Seacrets (29 page)

He dressed himself…all the while sputtering, “Are they mad that I should just
lie about while Maura is missing? I’ve got ta find her before she is moved from this area and lost ta me forever!”

His chamber door creaked softly as he opened it. He peered left to right to be certain no one would see him leave his room. He made his way down to the first landing, by his father’s library.
Daniel could hear Cassie jabbering away to his mother about what to plan for the evening meal. Daniel ducked into the library archway. He looked about to find an open window. With his good arm, he elbowed the shutter aside, sat on the windowsill, and jumped out onto the grassy knoll, just below the window.

He
fell onto his uninjured side and rolled from the house, all the while cursing at the pain he felt from his wracked body. “Sweet mother of God.” He let out a muffled curse.

The beads of sweat buil
t up upon his brow, and the waves of nausea from the amount of pain he was enduring, were taking their toll. Daniel forced himself to a standing position then hobbled out back to the carriage house, where he knew Demon was waiting.

Once inside the carriage house, Daniel grappled with his saddle and somehow managed to get it upon Demon’s back. He reined the beast over toward the trough and climbed up and onto it
, giving him enough height to grab onto Demon’s saddle. He hoisting his weakened body up and across the saddle, onto his stomach and swung his leg over Demon’s hindquarters.

Demon did not like this one bit. He became skittish and started to buck up onto his hind legs. Daniel pulled back and up on Demon’s reins with a force that was instantly familiar to the great beast and he quickly settled down.
“Whoa, boy, whoa…that’s a good boy.” He cajoled the animal to obey him. Then roughly patting Demon’s muscular neck he whispered to the animal, “We’ve got ta find Maura, now boy, I’m needin’ ya ta obey me, now.” As if to let Daniel know he understood, Demon grunted and whinnied once, then quietly settled.

Daniel firmly dug his heels into Demon’s sides and the pair disappeared into the forest leading toward the guesthouse. That is the last place he remembered before he was shot and thought this would be a good place to start looking for clues to Maura’s disappearance.

When finally he reached the cottage he dismounted Demon and tied his reins to the garden gate and walked around to the back of the guesthouse, by the double French doors.

He noted globs of chew had been spat out, rather close to the archway. Someone would have to have been standing practically on top of the door to have the chew land
that close.

Neither he nor his brother used tobacco. Could
have been Godsey. He would question him later.

Daniel continued out into the woods surrounding the guesthouse. He noticed there were carriage tracks leading out into the forest.
He immediately thought no one from the main house would ever use that old pathway. He walked around to the side of the house and noticed the same globs of spat chewing tobacco at the side window, looking into Maura’s bedroom.

“
Someone was definitely stalking Maura, of that I am certain. Aiden was probably correct in his assumption Maura is being hidden somewhere close by, waiting for the dust to settle. Whoever shot me most likely believes I am dead. This may help in the rescue efforts because the bastards will have their guard down thinking they have me out of the way. I must return to Aiden’s estate and instruct my mother and brother to keep my survival a secret.”

As soon as Daniel returned to his brother’s
house, he could see his mother pacing back and forth on the front steps. Daniel John Hargendon! How dare ya scare ya poor old mother in this way. You’re in no condition…”

Daniel dismounted Demon and blew right past Mary and into the foyer area.

“Not now Mother! I’ve got a hunch and I need some quiet to piece everything together. If you really want to help me, don’t hinder this process, please!” Daniel was extremely tired and in immense pain but did not want to dull his senses with more opium.
“I am sorry Mother. Ya know that I appreciate all that ya are doin’ ta help me, but I canna just lay about while Maura is out there lost and in danger.” He tried his best to soothe his mother’s tender feelings.

After a few quiet moments between the two, Mary came to sit beside her son and asked him what she could do to help
.

“First off, where has Aiden gotten off ta?” He questioned his mother.

              “Well, he said that he was goin’ ta go down ta dock side and fish about for some clues and then go out ta the country side ta ask around at the ordinaries if any
new girls
have been hired.” She answered.

“I need ta try and catch up with Aiden. I don’t want anyone ta know that I survived the shootin’”. I want ta be able ta act covertly, Mother.”  Daniel explained
.

“Look at ya son, ya are exhausted. Ya need ta be getting’ ya self stronger.” Mary pleaded one last time for her son to listen to reason.

“Mother I know that ya are meanin’ well, but if I stop now I’m afraid I’ll never find her again. I canna lose Maura again, mother. I won’t!” He winced in pain with that last shout.

Daniel mounted Demon with much difficulty and rode off to try and find his brother.

Mary stood in the entryway and let her tears flow freely for her son’s pain. No, not the physical pain that Daniel was feeling, but the pain inside his heart. For she knew there would be a fair chance the outcome might not be favorable for Maura and her son may never get over losing the love of his life.

Ӝ

Chapter
Twenty-Five

Maura, still bound and gagged, had inched herself over to the serving table, where Kilern had been eating before he passed out. She struggled to trap the end of the table cloth between her neck and shoulder, then yanked at it with all of the strength she could muster.

The entire table’s contents came crashing down upon her.

Red wine soaked her head and trickled down her face, burning her eyes and streaming onto her bodice, staining her gown through to her chemise. She froze. Her heart was pounding with fear. She immediately shot a look in Kilern’s direction, to be certain he was still passed out. She knew if he were to awaken and discover she was trying to escape, she would surely be punished severely.

When she realized he had not been phased by the loud disturbance she had created, she continued searching the floorboards for something,
anything that would aid in her escape.

She
caught a glint of steel out of the corner of her eye and inched her way further beneath the table. She rolled atop the carving knife, grasping it between her tightly bound hands.

