Sea of Fire (38 page)

She covered her mouth with both hands to keep any cry of desolation from escaping. The last thing either man needed was her pity. She gained her composure just as the guards stopped before her.

“Father,” she said. He’d lost a lot of weight and no longer sported the paunch he once had.

“Adam,” Christian said from behind her.

“Is it really you, Elizabeth?” Edward lifted his head and tried to open his eyes wider.

“Once again, you’ve come to my rescue,” Adam told Christian.

Adam’s younger age had apparently worked to his benefit, for he appeared to have more spirit and had fared better than her father.

“What are brothers for?” Christian replied.

Tears of happiness streamed down her cheeks. Her father had returned to her. She’d not be alone again. “Can I have a cuddle, Father?”

Edward abruptly came to life. He held out one arm in front of him to prevent her. “As soon as I’ve cleaned up. I tried to pick off any vermin, but they’re persistent little beasts.”

“We’re not goin’ to hold these stinkin’ blokes up all day,” one of the guards impatiently said.

“There will be no insubordination from you.” The Right Honorable Clark stepped up to the guards. “You’ll do as you’re told to do if you value your position here at New Prison.”

The guard said nothing further.

“Clarkie, you old curmudgeon. Is that you?” Edward squinted towards his friend.

“Aye. And, you’ll owe me a stout ale for this one. I have
better things to do than save your ...” He caught himself in her presence and said, “ornery hide. Help them to sit and lean against the wall here and then you’re excused,” he told the guards.

They did as commanded and left. Mr. Clark continued his pleasant tirade with her father. She watched Christian.

He squatted near Adam. “Christ, am I glad to see you.”

“You ought to feel it from this side,” Adam said.

“No thanks,” Christian answered.

Adam smiled and said, “How did you find us?”

“It’s a long story. We’ll talk later. First let’s see to your comforts,” Christian said and rose to speak to her.

“We’ll have to make arrangements to get them home. We all can’t fit into Clark’s carriage,” Christian told her.

“I can go on ahead and have Hannah make preparations for their arrival. Your brother is welcome to stay with us. He’ll be cared for properly.” She stared up into his handsome face. Though Adam would be welcomed—it was true—her real motive was that she didn’t want him to leave her. She loved this man and wanted him with her for as long as possible.

Adam spoke out from his position on the floor against the wall. “No offense, Christian, but I do prefer a good cook and housekeeper’s ministrations to yours. Now, will you introduce me to the lady, or am I suffering from delusions that you are talking to a vision of loveliness.”

She laughed.

Christian said, “My brother has decided for us. We accept your offer.”

He placed his arm around her possessively and spoke to Adam, “This vision of loveliness is Elizabeth Corry. Edward’s daughter. She was instrumental in Edward’s and your rescue.”

Adam tried to stand.

“It’s not necessary. Please, stay where you are,” she said.

Adam did as she suggested, smiled up at the two of them,
and replied, “It’s nice to meet the lady who not only saved me from the bowels of hell, but managed to steal my brother’s heart as well. It’s time.” He motioned for Christian to help him stand. “Let’s leave this wretched place.”

Chapter Twenty-eight

“I just spoke to Father. I fear we can’t confine him to bed any longer. ‘Tis April, and this first week he wants to start it on the bright side. He’s asked me to inform you that he will join us at the supper table this eve.” Elizabeth told Hannah who busied herself in the kitchen. Her governess was in all her glory, with a house full of people and Edward’s safe return.

“He’s behaved himself for almost two days now. ‘Tis a good sign.” Hannah paused, and added, “You didn’t tell him Adam was leaving tonight did you?”

“Nay.”

“I’ll not have him saying he’s better when he’s not.”

Elizabeth hugged Hannah. “The exercise will do him good. He’s ready, and maybe we’ll finally learn what happened and how he and Adam became such friends.”

‘ ‘Tis like we’re all one happy family now,” Hannah said, and sighed contently.

Elizabeth wished she felt the same way. Since Christian and Mr. Clark had brought the men home, each to their own room, she’d seen very little of Christian. He visited mostly with Adam, which was understandable. The few times Christian stopped to talk to her or Hannah, he was the perfect gentleman, but he was distant. He treated her as if their lovemaking and experiences together had never happened.

