Love's Fiery Jewel (26 page)

The following days moved in a steady, easy pattern for
Damien, the leisurely pace belying the speed with which
the week slipped past. Strangely reluctant to abandon
Amethyst for even one night, he scornfully ignored the
pallet Tillie prepared in the living room and returned to
Amethyst's bed each night, secure in the knowledge that
Amethyst would not refuse him. Nagging relentlessly at
his conscience however, was his realization that Amethyst's acceptance of him was due mainly to fear of his
retaliation should she ultimately refuse him. But the
warmth of her response to his lovemaking was not due to
fear, of that he was certain. There was no denying the
spontaneous spark that ignited each time their bodies
touched and the growing warmth of Amethyst's acceptance, despite the reluctance with which it was given.

Fiercely possessive, he watched with great personal
satisfaction the slow return of Amethyst's strength and
color, personally supervising every facet of her recovery
to Tillie's obvious but unexpressed annoyance. In truth,
sorely conscious of his own growing obsession with the
small violet-eyed woman around whom his life suddenly
seemed to revolve, Damien firmly refused to consider the
situation beyond a day at a time while the Sally's
scheduled sailing date the following week nagged
persistently at the back of his mind.

Forcing himself to attend to business matters in the morning hours of the day, Damien returned to the house
punctually each noon to assist Amethyst in her daily
exercise, carefully lengthening its duration so she might
gradually strengthen her weakened muscles. But however long the daylight hours, night brought Amethyst
into his arms again, allowing him to gently explore the
depths to which the reluctant lavender-eyed waif stirred
his boundless passion.

Slowly opening her eyes, Amethyst allowed her sleepdrugged gaze to drift around the small room. Suddenly
looking to the bed beside her, she was relieved to find it
empty. Shaking the fogginess from her mind, Amethyst
recalled impatiently that it was afternoon and she was
merely awakening from the nap which Damien had
insisted she take. A small frown creasing her brow.
Amethyst mumbled under her breath, "My life is no
longer my own since Damien Straith has become
concerned with it, damn him!"

"You must get ample rest. Amethyst, if you are to get
well. You must eat more, Amethyst, if you are to regain
your strength. You must not attempt to walk by yourself
yet, Amethyst. You aren't strong enough. Do this,
Amethyst... do that, Amethyst..." Damien's steady
stream of commands echoed in her brain even during his
absence. Sorely tired of the level steel-gray gaze and the
endless orders accompanying it, Amethyst had all she
could do to maintain her composure. But she dared not
oppose Damien in any way. Her mind moving unconsciously to William, she shook her head. No, the result of
outright opposition could be disastrous. She must be
patient a little longer... especially now. From the few
remarks Damien had dropped and the occasional visits
from his first mate when business matters had necessitated the call, she had gathered she would not have to
tolerate his presence in her life much longer. The Sally would soon be ready to sail.. .perhaps within the week.
The realization that she would soon be free of her
bondage shook her with a tremor of inexplicable
emotion. Taking a deep breath to shake off her
momentary weakness, Amethyst continued her silent
plans. Damien would soon be sailing for America and she
would resume her life. She would allow these few weeks
to assume no more significance in her life than they
would in Damien's. When she was strong again she
would return to the theater, and when the troupe
returned to America, she would accompany them. She no
longer had any ties on the island. William's and her
future together had been shattered the day she left
Sheridan Plantation.

Firmly refusing to succumb to the sorrow that thought
evoked, Amethyst threw back the coverlet and prepared
to rise. "No matter what Damien says, I shall walk
unaided today!" she mumbled adamantly, the small
rebellion lifting her spirits immeasurably as she pulled
herself to a sitting position on the side of the bed.
Suddenly conscious of the full extent of her debility as
the room appeared to rock unsteadily around her,
Amethyst took a firmer grip on her resolution and
inhaled deeply. A bit more secure as the room ceased
moving, she pulled herself gingerly to her feet, leaning
heavily on the bed as she fumbled with her slippers.
Satisfied at last that she was standing reasonably steady,
she attempted her first step. Her knees wobbling weakly,
she took another, and another, until she was standing
before the bedroom dresser. Still trembling, she lifted her
eyes to the mirror, her own reflection eliciting a shocked
gasp.