She
struggled to stuff the blade into the sleeve of her gown. With one last shove, she winced in pain. She immediately felt a warm burning sensation. When she looked to her forearm, she noticed bright red blood to the outside of her sleeve. In her haste to conceal the weapon that would be her protector should Kilern keep true to his promises of rape, Maura had cut deep into her forearm with the knife.
Fear not Maura
, she consoled herself.
You should rather die than be raped by such a vile being as this man.

The sound of a riders approach stilled further plans of escape.
Her eyes darted in Kilern’s direction. She saw he was beginning to stir. She sucked in her breath, fearful of what he would do to her once he realized she was trying to escape. The beads of sweat were building on her forehead, her heart was racing and she could hear it pounding in her ears.

The sweat from her brow trickl
ed from her forehead into her eyes. The salt from her sweat was stinging her eyes. She scrunched them closed to relieve their burning.

Kilern rolled to his back
, forcing himself up upon one forearm. Through his drunken haze he looked about to set his sights on Maura hiding beneath the table. He chuckled with relief and then let himself fall back down onto the floor. He raised the back of his hand to meet his forehead and rested it there, with a deep sigh and a groan. His mouth was bone dry from all of the wine he had consumed the night before. He forced himself to a standing position and went in search of liquid, as he could barely muster up enough saliva to be able to swallow. He suddenly caught the sound of horse hooves approaching and went to peer out the mud-streaked window.

Kilern cackled that
, now familiar laugh Maura despised and she knew it must be an ally of his, or he would be trying to hide her. Maura’s heart sunk. She was not to be rescued. She knew she would have to rely solely on herself for her own redemption.

Kilern looked in Maura’s direction and laughed at her attempts to shield herself from him.
“That be fine, gel, you can hide ya self for a while longer. I’ve got droves of time ta have my way with ya. Hehehe.” Sniffing in, he wiped the thick moisture from bederneath his crooked nose, with his filthy shirtsleeve. Then made a second swipe to remove the stuck on crust from over his fetid upper lip.

Maura’s view of the doorway was somewhat obstructed. She could hear the door hinges creak when he opened the door and then a heavy thud when it closed behind him.
Maura strained to hear the voices on the opposite side of the door. She could tell the second voice was female and thought it sounded familiar. It was very difficult to hear them with the sound of her own heart pounding in her ears. She held her breath a moment to try and calm herself, then continued listening intently to the pair.

“So, have you gotten rid of the little wench, yet?
Have you sold her off yet?”

Maura
recognized that voice to be the same she heard behind the hedge with Daniel, the night before.
Mallory, but why? Why would she have anything to do with Kilern?
She continued listening.

Now you listen ta me, Miss high and mighty. These things take time. I’ll have ta hide her out here for a few days 'til the ruckus has calmed down, then I’ll be able ta make my escape overseas on one of the freighters. I’ll make the most coin for her away
from here. And speakin’ of coin...where’s the, eh, disposal fee you promised for getting’ rid o’ her for ya?” Kilern rubbed his four fingers against his thumb as a sign of his greed.

“Here
, you disgusting pig.” Mallory threw the coined filled leather pouch, hitting Kilern squarely in his chest. “Just make sure you do your part of the bargain and get rid of her!” Mallory lifted her skirts in a huff and began to descend the steps.

“Don’t be getting’ ya knickers all in a bunch, missy! I know what my job is. Just don’t be gettin’ ya self followed here, ya get my meanin’? Or we’ll both be
in a world of trouble the likes of which you’ve never seen.” Kilern warned Mallory. “I’ll be handlin’ things the way I see fit ta handle ‘em. I’ll be movin’ her when and only when the time is right. The little wench’s virginity is worth hundreds, if not thousands ta the highest bidder, and for all the trouble this bitch has cost me so far, I intend to get all the coin I can.” He paused and then asked Mallory, “What happened after I made away with her, last eventide? I mean, who shot Hargendon? You was with me and I didna do it? Kilern’s curiosity was intense.

“Well, never mind that right now. You needn’t know every bit of information. Let’s just say he did survive his wounds.” Mallory was almost trance like in her description. She delicately ran her fingertips over the swell of her breasts and continued to speak of Daniel’s ordeal. “A small lead ball wound is no match for the masculinity of my Danny.” She closed her eyes and breathed in deep.

“Good god in heaven, this is sickenin’.” Kilern pushed past Mallory and opened the door into the cabin.

“Well I hid out in the thick dark woods edge. I saw Danny’s brother, Doc, and his mother, tending to him. They brought him up to the main house. He’s still alive, thank God! I still have a chance to get myself back into his good graces. I’ll help nurse him back to health and then he’ll see how much I love him and he’ll be only too happy to rectify the damage he has caused to my good name and my family.” Mallory placed her hands to the sides of her coif and fixed a few stray strands of strawberry blonde curls. “My, but it is a muggy one today. I’d better be getting back to get freshened up to visit Daniel, later on.” Mallory
continued to descend the stairs, when Kilern sarcastically remarked. “I’ll bet I know who shot the rogue. Ya father? Another jealous lover?” He ran his tongue across his cracked bottom lip.

“Let’s just say that it was an unexpected turn of good luck on both our part, and leave it at that.” Mallory quipped.

“Hehe that would serve the bastard well. Not keepin’ ta his bargain of marryin’ a sweet angel, such as ya self.” Kilern reached out to touch the side of Mallory’s face.

Mallory jumped back out of his reach and spat her venom at him.
“You nauseating parasite! I’ll be stopping by Aiden’s estate to sit at Danny’s bedside and find out what he and the family know about the shooting and kidnapping. I’ll be back tonight to let you know the outcome.”