Haven House, page 15




“Ammy?” Gloriana asked. “Is something wrong?”
Oh dear Lord! “Uh, no. I’m just considering how we make contact.” To myself, my voice sounded strangled, and from the way Damien’s fingers settled on my shoulder, I knew he understood my reticence too.
“You look—”
“Perhaps Andrew might wish to join me in the library,” Damien cut across Gloriana’s words.
Grateful didn’t explain my emotions right now, because I would not discuss our intimate encounters with anyone. Instead, I drained my cup and invited Gloriana upstairs to find Francesca and share the bounty I’d found.
We found her in the makeshift schoolroom, and while she seemed engrossed in reading to the two youngest girls, she followed us up to the attic space at my request. I opened the door to the tiny room, and we entered single file.
“Is there something you need me to do, Ammy?” Francesca asked.
“Not exactly. I found these trunks.” I led Francesca and Gloriana over to the pile hidden behind old dusty furnishings. “Mr Forster sold the house, complete with everything here, to Damien’s business. So the day we came to investigate, I found the most beautiful clothing.” I opened the first lid.
Francesca’s eyes settled on the cotton gown with the pretty lilac flowers and the lacy detail on top. “May I?” she whispered.
“Yes, of course,” I answered.
She lifted the gown and beamed. “It’s so pretty.”
“I saw it and thought of you. I don’t know if they’ll fit, but anything you think you can remake is there for you.”
Francesca stilled, then whirled around. “For me?” she squeaked.
“Yes. But that’s not all. Come look at this.” I stepped to the other trunk and cracked the lid. The shoes in their bag sat on top of the gown. “What do you think?”
Gloriana gave an “Ahhh” of appreciation while Francesca reached out and took hold of the material. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered. “I’m sure with a little work it might fit you perfectly, and the colour with a little embellishment…”
“I agree,” Gloriana said, and I smiled. This was what I’d hoped for. That she’d see an opportunity and it might help cement a friendship between us, more of a sisterly kind of understanding.
“Would you like to try?” I asked, and Francesca’s gaze shot to mine.
“You mean it?”
I laughed. “Yes. I never say what I don’t mean.”
“Oh, Ammy, I don’t think I’m good enough. I mean, this fabric is so pretty. I don’t want to ruin it.” Francesca dropped the material away as she backed up.
I heard heavy footsteps and turned on a sigh. Frank filled the doorway. “Master Damien is looking for you, Miss Ammy. Mrs Coultihan might best come too, I think.”
I bit my lip, because the look on his face didn’t bode particularly well.
“Frank, would you carry both these trunks down to the sitting room for Francesca?” Without giving either of them a chance to remonstrate, I hurried from the room and down the steps.
Damien clearly needed my help in a hurry, and I would not allow myself to create fears of the unknown. Not here and not now.
I opened the door to the office, and the look on his face had my stomach plummeting. “What’s wrong?”
“The ship just radioed. They were boarded this morning by a Nobel Crest ship’s crew. They know where we are now and are on their way.”
Chapter Fourteen
Thank heavens Gloriana and Andrew had packed a range of clothes for me. I had no intention of meeting the head of the Nobel Crest sect in either of the two gowns I’d been wearing for over a week.
The green gown fit perfectly, the high neckline reinforcing my deportment. I had a tendency to slump, from all the years at Haven House when I’d hidden from Junior. The forthcoming interview would no doubt test my endurance, but there was no way I’d let them see just how terrified I was.
The gloves on my hands—kidskin, according to Gloriana—hid the chapped quality of my skin, and my hair was immaculately dressed. I might look like some kind of heiress, but underneath it all remained a woman who feared what was to come.
I sat in the parlour’s armchair, moments passing to the cadence of the ticking clock.
