Sea of Fire (5 page)

“That’s the chance you’ll have to take,” Roderick said and gave her a wicked smile.

She wanted to smack him across the mouth with the back of her hand. Instead, she asked, “Do you know where Adam is? He’s involved in all this too, isn’t he?”

“What do you think?”

Her stomach turned. What a fool she had been. No wonder Adam had declined to tell her anything about his background. His intentions were to simply use her to get to her father. If only she hadn’t told Adam where her father had planned to be the night he was abducted.

She sighed. If she refused to draw the pattern, or pass the counterfeit coins, her father would be harmed. By doing Roderick’s will, she ran the risk of getting caught, imprisoned, and possibly hung. Roderick would deny knowing her. No one would believe her innocent. Dear God in heaven, she was in a mess.

“How long must I do this until my father and I can be free to live a normal life again?”

Roderick shrugged. “It depends on Adam. You weren’t part of the plans. He does love you, Elizabeth, if that’s any consolation.”

“ ‘Tis not. I hope he drops dead soon for the grief he has caused me and apparently is going to continue to cause me.” For sure, if she lived through this and ever caught up with Adam, she’d teach him that he’d chosen the wrong woman to cross. The man might have experienced the wrath of many a lady before her, but never had he suffered the way she intended to make him do so.

She grabbed her reticule. “Where are these coins you want me to deliver?”

Roderick walked over to the windows and closed the shutters. He moved a waste bin from under the windows, knelt down and pressed his fingers along the floorboards until he found the place he wanted. Touched the right way, the floorboard lifted to reveal a space beneath it. He reached inside and pulled up a well-worn, black leather pouch.

When he stood and handed her the pouch, he said, “Don’t get any ideas. My hiding places change all the time. The space beneath this floor is all the same. No one would be able to prove anything.”

She shoved the coins in her bag and started to leave.

“All right, Elizabeth. We’ll be in contact with you.” He enthusiastically waved. “This is going to be wonderful. After all, who would suspect a lady. Remember, not a word to anyone. Farewell.”

She considered responding with an obscene gesture she had seen a drunken man on the street make to another, but settled for what she hoped was her best: nasty face.
Irritating toad, with your habitual silly wave.
The bell on the door wildly tinkled when she firmly shut it behind her.

She hurriedly made her way home, with the events of the past few days heavily on her mind. The discovery of a few spurious coins and their accompanying dies hidden in the bottom of a teapot had led to her present despair. Why hadn’t she kept silent and disposed of her find? Better yet, why couldn’t the intruder have found the teapot? She had been worrying the entire time since the discovery, whether to mention it to Roderick or simply dispose of the items. Up until the last second when she stood before the silversmith shop, her feelings had vacillated. If she had thought the situation through, or waited a few days, she would have considered the possibility that Roderick had known about the contents of the teapot all along. If only the right person had received the right teapot.

She slowed her pace and squinted across the street at the sign promoting the Rose and Thorn Tavern. If she were a man, she’d march right inside and have a pint or two, or three or four—if she were a man and happened to like ale. Instead, she’d return home and settle for tea and sweets—lots of sweets. Images of Hannah’s honey-coated pastry puffs came to mind, and she smiled at herself. It was a small comfort under the circumstances, and by no means a remedy to the situation.

The only bright spot in all of this was that her father was alive. She had to believe that Roderick was telling the truth. It was all she had to hope for, and with that hope, she shoved aside her fear of being left alone.

A short time later, she trudged the last few steps up the stairs inside her town house. “Hannah. I’m home,” she called for her governess.

“I hear ye, Bethy,” she answered and immediately appeared before her. “Ye were gone long. ‘Tis almost noon.”

“I stopped at Four Courts before I went to the silversmith to tell everyone father was indisposed for a while— that he was ill and could have no visitors. Until notified otherwise, I also suggested his paperwork be held, especially any requiring a signature.”

“Glad ye thought about it. People would question and make demands.” She glanced at Elizabeth’s empty hands. “Where’s the teapot?”

“They hadn’t repaired ours yet, but Roderick appreciated my returning the incorrect one.” It was only a partial lie she told this woman who was like a mother to her.