Before they had plunged into the Irish Sea, they had declared their love for each other. Had he merely said so because they were about to die? He said he hadn’t. She thought about Adam’s comment at the prison on how she had managed to steal Christian’s heart. Now, she doubted it. He no longer needed her.

“You’re daydreaming, Bethy, and I bet I can guess about who,” Hannah said, breaking her train of thought.

“You’d be wrong,” Elizabeth quickly snapped back, though she’d really be right.

Hannah gave her a skeptical look. “Go ready yourself for supper.”

An hour later, dressed in a dark green gown that she was told contrasted with her auburn hair and set off her twinkling blue eyes, she descended the staircase. At the base of the steps, she heard laughter from the parlor. Hannah must have asked Edward, Christian and Adam to visit together until she announced supper was ready. Instantly, she became a bit timid and wondered whether to intrude upon the men’s discussion. Nay. She had every right to join them. She entered the parlor. All three turned towards her at once.

“Elizabeth. You look lovely.” Edward Corry briefly held his daughter’s hands and kissed her on the forehead.

“You’ll get no argument from me,” Adam added.

Christian simply smiled, but there was no mistaking his appreciative look. In fact, it bordered on suggestiveness, and though she hoped neither her father nor Adam noticed, his glance boosted her spirits. Maybe he did care.

“Please, everyone, sit down.” Edward waited for Elizabeth to be seated in a wing chair at his side before he sat himself. Adam and Christian sat on opposite ends of the sofa across from them.

The two brothers were indeed handsome. Christian, with his dark hair and amber-colored eyes, contrasted to Adam’s dark blond hair and grey-blue eyes. Both men were
impeccably dressed, from their crispy white linen shirts to the shine of their riding boots. It was amazing how Maguire did indeed resemble Adam.

She inwardly smiled at her father. His wrinkled cheeks were rosy and his blue eyes sparkled. He wore his favorite grey wig and was garbed in all black except for his cream-colored shirt. No one would have guessed this was the same man they had rescued from prison a few days earlier.

“I know you and Elizabeth have questions that you’ve been kind enough not to ask, and we have some of our own.” Edward Corry spoke directly to Christian.

To her, it was as if the two had a secret no one else knew. This bothered her. She ought to have her father’s confidence. Not Christian. Still, it pleased her that her father seemed fond of Christian.

Edward Corry continued. “Adam and I promised we’d give you the details, more or less.” He glanced at her in a way that indicated that not everything that happened would be for a lady’s ears. “The time is now.” He spoke to Adam. “Do you want to begin?”

“Aye,” Adam said. “I had just left the Wayward Orphanage. In fact, I was on the pavement in front, securing my hat when I was conked on the head from behind. Everything went black. I came to my senses in gaol some days later.”

“You were unconscious that long?” she asked.

“Nay. I was drugged that long. You see, the gaolers gave me a drug before they tossed me into my prison cell. They also added the drug to the gruel they gave me each day. Edward shared his meager portion with me. My portion was sent back untouched. If it wasn’t for your father, I’d still be drugged and addicted as well. Thank you again, Edward,” Adam said.

“I’ve as much to thank you for in return,” Edward told Adam and glanced from her to Christian. “Your brother saved me from another prisoner. There were eight of us
in one cell. When I first arrived, one of the men thought I looked familiar, but couldn’t place me. After Adam was dumped in our cozy cell and came to his senses, the man remembered me as the same magistrate who’d sent him to New Prison less than a year ago despite his having only seen me for a few moments. He attacked me and threatened to kill me. I was too weak to defend myself. Adam fought him off the entire time we were there.”

“What did the guards do when they learned that Adam was no longer drugged?” Christian asked.

“Nothing,” Edward answered. “They didn’t care, because apparently they realized no one would ever know or care either. They were getting paid off just the same. They continued to taint the gruel just in case.” He reached over to her and tapped her knee. “Would you mind pouring us all a claret?”

“It will be my pleasure, Father.” She walked over to the cart behind Christian. As she passed him, he winked at her.

This surprised her, but not the flutter in her stomach that instantly followed. The man was a charmer who never ceased to make her heart pound rapidly within her breast.

