Chapter 8: Once Upon A Time…
London, 1730 – five years ago…
“…You have my deepest sympathies, Lady Arlington,” the barrister said solemnly, glancing at the signed death certificate in front of him.
Across the desk from him, the recently widowed Lady Arlington sobbed softly into the black handkerchief she held before her face. The black dress and veils she wore couldn’t even begin to describe her grief that her much beloved husband was truly gone.
Beside her, her only surviving son looked equally pale, his father’s death really hitting him for the first time. “A-Are we positive he went down with the ship?” William’s perfectly-cultured voice demanded. “You said they haven’t found the body…?”
The barrister sighed. Cases like these were always the most difficult on the families because they never had a complete sense of closure. “There were no survivors,” he insisted. “The storm was too violent. Several other ships were lost as well. I’m afraid there’s no chance that your father is still alive.”
Lady Arlington let out another sob, and William was instantly at her side, holding on tightly to the only family he had left now.
“I-I see,” he tried to sound strong, but his voice wavered. He knew he was technically a man now, but he felt anything but it at the moment. Nothing could ever have prepared him for taking over his family at this young age. “What needs to be done, then?” He tried to bite back his own tears, but the first drops of salty liquid ran down each of his cheeks before he could stop them.
“Your father’s business accounts were in the process of being transferred,” the barrister informed him. “Lord Arlington was shifting his investments to an entirely different shipping company. A decision must be made quickly on whether to continue the transfer of funds.”
“What does that mean?” William ran an agitated hand through his sandy-blond curls.
“It means that you have a choice to make, Master Arlington,” the barrister informed him kindly. “I recommend that you meet with Lord Abrahms to discuss the business dealings between himself and your father. He can undoubtedly provide more insight into your father’s intentions than I can.”
William nodded slowly. “Yes, quite,” he agreed, still horribly nervous. “I shall do so as quickly as possible…”
* * *
“Now, ‘d known Lord Abrahms’ eldest son for a while before that,” William commented, his fingers tracing over the hem of Elizabeth’s voluminous pale-blue skirt as he spoke. “Both heirs to noble houses an’ all that rubbish – had to run in similar crowds…”
“You know Parker?” Elizabeth asked in disbelief.
William winced. “Wished I din’t, though,” he sighed. “The younger Abrahms is scum, luv. Has his fun with the skirts, then leaves ‘em to pursue his latest conquest.”
Elizabeth gulped slightly. “I had heard as much,” she nodded slowly.
“We ‘ad a fancy for the same lady once,” he admitted. “Cecily Addams – high-society, well-born, an’ such. ‘f course William din’t stand a chance while Parker was there seducin’ her. So Abrahms ‘as his fun and then tosses her aside – with his child, no less. Completely broke her.” Angry tears stained his face. “Couldn’t stand it ‘f he did that to you, too…”
Softly, Elizabeth wiped his tears away with her thumb, placing a gentle kiss upon his brow. “It won’t,” she whispered softly. “I’m yours, never Parker’s…”
He gave her a soft smile at that, but then his face darkened again as he returned to his tale. “So even back then I knew that the son was scum. What I din’t know was that the father was as well…”
* * *
“You have no idea how sorry I was to hear about your father.” Lord Abrahms sat back in the leather armchair and sipped slowly at his brandy.
As a young William sat in the spacious sitting room watching Lord Abrahms’ cool demeanor, he quickly realized that he was completely outclassed. “Th-Thank you, sir,” he said nervously, looking into his glass as if something were about to jump out of it and bite him. “I-I just had some questions…”
“Of course,” Lord Abrahms agreed magnanimously, the dark points of his eyes glittering like a serpent’s in the light from the fireplace. “Your father and I worked together for many years…many profitable years,” he amended. “Our combined investments in colonial shipping made our chosen companies a force to be reckoned with.”
“Y-Yet my father withdrew most of his holdings just prior to his…” William gulped, still unable to express the sentiment, “…trip,” he finished lamely. “Have you any idea why?”
“Merely for convenience’s sake,” Lord Abrahms waved one hand in the air dismissively. “The transfer of bonds requires frequent withdrawals.”
“My father’s auditor seemed to think that my father was moving his business elsewhere,” William commented, thumbing desperately through the notes he’d taken.
