Haven house, p.13
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Haven House, page 13

 

Haven House
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  “Then we’re just going to have to change, aren’t we?” I murmured.

  Exhaustion clawed at me, and I slumped down, pulling the covers over myself and settling on my side. “Tomorrow.”

  When I woke, it was to sunshine peering through the windows, the bed covers tossed to the side, and the outline of him on the sheets.

  I blinked, because I’d expected him here. Pulling myself from the bed was an effort, given the nip in the air.

  Sounds echoed from outside, and I moved to the window to peer out. The children played on the lawn, carefree, rushing around while Francesca perched on the edge of a chair, book in hand. Jessie kept an indulgent eye on the movement.

  I turned and headed to the dressing room, eyeing the other gown hanging there. Not the blue one. Not today, I told myself and tugged it from the hanger.

  With quick movements, I dressed, then tidied up my hair before leaving the bedroom.

  I moved down the stairs with quick, jerky movements and went to the front door. I was about to go out when Aloysius appeared before me, stepping from the dark corner.

  “Miss Ammy, Master Damien asked me to give this to you.”

  A folded sheet of paper was thrust at me, and I took it, glanced around, and then went into the parlour. Settling myself on a seat, I began to read.

  * * *

  Ammy,

  Forgive my absence, but I’ve been called back to the ship. Information was received late last night once you were asleep. Information I must deal with immediately.

  I don’t know when I’ll be back.

  This must be dealt with now; otherwise, we’re all in jeopardy. Keep the children close to home, and I’ll explain when I return.

  Damien

  * * *

  I glanced at the ship, then back to Aloysius. “What happened?”

  The big man shook his head. “Don’t know, just that someone came to the house late last night. They left early this morning, and Master Damien gave me this. There were angry words. I don’t know more than that.”

  He should have woken me. It ran like a refrain through my head. “Did he leave anything else for me?”

  “No, Miss Ammy.”

  I considered the little I knew. “The children are not to leave the yard. Either you or Frank remain with them at all times. That applies to Francesca too.”

  Now I whirled away, heading for the kitchen. Tea was high on my list of needs at this point.

  I puttered around, heating a kettle, finding a cache of the black leaves and a pitcher of milk.

  There wasn’t much in the way of foodstuffs, and I checked the kitchen, making a mental list of what would be necessary to feed the ten currently housed here. The basics of meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, flour, etc.

  I’d just finished when Frank came racing in. “Miss Ammy!”

  I turned and noted the pallor on his face.

  “What?” I rushed toward him and he grabbed my arm, dragging me through the house to the front door. There on the horizon, I saw something. It was large, black, and looked mean. “What is it, Frank?”

  “A war dirigible, Miss Ammy. It’s heading this way.” The fear in his tone froze me.

  “The children. Get them inside, and send Aloysius to me,” I barked and then ran to the library. I hunted for pen, ink, and paper, then madly scrawled a note.

  * * *

  D

  What do I do now?

  A

  * * *

  I’d barely pushed it into Aloysius’s hand when a figure came bobbing up the path. I pushed Aloysius forward. “Go,” I murmured and watched as the black airship came ever closer.

  They’ve found us.

  Would nowhere be safe for us?

  “Will we be hunted forever?” I rubbed my hand over my face, feeling the surge of pain from the pressure, and looked away. I wouldn’t show anyone my tears of fear. They didn’t deserve to know that the terror cut me to my core. Especially if it was someone to do with the mess from Haven House.

  One deep breath. Another. I forced my body to relieve the pressure and hoped like hell I was making a good choice.

  “Ammy!”

  “Damien? Damien!” I hurried forward, toward the man who was running toward me. Aloysius found him first, and I was mortally aware of the transport looming ever closer. Terror froze my marrow, and I shivered in response.

  Damien caught me up, pulling me close. I wanted to take refuge in his embrace, but the dirigible was getting closer.

  “Damien, we have to go!” I started disentangling myself before I registered that he wasn’t moving.

