Captive Hearts

CAPTIVE HEARTS

by

Teresa J. Reasor

Copyright 2013 Teresa J. Reasor

Smashwords Edition

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

COPYRIGHT @ 2007 by Teresa J. Reasor

COPYRIGHT © 2013 by Teresa J. Reasor

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Contact Information: teresareasor@msn.com

Cover Art by Tracy Stewart of Simply Bookish

Edited by Faith Freewoman

Teresa J. Reasor

PO Box 124

Corbin, KY 40702

Publishing History: First Edition 2007

Second Edition 2013

ISBN 13: 978-0-9886627-1-1

ISBN 10: 0-9886627-1-X

DEDICATION

To my Dad, because he thought there was nothing I couldn’t do. And to my friend, Jean Lawson, who read this book in it’s first incarnation and said, You can make it better. I miss you both.

To my wonderful editor Faith Free-woman who always shows me the error of my ways and never holds back a compliment when I’ve done something well. This book is so much better because of your guidance.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Epilogue

Author’s Bio

Books By Teresa J. Reasor

CHAPTER 1

London, England 1796

"I do not understand why you feel you must accompany me." Edward’s peevish whine sounded as annoying as a rusty gate.

Katherine braced her hand on the leather seat as the coach turned a steep curve. You are arranging my marriage today, Uncle. Do you not think I should take an interest in the man to whom you will promise me?

Lord Willingham has assured me his nephew is an honorable man, Katherine.

A man of honor imprisoned for smuggling. Forgive me if I have some reservations.

Edward drew a deep breath, the nostrils of his long, beaked nose contracting. He had a misunderstanding with Lord Rudman. However, his release has been arranged for tomorrow.

If he agrees.

Living for two months in such conditions is enough to test any man’s mettle. He will agree.

She pushed aside the leather shade covering the coach window and looked out at the rain-washed London streets. She took care to control her expression and her voice so he would see none of the fury seething within her. How could he be so callous? Does it not trouble you that in order to encourage a man to wed me you must threaten him with further emprisonment?

Edward’s gray brows drew together in a frown, his expression hardening. A husband who will be regaining his freedom, his ship, and his profits, because of you, will have sufficient reason to pledge his loyalty.

She straightened her shoulders. A loyalty thrust down his throat by threats would mean little once they were at sea on his ship. Katherine shuddered to imagine the mistreatment she might suffer at the hands of such a man.

A marriage was to be arranged for you sooner or later, Katherine. Edward stretched his thin legs out and appeared to study the careful alignment of knee breeches, stockings, and shoes. He pulled a lace-trimmed handkerchief from his sleeve and bent to rub away a muddy smudge from the toe of his expensive leather footwear. Had your father lived he would have seen to it himself.

Your eagerness to fulfill your duty as my guardian is touching, Uncle.

Her sarcasm earned an exasperated snort. I am doing what I think best. I am eager, as you must be as well, for you to leave all this unpleasantness behind you. If seeing you wed to a Yankee will ensure that, so be it.

Unpleasantness! Her entire family lay dead and he resented the inconvenience their demise had caused him. Though he didn’t mind the profit it had brought him.

Scowling again, Edward avoided her gaze as he fidgeted with the lacy sleeve draped about his hand. I know you had hoped to see the men responsible captured, Katherine. He stuffed the handkerchief back into place. I am certain justice will be done, but it will be left to others to see to it, not you. Once you are wed, you will have other responsibilities.

He thought to distract her with a husband and all the demands one would entail. Blazing rage clogged her throat and made it difficult for her to breathe. It took several moments for her to beat back the emotion.

Pretending a calm she didn’t feel, she settled back into the corner of the seat and brushed away a small piece of lint from the skirt of her black gown. She would bide her time. Once Edward was lulled into complacency, she would do as she pleased.

The coach rolled to a stop, and within moments the door was opened. A footman lowered the steps.

Edward donned his tricorn and stepped down from the coach. Adjusting the hood of her cloak over her hair, Katherine paused in the open door, her attention focused on the large, flat-roofed building before her. Wet stone mirrored the gray of the clouds overhead. Barred windows and heavy wooden doors gave the impression of brooding malevolence. Rust stained the stone facings around the bars, looking as though the walls wept tears of blood.

