Caversham’s Bride

Chapter Eight-2

“All this for a walk above?” he asked as he stroked the bare curve of her bottom.

Her eyes met his, wanting to express her gratitude as best she knew how. “No.” She touched her lips to his once more. “Thank you for everything.”

He grabbed her buttocks and lifted her naked body against him, and she pressed into him and kissed him again.

“I must get back to the wheel. We can do more of this later, perhaps before your stroll.”

“I would like that very much.” Her expression softened. “I look forward to your return.”

With that he left her, standing naked in his cabin.

The next evening, the three ships were anchored and tied off, side by side just off Genoa’s harbor. Ren, his uncle Angus, and his two cousins, Cully and Flynn, sat at the table in his cabin watching Lia draw a detailed map which would lead them to the Palazzo di Loretto.

“It’s quicker to walk than take a hired coach. The streets are not very wide, and there are many steps.” Lia pointed to the map. “Take Via Carolina about half a mile, turn right on Via Santa Lucia. The palazzo is at the end of the street.”

On deck, Ren gave additional orders to his men and waited until their dinghy had been lowered and they were out of sight. He returned to his cabin to find Lia pacing his quarters.

“Someone will report back before morning to let me know what they’ve discovered,” he said. “There’s no use making yourself sick with worry just yet.”

“I can’t help it. We’re so close, I want to go and get them now.”

“That’s not wise. At least not until we know who or what we are up against.” He took Lia into his arms, and stroked her back. Her tears seeped through his linen shirt as he let her cry. He felt helpless to stop her as he didn’t know what to do or say to calm her. So he just held her close as her slight body shook from her deep, racking sobs while she vented her worst fears.

Lia might not have been completely honest with him at first, but she was honest in this, and she had begged his assistance. It was a desperate plea she made, and he had the resources and ability to help her. He knew that to have some semblance of normality in this unorthodox arrangement, he must retrieve the boy and their old nurse. She obviously loved them a great deal.

It wasn’t until after he’d heard her tale that first night, and she’d asked for his help that the proposed arrangement came to mind. To his estimation, this was a perfect solution to both their circumstances. A child for a child.

Surely saving their lives was a fair trade for the heir he needed from her. And, after she gave him a son, she could have freedom from his bed if she wanted. He could set up a mistress again and be content.

Yes, he had it all planned out. Once he had his heir, he and Lia could live separate lives if she so chose, though divorce would be out of the question. As would her taking a lover.

He tensed at the thought of another man sharing her bed, suddenly feeling sick to his stomach and angry enough to lock her away from all men for the rest of her life. He couldn’t fault Hakim keeping his women locked away in a harem—especially if his friend felt half as possessive about his wives, as Ren did about Lia.

She pulled back and turned her red-rimmed eyes to his. Her tears had stopped, but concern still marred her features.

“I don’t know what I’ll do if we are too late,” she whispered.

“Do not give in to despair, Lia. At least until we know.”

Leading her by the hand, he took her to the bed. “You need to rest if you can. We have a busy day tomorrow.”

Lia slept fitfully, when she finally did sleep. She was sure her tossing and turning had kept Ren awake, which caused him to leave the room well before sunrise. Throwing back the covers, she stretched, then sat up. Morning light poured through the line of windows on the cabin’s back wall. Shocked by the late hour, she jumped from the bed. She dressed in the clothes she’d dropped on the floor the night before, eager to hear any news. Surely he would have awakened her if he’d heard anything. As she tied the drawstring on her pantalettes, she noticed a dress draped across the chair at Ren’s desk, a pale green, thin muslin gown with red, yellow, and white flowers embroidered above the hem and on the puffed sleeves. She lifted it and held it to her chest, smiling. On the seat, she noticed a neatly folded light cotton chemise, and beneath that, another pair of soft kid slippers. He had acquired more appropriate clothing for her trip into town. She was thankful he had the foresight to anticipate her needs. Heaven knows she had not thought of anything but Luchino and Maura’s well-being.

Immediately she removed the pantalettes and dressed in her new, more suitable attire. She wondered how it was possible that everything fit. It was as if Ren knew her exact measurements. She sat on the edge of the bed, and brushed and braided her hair, tying it off with the leather strap Maysun had given her. She stood, wondering if she should risk his wrath again this morning and go above deck, or wait for him to come for her.

For several minutes she paced the cabin, which grew smaller with each lap. Throwing aside any fear now that she had more appropriate clothing, she opened the door, intending to search him out. She wasn’t prepared for what she saw when she finally reached the deck.

The bank of windows in the cabin faced the bay, and she’d been unable to see the port. Before her now lay the city of Genoa. Reality hit her. Her ordeal was almost over. She would soon have her brother and Maura with her, possibly as early as this afternoon. She quickly spotted Ren on the deck of the ship tied alongside the one she was on.

