by Nora Roberts
She gave a cry of pleasure at the glossy chestnut mare prancing around inside the paddock fence. Moving over, she stood on the first rung of fence and scanned the strong, clean lines. “Oh, Travis, she’s beautiful—the most beautiful horse I’ve ever seen!”
“You say that about all of them.”
She smiled at him, then back at the horse with a deep sigh of pleasure. “Aye, and it’s always true. Who will you breed her with?”
“That’s not up to me. She’s yours.”
Adelia turned wide, unbelieving eyes to his. “Mine?”
“I had thought to give her to you next month for your birthday, but”—he shrugged and brushed a lock of hair from her face—“I thought your spirits needed a lift, so she’s yours a bit early.”
She shook her head, the still unfamiliar tears filling her eyes. “But after the way I’ve been acting, you should have been beating me instead of buying me a present.”
“The thought entered my mind last night, but this seemed a better solution.”
“Oh, Travis!” She flung herself into his arms without restraint. “No one’s ever given me such a grand present, and I don’t deserve it.” She drew her face from his cheek and pressed her lips to his. His arms tightened around her, the kiss changing from one of gratitude to one of smoldering passion, and she offered herself, lips parting and bones melting. “Travis,” she murmured as his face lifted, his cheek brushing hers.
He set her away from him abruptly. “You’d better get acquainted with your mare, Dee. I’ll see you at dinner.”
She watched him stride away, biting her lip to prevent herself from calling him back. Finnegan bounded over, and she swallowed the tears of rejection, burying her face in his fur. “I don’t have any appeal for him,” she told her sympathetic companion. “And I don’t know how to go about making him see me as a woman—much less a wife.”
Chapter Ten
Adelia woke to a blinding flash of lightning and a burst of thunder. The room glowed with brief intensity as the sky was broken with spiderwebs of light, and the wind moaned like a man mourning.
Tossing back the covers, she rose from the bed and threw open the French doors leading to her balcony to let the storm enter the room. The hands of the wind pulled at her hair and whipped the soft material of her thin nightgown, molding it against her. Rain fell in torrents like angry tears from the heavens, and she raised her arms wide, laughing in sheer delight at the raging elements.
“Dee?” She turned her head and saw Travis silhouetted in the doorway. “I thought you might be frightened. The electricity’s out, and the storm’s loud enough to wake the dead.”
“Aye,” she agreed triumphantly. “It’s wonderful!”
“So much for finding you shaking with fear under the covers,” he returned with a dry smile and stepped back.
“Oh, Travis, come look!” she cried as another bolt of lightning illuminated the murky sky and was followed by a deafening roar of thunder.
He watched her slimness outlined against the blackness, the fullness of her hair flying riotously around her bare shoulders. He opened his mouth to speak, but Adelia cried out again.
“Oh, come, just look at it!” Taking a deep breath, he moved to join her. “It’s so wild, so strong and powerful and free!” She lifted her face to feel the full force of the wind on her cheeks. “It’s angry as the devil and doesn’t give a hoot what anyone thinks. Listen to the wind, screaming like a banshee! Oooh, but I love a storm that blows free!”
She turned and found his eyes on her. Lightning flooded the room, and she saw the naked desire darkening his unblinking blue stare. Her smile faded. Her heart pounded in her ears, drowning out the turbulence of the storm as he pulled her against him and crushed her lips in a violent, hungry kiss.
Her arms clutched around his waist as they fused together, and she felt the need in him she had not known existed and knew a moment’s delirious pleasure that it was for her. Fire ignited fire. Her response was abandoned and uninhibited. His mouth ravished hers, hard and bruising, and she opened under the pressure like a flower to the sun. His hand slid to her shoulders, and the soft material of her nightgown sighed to the floor. Her hands fumbled with the belt of his robe until no barrier of silk came between them. With a swift, desperate gesture, he lifted her and carried her to the bed.