  “It’s okay.” He bracketed my face with his hands, forcing me to look at him. “It’s another of Andrew’s ships.”

  I kept moving, struggling, until his words arrowed into my brain, burrowing deeper.

  “What?” I stopped, suddenly limp. “What do you mean, one of Andrew’s ships?”

  He held up the communicase. “He has news. Information. Something he couldn’t share, so he used his attack dirigible. Gloriana is on board too, bringing clothes and supplies.”

  The absence of fear left me light-headed. “No danger?”

  Damien shook his head, smiled, then hauled me close and kissed me. Hard. In view of everyone. I wound my arms around him, returning it, because it brought with it a sense of life, safety, and security.

  When he let me go, my breathing was rapid, but I smiled. Who wouldn’t?

  A sound filled the air, the rattling hum of an engine, and I looked up, noting the dirigible’s proximity.

  “Where will it land?”

  He pointed to a distant field still near enough to walk. By now, others had come out to gawk at the sight, and I looked at them. The township held several hundred people, including children, who jumped and ran around once the first flush of surprise passed.

  Clusters formed, arms reaching as they pointed and chattered like birds, and I watched them. Not too long ago, I had been like this, surprised at the sight of a flying ship.

  Damien slid an arm around my shoulder. “We’ll go down and meet them.”

  I nodded absently. “I’d like my shawl, though,” I said, and he squeezed my shoulder.

  We trudged up the hill I’d run down, the silence between us companionable. I had plenty of questions, but they’d wait until later. These were my first guests, and I’d do right by them.

  Jessie emerged as we entered the house, her face pale. “What’s happening, Miss Ammy?”

  I opened my mouth, but Damien began to explain, so I hurried up the stairs to find my heavy shawl. That nip was turning cold as the wind blew, and I wondered if a storm would hit.

  As I reached the bottom of the stairs, Jessie was ushering the children up the staircase, their faces sober, though Francesca was promising to read to them. The littlest two were tiring, eyes drooping over chubby cheeks. I thought of the room upstairs and the trunks. There was plenty of material, and those gowns… surely some could be reworked quickly? I’d already seen the results of Francesca’s handiwork in the gown she’d worn the night before to dinner at the captain’s table.

  “Francesca, tomorrow, I have something special for you. And tonight, you’ll join us for dinner with Andrew and Gloriana. The younger ones will eat in the nursery with Jessie.”

  Her eyes widened, and she nodded. “Yes, Miss Ammy.”

  I stopped her with my gaze. “Not Miss Ammy. Just Ammy. Promise me?”

  Her lips turned up in a small smile. “Yes, Ammy.”

  I felt like we’d turned an important corner, and perhaps it was the start of a genuine friendship.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The meal passed with happiness and laughter. Francesca sat beside me, glowing with pleasure at being included among the adults. Andrew had already expressed his dissatisfaction at Damien’s and my change of circumstances, though he gave in once we assured him we’d fully considered what we were doing. He could see we were committed to the choices we’d made.

  When Frank removed the last of the dishes, Francesca made her departure back upstairs to her room, and the rest of us settled in the office.

  “You’ve news, Andrew?” Damien’s voice was dark and tense.

  “Yes, but first, Ammy, do you remember where Eldora came from? That’s her name, right?”

  I glanced at Andrew. “No. I mean, yes, it’s her name, but no, I don’t remember where she came from. Only that they were stronger and more important. Another sect.”

  My brother sighed and handed over a piece of paper. “Haven House was attacked last night. Junior, Master, and some of the men disappeared.”

  My heart thudded heavy and slow. “What do you mean, they’ve disappeared?”

  Andrew grimaced, and I turned to Gloriana. She simply shook her head. “They turned up the day you left, but this time I mean, they were seen running from the building right after a posse of men entered along with human automatons, I believe. They wore uniforms with NC on them.”

  I blinked. “Automatons? How could they get here?”

