Return to Rhonan (17 page)

‘It was the way he said it. So cold, accusing me of being a fraud, telling me he loved me and then walking away.’

‘Some love that is – kicking you in the teeth.’

‘It’s over before it’s even begun. I just feel rotten. I’ve never done that before Di’, met a guy and then
slept with him on the first
date.
Now I feel awful.’

‘Maybe he’s got a hang up about this hotel.  Maybe he’s in debt or something.’

‘He’s got hang ups alright.  I knew something was wrong when we first got there.  Some phobia about water I think.’  Jess bit her lip, putting the brandy glass back down on the table. ’Di we had a great time. We were so close, so soon, and then he went and tore me to shreds. ‘

‘Sadist - can’t trust some of these guys.  Maybe when you’ve both cooled down, you could talk?’

‘No.  I’m not a bloody masochist. I never want to see that bastard again. If I did I’d hit him.’

Dinah raised her eyebrows, when Jess got mad, she got physical.  She remembered when Jess slapped a guy in public.  But then
Nigel
was such a bastard. Not only did he have affairs with Jess’s so-called friends; he’d also taken her money.  Pete was the only one who wanted her for herself.  Shame they split up. 

‘I just want to leave Dinah.  I can’t stay here, not after this.’

Dinah felt pebbles slither in her stomach.  ‘Leave?
’
Visions of George surfaced
,
his body hard against her, his tongue in her mouth.  ‘Are you sure?’    

Jess caught the quiver in Dinah’s voice.
Immediately,
she realized – George.  It would be hard on Dinah if they left. She seemed to be getting close to the guy.

‘It’s George isn’t it?’  

Dinah bit her lip.

Jess said quickly, ‘I can’t stay here Di. You can if you like, I’ll just move to somewhere close. ‘

‘I really like him Jess, well more than like. But I’ll come with you. George and I can still get together.” 

‘Look you stay here really. I’ll book a suite at the Merton Hotel.  But then...’

‘What?’

‘I’ve just remembered Daisy’s coming in a few days. I don’t know if the Merton accepts dogs.  Oh God what a mess.’

‘You don’t have to see the guy Jess.  I mean he’s caught up most of the time.
Look, why
don’t you have a nap, freshen up and come with me to George’s class this evening?  It will brighten you up.’ She 
frowned; George
was waiting for her to go boating on the lake.  
But,
she couldn’t leave Jess like this. He would just have to wait.
He
was an easy-going guy he’d understand.

‘No, thanks Di
,
but I couldn’t face it.  I’ll just hang around here for a while – get some rest. ‘

‘Honey are you sure?’

‘Yeah, I’m just going to shower and then lie on the bed for a while.’

As Dinah left she said, ‘I just hope I don’t meet the guy – I’ll have  a few choice words to say to him.’

The shower blended with her tears
,
as powerful jets expunged the fetid aromas of the lake.  It promised to be the perfect love affair
,
but now it gurgled away at her feet.   Putting on the towelling robe, the softness comforted, as she walked to the windows, pulling the curtains together to block out the late afternoon sun.  As she walked to the bed, Jess did not see the ghostly figure walk behind her.

Jess felt her chest heave
,
as Douglas’s face captured her mind, the gleam in his eyes, the soft laugh as he pulled her to him. Weeping she buried her head in the
pillow,
unaware of the figure standing at the foot of her bed, unaware of crying herself to slee
p she drifted to another century, to Muriall.
 

Donning a silken robe from a warm linen nightrail, Muriall went to the escritoire.  Just time to write a few notes to Brianna before retiring.   Although she did not have good news to impart at least she could share her misgivings with her sister. Although not related, they were closer in spirit than blood sisters.  Growing up together, they shared many a childhood secret, many a girlish dream.  The quill raced across
parchment; she
loved the smell of fresh parchment, the slight acidic odour of the ink.  Musing, she wrote of Duncan’s plans to attend a meeting of the Lords to plan a defence of the tenant farmers.  As her quill sped across the page, she did not hear the door opening, or soft feet padding across the deep pile of the carpet until hands grasped her from behind practically lifting her from the chair.  Gasping she turned her head to see the gloating features of Max.

CHAPTER 2
6

Looking at her hated persecutor, Muriall hissed, ‘What the hell do you think you are doing?  Get out now.’

Maximillian’s rejoinder was a fierce
grin,
as he held her down in the chair. ‘I think we have some serious talking to—‘

‘I think not – either you leave
now,
or I shall—‘

‘Shall what – tell your precious Duncan?  Forget not that your father died in a duel – it can be so arranged for your lover. So hear me out.’

Muriall’s hand slid to the small drawer in the escritoire.  ‘I have nothing to say to you – you swine.  If uncle even thought you—‘

‘So how would you explain my presence my sweet?  How would you explain your secret trysts with my brother?  One word from me, and you would be banished to stay with a distant Aunt.  But in return for your
favours,
I am willing to remain silent.’

‘My favours? Begone.  Begone before I —’ She whipped
around
the dagger now in her hand.

Startled he stepped back.  ‘Now, what a pretty sight.  Put it down Muriall – let us discuss this amicably – I do not wish to use force.’

‘Just try it.’ She now rose to her feet facing him, the dagger before her, her body tensed to spring.

Putting his hands up, he said, ‘Then I shall repair to the Earl and to my mother.  You leave me no choice. I will —‘

A voice said from the shadows, ‘You will what?’

Max whipped
around
to see Duncan emerge from a door beside the bed. ‘If you so much as say a word to the Earl or our
mother,
I will tear your head off – so don’t tempt me.’

