Louisiana 08 - While Passion Sleeps

by Shirlee Busbee

  Certainly there was money enough. Her money was sitting safely in the bank—it had been Nathan's ample fortune they gambled with, the cautious bankers willing to pay for many things, but not the experiments with crops that Beth had tried. For a moment a satisfied smile curved her rosy mouth, remembering the looks on Mr. Tyler's and Mr. Deering's faces when she had deposited the money Briarwood had received last fall for her com crop—the crop she had insisted upon growing in spite of their condescending advice to the contrary. Oh, yes, she had enjoyed that small triumph.

  The smile faded, though, and a look of intense concentration came into the wide violet eyes. Why shouldn't she go to Santa Fe?

  There was now a competent overseer at Briarwood, she had the money, and there was no pressing reason for her to remain in Natchez. The more she contemplated it, the more the idea appealed to her. To see Stella and the baby Elizabeth, and to view those wide awe-inspiring prairies. Perhaps even to see a wild, romantic-looking Comanche? The thought gave her a shiver of delicious excitement, and guiltily she admitted that in many ways she was still dreaming of adventure. How Stella would scold, she thought with a wry twist of her lips. But still...

  A smart rap on the door interrupted her reflections, and she glanced over to see Nathan, who looked exceptionally dapper, entering the room. He gave her a warm

  smile and murmured, "Not disturbing you, am I, my dear?"

  Elizabeth smiled back. "No, I wasn't doing anything in particular." And, noticing the superbly fitting claret frock coat and the slimly cut trousers of fawn moleskin, she added, "You look very handsome this morning. Are you going out?"

  "Well, yes, I rather thought that I would take the brougham into town and spend the day at the Mansion House. It's so boring when it rains. At least at Mansion House there'll be others looking for a way to spend some time until evening. Then I suspect a few of us will 'go down the line.'"

  Elizabeth shot him an old-fashioned look. "Silver Street again, Nathan?" she inquired dryly.

  He flushed, his fair skin turning a bright pink hue. Almost defensively, he began, "Now, Beth. You know that I..."

  "Never mind, Nathan," Beth replied, unwilling to discuss a subject they both found embarrassing.

  Nathan hadn't changed a great deal in four years. Though he was approaching thirty, the only signs of passing time in his youthful countenance were a faint sagging of the jowl line and the slightest hint that perhaps his waistcoats fit more snugly than they had a few years back. He still wore his muttonchop whiskers and his fair hair fell in a graceful sweep across his forehead. Gray eyes abashed, he murmured, "If you don't want me to go, Beth, I'll stay the day with you."

  Knowing he would if she asked because he honestly did try to please her, she shook her head. "No. Gro ahead and enjoy yourself"

  Hesitating, he finally asked, "What do you plan to do today?"

  "I don't know," Beth answered truthfully. "You're right about it being boring when it rains." And without conscious thought she suddenly blurted out, "Would you mind if I went on a trip, Nathan?"

  Alarmed, he crossed to her side and took her hand in his. "Are you unhappy, my dear? Have I done something to distress you? I know my... my... activities have

  been a trial to you, but I didn't think it worried you anymore. If there is something that I can do... or... or..."

  "Nathan, don't! It has nothing to do with that!'' Beth answered hastily, knowing how easily he could work himself up into an orgy of guilt and unhappiness. Her eyes searching his, Bhe said slowly, "I would like to go visit Stella. It's been years since I've seen her. And now there is the baby Elizabeth. Oh, Nathan, do say you won't mind!"

  ''Visit Stella Rodriguez?" he asked incredulously. "Why, she lives in Santa Fe!" he finished in a voice that made it sound as if Santa Fe were situated on a distant planet.

  Elizabeth smiled. "Nathan,^Santa Fe isn't that far away, you know. It is on the same continent."

  "Well, I know that!" he retorted somewhat huffily. "But it's out in the middle of God knows where! It's so uncivilized! I know Stella is your friend and that you miss her, but how can you even begin to think of going there? No, it's absolutely out of the question!"

  Her eyes holding his, she murmured quietly, "Nathan, I want to go. And unless you have some very good reasons to the contrary, I intend to go."

