Hidden Fires

by Sandra Brown

  Olivia stated quietly, “I’m not joking, Jared. I’m serious, and I think you’ll see why if you let me explain it to you.”

  “I don’t need any explanations, Mother. It’s absurd,” Jared cried. He pointed a finger at Lauren. “She’s still wet behind the ears.”

  “Miss Holbrook is twenty. Ben told me.”

  “I wasn’t referring to her age, dammit, I was refer—”

  “I know what you meant,” Olivia said. “It’s a far cry from your earlier opinion of her. I remember your accusing Ben of bringing his ‘southern belle whore’ into the house when he told us about her.”

  Lauren swelled with anger at Jared’s unjust and unwarranted comment. He hadn’t even met her! Before she could fill her constricted lungs with enough air to protest, Olivia continued, “We made a plausible story of her being a classmate’s sister. We’ll embellish it and say that you fell in love on one of your visits with her family. Your father surprised you by bringing her here, and you can’t bear for her to go back. You’ll be married right away.” She held up a palm to stave off the objection she saw coming. “We expect you to be more discreet in your… other interests, Jared, but you need not change your lifestyle. Lauren is educated and refined and will add a convincing touch to your new, responsible image.”

  Jared leaned against the wall, crossed his ankles, and folded his arms across his chest. He sounded amused when he drawled, “We weren’t exactly a loving couple last night. How the hell do you expect those shrewd Vandivers to fall for your little farce?”

  “We’ll say Lauren thought it improper to marry so soon after Ben’s death and that you had quarreled about it. You were having a lover’s spat.” Then, dismissing any further arguments, she said, “You will marry immediately. Have I made myself clear?”

  Jared looked at his mother levelly for a few moments. When he spoke, all traces of humor were gone. His voice was low and menacing. “Every goddam decision in my life, you have made for me. I’ll go along with your scheme for the railroad, but there’s no way you’ll saddle me with an unwanted wife. No way in hell.”

  Olivia smiled smugly. “I think there is, Jared. I happened to overhear your argument with Ben the night before he died. Do you wish to tell Miss Holbrook why Ben arranged for her to come here?” Jared’s face paled alarmingly, even considering his hungover pallor. His eyes looked pained. He stood up straight and balled his hands into fists at his side, but he didn’t speak. “No?” Olivia turned to Lauren. “Well, Lauren, it seems that Ben picked you out for Jared. He was bringing you here in the hopes that before he died, he would see his son married and settled down with you.”

  She faced her son again. “It’s ironic that for once my objectives are the same as your father’s, isn’t it, Jared? And it was your vehement objection to his matchmaking and your promise to make Lauren’s visit as abominable as possible that caused your father’s heart attack. I think you owe him his last wish, don’t you?” She leaned back in her chair and smiled dangerously. “Yes, I think you owe him this.”

  Jared’s jaw had turned to iron. His teeth clenched and unclenched; his hands worked at his sides. He turned and faced the window, looking out with eyes blinded by impotent rage.

  Had Lauren not been so stunned by the events of the past few minutes, she would have resented being discussed as if she were deaf and mute, an object rather than a person. Ben had invited her here for that wastrel to marry! How could he have been so callous? And Olivia and Jared had known all along, probably Carson had, too. They had conspired to deceive her, had even humiliated her with spurious doubts of her virtue.

  Olivia turned a hard, green stare on her and said, “Lauren, we’ve not heard your opinion.” Clearly her statement was a mere formality. Olivia would brook no opposition.

  At Lauren’s obvious inability to speak, Carson hesitantly cautioned, “Olivia, maybe we’re being unrealistic. Let’s give them time—”

  “No,” Olivia said. “The sooner the better, Carson. I’m sure when Lauren hears the rest of our proposal, she’ll agree fast enough.”

  Lauren met Olivia’s eyes again and felt a spurt of courage. This woman could never force her into marriage. Never.

