The Duke's Lady (Historical Romance - The Ladies Series) (39 page)

When the sky grew dark and Elizabeth hadn’t returned, Jewel began pacing the floor, reprimanding herself for not accompanying her sister-in-law.

A noise in the distance stopped Jewel’s pacing. She listened. The sound of a horse galloping out front got her attention. “Thank goodness, Elizabeth is home!”

Relieved, Jewel ran to the front door. She pulled it open, and her smile faded instantly. It wasn’t Elizabeth, but a boy with a package in his hand.

“I have a package for Mrs. Jewel Trent.”

“I am Jewel Trent
,” she replied.  Something was wrong. She could feel it. Her hands shook as she took the note. Looking up, she found the boy was still waiting. “Is there something else?” she asked before reading the note.

“I was instructed to wait for a reply, ma’am.”

“A reply?” Jewel gave him a blank look. “A reply?” she questioned again. Who in the world was the message from? She wasted little time reading the note. Then she opened the package. “No!” She shook her head. This just couldn’t be possible. It was a nightmare. She felt the color drain from her face, and she was having a difficult time breathing.

The boy reached out and touched her arm. “You all right, miss?”

“Yes,” she stammered, trying to gather her thoughts. “If you’ll come in and wait I will pen my reply.”

Captain Lee had Elizabeth in his possession. So Jewel would not think he was making idle threats, he had sent a small token . . . Elizabeth’s chemise.

Lee had come back to haunt her.

Jewel prayed Lee wouldn’t harm Elizabeth, even though he had threatened to in the letter. Then it dawned on Jewel . . . Lee wouldn’t hurt Elizabeth . . .
she
was the one Lee wanted because only she could take him to the treasure.

Jewel moved numbly, void of all emotion. It was time. She’d known that one day it would happen, and now was the time to pay the price. She wrote the response that Captain Lee expected, and handed it back to the boy.

“Take this as quickly as possible!” she instructed.

She watched as the boy rode in the direction of New Orleans. Turning, she went in the house and climbed the stairs to her room. Walking over to her closet, she rummaged around in the bottom and found what she was looking for— her men’s clothing.

Packing only a few things, she left all the beautiful gowns Adam had given her. She would have little need of them now and she would leave with what she’d come with—nothing.

Now for the last task, a note to Adam. Jewel’s eyes moistened at the thought of her husband. She would always remember the picnic when Adam had first kissed her, and the snowy day when they had gotten the Christmas greenery. But most of all she would remember their first Christmas Eve when Adam had given her two special gifts: a beautiful necklace and the gift of love.

With shaky fingers, she picked up a pen and wrote Adam a note explaining everything. The thought that she would never see him again brought a sadness to her heart that was almost too painful to bear.

But bear it she must. However, she couldn’t bear to say good-bye to Annie. Besides, Annie might try to stop her.

The early morning sun had just etched its way up in the darkened sky. The note to Adam was finished and lay on his desk where he would be able to find it. How many times had she wished that she had told Adam the truth?

Her identity had endangered Elizabeth’s life, but no more would she lie. The truth was in the note. She could imagine the look of disgust when Adam found out she was a pirate’s niece. He would hate her, not only for what she was, but for not telling him sooner.

“I’m sorry, Adam,” Jewel whispered. Perhaps, all things considered, it would be for the best. This way he wouldn’t come after her, because he wouldn’t know where to look.

Dressed in the pants and jacket, Jewel slipped a knife in her waistband. She had some unfinished business to take care of, and the knife might prove useful.

She reached out her hand and touched the necklace. She didn’t feel much like a lady now. She was not worthy of his present. It was given to someone Adam had thought he knew. But he would discover he hadn’t known her at all. Raising her hand to her cheek, she wiped the tears that trickled down. “Good-bye, my love.”

Jewel stayed low in the saddle. She could hear the fighting in the distance as she rode toward New Orl
eans. Her thoughts were jumbled, and she was too numb with fear to worry about the war.