The passionate violence of the storm paled against the turbulence of their lovemaking. His lips moved over hers slowly, his hands roaming with gentle experience over her trembling body, releasing her desire while he kept his own in check. When he made her his, she surrendered, drawing her pleasure from the gift she gave.
Later, she slept in the warm circle of his arms, the deep, peaceful sleep of one who has been lost and searching and finally found home. . . .
***
Sunlight streamed warm and loving on Adelia’s face, and she opened her eyes. Travis’s face lay close to hers, and she studied it thoroughly and sighed, her love nearly bursting her heart. His breathing was slow and even, the deep blue of his eyes hidden by lowered lids and lashes which seemed incredibly long and thick against the strongly masculine face. Her hand lifted and stroked the dark curls away from his forehead, and she snuggled closer, murmuring his name.
His eyes opened at her movements and smiled into hers. “Hello,” he said simply as his arm tightened around her waist. “Do you always look this beautiful first thing in the morning?”
“I don’t know,” she answered. “It’s the first time I’ve ever woken with a man on my pillow.” She rolled on top of him and peered down at his face critically. “You’re not a hard sight on the eyes either.” Grinning, she rubbed a hand over his chin. “Though it’s a fact you’re needing a shave.”
He tugged the hair that fell streaming from her head to his shoulders and brought her face down, claiming her lips. After a moment she lay her head in the curve of his shoulder, sighing with absolute contentment as he caressed her back with slow, idle movements. “Travis,” she said curiously, “that clock says it’s after ten.”
He twisted to see for himself and groaned. “That’s what it says.”
“But it can’t be,” Adelia objected, raising herself up in indignation. “Why, never in my life have I slept as late as that!”
“Well, you did this time.” He grinned. “Even you can’t argue the day back.”
“I’ll pretend I didn’t see it,” she decided and snuggled against his warmth.
“As much as I’d like to do the same, I have an appointment, and I’m already going to be late.” He kissed her again, rolling her over, and she clung to him, moving her hands over the rippling muscles of his back. “I’ve got to go.” His lips tarried a moment at the curve of her neck before he disentangled himself. He rose and slipped on his robe, turning back to gaze at her slim form, scantily covered by rumpled sheets. “If you stay there for a couple of hours, I’ll be back.”
“You could stay now and be a bit later for your appointment,” she suggested with a smile as she sat up, clutching the sheet to her breast.
“Don’t tempt me.” Moving over, he kissed her brow. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
When the door closed behind him, she lay back with a blissful sigh and stretched. I’m truly his wife now, she thought, closing her eyes as memories of the previous night ran through her mind. I’m a married woman, and Travis is my husband. But he never said he loved me. She sighed and shook her head. He said he needed me, and that’s enough for now. I’ll make him love me in time. I’ll make our marriage work, and he’ll not be thinking of ending it. I’ll make him so happy he’ll think he’s found heaven.
She jumped from the bed, full of confidence, and danced into the adjoining bathroom to shower.
Later, she paused halfway down the stairs, her face lighting with pleasure as she heard Travis’s voice coming from the living room.
Before she could begin the rapid descent she had intended, another voice floated to her, and she stopped, the smile fading as she recognized Margot Winters’s voice raised in exasperation.
“Travis, you know very well I never meant those things I said before I left. I only went away so that you’d miss me and come after me.”
“Did you expect me to drop everything and run off to Europe chasing you, Margot?” Adelia heard the slight amusement in his tone and bit her lip.
“Oh, darling, I know it was foolish.” The voice became low and seductive. “I never meant to hurt you. I’m so terribly sorry. I know you married that little groom to make me jealous.”
“Is that so?” The answer was calm, and Adelia’s hand tightened on the banister at his cool, dispassionate discussion of her.
“Of course, darling, and it worked beautifully. Now all you have to do is arrange for a quick divorce and give her a nice little settlement, and we’ll get things back to normal.”
“That may be difficult, Margot. Adelia’s Catholic; she’d never divorce me.” Her stomach lurched at the easy remark, and she wrapped her arms around herself to ward off the sharp, piercing stab of pain.
