Tangled Betrayals (10 page)

Chapter
Nineteen

T
here was one last thing James had to do before the women arrived and the wedding take place. He quietly left the ship to make his walk to the bridge where he and Mary had first pledged their love. He didn’t know what drew him there this particular morning. He certainly didn’t want to change anything in his life, for he was very happy with Susannah.

Maybe
he had a need to say a final goodbye to the girl who had first stolen his heart. He told no one where he was going.

Once James arrived
at the bridge he found himself flooded with memories. He remembered the first time he met Mary at the cottage and teased her about her freckles, the first time they held hands, and the first time they’d kissed. He could still remember how she smelled and the honey fragrance of her dark, curly hair, which sometimes framed her face depending on how she wore it. He smiled remembering how her hands moved ever so quickly as she told her endless stories about growing up with Thomas. He remembered teasing her that he didn’t think she could talk if someone kept hold of her hands and how she had playfully slapped him.

He
had loved the way she laughed, and how she listened intently to his dreams. He could still see the concern on her face when he shared his problems about starting his plantation and buying his horses. All these memories were so long ago. He wondered who had stolen her heart. What did the man look like? Was he older? How wealthy was he? How could she have fooled him?

He hoped
Mary was happy in the life she chose with a man who offered something more than he had. He wondered if she would ever regret her decision. If she was unhappy, she had no one to blame but herself. James took one more look around the bridge that held such treasured memories. As he turned to go back to the ship, he pledged never to think of Mary again. James left the bridge and never looked back for his future was now with Susannah, the woman who had saved him.

Chapter Twenty

When James returned to the ship he found the captain, crew, and Thomas was anxious to get the wedding started and had been searching for him, since the women had arrived shortly after he left. Once he dressed and confirmed Anna and Susannah were ready, he instructed the captain the ceremony was ready to begin.

As
Susannah and Anna made their way to the front of the deck, the only noise one heard was the creaking of the ship, as she gently swayed in the harbor. All eyes were on the two beautiful sisters. Even carrying a child, Susannah Parker looked beautiful. But today, it was all about Anna, and she was breathtaking.

James noticed
Thomas could hardly catch his breath as his eyes never left Anna’s as she walked to meet him. 

“You
’re truly beautiful,” Thomas whispered as Anna reached his side.

“And you, sir, are very handsome!”

It seemed like no time had passed and the ceremony was over. The captain introduced Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Ball and the crew clapped and carried on before heading to change their clothes. Even some of the people on the docks and the hands working the other ships started cheering as they heard the crew of
The Emerald
whooping it up. Word had spread all week of the wedding taking place today and it made for a happy event on St. Katherine’s dock.

“
Thomas, I plan to stay in my wedding gown for the entire day.” Anna gushed.

“You may wear
the dress as long as you wish, with my blessing. You look so pretty, Anna, like a diamond cut to perfection. However, you might want to wear the dress once again when we have our reception at the Parker Plantation.

“
Anna, you’ve made me the happiest man alive. I shall try to make every day as special as today, as long as I live.” Thomas said knowing how lucky he was to find such a wonderful woman to share his life.

Thomas knew Anna was thrilled with the way
the wedding had turned out and he was anxious to head for home.

*****

Later in the evening, long after Anna had fallen asleep, Thomas came out on deck to think alone, about Mary. He could only now allow himself to visualize Mary in the dress Anna wore, waiting to be married to James, if only things had turned out differently.

He
realized what a terrible day this must have been for Mary. Knowing all her dreams had been taken from her, with every second of the clock being a reminder of what she lost this day. He knew she’d be crying many tears for days.

Thomas knew
James was happy with Susannah, as he should be. But what would James feel if he knew the truth. Thomas knew, as Mary did, that James would never leave Susannah, nor should he. James loved Susannah as he had once loved Mary, maybe more now, since she was carrying his child.

Mary would have to handle this
tragic ending of her fairy tale romance alone. But if James had known what his father had done, Thomas knew he would have found Mary, come hell or high water, and beg for forgiveness. James, too, would then bear the pain of her sorrow. For that reason, James must never find out, one broken soul was enough.

“Is something wrong
, Thomas? Why aren’t you below sleeping with Anna?”

Thomas
jumped, he hadn’t noticed James approaching. He smiled broadly, for he didn’t dare let on what turmoil stirred within him. “Everything’s perfect. I wasn’t able to fall asleep, so I thought a little night air might help me relax. The wedding was grand, was it not, James?”

“Aye, it was. Now go below and lay with that beautiful wife before she stirs and thinks
the worst---- that you might have had second thoughts or worse, she hadn’t pleased you!”

Thomas
grinned outwardly and only nodded as he headed down for bed; relieved James believed his lie as he hid his sorrow deep within him. But with each lie he told to Anna, James and Susanna, about everything in his life being fine, he fell into a deeper sadness.

Chapter
Twenty-One

London

Two days
had passed since
The Emerald
left port. Mary had thrown herself into her work trying to forget her heartbreak. She’d waited for over a year for
The Emerald
to arrive in London, and now it couldn’t sail away fast enough. During the day she found working had helped her immensely not to think about James. It was the nights she dreaded the most.

The
dreams she’d previously held so dear now came vividly to life as she slept. Many times Mary awoke with tears running down her face because she’d remembered all too well the feel of James holding her close or the many passionate kisses that he so freely had given her. She still remembered the wonderful feelings he stirred within her.

I
n some of her dreams, she was wearing her wedding gown, standing next to him as they said their vows, with the emerald rings sparkling on her hand. When she awoke from these dreams, all the hurt and pain came back to Mary, with a vengeance.