She rode to the specified wharf, and noticed it was away from the main docks. Dismounting, she waited for what seemed like a lifetime—her lifetime, slowly slipping away. Then she heard the splashing of oars as they hit the water, stroking slowly and steadily. She watched a small boat glide over to the pier. Two men flanked Elizabeth in the middle of the boat. She appeared fine. Jewel breathed a sigh of relief.

When the boat was tied, Captain Lee stepped up on the pier. He turned and pulled Elizabeth up to stand beside him.

She started toward Jewel, but Lee seized her, wrapping his hand in Elizabeth’s hair and yanking her back to his side. She screamed, but wisely said nothing.

“Are you ready, Jewel?” Captain Lee asked.

“I’m ready. You did promise to let Elizabeth go.” Her voice sounded calm, smooth.

“I’ll let her go, providing you don’t give me any trouble. I’ll have your word on it now!”

“You have it. But first I’d like to say good-bye to my sister-in-law in private.”

“No tricks,” Lee threatened, signaling his men to raise their guns and keep them aimed on Jewel. “Or you both die.”

“No tricks,” Jewel promised.

Elizabeth ran all the way to Jewel, throwing her arms around her. “You can’t go with this man, Jewel. He’ll kill you,” she whispered.

“Are you all right?” Jewel checked her sister-in-law over to make sure she was unharmed.

“Yes . . . yes.” Elizabeth hesitated. “I’m fine, but why does this man want you? He’s cruel. Tears streamed down her face.

“Please don’t cry, Elizabeth. I’ll be fine. I’ve left a note for Adam explaining everything.” She hugged Elizabeth tightly, knowing she wouldn’t see her again. “Take care of Adam for me. Now, leave immediately. I won’t set foot in that boat until
you’ve gone.”

“You sound as if you’re not coming back.” Elizabeth’s eyes grew wide, but she left, and Jewel watched until Elizabeth was safely away.

Reluctantly, Jewel walked to the pier and climbed down in the boat. Her life with Adam was over. Surviving would be her only goal now, and she wasn’t sure at this moment if she wanted to survive. She sat quietly as the small boat headed toward the larger ship.

Once they were on board, Captain Lee grabbed Jewel by the arm, jerking her in front of him. “I’ll personally search you this time. The last encounter is still fresh in my mind. I only have to look in the mirror to be reminded of how dangerous you can be.”

He found the knife she had tucked in her waistband, and smiled. “We don’t want to have another incident. Perhaps you’d like a scar to match mine?” His sinister laugh sounded all around her as he ran the cold steel blade across her face. But it was only to frighten her this time. He searched her once more, his hands lingering intimately over the curves of her body.

Jewel squirmed and slapped his hands away. Lee snarled, drawing back his hand. The blow came quickly, knocking Jewel to her knees. Blood trickled from the side of her mouth as she raised her head and glanced at Lee. She knew hatred burned deep in her eyes.

“Now, my lovely, where is the map?”

“I don’t have it.”

“What!” Lee yanked her to him. Twisting his hands in her long, raven tresses, he jerked her head back.

“
I gave it to my husband.”

“Then he shall die!” Lee roared.

“No! Leave Adam out of this.” Jewel began to feel a new panic. She didn’t want Adam to be in danger because of her. “I don’t need the map. I can take you there.”

“How do I know you are to be trusted?”

“You don’t,” Jewel declared.

“Damn you!” Lee twisted her hair tighter, causing Jewel to wince in pain. “I should shoot you now!”

“Then you’ll never be rich.” Jewel smiled, knowing that for a while at least, she had the upper hand.

Disgusted, Captain Lee threw her away from him. “Which way do we sail, Duchess?”

At first she didn’t answer, but decided it would be easier to get away from Captain Lee once they were on the island.

“Set your course for the Bay of Pirates.”

“You heard the duchess, Bud. Set your course and throw our lovely lady in the hold until we reach clear water.”