  Before Lauren could tell Ben’s widow exactly what she thought of the entire family, Olivia said, “Lauren, we don’t expect you to do this without compensation. We’re only asking that you stay married until the railroad is complete and running to our satisfaction. Then, when all the fireworks are over, you may go wherever you wish. For your time and trouble, we’ll give you twenty thousand dollars in cash when you leave.”

  “I don’t want any money from you, Olivia!” Lauren declared. She wasn’t even aware of having used Olivia’s first name. This final insult was too humiliating. Olivia had actually offered her money to marry Jared!

  She ignored the derisive snort that came from the direction of the window. Her eyes were riveted on Olivia as she whispered hoarsely, “This is impossible. Surely you are joking?” Olivia only stared back at her stoically. Lauren looked toward Carson, who was wiping his moist hands with his handkerchief. The man at the window remained motionless, brooding. He was leaving her to fight this battle alone, when they should have been allies. Anger made her brave.

  “I won’t marry anyone. I don’t want to marry anyone,” she declared with a defiant lift of her small, pointed chin.

  Olivia laughed indulgently. “My dear Lauren, I’m not suggesting that you marry in the biblical sense of the word. The marriage need never be consummated.” Again Lauren heard a scoffing sound from near the window. “I would think our offer would be attractive. You don’t want to return to that dismal parsonage right away, do you? When you leave here, you’ll be a woman of independent means.”

  “I would also be a married woman,” Lauren protested.

  With a hint of impatience in her voice, Olivia replied, “An unconsummated marriage can be annulled expeditiously. Don’t worry about that now. As Jared’s wife, things will be very pleasant for you here.”

  The green eyes narrowed on Lauren and Olivia asked pointedly, “Was there someone you were involved with in North Carolina? Perhaps a former love is the reason for your resistance.”

  “No,” Lauren rasped. She shuddered when William’s gloating face invaded her thoughts. “No,” she said with finality. Feeling bolder now, she challenged, “If you’ve known all along why Ben brought me here, why didn’t you say so?”

  “That’s a lesson for you to learn, Lauren. Gather what information you can, and then save it until just the right moment. Had this occasion for us to use you not arisen, you would have been sent away after two months none the wiser.” She smiled tightly. “No doubt Ben’s romantic soul hoped you and Jared would develop an affection for each other during your visit. Ben was always a fool about such things.”

  Lauren was shocked by the hatred in Olivia’s voice, and could only stare at the woman in lieu of a response.

  Olivia stood up and briskly crossed the room. “Then if there is no further discussion, I need to start making preparations.” She looked at Jared, then at Lauren. When no one made an objection, she motioned for Carson to follow. He patted Lauren quickly on the shoulder before he left the room in the wake of Olivia’s stiff, rustling skirts.

  Lauren’s mind was in turmoil. Why was she still sitting here? She should be upstairs furiously packing. She should run away from this house at once. She stared vacantly as her thoughts ran rampant.

  What were her options? She couldn’t go back to North Carolina and face William and her former guardians. She had closed that chapter of her life. Or rather, it had been closed for her.

  She would live with a loveless marriage to a stranger. But not forever. She would have the means to start over when she left the Locketts and she would somehow survive the stigma of divorce. Maybe she could even pass herself off as a widow if she moved far enough away from Texas. In the meantime, she would live comfortably.

  What else could she do? Briefly she thought of
Ed Travers and his kind offer to help her. Maybe he could secure her a position as a Harvey House girl. Swiftly Lauren rejected the idea. Her experience at entertaining parlor guests would not have prepared her for the dining room of a restaurant where she would have to serve food from heavily laden trays. And she would despise living in a dormitory where moments of privacy were scarce, if they existed at all.

  The pros and cons paraded back and forth in her head, but the basis of her decision was the same one that Olivia had so cleverly used on Jared. Ben had wanted it.

  It always came back to that. Ben had chosen her for his son. Why? It was an agonizing thought that she would never know his reasons.