The
n the third day came after
The Emerald
left, when Mary entered her cottage and found herself greeted by her drunken father. She was positive he’d been informed of James having been to London and gone. She assumed he also knew about Thomas. Her father had too many friends not to have found out what had happened while he stayed hidden away.

“Now Mary, let me explain what happened before you start to be unreasonable.
I see you’re perturbed.”

Mary could only glare at him. Her anger was
flooding out of every pore. She felt only hate for the father she had once loved so dearly.

“What I did, I did for your own good. You
’ll thank me for this someday. Parker was never good enough for you! I knew he wasn’t and so did everyone else!”

“
You, Bastard! You lied to James in that awful letter you sent! And you had no right to destroy my letters to James and Thomas. I assume you destroyed them, after you read them. You are horrible and despicable! I shall never forgive you! You’re dead to me! Mother would have been appalled at such behavior! As long as I have a breath left in me, I shall curse and despise you!”

“Mary
, that’s no way to talk to your father! I’ll not tolerate such behavior! I sent that letter to Parker to ensure he would never bother you again! You should thank me! And don’t bring your mother up! She died and left me to raise you and your ungrateful brother alone.” Henry stammered.

Mary could tell her father was trying to find
some way to make his evil plotting to be seen as something he had done for her own good, but she was finished with him. She looked at his beet red face and his trembling hands, his anger quite visible. He was a poor excuse for a man, she thought.

“Well
, Father, you will be pleased to know James has married another and his wife is with child. Thomas returned just long enough to find out the truth. You are most fortunate to have been gone while he and James were here. Thomas no longer fears you, Father. Neither do I!

“
When I’m able, I’m also leaving England. I’ll sail to America, the country you despise, and take up residency there----far away from you. You’re an evil man. I want nothing further to do with you. For the time being, I realize I must remain here until I have saved enough money to pay my fare. You’ll not be taking any more of my earnings. You can eat at the pub with the rest of your drunken friends. I shall only do the basic cleaning and laundry in exchange for my keep. Don’t try to speak with me or try to make amends. It’s far too late for that.”

Mary realized all her hate
came pouring out at once. She now saw her father for what he was---a weak, dishonest and evil man. Why hadn’t she seen him in that light before? What had her mother ever seen in him? Yet, he hadn’t been like this when her mother was alive. What had happened to him?

She
turned angrily away, relieved their confrontation had finally taken place. She went into her bedroom and locked the door. She thought that possibly on this particular night, she might finally get some rest as she cried herself to sleep.

Chapter
Twenty-Two

London 1831

He
nry realized he’d gone too far. Yet, he couldn’t stop himself. When Thomas and Mary were young, he could easily manipulate them. But as they became older, they hadn’t been as easily convinced to do his bidding. He didn’t understand how or why he had alienated their affection. They’d gotten too self-centered for their own good, in his opinion. This feuding had been entirely their fault.

In the next several months
, no matter how hard Henry tried to persuade Mary to understand his reasoning regarding James, she hadn’t given him the time of day. When he spoke, she pretended she wasn’t listening. Yet, he knew she heard his every word.

A
lmost a year had past and Henry realized Mary still treated him like a piece of dirt. She would pay for her error in not learning to respect him. She should answer him properly and treat him as a loyal father; especially after all he had done for her. She should be falling on her knees with gratitude that he’d saved her from a life of misery.

H
enry felt certain Mary would be leaving soon. When she stated she would be leaving when she saved enough money for her fare, he knew it would take several months to a couple of years. She’d been working extra hours whenever possible.

The hate
Mary showed toward him whenever they were together almost engulfed his soul. She was going to pay for her insolent manner. Henry needed to make his own plans. A plan that was very specific to destroy all those who had disobeyed him. A plan he’d put in place quickly, before Mary slipped away.

Ever since Jane
had passed, Henry knew his life had spun out of control. He’d tried to get a grip on himself but found he felt better when he was drunk. It occurred to him he’d better change his life style if he was ever to act on his plans for revenge. In his present condition, he’d never be able to complete what needed to be done to fulfill his appetite for getting even. He knew he needed to drink less, get in shape, for only then, could he punish Mary, Thomas and especially Parker, for their acts of defiance and ruining his life.

He knew
cutting back on his drinking would not be easy. But Henry found planning revenge was a powerful obsession to become sober, at least most of the time. Thomas and Mary would regret the day they crossed him. Hate had not only made him a stronger person, it had made him think clearly for the first time since Jane died. As clearly as a mad man can, he thought and laughed out of control.

He
nry felt others would think he shouldn’t have the feelings of an eye for an eye. He couldn’t help himself. He’d never shared his previous evil deeds with anyone. If they only knew he always got revenge. He always won----no matter what the cost or how long it took. Soon, Mary, Thomas and Parker would find out how sadistic and evil he could be when he destroys them---and those they love.

Henry
was aware if Thomas thought something had happened to Mary, he’d return to England. So Henry planned to use Mary as bait and say she was fatally ill. When Thomas returned to find Mary alive and well, it would be then he would meet his fate.  He would get word to Parker that Thomas had been killed in an accident.

              He knew Parker would come back to England to inquire on the demise of Thomas. Then, with Mary watching, he would eliminate Parker. Or better yet, with Parker watching, he would torture Mary until she begged for mercy. Henry was sure he would enjoy Parker’s reaction as Mary slipped slowly away to be with her mother and Thomas. He might even toy with Parker before he meets his death. Henry became giddy with the thought of what harm he would do to those who had betrayed him.

No one had
ever learned of his treachery upon deceiving Jane. He made her feel obligated to marry him. But her death had been unexpected and painful to watch. It was the one thing he couldn’t stop, a deadly epidemic that took the love of his life.

The new Henry Ball was going to emerge in the next
few weeks come hell or high water! He had to make sure Mary stayed in England.