"...Not one word, do you hear me?" Will emphasized as they approached the designated meeting spot, the 'Crosswinds Pub'.
"Agreed," she replied. "Well, what am I to say if he asks me a direct question?"
"Just answer it as best...just be vague...like you were with me when we first met."
Shrugging her shoulders, Catherine understood. "I can do that," she grinned, watching as the man nearly stumbled after he glanced back at her.
"You, behave," he ordered, trying to sound stern but it was quite difficult with the woman looking as good as she did and with that naughty smile on her lips.
"I will," she swore. "Anything else?"
Rolling his eyes, Will muttered unintelligently again.
"What was that?" Catherine asked, finding his reaction most endearing.
"I said...stay close. There will be all kinds of filth in that place, I don't want you hurt or...I just don't want to lose sight of you in the pub, that's all."
"Believe me, I'm not planning to stray far," she informed, sounding a bit unsettled.
Will couldn't help but look to her and realize that for the first time, she was actually voicing her fearfulness, something he'd never heard her do before-not in this open a manner, at least.
"It'll be fine. Just keep on guard, let me do all the talking and watch yourself," he reiterated, taking her hand in his and giving it a reassuring squeeze.
Catherine nodded her head in agreement as the 'Crosswinds' pub came into view. It was hardly what she expected for it looked no more than a rundown shack in the middle of this small town. But Will didn't seem phased in the least as they entered the dimly lit dwelling.
Looking about as their eyes adjusted to the lack of light, Will led Catherine to the bar, asking if there was a man by the name of Barnaby that frequented the place. The only reply he received was a grunt and a jerky head movement towards the back of the place and a man sitting at a lone table along a dark alcove.
The moment they stepped into the alcove, dark eyes looked up at them. The man most definitely looked out of place. He was dressed head to toe in black and at first resembled a clergyman, but upon closer inspection, one realized that the quality of his apparel was none finer. Obviously the man wore only the best, possibly the latest fashion out of London.
"Are you Barnaby?" Will questioned, Catherine standing by his side.
"Who's asking?" He drawled in a deep voice.
"I'm asking, we've brought your shipment...a bit overdue because of unforeseen circumstances involving a Mr. Charles Hyde. But arrived, it has," he explained, eyeing the man before him critically.
Raising the mug of ale to his lips and taking a long draught, Barnaby, his midnight colored hair tied so tightly back from his face that the harshness of his features were near gaunt, smiled into his mug before setting it down.
"I see, quite unfortunate for Charles," he remarked, the look in his eyes showed amusement. "So, tell me..."
"William Pence," Will offered, hoping Catherine wouldn't flinch at the use of another name. Which she didn't.
"...Mr. Pence, then. Tell me, are you here to collect on what you feel is due? Or did you deliver-said goods-here from the bottom of your heart and wish a hearty thank you?" the man smirked.
"No, 'I' am here to collect on what is due the delivery of 'said goods'," Catherine spoke up, Will's displeasure quite evident on his face.
"And you would be?" Barnaby asked in peaked curiosity, eyeing the woman quite wolfishly, as he looked her up and down, lingering quite blatantly on her breasts.
"I am Charles' wife..."
"You perhaps would be the beautiful...Catherine?"
"Yes, I am Catherine," she answered, squaring her shoulders. "I've come to collect on the shipment."
"Never be it said that I would do anything to deter or upset such a lovely lady. As you wish," Barnaby agreed a little too readily for Will's tastes. "I'll have my men come out to the ship-I'm assuming the Engloria, correct?"
"Correct...and no need to have your men come to the ship. We'll deliver the goods to the beach on the far side of the island. You know where I'm speaking of," Will interrupted, watching as the pale, thin man looked at him and smiled.
"Very well then, as you wish. Mr Pence, I take it you've been to Kinset before, then?"
"Shall we say, I've visited once or twice...midnight, Mr Barnaby, you'll receive your shipment and we'll receive payment."
With that, Will placed his hand to the small of Catherine's back and urged her about. "Excuse me, Catherine was it? You startled me, I wasn't sure which Mrs. Hyde you might be...forgiveness," the dark man apologized with the venom intended to sting.
Will could feel the breath nearly leaving Catherine's lungs as he tried to guide her outside, but there was no use for she quickly turned about and faced the smug man.
"What are you trying to say?" She demanded, anger marred her voice.
"Many pardons, Madame. I see you did not know that Charles had another wife...or I assumed they were married...I could be incorrect, but I rarely am. A nice native girl, very beautiful in an exotic way. You did not know? My regrets," he apologized, bowing his head in mock emotion.
"You lying bastard," Catherine snapped before Will roughly took her by the arm and led her to the door.
"We need to talk," Will calmly voiced, the two walking back to the long boat resting against the sandy shore where two of his men were waiting.
Catherine didn't say a word; her face betraying nothing as she hurriedly walked.
"Catherine, Barnaby just wanted to rattle you, see what you were made of," he explained, gesturing with his arms in a wide sweeping manner but she paid no attention.
Quickening his step to catch up to her, Will suddenly grabbed her by the arm, stopping her angered steps. "Just leave me alone...please," she near pleaded, he could see the hurt in her eyes.
Placing his hand to her cheek, she instinctively leaned into his touch, briefly closing her eyes. "I'm sorry...I had my suspicions that Charles Hyde might have...in the ledgers there were..."
Eyes widening in disbelief, Catherine pulled from his touch and looked at the man before her. "You knew?"
Arms at his side, Will looked every bit as miserable as she did. "I had heard rumor. I didn't know for fact...till last night. I was going to tell you, I swear this," he insisted as she looked skeptical, as if the last person in the world she held faith in had now betrayed her as well.
"Were you? Or did you find some amusement to hearing me speak of my 'wonderful' life?" she mockingly demanded.
"It wasn't like that. Now that I've grown to know you and I've fallen...it wasn't like that at all, Catherine," he tried to convince as the two stood in the open, people walking about ignoring them as if such an argument was an every day occurrence-which it probably was.
"I gave that bloody bastard so many years of my life...and for this?" She near shouted, raising her arms and gesturing to the air. "In the beginning I might have loved him, I'm not honestly sure now, but that obviously wasn't enough for two-let alone one," she laughed out loud.
Will wanted to step closer but knew she'd start like a wild animal. She needed to get the rage and the pain out and he was willing to bear the brunt of it all if it helped her deal.
"Damn Charles!" She spat, fighting back tears of hurt and anger, not wanting to allow that satisfaction to her dead husband. "He left me alone more times than naught. I wondered if he were alive or dead, if he would grow to love me in time...I waited, did what everyone expected of me, the dutiful wife..."
She took a few steps and halted once more. "...Yet all he did was mock me by...by...damn him! I was young, I didn't stand up to him, and I let him do this to me. I allowed it. My grandmother insisted that's how proper ladies lived their lives... miserably."
Will looked pained as tortured green eyes rested upon him. "Why didn't you tell me? You said enough in the beginning to taunt me with 'who' my husband was to shatter many illusions...but why didn't you later tell me of your suspicions?"
Taking a slow, deep breath, Will reached for her and she momentarily resisted his touch, but soon fell into his embrace. "I'm sorry," he apologized. "I swear to you, I intended to say something but...I...you...damn Charles Hyde to hell and back."
Catherine laughed quite unexpectedly at the utterance before breaking free of her lover's tight embrace as she once again headed to the awaiting long boat.
It was then that William Turner knew for certain that the secrets and doubts he'd been harboring could possibly cause more harm than first thought-to himself. But it was a risk he had to take for the pain he saw in Catherine's eyes would haunt him if he did not take that step.
When had things become so complicated?
tbc