"Frederic, you're really starting to worry me."
"Am I? Do you want me to stop?"
She looked at their clasped hands, squeezed, and then shut her eyes. "Lord help me, but no, I don't want you to stop."
He moved a stray hair from her face. "I promise not to speak to anyone named Priscilla."
"Thank you," she snickered and opened her eyes.
"And I promise to stay by your side all night."
She gulped.
"And when the party is over, I promise to talk to your father about–"
The door crashed against the wall, and Nathan yelled, "Auntie Cora! Auntie Cora! Look at my costume! Don't you think I look like a blueberry? What was Auntie Amelia thinking? I can't wear this."
Cora pulled away from him and walked to her nephew. She soothed his ruffled feelings and convinced him that he didn't look like a blueberry. She faced him, but was again interrupted by the other half of the rambunctious twosome.
"Auntie Cora! Auntie Cora! How could Auntie Amelia do this to me? I look like a sunflower! I can't wear this!"
Tears flowed along Natalie's cheeks and Cora lovingly smoothed them away. The girl calmed and went back to her parents' room.
Cora faced him again. "Sorry. Now what were you saying about my father?"
He went to speak, but it was too late. Millie and Stephen entered, both upset with their costumes. Frederic secretly left the room and found a quiet spot in the empty hallway. This was going to be a long party.
****
Guests arrived around the three o'clock hour, bedecked in costumes from all frames of time and different countries. The party resembled an international government meeting. Women wore Spanish dance skirts and puffed blouses and men wore the outfits of leisurely Frenchmen.
Despite Cora's plans for them to stay close together, she was spirited away by Amelia and Frederic and he was forced to be by himself. Cora, beside her two sisters and their families, worked the room making new friends and reconnecting with old ones. Millie and Stephen each held a twin tightly, forcing smiles to their faces.
Arranged greenery served to hide his frame as he sipped at his drink. The amber liquid burned the lining of his throat and he winced. Cora moved toward him, her hips swayed with the movement, and a smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
She stopped beside him and sipped her own drink. "I'm so sorry. I couldn't get away! Next time Amelia plans a party I will insist they not force me to socialize." She huffed out a breath of air, smiled, and asked, "So how have you been? Is everyone treating you well?"
The unfamiliar tone irritated him. "Everyone but you."
She drew her brows together. "What?"
"You heard me. You've ignored me all afternoon."
"If I didn't know better, I would think you had your feelings hurt."
"Then I guess you know me pretty well."
"Frederic, I'm sorry, it is just–"
"That your sister whisked you away and that you enjoyed catching up with your old friends."
"Not exactly. It is more like they wanted to catch up with me. I would just as soon run away and hide than talk to most of these people. Half of them don't have the brains it takes to walk through the garden unscathed."
He hid a laugh behind his hand.
She wrapped her arm through his. "Besides, why would I want to talk to any of them when I have you right here?"
"Yes, well, I was wondering that myself."
She slapped him playfully and opened her mouth to speak when Amelia yelled, "Here they come. Everyone hide."
Cora snuggled next to his side and they hid behind a tall waxy leafed plant. Frederic and Cora placed their heads together and peeked through the branches like two misbehaving children.
Cora giggled. "This is so exciting. I can't believe I'm really here."
He whispered, "Neither can I."
The back door opened and Henri and Alice Beaumont stepped inside. "Here darling, let me take your wrap," said Henri. He took the stole from his wife's shoulders and as he turned to place it on the coat rack the guests yelled, "Surprise!"
Henri and Alice's faces turned white, their hands fluttered to their chests in shock. Amelia rushed forward, followed by Millie, and Cora. Henri and Alice's expressions continued to transform each time. Happy tears coursed their cheeks and laughter ensued.
When the welcomes were done, Amelia instructed everyone to meet outside on the back lawn. A string band struck up a tune and couples gathered in an empty garden spot and danced.