"No! That cannot be me!" Raising a tentative,
exploring hand to her face, Amethyst stared wide-eyed
into the mottled glass. She looked ghastly! Thin to the
point of emaciation, her face was small and white, the skin drawn tightly over her cheekbones, further emphasizing the deep lavender of her eyes, which indeed
appeared to overwhelm her face. Thick black curls
tumbled in wild disarray to shoulders that poked out
sharply through the voluminous night rail in which her
thin body appeared decidedly lost. Even her hands had a
wan, skeletal appearance, and assessing herself critically,
Amethyst silently marveled that Damien Straith could
bear to look at her, much less desire to share her bed.

Taking a firm grip on the dresser with one hand,
Amethyst reached for her brush with the other. She had
only been able to give her riotous curls a few short
strokes before her strength began to fade, but unwilling
to admit defeat and return to bed, Amethyst relinquished
the brush and prepared to walk to the doorway. One step,
two and then three and she was at the door, experiencing
a tremendous burst of pride in that small accomplishment as she grasped the doorknob tightly. She still
swayed uncertainly, but taking another deep breath,
Amethyst turned the knob and walked unsteadily
through the doorway into the living room.

Her sudden appearance brought a low gasp from Tillie
and an angry snort from Damien as both heads snapped
in her direction. At her side within seconds, Damien
steadied her faltering step as he scowled blackly.

"What do you think you've doing. Amethyst?"

"It should be fairly obvious, Damien." Angry that her
voice lacked the strength to carry the proper sting,
Amethyst continued as arrogantly as she could manage,
"and I do not need your assistance to get to the other side
of the room!"

His scowl darkening, Damien dismissed her words with
a small deprecating glance. Swinging her up into his
arms, he held her tightly against his broad chest as he
carried her effortlessly toward the couch.

Incensed by his high-handed manner, Amethyst's pale face flushed brightly as she insisted through clenched
teeth, "I said I am quite well enough to walk across this
room. Put me down, I say!"

His expression softening only briefly as his glance
traveled the small furious face staring up into his,
Damien mumbled begrudgingly as he lowered her to the
couch, "I admit you must be feeling somewhat better
since you appear to be reverting to your usual bellicose
manner, but you are not at all strong enough to walk
unaided. Amethyst. I have no intention of allowing you
to effectively negate all the hard work I have put into
your recuperation by..."

"And who gave you authority for absolute control
over my recuperation and my life, Captain Straith?"
Amethyst burst out heatedly, anger effectively dismissing her former caution.

Translucent gray eyes regarding her with a maddening
assurance, Damien responded without hesitation, "You
did, Amethyst, the day you walked back aboard my ship."

Words of denial choking her throat. Amethyst
swallowed hard before retorting fervently, "But I did not
turn myself over to you body and soul, Damien Straith.
I..."

Not bothering to allow her to finish her statement,
Damien interrupted softly with an intimacy that
darkened the flush on her cheek, "When it comes to you,
Amethyst, I find I can accept no less a commitment."

Her expression tightening in anger, Amethyst deliberately withheld her instinctive response in deference
to caution. Jerking her glance from his, she stubbornly
fastened it on an object in the far corner of the room,
continuing to ignore him as she sensed the heat of his
glance slowly moving over her prone figure.

When he finally spoke, Damien's voice held an oddly
cautious ring. "At any rate, Amethyst, you will not be
bothered by my interference much longer..."

Lavender eyes snapping back to his face revealingly in
an unguarded moment, Amethyst whispered hopefully,
"What do you mean, Damien?"

"The Sally will be sailing within a week's time..."
Damien's voice trailed away as he scrutinized her classic
features.

Reacting with instinctive caution to his assessing
glance, Amethyst glanced away, struggling to hide the
elation surging through her veins as a small voice echoed
over and over in the back of her mind, "I will be
free ...I will be free!"

Finally in control, Amethyst raised her eyes. "You will
be returning to Charleston, Damien?"

"No, our destination is Philadelphia. Our merchandise will be well received in that port."

Nodding her head in silent acknowledgment, Amethyst once again averted her gaze, the tight rein kept on
her raging emotions all but consuming the last of her
waning strength.

