Three days later Connor handed an invitation in the name of a newly deceased and stripped guest to the doorman and brushed off his offer to take his coat. They had had their choice of people as this was a massive party and many of the guests had just arrived from other areas including a number of Spaniards. Holding his head high he strode into the hall. "Arrogance. I can do this" he thought plucking a glass from a passing server, going to stand against the wall and surveyed the surprisingly dark room. Around the room small groups formed and he listened in to the various conversations but they had little he was interested in. At some untold sign the guests began to gather, lining the sides of the hall in a glittering thong. Suddenly the room went dark as servants extinguished all the lights. The crowd gasped and laughed shifting in the darkness. The announcer rapped his stick on the ground drawing everyone's attention. From his spot on the wall Connor surveyed him over the heads of the crowd. "Mr. and Mrs. Reginald Birch" he announced and the doors swung open admitting Reginald, one hand holding a candle aloft the other wrapped possessively around the woman at his side, her eyes modestly downcast. A sigh broke across the hall and people applauded. Connor eyed the candle previously unaware of the nature of the party and swallowed the glass in one shot. A team of servants approached them and lit tapers from the candle, heading out to relight the extinguished stands as well as several other unlit candles placed around the hall. Reginald and his bride walked the length of the hall placing the candle stick on a central table, the hall now fully lit. Musicians in the corner struck up a song and couple arranged themselves along the dance floor. Reginald gestured to the orchestra as he and his bride led the guests in the first dance.
Connor moved towards the dance floor, slipping between groups of guests and claiming a spot on a bench near the wall. He studied Reginald carefully, his first good view of the man. The couples turned and for the first time he got a close look at the bride, her face raised and smiling, a small fortune in gems dangling from her ears and neck. Emotion hit him like a blow to the gut. Relief fought with anger and betrayal. The urge to walk into the middle of the floor and stab them both damn the consequences was palpable. He locked his jaw and held his breath until he could get his heartbeat under control. His eyes focused on her, studying her carefully, his breath caught. To someone who did not know her well she would certainly appear to be happy, but the smile on her lips did not reach her eyes. Her head was stiff and her back locked. As they turned he could see that he held her hard by the hand and she hesitated each time he reached for her. His anger drained out only to fold back in on the purpose of his mission here. The first dance ended she stepped back by Reginald's side and the dancers clapped for the players. A new song began and Reginald held Carolyn's hand up.
Connor did not recognize the music but recognized the lines the dancers were forming. He stood abruptly and joined the line of men his darker skin not drawing as much attention here in the islands as it would up in Boston. He carefully followed the patterns of the dancers as the circle drew them closer together. He could hear her partners greet her with a differential "Mrs. Birch" and she kept her eyes on the floor. The line turned again and suddenly she was across from him, curtseying low. He bowed and took her hand drawing her in to greet her quietly. "Mrs. Kenway". Her eyes flew open and she would have frozen but he drew her into a turn. "Act natural." She took a deep breath and smiled, her hands tight on his shoulder. "Did you find the baby? Is he okay?" Connor nodded. "He's fine. We left him with Diana." She took a deep breath, the lines around her eyes loosening. "You came." Her voice was soft with relief. He grimaced. "I came to kill him. I thought you were dead." She looked around and said quietly. "That poor girl. I couldn't stop him." They separated and rejoined their time running out. "Where will he be?" She scanned the room. "His room is the top of the north east tower. Give me a knife!" He frowned at that "Do you not trust me to be there?" She clutched as his hand. "I trust you. But please don't send me with him unarmed. Surely you can get another more easily than I can." He sighed at that "I only have the one on me but here." He released the dagger from its catch and slid it along her arm. She grasped the handle gratefully and slid the dagger to her pocket. Her eyes met his " Be careful. He would kill you if he knew you were here." Too soon he was facing her again and bowing. She turned the next man in line taking her hand. "Mrs. Birch! Congratulations." This time her smile did include her eyes if her breath was shaky as she breathed "Thank you."
He stayed through the cycles, not wanting to draw undo attention by leaving early. The dancers stopped and he headed towards the door. Behind he could hear Reginald announcing their departure. He kept his pace steady until he got through the door then broke for a run. He ran to the meeting spot and grabbed Haytham by the arm. "Give me your knife." Haytham looked around for an approaching attack but saw nothing. Connor tugged on him, dragging him behind him. "Your knife!" Haytham frowned "What happened to yours?" Connor stopped running suddenly realizing Haytham had no way to know what he had found out. "Carolyn. She's not dead. She's here!" Haytham's eyes narrowed. "Where?" Connor began once more to move to the tower. "On her way to her wedding night with Reginald Birch." Haytham pulled his wrist back. "This knife doesn't release. Take this one." He fished the silver dagger from his belt and handed it to Connor who took it and stuck it in his own. Reaching the wall they began to climb.
Carolyn allowed herself to be led by the hand up the stairway to their rooms. She was surprised to see the landings heavily guarded. "Why the extra guards? They were not here before." He patted her hand. "Just an extra precaution before the meeting. I must say this is working out well. I've heard from several sources that I'm considered the shoe in now." They reached the room, and unlocked the heavy door, closing it behind them. Her eyes scanned the room but there was no sign of Connor. She eyed the window and tried to calculate how much time it would take to get from the ledge and across the room versus how long it would take for the guards to get up the stairs. "Together may we illuminate the world." Reginald knelt and lit the fireplace before placing the candle on the desk. She leaned against the door and slid the bolt home. He turned at the sound, eyeing her curiously. She leaned against the door heavily and cast her eyes downwards. "I am not ready," Her voice was already breathy, her heart pounding. "But a man should not be entirely denied on his wedding night."
