Lady in the Mist - Laurie Alice Eakes [145]
“I am forgiven and innocent in Your eyes, O God,” Dominick whispered to the brick front of Kendall’s house. “I can do nothing, but in You I can do all things.”
“That’s right,” one of his captors from the frigate said with a chuckle, “say your prayers.”
“Fifteen lashes,” Kendall pronounced, then sighed.
Twenty-five fewer than his father had given him.
He tensed, awaiting the first blow. He didn’t look to see who would wield the lash. He didn’t want to, he didn’t need to know.
“One,” someone shouted.
The crowd fell still enough for Dominick to hear the whistle of the whip sailing through the air.
And footfalls clattering across the cobbles.
“No, stop!” Her beloved voice rang across the square.
The crack of the whip rang in his ears. His body jerked. He tasted blood from where he’d bitten down on his lip to keep from crying out.
“Two.” The shout soared through the night.
The whip whooshed.
“Stop!”
Something hurtled against his back. Something—someone—soft and warm and smelling of the sea and roses.
The whip cracked. She cried out and jerked against him.
“Stop!” he shouted.
Others took up the call. But the whip fell again. Tabitha screamed and slid along his body to the ground.
With a roar, Dominick wrenched the bar from the gate and swung around. Wilkins raised his arm. The lash hurtled to its full length.
Hands still bound to the rail, Dominick lunged. The bar and his head struck Wilkins in the middle. Merchant and whip, bondsman and bonds, landed on the cobbles in a tangled heap.
37
______
The gate latch clanged. On her knees before the roses, Tabitha glanced up, heart leaping with hope.
Red hair shimmering despite the overcast day, Letty strode up the flagstone path and waved a folded sheet of vellum under Tabitha’s nose. “I expect you’ve been waiting for this.”
Even over the fragrance of the roses, Tabitha caught a whiff of sandalwood and snatched the letter from Letty’s fingers. It was merely folded with the edges tucked in, not sealed. She yanked it open and read:
My dear, now that my right arm has healed enough to write and my uncle has dropped anchor in Hampton Roads, Kendall is allowing me to see you. His coachman will bring you to Norfolk, and Letty will be your chaperone. Please do not delay.
Your, Dominick
Tabitha stared at the penultimate word. An error or a deliberate statement? No matter. He had written.
She tucked the missive between her stays and chemise.
Letty laughed. “That can’t be comfortable.”
“It’s more comfortable than having him twenty miles away and no one telling me if he’s all right or not.”
“He felt the same way.” Letty touched Tabitha’s left shoulder. “Is that healing all right?”
“All of me is healing all right.” She rose, albeit stiffly. “Though I think part of me will always mourn Raleigh.”
“Even though he was a traitor to our country?” Letty asked.
“He more than paid the price for trying to get his freedom.” Tabitha blinked back tears that still came quickly to her eyes, weakness from a wound that came too close to going septic. “Donald Parks is with his family and a free man because of Raleigh. And we don’t know how many others are free now.”
“Or may get freed, if the politicians can work things out. And speaking of politicians, the mayor and vice admiral and your gentleman are waiting for you. You’d better get some things packed and your clothes changed if we’re to make Norfolk before dark.”
“Of course.” Tabitha dashed into the house, calling for Patience.
In less than an hour, she was seated beside Letty in Kendall’s well-sprung coach. The road between Seabourne and Norfolk proved somewhat better in a carriage than in Tabitha’s wagon, but the hours of travel still took too long. After three days apart, she yearned to see Dominick. Simultaneously, she wished she’d never seated herself upon the luxurious cushions. Lying in bed while someone else tended her wound, then creeping about her garden while her strength returned, she could pretend all would be well with Dominick, that