  Damien gripped my hand tight. “Men as automatons? I thought that level of replacement was outlawed?” The fury in his growl fed the rising panic in my chest.

  “They are. The only house we know of with NC is Nobel Crest. But whoever they are—”

  I squeaked, looking down at the paper clutched in my hands. Read it, blinked, and read it again. “Nobel Crest. Eldora came from there. Said Nobel was her family name.” I glanced up at my brother’s face.

  “You said you didn’t know,” he sputtered.

  I shook my head. “I said I didn’t remember. Different. They’re powerful, aren’t they?”

  Andrew nodded.

  Damien released my hand, then rose from his seat and stalked around the room. “So, they attacked Haven House? Why?”

  “That we don’t know definitively. Gloriana helped some women. She’s got other information.”

  My sister-in-law nodded. “It seems Eldora was sent to Haven. The oldest daughter and the only one unmarried. It was an agreement. Haven House would grow, both in stature and size. Junior would receive certain help, including some replacements. His hand was the first step, it seems. He would, for a period and once the upgrades were completed, become an enforcer for Nobel Crest. Learn about them, their ways, and how to increase Haven’s reach.” With a shaking hand, Gloriana brushed away a curl that had come free from her hairstyle, her gaze on mine. I read her loathing of the situation, understood it. Shared it. “But when they heard no more concerning the birth of the child promised, they became suspicious. Questions were asked, and it seems Ammy was the only one with any definitive information concerning her whereabouts.”

  Damien spun back to me, his gaze hyper-focused. “Ammy? They’re chasing Ammy? She’s not involved and knows nothing.”

  I wanted to dissolve into a puddle on the floor, but that wouldn’t help anyone.

  “Yes, though they don’t know who Ammy is. The enforcers for Haven certainly know she has information, but Nobel Crest only know that someone assisted Junior the night Eldora disappeared. The Nobel Crest men took two of the Haven wives, younger girls who may not know what happened, which may be a godsend.” Gloriana’s words didn’t instil confidence in me.

  “We need to find out what the hell Junior and Master are up to. We need to find Eldora, and we need to keep Ammy safe.” Damien bit out his summation.

  A thought struck me. “So, why are they chasing the children?”

  All three gazes landed on me. Gloriana bit her lip, Andrew looked shocked, and Damien’s face was full of consideration.

  “You have the children. There’s a connection to you, so if they can’t get to you, they’ll chase the children knowing you’ll try to save them.” Damien spoke slowly, as if working the theory over.

  Andrew nodded. “That would make sense.”

  The fiery burn of bile rose in my throat. “No. We’ll send them away. Somewhere safe—”

  “Where, Ammy? Because they’ve got resources and connections, as we now know. We have to find the root of the plot and deal with it.” Damien’s hands rested on my shoulder, and I sighed and burrowed closer. What else was there to do?

  My head ached, my guts twisted, and every turn my brain made just raised more problems and issues. “I—”

  Gloriana reached out, took my hand. “We should retire for the evening, my love.” She rose, and though I made to do the same, Damien stilled me, and I saw the understanding in her gaze. “We’ll see you in the morning. Perhaps some rest will give us perspective.”

  Damien trailed them from the room as I considered the importance of everything I’d been told. It made little sense right now. How could it? I knew so little, and that made our situation even more dangerous.

  I rose and turned to the door, but Damien was back, his eyes shadowed. “I’ve something else to tell you.”

  My hand rose to my brow. “Of course.” I settled back into the seat and waited for the next blow to fall.

  “I received word today about the breach on my home. Our home,” he corrected himself. “They tried to gain the information from my staff, as I expected. So far, they haven’t uncovered the connection of this home to my businesses, but it’s only a matter of time. When they do…” He glanced away. “I needed to send for men. Men who owed me a debt. It will take at least a week for them to arrive, but they’ll protect the children and you.” He looked to the window.

  “Damien? What aren’t you telling me?”

  “There are strangers prowling the waters between here and Port Isaacs. Looking for a ship. Looking for our ship. I have to send it back to where we boarded, but that means we’ll be unprotected until my men arrive.”

