Lust & Chastity

London, England

Summer 1870

“It’s all sorted then,” Gordon Avery said, raising his glass to seal the agreement with his long-time business partner Kenneth Sinclair. “Our children will be wed in a year.”

“Don’t I get a say in this?” Darien Avery asked, staring into the contents of his glass as he sat between the two men.

His father laughed. “Son, you sound as if we’ve just agreed to send you off to war. You should be grateful a woman like Kenneth’s daughter would even be available for the taking.”

“You’ll thank us in a few years, my boy,” Kenneth muttered as he and Gordon toasted to the agreement.

“Do I at least get to meet this woman before our wedding day?” Darien asked, allowing his irritation to be heard.

Kenneth nodded. “Of course you do. I’ll arrange for my daughter to meet with you when we’ve returned to town in a few weeks.”

Sculling what little remained of his whiskey, Darien stood up from his seat. Placing his empty glass on the small table before them, he straightened his vest.

“Where are you going?” his father asked him, refilling his own glass.

Pulling his brown lounge jacket on, Darien faked a smile as he turned to face the two older men sitting before him. “The news of my pending nuptials has just filled me with so much joy, Father. I feel the sudden urge to go out and shoot something.”

Ignoring the sounds of displeasure coming from the two men, he turned and walked from the lodge.

This wasn’t the life he wanted.

* * * *

Walking across the green grass field, the grand image of the hunting lodge now far behind him, Darien held his rifle securely in his hand, his destination the woods and the rabbits therein. Usually he didn’t indulge himself too much in his father’s love of shooting defenceless animals, but today was different. Though his trap of an arranged marriage was unlikely to result in his ultimate death, he felt little different to the animals that were trapped on these grounds only to be found moments later with their throats cut.

This wasn’t what he’d planned for his life.

Being momentarily drawn from his musings by the sound of running water up ahead, he knew he should check the fish traps he’d set a few hours earlier in the waterhole. In truth, he cared little for any fish he may have caught, despite his enthusiasm this morning upon setting them and placing them carefully in the water. Now all he cared about was the marriage he was to be burdened with.

He didn’t doubt his father and Kenneth had arranged a profitable match for him that would also line their own pockets. Both of them were shrewd businessmen and would ensure all parties to this arrangement would find some benefit. But Darien couldn’t think about the profits and properties that would be coming his way. All he could feel was raging anger that, even now when he was a man, he still seemed unable to govern his own life.

He couldn’t even pick his own bride.

“Damn and blast!” he cursed, kicking a rock from the dirt road into the surrounding meadow.

Neither Kenneth nor his father asked him how he felt about having an arranged marriage. Neither even enquired if he was already involved with a woman. They just assumed and decided what would suit them best and made arrangements accordingly.

For just once, he wanted to be the navigator of his own life. To be able to choose his own business dealings, and choose whom he would spend his future with.

Marriage wasn’t something he thought to have in his near future. He was still young, barely a man of nineteen, with his whole life in front of him. He wanted to travel and see the world and bed at least a dozen whores in each city he visited. He certainly didn’t want to be tied down with responsibility and obligations to a woman that could be little more than a wilting wallflower, unwilling to open her thighs for any man...even her husband. This wasn’t what he’d hoped laid in his future, only now it seemed dimly obvious this was exactly what he had to look forward to.

Approaching the rocky waterhole where his fishing pots were set, Darien wondered if there was a way he could convince his father to let him out of the agreement. Surely even his father had a price his only son could meet. At that moment, he was willing to pay anything if it gave him back his bachelorhood.

Hearing a slight splashing noise up ahead, his gaze instantly shot up to see who or what it could be. His stare settled on a beautiful young woman sitting on the bank, her tan-coloured skirts and white petticoats tucked up to her knees, the sleeves of her white blouse rolled up, the first few buttons on the front undone, her bare feet dangling in the water. Such was her beauty as her blonde hair hung loosely around her shoulders and down her back, he felt his heart thud heavily in his chest.