He crossed the room in three long strides, pushing her against the door and kissing her urgently. She entwined her fingers in his hair and urged his head downwards, his mouth working eagerly at her neck and chest, his hands pulling on her laces. She swallowed and reached into her pocket drawing out the knife. Gripping it firmly she ran her fingers through his hair, catching it and pulling his head back from her breasts. He looked up at her curiously before she drove the blade up under his chin. His blood sprayed across her dress and he fell heavily against her but did not make much noise. She lowered him to the ground as quietly as she could and ran for the window. She opened it moments before Connor reached the ledge. He climbed in looking around. "Where is he?" She pointed to the body on the floor. "I couldn't wait. We must be quiet. There are guards everywhere." She wrapped her arms around him mindless of the bloody state she was in. "You came. You really came."
She could hear Haytham climbing in the room next to them and inspecting the body. He reached down and pulled the blade free, wiping it on Reginald's shirt. He handed the dagger back to Connor who holstered it with a snap. He put an arm around Carolyn and pulled her over to the window. She looked at them. "How do we get out?" He gestured to the dark, moonlit bay beneath the tower. She could see the outline of the Aquila not far away. "It will be safest if we take the fast route." Connor offered. She laughed at that. "I had actually considered jumping out of this window already. It could be worse." She pulled off the necklace and earrings and threw them to the floor. Haytham went first leaving them standing at the ledge. "I trust you." She said, jumping down to the water below. "I know." He said to the empty room before diving behind them.
The height from the tower to the ocean below was considerable and she hit the water below hard. She clawed her way to the top sputtering, blinking against the sting of the salt water. Beside her Connor surfaced effortlessly and Haytham was already flashing a bit of metal in the moonlight signaling the Aquila to come closer. Haytham climbed the side first followed by a shaking Carolyn, struggling in the sopping gown. Reaching the top she pulled herself to the deck and laid there. The swim had washed the blood from her skin but the gown was still stained a darkening red. "When we get home I'm burning this dress." Having reached the deck himself Connor knelt by her. She threw her arms around his neck and buried her face in his chest. "I want to go home. I want my baby." She shivered in the warm night air.
Connor nodded to Haytham to take the wheel and stood gathering her to his chest. "I'll take you to my cabin. It will be warmer." She gripped him tightly and shook her head. "No. I'd rather stay out here." He looked around and carried her to the steps leading to the wheel, sitting holding her. His arms tightened around her. "Did he hurt you?" he asked her quietly. She sighed hearing the question he could not ask. "He just scared me. That's all." Connor grimaced. "I never believed when he said he would let you go." She laughed bitterly. "I was there. He never promised to let me go. He promised to let me chose and I did." Connor frowned down at her but she continued. "He said I could leave but if I did he would send people to kill you and our son. I know you're a good fighter but he was right. There's only so much one man can do. I couldn't risk it." "And so you married him? That was your cunning plan? You're already married. You're mine. " She nodded against his shoulder. " 'Till death do us part.' Though to be fair it was the same with Reginald. I killed him. I've never killed anybody before. I expected to feel something; remorse, horror. All I feel is relieved." She rested her cheek on his chest. "I took the vow but nothing else. Even in Kingston the doctor knew I wasn't ready for anything more." He tilted her head back and met her eyes. "Honestly if it had I would not have held it against you. It would only have made me want to be the one who slit his throat more. The important thing is that you're safe." He kissed her gently.
She continued to shiver against him. "I'll go below if you'll come with me and stay." She said at last. He nodded standing and carried her into the ship. She looked around the cabin curiously. "You know I've never actually been here before." He laid her on the bunk carefully. "Well from now on if I'm sailing you're coming with me. I clearly can't leave you alone. " He climbed into the bed next to her and she wrapped herself cautiously around him. His arm wrapped around her. "I think we should have no more secrets. There's something I never told you." She looked up at him nervously. He gave her shoulder a squeeze. "I'm an Assassin. In fact I'm the head of the local order." She grinned in spite of herself. "I know." He looked down at her seriously. "I know you know. But I still never told you and I should have." Her arms tightened around him. "I love you." He grinned down at her. "More secrets we already know? I love you too." He pulled the blanket over them and held her until she fell asleep.
It took 3 days to each the dock in Davenport and Carolyn paced the deck of the ship as they approached. Carolyn ran down the gang plank the moment the ship was tied off, stumbling after so many days at sea when she reached solid ground. Connor caught her by the arm steading her. At the end of the dock Lance stood holding the reins of his horse. Connor approached him shaking his head and grinning. "How did you know?" Lance smiled at him "That you would bring her back? It's you. Of course you would succeed." Connor decided to leave his reputation intact and not tell him how close they came. "How did you know when though?" Lance shook his head. "We didn't. We've been taking turns. The baby is at Diana's house. " He held the horse steady as Connor mounted and reached down to pull up Carolyn in front of him.
They reached the house and she jumped from the horse almost before he had stopped. She ran to the door pulling on the latch and pounding when she found it locked. Terry opened the door cautiously, axe at the ready but threw it wide when he saw who was standing there. Connor eyed the axe appreciatively and patted Terry's shoulder as he entered. Carolyn spotted the cradle in the living room and dove for it snatching up the baby and laughing. A middle aged woman came in and eyed this crazy blood stained woman nervously but noticed everyone else smiling. "You must be the mother." Carolyn nodded and carried the baby to the rocking chair, pulling her breast out not caring who was present and latching him on. She sighed as he began to nurse. "I was so worried my milk would dry up." Connor tried not to blush but the others in the room saw nothing unusual about her actions. He checked on them briefly and handed a heavy purse to the woman. "I think we'll be fine from here."