Elijah and Paul arrived on the front lawn just in time to witness, Simon and a brown-skinned woman in the midst of a struggle. She was of a diminutive height with waist-length black curls but she was lithe and effective with her attacks.
Simon was a much larger and stronger combatant, so the clever girl ensured that each of her strikes landed with enough force to rattle him to his core. He was reeling, struggling to stay in the fight. Elijah watched for a moment longer simply fascinated by the commanding presence of this woman. He knew seasoned military men without half her skills.
Simon finally started using his head when realized he was losing. He tried to overpower her. His pale white arms came around her waist and he swung her body to the ground in hopes of pinning her there, no doubt to deal the finishing blows. Simon, however, did not anticipate her retaliation; the girl elbowed him at his temple unbalancing him. He released her to tend the injury. She spun around with lightning-quick reflexes kicked the back of his knees forcing him to the ground, then grabbed his jugular from behind and squeezed. Strength was not required for this particular maneuver. With proper hand placement, she could effectively halt air passage in or out of his body. Simon's thin frame began to wilt. His pale green eyes rolled to the back of his head. He would die in a matter of minutes without intervention.
Elijah was amazed. A woman no more than five feet four inches at best, of slender yet solid build, overpowered and out-maneuverer a man nearly twice her size. There would be time to be riveted by her unusual charms later. He needed to intervene or Simon would surely die, if not from the shame of defeat alone.
He took a few quick strides to reach her. From behind, Elijah grabbed her free wrist, jerking her back quickly, forcing her to release her hold. Simon slumped to the ground in an unconscious heap.
"You there," Elijah called to some onlookers, "See to it that he is taken care of." He ordered.
With Elijah still holding her wrist, she daintily spun behind his back. Forcing his arm to turn awkwardly in the socket, up and behind him. Finally, causing his hand to open and release her. He turned to look at her. She stood but a few feet away from him now; he could see her clearly. Her jet black hair fell in great thick shinning waves. It was mangled and blew uncontrollably in the wind surrounding her like a black cloud. The sun had evidently kissed her deep russet skin; her cheeks flared with color. What caught his stare the longest was her eyes; deep blue-green like the sea after the storm; wide and wild but...gorgeous.
Elijah cleared his throat, regaining his composure, "Girl, I demand that you cease this violence, at once." He ordered. She stared back unflinching and unresponsive, even somewhat haughty.
"Paul does she not speak English?" He asked.
"I don' believe so Sah." He responded meekly.
"Damnation! I suppose I will have to do this the hard way." He turned to her and motioned for her to come to him. Again, there was no response just a smug look of self-importance. She was trying egging him on.
When he drew closer, she took a step back. She clenched her fists and widened her stance. Apparently, she was prepared to fight him as well. He lunged for her hand and caught her forearms. When she tried to pull away, he hauled her against his body wrapping his arms tightly around her arms and upper body in a vicelike grip. He could not ignore the softness that pressed against him as she conformed to his body.
For a moment, she stared at him awestruck, her full lips barely open, beaconing to him. Distracting him from his task. He shook the thought. Without further warning, he hoisted her over his shoulder. She fought him, beating him over his back and shoulders but it was useless, she was overcome. He carried her inside the house, up the hall and into his chambers where he promptly locked the door upon his exit. He would straighten her out yet but he needed to speak to his father first.
"Father, I must speak with you," Elijah said barging into his father's study yet again. Thorne sat on his desk with one knee draped alongside it and the other leg steadying him on the floor. He ran his hand through his shorn salt and pepper hair. His silver eyes caught Elijah as he came through the door. He stood to greet Elijah.
Throughout his life, Elijah envied the charisma and attractiveness that came so naturally to his father. Thorne's height towered, at over six feet, with more brawn than most due to many years of vigorous physical exercise and a chiseled handsome face.
Yet, standing facing his father he realized that now they were eye to eye. The greatest difference between the two being their coloring. While Elijah boasted an envious head of curly red hair, handed down by his mother's Viking and Celtic ancestry; Thorne was a brunette a trait passed down from their Italian lineage. The grey eyes seemed to be a trait attributable to most St. John men.
"Elijah is something amiss?"
"Father regarding the girl Paul warned about...there's a bit of a problem." Elijah lingered wondering how to properly address such a sensitive matter.
"What problem?"
"I watched her fight Simon father...an excellent match, I must say, but alas, Simon was bested by her."
Thorne's eyebrows shot up, "Simon was bested by a woman. Imagine that. Ha! Well, I'll be damned!" he laughed.
"That's not all either."
"Well go on." Thorne insisted.
"This woman is painfully cavalier and arrogant like most of the pompous aristocracy we know, all without saying a bleedin' word. She's completely unrefined. What kind of woman engages in combat of that lethal sort. She tried to kill a man in front of my very eyes," He huffed. "Still, I cannot deny that she has the most stunning green eyes... like a stain glass window. She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."
Thorne sent Elijah a conspiring look, "There now. I see the issue at hand... taken with her, already, are you? That was fast. I suppose that is obvious enough, she is quite fetching. She was actually your surprise Elijah. I found her during my journey on the coast, near the Carolinas. I knew she would be destined for some brothel or rich man's bed. I couldn't tolerate the idea of her having to bear that. Though she was a pricey little piece, I bought her to spare her from her abysmal fate. She seems to need some taking care of and I know how fond you are of charity cases. Why don't you help her to assimilate into American culture, then I'm sure we can find a suitable place for her."
"There's something rather untamed about her I can't quite place my finger on it... something primal to her. She must have the most intriguing background; certainly interesting is she not?" Thorne smiled.
"Yes...as intriguing and beautiful as she is I would rather keep all my bits and pieces in order, I thank you very much. I'll have nothing to do with that jungle cat." Just the thought of her made something strange taunted Elijah's tall fit body with the beginnings of an odd longing.
"She is fresh off the boat Eli; she speaks no English and knows nothing of our ways. Dear boy, you've got no choice, you must be the one to look after her. Its time you took on some responsibility. If all goes well, then perhaps I may resend my restriction on your inheritance. Is that clear?" Thorne stated sternly.
Elijah remembered back to the time that his father forced him into restricted allowance and limited his inheritance by almost half. He would be a pauper if it were allowed to continue. Still, he brought it on himself. He thought of his time at Harvard, there was the matter of a tryst with the headmaster's daughter, a duel, and an expulsion. All of this enabled his parents to back him neatly into a corner about his prospects for marriage. He cringed at the thought.
'Brilliant...forced into something else I don't want to do; a reoccurring theme in this bloody family.'
"I'll see to it that she is taken care of father," He grumbled.
Thorne's face relaxed somewhat; he sat atop his desk.
"Good. Where is the girl now?"
"I locked her in my rooms..." Elijah looked away slightly embarrassed.
"What did you intended on doing with her there?" Thorne's left eyebrow climbed above the other.
"Not a thing Father! Why the very idea!" Elijah feigned offense. "I will not have my honor besmirched; this is only a temporary measure. I had to separate her from the others, lest she incite a riot."
Thorne came around his desk to sit down and rested his elbows on the tabletop. "Be that as it may; your dear Mama will not be as understanding. I shall not like to be you when she finds out about this; locking a girl in your rooms. Ha!"
"Father, please do something about Mother. I simply can't abide a raking over the coals tonight."
"I make you no promises but I'll see what I can do."