“Are you just going to stand there staring at me?” she asked, dragging him from his thoughts.

He shook his head. “I actually came down here to check my fish traps, but I’d say with your splashing, you’ve scared every fish away.”

The young woman giggled. “You know, if you were serious about catching anything in this stream, you would have set your pots further away from the hunting lodge up there. What with all those old, drunk bastards pissing and falling in the water, I doubt any fish would be this far downstream anyway.”

“You may have a point,” he replied curiously, having never met any woman outside of a brothel who cussed so openly.

Walking over to his pots, he pulled them from the water. Looking inside, he found them both empty.

“It seems you were right,” he said, glancing back at the young woman.

“And you are aware that you’re using the wrong pots, aren’t you?” she asked.

He raised his brow. “Wrong pots, eh? And I suppose you know a better type?”

She giggled. “You need a pot that doesn’t have a hole in it to start with.”

“What?” he asked, looking over the pots. Spotting the holes in the base of each pot, he threw them to the ground. “Damn and blast!” he cursed.

Getting up from where she sat on the bank of the stream, her skirts still gathered up and partially tucked into her waistband, the young woman stepped toward him.

“I could patch them for you, if you want,” she offered. “Or did you perhaps bring your gun to shoot the fish that got away?”

He couldn’t help but laugh at her tart tongue. “I actually just got some unfortunate news and I thought shooting something might improve my mood. I thought while I was in the area I would check the pots I set here this morning and see if I’d caught any fish. Instead, I found you...”

“You say that as if it’s a bad thing,” she replied, reaching down and grabbing her shoes and stockings in her hands.

He shook his head. “No, miss. Not a bad thing, but...” He paused momentarily. “I must admit though it’s rather strange to see a woman such as you down here near the creek, especially one so close to the hunting lodge.”

She smiled, though she didn’t look humoured. “My father decided a few days ago it would be an adventure for the whole family to come out here and stay in the country for a couple of weeks. But I know his real reason for wanting to be here was to sit in the lodge all day smoking his pipe and drinking with his business partners.”

He laughed at the truth in her words. “I know that feeling all too well, miss.”

“Your father too?” she asked.

He nodded. “Except mine also decided to bring me out here to tell me he’d made arrangements for my future too.”

She shook her head. “What is it with our fathers? Do they think they must always make the choices for us? Are we not capable of choosing our own paths in life? I’m eighteen years old, yet my father still doesn’t trust me to take care of myself.”

He smiled at the outspokenness of this woman. Never had he seen such a thing before, and it intrigued him. “My father tells me he only has my best interest at heart whenever he makes life-changing decisions for me.”

She laughed. “He sounds almost exactly like my father.”

Their laughter fading, he studied the beautiful woman standing before him, her lower legs revealed by her still hitched up skirts, her long blonde hair flowing so far down her back it almost reached her hips. Hypnotized by the soft pink of her full lips, he wondered about its stark contrast to the paleness of her skin. She was more stunning than he ever thought any woman could be, and he began to wonder if her skin tasted as creamy as it looked.

“I want to see you again,” he blurted out. “I mean...it would please me if I could see you again,” he corrected himself.

He felt like a fool when she giggled at his trip over of words, though he didn’t miss the slight blush covering her cheeks as she lowered her gaze briefly away from his. Her fingers coming up to her blouse, she fastened her few undone buttons.

“I’ll be at a garden party tomorrow. Some estate near the hunting lodge,” she said. “One of my father’s business partners is holding it, and apparently I have to be there.”

There was something familiar about what she just said.

“Your father’s business partner is holding the party?” he asked curiously. “I’m invited to the same party because of my own father’s business connections.”

“Are you certain it’s the same place? There must be at least half a dozen houses that border onto the lodge.”

“There’s only three,” he corrected her. “And only one is occupied at the moment.”

“And you’re sure about that?”

“Yes. My father hasn’t shut up about it or how important it is that I be there with him.”

