Ecstasy's Promise (Historical Romance)

by Constance O'Banyon

  "Shall we join them, Tory?" Paul asked, removing his coat from her lap and replacing it on the chair.

  Victoria allowed him to lead her to the lawn, and swing her into a dance. The next moment she was surprised when Dan broke in and asked that they change partners. Victoria danced with Dan until the music stopped.

  "Where is the sparkle I saw in your eyes earlier?" he asked.

  "It is too dark; you cannot see my eyes, Dan."

  "I can sense them, though, Victoria."

  "I am just tired, Dan."

  "No, I do not think so, Victoria," he told her, still holding her hand.

  The music started again.

  "This is my dance," Edward demanded. He took Victoria's hand and pulled her roughly to him before she could protest. His hand seemed to burn into her skin while he gripped her waist tightly.

  Victoria was vaguely aware that Paul danced with Monica. She felt Edward's arms tighten about her as he drew her close to his body. He laid his cheek to hers.

  "I noticed the kiss you gave Dan when he arrived; yet you were barely civil to me. Did you not want a kiss from me, Victoria?"

  She felt so weak and knew that if he were not supporting her weight, she would have fallen to the grass.

  "I still want you," he whispered.

  Victoria tried to pull away. His iron grip stopped her.

  "Do not struggle, Victoria. Do you want the others to suspect that something is wrong?"

  "Edward, please do not do this."

  "Do you want me to tell you how you are tearing my insides out, Victoria? What if I told you I am hurting like hell?"

  "Edward, do not say these things to me. Think of Paul and Monica."

  "There is no one in the world at this moment but you and I, Victoria."

  Victoria could not think clearly. Her heart threatened to betray her as she felt Edward's hand slip to the small of her back, caressing her tenderly. She felt his breath warm against her face, and felt his lips move over her skin.

  "Say you want me, too, Victoria," he said huskily.

  "No!"

  "Liar. I feel your body tremble."

  She felt his lips move to the corner of her mouth. "I want to kiss you, Victoria, until you beg for mercy."

  "No," she said weakly. "Edward, the others will see."

  "Do you think I give a damn, Victoria? I am drunk from the nearness of you. Give Paul his ring back. Send him away, please, and give yourself to me.

  Victoria turned her head away. Was he asking her to be his mistress? How dare he? "You shame me in front of my friends, Edward."

  Victoria felt his hand tighten painfully on her fingers.

  "There is no shame in what I offer you, Victoria, though you seem to think there is. Go to your Paul O'Brian. Marry him, I do not give a damn."

  "You are hateful and faithless, Edward," she accused.

  "And you are heartless, Victoria," he retaliated.

  The music stopped. Victoria tore herself out of Edward's arms and made her way quickly to Paul. She hoped her actions did not betray what she was feeling. Paul seemed not to notice anything out of the ordinary, however. He slipped a comforting arm about her shoulders. When she looked back to where she had left Edward, she saw him leading Monica across the lawn to his buggy. Victoria could tell by the way he walked that he was angry, and Monica was having a hard time keeping pace with him.

  That night when Victoria went to bed, she cried bitter tears. Edward was completely faithless. Although he was going to marry Monica, he still had said those things to Victoria that indicated he was interested in her also. Monica would have an unfaithful husband in Edward, and yet Victoria envied her.

  Paul—what about him? Could she marry him knowing her heart would always belong to Edward Hanover? What shall I do? Victoria hated her weakness. Edward, my love, you may be unworthy, but I cannot stop loving you.

  Edward drove Monica home. He swung her from the buggy.

  "Will you come in, Edward? I am alone tonight. Papa will not be back from San Antonio until tomorrow afternoon."

  Edward considered for a moment. Maybe Monica could help soothe the fire that raged in his body. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her long and hard. He raised his head. "It is no use, Monica; you cannot help me. I am going home."

  "I do not understand, Edward." She was plainly hurt. "Will you be back?"

  "No, I will not be back." He wiped a tear from her face with his thumb. "Good-by, Monica.”

  17

  Victoria dressed with care, putting on her prettiest dress, a lovely aqua-colored taffeta creation, with long wrist-length sleeves. It fit snugly about her tiny waist. Her hair hung loosely about her shoulders. When she was ready, she surveyed herself in the mirror, and hoped she looked pretty:

  Her grandmother knocked on the door and came in quickly. "Victoria," she said, a worried frown on her face, "Estancio is downstairs. Consuelo's baby is coming and Dan has sent for you. It seems she is having a hard time and keeps calling for you. I do not feel right about your going. An unmarried girl has no business witnessing a birth, but I know that Dan would not send for you unless it was necessary."

