An Unsinkable Love

chapter 37


"What are you doing, Melody? Have you lost your mind?"

Malcolm shoved her back in disgust, trying to untangle her arms from his neck. "I only agreed to come out here because you said you needed to talk to me urgently about your father's business, although I thought we settled everything yesterday morning. Obviously, it was a ruse. I'm going back in. I think it's best if you sit with your parents, and please don't come to the house again unless you're invited by someone other than Eldon."

Malcolm spun on his heel, but before he took a step, Melody cried, "I don't understand. If you're not going to marry that Irish girl, what's wrong with me? You used to like kissing me."

He turned back, surprised at the piteous tone in Melody's normally demanding voice.

Then he realized what she said. "What do you mean, 'Now that I'm not going to marry Bree'? Of course I'm going to marry her. This is an engagement party, remember?"

"But Eldon said you'd changed your mind. That you realized you wanted me and you're going to send her home."

Eldon—the bastard—was still trying to stir up trouble. Well, enough was enough. "Melody, go home. I think of you as an old friend, nothing more. I intend to marry Bree because I love her. You've allowed Eldon to feed you lies, even though you're smart enough to know better. I'll talk to your father in a day or so about the mill. I don't intend to let him lose it—

238

An Unsinkable Love

by Terri Benson

Father wouldn't have wanted that. You don't need to marry me to save it, so find someone who loves you."

This time, he kept walking. The sound of Melody's sobs followed him down the path, but the need to talk to Bree was far more important than soothing a spoiled woman's feelings.

Malcolm headed to the alcove where he'd left his fiancée, but the chairs were empty. He asked everyone standing nearby if they'd seen her leave. The blank or curious stares he received in return were answer enough. This didn't feel right. Malcolm was sure Eldon was up to more than just causing a rift between him and Bree, and the thought caused a painful contraction in his chest. He followed the hallway, opening doors as he came to them. When he looked across the library and realized he could see Melody framed by the middle pane of windows, a flash of guilt jolted through him, followed by a feeling of dread. He pushed open the door at the end of the hall and entered the kitchen. Controlled mayhem confronted him as Bertie and her assistants bustled around the room, dodging servers loading heavy silver platters and trays with food and drinks. There was a loud crash and the sound of breaking glass as two men collided.

Bertie swore like a drayman.

He surveyed the kitchen but saw no sign of Bree. Malcolm started to turn back when a scullery maid tentatively approached him, plucking at his sleeve. "Sir? The little miss.

Is she all right?"

He bent down to the maid, not more than thirteen or fourteen, the eldest daughter of Bertie. "What do you mean?"

239

An Unsinkable Love

by Terri Benson

The girl appeared ready to bolt but managed to stammer out, "The miss. She looked like she was crying."

Malcolm grabbed her by the shoulders but quickly let go as sheer panic filled her eyes. He took a calming breath and asked quietly, "When did you see her?"

"Just a bit ago. She went out back. I checked a few minutes later, but she was gone."

Malcolm heard the last part of the sentence over his shoulder as he slammed through the screen door into the night.



* * * *

The yard was empty. Silent as a grave. Seeing no sign of Bree, he turned to the barn. Perhaps she'd gone to see Murray. Maybe her legs hurt and she went for more salve?

Malcolm's feet moved faster across the hard-packed dirt.

There were only a few lanterns burning in the massive building, giving off a faint, smoky light that cast deep shadows. "Bree?" he called, running more than walking now.

"Bree, are you there, love?"

Silence.

He was only a few stalls from the far end when one of the half doors swung into his path. He barely managed to stop as Murray stepped out.

"What's the hurry, boy? You and that pretty miss playing hide-n-seek?" Murray's face crinkled in amusement at his joke.

"Have you seen Bree? They said she came out into the yard, but I can't find her."

240

An Unsinkable Love

by Terri Benson

The smile slipped from Murray's face. "She's not here. I ain't seen her." The old man seemed to sense Malcolm's growing panic.

He spun away, thinking frantically of where else he should search. The groom called after him, "Carl took the big car out, and Mr. Eldon took the Pierce Arrow right after. They ain't been gone more 'n ten minutes or so, but I didn't see your girl."

Malcolm stopped in his tracks. Eldon drove the Arrow? Why would Eldon take his car when Carlisle drove the Rolls? He was more convinced than ever Eldon was up to something that did not bode well for Bree.

In a few long strides, Malcolm was at the Mercer. He quickly made the necessary adjustments and cranked the car.

With a throaty roar that left the barn full of horses kicking and prancing, and would certainly earn him a dressing down from Murray, he accelerated out into the lane. He pushed the car as fast as he dared, the small electric headlamps barely piercing the darkness. As the car slewed around a corner, Malcolm wrenched the brake handle and careened across the road to avoid hitting a car parked half on and half off the roadway. The racecar bounced down a small embankment and barely missed a big maple before rattling to a stop. He shook his head to clear it from the wild ride, then shifted into reverse and powered the car back up to the road. As he braked hard the car skidded around, its feeble lights illuminated a prone body lying in a pool of dark liquid next to the Rolls' open door. With a heavy weight in his chest, Malcolm climbed out and knelt next to Carlisle's body. A quick 241

An Unsinkable Love

by Terri Benson

touch confirmed the man was dead. Malcolm stepped around to the Rolls and climbed into the back seat, his heart pounding. No small, copper-headed body sprawled lifelessly on the broad bench seat. Thank God! The weight in his chest eased a tiny bit.

A pale object caught his eye and he reached down to pick up a caramel-colored tassel with a small scrap of ivory lace still attached. Tighter than ever, the band of fear crushed his breath. Bree was in trouble. Since Eldon followed Carlisle and the lane didn't have any place wide enough to pass the big car, his stepfather couldn't have missed the Rolls Royce, even in the dark. Bree wasn't physically capable of hurting a man of Carlisle's size—but Eldon was.

Regretfully leaving the chauffer lying in the road, Malcolm ignored the door and leaped over the side of the sports car, slamming it into gear as soon as his feet touched the pedals, and pushed the Mercer to its maximum speed. He was forced to slow as he entered the town proper, using his horn when required to warn slow-moving carriages as he overtook them.

Angry shouts echoed behind, but he ignored them.

Up and down the grid-like streets he cruised, checking each glint of metal for Eldon's Pierce Arrow. He completed a full circuit and came back to the start. "Damn!" Malcolm cried, pounding his fist on the steering wheel. If Eldon hadn't stopped in town, he could be half-way to Boston or several other cities. There was no way of telling. Slumping in despair, he let his head fall back, eyes closed. The vision of Bree, a hurt, reproachful expression on her face, filled his head. What had he done?

242

An Unsinkable Love

by Terri Benson

"Mebbe I can help."

Malcolm jerked as he heard the Cockney accent.

[Back to Table of Contents]

243

An Unsinkable Love

by Terri Benson