She heard the song she played so many times in her life. The sweet melody pacified her for a moment. Now she understood why she had always loved it. Why she had always known the song. It was a part of Keldon’s life and hers, a bridge to bring them together and reunite their souls.
Then she remembered how she came to be here, in this time. She relived the rafter hurdling toward her. “I’m going to die.” She heard someone scream or was it her own screams she heard? The terror she felt wouldn’t leave and as Arianna saw the bright luminous threshold of death, the new life inside her made an entrance to the living.
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
Vincent and Bernadette celebrated their wedding on a beautiful day in May. Keldon couldn’t be happier for his friends. In honor of their union, Keldon had the reception at Willow Bend, but he didn’t have it in him to stay and enjoy the festivities. He smiled and chatted as he made his way to the front door. He needed to take a walk, clear his mind.
Bernadette leaned near Vincent to whisper in his ear. “Keldon needs you. Go talk to him.”
“Are you sure?”
“Oui. You go to him,” she said as she planted a kiss on his cheek.
“You are a treasure, my little bear.” He returned her caress. “I will not be long.”
Vincent found Keldon sitting at the foot of the willow just staring out toward the horizon. It reminded Vincent of the times he would find Arianna in the same spot. They were so well suited for one another. It was a shame they didn’t see it themselves.
Keldon had heard Vincent’s approach and looked up at him with a whisper of a smile before turning away. "Ye know how each part of the ship works together to make her sail? The wheel keeps her direction true. The ropes are there to secure her riggin’, and the anchor to bring her to rest. Simple things really, but she would float adrift goin’ nowhere without these things.”
They stood there silently beside each other as the sun set below the horizon. The rich colors of orange and yellow were both bright and beautiful against the blue of the sky.
The next time Keldon spoke, it was so soft that Vincent struggled to hear him.
"I miss her. I'm like a ship without the wind to carry me.” Keldon met his gaze.
His friend’s eyes were vacant and spent by grief, making Vincent feel guilty. He had the decency to look away.
"I doonae know why I hadnae seen it sooner,” Keldon said to him. “Arianna would never have left without tellin’ someone where she was bound. I thought it would have been Maeve, but it wasnae. But who? It had to be someone close to her. Someone she would trust. I ask ye now as a friend, do ye know where she is?"
Before Vincent would divulge that information, he had to know if he was doing the right thing. "Will you accept the child she carries?"
"If she will take me back, I will claim the bairn as mine, as I should have done in the beginnin’."
Vincent sighed. He was breaking his promise to Arianna, but in his heart he knew it was for the best. "She's staying with Chantal and Gerard."
****
Vincent and Bernadette left their wedding reception long before the guests were ready to call it a night. Miraculously, they were able to sneak out without anyone noticing them and headed back to the house they had created together.
Vincent couldn’t explain why, but he actually felt a little nervous. Except for the few innocent caresses they had shared together, he hadn’t been intimate with Bernadette. He wanted everything to be perfect. Through the long months, he had wooed her with flowers, courted her diligently and now they were finally married.
He opened the door to their home and he carried her over the threshold. He slowly put her down, letting her body cling to his. She put her hands around his neck and innocently looked up at him.
He could feel the power of her gaze, filling him with desire. To him, she was the moon, the stars and all things that made the universe whole. She was his very essence that would sustain him through life.
“This day is the happiest day of my life. I am married to a daring, handsome man.”
Vincent smiled and leaned down touching his lips to hers. Then he deepened the kiss, tasting, savoring every moment. He lifted her into his arms once more and brought her to their room. He gently put her down, so that he could light the lamp on the table. He turned to look at her and saw her wring her hands then smooth her dress. She was nervous too.
“Do you want me to leave while you undress or I could…?”
“Stay,” she finished for him. “I want you to stay.”
He approached her. “May I help you with the your gown?” She nodded and turned to give him her back. Vincent’s hands trembled and he closed and opened them again to loosen them up. He fumbled with the first button, but as each button revealed what lay beneath, he gained confidence. With the twelfth and final stay, he removed the beautiful satin gown, letting it fall to the floor. Bernadette then removed the corset and the other garments before she turned to face her husband, but she didn’t look at him.
He tilted her chin so her gaze met his. “Don’t be scared.”
“I don’t want to disappoint you.”
“You doubt my love?”
She took a ragged breath, not realizing she held it. “You know I have been with others.”
Vincent placed his finger on her lips. “Shush, it does not matter to me.” He didn’t want her to feel guilty, for all that was behind her now.
She removed his hand and shook her head. “It does matter.”
She was trembling and he wanted to put her at ease. He had meant what he said. She was with him now and that was all that was important. He tried to pull her toward him, but she placed her hand firmly on his chest.
“I must say this.” He stopped and waited for her to continue. “I let men use me before because I felt I had no other choice. I never gave myself to someone I loved. I’m not sure I know how.”
“Ah, my Little Bear, come here.” He opened his arms to her and this time she didn’t hesitate. He held her close. “I love you, Bernadette.” He kissed the top of her head. He would take everything slow with her, for he wanted her to know that not all men used women. She was like a newly found rose bud after the winter frost and he wanted to nurture her. He wanted her to blossom on her own accord.