She filled four crystal glasses she had purchased for her father one Christmas from the Waterford Glass Manufactory. She had decided she’d join them. The drink would help her combat Christian’s charms.

The men waited for her to seat herself. Edward sipped his drink, and proclaimed, “By God, I believe this is the best claret I’ve ever tasted.”

She smiled and sipped her own.

“You can imagine my surprise and grief when I learned that the real Adam Traynor was sitting next to me, while the man who claimed to be Adam was an imposter.” Edward took another sip. “The only time I knew Elizabeth
was safe was when Maguire sent a messenger who by Maguire’s dictate ordered me to pen a missive to Elizabeth.”

“Maguire’s motive was revenge,” she explained. She had to know why her father had sent Maguire’s brother to gaol—a mere lad—according to Maguire. This same loving man could not truly be as he was known among criminals as Corry the Cold-hearted.

Edward frowned. “I’d never met Maguire before he appeared in our home as Adam Traynor.”

“He named you as the magistrate responsible for sentencing his brother to gaol, and consequently his death. The lad died in prison,” Christian added.

“How long ago was this?” Edward’s frown deepened. “I’ve never sent a lad to gaol.”

“Several years. He didn’t say for sure,” Christian told Edward.

Edward, obviously disturbed by the news, thought a moment. “None of this is clear to me. I wouldn’t condemn a mere child to prison. Why would ...” He paused. His expression changed to one of understanding.

“What is it Father?”

Edward took a sip of claret. “There was a case where a lad was sentenced to prison. The halls of Four Courts were all abuzz for days. Most people believed the ruling to be wrong. The magistrate who convicted the child could not handle the scorn of the populace nor the snubs of his fellow-magistrates—so much so, his heart failed him, and he died. I was asked to research the case, but first I tried to get the ruling overturned. Before I could, the lad died.” Edward shook his head. “Maguire either had me confused with the other gentleman, or blamed me for my lack of success.”

“It’s over, Father,” she said, relieved to have confirmed he was indeed a worthy magistrate.

“I know,” Edward said, “but why would Maguire wait until so recently to seek this revenge against me

“He was counterfeiting,” she stated. “Roderick Godfrey, the silversmith, was a partner of his.” She took a deep breath as she was reminded of Charlotte’s betrayal. Would the pain of it ever cease? She’d do better to speak of it. “His sister, Charlotte, knew about it, but I never suspected she did. In fact, Roderick threatened to harm you, if she found out. It was all a ruse to keep me from asking questions, or learning something I shouldn’t.”

“Wasn’t she the friend you practiced your calligraphy with?” Edward said with a bit of surprise in his voice.

“She’s no longer a friend.”

“Let me tell him the rest,” Christian interrupted, and didn’t wait for her consent. “Apparently, Edward, you were becoming rather good at your extracurricular activities. When Maguire realized you were getting too close to discovering his counterfeiting scheme, he vowed not to let you interfere, and decided it was time for a payback for his brother. Consequently, he used Elizabeth and Adam to get to you. As an added bonus, Elizabeth just happened to be an excellent calligrapher. She was forced to make his drawings for the dies for the spurious coins. If she refused, he threatened to kill you.”

“I am so sorry, Elizabeth.” Edward set his drink down on a nearby tea table. He took her drink from her and set it beside his. He grasped both of her hands. “In the future, I will share more of my life outside the home with you. Between Four Courts and my private affairs, I’ve neglected you, except where a husband is concerned.”

She flushed and tugged her hands from him. “You need not say anymore. It’s over.” To speak of potential husbands made her uncomfortable. Knowing her father, she feared he would come right out and ask Christian if he wanted to court her. He was never one to miss an opportunity.

“I need to explain one matter. Hear me out,” Edward said. “John Maguire, as Adam, spoke of two young children and a deceased wife. He asked that I not mention
this to you as he wanted to tell you himself in due time. He was afraid it would frighten you away. I did check his background and naturally, when he spoke of this before I broached him on the subject, it endeared him to me. It made me believe he was honest. I wanted so much for you to find happiness, I acted impulsively—like a foolish old man.”

“We have all learned from this.” She stretched across the arm of her chair and comforted her father with a hug.