Storm on the Horizon (Fated For Love) (12 page)

She returned to the cabin and picked a book to read from Colton's desk. The day wore on
, and she struggled to keep herself occupied until Colton returned. As the sun began to sink into the ocean, her patience was rewarded.

Colton returned just after dusk to change his attire and share his lack of news about Devon, then left again. Olivia sighed in defeat.
Again, she prayed that Devon would be found quickly and safely, but even miracles did not work that quickly, as far as she knew. The waiting was unbearable, but that's all she could do now.

***

Colton and Dirk sat in a tavern closer to the center of the city. The patrons were a mix of seedy criminals and nobility with seedy intentions. They both sipped their ales silently, looking for the right target that might cross paths with a man of Devon’s station. Colton had his suspicions about where to look, but many of the brothels of notoriety that Devon might seek were highly secretive, and only accessible if one were invited. Colton was posing as a wealthy aristocrat, dressed in his finest coat and trousers. Dirk sat to his right, and would nod to various people who they thought could be of use.

“
That's our man right there.” He nodded to a man in the corner by the fire. He wore a garish coat embroidered with bright flowers, and a top hat with a red feather.

“
How do you know?” Colton asked curiously.

“
The red feather. It's a mark of the trade. He searches for rich clientele to give invitations to.”

“
Why be so exclusive?” Colton eyed the man in the corner suspiciously.

“
The more exclusive, the more expensive. I've heard other things, too—exotic women, opium, strange things...”

Colton could only imagine.
“How do I approach him?”

“
Don't. Make him come to you. Flash some coin, if ye look like you got lots a coin to lose; he won’t resist giving you the chance to lose it.”

Colton nodded. He adopted a rather inebriated smile and laughed loudly.
“Give everyone a drink on me.” He winked at the bar wench and slapped a bag of coins on the table. Everyone cheered and some even rose to clap him on the back. As the crowd drew away, the man in the corner had disappeared and before Colton could search the room, reappeared by his side.

“
Je bent in grote geesten mijn heer.” The man smiled.

Colton blanked.
“Beg Pardon?”

“
Please excuse me,” the man said in perfect English. “I was not aware you were not a Dutchman like myself. I merely commented that you appear to be in great spirits.”

“
And well I should,” Colton slurred for effect. “No one is more blessed than I this eve.”

“
How fortunate you are. What brings you to our humble city?”

“
Gold, silk, luscious women and fine ale, my friend.” Colton clapped the man on the back heartily and nearly tumbled from the stool.

“
Ah, is it riches you seek?” The man eyed him shrewdly.

“
It is riches I bring. Gold and silk... the women I still need to find.” Colton laughed and the men around him joined him.

“
Let me be of service to you, my lord.” The man stepped closer and from his pocket slipped out a large wood coin. It was painted red.

“
This will grant you admission to the finest brothel in the city. There you will find the most beautiful women in the world, gambling, and more than you could ever imagine. A more exciting evening could not be had anywhere else. In fact, some gentlemen find the entertainment so alluring that they stay with us for days, sometimes weeks, even months. We have special gatherings for elite society, and certain levels of the manor reserved for those of special interests.”

Colton raised an intrigued brow. The hair on the back of his neck stood up. His gut told him this was the place where he would find Devon.
“Sounds like heaven. How will I find this place?”

The man pulled a card from his pocket and handed it to him.
“I promise all your wicked fantasies will come true, my lord.” Smiling wickedly, the man moved away into the crowd, and Colton looked down at the card. All it contained was an address. He looked at Dirk. “What do you think?”

“
Sounds like a good place to start. They won't let the likes of me in there.”

“
They probably wouldn't want me either. Why don't you head back to the ship, and I will check it out.”

Dirk frowned.
“All due respect, Cap'n, I don't think you should go alone.”

“
I agree, it isn't the safest idea, but what other options do I have?”

Dirk shrugged.

“Head back, and I won't be too late.” Colton kept a small pad of paper and pencil on hand and pulled it out. He scribbled the address on it and gave it to Dirk. “In case I don't return. I plan to be back long before dawn.”

“
And if you’re not?”

Colton scowled as he thought about it.
“First and foremost, you get Lady Olivia back home. Mr. Timms will know what to do for me.”

He could tell Dirk didn't like it
, but he nodded in agreement.

They parted ways and Colton hailed a hackney. The driver didn't speak English
, so he showed him the card. Nodding, he motioned for Colton to get in. The drive only took a quarter of an hour before they stopped in front of a nondescript house in a well to do neighborhood. With the red wooden coin in his hand, he climbed the steps and made use of the heavily ornate knocker.

The door opened to reveal a butler who looked both stern and brutal. His faced was lined
, and his hair a bright white, but his shoulders bulged with muscles beneath his fine coat and he eyed him with menace.

Colton presented the red coin. The butler nodd
ed and beckoned him to follow. The door closed heavily behind him as they entered the main foyer where candelabrums and chandeliers filled the hall with light. To his right and left were receiving rooms filled with people with drinks in their hands, merrily chatting. A footman came to take his greatcoat and hat.

“
Op deze manier mijn heer.” The butler turned and headed up the stairs.

Colton had no choice but to follow and hoped someone would speak a language he understood. He was escorted to a drawing room where women lounged like goddesses and men fawned over them like worshipers. One woman in particular reigned over the room
, sitting in a garishly red over stuffed chaise with a bevy of gentlemen around her. The butler led him to her and bowed, then left.