She shivered at her melancholy thoughts, and responding to her uncle’s impatient gesture, grasped his hand and stepped down from the conveyance. Edward guided her around the large puddles blocking their path to the side entrance. At his knock, a small square opening appeared in the heavy wooden portal.

Open, man, he ordered. It is raining.

Aye, yer lordship.

The door swung inward and the rotund guard stepped back to allow them entry. The dreary light touched briefly on his round, bloated face surrounded by greasy hair before he closed the door and secured it. The dull, flickering glow of an oil lamp suspended from the wall illuminated the stained corridor walls and crept across the dirt-clogged floors.

The guard turned small, close-set eyes on Katherine. Ye said nothin’ about bringin’ a woman with ye.

This is Captain Hamilton’s betrothed, Mr. Hicks. Surely you understand her eagerness to see him.

This be no place for a woman, yer lordship.

After all the trouble he has caused you, I am sure you wish to be done with the man. Her presence may inspire him to be reasonable.

Hicks grimaced The Yank be more than trouble. ’E near ’ad the others ready ta revolt. A sneer curled his lip. We should ’ave done fer the whole lot of them colonials a score a years ago.

I believe we tried that and failed, Mr. Hicks, Katherine retorted crisply.

A scowl creased his piggish face as he pointed at Katherine with the tip of his small wooden club. Keep yer distance from that bloke, missy. If’n that tricky bastard tries anythin’, I’ll knock ’is head for ye.

He strutted down the passageway ahead of them, trailing the odors stale sweat and garlic in his wake.

Holding his lacy handkerchief to his nose with one hand, Edward grabbed her arm and hurried her forward. The farther they traversed along the narrow corridor the more overpowering became the stench of unwashed bodies and human waste. Some poor wretch’s cries of pain drifted from within the bowels of the jail.

The walls closed in on Katherine, making it difficult for her to breathe. She focused on the dim light offered by the torches hung at intervals along the way and fought the stifling feeling of being buried. She refused to give Edward the satisfaction of knowing how frightening she found the place. To show him weakness would encourage him to exploit her frailty.

Hicks halted before one of the doors. Lord Willing’am be inside with ’amilton. The large ring of keys he gripped in his beefy hand jingled as he unlocked the door.

I require that you remain here, Katherine, until I have had an opportunity to speak with Captain Hamilton, Edward said, his words more a demand than a suggestion.

Katherine suppressed a shudder at being left in the dark passageway with the revolting Mr. Hicks. Why may I not join you, Edward?

He may be more reasonable about the situation if I smooth the way. You do not wish to appear overly eager, do you?

She bit back the bubble of hysterical laughter threatening to erupt. Yes, I am most eager to wed a stranger, Edward. As eager, I am sure, as he will be.

Angrily, he thrust his narrow face close to hers, his gray eyes hard and cold in the dull light. You will remain here or I will have Mr. Hicks escort you back to the coach. He underlined each word with the stabbing movement of his rain-spotted tricorn.

I will grant you only a moment, then I am coming in.

Her uncle jerked himself erect and puffed out his chest. His thin frame remained stiff with displeasure as he stood back to allow Hicks to open the cell door.

You can’t be serious. Matthew Hamilton shook his head. Was he the only one who found this situation as staggeringly ridiculous as his arrest? If I’d wanted another wife, I’d be wed already.

"What do you mean another wife?" his visitor demanded, his eyes wide with surprise.

My nephew’s wife, Caroline, died in childbirth four years ago, Edward, Talbot Willingham explained.

Good…ah, Edward faltered.

The man’s callousness caught Matthew by surprise. He focused on him through narrowed eyes and stilled the urge to give the mincing bastard a hearty thump.

Edward’s cheeks turned ruddy. I mean…it is good there is no obstacle to the union between you and my niece, Captain Hamilton.

Matthew suppressed a sneer. There is, Leighton. I don’t wish to remarry. I’d say that was obstacle enough.

You do not seem to understand, sir. Either you agree to the marriage, or you remain in this cell…indefinitely.

Matthew looked to Talbot Willingham. His uncle’s nod gave him pause. The marks on the wall just behind the straw cot where he slept caught his eye. He had no need to count them. He had spent two months and one week in this hellish place.

Upon completion of the marriage ceremony, your ship and the proceeds from the sale of the cargo will be released to you. You will be free to return to America, with my niece, of course.