In the days since Damien’s ship had contacted him, everyone had moved with speed. Gloriana had opted to stay behind, much to Andrew’s concern. He had launched the dirigible at dusk that very evening to bring back his own personal security squad, including a phalanx of automative dogs. His arrival last evening had calmed Damien’s manic actions, who’d gathered the men employed by him to set up a makeshift security system around the house.
“But these wooden fences won’t keep out anyone who’s had replacements fitted,” I said, inspecting the high walls that had been hastily erected.
Lines I hadn’t noticed before had appeared on my husband’s face. I wanted to soothe them, but he simply looked to the wharf and scowled. “I have to do something.”
The concern that radiated from him spilled out and washed over me. “Andrew will be back.” Not that I felt my answer was reassuring. After all, who knew how long it might take to collect the men and return?
Each night we’d finally lain down to rest late, and each morning we rose early. During the day, he’d worked with the men, hammering and sawing alongside them. I worked to ensure the women of the town had adequate resources to feed their men and assist with those who’d suffered accidents in the erection of the barriers. Thankfully, they were neither numerous nor life-threatening. Exhaustion in these last three days had become a faithful friend, if not an ally. “When do you expect them to make landfall?”
He shrugged. “The ship has one of those new cog-driven steam engines. It’s faster than most of the fleet. We looked at more of them. Found having more than would would be too impractical for our use,” he added absently.
“But?” I prompted.
“It depends. They’d need to travel back to home base, so who knows?”
I glanced over his shoulder. “Something’s coming in, Damien.” My voice held a strangled quality.
He pulled a small lens-glass from his pocket and peered into the distance where the craft had appeared. He dropped the lens. “It’s Andrew,” he said in response, and I released the pent-up oxygen from my lungs.
Now, with the night drawing in, I could only hope that the Nobel Crest contingent would take place once we’d had sufficient time to prepare ourselves.
“I’ll let Gloriana know. Then we can set about preparing a meal.” I pushed out of the chair.
“That sounds like a workable plan.” He turned to me, his face hard. “Ammy, we can formulate our plan tonight, but we need to talk.”
“Of course,” I offered and then backed away, because those words usually boded ill. Whatever it was, though, it wasn’t important enough to keep him there right now to share what lay heavily on his mind. Instead, he was striding off, leaving the house, and going into the night, heading to the field where the dirigible had previously landed, while I stood there alone inside the room, having watched him leave.
I gave instructions, then returned to the parlour, where I’d been told to wait by both Damien and Andrew. Should Nobel Crest arrive this evening, we had to present the pretence of being at ease. It sat poorly on me, as if my skin itched to break free from the charade.
Waiting. Patience. Never my strong suit.
A commotion sounded at the front of the house, and I gripped the arms of the chair.
“They’re coming,” a voice called. It was young and unknown to me. I held those arms tighter as fear flashed hot and sharp inside me.
I’d learned a good many things during my time at Haven House. Cults didn’t respect women, seeing them as a commodity to get what they wanted. Finding ways to upset their equilibrium was a double-edged sword, and power was the ultimate outcome.
The plan we’d formulated was to unsettle them, to draw as much information as possible, and to use them far more efficiently than they could use us.
A tray of tea was delivered to the table beside me, and as agreed when Andrew, Damien, Gloriana, and I planned the encounter, I poured a cup for myself. Then the doors shut behind Gloriana as she scurried back out.
Deep, measured breaths fought the rapid cadence of my heart until it slowed.
A commotion rose outside, which told me the men—a guess on my part, but my assuredness came from experience—were coming ever closer. It wouldn’t take long for them to walk that distance once they’d made landfall. Moments ticked by.
An itch started between my shoulder blades, but I ignored it. It was only a physical manifestation of my stress.
Footsteps echoed, coming nearer, and then suddenly stilled outside the door. I took a second to squirm, finding a comfortable position. A knock echoed.
This is it.
“Come,” I called, and the doors opened. Andrew and Damien flanked a team of three men. Two of them were large, hulking, with impassive faces. The third was older, gnarled, with bright blue eyes. The same as Eldora, I realised.