Ren saw the flash of color on deck and quickly jumped from Sorceress to his lead ship, Warlock. Lia was a vision. The dress Cully bought that morning fit her perfectly, and the color made her eyes appear even more green, if that were possible. The bodice hugged her full breasts and exposed more than he liked with sailors about.

When he reached her, she managed a cautious smile. He could not return it though, for he wasn’t sure how she would react to the information he had.

“I am sorry, Your Grace, but I could not wait below any longer.”

“I was just on my way to see you. I have news.” He led her to the cabin where they could talk privately. He shut the door behind them and held the chair for Lia, then leaned back against the desk, holding her gaze.

“I have had men surrounding your aunt’s house since we arrived. They have also been asking questions around town. Evidently your aunt has been telling everyone that you have run off.” He paused to gauge her reaction thus far. Seeing none, he continued. “And, shortly after you left, your brother’s nurse was found dead in her room.”

“No!” Lia covered her face with her hands and began to cry. “Maura. Oh, God, no.” She looked up at him, her angry green eyes flashing gold sparks. She muttered a barrage of curses in her native tongue, none of which he completely understood. Then, switching to English, she stated, “They killed Maura. I know it.” She stood before him now, waiting for more news. “What about my brother? Tell me, does he still live?”

“We are not sure. No one has seen your brother in weeks. Rumor has it he is very ill and near death. The people in the town are praising your aunt, calling her a saint for taking in her destitute niece and dying nephew.”

Her screams reverberated through the entire ship. She began pacing and ranting in Italian, arms waving about. He wasn’t shocked to hear Lia’s vocabulary, as he’d heard her curse the morning after the auction when she awoke in his bed. But what was disturbing, was the fact that none of her comments discounted the story her aunt had spread about her. Ren wondered if he told her about the tale, how she would react. The community believed what the old lady had been telling them about how Lia had become affiliated with the local Carbonari since moving from Naples, and that she had run off with them of her own volition.

He wanted to ask her if there was any truth to the story at all, but felt it would only agitate her more, and Ren needed her calm. She had to go with them when they went to get the boy, and it had to be done soon before anyone in the aunt’s home suspected anything.

“We must get Luchino before they kill him as well. They were quick to rid themselves of me, and then Maura. That witch is killing my brother and making it appear as though he is ill. Sta vecchia troia. Io amazza. I swear I’ll kill her!”

“Lia, listen to me.” He turned her toward him. “You cannot kill the woman, much as you’d like to. If what you say of her is true, you would be hung for murdering someone not worth dying for. It is best to let the authorities deal with her.” She quieted for a moment, long enough for him to continue. “And your brother will need you if he is to come through this ordeal.”

Her eyes widened in fear.

“I don’t mean to alarm you, but time is of the essence. You must come with us. We must go and get him. Now.”

“Well, what are we doing here? Andiamo!” She yanked open the door, banging it into the chair, and ran down the narrow gangway and up the steps to the deck. Ren followed, breaking into a run to keep up with her.

When they reached the dinghy where Cully and Flynn waited, he quickly introduced his cousins as two of his captains. Handing her into the small boat, he climbed in after her. He gave the order, and they were lowered to the water. Once on the dock, Ren said, “Taking a carriage will draw less attention than the four of us running through town.” Cully and Flynn agreed and they soon were in a closed carriage with Lia giving directions to the driver. Ren watched her fidget and curse in her native tongue during the entire fifteen minute ride to her aunt’s home. He understood her impatience. He would feel the same if one of his sisters was in a similar predicament.

They pulled up to the house, and Flynn nodded to Ren. “That’s the one,” he said.

Before the carriage had come to a stop, Lia pushed open the door and hopped out, landing surefootedly on the ground. She ran up the few steps to the two tall, narrow wooden doors, and beat on them while Ren, Cully and Flynn hurried up behind her. It seemed an eternity, but finally the door opened and a portly old man with a weathered face and rheumy eyes stared in stunned silence as Lia pushed her way past and began searching the lower level. She alternately called out for her brother and cursed her aunt.

“Luchino! Where are you? Luchino?” She began taking the steps to the second floor two at a time. Ren nodded to Cully who followed her up the stairs. “Luchino, I’m here! I’ve come for you!”

She stopped at the landing, and shouted back at the old man, “Flavio, I want my brother’s things packed and brought down immediately. Wake my aunt, I want to see her before we leave.”

When Lia reached the nursery, she found the door locked. “Luchino! Luchino, are you in there?”

“Lia? Is it really you?” His voice sounded faint, but she heard him. He was here. He was alive.

“Sì, Caro,” she called out to her brother. Lia pushed and kicked at the white door, to no avail. Ren’s man, Cully, motioned her out of the way and moved to break it down. She leaned on the wall opposite the door to catch her breath, relief pouring through her, knowing her brother was still here, still alive. She heard movement in the room and wanted to stop him before he got hurt. “Stand away from the door, Luchino!”