His mouth found hers again, tasting her. His hand roamed freely over the span of her back. She moved her hands to undo his shirt, but she was shaking so badly she was unable to manage one button. He placed a restraining hand on hers. “If you are not ready, I will wait.” He affectionately squeezed her hand. “I do not want you to fear me.”
She placed her hands on either side of his face. “You are a kind man and I love you with all my heart. I trust you and I do not want to wait. I want to know how it feels to lie down with a man who loves me so much he’s willing to deny himself.”
“Oh, Bernadette.” He groaned beneath his breath and captured her lips. Breathless they moved to the bed. He explored every curve with his caresses and she in turn did the same. Then he made her his wife.
Bernadette wrapped her legs around him and raised her hips to meet his every thrust. She never dreamed a man’s hands could feel so warm, so gentle—loving. She was drawn to a height of passion she had never experienced before. She felt herself surrendering completely to his masterful seduction and gasped in sweet agony as she felt the explosion of passion only seconds before he responded in kind.
He moved to lie down beside her, bringing her with him so that he cradled her in his arms. He kissed the top of her head.
She sighed. “Will it always be so beautiful?”
“Maybe even better.” He grinned.
“Um.” A smile curved her lips as she thought about the possibility. She looked at him again. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, with all my heart.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
Keldon wanted to punch Vincent for keeping Arianna's whereabouts from him, but how could he hold a grudge? Vincent only protected
Arianna from his stubborn pride. Besides, Bernadette would have seen to his death, if he had touched one hair of her husband’s head.
Keldon looked out to the blackness of the night and took out his bagpipes. He played the song that reminded him so much of Arianna. He poured his heart out in every note he played. He could almost smell her sweet fragrance. He closed his eyes, relishing in the memory of her. To think she resided in New Orleans, not too far. “I’m comin’ for ye on the ‘morrow Arianna, to bring ye home where ye belong.
****
As soon as he docked, Keldon rented a carriage and headed over to Chantal’s home. He knocked at the door and an older woman answered. She spoke French and unfortunately very little English that Keldon could understand.
"I want to see Arianna Buchanan. She is my wife," Keldon shouted as if talking in a loud voice would force the older woman to understand his words.
Somewhere in the back part of the house, Keldon heard a baby cry.
"Pardon," the woman said as she hurried off.
Keldon entered the dwelling and waited for the woman to return. A few minutes later, she came back with the small bundle in her hands. "Arianna's bébé," she said.
“May I hold the baby?” He motioned to the child.
The woman nodded and handed him the small bundle. The child was all wrapped in a blanket and a bonnet was securely tied around its head.
Keldon’s hands felt sweaty and too awkward to be holding such a small being. He was ready to give the child right back, but then his gaze took in the innocence of the soft, chubby face with pink pouty lips and a tiny upturned nose. Tears welled in his eyes as he stared at the child, his child. “So small.” He looked at the woman, again. "Is the baby a lass... jeune fille... garcon... lad?"
“Aah … jeune fille... lass? Oui."
"I have a wee lass.” Keldon touched her little hand that was curled into a fist. The baby stirred. She latched onto his finger, making Keldon chuckled. "Yer a strong lassie.” He looked at the woman, again. "Arianna, the baby's mother, do ye know where she is?”
The woman seemed to understand what he wanted to know. She sadly shook her head. "She gone."
"Gone?" Keldon repeated.
Again, the woman sadly shook her head. "Oui."
Blood slid through his veins like cold needles, as the realization of what she told him sunk in. His eyes took in every delicate detail of the infant. Arianna had sacrificed her life to bring this small wonder into the world. His gaze locked onto the old woman again, wanting to know what had happened. Why was his daughter without a mother? "Tell me that ye are mistaken. Arianna dinnae die."
The old woman’s eyebrows furrowed. “Arianna gone.”
Keldon held the baby close to his chest as if he needed to protect her. The tiny little girl was all he had left of Arianna. He waited too long to let her know how much he loved her. How much he needed her. Now, she would never know. He felt his heart breaking into a million pieces. He wanted to scream at the top of his lungs at the injustice of it all, but he heard the little bundle in his arms whimper. He moved her away from his chest to look at her. Her eyebrows knitted together, her feet kicked and her hands started moving as she fought to release a little sound. This display would have made Keldon laugh, but instead he wanted to sob, too. "I know how yer feelin’, my wee lassie.” He cradled her close to him again, rocking her until she fell asleep.
Keldon never wanted to put her down. He would take care of her and love her. She was his daughter. My daughter, he thought to himself. He wasn’t prepared for the wave of emotions that welled up inside of him. He was proud of the perfect miniature person he held. He would do right by her. He owed Arianna that much.
“I thank ye for carin’ for my daughter,” he told the old woman. He shook his head. “I’m sorry. I cannae make ye understand.” He talked louder. “The wee lassie is my daughter.” He pointed to the baby then to his chest. “I will take care of her now.” This was the best he could do and he headed for the door. The old woman yelled for him to stop, running after him and trying to grab the baby. He pushed her aside. “I'm the baby's father,” he told her again. “I willnae have someone else raise her.” He put the baby in the carriage and rode away as the old woman chased after him, screaming for him to stop.