  "I see. My wishes make no difference to you, I take it," Nathan snapped, one hand agitatedly toying with the heavy gold watch chain that hung from his waistcoat pocket.

  "You know that isn't true, Nathan," Beth replied lightly, amusement peeping in her eyes. "I shan't be gone more than six months or so, and it would mean so much to me."

  "Six months! You're going to go off and desert Briar-wood for six months! You actually want to leave Natchez and willingly spend months out in the middle of some God-forsaken place that is inhabited only by wild savages, poisonous reptiles, and buff'alo? I cannot believe it! Beth, tell me you're not serious!"

  "Unfortunately I am. I suppose you would like it better if I were going to England, though."

  "England! Why yes, let's go there, my love! Now, I'm sure you would enjoy that. Why—why—we could visit your father and stepmother and their child," Nate en-

  thused happily. "We could even cross the Channel to France. I know you would enjoy Paris, Beth."

  Remembering the last time she had seen her father, Beth's soft mouth tightened. "Nathan, you're deluding yourself. I have no desire to visit Three Elms, and the thought of seeing Melissa's son is of no interest to me. Someday, perhaps, we may visit Paris, but this year it is to Santa Fe that I want to go." Why she was being so stubborn about an idea that had just occurred to her she didn't know. But the more Nathan protested, the firmer became her resolve. And it was so unlike him to deny her anything that she was puzzled. What in the world did it matter to him if she wanted to brave the rigors of travel in the wild, untamed Southwest? If she was willing to cope with the lack of amenities in Santa Fe, why should he cavil? After all, he would be comfortably ensconced here in Natchez, spending his days imbibing Mansion House's famous mint juleps and his nights gambling and indulging in his particular vice along Silver Street.

  But there she misjudged him, for after several more minutes of earnest argument between them, he seated himself in a chair near her desk and said unhappily, "You are determined to go, my dear? Nothing I can say will change your mind?"

  "Oh, Nate, don't look so downcast," Beth teased him gently. "I shall take Mary and several other servants to insure adequate protection, and everything will be just fine. You'll see."

  "Perhaps it won't be too bad," he finally said gloomily. "When did you plan for us to leave? We can't just pack up and leave at a moment's notice, you know."

  Astonished, Elizabeth stared at his depressingly resigned countenance. "Us? We?" she repeated stupidly. "You're going with me?"

  Looking slightly affronted, Nathan replied testily, "Well, of course I am! You don't imagine I would let you go unescorted out into the wilderness, do you? Why, anything might happen! I couldn't sleep a wink not knowing where you were or if you were safe. What kind of a monster do you think I am, Beth? I simply wouldn't enjoy myself at all while you were gone."

  She was touched. Beth's eyes were misty as she stared at his face. ''Oh, Nathan, it really isn't necessary. If I take a half a dozen or so of the male servants and Mary and a serving girl or two go with me and... and if we join up with a caravan, we should be safe. And once Fm at Stella's everything will be just fine."

  ''Yes, that might be true, but getting to and from dear Stella's may be the problem. I don't mind confessing to you that I am not a particularly brave man. And the thought of crossing the plains and all the unknown dangers that entails I find rather unnerving, but I couldn't rest easy unless I were with you. Besides," he added simply, "I would miss you!"

  "Oh, Nathan, dear! Are you'certain you want to go with me?"

  "Of course I don't want to go! Why do you think I just spent the last hour or so tryi
ng to get you to change your mind?" Nathan muttered pettishly. "But if you insist upon haring off into an unexplored wasteland, then I must go with you." His face wearing the expression of a martyr, he inquired, "When do you plan on leaving? I will need at least a week to prepare myself." Then, recalling the magnificent new cream-colored coat, lined with velvet, that his tailor was currently designing for him, he amended, "No. I would need two weeks. Hobbins won't have that coat done for another ten days. I must have it before we leave."

  Beth smiled to herself. Nathan was ridiculously vain about his clothes, and she wondered with amusement how he would cope on the long, dry, dusty journey down into Mexico before swinging up towards Santa Fe. But somehow, she decided fondly, despite all his posturings and little foibles, he would indeed cope!

