The Bastard Son (Winds of Change Book 2) (12 page)

“You take too long,” Katy said and flashed her smile once more. “I’m Katy Landor. I have been anxious to meet you since I heard that Sumner married once more. Ah, Sumner! I can tell you that you are the envy of Charles Town. All the hearts faltered upon the news.”

Jane’s face fell, unsure of what to say. “It is a pleasure to meet you. You know my husband?”

“Know him?” Katy teased Jane. “I’m one of the ones that envy you greatly. I grew up admiring Sumner as a child! Sumner was over my home quite a lot when I was younger.”

“Are you trying to make me jealous, Katy?” Colonel Leckie interrupted her, returning her teasing.

“Did it work?” Katy asked in a playful manner.

“Why don’t I bring the both of you a drink?” Colonel Leckie smiled, escaping having to answer the girl. Jane wasn’t certain if it was serious flirting or play, but the two seemed comfortable around each other.

Jane watched Colonel Leckie disappear into the crowd of people and walk toward the punch bowl. Katie reached over for Jane’s hand.

“I don’t have much time. Is it okay if I call you Jane? It will make all much simpler.”

Confused, Jane nodded slightly.

“Good,” Katy said quickly. “Say nothing to anyone the words I’m going to repeat. In these times, don’t trust anyone, anyone, Jane. You can’t afford to. In what I’m going to say, I will find myself in difficulty if I have misread the situation. I’m going to trust that Sumner would never marry anyone that would betray him.”

Jane’s eyes grew wider. “I would never do so. I love…”

“Of course you do.” Katy smiled. “It is good, but I will tell to you the words I have only thus overheard.” She leaned over slightly and whispered. “General Durham wants you to stay within Charles Town in hopes of capturing Sumner, Jane. It is why he doesn’t want you to return to Elm Bluff.”

“I don’t understand.”

Katy glanced around the area quickly. “It is easier to contain one within the city. At Elm Bluff, Sumner knows it too well. He has too many connections.”

“But why would he think Sumner will return. Sumner didn’t bring me here. He sent for Israel to take me.”

She shook her head slightly. “His exact words were Sumner will return. He won’t stay away from her too long. Keep an eye upon her.”

Jane’s breathing quickened. The scoundrel was going to use her to get to Sumner! “What should I do? General Durham all but ordered me to stay in Charles Town.”

Katy sighed. “We will have to think of something, but know it is dangerous waters around here. One never knows whom to trust and who will betray. I wouldn’t doubt they will try to play you to set Sumner up. Be careful. Be warned.”

Jane caught sight of Colonel Leckie returning.

“You are overwhelmed with everything, I can tell. Stay beside me this night. My advice is not to back down, though, Jane. Don’t let General Durham maneuver you into an action you will regret,” she said, and without taking another breath, “Ah, Bruce, you are so quick! Are you going to take us to supper? I’m not going to leave my new friend’s side.”

“I would love to do, my ladies, but I ran into the general. I’m to bring Mrs. Meador to his side to escort her to dinner,” Colonel Leckie watched as Jane’s expression turned drastically from a friendly smile to a stubborn grimace.

“To be honored so, Jane! I’m sure you will be well entertained,” Katy said without hesitation. “But, Bruce, I have to insist I sit on her other side. We have only just met and I have so much to tell her about her husband I’m sure she doesn’t know.”

“What will Miss Rebekah do without her friend beside her? I thought you two inseparable!”

“You know me, Bruce, I will work everything out. Come,” she wrapped her arm around Jane’s and walked beside her while Colonel Leckie followed the two.

* * * *

“I’m planning on returning to England soon. It is more than likely that I will run into your husband’s sister, Cathryn. She is married to…”

“Yes, I’m aware of Cathryn and who she is married to. She sounds lovely. Are you going to tell her you are hunting her beloved brother?”

General Durham choked upon his bite. He took a quick sip of his wine as his eyes gleamed upon Jane. He retorted, “I would much prefer to tell her that her brother was safe within Charles Town supporting the King.”