Henri hugged Cora to his side. Alice played happily with the twins. Frederic sat alone and waited his turn. The wig itched and he scratched.
"Quite a party," said Charles.
"Indeed. You're wife did a splendid job," said Frederic.
"She has been planning for some time. The only issue with the entire ordeal has been finding Cora." Charles stared at him over the rim of his glass. "Amelia told me about you."
"I see."
"She informed me that you were the lawman who arrested Miles Jones."
"Yes."
"And that you traveled here while on vacation to question her."
"I did, but that was several years ago."
"Yes, I know."
"All right," said Frederic wishing he could pull the tight collar away from his neck.
"Tell me, how is it that you've brought Cora here?"
Frederic prepared to explain, but Millie appeared behind him. "Oh, Charles did you hear how Frederic rescued Cora. Someone was robbing her and he stepped in and saved her. Isn't it romantic?"
"Hmm," said Charles. Millie danced away with Nathan and Charles asked, "Is that true?"
"Yes."
"So you saved her from harm and you just volunteered to bring her all the way to Louisiana? That doesn't exactly fit, does it?"
Unused to being on the spot, Frederic's palms sweated. Where was Cora? Why wasn't she rescuing him from all these questions?
"Don't have a ready answer?" Charles poked Frederic in the chest. "Well let me tell you something, if you hurt Cora in any way, and I mean any way, you won't live long enough to think of an answer. Do you understand?"
Frederic arched a brow, but nodded in understanding.
"Good." Charles lifted his hand in greeting and smiled at a guest. To Frederic, he said, "If you'll excuse me."
Frederic was never so glad to see someone go.
Pressure increased on his arm. An unfamiliar young woman appeared next to him. "Would you like to dance?" Locks of blond curly hair fell just above her shoulders. Her costume of blue velvet appeared hot and uncomfortable. Sweat beaded across her forehead and her brow. "Oh, forgive me for not introducing myself. I'm Priscilla. I'm sure Cora has mentioned me. We're just the best of friends."
Frederic widened his eyes. This was the lady Cora had said to beware of. The young lady who was constantly looking for a husband. "Yes, she has mentioned you."
"Oh, so you know she wouldn't mind a bit if we danced."
He wasn't used to making excuses to lovely women about what he couldn't do. "Well I–"
But she didn't give him a chance to finish as she dragged him onto the makeshift dance floor and whisked him into a rousing waltz. He placed a polite smile on his face allowing his mind to run through a gamut of ideas for relieving himself from Priscilla's clutches.
Chapter Thirty-One
Her parents' arrival changed everything, and Cora was immediately drawn into the family circle again. No matter how hard she tried to disengage herself, her father steadfastly refused and returned her to his side.
Cora pushed hair away from her face. She gnawed on her lip as she studied the guests hanging at the edge of the party. Millie and Stephen huddled around their children. Charles and Amelia joined a group of men and women and conversed. No doubt their three devils were upstairs with Mary or Dolly sleeping peacefully. Alice and Henri continued to make a circuitous route around the fringes greeting people and catching up, tugging her along as the lone
child without a family of her own.
Where was he? Frustration mounted as she made a second pass of the single men and didn't find Frederic among them.
Scanning from one side to the other, she gasped. There he was, his arms wrapped around Priscilla.
Cora disengaged her father's hold.
"Where are you going?"
"I have to do something." She pulled away from him, lifted her skirts and stalked onto the dance floor. Frederic's back faced her and she tapped his shoulder. He twirled, the smile on his face almost knocked her over. She swallowed. When she went to speak her voice came out like a squeak and she cleared her throat and started again. "Excuse me Priscilla, but I'm cutting in."
Priscilla frowned. "I don't think so. Frederic and I were having a delightful conversation about New York City. You can have the next dance."
Cora pushed Priscilla's shoulder. "I said I'm cutting in now."
Priscilla held tight. "And I said you can have the next dance."
