Johnny smiled at her. "I've never seen you look so radiant, Em."

Then the two men engaged in conversation, totally excluding her. They spoke of merchant vessels, cargoes, and shipping routes. They spoke of the Admiralty, politics, the House of Commons, the House of Lords. They spoke of Prime Minister Pitt, of Newcastle, Bedford, and King George. They spoke a sort of code, which they understood perfectly, but she did not. John said things like: that information you asked me to get and that private matter, while Sean referred to that confidential bit of business and I have another agenda for you.

After the main course they made small talk, they joked, they laughed. The subject changed to horses. Sean promised to take him riding on the Curragh, and John asked about visiting Maynooth and someone called Nan FitzGerald.

Emerald listened to them in amazement. How dare they act as if she weren't present? She had expected John to explain why he was here and Sean to explain about his father and the shot. It was clearly a conspiracy!

She threw down her napkin, then banged her fist on the table, making the silverware dance a jig. She jumped to her feet. "Stop it!"

Both men gave her then polite intention.

She tossed her curls and gave Sean the back of her head. Then she spoke to John. "I've been missing for a week. How did you find me?"

"Father told me you were at Greystones."

"OhmiG.o.d! How did he find out?"

"I informed him, of course," Sean said smoothly. "Where's the pleasure in wounding your enemy if you don't twist the knife, then rub salt in the wound?"

"Did they send you to fetch me back?"

Johnny turned to Sean. "Actually, they sent me to see how much money you'd accept for her return."

Sean laughed. "Tell them possession is nine-tenths of the law. That goes for the ship as well as your sister. I'm keeping them both."

"You don't mind making it difficult for me, do you?" John asked wryly.

"Not in the least. Adversity is a good character builder."

"Well, I suppose the Montague Line will have to manage with one less ship."

John shrugged philosophically.

"Well, actually, it will be three ships less, this week. The slavers have vanished into thin air."

"Thank G.o.d for that," John said fervently.

"G.o.d had nothing to do with it, I a.s.sure you," Sean said pleasantly.

"d.a.m.n you both, you are doing it again!" Emerald cried.

Emerald's behavior shocked her brother. "Wherever did you learn such bad manners?"

"It's all right, I taught them to her. I like my women wild and willful so I can tame them."

She picked up her water gla.s.s and flung the contents in Sean O'Toole's mocking face. "I believe insanity runs in your family!" After p.r.o.nouncing her judgment she regally swept from the dining room.

Emerald paced about her chamber, she flung the curtains across the dark window, she thumped the bed pillows in an effort to vent her trustration. She knew Sean had a domineering personality and though she hadn't understood all of their conversation, she gathered he had some sort of hold over Johnny and was using him like a p.a.w.n in a chess game.

Emerald knew she would get little out of Sean, so she had no intention of wasting her time in that direction. If she was to learn what was going on, she would have to pry it out of Johnny. When she heard a low knock on the door, she hoped it was her brother, but instead it was Mrs. McBride.

"I've brought the night rails and bed robe the earl ordered, ma'am."

"Why, thank you, Mrs. McBride." Emerald was startled. She hadn't known a thing about the intimate items he'd had specially made for her.

"Actually, the bed robe was my own idea. You'd freeze to death in the things he asked me to make." She explained in a low voice, "Men like silky things. Practical considerations fly out the window when it comes bedtime."

A blush dusted Emerald's cheekbones. "That was most thoughtful."

"Molly and I will be returning to Dublin tomorrow, now that most of your wardrobe is finished. When the other items the earl ordered are ready, we'll send them on to Greystones immediately."

Emerald had no idea what other garments had been ordered. Sean had a secretive side and took pleasure in surprising her. "I want to thank you, Mrs.

McBride. You do such lovely work. I never had clothes that suited me before."

"Sure an' it's a rare pleasure to make garments for a lady as beautiful as you. I hope you'll use my services again. Good-bye."

Kate Kennedy came in and made herself busy, lighting the lamps and pulling down the bedclothes. Every now and then she sneaked a glance at a visibly furious Emerald.

"Are they still at table, Kate?"

"Faith, no, they've gone over to the gatehouse to hatch their plots. Likely be up half the night."

Emerald could not understand why her brother would spend the evening with a man who had shot at him. "Kate, is Shamus O'Toole . . . unstable?"

"Aye, his legs are almost useless."