Jane picked at the food on her plate. She wanted nothing more than to leave, but she was trapped at this party as she was within Charles Town. She could feel cold, hard eyes burning into her from across the table from that woman, Randa Peyton.

Glaring back at Randa, Jane reluctantly admitted she was the most beautiful woman she had ever laid eyes upon. Her thick blond hair seemed hard to control, escaped in curls around her perfectly creamy skin. Her blue eyes seemed as the sky. Her gown clung to her, accenting her curves. Randa’s generous mouth twitched with a rueful smile.

General Durham had introduced her to everyone around their table, including Randa. Katy had been successful in placing her chair by Jane with Colonel Leckie to her side, but it was across the table where she questioned why one would have done so. Everyone must have known that Sumner held William Peyton responsible for the death of his wife and mother…and he was sitting across from her with his wife.

She supposed once he may have been handsome, but no more. His face was reddened; his eyes protruded outward, red and puffy; a thin man, almost emaciated.

Jane had known of one other who had that look, her neighbor, Jansen. Her grandfather had commented he liked the drink too much, which Jane wouldn’t have dismissed in William Peyton’s case. He was on his third glass of wine and dinner not complete.

To her surprise, she discovered that Katy was Randa’s sister, but she understood quickly there was little love lost between the two. Katy seemed to enjoy rubbing Jane in Randa’s face.

“Tell us, my dear new friend, Jane, how do you find your husband’s home?”

“It is too soon to say since I have only been at Elm Bluff a few days. I came to retrieve my stepson.”

William Peyton stifled a laugh. “From what I hear, you will have your hands full!”

Jane stared intensely at the man her husband hated. Her eyes clouded with a gale of outrage, she set her fork down. “I have found him a delightful child. I expected nothing else from a child that lost his mother so cruelly. Would you?”

The room fell silent. All eyes turned on William, who replied in a curt tone, “Would I expect that Sumner had a hellion for a son…one that cannot be controlled, without manners, and nary a hope to become a gentleman? I would answer it would be impossible to expect otherwise.”

“You, sir, wouldn’t know what it means to be a gentleman!” Jane declared and tried to rise.

General Durham caught her hand. He turned to Peyton and said with authority, “I believe, Mr. Peyton, that you need to retire for the night. Do you not think? You have the look of someone ill.” He added. “Now!”

Peyton laughed, incredulously and loudly. He pushed back his chair, stumbling, but he caught himself. “So I have been ordered. I will go a shadow of a man. As always in my life, Sumner has once more upped me. He has found a beautiful woman to warm his bed and I have his cast aside, who won’t grace my bed.

“Will you, my darling wife?” He took hold of his glass and drank down the last drop of wine. He then threw the glass at General Durham, who ducked easily and let the glass shatter behind him. “No, you have found another to do so.”

General Durham wasted no time. With his hand, he motioned to two sentries. Quickly, the two had hold of the drunken man’s arms.

“Take him home and let him sleep off all.”

Jane wanted nothing more than for the floor to open up and swallow her. Peyton’s face went ashen, fighting vainly against the sentries who were escorting him out.

Randa rushed from the room. General Durham’s eyes followed Randa, but didn’t move.

Katy took Jane by the arm. “Let us retire back to the ballroom. We don’t need to watch.”

Colonel Leckie drew back their chairs. “Go to the veranda. I’ll meet you both there. I believe this party has ended for the both of you.”

* * * *

The music began to play again, but there were few upon the dance floor. Jane saw many mingling talking among themselves, glancing up occasionally. Her eyes searched for Henry or Willard. Surely, they hadn’t deserted her. No, she had the distinct impression that Henry held Peyton in the same contempt as Sumner.

As time passed, more guests returned to the dance floor. Jane’s new friend had yet to come to her side. From the corner of her eye she saw Katy talking to an older gentleman, her father perhaps. She waited with impatience. She wanted only to return back to the Peterson’s.

She sighed heavily. Colonel Leckie had said to meet on the veranda, but had yet to make an appearance. She paced, not knowing what to do. The night couldn’t have gone worse…then she saw.