“Well, then, darling, you’ll just have to divorce her.”
“On what grounds?” Travis’s voice sounded reasonable.
“For heaven’s sake, Travis.” The feminine voice rose in annoyance. “You can arrange something. Give her some money. She’ll do what you want.”
Adelia could stand no more. Covering her ears with her hands, she ran up the carpeted stairs and into her room.
Oh, ’tis a fool you are, Adelia Cunnane, she berated herself, leaning against her door. He doesn’t love you and he never will. Your marriage was just make-believe all along. She dashed away the tears and straightened her shoulders. Now’s the time to end it, she decided firmly. Uncle Paddy’s strong enough, and I can’t go on this way any longer.
She packed only her old clothes and those bought with her own earnings in the well-battered case she had carried from Ireland, then sat at the writing desk and penned notes to her uncle and husband.
Please understand, Uncle Paddy, she pleaded, placing the two envelopes on the smooth surface of the desk. I can’t be going on with this anymore. I can’t stay here so close to Travis, not now, not after all that’s happened.
She slipped downstairs and, taking a deep breath, walked outside to await her taxi.
* * *
The airport was as busy as it had been on her arrival, throngs of people rushing around her and shaking her confidence. For a moment she felt achingly lost and alone. Sighting the ticket counter, she drew herself up and headed toward it. A hand gripped her arm and spun her around. She dropped her case to the tiled floor with a thud.
“What do you think you’re doing?” she began indignantly, stopping openmouthed as she looked up into Travis’s furious face.
“That’s precisely what I wanted to ask you,” he tossed back, his eyes boring into hers with a hard blue light. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“To Ireland, back to Skibbereen.”
“Are you stupid enough to think I’d let you get on that plane without a word?” he demanded, his grip on her arm increasing.
She winced at his bruising fingers but answered evenly, “I left you a note.”
“I saw your note,” he hissed between his teeth. “It’s a good thing I got back early, or I’d be chasing you across the Atlantic.”
“There’s no need for you to be chasing me anywhere,” Adelia insisted, pulling at her arm as the circulation began to slow down. “You’re breaking my arm, Travis Grant. Take your hand off me.”
“You’re lucky it’s not your neck,” he muttered, and, lifting her case with his free hand, he began to pull her after him.
“I’m not going with you—I’m going back to Ireland.”
“You are coming with me,” he corrected. “And you can walk on your own two feet, or I’ll cart you out like a sack of Irish potatoes.”
“A sack of Irish potatoes, is it?” she spat at him, but as he towered over her, formidable and powerful, she tossed her head and went on calmly. “Aye, I’ll walk, Master Grant. There’ll be other planes.”
Muttering an oath, he strode purposefully out to his waiting car, towing her with him. He opened the door and gave her a none too gentle shove inside. “You’ve got a lot of explaining to do, Adelia,” he said as he started the engine. She opened her mouth to retort, but he cut her off with a deadly look. “Save it until we get home. I have no desire to commit murder publicly.”
She remained silent on the drive home, stubbornly staring out the side window. Pulling up in front of the large stone house, Travis got out of the car, slamming his door with such force Adelia was amazed that the glass remained intact. He pulled Adelia out and dragged her inside.
“We’re not to be disturbed,” he announced to a gaping Hannah as he hauled Adelia up the staircase. Pushing her into her room, he slammed the door and locked it. “Now, let’s hear it.”
“I’ve an earful for you, Travis Grant,” she raged. “You great thundering blackguard, I’m sick to death of your shoving me and pushing me and tearing my arms from my sockets. I warn you, you black-hearted son of the devil, you’ll not be battering me about any longer unless you’ve a mind to have a few bruises of your own!”
“If you’ve finished,” he returned evenly, “I’d like to see you use that double-edged tongue of yours for an explanation.”
“I’ve no need to explain a blessed thing to the likes of you.” Her eyes glittered bright green in her furious face. “I told you plain in the note: I want nothing from you. I’ve my pride, if nothing else.”