Thinking back over what she’d told him about why she was required to be at the party, he asked the next most obvious thing. “If both our fathers are business associates of the same man, I find myself wondering who your father might be, miss? I only ask because my father has gone to great lengths to ensure I know near every person he’s done business with over the last few years.”

“My father is Kenneth Sinclair,” she replied with a smile. “He’s a partner in a shipping company back in town.”

“You’re his daughter?” he asked, completely taken aback by what she’d just revealed.

She nodded. “My name is Caitlyn.”

He found himself smiling, thoughts of his arranged betrothal returning to him with much more pleasantness than before. “My name is Darien Avery.”

Leaning into him, she kissed him lightly on the cheek. “It was very lovely to meet you, Darien. I really do hope to see you tomorrow.”

He watched as she walked away from him, busily lowering her skirts and petticoats, his mind in turmoil about who this woman was.

If she was in fact his fiancée, then he was starting to think he might not mind the prospect of being forced into matrimony with her.

She was so...so...perfect.

* * * *

“Father, are you ready to go?” Darien called out as he stood at the foot of the stairs, his black top hat and gloves in his hands. “The carriage is waiting.”

“Impatient bastard!” Gordon cursed, walking casually down the stairs while still buttoning his black frockcoat. “For someone who was looking for any excuse to avoid this gathering, you suddenly seem very eager to go.”

“I don’t know what you mean,” Darien muttered. “I’m just sure the carriage driver has other places he needs to be.”

“Bah!” his father scoffed, reaching for his own hat and gloves as they left the house. “He’ll get paid for his time.” Taking his seat opposite his son inside the small two-seat carriage, his father lit his pipe. “If I didn’t know better, I’d swear you were rushing off to meet with some woman.”

Darien tried to laugh his comment off. “What would be the point in that? You’ve already decided whom I’m allowed to share my future with.”

Arriving at the Fulton estate shortly after, Darien jumped from the carriage.

“And where do you think you’re going?” his father asked quickly, struggling to join him. “There are business associates and other important people here you need to meet.”

“They’ll have to wait, Father,” he said, turning away from the older man and walking into the crowd of gatherers, looking for Caitlyn.

As Darien walked around the sculpted gardens and amongst the many well-dressed people, he knew he was acting like a fool. He was in no position to be chasing after Caitlyn, acting for all to see as if he were little better than a lovesick fool. She was not the kind of woman who’d be desperate for the affections of a man, rather the kind of woman who’d have suitors lined up for miles, begging for just a moment of her time. His meagre flirtations and stumbled words must have seemed so moronic to her.

Smiling, he remembered the one thing he had that no other suitor begging for Caitlyn’s time did. He had an arranged betrothal to this woman.

He had almost given up all hope of finding her. Suddenly he caught sight of a blonde-haired woman leaning against the wooden boundary fence separating the house gardens from the rest of the property, her narrow, ruffled skirt emphasizing the swell of her hips. She looked lost as she stared into the scenery around them. He hoped she’d be interested in escaping the crowd of business-minded men and their wives and taking a walk with him through the surrounding trees.

Walking up behind her, the ruffles of her pale pink skirt brushing against his trouser leg, he felt his heart thud heavily and his breath catch in his throat.

“It seems I’ve found you again, my beautiful lady,” he muttered softly.

No sooner had he spoken, Caitlyn turned to face him, her rear resting against the wooden fence. “I was beginning to think you weren’t coming.”

Lifting his hand to her face, his fingers caressed her cheek softly. “I had to come. I had to see you.”

A blush filled her cheeks and she lowered her gaze away from him. He knew what he was doing was inappropriate. But right now, with this woman standing so near to him, her soft scent of roses teasing him, he didn’t care. He wanted Caitlyn in the worse way, and he could feel himself willing to sacrifice everything if it meant he could have her lay with him.

“Would you walk with me?” she asked softly.

“Should you not be mixing with your father’s business associates?” he asked. “Or their wives and daughters?”

She shrugged. “I should be, but I’d much rather be somewhere with you, Darien...alone.”