"No, I mean up here." Emerald tapped her temple.

"Ye mean doolally? Faith, no. Mr. Burke is his legs, but his brain still thinks around corners." Kate thought she had her answer. No wonder the fur had been flying in the dining room, it Emerald had criticized Scan's father. "By the by, don't go wanderin' about outside tonight. There's three shipload of sailors anch.o.r.ed at the jetty, and ye know what crews are like after a keg or two."

"Thanks, Kate. I'm going to have a bath and go to bed." When she was alone, Emerald examined the pile of nightgowns. They were exquisite. She selected a white silk, embroidered with French knots, picked up the soft lamb's-wool robe, and took them with her to the bathing room.

When she returned an hour later, the mirrors in her chamber showed her how pretty she was tonight. She looked like a bride in the delicate white night rail. "Get hold of yourself and stop dreaming," she bade her reflection. She wrapped herself in the lamb's-wool robe and slipped down the hall. She would await Johnny in his chamber. Emerald curled up in a big wing chair, prepared to wait all night if neces- sary. She was determined to learn everything her brother knew.

aEm, what in the world are you doing here in the dark?"

Johnny Montague set the candelabra on the mantel and lit the lamps.

Emerald had dozed fitfully while awaiting him, but she came wide awake immediately. "I'm in the dark because that is exactly where men like to keep their women! You must tell me what's going on."

"How much do you know?" John asked tentatively.

"I know nothing. I suspect Sean is using you as a p.a.w.n, forcing you to work against Father."

Johnny took hold of his sister's hands. "Oh, Em, he thinks he is forcing me, but never was there a more willing p.a.w.n since the dawn of time. Sean thinks this is his revenge, but it is mine!"

"What are you going to do?"

"We are going to ruin them. Don't press me for details, you are better off not knowing."

"I know why you and I hate Father, but I don't know what happened to make the O'Tooles hate the Montagues."

"Hasn't Sean told you anything?" Johnny asked incredulously.

"Sean keeps his mouth shut. The only time he opens it is to say something amusing or to woo me."

Johnny let go of her hands and took a turn about the richly appointed bedchamber. Then he took a deep breath and sank into a chair facing hers. "When Father learned Joseph O'Toole was heir to the Earldom of Kildare, he made plans to betroth you to him. Then he informed the authorities that Edward FitzGerald was committing treason by arming the rebels. Father knew all the details because he was the one who supplied the guns. He decided to get rid of the earl so you would become a countess the moment you wed.

"When the English arrested their grandfather, Joseph and Sean were sent out of Ireland to London. But by the time they arrived, Father had learned that our mother and Joseph O'Toole were lovers. He went mad. All his murderous scheming had gone for naught, and he plotted his revenge.

"The very night the brothers arrived in London, Father took us all on a debauch to the Divan Club. The minute we got back to the ship a brawl broke out. It was all a plan for my father to rid himself of Joseph O'Toole. Jack Raymond helped him. Either one or both stabbed Joseph, and Father ordered the brothers be strung up by the thumbs. By dawn Joseph was dead and Sean delirious with fever. His thumbs turned black. I was there when they had to chop one off."

"They chopped one off?" she whispered with disbelief.

"Why the devil do you think he always wears gloves? Anyway, that wasn't the worst of it. No sooner did Sean regain consciousness than Father had him arrested for the murder of his own brother. It was a swift Admiralty trial with Father presiding and Jack Raymond the chief witness. I am ashamed to say I was paralyzed by fear of Father and never uttered a word in Sean's defense.

"He was sentenced to ten years aboard the hulks. It was a death sentence, of course. Men don't survive the living h.e.l.l aboard the hulks for more than a few months. But Sean O'Toole survived. He lived on hatred for five whole years before he escaped."

As he talked, Emerald's face turned white. Her eyes closed against the tears that scalded her eyelids. A lump wedged in her throat, almost choking her.

"Are you all right, Em?"

She couldn't answer him.

"I'm surprised Sean can even look at me or stomach talking to me because I'm a Montague. How can he bear to touch you? He must love you very much, Emerald, to overlook the fact that you, too, are a Montague."

Emerald's hand went to her throat to try to ease the unbearable ache that threatened to suffocate her.

"He escaped only a couple of days before your wedding; far too late to stop it. So he simply came and took you. Laws don't mean much to Sean O'Toole, especially English laws."

