Damien's Destiny (6 page)

Damien soon returned, a smile on his face. “We’re in luck. Captain Hansen’s
Sea Gull
is docking later today from his latest cruise. He’ll phone us this afternoon. I imagine you can sail tomorrow.”

As Jason interpreted Damien’s statement, Captain Hansen would drop all his bookings to accommodate Damien. Of course. He’d better prepare to leave tomorrow as suggested.

Damien had marched over to his bookshelves and pulled down a sailing atlas.

“I think by way of the Suez Canal is best. We’ll consult with the captain but I’m sure he’ll agree. Better weather than rounding the Cape Town peninsula and shorter in the long run.”

Jason nodded his agreement. “And a boat is much better than subjecting Rafe to constant transfers between trains and local carriages.”

“Certainly the Canal should be safe. Now that the Convention of Constantinople has guaranteed right of passage to all ships you’ll have no trouble.”

Jason nodded.

Damien went on with his judicious planning.

“I’ll go with you as far as Dover. I’d better see my banker to obtain the gold you need when you find Rafe, as well as giving the captain an advance sum. I doubt very much if Lobengula would appreciate my draft.”

As a joke it fell pretty flat but Jason obligingly gave a half-grin.

He looked steadily at Damien, refusing to acknowledge Debora’s distress. Distress Jase understood to be for Rafe, not his own departure.

“I’ll go pack.” Jason rose to his feet. “I assume you’ll want to send medicines for whatever Rafe requires. And I’ll bring fresh clothing for him. I’m sure he’ll welcome those.”

Damien nodded his approval.

“Ahead of me as usual, Jase. In the meantime I’ll go see the Prime Minister as soon as possible. He might be able to see Rafe is transferred close to the port of Beira in Portugese territory. To do so the P.M. will need to exert pressure on both Cecil Rhodes and the Portuguese. It’s not far from Beira to the border of Mashonaland but he’ll have to push the Portuguese to let you cross their land and urge Rhodes to convince Lobengula it’s in his interest to ransom Rafe. The sooner you can pick him up the better. If I can’t arrange matters you might have to go into Mashonaland, perhaps another day’s journey away. Still, I’ll see what the P.M. can do. I’ll wire you as soon as I have news.”

In Damien’s eyes Cecil Rhodes was a flawed man, even though a brilliant one. Rhodes’ dedication to the advancement of the British Empire seemed to have obliterated any personal tolerance toward natives he might once have possessed. Damien found it hard to discern which most inspired Rhodes—his dream of England controlling all of Africa or his commitment to his own personal fortune. Diamond fields discovered in 1870 in South Africa had made him wealthy. He’d founded the De Beers Mining Company and still controlled it. Rhodes had reaped untold riches in South Africa but he’d lied to and tricked the African leaders such as Lobengula to do so. He’d furthered his dreams of wealth for himself even as he sought for an Africa under England’s thumb. Now Rafe was paying because he’d wanted to assist the exploited Africans. Although the ruler Lobengula had originally felt sympathy for the British, Rhodes’ dishonesty and deception not only changed the feeling of some British like Rafe but turned Lobengula into an enemy.

Rafe was doubtless in hostile and unforgiving hands. So far Damien’s only vision of him showed Rafe tied to a post, his back bared. Damien shuddered and closed his mind to what he couldn’t help.

What a damnable situation. He couldn’t even estimate the time the yacht would take to reach Beira but it would be two weeks at a minimum. The Suez Canal was the only certain part of the trip. Ships were allowed through in convoys and two to three passages a day were always planned. The convoy’s transit time generally required eleven to sixteen hours. The Convention of Constantinople had declared the canal a neutral zone just two years before. Now passage was almost guaranteed but the average speed through the canal was held to eight knots.

The
Sea Gull’s
rate was far above eight knots. Captain Hansen had installed steam engines, which supplemented the sails, so the
Gull’s
speed was much higher, certainly at least fifteen knots on calm waters. Perhaps even twenty. Yet the seas were always unreliable. Storms arrived sporadically even in this late summer season.

He’d better prepare for two trips, one with Jason to procure the gold and the other to see the Prime Minister in London the next day. Tomorrow morning he must go to Dover with Jason. So much money could not be procured without his personal presence at the bank.

He looked up to see Toria and Debora eyeing him. Both with a distinct air of waiting to pounce.

Well, hell.
He sighed and then forced a smile.

“I know what you’re thinking, ladies. You feel left out of all this. But I want to accompany Jason as far as Dover. I’ll be back as soon as I can, certainly the same day and I’d like you both to promise to stay in the house ’til I return. I have a very nasty suspicion our friend the baron would be glad to cause trouble if he knew you were alone. The safest thing is for you both to remain indoors.”

Debora and Toria glared at him, both obviously reluctant to be so restricted.

He strode to his sister first, hugging her hard before releasing her.

“You know I must hurry to help Rafe. Please do this one thing for me, Debby.”

At her nod he moved to Toria, understanding well her instinctive desire for freedom. She’d had so little in her young life. He hugged her also and felt her stiff body relax a little in his arms. The perfume in her hair, a scent of lemon soap with a touch of her refreshing fragrance made his senses leap. He was pretty good at identifying a perfume. A floral scent, a mixture with definitely a little lily-of-the-valley. He couldn’t help but rejoice as she remained a moment quietly in his arms, although her pansy eyes questioned him. Even held lightly against his chest, he felt her heart quicken into a surprising flight. Somehow but he managed not to betray his awareness and his delight. Her bemused look made him clench his fists to keep from kissing her with a lover’s passion even though his sister was watching.

“Please, Toria,” he whispered. “I need to know you are safe while I’m gone.”

When both girls nodded their reluctant agreement he wheeled, calling for Stephens.