“Yes, you and your Irish pride,” Travis growled, stepping forward and taking her by the shoulders. “I’d like to strangle you with your pride. What was all that about divorce and annulments?”
“I thought my wording clear enough.” She jerked away and backed up. “I said that, as an annulment was no longer possible, I was leaving and you’d be free to divorce me. I wanted none of your money and would pay you back for what I took with me.”
“And you expect me to accept that?” he shouted at her, and she backed up another step. “Just calmly read your little note and go from marriage to divorce in one easy step?”
“Don’t you shout at me,” she snapped back. “It was agreed when we started that this marriage was only for Uncle Paddy, and we’d have an annulment when he was better. Now that can’t be, so you’ll have to divorce me. I’m not able to do it myself.”
“You can talk of annulments and divorce after last night?” he threw back bitterly. “I thought it meant something to you.”
“I can speak of it? I can speak of it?” she roared, out of control. “You dare say that to me? The devil take you, Travis Grant, for your hypocrisy! You’d no more than left the bed when you spoke of divorcing me with your fine lady. Give me money to buy me off, will you? You low, sneaking buzzard! I would rather die than touch one penny of your money, you low-lying snake!”
“Dee, is that why you left?” Travis demanded, shaking her as she resorted to Gaelic curses.
“Aye.” Her small fists beat uselessly at his chest. “Take your hands off me, you cursed brute. I’ll not wait around to be bought off like some cheap fancy lady.”
He picked her up bodily, tucking her like a football under his arm, and, ignoring the flailing fists, laid her gently on the bed.
“So it’s back to bed again, is it? I’ll not lie in this bed with the likes of you again. A curse on you, Travis Grant!”
“Be quiet, you little fool.” Travis captured her mouth, shutting off the stream of Gaelic, and held it until her furious struggles lost their force. “Did you think I’d let you go after all I’ve been through to get you?” He cut off her reply with anot
her breathtaking kiss. “Now, you little spitfire, keep your mouth shut and listen. Margot came here this morning without invitation. She brought up the subject of divorce, not I. In the first place— Keep still,” he warned as she squirmed beside him, “or I’ll have to get tough.” He demonstrated by closing his mouth over hers until, for a moment, her struggles lost their force.
“In the first place,” he began again, “I had never considered marrying her; any plans in that direction were her own. We had a fairly compatible relationship for a while— Adelia, hold still. You’re going to hurt yourself.” He shifted his weight, took both of her wrists in his hand, and held them over her head. “She got it into her head that I should marry her and give up my work here, with some crazy notion about traveling the world and living in high style. I told her she was out of her mind, and she took off for Europe, telling me it was her or the horses.” He grinned down at Adelia’s flushed face. “The horses won, hands down. She got it stuck in that small brain of hers that I married you to spite her, and when she came here this morning going on about divorce and settlements, I let her ramble, curious to see how big a fool she’d make of herself.”
He took Adelia’s chin in his free hand and held her head still. “Now, if you had listened to the entire conversation, you would have heard me tell her that I had no intention of divorcing a wife I loved, now, or any time within the next thousand years.”
“You said that?” All struggles stopped.
“Or words to that effect. The meaning was clear.”
“I—well, you might have told your wife you loved her. It would have saved a great deal of trouble.”
“How could I tell her I loved her five minutes after she raged at me, standing there looking like an outraged urchin?” He brushed her curls aside to kiss the creamy skin of her throat. “My first thought was to gentle you so you could stand the sight of me and go from there. Did you really think I took you to Kentucky and New York just for Majesty?” His lips explored her smooth skin. “I didn’t dare let you out of my sight; someone might have come along and snatched you away. I decided to wear you down slowly.” His mouth moved over her face with slow, lingering kisses. “I thought I was making some headway, but Paddy’s heart attack changed everything. I felt the best way to help him was to assure him of your welfare, so I railroaded you into marriage with the promise of an annulment. Of course”—his free hand began fresh explorations—“I never intended to give you one.”