Cora stomped her heeled boot on top of Priscilla's slippered shoe. She squealed in pain, and picked up her injured foot. "How dare you! You never did know how to share."
Priscilla hobbled over to a chair and sat while Cora took her place in Frederic's arms. Between gritted teeth she said, "I thought I told you not to dance with Priscilla. Please tell me she didn't tell you who she was."
"I'm afraid that would be a lie."
She sighed. "Couldn't you just lie to me this one time?"
"I would prefer not to. That was how I upset you in the first place."
"True, but now I'm upset again."
"I don't understand why."
"Because I—Oh, just forget it."
They twirled to the music making the appropriate steps. When the music brought them close together, she said, "Did you enjoy your dance with Priscilla?"
He shook his head. "Not exactly, she kept stepping on my feet."
Cora laughed under her breath. "It serves you right."
He leaned in close. "It does?" he whispered in her ear.
His hot breath sent shivers of anticipation along her spine, and she rose on her tip-toes hoping that his lips would brush the sensitive skin. Instead he abruptly straightened.
Huffing a frustrated sigh, she said, "Yes, it does. Let's speak of other things. Have you talked to anyone since you've been waiting on me?"
"Indeed I have. You're brother-in-law threatened to kill me if I harm you in any way."
Cora didn't know whether to be mad or happy that Charles cared for her so she replied, "Ah, sorry."
"No need to apologize. I'm glad that when I leave someone will be looking out for you."
"Yes." She felt sick to her stomach, and her throat clenched as she avoided his gaze by looking directly at his chest. She would be mortified if he knew how much his statement had affected her.
Sadness laced his tone, as he said, "I think it would be best if I leave as soon as possible. I'm afraid Josh will try to hide the evidence of Arthur's involvement."
"You're probably right." She played with the folds of his coat. Her throat burned with restrained tears. Why was she agreeing with him when all she wanted to do was scream about how he couldn't leave her?
"You could come with me if you like," he suggested quietly.
Voices of her family reverberated behind her. She shook her head. She couldn't leave home, she'd just got here. "No, I don't think so. I think I want to stay right here and never leave again."
His lips lifted in a heart wrenching smile. "I thought you might say that."
"Frederic, I–"
The words were cut off by Amelia standing on the stage and announcing, "Welcome everyone to my parents' thirtieth anniversary party."
Whoops and cheers rang through the air.
"Yes, it is a joyful time. We would like to thank everyone for coming. We'll go all night if we can make it. So thanks for coming."
Amelia stepped down and the band struck up again. The family gathered for the cake cutting and Cora grabbed Frederic's hand and pulled him along.
"Where are we going?" he asked.
"Someone in the family has a newfangled invention and they want to take a family picture while my parents cut their cake."
"But I'm not–"
She shrugged. "Maybe someday…" she said, not finishing her sentence.
Charles and Amelia frowned at his presence behind Cora but they didn't argue. Even her mother and father appeared confused but in time they would be happy she'd had Frederic close by. The way she saw it, she was saving them money by not having to take another family photo after they married.
****
The party ended in the wee hours of the morning. Many guests found room in the large house and slept for a few hours. Frederic was sequestered to the extra room in the barn with several other bachelors. This left some of the young unwedded women sharing her room.
"Thanks for letting us sleep here Cora. I've always wanted to see your room."
Cora nodded, distracted by the lights burning in the barn.
"Cora, did you hear me?"
Priscilla laughed sarcastically. "Don't bother, Mildred. Cora is infatuated with the specimen she brought from New York City. She doesn't have time to talk to the likes of us."
Cora rounded on Priscilla and lifted her lips into a wide grin. "You're just mad because I took your place in his arms."
"No, I'm mad because you stomped my foot! Those slippers were very expensive and now I have to explain to mother why they have a footprint on them."
Cora stuck out her tongue, and Priscilla mimicked the pose.