Max paled, seeing
his brother dra
w his sabre from its scabbard, the steel glittering in the candlelight.  As he backed away Duncan said, ‘You do realize that I manage the affairs of the estate.  I decide what is paid. Any funding is under my jurisdiction.  Father is frail – in his dotage. Besides that, he is failing fast.  So think carefully now, last week alone I met your billets for over four thousand pounds.  On that note, I should warn you that I shall not meet such exorbitant amounts in future.  So be very wary of what you threaten brother. ‘

Max sneered. ‘So you think father will allow this chit to become your mistress – that he will allow you to ravage her under his roof?’

‘Be careful of your words, for you speak of my future wife.’

‘Wife?  How ton is that? You will be ostracized, marrying  a penniless bastard?’

Duncan flew at Max, his sabre tip now prodding his chest. ‘
Silence or
I
will
run you through.’

Muriall whispered, ‘Take care
– he is a viper – God knows he could arrange with his fellow rakes to waylay you.’

‘Then I shall kill him now. Come
brother,
what shall it
be,
sword or pistol?’

Max now pale, almost shivered, the sneer replaced with a quiver of fear.  ‘You wouldn’t dare.’

‘You are unworthy of a duel. It would be against my honour to call you out. You miserable piece of chicken shit. I have a better idea.   As second son you should by now be thinking of a commission –  although Wellington
has no use for a coward, tis time you took up your sword against the little Corporal.
’

Muriall’s eyes widened, the fight against France invading Portugal was on the turn. The Anglo Spanish, Portuguese front was slowly pushing France back.  The Peninsular Wars were in favour of Wellington.

Retreating, almost bowing, Maximillian stuttered. ‘I concede defeat brother.  My lips are sealed.’

Duncan gave a merciless smile. ‘I hear your words but cannot rely on them; for that, I shall immediately purchase a commission for you – the Infantry– junior class. Cornet or Ensign I think.’

Max slumped on the chair, his hands trembling.  ‘You wouldn’t do that – surely – that is a junior position. 

‘To carry the flag is an honour brother – imagine a reformed rakehell carrying the colours.’

‘Surely you would not do this.  I am too old for an ensign.  ‘

‘Maybe so, but it is what our funds can afford.’

‘Such a lowly rank would be a slur on the family – surely the rank of lieutenant—‘

‘You do not deserve such consideration. But, as the status of cornet would demean our family, I am willing to strike a deal. Lieutenant it is, but I will make immediate arrangements for your departure.’

Cowed, Maximillian rose stiffly from the chair walking with bowed shoulders to the door. 

Once the door closed, Duncan walked over to Muriall taking her in his arms. ‘My darling – I hope he did not hurt you.’

Muriall stroked his face, ‘I had my dagger ready, but I must admit to feeling relieved when you appeared.  How did you know?’

‘I have him under watch since the incident at the lake.  I have also taken John into my confidence. He is a loyal and courageous servant and one on whom I can depend. He too has been watching your door in the night hours.’

‘Why did you tell him we were to marry? 
Surely,
it is much too early to think of such
things,
and besides you have not formally asked me.’

Towering above her, he cupped her face in his hands.  His heart glowed as he gazed into those glittering green eyes, at the small smattering of freckles across the bridge of her delicate nose.  ‘I have said we shall marry – but if you want me to go on bended
knee,
I will.’

She frowned, ‘But what will the Earl say and aunt Flavia?’

  We shall keep it from them until I feel it is right to make it public.  Meanwhile, we have our secret passages, tunnels and the shack on the island.  See it as a romantic
interlude,
before we lead our lives proper.’

Muriall giggled, ‘Then
yes; I
would like you to go on bended knee. ‘

Smiling,
Duncan sheathed his sword and laying it on the bed, walked over to her.  Kneeling on one knee, he took her delicate hand, seeming so small in his.  ‘Muriall will you consent to be my wife. Please say yes and make my world complete.’

Laughing,
she bent to him, kissing him on the lips, her passion smouldering. 

Taking her in his arms he said, ‘We shall marry and then leave for Jamaica.’

‘No darling I cannot – I cannot bear to leave the tenants now. More and more landlords are evicting the farmers and the labourers.  Without
help,
so many more families will starve – so many more will suffer death. I could not live with
myself to leave the children.’
  Her happiness short lived, she bowed her head and cried.

Clutching her to him Duncan held her to his chest stroking the wild curls. ‘Hush sweetheart – hush.  We shall marry and as soon as we can, we will make our home in Jamaica.  But for
now,
I needs must go alone. Both our general manager and overseer on the main plantation have been
killed; others
on the neighbouring plantations are sore beset. Our slaves must be emancipated, There is a group of us owners who now strive for that. Many of the younger slaves flee for safety to the hills. The maroons are better to live with than those scoundrels that have seized power.’

‘Then we needs must wait to marry.’

‘No my darling. I shall arrange for Father MacDonald to marry us this very
weak.
I will make it more than worth his while to keep our secret.  Besides, he has cared for us both since childhood. We could not have a better protector.’

Muriall held his face in her hands.  ‘Dear Love, take care. I do not think  our viper Max has gone down willingly.  To be sure he will try to hurt us.’

‘I shall kill him before that.’

Muriall shuddered.

CHAPTER 2
7

D
inah decided that Nathan should know about
Douglas’s
behaviour.  How dare he break her heart, accuse
her
of double dealing.  How the hell did he think Jessie would be so intimate with him and then lie about her family history?
He’d said something about a daughter – God it was so entangled.
She realized he’
d been 
hounded by people claiming to  be the true heir to Rhonan, that he was struggling to fight for the right to half custody of his little daughter, his daughter but Jessie did not deserve his anger. This had to be cleared
up,
otherwise they would be forced to leave the hotel.