“I would’ve known about that,” Lord Abrahms insisted with a tight smile. “I’m very intimately acquainted with my fellow investors’ business activities.”
“Then, perhaps you could tell me what my father intended,” William requested innocently.
“A new…trade route we found,” Lord Abrahms said evasively. “Safer, more favorable winds – that sort of thing. Your father was to inspect it after he returned from his trip to India.”
“And you were his partner in this?” William asked.
“Your partner now,” Lord Abrahms agreed with a sly smile…
* * *
“I was young,” William sighed. “Naïve. I knew nothing of the business and so fell into the very trap my father had been escaping.”
“Your father had been escaping…” Elizabeth repeated slowly.
William flashed her a wry smile. “I had the same thought, but my father’s death still looks like an accident…albeit, a very convenient one for the Abrahms.”
“You’re sure?” Elizabeth raised one eyebrow skeptically.
He shrugged. “Doubt even the all-mighty Abrahms could rig that storm,” he argued. “Besides, my father was too important to try that kinda underhandedness. I, on the other hand, was a nobody who was better gotten rid of…”
* * *
William leaned on the rail of the ship, watching the rhythmic waves of the ocean until they vanished at the horizon, lit up brilliantly by the setting sun. At first he had been quite wary of leaving England for the very first time, but Lord Abrahms had insisted that as the new executive of the Arlington title, he should investigate his father’s businesses himself.
And, much to his surprise, he had found that he rather enjoyed the sea. It soothed his nerves in a way that nothing had done ever since he’d learned of his father’s disappearance. His only regret was leaving his mother behind. She had been ailing more and more of late, as if she had nothing left to live for now that her husband was gone.
He and his mother had never been particularly close, true – she had wanted a strong, athletic son rather than the bookish intellectual that she got – but it still pained him that he was seemingly not reason enough for her to keep going.
But it was yet another problem that the ocean seemed to sweep away. He felt as though he could get lost on the seas, bury everything else until all he heard was the gentle lapping of the waves against the wooden planks of the hull.
All that changed when night fell upon them, however. William had just thought that he had dimly seen the outside of a ship in the pitch black that surrounded them when the first shots were fired…
* * *
Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “Is there anyone who hasn’t been attacked by pirates?” she wondered.
“Actually, there’s less’n a dozen ships around here,” William pointed out. “’S actually fairly rare.”
“Then it’s just my incredible misfortune?” she teased before a sly grin spread across her lips. “Or fortune, as the case may be…”
His blue eyes twinkled back at her in response. “Can’t say I can bring myself to hate the circumstances that brought me you,” he agreed softly.
One of her hands reached up to stroke the soft curls that had paled to white after years exposed to the harsh sun. They were beautiful, though, and she wouldn’t have him any other way.
“So, I’m guessing you didn’t die,” she jested lightly. “Which means that I’m also guessing that Angel was the captain of the ship that attacked you…”
He scowled. “You jus’ had ta go and blow the big surprise, din’t you?” he sighed in exasperation.
“Let’s just say that I’m starting to see…parallels in our situations,” she conceded.
He let out a low chuckle at that. “You’re a bleedin’ menace, luv,” he whispered softly against her hair. “Don’t know what ‘d do without you…”
“And you’re not kissing me, why?” she demanded, one perfectly sculpted eyebrow raised.
He couldn’t come up for a good response to that and brushed his lips softly against her own, shutting his eyes and savoring everything about her – her perfume, the warmth of her body, the softness of her lips, the sweet taste of her mouth, and the little mewls that escaped her throat as he set her body ablaze with his passion. Together, they pulled apart, amazed at how the connection between them seemed to grow each time their lips met.
“Satisfied?” he asked with a wry smirk.
“For now,” she agreed with a coy smile. “Aren’t you going to finish your story?”
“Only if you stop interruptin’,” he mock-huffed.
“Promise,” she insisted with a dancing light in her eyes that indicated that she would do anything but.
He let out a resigned sigh but continued nonetheless…
* * *
The battle that had followed had been brief, bloody, and William hadn’t seen any of it because less than five seconds in, he had been knocked unconscious – all in all, not a promising sign for his future well-being.