He studied her curiously, unsure if this was just some game she was playing with him. “If we’re seen leaving together...you know what people will say...what they’ll think?”

Reaching forward, she laced her fingers with his. “They won’t say anything that isn’t true.”

Sneaking from the garden unnoticed, Caitlyn and Darien walked hand in hand toward the boundary of surrounding oak trees. Stopping when they reached a patch of wildflowers, she bent to pick some.

“If you brought me out here to find a flower as beautiful as you, then you’ll be hard-pressed to find one,” he said, his eyes focused on the curve of her hips as she bent over to pick the flora.

Giggling at his words, she straightened, bringing the small flower to her nose to smell. “And what if that’s all I brought you out here for, Darien?” she asked. “Would you make yourself contented with that? Or would you force me to allow you to have your way with me?”

His gaze narrowed on her. “I’ve never had to force a woman to share my bed before, if that’s what you mean. Nor do I intend to start now.”

Stepping in front of him, she reached her hand out to him and rested it on his chest beneath his black frockcoat, only the thin fabric of his shirt separating the touch of their skin.

“Have you shared your bed with many women?” she asked, a coy look on her face.

He grabbed her wrist, pulling her hand away from him, not sure what game she thought to be playing. “Why would you ask me such a thing?”

She raised her brow, any previous show of demureness gone. “Maybe I’m just checking to see who I’ll have to share you with.”

Hardly daring to believe what this woman might be hinting at, his grip on her wrist softened. Leaning into her, his lips lightly grazed hers, tasting the soft, pink skin.

Pulling away from her, he didn’t miss her slight moan of displeasure, and an unfamiliar heat shot through him. Never had a woman reacted to his affections as she was.

“Caitlyn, I...I...”

But her fingers on his lips stopped any explanation he might have made. “I didn’t ask you to join me for a walk just to pick flowers,” she explained.

He kissed her fingers where they still rested on his lips. Her skin was so soft.

“Your reputation will be ruined if you’re found out here with me,” he reminded her, his fingers lacing with hers and moving her hand back to her side. “Are you willing to risk the scandal just for the sake of lust?”

Stepping forward, she leaned into him and kissed him full on the lips. “I’m willing to risk anything for you, Darien,” she whispered against his lips.

Her words were his undoing. He tried to hold onto his faltering control for the sake of her virtue, but he could refuse her advances no more.

His hands going to the back of her head, his fingers laced in her pinned up blonde hair. Pulling her close, his lips hungrily devoured hers, his other hand reaching down and gathering up her skirts and petticoats. When his fingers grazed the silken skin of her thigh, he could feel his desire for this woman consuming him. Never had the mere touch of a woman made him feel as if he were going to disgrace himself then and there. He knew he would have to handle this moment carefully for fear he would lose all sense of himself once he laid with this woman.

Breaking their embrace, he quickly removed his coat and laid it on the grass, hoping it might give her some protection from the ground. Pulling her to him, he carefully laid her down, his hands sliding her skirts up her thighs, revealing all her beauty to him.

“I thought it was customary for women to wear undergarments under their gowns?” he asked, his fingers caressing her thigh.

She giggled. “I hardly think now is the time to be concerned with what’s customary.”

Though he shared in her slight humour, he wondered if this woman had anticipated their passionate encounter and dressed accordingly.

Leaning into her, he kissed the inside of her leg, his fingers running along the slightly moist patch of curls at the apex of her thighs. He didn’t miss her shudder.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” he muttered, knowing the taking of a woman’s innocence was less than comfortable for most.

Reaching her hand out to him, she pulled him to her, her thighs spreading and welcoming him between them.

“You won’t,” she whispered, kissing him passionately.

He could feel his cock pressing against the fastening of his trousers, and he knew if he didn’t bury himself inside her soon, he would surely cum in his pants. Reaching for the fastening, he quickly opened his trousers, allowing his shaft to spring free. He rubbed it along her already wet slit, knowing he must be careful with her even though he ached to plunge inside her. Holding her to him, he joined his lips to hers as he pushed through her layer of purity.