****
Arianna and Chantal arrived back from shopping to find Gerard's mother in hysterics. Arianna understand some French. Chantal had been teaching her, but Mrs. Devereux was speaking so rapidly that she could only pick up a few words here and there. When Chantal’s eye grew wide, she realized something terrible had happened. She caught the word baby. She ran to the back room to find the cradle empty.
"Where is she? Where’s my baby?” She confronted Mrs. Devereux.
Chantal broke the terrible news to her. "She says a tall dark-haired man came and took her."
"She let a stranger take her?" Arianna cried, as her world seemed crumbled down around her.
"She said the man asked for you by name."
"Oui, Oui.” Mrs. Devereux nodded her head frantically.
The only tall dark-haired man Arianna knew was Keldon, but he didn’t know she was staying here.
Then Mrs. Devereux remembered something else about the man and told Chantal.
Chantal translated. "She says the man had unusual green eyes.”
"No.” Arianna couldn’t believe it. How did he find her? Surely Vincent would never break his promise to her.
“You know this person then?" Chantal asked hopefully.
"Yes, I do and how dare he?" Arianna balled her hands into a fist. "How dare he think he could just take her, when he didn’t want to claim her in the first place?"
"This is the father. No?"
"He may have donated a vital part of himself to make that baby, but he by no means is a father!” Arianna stormed out of the house. She knew where the black-hearted scoundrel would be heading. She hoped Keldon’s ship was still docked. If she had to, she would swim after him. He had taken everything from her. She wasn’t going to let him take her child.
****
Keldon boarded his ship with a gurgling baby in tow. His crewmen fell silent and stared at him, but no one questioned what he was doing with a baby.
He went directly down below to his cabin, laying the baby down on his bunk. He hadn’t thought this through. He couldn't very well set sail without having supplies for the infant. He stared down at his daughter, who kicked her feet. “What do ye eat, lassie?” He would have to go back into town and ask someone what he needed. He placed pillows around his daughter so she wouldn’t fall off the bunk. Then he headed back up top.
As soon as he poked his head out, he received a fist in his face. Stunned, he lost his balance and flew back down, landing on his arse.
"Oh my God, Keldon! Are you all right?" Arianna yelled down to him. She had arrived on the ship only moments ago and had been determined to do bodily harm to Keldon, but she didn’t want to kill him—at least not yet. "Keldon answer me," she shouted again.
"Arianna? It cannae be."
Her anger returned at the sound of his voice. "You can better believe it's me. What did you think I would do? Did you really believe I would just let you take the baby away without a fight?"
It took a few seconds, but Keldon began to understand what had happened. The old woman wasn’t telling him Arianna was dead. She was telling him she wasn’t there. Arianna must have thought he kidnapped the baby. He jumped to his feet and started back up the steps. "Let me explain."
"Your actions were enough for me. Where is she? What have you done with her?” She took a step back as Keldon came out into the open. She had forgotten how tall and... How incredibly handsome he was. She was angry with herself for letting her emotions for him take over, but she couldn't help what she felt. She desperately wanted to hate him, but her traitorous heart wouldn't allow her luxury.
He took a step closer.
"You stay away from me!” she shouted.
He stopped in his tra
cks. "Arianna, please calm yerself."
"Calm myself? I will not! You’re a snake... No you’re worse than a snake... You’re… you’re pond scum... no you’re …"
Keldon had had enough of her insults and the men were beginning to snicker. He lunged forward and grabbed her, pulling her against him. She was about to protest further, so Keldon did the first thing that came to his mind to keep her quiet. He kissed her.
She struggled only for a moment then melted against him, putting her arms around his neck. When they came up for air, he saw the flicker of emotions cross her features and he felt her body tense. With one quick movement, she raised her hand to slap him, but he anticipated the reaction and caught her arm.
"Now, is that anyway to be treatin’ yer husband."
"Husband! I'll have... Aah!” She screamed as he picked her up and headed for his quarters down below. "You put me down this instance. Do you hear me?"
"Aye, I hear ye just fine as does everyone in New Orleans.” But he didn’t slow his stride.
Arianna turned to the men on the ship. Recognizing Samuel, she looked to him for help. "Are you going to let him take me against my will?"
"We kin’t interfere with de Captain’s private matters.” He turned his back to her.
"Wise man," Keldon said as he started down the stairs.
Having no other choice, Arianna folded her arms in front of her and waited until he put her down. "There's yer wee bairn.” He placed her firmly on the floor and pointed to the bunk. Arianna raced over to check on her. She slept peacefully. Completely oblivious to anything that had happened.
Keldon stood back watching Arianna fuss over the child. She had changed since he last saw her. Her hair was long again and she was fuller in all the right places a woman should be. He felt the old familiar stirrings and he wanted to touch her, kiss every inch of her, but when she faced him, he saw that any hope of familiarity was definitely out of the question.
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