“
Hoe doe je mijn heer?” she said huskily as her eyes surveyed his attire.

“
I'm afraid I don't speak Dutch,” Colton admitted sheepishly.

“
Ah,” the woman laughed seductively. “An Englishman, I see. Never fear, this is a worldly house, my lord. To what do I owe this wonderful visit? Are you in search of sinful diversion?”

“
Aren't we all?” Colton said silky.

“
I know I am.” The woman slowly got up and took his arm.

“
I am Madame Ana. This establishment is mine and offers anything a man such as you could want. How may we be of service to you this evening?” She raised a brow in question.

Colton looked over the face and form of Madame Ana. She would have been a true beauty in her day, but now her skin was
aged beneath a thick layer of powder, and the weariness in her eyes not quite camouflaged by the lining of black coal. Her red stained lips smiled invitingly, but the only stirring Colton felt was a stirring of hope that Devon would be found here.

“
I think I would like a tour to gain my bearings. This place seems to hold more treasure than a single glance can allow.”

“
By all means.” She bowed her head. “This level of the house holds no secrets from you, but to go further up the stairs certain conditions must be met.”

“
Really?” Colton cocked his head in intrigue.

“
Gentlemen who book rooms up stairs enjoy the perks freely, but as a single night guest, you must bring a woman of similar interests with you in order to gain access. It adds a certain level of... diversity.” Her smile was liquid and hot.

Colton absorbed the information in silence as he looked up the stairs
speculatively, then met Madame Ana's gaze. “I've yet to hear such a condition before.”

“
You will never find another establishment like De Poorten Van de Hemel, or as you would say in your English, The Gates of Heaven.”

Madame Ana introduced him to a tall blonde named
Aline to finish the tour. A hopeful light had lit her eyes when they met, but Colton would have to disappoint her. He had no interest in any other woman when the the taste of Olivia was seared into his brain. They finished the tour, and a footman fetched them glasses of champagne.

“
Aline, my brother recently traveled to Amsterdam, and I am supposed to meet him. I’m afraid he’s been lost to the pleasures of the city and has forgotten to meet me. This place would certainly appeal to him. Do you think he might be here?

Aline
shrugged her elegant shoulders. “I have no idea, mijn jeer. What does he look like?”

“
Well, we actually don’t favor each other in looks. I am much handsomer.”

She laughed seductively and clung to his arm.

“My brother has much darker hair and very green eyes. He can be rather brooding at times, but mostly charming, and he may be nursing a broken heart.

“
Ohhhh!” Aline jumped up and down brushing her breasts against his arm invitingly. “That sounds like Mijn Wilhelm.”

“
Yes, that’s him,” Colton said encouragingly, but he didn’t want to appear too eager. “Is he here now? I’d like to tell him that I’m here.”

“
Hmmm, I think so. He’s been here for a month, if not more. He can’t leave yet—I mean, I don’t believe he has left yet.” She smiled.

She looked a tad nervous in Colton’s opinion.

“Perfect,” he said smoothly. “Take me to him, and we can truly get the evening started.”

She gave him a sultry smile
, and then paused. “Oh but, you can’t leave the first floor without the escort of a woman.” She pouted prettily.

“
But I’m with you?” Colton murmured and slowly ran a finger down her cheek.

She was very receptive to his touch and placed a hand on his chest.
“It has to be a guest woman. But if you find one willing, I’d be happy to join you.” She leaned in as if to kiss him.

Colton pulled back.
“A woman guest, you say?” He stroked his chin. “I guess I should find one then, so I can return.” He smiled wolfishly. “I’m dying to explore all that the Gates of Heaven have to offer.

It was after midnight when Colton returned. He nodded to Dirk as he boarded the ship; he was sitting on a barrel, cocooned tightly against the drizzle, whittling a piece of wood under the light of a lantern.

“Any luck?”

Colton paused in the pool of light.
“If the lovely Aline is to be believed, then yes, but I have to go back to be sure.

Dirk chuckled.
“Need more coin to entice the lovely Aline?”

“
Actually, I need a woman.”

“
What?” Dirk looked up from his piece of wood.

“
I can’t move beyond the first floor of the house without a woman guest with me.” He clarified.

“
What the bloody hell for?”

“
I haven’t the faintest idea. I’ve asked every descent looking prostitute I could find and offered adequate money to simply accompany me to the Gates of Heaven, and they all refuse.”

“
What for?”

“
I don’t know. I don’t know what to do now.” He sighed in exasperation.

“
You got another woman you could ask, you know,.” Dirk suggested.

“
No. Absolutely not.” Colton scowled.

“
It’s her brother, isn’t it? That’s why she snuck aboard in the first place.”

“
I can’t predict what kind of depravity I will find in there. I can’t expose her to that.”

“
You might not have a choice, cap’n.”

Colton cursed
and turned away. He looked out over the stormy harbor and clenched his teeth. Dirk was right, of course. He needed to go back tonight and see for himself if Devon were truly there. It may be his only chance.

“
Grab Doolin and your pistols. Follow us there and wait outside. If there’s trouble, you know what to do.”

“
Aye, Cap’n.”

Colton entered the short hall and contemplated what to do. He knocked on his first mates door and found him awake. He told him his plan and instructed him to wait here with the ship at the ready in case they needed to leave quickly.