“Girls!” Alice entered the room. "What in heaven's name is going on in here? Cora, get your tongue in your mouth and behave like a grown-up. I'm surprised at you."
"She started it," said Cora, crossing her arms over her chest.
Priscilla said, "It was her. She is the one who cut in on my dance with Frederic. I don't know why she even cares. He is totally free. He isn't married, and only brought her home because he was obligated to."
Cora dropped her arms to her sides. "What?"
"You heard me. He is a good man and you were living like a harlot in that sinful city so he returned you where you belonged."
The slap echoed through the room. Grabbing her face, Priscilla burst into tears.
Alice stared aghast, blinking rapidly. "Cora! What have you done?"
Cora didn't answer but stalked out of the room, down the stairs, and to the barn. The door was open to allow a breeze and several men milled around the room without their shirts. Ignoring them she found Frederic, grabbed his arm, and pulled him outside.
The impression of pressed faces outlined her window and she guided Frederic into a secluded area of the garden.
Her hand stung from the slap to Priscilla's face yet she desired to enact the punishment again.
"Cora?" asked Frederic.
She faced him, heat flushing her face, as she realized his state of undress. His shirt and trousers lay unbuttoned. With the release of his hand he worked to remedy the situation.
"Do you mind telling me why you've pulled me from my room?"
"Well, I-I… We need to talk."
"Couldn't it have waited until morning?"
"No, it could not wait until morning." Her voice rose an octave, sounding shrill even to her own ears, and she drew in several deep breaths before continuing. "Priscilla is telling everyone that because of the life I led, you felt compelled to return me to my parents. Did you tell her that?"
"Of course not."
"Then what did you tell her?"
"That I kept you from being robbed, and that you wanted to come home so I helped you."
She wanted to believe him, she really did, but there had been so many lies. Josh's lies, Rosa's lies, his lies, him implying such a relationship to Mimee. How could she trust him? Straightening her shoulders and refusing to give into his handsome face, she asked, "That's it?"
"I think so."
Co
ra sat on the bench and rubbed her stinging fingers. "I slapped her."
"You what?"
"She said you felt obligated because I was living like a harlot and I slapped her."
"Oh."
"Frederic, you told me that Amelia wanted you to bring me home, but you can stop lying. I know the real reason you were bringing me home was to get me to tell you who shot Jeffers." He didn't move and her stomach knotted. She was right and it stung. Swallowing, she continued, "I guess what I don't understand is after you knew I couldn't tell you, and you knew who really did the deed, why did you go ahead and bring me home?"
He sat beside her and clasped his hands. In silence, he studied the ground, then the trees, and lastly he looked at her. "I did it because I wanted to."
"It sounds like that is something new for you." She waited with bated breath for his response. If he said it happened all the time, she was going to kill him.
He smirked. "You have no idea."
She scooted closer absorbing the warmth from his body. "Perhaps you would allow me to know?"
He grabbed her hands and gazed into her eyes. "I would like nothing better."
Chapter Thirty-Two
"But why do you have to physically go? Can't you just write a letter or something?" asked Cora.
Frederic hated that they'd had the same argument for two days. No matter how much they discussed it he was determined to leave for New York within the hour.
"I've already explained I just want to return and make sure Arthur is arrested and tried for his crimes."
"I know." She hung her head.
He grabbed Cora's shoulders. "I don't want to leave, you know that, right?"
She sniffed and nodded.
"We've discussed this until there is nothing more to say. I have to go back not only for the sake of the entire country, but for Josh as well."
"And you promise to return?"
He wiped the tears from her cheeks with the back of his knuckle. "I promise. Remember, I want to have that discussion with your father."
"Why don't you do it now?" Cora asked, batting her long lashes.
They were in the cabin where he'd stayed alone for the last two nights. He'd been to the plantation house only once since the party, thinking it better to stay away as much as possible. Now he wasn't so sure.
Cora (Southern Hearts Book 3) Page 17