  Now I understood his fears. If they worked out where we were, knew we were unprotected, then the danger would be more extreme. “They have power, money, and connections,” I surmised.

  Damien nodded. “I plan to use the communicase to contact my office tonight. See who—”

  Now that was weird. “Why tonight? Not in the morning?”

  He laughed. “My men work all twenty-four hours in the day, but it just happens to be that my strategic team are working on a recent development and prefer to do it at night, when there are fewer around.”

  I rubbed my eyes.

  “You’re tired,” Damien murmured.

  “I am, but tell me what else. Then perhaps we should retire?”

  “My men will see who they know, what they can find out about the Noble Crest sect.”

  I nodded. “All right, then. I’ll go up and prepare for bed. Join me when you’re finished.” I rose, nerves twanging. Would he read into the implicit invitation I’d just offered?

  Damien frowned. “I won’t be long.”

  I left the room, moving with the loose gait of someone nearing the end of their energy. Each step was an effort. Once I entered the room, I sighed and slumped to the bed before reaching down to remove my ugly shoes. My plan for today, taking Francesca to the attics, had been shelved, but perhaps tomorrow? Then I might go through the assorted items. Find more footwear to replace these I had now worn for well over a week. At least the stink of the night-cart adventure had finally evaporated.

  I lay back and gazed at the ceiling. I promised myself I’d close my eyes for just a moment, then head into the bathing room.

  Gentle touches roused me from the half dream I’d sunk into. “What…?”

  Damien’s face loomed close, and for a moment, lost in the soft and dreamy cloud, I reached up and took his face in my hands. “I missed you,” I whispered and leaned up, needing the touch of him. The taste on my tongue.

  He jerked, then settled into the embrace, his hands moving from my shoulders to my waist.

  His heat enveloped me, and I felt an urgent need to do more. To have more.

  I pulled back slightly so I could whisper against his lips. “Kiss me back.”

  His eyes, that dark green, flashed at my demand. “If I do, I may not stop, Ammy.”

  The whisper of his breath slid over my lips, and I licked them, that dark desire that I’d banked now rising and filling my nerves.

  “Please,” I whispered.

  He leaned close, his mouth surrounding mine, his lips forcing mine apart so his tongue could surge deep. I moaned as his hands moved, roaming over the material, cupping my breasts through the layers.

  He levered me back so he half lay on me, the weight glorious as he investigated my body, every move fanning the blaze that started inside me. It pushed my temperature to a soaring point, and I was sure my skin would split and expose the fire I couldn’t contain deep inside my body.

  He moved, lips gliding along my jaw, nibbling and tasting, and I arched, legs widening to invite him closer.

  “Ammy, my sweet Ammy,” Damien crooned, his lips now wandering down my throat, and those nerves screamed out for more.

  I grabbed his hair with both hands. Between each gasping breath, I panted, “Don’t leave me tonight, Damien. I want you.”

  His gaze pierced me. “Do you know what you’re asking, Ammy?” He wasn’t unaffected if the rapid rise and fall of his chest was an indicator.

  “Yes,” I answered. Congress. I knew the ins and outs of the act. During my time at Haven, I’d seen it more than once, but never had I wanted to participate. With Damien, everything changed.

  He tugged me up, his hands moving to his shirt, but I stilled him. “No, I…” Finishing what needed to be said was impossible. My mouth felt woolly and thick, or perhaps it was because I’d never said the words before. Never acknowledged that I could feel this pressure between my legs or the wanting in my breast.

  “You want to help me?” I couldn’t miss the teasing tone.

  The pressure inside me evaporated a little. My hands shook as I reached for him and found the first button. It was tight, and I fought to undo it. Then another. Each one easier than the last until my hand rested just above the buckle of his belt. The evidence of his passion was very much on display, and I gulped. “How…?” I waved an ineffectual hand at the metal, and he laughed.

 
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