Fortune's Flames (30 page)

Jared moaned and his hips writhed as his manroot grew in size and yearning. He felt it tremble with the need to burst into bloom, heard its mute plea to enter
the
cooling, refreshing, territory where it could be nourished and cherished. Yet, he restrained his ardor so he might savor her enticing caresses and urge her passion to blaze out of control. His fingers aroused the sensitive areas of her body, as did his mouth.

They both labored until they were breathless and feverish, then eagerly fused their bodies to lay claim
to the prize which loomed before them. They kissed, caressed, and moved rhythmically until a mutual victory was attained. Joyfully, they yielded to it, freely and wildly, until their urgency passed and rapture poured over them like heavy rain. Gradually contentment claimed them, and locked together, they went to sleep.

For exercise and diversion, Maren was allowed topside twice a day: morning and evening. She enjoyed watching her husband at work in the surroundings he loved, and the crew was always busy, alert, caring, and obedient. The men rose early, took down their hammocks, bundled and stowed them, and reported for duty. They scrubbed decks, tended canvas, cleaned and greased chains and guns, mended casks, watched for enemy ships, and secured loose cargo. They were fed well and were allowed a cup of grog at the end of their shift. For relaxation, they smoked, talked, and played games. Some even did wood carvings or made decorative things from rope. This crew was happy and well trained.

By Thursday morning, the
Sea Mist
was heading across the Atlantic Ocean. Winds continued to “back her canvas,” and no British ship had been sighted. As far as Maren could see, only blue water was visible. The ocean was calm, and the
Sea Mist
sailed gracefully over its surface, much like a huge water bird. The crew had taken to Maren and did not seem to mind having a woman aboard, which many sailors
considered bad luck. And at sea, peace filled her. She even forgot the war for a time.

On that same morning, New Orleans was anything but peaceful after Eric James arrived. He first stopped at his office and questioned his brother, Marc. He was astounded to hear that Maren had not only moved into Lady Luck, but that she had been having numerous problems, which did not sound like those he had ordered created to entice her into selling the gambling establishment. At first he was furious to learn of Jared Morgan’s partnership; then he smiled, relieved by that discovery. Marc was unaware of Maren’s and Jared’s departure, so he could not inform his brother of it.

Eric decided to visit Samuel Lewis before seeing Maren, and perhaps Jared. He would then find a way to meet secretly with Dan Myers to get the manager’s story. After opening the safe to put some papers inside, he noticed the stack of letters. He snatched them out and studied them; the ribbon wasn’t tied as it had been, and the stack was out of order. So, he mused, Maren did know the combination. She had searched his office. He berated Marc for allowing her to do that, but even he realized his brother’s innocence could not be denied.

At his lawyer’s office, Eric was given more disturbing news. He learned about Jared’s intrusion in his affairs and Maren’s near-fatal accidents. He was glad when Lewis told him Dan had gotten rid of
Howard Heath and Evelyn Sims. The lawyer revealed everything Dan had related to him, including Dan’s pretense of assisting Jared and Maren. Eric did not like this report, and he decided he had to do something quickly.

But the worst news came from Dan Myers. He hurriedly entered Lewis’s office, and was shocked to find Eric James there.

Eric looked at the anxious Myers and said, “Good to see you, Dan, but isn’t this visit of yours a little dangerous? What if you’re being followed?”

“Lewis has been out of town for weeks so I couldn’t tell him what’s happened. Has he told you everything?” the nervous manager asked.

“Obviously not everything or you wouldn’t be so eager to see him. Tell me what happened, all of it,” Eric ordered.

Dan rapidly revealed his distressing news, ending with, “Maren’s gone upriver somewhere, probably to hide. I haven’t been able to get a clue as to her location. And Jared Morgan sailed on Monday. He left me in charge of Lady Luck until he returns, so he doesn’t suspect me.”

Myers and Lewis then remained silent as Eric walked to the window and gazed outside. “Damn,” he muttered. “I had her partner right where I needed him. But no matter. When Morgan returns, I’ll have him killed and Maren will be subdued. This will work out better than I planned. I will obtain even more than Lady Luck at his death. I’ll be leaving for France on Monday, but I’ll give you strict orders how
to handle him if he returns before I do. This time, make certain my orders are obeyed perfectly. I don’t want Maren injured. In fact, forget about her; I’ll take care of my little cousin.” Eric spoke these last words oddly.