  Lauren had been so engrossed in her own musings that she didn’t remember until now that Jared was still in the room. He stood rigidly at the window in the same position as before, with his back to her. Why hadn’t he said anything?

  She looked at the man and tried to analyze what he must be feeling. Would marriage to him be so terrible? Olivia made it clear that his bride would be only a figurehead. She would remain a bride, and never become a wife. For the marriage was not to be consummated. Lauren’s heart skipped a beat and fluttered in her breast. The mechanics of such intimacy still eluded her, but she knew that the word implied a physical avowal of the marriage.

  They must speak to each other. Before she consented to this preposterous action, she must know his feelings. Timorously she vacated her chair and approached him. She cleared her throat. “Mr. Lockett?”

  At the sound of her voice, his body tensed automatically. When the tremor passed, he straightened his shoulders and pivoted slowly on the heels of his boots until he faced her. He didn’t say anything, only looked at her with an aloof, cold expression in his eyes. The full, sensuous lips were set in a grim, hard line.

  “I… I want to know—” she stammered before he interrupted her.

  “You took their bait, hook, line, and sinker, didn’t you? You couldn’t wait for this chance, could you? All that money! And a husband! My, my, the old maid preacher’s kid has come a long way up the ladder today.”

  His words were cruel and vicious and delivered with intention to hurt. Is that what he thought of her? Did he think she had known about Ben’s plans for her? Anger and shame forced unwanted tears to gather in the corners of her eyes, and she looked at him imploringly. “Mr. Lockett, you must—”

  He lunged, grabbing her shoulders with his strong hands. Her head snapped back painfully and the bun at her nape began to uncoil.

  Through clenched teeth, but with a voice oozing feigned charm, he growled, “I think that under the circumstances, we can dispense with the Mr. and Miss. My name is Jared. Say it!” he commanded.

  His hands were unrelentingly tight on her arms, and her teeth chattered in fright, but she managed to gasp, “Jared,” before one huge tear escaped her lower lid and rolled like a sparkling gem down her cheek.

  That one tear infuriated Jared further and he hissed, “I don’t know how you so completely hoodwinked and bewitched a man as smart as my father, but don’t think you can resort to tears and vapors to get to me. Those fathomless gray eyes won’t work on me, understand?” He gave her a little shake. “We’re in this together. Just stay out of my way, and possibly we’ll be able to stand it. Old Ben was famous for his clever tricks, and he seems to have played his last big joke on me. He sure found a willing partner in you.”

  “No!” she cried. “I didn’t know what he intended. He only mentioned you once in passing. I didn’t—”

  “Then you’re more of a fool than I thought. Did you think Ben wanted you for himself? Well, then, the joke’s on you, too, isn’t it? Were you after a nice, rich, elderly husband who would more than likely make you a rich widow very soon. Were you?” He shouted the last two words, his face inches from hers. He held her tight against him, each muscle straining and pressing into her.

  His amber eyes flickered for an instant when he looked down at her appealing face. His surprised expression mirrored hers as they simultaneously realized that their bodies were touching chest to toes. It was softness against hardness, weakness against strength, femininity against masculinity. The contrast was too compelling to ignore.

  Jared hadn’t planned it, had never even thought about it, but he couldn’t control taking complete possession of her mouth with a bruising kiss. He wanted to insult her, to further humiliate her, to shatter her damned poise. But her body was so female, her lips so soft, warm, virginal, that what had been hurtful and brutal became tender, seeking, questioning.

  His arms went around her slowly, drawing her into an even closer embrace. He disregarded the heels of her hands on his shoulders making a weak, futile attempt to push him away. One hand went to the back of her head and held it immobile until her lips parted under the increased pressure of his. His fingers unconsciously entwined in the thick strands of hair that tumbled further down her neck.

  Sweetly his tongue plundered the hollows of her mouth, unique in taste and feel from any other he had kissed. His arms tightened around her until her breasts were flattened against his chest. The feel of her taut nipples through the soft linen of her blouse clouded his judgment, and his mouth became even more avaricious.

