Today's Embrace (5 page)

“Then perhaps Julien is right,” Anthony said. “The Kimberly Black Diamond is there on the Matopos.”

The Kimberly Black Diamond. Buried along with Lobengula in his burial cave?
Rogan felt the intense gaze of his father-in-law. Rogan looked up from the letter to find Anthony frowning. Just what was Anthony's emotional involvement in finding the Black Diamond?

“This spells real trouble with the Ndebele,” Rogan said. “If Julien believes the diamond is there, he'll attempt to send an expedition.” But could Julien locate the chieftain's burial site when the Ndebele wished to keep it secret?

Anthony shook his head. “He'll search, all right; you know that as well as I. My adoptive father's been plagued by that stone since he was a young man.” He looked at Rogan sharply. “I'm not one who believes in mumbo jumbo, mind you, but there are times when I can almost think there's a curse on the Black Diamond.”

Rogan lifted a brow. “I've wondered too … not about mumbo jumbo, as you aptly put it, but where it first came from. How it ever got into Julien's possession.” Rogan had his own idea about that, but he wondered how much Anthony knew about the diamond's mysterious history.

Anthony was thoughtful and looked troubled. “First I heard of it was when I was a boy at Brewster House. Grandfather spoke of it, of Julien and Carl van Buren forming a partnership in a diamond hole they were digging at Kimberly.”

Carl—Evy's grandfather. He'd been killed in an explosion in that diamond hole.

“Was there a witness to Carl's death in that mining accident?” Rogan asked tonelessly.

Anthony's eyes shot to his. “I don't know. Afterward, Julien says Carl lived long enough to entrust Katie to his guardianship.”

“And evidently the Black Diamond. Although Henry, when he was alive, claimed the diamond was discovered by neither Carl nor Julien.”

“Henry claimed many things,” Anthony said wearily. “Including the
mystical
gold deposit on his old Mashonaland map.”

Rogan didn't want to discuss the map he'd inherited. He ignored the dismissal in Anthony's voice. The gold he discovered on the Zambezi hadn't developed into the boon he'd hoped for. The mine was another problem facing him. He must go there to discuss things with Derwent and Mornay, but how could he leave Evy at Rookswood?

“I once heard Henry claim the Kimberly Diamond was actually discovered by his father, your grandfather,” Anthony suggested.

Rogan had heard such rumors, but when he'd asked his father, Sir Lyle, he'd scoffed at the idea.

“My father agrees with you that Henry claimed some wild and woolly things,” Rogan admitted. “I never placed much confidence in that idea myself, but I have often wondered if Julien or Carl might not have stolen the diamond from one of the Zulu
ngangas.
”

“The witch doctors, eh? Interesting notion, Rogan. What makes you think so?”

“I don't have much to go on, except Dumaka. He came to work for Julien at Cape House. I found out Dumaka is an induna. To work for Julien would be a loathsome thing. Yet he came of his own free will. Though Heyden stole the diamond from Henry that night in the stables, Heyden claims Dumaka took the diamond from him and escaped with it. Just days later the British fought the Zulu in the war. The Zulus were defeated and Cetshwayo exiled. I've thought Dumaka took the diamond before the British arrived and fled to Lobengula at Bulawayo.”

Anthony nodded agreement. “You may very well be right, Rogan. I remember the night the diamond was stolen from Julien. I'd just arrived with Camilla in time to hear of it. And that Katie had run away with the Zulu woman.”

“Jendaya. She had become a Christian under the Varleys at Rorke's Drift mission. She's Dumaka's sister. Heyden seems to think she is still alive.”

“Yes? I wonder. Anyway, Julien and I found Henry unconscious in the stables. Julien was adamant Henry had the diamond. He demanded I search him. It was an ugly night. I wish I'd never heard of that cursed diamond.”

“This is only the beginning,” Rogan warned.

“Yes, and now Heyden van Buren. I still cannot believe he actually murdered Henry and Vicar Edmund Havering. He must be mad.”