Before leaving he made each man go over the entire story once more to make sure nothing had been omitted. He then went to the door and gestured to Horben Wolfe who stood outside.

“Let’s go, Ben. I must visit the bank before it closes.” Withdrawing a key from his pocket, Eric tossed it into the air, caught it easily, and laughed. “With luck, they don’t know each box has two keys. If they’ve found anything of value, they probably locked it up there.”

As the two men walked down the street toward the bank, Horben asked, “What about the necklace, Eric? What if she has it with her?”

“Maren’s too smart to carry around something that expensive. If I know her, it’s in the bank box. If not, we’ll find her and take it.”

At the bank, Eric was shocked by the contents of the metal box, but he suddenly grinned. “Let’s go home,” he said. “I’ll go over this stuff there. I want you to gather some of the men and find Maren for me. I have a good idea where she’s gone.”

Eric stretched out on his bed and tossed the money from the box aside. Then he read the papers, one by one. At last the real deeds were in his hands and
nobody could prove anything against him once he substituted these for the forged ones. He smiled as he went over the two wills, thrilled by what he would soon obtain. Reaching for the ribbon-bound paper, he slid off the ribbon. As he read that document, his green eyes narrowed and chilled. “Damn you, Maren James,” he exclaimed, grasping the extent of her betrayal. Then he laughed. Jared’s will was even more valuable when added to this marriage license.

He gulped the whiskey sitting beside his bed and savored his new victories. He had assumed Willa hadn’t known about Jared’s part ownership in Lady Luck or she would have told him of it when he’d visited her recently. No matter. He would soon own the plantation where she lived. She had been someone to dally with on his trips to Savannah, but he would not permit her to live on his land.

He despised people who went against him, and he always made them pay for their betrayals. He had been twenty-three when he had accidentally discovered why his father had hated him and Marc. He had returned home one day when his parents, thinking they were alone in the house, had been quarreling bitterly. Concealing himself, he had eavesdropped, and had learned of his mother’s treachery and his father’s crime.

Elizabeth had shouted at John, “You whored around more than I did, you bloody bastard! You’ve slept with every tart around, but I’ve only spent time with one man. You men are lucky; you don’t have to worry about becoming pregnant when you enjoy
your little trysts. Well, I needed love and sex just like you, my selfish husband. You wouldn’t touch me, so I found a real man who loved me—and I loved him.”

“You sorry bitch! You won’t sleep with him again because I killed him. And if you tell anyone, I’ll kill you too. I’ll never let you humiliate me by leaving or exposing me. And if you try anything, I’ll tell Eric and Marc who their real father is and what a whore you are. You dumb bitch, you should have stayed away from him after I forgave you and kept you around even though you were pregnant with Eric. But no, you had to start up with him again and conceive Marc, the other bastard I claimed to cover your sins, the stupid one. But if you thought I’d allow you and him a third bastard, you were dead wrong, Lizzy, just like he was. And if you dare replace him, I’ll slit your whoring throat. Living with a whore for twenty-four years is more than enough for me. Behave, or you’re gone, bitch.”

“I should have left you for him years ago. No, I should have killed you for provoking me to turn to another man. My sins don’t come near yours. He loved me, and I still love him. If you had been any kind of husband to me, none of this would have happened. I had as much right to love as you did.”

“You belong to me, Lizzy, and I can do as I please with you. Check the law if you doubt my word. If you ever reveal this…”

John did not complete his threat, and Elizabeth replied, “You’re the one who’s going to expose us by treating Eric and Marc like scum, though they’ve
been born and reared as your sons.”

“I have only one son, and that’s all I need or want from you. Murray is the only real James heir and he’ll get everything. Your two bastards won’t see a dollar of mine. Be glad I allowed you to keep them and raise them in my house to prevent a scandal. Every time I look at them I get sick to my stomach. They’re just like their father, a no-good tavern owner who was drunk half the time. You would never have left me for trash like that, and if you thought I would ever touch you again after you bedded such filth, you’re as stupid as Marc. Keep your mouth shut and your legs crossed, or I’ll make sure your bastards lose the James name and see you all drummed out of town.”

“You wouldn’t dare!” Elizabeth had scoffed. “I can have you sent to jail for murder. How would you like living in a tiny cell without your money and power and slimy wenches?”