Free, but not free. Bitterness choked him. First they imprisoned him for a crime he didn’t commit and now they wished to foist a wife upon him. What is wrong with this woman that you must go to such lengths to find her a husband?

Edward straightened his skinny frame, his long nose flaring with indignation. Why, there is nothing wrong with Katherine, unless you count being quick of wit and strong of will as faults.

She was probably a harridan "How old would this… maiden be?"

She will be ten and nine the first of December, Captain Hamilton. Young enough to provide you many children, yet old enough to allay the boredom of having wed a chit right out of the schoolroom.

Edward Leighton had missed his calling. He would have made a gifted auctioneer, or perhaps a slave trader.

Perhaps you would care to meet her? The foppish lord moved to the door and opened it.

Matthew had only a moment to wonder what kind of man would bring a lady to such a place when he spied Hicks just outside the portal. His resentment flared. He would not be humbled before the man who had tormented him these past two months.

Matthew folded his arms in a relaxed pose, knowing his lack of fear in the guard’s presence infuriated the toad I thought I smelled your stench, Hicks.

Ye don’t smell like no flower garden yerself, Yank, Hicks retorted.

After two months of your stinginess with water and soap, I at least have an excuse. There’s no jailer intent on depriving you of such comforts.

The guard grimaced and shook the club at Matthew. I’ll deprive ye of a few teeth if ye don’t keep a civil tongue in yer head.

You are free to try, my friend.

Hicks’s cheeks flushed and he started forward, his club raised. He stumbled and fell like a stone, his head thumping the dirt floor.

Oh, Mr. Hicks, do forgive me! A breathless feminine voice exclaimed. I did not mean to trip you. Here, you must allow me to help you up. The deep blue hood of her cloak partially covered the woman’s face as she bent to assist the jailer. Once on his knees, Hicks extended an arm to retrieve the club. She stepped to the side, her heel grinding down on his outstretched hand.

The guard yelped and jerked the abused digit back.

Oh! How clumsy of me, Mr. Hicks. She grasped the man’s arm just above the elbow and at the same time scooped up the club in the other hand. Here is your stick, she offered. As he regained his feet, she raised the weapon butt first hitting him just beneath the chin. His jaws snapped shut with a click, and with a muffled cry of pain, he clapped a hand over his mouth.

Whatever is wrong now, Mr. Hicks? she asked, her voice laced with concern.

I bit me bloody tongue! he groaned and dodged the wooden cudgel as she raised it once again.

Give me that, Edward demanded, jerking the weapon from her hand. Before you kill the man. He turned his attention to the guard. Hicks, wait outside for us. He thrust the club at the injured man, missing his nose by an inch.

The guard jerked back reflexively, still holding his mouth. He took the staff and held it away as though it might set itself on him. As the door slammed shut behind him, the woman bent to retrieve something from the cell floor.

He dropped his keys, she announced.

Matthew laughed aloud.

She brushed back the hood of the cloak from her hair to reveal glossy burnished curls, deep chestnut in color. The heavy locks cascaded over her shoulder as she turned toward him.

He controlled his expression with an effort, for the beauty standing before him was far from what he had expected.

Edward hastened to make the introductions. Lord Willingham, allow me to introduce my niece, Katherine Leighton.

It is a pleasure, Lady Katherine. A hint of suppressed laughter played about his uncle’s face as he bent with courtly grace over the hand she offered him.

Perhaps you should have these. She offered Talbot the ring of keys.

With a chuckle he accepted them. Allow me to introduce you to my nephew. Talbot urged her toward Matthew.

Dark, almond-shaped eyes the color of wild violets rose to meet Matthew’s gaze. The mass of auburn curls framed one side of her oval face, emphasizing her clear, creamy complexion. Color rose in her cheeks.

A polite smile curved her lips, showing small, even pearl-white teeth. It would seem Mr. Hicks has derived great pleasure from denying you as many comforts as possible, Captain Hamilton. As she surveyed the sparse appointments of the cell, anger flitted across her face. From what I observed while in the corridor, he seems to enjoy overstepping his duties in regard to disciplining the prisoners as well.

You could say that, Matthew agreed. The soft, clean scent of soap and woman wafted up to him, stirring to life a hunger he tried hard to ignore. Two months aboard ship and two long months of confinement had honed his desire for a woman to a razor sharp edge. The other prisoners would’ve relished seeing him get some of his own.