“I see. I thought he said it was ready the other day. When do they expect to have it repaired?”

“Don’t worry over it. Any news regarding my father?” Elizabeth asked though she knew better.

“Nay, child, but don’t give up hope.”

“I won’t,” she answered. She gave Hannah a weak smile and continued. “Let’s have some sweets in the parlor.”

Hannah stood with her hands on her hips. “If I ate all the sweets you did, I’d need two more legs to carry me.”

Elizabeth laughed.

Hannah said, “I’ll return directly to sit with ye, child.”

“Thank you, Hannah,” she answered and smiled at the woman’s retreating back. Child. She called her a child despite her far from being one, at six-and-twenty.

She removed her cloak, tossed her muff and shoes aside, and collapsed into a wing chair in the parlor.
Ah, this was better.
After a few of Hannah’s pastry puffs, she was certain she’d come to a positive decision concerning her predicament.

A tap sounded on the door, interrupting her musings. Hannah was too far away to hear, so she decided to answer it. To her surprise, Christian Traynor stood before her.

She gazed into his amber-colored eyes. God in heaven, was it possible for the man to become more handsome? Still, the last person she wanted to see was Adam’s brother—a man she decided she disliked. When she attempted to slam the door in his face, he stuck his foot out to stop her.

“Go away,” she ordered. “I told you yesterday that I’ve seen enough of you Traynors.” She leaned hard with her shoulder and hip to shut the door on him.

He pushed harder. “But I have not seen enough of you,” he said and nudged his way inside the entryway. He stood less than an arm’s length before her.

“What is the meaning of this?” She used both hands and fiercely attempted to shove him away from her thereby encouraging him to leave, but his stance never faltered.

He wrapped his arms around her and held her captive to him. So astounded was she, she barely breathed, but she could feel the man’s heart pound in his chest against hers. Amazingly enough, she was more comforted by this action than alarmed. He smelled wonderful—-definitely a man smell of spice and the fresh air. The combination was strangely sensual to her. She risked a peek up at his face and his countenance told her he too experienced the same sensual rush.

Fortunately, Hannah entered the room. “What’s this?”

“Elizabeth lost her balance,” he quickly spoke out. “I was merely helping her.”

Elizabeth politely withdrew from his embrace. “Thank you. I don’t know what I tripped upon.”

She saw that Hannah was not going to question them further, although she doubted Hannah believed the man.

“A mere day has passed. What brings ye here so soon?” Hannah asked Christian. “Have ye found yer brother or Mr. Corry’s whereabouts?”

“Nay, none of that. I’ve some business to discuss with Miss Corry. Is it possible that I meet with her in private?”

“If I can have yer word ye’ll be a gentleman.”

Elizabeth blushed. “Really, Hannah. I’ll be quite all right.”

Hannah glanced from Christian to Elizabeth. Her expression clearly indicated that she still was unsure. She said, “I’ll set these sweets on the tea table in the parlor. If ye need me, I’ll be in the kitchen.”

“Thank you. You’re a dear,” Elizabeth said, and turned to Christian. “I was about to indulge myself. What do you want before I do so?”

“I believe I have something that is yours,” Christian said.

“What?”

He stepped out the front door, disappeared a moment, and returned with a parcel. “Open this.”

“What is it?” she asked as she took the brown-paper wrapped package from him.

“Just open it.”

She removed the wrappings and next the red silk to expose the drum-shaped teapot she had brought to Roderick earlier. Hurriedly, she closed the entryway door and retreated to the parlor, motioning for Christian to join her. “What is the meaning of this?” she asked once she closed the parlor door and seated herself on the sofa across from the tea table with the sweets Hannah had earlier placed there.

“I was hoping you would tell me,” he sarcastically answered. He remained standing beside her, but removed his hat. “Is this your teapot?”

She examined the bottom and spout. “ ‘Tis. Wherever did you get it?” she asked. She knew the answer, pretending to be surprised to see the pot rather than the real surprise of Christian presenting it to her. At the time, she hadn’t known who had purchased her teapot from Roderick’s shop.

“I’m a patient man, Elizabeth, but even I have my limits. I visited Roderick Godfrey’s silversmith shop today. I saw you and him enter the back work area.”

