He stood at the helm of theRed Dragon,his ice-blue eyes alert for anything untoward upon the black sea, while his inner mind winged back from Eve and Ceylon. He had deliberately not given her the ring while she was awake. She could not be formally engaged while she was in mourning. He had had no need to see her reaction to the priceless jewel. He had known exactly how her pupils would dilate and how her loins would spasm with excitement to possess such a treasure.
A smile curved his wicked-looking mouth. Eve was an avaricious little bitch, like most women. He thought no less of her for it; after all, she was only human. She would make a superb chatelaine for Edenwood and in return she would give him her children.
A son! A son upon the brink of manhood. He couldn’t wait to meet him. He had a wealth of experience to impart to him. A daughter, too, he thought wryly. He was unsure of himself there, all right. He had little he could teach a young girl, but he would give her his protection. The world was filled with untold evil. He would see that it never touched her. But a son … Anthony … Tony … he couldn’t wait!
When Antonia opened her eyes she saw that Roz had sat in a chair beside her bed all night. She felt disoriented as she sat up against the pillows, then realized she was in Anthony’s bedchamber.
Her grandmother awoke with a start, then heaved an enormous sigh of relief when she saw Antonia seemed unharmed by her ordeal.
“Where’s Anthony?”
“Oh, darling, we don’t know, but I’m afraid we must brace ourselves for the worst,” Roz said gently. “Do you remember what happened?”
A great lump formed in Antonia’s throat, so that she could hardly speak. Dear God, surely if she was alive, her twin was also. They were each half of one whole. The fate of one was the fate of the other. How could it be otherwise?
Antonia swallowed hard. “The storm came up out of nowhere. Everything went wrong at once. The mains fouled and we couldn’t get the sails off. Tony tied a line around me. We capsized, then somehow we managed to right her, but theSeagullwas totally unstable. Tony was washed overboard again and I couldn’t see him.” Her eyes filled with tears and she choked on her words.
Her grandmother’s eyes held such anguish, she knew she must keep a tight hold on her emotions and not go to pieces for Roz’s sake. “Someone should be out searching for Anthony. I was out there for endless hours before the tide brought me ashore.”
“Major Blount and his neighbor are out in his sloop searching the seas. I sent word to him last night that one twin was safely home, but to go out again at first light to look for the other twin or wreckage of theSeagull”
When Antonia tried to throw back the covers and climb from the bed, she fell back with a wince.
“You are hurt!” Roz cried, “You’ve broken something!”
“No … no, I don’t think so.” Antonia lifted the covers to inspect her body. “Lord, I’m covered with bruises.”
“Are you sure that’s all it is?” demanded Roz with concern.
“Yes, I’m positive. Help me up, I must help search for Anthony.”
“Under no circumstances. Lie still. We have to talk. Mr. Burke is walking the beach, in fact all the servants are out looking for any sign.”
Antonia sighed and was grateful to lie back. “Why am I in Tony’s room?”
“When Mr. Burke pulled you from the water last night he thought you were Anthony. So did I….” Roz’s voice trailed off, but Antonia knew there was more that she wanted to say. “Darling, we must face facts. If Anthony has drowned or is lost at sea, that cousin, that Bernard Lamb, will inherit the title and this house.”
An ominous silence filled the chamber as Antonia tried to make sense of her grandmother’s words. Then she forcefully rejected them. “No! That is impossible. Tony is just missing. He’s not dead. … I won’t let him be dead!”
“Blessed Virgin, grant that you are right, but if you are not, Antonia, if he does not show up today … soon, then indeed he is lost at sea and will be presumed drowned.”
Antonia turned her face into her pillow and sobbed brokenheartedly. Anthony was a part of her. She could not pretend strength, even for her grandmother’s sake.
Roz reached a hand to her shoulder. “Antonia, Mr. Burke and I talked long into the night. We have a plan … it’s rather daring in concept, but everything hinges upon you. It’s to be your decision entirely.”
Antonia struggled up and dried her face with the linen sheet.
Roz licked dry lips, then spoke in a low, confidential tone. “When word of this boating accident leaks out and it becomes known that Anthony is presumed drowned, the new heir will be upon us within a day, claiming everything and turning us out of the Hall. I never told you, darling, but Bernard Lamb came running to Stoke the moment he learned your father was deceased. The ruthless young devil was looking at Lamb Hall with speculative eyes. With Tony the new Lord Lamb, he was well aware of the fact that he was now heir apparent to everything. I gave him short shrift. There was no way I was going to allow the damned upstart to insinuate himself into the family circle. Now that the tables might be turned, he will derive the greatest pleasure from turning us out. He has just been waiting and praying for an accident to occur so he can claim everything.”
Antonia was appalled at the picture her grandmother painted. It was her nightmare becoming reality. Perhaps this diabolical Bernard Lamb had been doing more than praying for an accident. Perhaps he had deliberately sabotaged theSeagullWhy, that was attempted murder. Perhaps he had rotten-well succeeded too! Antonia groaned and closed her eyes.No, no,she told herself,don’t jump to such wicked conclusions. No one could be so evil.Thinking evil things would only bring terrible punishment down upon their heads. She must think only good thoughts until Tony was returned to them.
“If we pretend you are Anthony, it will buy us time, perhaps as much as a couple of weeks. It will give you time to recover your strength and time to see if Anthony comes home. If indeed he did not survive, it will give us time to pack our things and make other arrangements. We can move to my dower house. It’s only a cottage, but it will have to suffice. For the time being we will avoid putting a notice in theGazetteabout the boating accident.”
Her grandmother’s words brought home the reality of their predicament. Not only might they lose Anthony, but also Lamb Hall and all the security she had ever known. Antonia suddenly felt very ill.
Roz thought her averse to the idea, so she tried to convince her of its merit. “With your hair slicked back, even Mr. Burke and I mistook you for Anthony. If you temporarily pose as your brother, you will not have to forfeit the title, the town house, or most important of all, Lamb Hall.”
Antonia’s eyes widened at the sheer audacity of the suggestion.