“If he is mad, he's mad with the cause of the Boers. He wants that diamond for one reason—to help the Boers finance the war. They need weapons, and they hope to buy them from the German Empire. Guns, ammunition, cannons, and medicine to supply the Boer army.”

“Yes, yes, so Scotland Yard tells me. Heyden was in Germany before he came to Grimston Way.”

“Negotiating for armaments?”

“With friends of Paul Kruger. The diamond would then go on the international market for the best price.”

Rogan looked thoughtfully at his brother's letter. “I wonder where Heyden is now. And does he know what happened at Bulawayo? Does Heyden have reason to think the Black Diamond is buried with Lobengula in the Matopos?”

“Indeed. If Heyden has heard the tale as Parnell tells it, then we can be sure Julien won't be the only one in search of Lobengula's burial cave.”

Rogan hardened his jaw. Heyden was the other reason he must go alone to South Africa. Rogan had said little about it to Evy, but he was determined to hunt Heyden down for what he had done. And he didn't want her there to hear the details of what he'd do to Heyden when he found him.

“Another thing,” Rogan said. “Peter will have a rampage on his doorstep at Bulawayo if the indunas find out the white men who defeated
their chieftain are now poking around the Matopos to rob Lobengula's grave.”

Anthony shook his head. “Something must be done. You're right.”

Julien would hardly listen to Anthony's advice, Rogan thought wryly. Julien was now chief native commissioner at Bulawayo, newly appointed by Rhodes to be in charge of the conquered Ndebele. Peter Bartley, Rogan's brother-in-law, was Julien's assistant commissioner, but while Cecil Rhodes remained at Capetown as prime minister, Dr. Jameson was his right-hand man.

No, Julien wouldn't listen to any of Anthony's warnings, but the British high commissioner at Capetown might. Commissioner Milner was a friend of Anthony's.

“I'll arrange to meet with him when I arrive in Capetown.”

Was Anthony willing to oppose Julien's interest in the Matopos? Rogan was surprised. Anthony had been under Sir Julien's thumb since a lad attending school at Eden, when, after Julien's wife died, he singled out Anthony to become his heir, arranging with the Brewsters to adopt Anthony. However, in return for being, as it were, “knighted” by Julien, he'd had to surrender his future to Julien's wishes in order to take over the family diamond dynasty after Julien's death. Anthony was also to assume the position of “patriarch” in charge of family monetary allowances and future marriages. Anthony hardly appeared the patriarchal sort.

“If Uncle Julien discovers you're out to stop him from robbing tombs, he's sure to come at you with both barrels,” Rogan warned. “It will give Darinda opportunity as well. You're aware she wants to assume your role as her grandfather's heir. She's one young woman to not underestimate.”

Anthony's face tightened. “That's the chance I'll need to take with Julien. England is on the verge of war with Kruger in the Transvaal. Her Majesty can't afford to fight on two fronts. And the last thing we need is a massacre of English settlers in Rhodesia. We cannot sit idle and allow an uprising just because of Julien's belief that the Kimberly Black Diamond is buried with Lobengula in those sacred hills.”

This was one of the few times Rogan respected Anthony for taking a firm stand. His decision to appeal to the high commissioner appeared to be selfless. Rogan hoped it was so.

By the time Rogan left his father-in-law in his office at South African Diamond Enterprise, the fog had settled over London. He glanced at his watch and grimaced. He'd intended to try to return tonight, though he'd not promised Evy, but the last train passing through the junction at Grimston Way would depart in ten minutes.

He hailed a taxi carriage. The horse clipped away into the cool fall night. Rogan frowned. The Matopos Hills … the Black Diamond … even now Julien might be getting an expedition ready. Heyden could not be far away. If there was any chance the diamond was within his grasp, he would be near—somewhere, watching, waiting for his chance. There had been at least two deaths over that diamond, Uncle Henry and old, gentle Vicar Edmund Havering. Rogan felt grim as he thought in particular of the vicar. A godly man who had been needed by Evy and Mrs. Havering, and yet Heyden had arranged for his violent “accidental” death. And there was Evy's fall down the attic steps as well. Heyden was fully to blame for the damage to her spine. She might have been dead right now, all because of that diamond.