I raised my hand and beckoned. The five men entered the room, Damien and Andrew shutting the doors behind them.
“Please, be seated,” I encouraged the older man. The two bodyguards, for I knew that was what they were, melted back against the walls of the room. This was something I’d seen many times before at Haven House, but it was the first time I’d been an active participant in such discussions.
The older man blinked but took the seat I indicated. Andrew remained by the door, but Damien advanced, moved behind my seat, and laid a hand on my shoulder. It was a display of strength and solidarity.
Tension zoomed through the air. I waited while the man opposite stared at me. On a sigh, he leaned forward. “You’re the one known as Amaryllis?”
“Yes.” Damien, Gloriana, Andrew, and I had all agreed I’d answer with brief comments in order to keep the balance of power in our favour. I would do my best to uphold that agreement, but a tremor settled under my skin.
“You ran.”
I cocked my head to the side and examined the man. “Some might say that.”
His brow wrinkled. “You know what happened to my daughter. I demand you tell me.” He balled his fists in his lap, but a single bead of sweat settled on his upper lip.
“I don’t know. Not really.” My gut clenched. Brinkmanship was not a game I had experience of.
His lip curled. “You were seen with him. The son of Haven’s Master. You’re his whore.”
I flinched inwardly, and Damien’s fingers dug deep, the insult calculated to upset the subtle balance. I recentred with some difficulty, and a long moment passed.
“I am no one’s whore. I was a child bought by Haven to be used as a servant. Like your daughter, who was sold to the highest bidder. By you.”
The blue in his eyes turned icy. “I did not sell her. It was an alliance.” He rose, body quivering with poorly controlled fury. “You murdered her.”
His men stepped forward, and I raised a hand. “I did not.” Somehow, I had to defuse the situation. “She was my friend.”
That stilled the older man. “Friend?”
“Please sit, take tea with me while we talk.”
I waited as he considered, the furious ruby of his features settling to a deep blush. He wasn’t as controlled as he wished to be, and I’d need to step carefully here.
“Eldora was the oldest. The one who showed such potential. I loved my daughter.”
As I looked at this man, I saw he spoke the truth, at least as he knew it. But nothing could condone the fact that he’d sold her to Junior. He might call it an alliance, but I knew better. I knew the man who’d taken her to wife and killed her.
The fury in the room subsided slightly as I poured him tea, then offered preferences of sugar, milk, and lemon. He refused all but raised the cup as I did with mine. A sip warmed my insides, which were chilling as the discussion wore on.
“Why do you speak and not them?” he asked me, glancing at Damien with interest.
“Because my husband sees me as his equal.” I kept eye contact with the man opposite. I wouldn’t let him drive the conversation and shelve me. That would change the dynamics, and what we needed to achieve wouldn’t happen if I wasn’t wary.
Now the man’s eyes narrowed. “Your husband?”
I nodded. “I escaped Haven and chose Damien as my husband. You took that option from your daughter.”
He sneered, “Women don’t know what they want. They must be guided and sheltered.”
I laughed at his words, unable to contain the bitterness that crept up my throat. “We are not pets! You do not ‘keep’ us and give us away as you please.” Sickened and furious, I set my cup down, needing a moment to recompose myself. To find the centre so I could continue with this strange interview.
“You have a spine. He must be lucky to have you.” I raised my head to spear him with a fiery glance, but before me sat a man who appeared broken. “Eldora was very much like you. She’s dead. I know it. He killed her and the child she carried. My grandchild. The one who would inherit it all.”
“So why did you send her there?” Damien asked.
The man, still yet unnamed, raised his head. “I’m old. I sired three sons with the first of my three wives, but I wanted to ensure the safety of those coming after me. I made the promise to the Master of Haven while she was in her childhood. I believed Haven was strong and honest. I was assured Travis Haven showed great promise as a leader. My daughter desired a husband of handsome face and strength. I allowed her to make the final decision. She chose him.”