Jane froze. She couldn’t breathe or move. Walking into the ballroom, a smiling man caught her attention. Her greatest fear—Bloody Benny Williamson was in Charles Town and he was staring straight at her.

* * * *

Jane tried desperately to still the thumping of her heart. Did he look as dangerous to others as he did to her? Benny’s eyes swept the room, assuring himself there was no one to stop his approach. He didn’t rush.

She broke from his glare. Gripping tightly to the railing, she looked into the garden. No one seemed to notice her dismay…no one seemed to care that a dangerous man was after her.

She eased behind a couple, who seemed engrossed within their conversation. The woman looked at her strangely, but Jane took no notice and hurriedly descended the few steps to the garden. She reacted to her instincts and slipped away from the party into the darkness and shadows.

Her heart raced, but she didn’t slow her pace. Her only thought was leaving…leaving this damnable place. She had to get back to Caleb without delay. Emerging from the far end of the garden, she tried to calm herself.

Could she remember how to get back to the Peterson’s? It hadn’t been a far ride, only a couple of streets over. Yes…yes…she could remember.

Then the thought crossed her mind—would he follow? A surge of panic swept over her. The night was a disaster if she survived it. What, oh, what was she going to do?

Then, she pictured Caleb. She had to calm herself. She had a small child who depended upon her whether he wanted to or not. She had a husband who was fighting against this madness. Jane would fight also. Regaining a semblance of composure, she ran.

Her feet hurt. Her dancing slippers were not made for running. She bent down and took them off. Hearing a noise behind her, she jumped back into the shadows. It was only a carriage.

Calming her heart, she began again. It was longer than she first thought. Doubts crept in that she had gone the wrong way. In the moonlight, nothing seemed familiar as she had hoped. Had she gone too far or not far enough?

Suddenly, she saw the Peterson’s house. Relief flooded her. The Peterson’s! Thank God! She looked over her shoulder and to her side. Nothing. She ran toward the entrance.

She made no effort to knock, but opened the door wide. Slamming it hard behind her, she leaned back against it and drew in a deep breath. She started toward the stairs, but paused. She had forgotten other British soldiers lived under this roof.

A group of British officers stood in the middle of the foyer. She recognized Major Cunningham, who nodded to the others.
Caged… I’m as a caged animal.

“It seems you were right, Joseph,” Major Cunningham said and gestured for the others to follow. “I will leave the two of you to talk as you requested. I will go back and inform the general she has been found.”

She wanted to run, escape, but she couldn’t leave Caleb. Major Cunningham walked up slowly to her and politely asked Jane to move to the side so he could exit. She didn’t even hear the door close for her attention lay with the man before her. The whole of her body shuddered.

She couldn’t make out his face, but she felt his eyes upon her. Then slowly, he walked out of the shadows. Oh, Good Lord…it was Joseph…Joseph Williamson. She took a step back.

“Don’t come near me. I will scream. Stay away!”

Taller than most, he was dressed as if he had traveled a great distance. His blond hair tied back in a queue seemed longer than she remembered. His piercing blue eyes fixed upon her.

“Do you think I want to hurt you, Jane?” he asked.

Jane didn’t answer. She stared past by him, eyeing the stairs. She needed to get by him to Caleb. She had to escape, escape from this madness. She eased back against the wall and inched along it.

He grabbed her arm and whirled her into his arms. She screamed. Immediately, his hand went over her mouth.

“Do I scare you that much? There was a time…” he paused and shook his head. “Why, Jane, did you not stay with the Mathersons? I had placed you there until I could return.”

Her hand pushed back his against her mouth. Catching her breath, she said, “I remember nothing except my family, Joseph. The family that took you in, cared for you, you…you butchered. It is what I remember…you riding up. I saw you clearly.”

Sudden anger burned in his eyes. “I told you then it was not my doing. Do you not remember it was I that stopped the sword from descending down upon you? I took you away from the carnage. Don’t you remember?”