"Why did you nevera"" Her voice cracked, her throat closed.

"Why did I never tell you? Because I knew you loved him. I wasn't blind or deaf. You once called him your Irish Prince. I couldn't break your heart, Em. After Mother left, your life was such a total misery, I couldn't add to your unhappiness."

She wanted to ask why he had let her marry Jack Raymond, but it was unfair to blame Johnny. She had made the decision. Dear G.o.d, how she loathed her husband! She could see now that he had married her so he could become a Montague. The name was synonymous with evil. It was a curse. She'd have none of it. She was a FitzGerald, through and through.

Johnny poured a gla.s.s of Irish whisky from a decanter and brought it to her.

Emerald shook her head. She knew she could not speak, let alone swallow. She lifted her hand to his cheek in a silent caress, then she pulled her robe more closely about her and went back to her room.

She walked quietly to the connecting door and leaned against it. The ache in her throat had expanded to encompa.s.s her heart. She glanced down and saw the light go out beneath the door. Emerald had never needed him as much as she did at this moment, yet she wanted to give, not take. She wanted to wrap her love about him so that nothing would ever hurt him again.

She saw her reflection in the mirror and knew she must compose herself. She moved to the washstand, poured water from the jug, and bathed her eyes. She sat on the edge of the bed and tried to breathe calmly. If she didn't get some air inside her, she would suffocate. After a few minutes she was able to take some shallow breaths, but she knew she could not get into bed.

The need to be with Sean overwhelmed her. He was her love, her life. She must tell him, show him, what he meant to her. She picked up the lamp and turned the k.n.o.b of the connecting door. It swung open silently as she stepped into his chamber, then moved with slow trepidation toward the bed.

As he saw the light approaching, Sean pulled himself up onto his elbows.

"Emerald?"

With all her heart she wanted to say his name, but again it was impossible for her to speak. As she moved toward the bed, Sean saw that her hands trembled on the lamp and her eyes were blinded by tears. He sat up all the way and took the lamp from her hands. "What is it? What's wrong?" he demanded.

Her legs turned to water and she sank down on the bed.

He quickly concealed his left hand beneath the covers and reached for her with the other one. The defensive gesture undid her. The floodgates opened and she began to sob.

Sean's fingers splayed into her hair and he pressed her head to his chest.

"Hush now, hush." His lips touched her brow gently. "Whatever it is, I'll make it better," he crooned. His words only made things worse. He cradled her against him for another minute, then bent his lips to her ear. "You're going to have to tell me, love."

Emerald lifted her head and swallowed hard. "Johnny told me what they did to you."

19.

Sean's eyes flashed their terrible dark anger. "d.a.m.n him, he should never have told you!" he ground out.

"Sean, I love you so much, I can't bear it. ... I can't bear it." She rocked back and forth, keening in the true Irish way.

He ground his teeth in frustration. "And if you cry, I cannot bear it!"

He lifted her chin and gazed at her. She looked so unbelievably young. In the white silk night rail she also looked innocent, pure, and untainted. But she wouldn't be for long, not if he had his vengeful way. "Don't shed tears over me, Emerald, I'm not worth it."

She smiled tremulously. "You have a dark side. Let me love you." She had a need to purge him of all the brutality he had suffered.

"It isn't merely a dark side, Emerald, it's blacka"beyond redemption. Go from me before it's too late for you."

For answer she reached beneath the covers and took his hand.

"No!" He jerked as if a red-hot iron had touched him.

"Sean, I love you. I love all of you. Your hand is part of you, please don't hide it from me."

"Here, then, d.a.m.n you, look at the ugly thing!" He threw back the bedcovers to reveal the scarred stump of his thumb. His dark eyes watched her face intently for her reaction. He thought she did a credit-able job of hiding her disgust. But it would be another matter if he tried to touch her. He never wanted to see her flinch from him.

His eyes widened as he saw her reach out to take his hand in hers. She drew it to her cheek in a caress, then she dropped a dozen tiny kisses upon the stub. Her eyes flooded and spilled over, dropping wetness on his scarred thumb.

Sean groaned as if making a decision against his better judgment. "Come.

Come in to me." He pulled back the covers and Emerald slipped into the bed with him. He enfolded her in his arms and drew her trembling softness against his hard naked length. He cradled her gently in strong arms, stroking her hair and her back, while she sweetly clung to him.

Why didn't you run from me, Emerald?