  The next days passed in a whirl of activity for Beth, the hours flying by, meshed into one continuous haze of frantic packing and anticipation. Beth wrote instantly to Stella apprising her of their approximate arrival; as she sealed the letter she sent up a fervent little prayer that the letter would reach its destination before she did!

  The overseer of Briarwood was given a detailed account of what was to be done in their absence, and

  Nathan's velvet-lined jacket was finished on time. The servants who were to accompany them were chosen and readied; accommodations on the steamboat that would take them to New Orleans were obtained; reservations were made for a hotel in New Orleans; and their place on a packet leaving fi:*om that city to Galveston Island in the Republic of Texas was secured.

  Everj^hing was ready, Beth thought happily as she undressed for bed some three weeks later. Tomorrow she would start the first phase of the long, dangerous journey to Santa Fe, and she was nearly sick with excitement. Tomorrow couldn't come soon enough, she decided drowsily after tossing for what seemed hours. Tomorrow the adventure begins.

  The next morning, however, things began to go wrong. In her haste to double-check the last-minute packing Mary Eames stumbled over one of the valises, left by a careless servant at the top of the huge, sweeping staircase; she somersaulted wildly down the many steps, breaking her leg in the process.

  Beth, agitated and distressed by the accident, considered postponing the trip until Mary's leg had mended, but once the doctor arrived and set the leg, Mary convinced her that it was absurd for everything to be undone because of her clumsiness.

  Grimacing at herself as she lay comfortably propped by pillows, her leg plastered and resting on several more fluffy down pillows, and hovered over by two wide-eyed young Negresses, Mary said sensibly, "Don't be silly! Ever3^hing is arranged. All the reservations, all the packing, everything! It is my own fault that I'm not going to be able to go with you. And I see no reason for you to undo all your plans just for me. Go ahead and leave. I shall be perfectly all right, and after all, what could you do to make things any different?"

  Tom between the desire to leave as planned and an equally strong desire to remain at Mary's side, Beth dithered for another few minutes. Then, finally making up her mind, she asked anxiously, "You really won't mind if we go on without you?"

  "Of course not, child! Charity was going along to help me with your clothes, and she is trained so beautifully

  that I feel confident she can act as your maid. Press into service one of the other girls, if you like, to assist her, but please^ do not delay your journey because of me."

  Knowing Mary was right, Beth wasted little more time, and the entire entourage—ten husky, eager young male slaves, two giggling Negresses, Nathan's two servants, two wagons, and the coach containing Nathan and Beth—pulled away from Briarwood's oak-lined driveway three hours after the time originally planned for their departure. Beth's face was bright with excitement and the violet eyes were blazing with the spirit of adventure as the carriage pulled away. Beth didn't look back either. At last, she was going West—West to Stella, West to meet her dreams!

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  They stayed only one night in New Orleans, and the morning of the last Monday of January found Beth waking to the gentle hush of the waves against the packet taking them to Galveston. She was glad they hadn't remained long in New Orleans—tired from the river-boat trip from Natchez and sleepless with excitement at the prospect of boarding the ship for Galveston, she'd had no time to dwell on the events that had occurred the last time she had visited New Orleans—no time to recall a pair of mocking gray eyes, or to wonder if Rafael Santana remembered the girl he had taken so carelessly in a small house on the ramparts.

  Charity proved a very able maid, deftly helping her mistress dress in a lace-trimmed, white linen spencer and a very full skirt of green-printed muslin over a light and cool crinoline. A leghorn straw bonnet edged with green velvet and short white gloves laced with green silk cord completed the picture. It was an exceedingly pretty picture, too, that Beth made, with her violet eyes sparkling and the silvery-blond hair arranged in long ringlets on either side of her face.

  Unaware of her own startling beauty, eagerly Beth stepped outside her room and crossed the deck to stand near the railing, and watch the almost turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico. She was well and truly going to Santa Fe, she thought with growing pleasure. And determinedly she quelled the desire to pinch herself to see if she was really standing here on the deck of the ship.

