He reread the note written to Elizabeth Corry for the third time.

I’m sorry about your father. There was no other way, but to dispose of him. Don’t blame yourself though, and please forgive me for what appears to be my betrayal. One day you’ll understand. Don’t try to find me, or call the authorities. It will only make matters worse. I did love you, Elizabeth.

Always, A.

Poor woman. Christ! He wasn’t exactly thrilled by the turn of events, but she had suffered a double blow. She seemed a nice enough lady and wasn’t unattractive. In fact, when he first met her on the street, her physical attributes appealed to him immediately. Though he preferred his women a bit more endowed; he certainly understood Adam’s attraction. Hell. He wadded the note and pitched it across the room. How could Adam have treated her in such an ungentlemanly fashion, and what was this business with Edward Corry? Adam never hurt anyone, nor could he. To say he was worried was an understatement.