Chapter
Twenty-seven

If patience was a virtue, then Jewel’s bodyguard, Ben, would surely be rewarded. He had faithfully watched the docks and everybody around them for months. Dominique had told him about seeing Jewel, and Ben had a hunch the English captain hadn’t given up his search for the treasure.

Ben had grown suspicious of an isolated wharf that had been abandoned for many years. His vigil grew into long days as he watched the activities there. He was just about to give up when he saw
him
—the captain.

Ben had scrutinized the captain’s coming and goings. He had not been absolutely sure he had the right man, until today when he saw Jewel with him. Now Ben knew he’d been correct.

At this very moment, he wanted to choke the life out of the Englishman. But Ben knew if he interfered now, they would kill Jewel without hesitation. He was sure that she’d be safe until Captain Lee got what he wanted. Ben knew all too well how brutal Lee could be from by the last time they’d met. . . .

Ben could still picture the petite young lady who had stood at the helm of the ship, firmly gripping the wheel. Long, black hair swirled about her shoulders, and the excitement of the upcoming battle glowed in her dark eyes.

“Your uncles will have my hide,” Ben said, shaking his head. A storm brewed not only on the high seas, but within the woman who commanded
The Morning Star.
She liked adventure too much. “We’ve wandered too far from home, Jewel. Perhaps we should quit while we’re ahead. These English waters are not to my likin’.”

Jewel looked affectionately at her sworn protector. “Haven’t we been successful thus far? Besides, Uncle Jean and Uncle Pierre won’t be half so angry when we show them our bounty.” She pointed to the ship on the horizon. “Just look
at that English brig. She sits heavy in the water, a sure indication her hold is full of valuables.” She smiled devilishly. “Won’t my uncles be disappointed more if we pass up this opportunity?”

“You know good and well they don’t want this kind of life for you. I should have never let you twist me around your little finger. Ben sighed. This beautiful young woman had but to bat her eyes and any man would die to do her bidding.

He turned to look at the approaching brig. “Something ain’t right . . . I’ve got a bad feelin’.” He pointed at the brig. “Don’t you think it strange they’re not makin’ much of an effort to escape?”

“Ben, you worry too much.” Jewel motioned for the first mate to take the wheel. “Come about!” she shouted before picking up the spyglass.

The glass never made it to her eye as a heavy barrage of cannon fire slammed into
The Morning Star.
Just as the mast snapped, Ben threw Jewel to the deck and covered her body with his.

It had been a deadly trap.

Now, as Ben stood staring at his sworn enemy, it seemed strange to be able to put a name to the face that had haunted him these past two years. What was he going to do? He didn’t want to leave Jewel, but as one man he could do little.

Jean was the answer.

Jean would know what to do, and where the captain was headed. However, Ben would first obtain a promise from Jean that he’d have the pleasure of killing Captain Lee himself.

The once-dry trench was now muddy from rain. A dismal morning dawned, and with it a fog-drenched day began, obscuring all vision beyond fifty feet. Voices, muted by the heavy mist, could be heard up and down the trench.

Jackson stood half-shivering in the crispness of the morning. Adam knew how the man felt. The cold seemed to penetrate even his own bones. Adam watched Jackson. He stared into the chilling fog as if he could pierce it with his eyes by sheer willpower. “What I wouldn’t give for a cup of hot coffee,” the general said. “That commodity has been scarce since the British set up their blockade. Wait . . .” Jackson lifted his nose to sniff the air. “Do you smell the wonderful aroma? It’s exactly what I seek.”

Adam turned toward the scent and saw the red shirts of Lafitte’s men. Adam and Jackson moved over to where Dominique You sat drinking a cup of the dark brew. Jackson asked, “Do you mind if I have a cup of coffee with you?”

“Of course not, General. Help yourself.”

Jackson smacked his lips, savoring the hot liquid. “This is the best coffee I’ve ever tasted,” he complimented the man. “Where did you get it?” He laughed before answering his own question. “Smuggled it, I suppose?”