“It would be easier to prove you killed your secret lover than to prove the honorable John James did it. You have more to lose than I do, woman, so shut up and do as I tell you.”

“I hate you, John, and one day you’ll burn in hell for this crime.”

It was this statement that had given Eric the idea of punishing his parents. Nobody would miss a whore and a killer! He had looked into the tavern owner’s murder to learn who his real father was. His mother had been right. The tavern owner had been a good man, but that did not exonerate his mother. She had made him a bastard! He would destroy the two
people who, in their bitterness and revenge, had destroyed him.

For months Eric had plotted their deaths, and he’d come to hate them more and more. Horben Wolfe, his best friend, had helped him carry out the lethal deed. They had rendered his parents unconscious ata hotel and had set fire to the room. John and Elizabeth James had not survived the blaze which had engulfed the hotel and two adjoining businesses before it had been controlled. After that, Eric had plotted his loathsome half-brother’s death, and he had recently killed Murray. Now, he owned the James empire, or he soon would. To avoid suspicion, he would wait a year or so before ridding himself of Marc. He didn’t care about Colin and Martha James. They were in London, and they were not related to him by blood, neither was Maren.

Maren had messed up his plans by marrying Jared Morgan, the famous Captain Hawk. During his voyage to Baltimore and Jamaica, Eric had decided to sell all of his American holdings and move to his plantation on that lovely island. He had intended to tell Maren they were not blood kin, and to take her as his wife. He had always craved her, but as her cousin, he had been unable to approach her. Of course, she would be a widow after Jared was killed….

Little did Maren know that Eric had encouraged his friend, Daniel Redford, to marry her, so she would be out of the way. He and Daniel were a lot alike, both second in line for inheritance and both unloved by their fathers. It had not been hard to
convince Daniel that Maren would be rich one day and would make him a perfect wife. Since Daniel’s brother had wooed and wed Daniel’s true love, Daniel had been most receptive to Eric’s suggestion. Then, during one of his secret trips to London, Eric had learned of Daniel’s death and he’d made new plans for Maren James. He was getting rich playing three countries against each other, but it was time to drop his pretenses before someone unmasked him. A good gambler knew when to leave the table, even if he was winning.

Now that he was within reach of Jared Morgan’s wealth, Eric would soon have all he needed to live better than Britain’s king… after he picked up that gold shipment in France. The necklace had not been in the bank box, so he would have to locate Maren to retrieve it. Horben and his men were searching for her at Payne’s Point. Eric had assumed Maren was with that arrogant little blonde, Lilibeth Payne; and once Horben got her, he would take Maren with him to France, then drop her off in Jamaica and tend to his business here. Maren would be held captive until he needed Jared’s widow to seize the Morgan fortune. Then he would decide whether she was worthy to marry him or not. If he didn’t want her, he would hand her over to Horben.

By Sunday afternoon, Eric was certain they would not locate Maren nearby. His overseer at the dock, Andrews, had told him of the young man who had
arrived last Sunday morning, looking for Jared Morgan and Lady Luck. When the sailor was described as being in his mid twenties, with sandy hair and hazel eyes, Eric recalled the man who had jumped ship in Savannah: Peter Thomas. He went aboard the
Martha J
and questioned his crew about Peter. Discovering that Peter had purchased another crewman’s shore leave at Baltimore, he added up the facts, and was enraged by his conclusion.

He was positive that Jared was on his way to France, with the necklace and with Maren. He ordered his ship and crew to make ready to sail at dawn the next morning, and he offered each man a bonus if they beat the
Sea Mist
to Marseilles.

Horben Wolfe focused his ghostly eyes on his friend and asked, “What will you do if she’s with him and you catch her?”

Eric’s frosty green gaze met Horben’s icy blue one and he replied, “I’ll see if she’s there by choice or if our illustrious Captain Hawk has coerced her into marrying him and betraying me. You heard what Sam and Dan said: she was against battling me, but Morgan kept pushing her. Dan said he was threatening her with the loss of Lady Luck and with jail because of that money I took. With all that pressure, it’s no wonder she got scared and turned to Morgan for help and protection. Dan thinks Morgan forced her to marry him for selfish reasons, which I can understand. If she’s innocent, I’ll keep her. If she isn’t, she’s yours to do with as you choose.”