  "Good morning, my dear," Nathan said suddenly to her right, jolting her just a bit.

  "Oh, Nathan! What a start you gave me!" she exclaimed.

  "Sorry, Beth, I thought you heard me coming," Nathan rephed absently, his eyes slightly puffy from a late night at the gaming table below decks.

  Guessing what he had been up to, Beth asked resignedly, "Did you lose very much last night?"

  Nathan pulled a face. "Enough. But nothing to worry over, my dear." He hesitated a moment, then said almost reluctantly, "I wonder... would you mind if a young gentleman joined us at our table for breakfast?"

  Beth stiffened, and incredulously she stared at her husband. .,

  Nathan instantly realized thp train of her thoughts and burst out anxiously, "Now, don't look like that, Beth! You don't think that I would bring a young man that I..." He broke off, horrified that she thought him capable of subjecting her to a meeting with one of his amours. Stiffly, he said, "Sebastian Savage is a young gentleman from New Orleans who happens to be traveling to San Antonio. I met him last night, and as we are both traveling to San Antonio, I thought it only polite to have him join us. If you object I shall have to make an excuse. Though," Nathan muttered worriedly, ''what I shall tell him to explain my sudden reversal, I have no idea!"

  Instantly contrite, Beth said quickly, "No. No, that won't be necessary. And Nathan... I apologize. I should have known you would not do such a thing."

  His eyes troubled, Nathan murmured, "Beth, I know it has not been easy for you. But please believe me, my dear, you will never have to worry that I would deliberately harm you any more than I have already."

  Gently she patted his arm. "Fm sorry I jumped to conclusions, Nathan. Let us not talk of it further—I shall look forward to meeting Mr. Savage."

  Easily diverted, Nathan said eagerly, "You will like him, I am sure. He is a young man, not much older than yourself, I think, and very merry and lively. I think you will find his company extremely amusing and pleasant."

  Beth smiled. "Perhaps. But tell me what business 120

  takes him to San Antonio—is he visiting friends as we will be once we reach Santa Fe, or is he going there to settle?"

  "I think a little of both. He apparently has some cousins or distant relatives that he will be staying with, and I think that, on advice given to him by his father, he intends to look into the possibility of settling in that area."

  "I see," Beth answered vaguely, not particularly interested in Sebastian Savage. Yet, having dismissed him as one of the those charming, dilettante younger sons found so often in wealthy southern families, meeting him a few moments later, she was undeniably drawn to him.

  Who
wouldn't be? Sebastian Savage was an outrageously handsome and charming young scamp—such a delightful rake that few women could resist him. He stood over six feet tall and possessed the natural athlete's body. Having the greenest, thickest-lashed eyes imaginable, luxurious black curly hair, and the most engaging manners to be found on either side of the Mississippi River did little to lessen his impact upon the ladies. But most men found him an enjoyable companion too—always ready for any lark, a marvelous shot with the pistols, generous with his money, and a generally overpoweringly likable fellow. His detractors—and unfortunately there were a few, but only a very few—complained of his quick, hot temper and his cheerful, disgustingly eager willingness to settle the most trivial disagreement with a dawn duel fought ''under the oaks" in New Orleans.

  But Beth, knowing none of these things, was impressed favorably when she met him. And Sebastian... Well, poor Sebastian took one look at the exquisitely fair creature with the incredible violet eyes standing before him and fell rather precipitously and predictably in love—something his father, Jason Savage, claimed dryly Sebastian did with awkward regularity.

  But Beth, much to Sebastian's chagrin, was completely oblivious of his obvious enslavement, seeing him only as a pleasant and entertaining companion. He was two years older than she, but as the days passed, she

  tended to think of him as a younger brother or a very old friend.

  The lazy days as the ship steamed across the Gulf of Mexico toward Galveston gave them hours and hours, uncomplicated by the confines of normal society, to spend with each other and to learn more about the other, and also time for the easy relationship that soon existed between them to prosper. Nathan's habit of rising late and spending just about every waking hour below decks savoring tall, cool rum drinks as he played endless games of chance, contributed to Beth and Sebastian being left often in each other's company.