Part 51 (1/2)
She held it up, allowing it to catch the firelight. ”A golden watch-fob and chain.”
”It's beautiful,” Julia said.
”Yes,” Angelique agreed, watching Barnabas' face. He was staring at the fob as if mesmerized. ”And unusual. It's one of a kind.”
”May I see it?” Barnabas asked. She gave it to him, still watching him. It's a - sail-93.
ing s.h.i.+p. A three-masted merchant vessel at full canvas. Worked entirely of gold.”
”Concentrate on it, Barnabas. Think only about the s.h.i.+p. It's a replica of an actual s.h.i.+p. A s.h.i.+p that you sailed. Do you remember the name?”
”Angelique - what - ?”
”Julia, please. Be quiet. You'll understand in a few minutes.” She hadn't looked away from Barnabas. ”Think, Barnabas. Concentrate. The name of that s.h.i.+p. What was it?”
Julia could see strain on Barnabas' face as he focused on the golden watch-fob. ”The - Sea Witch,” he said softly. ”I - remember. She sailed between the coast of New England and the West Indies. Her home port was Martinique, and she sailed under a French flag.”
Angelique looked relieved. ”Keep concentrating. Remember it all.”
”I - was her captain. And owner. I had come to Martinique several years earlier when my younger brother, frightened by the idea of having no inheritance or t.i.tle, arranged for me to be accused of a murder he committed. My younger sister accompanied me to the New World to start over. Dear Elsbeth. I bought the Sea Witch and began a profitable business while learning about both black and white magic from the island natives. Elsbeth traveled with me, and in Bedford, she became involved with a known pract.i.tioner of the black arts. She was young, beautiful, innocent. I tried to warn her, but it was too late. She was totally under his power. She died in one of Judah Zachary's h.e.l.lish ceremonies, and I swore vengeance on him. He didn't fear me then, and I decided to wait for my revenge. I waited six years before returning to Bedford. My spies told me that Judah thought himself all-powerful, above even the witch tribunal. I thought the time was right.” His eyes focused tenderly on the blonde woman kneeling at his feet. ”My spies also told me about the young woman who had taken Elsbeth's place in Judah's coven, and in his life. I planned to destroy her along with him
- until I met her. Oh, Miranda. You fought so desperately to stay away from me. But you could no more do so than I could stay away from you. Seeing us together distracted Judah enough for me to contact the tribunal with evidence against him - just enough so they would arrest him and put him on trial.” He touched her hair. ”But it wasn't enough to convict him. I underestimated Judah - not for the last time. So I asked you to testify against him. And it worked. Once he was convicted and beheaded, I took you onto the Sea Witch and then to Martinique. We went to my house on the island, and lived there for several months.”
”Belle Mer,” Angelique said, speaking the name aloud for the first time in many years.
”When I left again, I gave you my good-luck piece.” He again looked at the fob and smiled at Julia. ”I had this made by the island natives.”
Angelique regained his attention with a light touch on his thigh. ”What happened? Why didn't you return? There were rumors of a mutiny.”
”The rumor was true. I suspected one of my new crew was one of Judah's followers. I was correct. He incited most of the others to mutiny, and I sank the Sea Witch deliberately. I knew I would not return to you at Belle Mer.” There was still so much more he wanted to say, but not now. Not with Julia there.
He reached out to touch Angelique's cheek with gentle fingers. She smiled, understanding that they would talk of the rest later, after they finished with Judah. ”You still haven't told Julia your name, my darling.”
”Aaron Forsythe. Yes. I remember it all now.” His eyes narrowed as he looked at Angelique. Without looking at Julia, he said, ”Go back to the hospital, Julia. Stay with Roger. After I talk to Angelique, I will go to see Quentin.”
The voice was different, Julia thought. Harder. Like steel covered in soft velvet. It could stroke softly - or strike with94.
deadly force. Sudden fear for Angelique made her speak. ”I'm not sure I should go.”
As though he could read her thoughts, Barnabas spoke again. ”Angelique will be all right, Julia.”
”Go on, Julia. He won't hurt me.”
”I'll be at the hospital, then.”
Angelique watched Barnabas carefully before rising to her feet. She could feel his eyes on her as she poured them each something to drink. ”Why didn't you ever show me this before?” he asked suddenly, fingering the fob.
She took a deep breath and turned to give him the gla.s.s. ”I didn't think it necessary.”
”You placed a curse on me because I could not admit my love for you, yet if you had shown me this - I would have remembered -”