“Send for my groom please. Araby and I will ride with Jason in the morning and I’ll see his horse brought home rather than stabling it in Dover for what might be a long time.”

He strode to his study. He needed to make additional preparations to ride to London to see Lord Salisbury. Just as soon as he returned from seeing Jason off, bearing the large amount of gold he planned to send with him. First he’d better make sure Jason understood how bad the situation in Africa was, though he imagined Jason had a very good idea.

He sent Stephens to request Jason to visit him and Jason appeared at the door of the study soon after, his brow wrinkled.

“I’ve been worried about you when I’m gone, Damien. You’ll have a lot to contend with.”

Damien grinned.

“And here I am worrying about you.”

Damien smiled and motioned Jason to enter. Before Jason could take a step forward, Damien noticed Toria coming down the hall.

Instantly alert, he waited for her.

“Is there something I can do for you, Toria?”

She hesitated. “I merely wanted to ask you about this Lobengula you mentioned. I’m afraid I never heard of him.”

Pleased with her curious and intelligent mind, he motioned her in with Jason.

“Just exactly what I’m planning to discuss with Jason. Would you like to join us?”

At her pleased nod he seated them both gravely and then went back to his desk, wondering how much to tell Toria. As much as she wanted to know, he decided.

“One thing I’d like to make clear, Toria. I don’t want Debora to know everything I’m about to tell you. Use your own judgment but try not to distress her.”

When Toria nodded he knew she understood the words he hadn’t voiced.

“Lobengula is said to be an honorable man, an important African chieftain formerly well disposed to the British. He’s reputedly tall, dignified and handsome. Cecil Rhodes took advantage of him and tricked him into signing a treaty allowing mining and other rights Lobengula would never have conceded if he’d realized the British intentions. Queen Victoria is delighted with the results, although she doesn’t know the chicanery involved. Most of the British know only how important gold and diamonds can be. What concerns us here is that many of Lobengula’s followers now hate the British and Rafe is in their hands.”

Toria gasped while Jason nodded and added his thoughts.

“Africans have learned to distrust most Europeans. With good reason. French, German, Danish and Portuguese, all have exploited the Africans. Shamefully.”

Toria looked at Damien, admiration shining in her lovely eyes.

“Thank you, Damien. And Jason. I knew none of this.”

Damien’s smile twisted a little. “No reason you should, Toria. My contacts in the government have helped in some respects, at least. A few people agree with me and more will as time goes on. Now, if you’ll excuse us, my dear, I want to finalize plans with Jason. We must to go into detail that would bore you but I want you to understand how serious Rafe’s situation is.”

Smiling and looking adorably bemused, she said good night.

Both men watched her go. To Damien she grew lovelier every day. Tonight she’d worn her hair tied to the side with a ribbon, the golden mass cascading over one shoulder.

Jason’s glance showed the merest trace of pity.

“Are you making any progress with her, Damien?”

Damien’s glance sharpened. “What are you implying, Jase?”

Jason held up his hands.

“Nothing to rile you, my friend. Any fool can see you’ve finally fallen in love, with a very skittish female. I know nothing else.”

Damien relaxed. “You’re right on both counts. I might be in over my head on this one.”

Jason looked skeptical but they turned to make plans for the journey he was about to undertake.

* * * * *

Both Jason and Damien were up and mounted quite early.

Damien hoped to steal away without waking the girls but they both were standing at Tregaron’s door, silent and solemn.

He aimed his best smile at them.

“No Friday faces, please, you two. I’ll be back very shortly. Just take care of yourself and remember your promise to stay indoors today.”

At the last minute he turned back and spoke to Toria. “One other thing. If you need me, Toria, summon me in your mind. I’ll be available to your thoughts at all times.”

She looked startled but only nodded.

He didn’t add a scheme to safeguard her was all a part of his love for her. One she couldn’t yet comprehend. If she required his help he would know instantly and deal with the problem. In fact he’d leave her more protected than she dreamed. He knew she didn’t quite understand but his care would blanket her even though he was far from her.

He thought her not yet ready to know the depth of his love. He had yet to tell her his prophecies plainly showed them together for all time. She was an integral part of his destiny. He must somehow make her accept her future.

Certainly not an impossible task.

Chapter Five

After Jason and Damien rode silently away both girls returned to bed for an hour, as it seemed too early for breakfast and facing the lonely day without the men. A few hours later a knock sounded on Tregaron’s door. Toria came to the top of the stairs, wondering who was calling at such an early hour.

Stephens opened the door with caution, to find himself shoved aside by a large bully of a man, accompanied by a smirking Baron Heath.

“Call both your mistresses, old man. I want to speak with them.”

When Stephens hesitated Heath punched the old man brutally in the stomach. Doubling over, Stephens clutched himself but made no move toward the stairs.

Heath snorted in amusement and set one foot on the steps just as Toria appeared.

The baron stepped back, watching her with gloating eyes as she came gracefully down the stairs. Her head held high, she bore little resemblance to the fifteen-year-old he’d abused. She wore a wrapper concealing her developed figure in folds but his eyes gleamed with lust. He’d watched her through binoculars and knew she’d turned into a beauty but seen up close this glowing girl surpassed the brief glimpses he’d had through his spying glasses.

He watched her, every lascivious thought plain on his triumphant face.

“Your protector won’t help you now, Victoria. He’s far away. By the time he returns you’ll be installed in my home again where you belong.”

Almost frozen with fright, Toria stood motionless. The scent of her own terror swamped her senses, making her more than a little ill. How could fear smell so strong? She was incapable of uttering a sound or moving a muscle. What could she do against the brute strength of two evil men?

Then she heard Damien’s last words sounding in her mind and mentally called out to him. It seemed impossible but Damien would not have told her to try to reach him unless he had a plan.