Her muffled scream, her nails piercing his skin through his now loosely hanging shirt, made it clear he had hurt her, and it killed him. Lifting his head, his hands cradled her face.

“I’m so sorry, my beautiful,” he mumbled between kisses as he slowly began moving his manhood slightly out of her.

When he pushed inside her again, he was relieved she made no sound of protest. Her thighs opened wider for him, welcoming him deep inside her. He felt her lifting her hips in rhythm to him moving in and out of her now soaked cleft. He couldn’t ignore the pleasure shooting through him, bringing him to a stage of ecstasy he never knew existed.

“Caitlyn, you need to stop doing that,” he begged her softly.

He couldn’t explain to her how her innocent movement was ripping away at his already failing control. All he knew was if she didn’t stop soon, then their first sexual encounter would be over.

“But it feels so nice,” she rebutted, still moving her hips up to join his rhythm. “It feels... Darien...”

Feeling her body shuddering against him, he watched as absolute pleasure filled her features, her nails again piercing his skin. She ripped at the already open V-neck of his shirt, her lips caressing him, her teeth slightly biting at his skin there.

That was his undoing. Holding her to him, he pumped his seed into her, his own body shuddering with the ultimate of pleasures.

They lay together on the makeshift blanket of his coat, Darien’s hat and gloves forgotten about on the ground beside them, her thighs still spread, holding him firmly to her, his sated cock still buried inside her.

“You’re such a desirable woman, Caitlyn,” he said, his hands going to her face and brushing away the loose tendrils that now covered it.

“You’re a very pleasurable man,” she replied, lifting her head slightly to kiss his naked chest.

When she lowered her head back to the ground, he kissed her full on the lips, treasuring the taste of her. Finally, he broke their mutual embrace, hypnotized by the clear green of her eyes.

“I don’t want you to go back to that garden,” he said, his voice strained by the unfamiliar tender emotion he was feeling for the woman he’d just bedded. “I can’t watch you return to those leering drunks and their pathetic attempts to get your attention.”

She bit her lip. “Yet I must return, Darien, and so must you. Our fathers will be waiting for us.”

His gaze resting on her, he studied all her beauty, trying to absorb every fine feature she had. He wanted nothing more than to stay there with her creamy thighs wrapped around him.

“I want to see you again,” he said softly. “Please.”

“See me or sleep with me?” she asked, her brow raised.

He knew what he should tell her, but he couldn’t bring himself to lie to her. “Both,” he finally answered.

Her giggle warmed his heart. “At least you’re honest.”

Feeling his shaft falling free from her dripping quim, he reached for her handkerchief to clean her. Helping her to her feet, he helped her right her clothing, ensuring every button on her light pink gown was refastened, and every curl of her hair was pinned back in place.

Quickly righting his own attire while she retied the laces on her boots, he stuffed the damp handkerchief into his trouser pocket. Reaching out to her, he grabbed her by the elbow and pulled her back to him, embracing her hungrily.

It was Caitlyn who broke their embrace, her hands pushing against his shoulders. “I must return before I’m missed.”

Still he didn’t let her go. “Please say you’ll see me again,” he pleaded with her as he trailed kisses down the arch of her slender neck.

Again her hands on his shoulders pushed him away.

“I can meet you at the stream near the hunting lodge at two tomorrow afternoon.”

Finally, his grip on her loosened, and kissing her one last time, he watched her turn and run back toward the crowd still gathered in the Fulton’s garden, his mind full of confusion.

Never before had he met a woman such as her; one with an open show of affection and enjoyment in the sexual pleasures that could be found between a man and woman. She was so unlike the woman he thought to be burdened with when his betrothal was first announced. Now, having seen this young woman, having felt the softness of her skin against his own hard form, he not only welcomed his upcoming wedding but he would even request his father to have it happen as soon as possible.

