"You are afraid of this man, aren't you?" Miranda asked.

"He is an enemy," Judah admitted. "A powerful one."

"More powerful than even you?"

"Quite possibly. But I have something he does not have."

Miranda understood. "The mask of Baal. Perhaps I could - help you set a trap for him - " she offered, only to have him turn that dark gaze on her again.

"No," he said, his voice firm. "You will have nothing to do with Aaron For-sythe, Miranda. Nothing at all."

Aaron Forsythe watched the rat-faced little man talking to someone on the docks, saw that man point to the Sea Witch. Soon after the questing man departed, Aaron walked down the gangway to the dock. "Can I help you, Cap'n?"

"Most probably. That man you just spoke to. Do you know him?"

The old sailor snorted. "Sure 'nuff. Mos' ev'rybody knows Jamie."

"What did he want to know?"

The old man rubbed his stubbled chin. "Not rightly sure I can remember, Cap'n. Memory's not what it used t'be."

Aaron placed a handful of silver on the barrel between them. "Will this restore your memory?"

Casting a greedy glance at the coin, he grinned. "He asked me about the Sea Witch"

"What about her?"

"When she'd come into port, if her cap'n was aboard."

"I see. Who does this Jamie work for?"

This time the man gave out a wheezing laugh. "That be somethin' else ev'rybody knows. He works for Judah Zachary."

"Thank you for your help," he said, tossing a gold piece atop the silver before returning to his cabin on the ship. So Judah had recognized the meaning of his gift. Excellent. For six years, Aaron had waited, biding his time before avenging Elsbeth's death. His junior by only a year, his sister had left England at his side ten years before when their brother Philip had suggested that he leave or face a murder charge. Aaron had not killed that girl, had known that his younger brother was responsible, but to avoid a scandal, Aaron had left his homeland for Martinique. Philip was now the Earl, and Aaron found he didn't care. He enjoyed his life on the Sea Witch.

On his first voyage north from Martinique, Elsbeth had met Judah Zachary. Aaron, having heard the many rumors about the man's dark practices, tried to warn her, but it was too late. Elsbeth had been under Judah's spell. Aaron had been left with no choice but to leave her in Bedford, visiting her on subsequent voyages.

But six years ago, she had not been anywhere he had searched, and Judah had tried to say that she had left Bedford to return to England. Knowing as he did how much Elsbeth hated their brother, Aaron had refused to believe the story, and had finally found a member of Judah's coven who admitted to Aaron that his sister had never left: she had died in one of Judah's black ceremonies - a sacrifice.

Furious, Aaron had confronted the man and sworn revenge. Judah, arrogant as always, had laughed.

"I do not fear you, Forsythe. I fear no man."

"Laugh now, Zachary. I can wait for vengeance. When you have it all, and truly believe that no man can touch you, I will topple you and crush you like - a china doll."

Aaron had not returned to Bedford in those six years, but he had spies here. Spies who reported that Judah thought himself all-powerful, above even the witch tribunals. Aaron's own powers, learned on the islands, were at their zenith, and the time would never be better.

The spies also told him of the young woman who had replaced Elsbeth in the coven. A beautiful blonde with big blue

eyes. He would destroy her as well, Aaron decided.

Miranda was on her way to Judah's house to attend the coven when a horse was ridden into her path. She looked up into a pair of laughing hazel eyes that made her heart stop beating and then start again at a faster pace. "Excuse me, sir. I must -"

"You must talk to me," he said. He was dressed in fine clothes, she noted.

"I do not speak to strangers, sir."

"We may not know the names, but we are not strangers. You and I could never be that." Aaron was surprised by his reaction to this blonde beauty. His usual preference was for dark hair and eyes. But something about this woman drew him like the sea drew a sailor.

"You are too forward, sir. Allow me to pa.s.s."

Aaron laughed, then reached down with no warning to lift her onto the horse in front of him. "There. That is much better, is it not?"

"No!" she said, struggling to free herself. "You are mad!" she declared. "Release me. If I am seen-"

"You do not care what others think. I can tell that. We are alike in that way."

"Let me down!!"

"Ah, spirited as well. I like that in a woman. Allow me to take you to your destination. Such a lovely woman should not be walking alone on a deserted road."

"I can take care of myself, sir. I will say it only once more: Release me."

"When we reach your destination," he said with a smile, trying to charm her out of her anger. "Come now. The sooner you tell me which direction, the sooner you will be rid of my company."

With a deep sigh of aggravation, Miranda clenched her jaw. "That way."

"It truly troubled you to give in, did it not? We will go." He set the horse in motion, and shortly they came to the house he knew was Judah Zachary's. Aaron slid from the saddle, then lifted the girl down. "You were coming to this house?" he asked, his eyes narrowed as they looked at her.

"Yes," she said, gathering her skirts to run inside. "I must go before -"

Aaron put a hand on her arm to detain her. "Before what?"

The door of the house opened, and a tall, dark figure came down the path. He didn't raise his voice, but Miranda could hear the leashed fury. "Miranda."

"Judah. I was - just going inside." The look he sent the other man set warning bells off inside her head.

Aaron leaned against the gate. "h.e.l.lo, Zachary."

"Forsythe."

Miranda's blue eyes grew wide. "You are - Captain Forsythe?'

He bowed, humor back in his hazel eyes. "Captain Aaron Forsythe, at your service, Mistress Miranda." He could easily read the confusion in those blue eyes before she turned and dashed into the house. "She's very beautiful, Zachary. Even more so than Elsbeth. Do you plan the same fate for her?" All trace of humor had vanished.

"I explained that it was Elsbeth's decision, Forsythe. I did not force her to partic.i.p.ate in that ceremony. She wanted to -"

"Because she knew it was what you wanted her to do."

"She loved me."

"It was not love, Judah. It was fear. As well as the promises you made to her. Did you receive my message?"

Judah blinked, temporarily startled by the change of subject. "The doll? Yes. I received it. A rather - crude warning."

"But effective?"

Judah ignored his question. "How long will you be in Bedford?

Aaron swung into the saddle. "As long as it takes for my sister to rest in peace, Judah. Tell Miranda that I will be seeing her." He spurred his horse into a gallop.