“I know them well. Charlotte, Roderick and their father reside a few blocks from here. His sister Charlotte is my best friend, and oft times we practice calligraphy together. ‘Tis nothing unusual.”

“What is unusual is that I saw the bottom of this teapot removed when you hit it against the counter. Afterwards you displayed something in the palm of your hand that obviously upset Roderick Godfrey.”

Had the man been spying on her or was it merely a coincidence that he saw her in the shop? Regardless, she couldn’t jeopardize her father.

“Even so. ‘Tis none of your concern.”

“I think it is, and that it has something to do with my brother. I was in the shop when I heard you and Roderick quarreling. You mentioned Adam’s name.”

“You are mistaken.” She squirmed, suddenly feeling quite warm. Adam was doing something illegal, but she couldn’t let Christian know. Her father’s life depended upon secrecy.

“Have you heard any word on your father?” he asked. He set his hat on the sofa next to her and seated himself in the wing chair across from her. She hoped it was an indication he decided to drop his inquiries about Adam.

“Nay,” she lied.

He briefly studied her and said, “Hannah told me Adam offered his hand in marriage and ...”

“She told you because it was so,” she blurted out, irritated by his doubtful tone. Did he think she’d make up such an offer?

“You know more than you’re admitting to,” he stated, obviously unmoved that she took offense. “Tell me what you haven’t.”

“I’m afraid I can’t help you there.” She’d say nothing further and hoped he’d leave.

“I don’t believe you, Elizabeth.”

“I don’t care if you do or don’t.”

“Perhaps you would care if I went to the authorities?” he threatened. “I think they would be interested to know Edward Corry’s own daughter was involved in his disappearance, and that I suspect foul play against my brother.”

“Nay. That’s absurd. They would never believe you.”

“You’re wrong, Elizabeth.” He leaned forward on the edge of the chair and rested his hands on his knees. “I happened to do a bit of checking myself. After you left the silversmith shop, I drank a quick brew before I visited Four Courts. It seems early this morn you told your father’s fellow magistrates that your father came home late and was taking a brief leave of absence due to sudden illness. Why would you tell anyone this unless you’re involved?”

“You read what Adam wrote. I had to lie. I was warned not to tell anyone about the abduction. Father’s cronies at court would be wondering where he was.”

“All they’d have to do is search your home to prove your guilt. Rather suspicious, I’d say.”

“You would jeopardize my father? You would risk his life?”

“Cruel as it sounds, your father means naught to me. My brother does. I’ll go to the authorities unless you tell me everything.”

She wanted to scream. She truthfully told him the little she knew about Adam and now the little she could without endangering her father, yet he still persisted. While she was certain he couldn’t prove an illegal connection between Roderick, Adam and the teapot, at the same time she didn’t need any attention brought to her by the authorities nosing around her home or watching her every action. She glanced at the man across from her so confident with a smirk on his face.

“You win,” she said, trying to sound sincere though she far from meant it.

She’d make up information to satisfy him in order to gain time to think about something more believable later. She was gambling, but her intuition told her, she had not yet pushed Christian to his limits. “All I know is that he has a place in Howth that he occasionally visits when he likes to be alone. I truly don’t have a clue as to where he stays here in Dublin. And, don’t you so much as look at me crossed-eyed, concerning my lack of knowledge about Adam’s background,” she boldly spoke out, waving her finger at him to emphasize her seriousness.

She now knew that Adam had deceived and used her. She had foolishly trusted him and wasn’t going to accept any further haughtiness from Christian. She had blundered. So be it. She learned.

Christian, who appeared surprised at her lashing out, sat back in his chair with his arms crossed and ready to listen.

She continued. “Adam appeared to be in some sort of emotional pain and apologized for being so mysterious, but assured me we would discuss his background one day. I respected his privacy, because I cared for him.”

She saw that her last words caused Christian’s brows to furrow into a frown. She seized the moment to use this as an opportunity to build her defense. “If you ever loved anyone, you’d understand this.” She mentioned this though she knew she had doubted and questioned her own love for Adam even when she accepted his proposal.