Nevertheless, he awoke safe and sound – albeit with a splitting headache – some hours later. He was somewhat surprised to find himself lying on a cot, and for a moment he assumed that the crew had defeated the enemy threat and brought him back to his room.
That was until he opened his eyes. The dark-haired man before him had not been on his ship, of that William was sure. He would have recognized the cold, calculating eyes and the wicked smile had he ever seen the man before.
“Awake so soon, my boy?” Angel commented, his accusing ebony gaze never leaving William.
“Wh-Who are you? Where am I?” William stuttered nervously, jerking up into a sitting position and groaning at the pain in his head as he did so. He exploring fingers quickly found a rather large lump at the back of his head.
“They call me Angel. You’re my guest,” Angel said simply, “aboard my ship.”
“Y-You’ve kidnapped me?” William’s heart sank.
“I want some answers,” Angel explained simply.
William was confused now. “Answers?” he repeated.
“The money,” Angel demanded. “Where is it?”
“Money?” William blinked in surprise. “What money?”
“Don’t play stupid with me, boy,” Angel hissed angrily. “I know that coward Abrahms used you as his errand boy.”
“What?!” William was too confused now to be frightened. “My job was merely to inspect the docking ports in Carolina.”
“My contacts informed me that the money would be coming with this shipment,” Angel insisted. “So where is it?”
“I know nothing about any money!” William was just as vehement.
“If you’re in this with that double-crosser…” Angel began menacingly.
“I don’t even know what you’re talking about!” William protested.
Angel leaned in close, his eyes narrowed to slits as he studied William intently. The younger man felt a pang of real fear for a second before Angel let out a weary sigh and collapsed back into his chair.
“I believe you,” he said with a sigh. “Looks like I’m not the only one Abrahms set up…”
“Wh-What are you talking about?” William’s voice still shook from the way the other man had stared at him, at the deadly precision in those black eyes.
“Abrahms must’ve leaked the information himself in order to send me on a wild goose chase,” Angel decided, “and you, boy, were the patsy he sent to take his fall.”
“But Lord Abrahms was a friend to my father!” William protested.
Angel laughed aloud at that. “Abrahms has no friends,” he said coldly, “merely…assets. And it seems that both of our value is gone now.”
The first inklings of the truth filtered into the edges of William’s mind as he thought about it. “H-He intentionally sent you after my ship?” he repeated in disbelief. “I could’ve been killed!”
“That, my boy,” Angel said with an amused smile at the youth and innocence of his captive, “was the point.”
“B-But why?” William still couldn’t quite believe it.
Angel sighed. He really didn’t have time to babysit this kid, but he figured he at least deserved to know why all this was happening. “Let’s just say that not all of Lord Abrahms’ ships carry cargo,” he began.
William’s eyes widened. “Are you saying that THIS is his ship?”
Angel chuckled. “Originally, perhaps,” he agreed, studiously examining the point of the dagger he held in his lap. “You see, the best way to ensure good business is to remove the competition…”
More pieces were falling into place by the minute. “My father knew,” William decided. “That was why he decided to withdraw…”
Angel shrugged. He didn’t really care. All he wanted was the money that Abrahms owed him from his last ten attacks. Cargo was well and good, but he didn’t run a cargo ship after all…
“I-I need to get back to England,” William decided. “Report Abrahms’ activities to the government and—”
“They know,” Angel sighed in annoyance at the foolish kid he’d picked up. Oh well, maybe the boy would be useful for scrubbing the decks or something… “They don’t care. After all, Abrahms is nobility. As long as he only attacks the ships of commoners, England will look the other way.”
“H-He attacked me!” William announced triumphantly. “Since I am the heir to—”
“Nobody,” Angel rolled his eyes.
“Pardon?” William asked, confused.
“You’re nobody yet, kid,” Angel informed him. “Hell, Abrahms probably already has you listed as dead and is delving into your family estate as we speak.”
“Then I must get back on once!” William exclaimed. “Mother—”
“Too late, my boy,” Angel informed him. “But,” a smile lit up his face, “if you want to get revenge on Abrahms, there are…other options…”
* * *
William chuckled. “You should’ve seen the expression on Angel’s face durin’ the first battle I stayed awake for – took out eight ‘f the enemy, an’ I din’t even know which edge of the sword was which. Got me right outta the kitchen and onto to deck. Became somethin’ like his protégé after that…”
“So, the two of you attacked Abrahms’ ships,” Elizabeth concluded.