  "Then I must go to Consuelo at once, Grandmother!" Victoria cried. "Should I change my dress first?"

  "There is no time for that, child. Estancio has brought a buggy. You get your warm cloak and run along. Do you want me to go with you?"

  "No, you stay here, Grandmother. I do not know how long I will be gone. I will send word as soon as I can. You will explain to Paul where I have gone?"

  Her grandmother nodded.

  Victoria grabbed her cloak and rushed down the stairs. Estancio helped her into the carriage and they sped off into the night, the torches on the carriage lighting their way.

  Victoria chided herself for neglecting Consuelo. She probably thought Victoria had lost interest in her welfare. She gripped her hands tightly together in her lap, and said a silent prayer for her friend. Estancio sat silently beside her, concentrating on his driving.

  "How bad is Consuelo?" Victoria asked.

  Estancio shook his head. "I do not know, Senorita. Dr. Dan seemed very troubled and asked me to come for you."

  They rode the rest of the way in silence. The torches lit up the huge gateway as they passed through it. They passed by the big Spanish ranch house, which was hidden by the cover of night. Only a faint ray of light shone out from one of the windows.

  Victoria wondered if Edward was behind that window. Her heart contracted. A part of her wanted so badly to see him, but she hated herself for feeling that need.

  Estancio turned the buggy away from the main house and drove past the corral. Then he pulled up beside a small house, and helped Victoria to alight.

  The door had opened at the sound of the carriage, and Juanita stood in the doorway, a worried frown on her face. "Hurry, Senorita Victoria, the doctor said to bring you right in."

  They entered the brightly lit bedroom. Consuelo was lying on the bed, her dark hair spread about the pillow, her eyes closed.

  Dan saw Victoria and nodded. "Sit beside her, and let her know you are here, when she comes around."

  "Where are Manuel and Roberto?" she asked.

  "Manuel is in San Antonio. They did not expect the baby for another two weeks. Estancio's wife took Roberto," Dan said.

  Consuelo awoke, and screamed, twisting her body in agony.

  "Victoria," Dan said, "the baby is breach. I am going to try to turn it. See if you can keep her calm. She has been fighting me all the way."

  "Consuelo, it is I, Victoria." She took Consuelo's hand and held it in her own. She pushed the dark hair from her friend's face. "You must be brave so the doctor can help you."

  "Victoria, do not leave me," Consuelo pleaded.

  "I will stay as long as you need me," Victoria told her.

  Consuelo looked at her trustingly. "If anything happens to me, promise you will take care of Roberto."

  "Nothing will happen. You know what a good doctor Dan
is," Victoria soothed.

  "Promise me," Consuelo pleaded.

  "I promise, Consuelo."

  Consuelo seemed to relax.

  Hours passed. Consuelo was in such terrible pain, that at times Victoria wanted to run from the room. She had never seen a woman giving birth before. She thought of her own mother who had died, and was even more afraid for her friend.

  Consuelo hung on to her hand tightly. Victoria felt tears running down her cheeks. At last, Dan ordered Victoria to leave the room. She left reluctantly, wondering what would be the fate of her friend.

  She leaned her head against the closed door, and at last let the sobs that she had held back rack her body. She prayed with all her might that Consuelo and the baby would be all right. She felt strong arms go about her, turning her to rest against a broad chest. She did not need to look up to know who it was. She drew strength and courage from his body.

  "Victoria, do not cry," Edward whispered. "Your little friend will be fine. Dan is a good doctor." He took his handkerchief and tenderly dried her eyes. "Come, we will wait together." He led her to a wooden bench and sat down beside her. Then he pulled her to him, and cradled her head on his shoulder.

  "I did not know having a baby could be so agonizing," she said in a broken voice.

  "Dan should not have sent for you," Edward said angrily.

  "No, I am glad he did. Consuelo needed me."

  "Look at you," Edward told her, tilting her face up. "You are exhausted." She looked into eyes that held so much concern for her. A feeling of warmth and well-being came over her.

  "I can sleep later. It is Consuelo I am worried about. Why did you come, Edward?"

  He was quiet for a moment. He noticed she had called him by his first name. "It was my duty as patron," he said finally.