Unconsciously frowning, Damien pulled his powerful
body to its full height to speak in a warning tone. "I must
return to my ship for a few hours. You may rest on the
couch if you wish for a while longer, but you will not
attempt to walk back to bed unaided, is that understood,
Amethyst?" When she did not respond, choosing instead
to continue her perusal of an unknown object in the
corner, his deep voice boomed angrily in the room,
snapping her eyes back to him as he repeated with added
emphasis, "Do you hear me, Amethyst?"

Her gaze filled with disdain, Amethyst replied quietly,
"My illness did not affect my hearing, Damien."

"Yes, it would appear your hearing is intact, leaving
only your common sense impaired, Amethyst! You will
allow Tillie to help you return to bed when you tire."

Suddenly unable to bear his autocratic tone a moment
longer, Amethyst snapped heatedly, "And what would you do should I refuse to obey your `request,' Damien?
Punish me? Send me to bed without supper?"

Silence followed Amethyst's haughty challenge, during
which the fury in Damien's penetrating stare seemed to
seep into her very soul. The power of its translucent glare
was overwhelming, slowly draining her rebellion, leaving
her small and defenseless as she struggled to restrain the
violent tremors of fear suddenly shaking her body.

A small, confident smile growing on his lips, Damien
responded softly, "Would you like to test me and see,
Amethyst?"

The last of her courage deserting her, Amethyst's
glance finally fell from his. Attempting to talk with a
mouth that had suddenly gone dry with anxiety,
Amethyst stammered uncertainly, "N...No, Damien.
I...I will call Tillie when I'm ready to return to bed."

Her face was still averted when he turned and moved
toward the doorway, leaving to slam the door loudly
behind him. Turning to stare with blazing hatred in its
direction, Amethyst mumbled heatedly under her
breath, "Enjoy your domination while you can, Damien
Straith! I am too weak to fight you now, but you will soon
be gone and then I will be free of yoar insufferable
demands! And you may rest assured you will never find
me vulnerable to your wants again!"

Amethyst was shaking violently and fearful for her
health, Tillie moved swiftly to her side. Stroking her
cheek gently, the worried mulatto crooned softly, "Him
not worth you anger, Amethyst. Amethyst soon be free of
that obeah-man, and Mr. Sheridan... him take you back
with..."

Tears welling in her eyes at the mention of William's
name, Amethyst snapped sharply, "I don't wish to
discuss it, Tillie!"

Immediately regretting her harsh word Amethyst
turned apologetic eyes to Tillie's hurt expression. "Tillie.. .please.. .1 find Captain Straith was right
after all. I am far weaker than I realized. Would you help
me back to bed?"

Unable to respond past the lump in her own throat,
Tillie nodded dumbly, gently helping Amethyst to her
feet.

Settled once again in bed, Amethyst snatched Tillie's
dark hand as she turned to leave the room. In a voice
filled with remorse, Amethyst whispered softly, "Please
don't be angry with me, Tillie. You know I love you,
don't you? You're all I have left now..."

Her rich voice deep with emotion, Tillie returned the
pressure of the thin white hand, her own eyes bright with
tears. "Tillie knows. You not to worry, Amethyst. Tillie
knows..."

Pulling his tall, gaunt frame tentatively to his feet,
William ran a nervous hand through his tousled
mahogany hair. His face creased in concentration, he
advanced slowly toward the window of his room,
straining to overcome the weakness that caused his knees
to wobble uncertainly. Finally at the window, he grasped
the pane for support, the thin veil of perspiration
covering his forehead and upper lip silent testimony to
the effort expended by the small exertion.

"Damn! Damn!" he muttered beneath his breath.
"How damned long will it take me to regain my
strength?" Determined to test his endurance further,
William took a deep breath and advanced in the direction
of the doorway. This time he smiled as he appeared to
regain a bit more stability with each step, his spirits
soaring. He was doing better already! He was certain he
had remained in a weakened condition because Dr.
Martens's caution and his parents concern had kept him
confined to his bed. But the fever and retching had been
gone-for well over a week. Strange how Amethyst's departure had seemed to signal a turn for the better in his
condition. He realized he still had a way to go before
complete recovery, but he was definitely on the mend.
Even his dizzy spells had ceased, and he was now certain
he would be fit to travel within the week. Yes. He would
set the date a week from today... a week from today he
would be on his way to Kingston to see Amethyst!