“Abrahms ‘imself was untouchable,” William agreed. “But his investments…”
“You intentionally bankrupted the family,” Elizabeth said with a little huff. “You’re the one who set about the unfortunate events of my arranged marriage.”
William raised an eyebrow at that. “Was a money thing then, was it?” he said with a sly grin. “Turned out best for the both ‘f us then…”
“I can’t say I object to seeing Parker getting quite thoroughly screwed over,” she agreed with a little smile.
His eyes widened in surprise. “Been hangin’ around Anya too long, I reckon,” he teased. “You’re startin’ to develop a bit ‘f a mouth.”
“Whereas, I was known for my dainty, polite conversation before,” she couldn’t help but retort sarcastically.
His chest vibrated with a deep, rich chuckle at that, and she lay her head over his heart, savoring the sensation.
“Although,” she added with a little smile, “you really have no right to criticize my speech. The way you talk, I would think you’d grown up on the streets.”
“S’pose ‘ve gotten a li’l…rough around the edges over the years, pet,” he agreed, “but ‘s all part of my charm.”
She rolled her eyes. “By whose definition of ‘charm’?” she demanded.
“Yours, apparently,” he countered, “seein’ as you’re curled up in my lap an’ all.”
She pulled away slightly and sat up so that she could look straight down into those deep cerulean pools. “Rough around the edges,” she agreed softly, “but still every bit the gentleman…”
His eyes widened when her lips crashed down upon his with enough force to send him falling backward onto the soft sand of the beach. He had no clue where she’d learned to kiss like this – it had to be pure instinct – but he wasn’t about to complain.
Her body fell atop his, pressing down against him, as her tongue carefully traced all the contours of his mouth, fully exploring the moist cavern. She stroked his tongue languidly, slowly stoking a raging fire deep within him.
His body responded, becoming hard beneath the grinding of her hips, but she didn’t let off until she finally deemed that he had been well and truly kissed.
“Luckily for you,” she said with a wry grin when she pulled away, “I’ve never been much of a lady.”
“Lucky…” he agreed breathlessly.
“So,” she lay down upon his chest, quite content to remain there on the beach, her body tangled with his, for eternity, “why aren’t you and Angel still fighting the good fight?”
He snorted derisively. “Let’s just say that the grand ponce is an opportunistic bastard…in more ways than one.”
She looked up at him curiously. “Clarify?” she demanded.
He let out a weary sigh. “A woman,” he sighed. “Innit always? Snatched her right out from under me…”
Elizabeth brow furrowed to a scowl.
“Metaphorically speaking, that is,” he quickly clarified. He shrugged. “Drusilla was more Angel’s type anyway. A quick romp an’ then gone.”
“And, yet, you’re still mad at him,” she pointed out, still a bit ticked at the image of another woman in his arms.
“That an’ he abandoned our li’l revenge a few years back. Wasn’t profitable enough for him,” William sighed. “So I set off on my own.”
“Don’t you ever get tired of it?” she whispered softly, her voice barely audible over the regular waves of the sea. “Constantly living for revenge?”
“For so long, I ‘aven’t had anythin’ else to live for,” he murmured against her hair. “Until now…”
She looked up at him in surprise. “You mean…?” she began hesitantly.
“’ve never met anyone like you before, ‘Lizabeth.” He pulled her down to him so that their foreheads rested together. “When I met you, I met my match.”
“And I, you,” she agreed, a feeling of deep, warm contentment seeping into her bones as she lay there with the man she… She started a bit at the thought before letting a soft smile creep upon her lips. “I love you, William,” she admitted.
“Love you, too,” he agreed, tilting his head to give her a quick kiss. “Y’know,” he commented thoughtfully, “’ve actually built up a decent fortune over the past five years. Was thinkin’…you, me, nice big villa down in South America…”
“Mmm,” she murmured, “sounds wonderful.”
“’S a plan then,” he agreed with a small smile.
“A perfect one,” she agreed before leaning in to kiss him once more…