I heard the regret in his words and thawed a little. “Junior might be handsome, but he had none of the other qualities you listed. Why on earth—”
“I didn’t know why she felt he was right. I didn’t question it. His father sent an emissary, gifts, and images. He promised me great things, including you.”
Now I reared back, surprised. “Me?” The word came out like a startled squeak.
“Amaryllis?” Damien demanded.
“As a fourth and final wife. Promised me she was untouched. Pure. As soon as she came of age, she would be sent to Nobel to sit at my side. They spun a story. I was weak, hungry to prepare for the last stretch in my life, so I accepted. Eldora was ecstatic, for she truly wanted children and a home of her own.”
I blinked. “What do they call you?” Suddenly I had to know, needed to have a name for this man.
“Father.”
The moniker made so much sense, but I refused to call him that. I’d had a father, one who’d made a mistake and tried hard to correct it and reclaim me. It was a mistake I’d paid dearly for, but he was my father, and he’d always loved me. That knowledge went bone deep thanks to Andrew’s recently explained stories of his remorse.
“What is the name your mother gifted you?” I pushed.
“Adam.”
“Adam Nobel?” I needed to know so I could address him, give him the answers, and demand our freedom and safety. Without knowing his name, it weakened our grasp on any kind of understanding and certainly wouldn’t stand up to scrutiny. Who would trust an agreement made when you didn’t even know your partner's name? “I will tell you all I know, but in payment, I demand you stop chasing us. You do not harass or harm the children under my guardianship.”
He blinked. “That isn’t me. Junior and Master have both run away with the army they were growing. They’re the ones who seek you.”
My brow furrowed. “Why?”
“Because you escaped. Because you have aligned yourself with those who are stronger, have what they desire most. Power.”
Damien released me and strode forward so he stood beside me. “What would it take for you to join forces with us?”
Nobel glared at Damien. “My daughter. Her remains and justice.”
Damien reached into his pocket and drew out his badge of justice, throwing it onto the small table. Nobel picked it up, gaze searching Damien’s face. “Enforcement?”
The nod Damien gave him was curt.
“It means nothing. We have agreements with those in enforcement circles.” Adam’s voice took on a dismissive tone.
“Not my kind,” Damien ground out like glass beneath a boot.
Nobel’s eyes flashed. “True. Not like you.” He drained his cup. “You mentioned children?”
“Five. Orphans who Amaryllis has taken responsibility for parenting. Outcasts from Haven.” Damien’s voice turned silky, as if daring the man to threaten them.
Nobel frowned. “Outcasts? Children are gifts to be treasured.” I heard a thread of surprise in his words. Damien must have too, as some of the tension ebbed from his frame.
“Haven is not some place where the sun always shines. It’s not a home where everyone is equal. Servitude, ownership, and retribution reign freely. These children have lost everything, and I’m what stands between them and oblivion.” Perhaps I was being overly emotive in my choice of language, but I was left with no other alternative. I would protect the children, even if it cost me my life and freedom.
“Tell me what happened. I will listen and—”
“Will you pledge to protect them, should the time come? That your sect—”
“Family,” Nobel corrected me.
I started but composed myself quickly. “That your family will protect them should the need arise? In return, we will find your daughter and return her to you.”
Nobel stood, his gnarled frame straight. He spat in his hand and proffered it. Revolted, I nonetheless followed suit, spitting in my palm and holding out my hand. We shook.
“I will,” he growled.
I settled back in my seat. “The night Eldora disappeared—because that’s how it seemed—there’d been a dinner. Junior’s younger brother, Alec, was affianced to his first bride, and there was a celebration. The night was important to both Master and Junior, but Eldora had suffered long bouts of illness with her pregnancy. She was showing and was ill that night. I’d delivered her tea and toast when no one else knew. Junior would have refused her that, but she was my friend.” I shrugged. I needed him to understand that Eldora had done nothing wrong.