Read Dark Journey Home for Free Online Page B

again. 
     
    “Too, it has been suspected though never proven, that
Devlin also deals in the selling of slaves, those of whom they capture off some
island, then transport to a southern seaport in the new land, some other
countries also.  They hold secret slave auctions then.  I have always hoped
that the scoundrel will at some point in time, be exposed and arrested for his
crimes on the high seas.”
     
    “Oh mercy,” Olivia exclaimed, “what a horrible life
that must be, Uncle.  I’ve heard of such things before, but it’s hard to
believe none-the-less that anyone can be that cruel and heartless.”  She
paused, then inspected the tray of food that was setting on the small table,
“You know uncle, I’m not really hungry yet after all, and I believe that a walk
on deck in the cool air is what I need. “
     
    With that, she started for the door, but Claude
touched her arm and said, “I’ll walk with you Ollie.  Just let me tell Maria
that we’ll return in about an hour.” 
     
    Ten minutes later Olivia and Claude were standing at
the railing of the main deck, and breathing in the fresh salty air of the sea. 
Olivia had taken a light wrap with, and was glad as she gathered it close.  The
sea was calm, though the breeze a bit chilly, however refreshing.  Just as they
turned to continue walking, Olivia grasped her uncle’s sleeve, and gasped,
“Uncle Claude, did you see that man who just entered that stateroom on the far
end of the deck, near to the dining hall?”
     
    Claude answered, “No, Olivia, I caught sight of
someone, but didn’t notice who he was.  Did you recognize him?  Was he someone
we know?”
     
    She hesitated then, but said, “I can’t be sure, but
just from a glimpse of him, I’d swear it is that loathsome cad, who was
courting me a few years back.  You remember Henry J. Adams?  It certainly
looked like him, though slightly older, but I could be mistaken.”
     
    Claude’s expression turned serious, as he spoke, “Well
Olivia, if he is on this ship, we’ll soon find out, that is if he is going by
his own name, you never know what a bloke like that will do.  I’ll have a
little talk with our captain just as soon as you are back in the stateroom.  If
he is on this ship, I can assure you that he will not in any way be anywhere
near you.”  With that, he took her arm and walked her to the winding stairway
that would lead her to the safety of her stateroom suite. 
     
    <><><> 
     
    Henry Adams, alias Henry Birch, the name he was
traveling under, and had used off and on through the years whenever it suited
his fancy to go incognito, stared in the gold-plated hand mirror at his aging
face, and mused aloud, “Maybe she likes older men now, well we’ll see about
that.  How lucky can I get?  Just when I had just about given up my search for
a wealthy bride, who do I see on this voyage?  Well, if it wasn’t my beautiful
Olivia Worthington.  Ah, but I have missed her.” 
     
    “Well, she’ll be glad of my companionship once she no
longer has the old uncle to squire her around.  My, what a pity. I owe his
Lordship, and that brother of hers too, so much for the ungainly way I was
treated during my last visit with Olivia, and I shall enjoy every minute of my
vengeance once my plans are made… and carried out.  
     
    “I wonder where they’re going.  Well, it shouldn’t be
too hard to follow and ‘accidently’ run into my lovely former fiancé.  However,
I’ll keep a low profile during my journey to the states, then when she needs a
friend the most, I shall just happen to appear.”
     
    When Henry looked into the mirror these days, he only
saw what he wanted to see.  He never noticed the sagging jowls or the bags
under his eyes, gained from too much night life and fancy foods, nor did he
notice the thinning hairline with the gray streaks, nor the stomach paunch he
had grown.  Those attributes never showed in his gold-plated mirror.  He saw
himself as an