He must leave soon for South Africa. He must go without Evy. Would she understand?

In the dark bedroom on the second floor, Evy awoke with a start, aware of the vacant pillow beside her. She remembered … Rogan was in London. He wouldn't be back until late morning. He'd gone to see her father at the family diamond business. Then why—

She came alert and sat up, glancing toward the closed door to the sitting room. A ribbon of golden light shone beneath the door.

Slowly she drew the cover aside and reached for her silken wrapper, not troubling with her pink slippers. Like a silent wraith, her feet moved toward the door on tiptoe.

Oh come, there's not a thing to be afraid of here at Rookswood, even though—ugh, Henry Chantry was murdered on the floor above me. But that was Heyden, and Heyden has escaped to South Africa
.

Nonetheless, with stealthy movement, she turned the knob and pulled the door open a crack to peer into the sitting room. She must have left the lamp burning. No, she distinctly recalled putting it out before—

She drew a breath of surprise.

He turned, still dressed from his London trip, his overnight bag on the floor near the lamp. She noticed something different about him. Was it the absence of his relaxed smile?

“Rogan darling, I didn't hear you come in.” She moved into the sitting room, relieved and delighted to see him.

She felt at once something was wrong from the seriousness of his expression.

“You decided not to stay overnight in London after all.”

“I managed to catch the last train—by racing after it. Ah, what sacrifices men will make for true love! I even had to walk three miles from the village junction,” he said, pretending to be appalled. His warming gaze scanned her. “The thought of what awaited at home made the townhouse seem desolate.”

Evy smiled alluringly and moved into his arms.

“Temptress,” he said, enfolding her and delivering a kiss firmly on her lips.

Her heart was happy again. The tension between them when he had departed for London was washed away in the tide that swept over her. She drew away, gently pushing against his chest, stepping out of his reach.

“Something is wrong, isn't it? You're worried. Is it Anthony? Is he all right?” Her father's health was the first thing she could think of to explain his sober demeanor.

“He's well, leaving for Capetown in the morning, in fact.” He shouldered out of his jacket and unbuttoned his shirt collar.

She wasn't satisfied but took his jacket and brought it into the bedroom wardrobe, then came back, pink slippers in hand as she stood thoughtfully. That her father was well was good news at least. She looked at Rogan. He wore a slight smile and leaned against the back of the divan.

“Then … what did he want? It must have been terribly important to call you all the way to London on such short notice.”

He came to her, directing her into a tapestry wing chair. “Sit down,” he said, then he plucked the heeled pink satin slippers from her hand and looked at them.

“I never could see the value of these things … totally worthless for scuffing about.” He stooped and, lifting her foot, slipped one on, visibly admiring her shapely leg.

“Rogan! You're keeping things from me, you scoundrel. Do tell me what Anthony wanted.”

“Yes … of course.”

She latched on to the slight pause, so unlike Rogan, whose resonant voice was usually quick and assertive. Evy guessed that he didn't want to discuss the meeting with Anthony, which only enforced her curiosity. She continued to study him. His handsome face and muscled neck were still brown from the harsh elements of the South African veld, and his glossy dark hair curled slightly. The energetic rich brown eyes had taken on a far-off gleam that she often saw while he was pondering South Africa, their gold mine in the Zambezi region, or his uncle's mysterious map. During such times, which were growing more frequent, a restlessness would come over him. He might suddenly decide to take one of the horses out for a brisk ride, or he would go hiking in Grimston Woods, usually too aggressively for Evy to keep up. She'd learned it was best to turn him loose during those times, much like a wild stallion on the run.