* * * *

“Have you told Warren about the betrothal between our children yet?” Kenneth asked as he stood in the Fulton’s garden sharing a drink with Gordon.

Gordon shook his head. “Not yet,” he muttered, swirling his liquor in his glass. “But my brother-in-law won’t be happy when he finds out. You know better than anyone he’s been chasing your daughter for years.”

“Stalking her would be more accurate,” Kenneth corrected him. “It’s unnatural how he looks at Caitlyn. Makes me uneasy.”

“Warren Bannister is a dangerous man,” Gordon said, lighting his pipe. “The things he’s done...” He let the words trail off, knowing if he didn’t he may well reveal more than he should.

“The sooner I get my family out of this country and away from that man the better.”

“You’re leaving?” Gordon asked.

Kenneth nodded. “My debts are finally paid in full, so I’ll be leaving as soon as possible. I’d hoped, given the arranged engagement between our children, you might join us, Gordon.”

“How did you manage to pay out all the money you owed?”

Kenneth stared into his glass. “I sold my share in the shipping company to Henry Walters.”

“You did what? Does Warren know about this?” At that moment, Gordon looked out across the crowd and saw Warren walking toward them.

Kenneth followed his friend’s line of sight. “It appears he’ll learn about it sooner than I’d intended.”

Warren stopped near the two men, his formal attire more elegant than most, his expression one of stone. “I was just talking to Hugh Fulton and he told me you were looking at leaving London as soon as possible, Kenneth. Something about moving to Australia. I told him that couldn’t possibly be true because as your business partner I would be the first to know about such a thing,” he said, his gaze never faltering from him.

“Warren, you need to understand—” Kenneth said, nervously fidgeting with his vest.

“What I understand is you thought you could sneak away without paying what you owe to me!” Warren growled, cutting him off. “You and Gordon are only partners in that shipping company, but it was me who made it what it is!”

“What it is?” Kenneth rebutted bravely. “We smuggle opium, stolen goods, and women to Australia under the disguise of mining goods and supplies.”

Warren smiled smugly. “And if you try to renege on our deal, I go straight to the local police and tell them exactly what else you’ve been smuggling out of this country.”

“I wouldn’t go to the police if I were you,” Gordon finally spoke up. “Last I heard they were still quite interested in any information regarding what happened to your wife...information I would be very happy to give them.”

“I didn’t kill your sister, Gordon,” Warren spat at him. “And if I hear any talk to the contrary, then so help me, I’ll—”

“You’ll what?” Gordon asked. “You’re in no position to blackmail me, you fool!” Gordon held his stare to the man threatening him, knowing what he said was true. He was in no position to intimidate this, or any other, man.

“How is your daughter?” Warren asked, turning his attention back to Kenneth. “I spoke to her earlier this afternoon and was amazed at what a beautiful woman she has grown into. She’ll make me a wonderful wife now that she’s of age.”

“You won’t touch my daughter!” Kenneth raised his voice.

Warren smiled. “Oh, but I will, Kenneth, or have you forgotten she was contracted to me should you ever not pay your debts?”

Kenneth reached into the pocket of his black frockcoat and pulled forth a sealed envelope. He handed it to Warren. “My debt is paid in full.”

“Where did you get this?” Warren asked, opening the envelope, his eyes scanning the wad of notes inside. “You don’t have this kind of money. Did you steal it from the company?”

“No,” Kenneth answered. “I sold my share of the shipping company to Henry Walters.”

“You did what?” Warren asked angrily. “You can’t—”

“I can and I did,” Kenneth exclaimed bravely. “As for my daughter, she isn’t for your taking...not now, and not ever.”

Warren reached for the other man, his hand gripping his coat to stop him from walking away. “Caitlyn is of my concern if I say so!” he spat evilly. “I can take care of that woman as no other could. If I want her, I’ll have her, and there’s nothing you can say or do about it.”

“I won’t let you touch her!” Kenneth struggled to hold onto his failing bravery.