  Lauren’s mind fed on the new sensations—the scratching stubble of his beard, the coffee taste in his mouth, the faint aroma of tobacco, the feel of his lips, teeth, and tongue as they explored, the sound of a moan that came from… where?

  Jared pushed her away from him so suddenly that she almost fell backward. She regained her balance and tried to assimilate what had happened. Both her hands came up and covered her mouth. Over her trembling fingertips, she looked at Jared, who appeared none too composed himself.

  He stared at her, breathing rapidly, then swallowed convulsively. When he was moderately restored, he dropped the mask of indifference over his features and sneered contemptuously, “Very nice, Lauren, but I told you it wouldn’t work on me.” His lips curled cruelly and his thick-fringed eyelids lowered speculatively over the cynical eyes. “You were no doubt comparing my sexual prowess to Ben’s.” He barked a short laugh. “Well, I’ll be damned before I’ll have any of my father’s leftovers!”

  It seemed that every blood vessel in her head had burst, for her whole world was washed in red fury. She advanced on him like a warrior bent on vengeance and slapped him smartly on the cheek.

  Chapter 7

  Jared was too astonished to react. She glared up at him, eyes wide and dark, chest heaving with agitation. At any other time, he would have found her anger ludicrous and would have been greatly amused. Now he stood statuelike as she said scathingly, “You are insufferable, Jared Lockett. Never, never,” she stamped a small foot for emphasis, “insult me as you just have.” She spun around and marched from the room, leaving Jared nonplussed.

  As soon as she closed the door of the office behind her, Lauren ran toward the staircase and, quite unladylike, raised her skirt above her ankles and sped up the stairs. By the time she reached her room, her face was bathed with tears. “I hate him!” she professed in a grating whisper. “He’s abominable. They all are,” she cried. The pillows caught her when she fell across the bed. They absorbed her tears and muffled sounds of frustration and anger.

  Why!? Why had he thought such a thing about her? What had she done in innocence that made them all suspect her of something evil? Olivia and Carson had been half-convinced that she and Ben had been lovers. Jared must have thought the same thing, and even attributed mercenary motives to her.

  Even Abel and Sybil, who had loved her like a daughter, were ready to accept William’s vicious lies about her. Their first expressions of shocked disbelief when William had told his tale had turned to the same contemptuous frown that Jared had worn moments before. She had done nothing to warrant their severe judgment.

  William. Even now, when his memory was beginning to fade from her mind, the pain he had inflicted came back with terrific force.

  * * *

&nb
sp; The day Ben Lockett left early after breakfast, the Prathers had decided on the spur of the moment to travel to Raleigh for the day. Abel had invited Lauren to accompany them, but the prospect of spending the day in close company with the parson and his wife, much as she loved them, was unappealing. Lauren gave the excuse of a headache and begged them not to change their plans on her account. Indeed, Sybil was already enumerating the stores she wished to visit and naming possible places for a late luncheon.

  Lauren waved to the Prathers cheerfully when they finally departed. She was immensely grateful for the day she could spend alone. She needed to nurse her feelings about having given up the opportunity to seek a new life for herself.

  The day passed too quickly. She became involved in a new piece of music and spent hours practicing until she played it to her satisfaction. She spent a quiet hour lying on her bed with a novel, but found her thoughts kept drifting back to Ben Lockett. She would never see him again, but he would forever be in her mind. He had been so kind. How she wished her father had been like that.

  Resolutely, she shoved Ben to the further reaches of her mind as she cooked an omelet for her dinner. Since Abel and Sybil were to stay the night in Raleigh, she viewed the privacy as an unexpected but welcome gift.

  After her light and, for once, well-seasoned meal, she was on her way upstairs when the bell at the front door rang. Accustomed to people calling at all hours seeking Abel for one emergency or another, she opened the door without hesitation.

  William Keller stood on the porch.

  She was tempted to slam the door in his pale face, but her innate good manners made such an action impossible.