What was it you did to cause Lord Rudman to send you to this place? she asked without preamble.

Katherine— Edward objected.

Matthew ignored the man, sensing his freedom rested in the hands of the young woman before him and not with her uncle. It wasn’t so much what I did, but what his wife had in mind for me to do. When I refused, she told her husband I had taken liberties. The next morning my ship was put under guard and I was brought here.

Edward broke in, It matters little what you did or did not do, Hamilton. You can be released as early as tomorrow morning. All you need do is agree to the terms.

Irritation flickered across Lady Katherine’s face as she turned her attention to her uncle.

So she wasn’t as resigned to being wed to a colonial criminal as she pretended.

Edward, I would ask for a few moments alone with Captain Hamilton, she said.

The man’s gaze traveled from his niece, to Matthew, then back again. That would not be proper, Katherine.

One wing-like auburn brow rose, and a brief beat of time passed before she spoke in a slow, measured tone, one fist clenched at her side. You left me in the hall unchaperoned with Mr. Hicks, Uncle. Are you saying you trust that guard more than the man to whom you have offered me?

Edward compressed his lips, his displeasure at the censure in her tone evident.

You and Lord Willingham will be just outside the door should I need you. I am sure Captain Hamilton will conduct himself like a gentleman. After all, I do not believe he would wish to do anything that would lengthen his stay here. She turned to Matthew, Is that not correct, Captain?

Assuredly, Lady Katherine. He inclined his head.

His uncle grasped Edward by the elbow and guided him from the cell. Your niece will be perfectly safe with Matthew, Edward. She will be alone with him soon enough if they wed, will she not? The metal door slammed shut behind them.

Katherine’s chin rose and her violet eyes took on a flinty hue as she surveyed him from head to toe. She stepped close. Do you wish to leave this place?

Yes, I do.

Good. She shed her cloak and folded it over her arm. The square neckline of the black dress she wore was modest enough, but the high empire waistline cupped the generous swell of her bosom like a lover’s hands.

Matthew tensed. Did she know what her beauty could do to a man who had been incarcerated for so long? With an effort he dragged his eyes back up to her face, enjoying the lush curve of her lips as she spoke.

I no more wish to wed than you, but I must. And so must you if you wish to be free again.

Matthew braced his feet and clasped his hands behind him, suppressing the temptation to grin. No sweet-natured, tractable miss here, but no harridan, either. Why must you wed?

For a moment she remained silent, her long auburn lashes obscuring her gaze. She turned a graceful profile to him as looked toward the window set high in the wall. My uncle is my guardian and I am at the mercy of his generosity. With my marriage, I will receive a small allowance from the estate. It will not be much, but will be sufficient for me to live if I am careful.

He’d warrant there was more to the situation than that. Otherwise she wouldn’t be avoiding his gaze so diligently. You’ll not need it if you’re wed.

Her violet eyes returned to him. I do not intend to remain married. You will only need to allow me the use of your name for as long as it takes to settle my father’s estate and secure my legacy. We can have the marriage annulled as soon as that transpires.

Matthew raised his brows. And on what grounds do you hope to have the marriage annulled?

With my testimony and your uncle’s, we can prove you were unlawfully coerced into the union. Surely, the courts would grant you—us—an annulment on those grounds.

Resentful of the temptations she presented, he couldn’t resist toying with her a little, just to test her resolve.

Perhaps. As long as the marriage isn’t consummated.

Her jaw grew taut and her dark gaze focused on him intently. That would indeed be a requirement of both the marriage and the annulment, sir. I would require your word of honor that you will respect my desire that this remain a marriage in name only.

He was amazed at the trust she extended so easily. The honorable word of a Yankee prisoner wouldn’t hold a great deal of value for most, Lady Katherine.

"The honorable word of Lord Willingham’s nephew is sufficient for me. Even I know of your uncle’s reputation, Captain. Were you not worthy of his concern, he would not be here." She shifted nearer and tipped her head back to look up at him, her fragile, feminine form only a foot away. Her smooth, flawless skin looked soft. The sweet scent of violets teased his nostrils, making him painfully aware of his unsightly appearance and the rancid smell emanating from his unwashed body. Never had he hated Hicks more than he did at this moment.

You would be placing your name, and through association, your uncle’s, in my trust, Captain Hamilton.