“By the way she’s been looking at me through the crowded ballrooms, and enticing me to hold her close with every dance we shared, I’d say your daughter will let me do far more than just touch that silken flesh of hers.”

Gordon stepped forward, coming to the rescue of his friend. “Caitlyn is engaged to my son Darien,” he piped up, knowing only he and Kenneth knew it was a lie. “So you won’t touch her.”

“Bastards!” Warren cursed, letting go of Kenneth and storming away from the two men.

“Thank you, my friend,” Kenneth said as he straightened his coat. “But Gordon, the engagement we made was between Darien and my older daughter, Martha.”

Gordon smiled. “I know that, but Warren doesn’t.”

“What are we going to do?” Kenneth asked. “Somehow I don’t think that’s the last we’ve seen of him.”

“You get your business matters finalized as quickly as possible and arrange transport for your family to Australia.”

“What will you do?” Kenneth asked. “You can’t stay here with that mad man. Come to Australia with us.”

Gordon shook his head. “I can’t,” he replied, his words strained. “I have the company to look after.”

“Sell it,” Kenneth said, his hand resting on the other man’s forearm. “Henry Walters will buy it in a flash and pay you more than enough to free yourself of Warren for life.”

“I doubt we will ever be free of that man,” Gordon muttered just before he downed the last of his drink. “I’ll finalize what I can at the shipping company and organize the sale of my share to Henry. Darien and I will join you in Australia.”

Gordon left the Fulton’s garden, intending to finalize what he had to at the shipping warehouse. In the morning he would visit the bank manager and organize the sale of his business shares. He knew the risk he was taking, but he owed it to his son to try and give him a better life and a brighter future, free of the corruption he’d been consumed by himself throughout his years in business.

Ready to leave, he looked for Darien, but he was nowhere to be found. Leaving a message with the Fultons, he could only hope he’d be able to explain all this to his son. He knew he should have waited for Darien, and under any other circumstances he would have. But the conversation between himself, Kenneth, and Warren moments ago was far from normal. There would be hell to pay after all Warren learned this afternoon; a hell Gordon hoped to be miles away from come morning.

To stay in England now that Warren knew his partners were clearing their debts was dangerous. He was dangerous. And there was no telling just what he would do to keep his illegal business alive and his secrets hidden.

“Take me to the shipping warehouse at the far end of the docks and hurry!” he yelled to the driver as he swung himself up into the carriage.

Gordon knew he would have to destroy all evidence that tied him to the smuggling his company had been involved with before he could safely leave the country. Such illegal practices had served him well over the years, filling his bank account to near overflowing. Now it was time he turned his back on all of that though. He feared if he didn’t, he may well meet an untimely death.

That thought fresh in his mind, Gordon reached in his pocket for pen and paper. He quickly penned a note that was to go to the bank manager should something happen to him before morning. Hearing the carriage slowing to a stop, he glanced outside. Noticing a dim light coming from inside the warehouse, he realized the death he feared may be closer than he first thought.

Terror suddenly filling him at whom might be waiting for him inside, Gordon stepped heavily from the stopped carriage. Reaching up, he handed the folded note to his driver. “You deliver this to the bank manager at his home immediately, you hear me?”

Waiting until he received the man’s nod of agreeance, he turned to step toward the warehouse and whatever fate awaited him inside.

“Beg pardon, sir, but at this late hour the bank manager is going to wonder why I’m calling on him,” the driver muttered nervously.

Gordon stopped and glanced back at him. “Tell him he’s to follow my instructions in that note to the very letter immediately. Tell him my son’s life depends on it.”

Turning away from the departing driver, he stepped measuredly toward the dim light in the building before him. He’d walked this distance to the warehouse many times, but none felt as perilous as this did right now. He was certain when he opened the huge wooden doors his brother-in-law would be waiting inside with whatever authorities he could convince and pay to listen to him. Stopping outside the door, Gordon held his breath momentarily before reaching for the large brass rings and pulling them open.

“Dear heavens above!” he gasped, horror filling him at the sight that greeted him.