  Consuelo screamed out and Victoria would have risen if Edward had not restrained her. She turned her face to his chest. "Oh, Edward, I pray God Consuelo will be all right."

  His hand trembled as he touched her hair. He buried his face in the silky strands. Never had he felt such love as he felt for her at that moment. He wanted to hold and protect her, keeping everything that was unpleasant away from her. He closed his eyes and tightened his arms about her.

  They heard the cry of a baby and were both on their feet at once, watching the door that led to the bedroom. After what seemed an eternity, the door opened and Juanita came out carrying a tiny bundle wrapped in a white blanket.

  "Consuelo is fine and she has a little daughter."

  Victoria felt overwhelming relief. She relaxed and walked over to Juanita slowly. "May I hold her?"

  Juanita smiled and handed her the tiny infant. Victoria stared with wonder down into the face of the baby. She saw long black hair, red wrinkled skin, and tiny little hands and fingers. "She is so little," Victoria said, awed.

  Edward stared at Victoria. How right she looked with a baby in her arms. He had hoped that she would someday have his baby; now he knew that would never be. He looked at the baby Victoria held. "Not much to look at, is she?"

  Juanita laughed. "A bit young for your taste, Senor Eduardo."

  "She is beautiful," Victoria defended her. "I have never seen a new baby before. It is a miracle."

  "Her name is Victoria Margarita Delgado,"

  Juanita informed them.

  Victoria smiled, delighted that Consuelo had named the baby for her. "Victoria Margarita Delgado, you are a very beautiful little girl. Would you like to hold her?" Victoria asked Edward.

  "Oh, not me," Edward said, backing away.

  Just then Dan joined them. "Consuelo is sleeping," he said wearily, rolling his sleeves down.

  "You are wonderful," Victoria told him, handing the sleeping baby to Juanita.

  "All in a night's work. Thank you for coming to my aid, Victoria."

  "She is really all right?" Victoria asked anxiously.

  "Yes, though I confess I was worried about her for a while."

  "You should get some sleep, Dan," Victoria told him.

  He smiled tiredly. "You should do the same. Thank you again for helping out. I must confess I never had a nurse dressed as you are," Dan added.

  She looked down at her wrinkled taffeta dress. "When Estancio came for me, I did not take the time to change."

  "Come up to the house," Edward said. "You can both have breakfast with me."

  Before either of them could answer, there was a rap on the door. Dan opened it to admit Mammaw and Paul. Victoria ran to her grandmother. "Consuelo is going to be all right, and she has a daughter," she told her excitedly.

  The older woman looked at her. "You look tired, child. Paul has come to take you home, while I take over here."

  Paul shook Dan's hand. "It's nice to see you again, Doctor." Then he extended his hand to Edward. "How are you, Mr. Hanover. Looks like you had a busy night."

  Edward shook his hand. "Yes, we did," he answered.

  The two men stood eye to eye. Paul's cool blue eyes looked into Edward's hostile brown ones and in that instant, Paul knew that he was looking into the eyes of his rival.

  "I will take Tory home now," Paul said. He saw her cloak hung over a chair, picked it up, and placed it about her shoulders.

  Victoria walked over to Edward. "Thank you for last night."

  He looked down at her. "Go home, Victoria. You are tired." Edward turned and walked away. She watched him, unable to understand his curtness. Paul watched her and felt her slipping away from him.

  Dan caught up with Edward who was walking quickly toward his house. "Hey, wait up. You offered me breakfast, remember?"

  Edward paused and allowed Dan to catch up with him. Dan matched Edward's long stride. "I was surprised to see you at the Delgados', Edward."

  "Why?" Edward fired. "They work for me."

  Dan laughed. "If you attended every birth that took place on Rio del Lobo, you would have little time for anything else."

  "Why did you ask Victoria to come, Dan?" Edward asked angrily.

  "I did not want to, Edward, but Consuelo kept calling for her. I had to, don't you see? Consuelo would not relax and allow me to help her until Victoria came."

  Edward eyed him coolly. "She was very upset by the sight of her friend in pain."

  "Thanks to her, Consuelo delivered safely. Don't ask me to feel bad about what I did, Edward. My business is saving lives. Victoria would have been a lot more upset if her friend had died."

  "I guess," Edward said grudgingly. "What do you suppose their plans are, Dan?" Edward asked.

  "What whose plans are, Edward?"

  "Paul O'Brian and Victoria's."

  Dan shrugged. "They have not confided in me, but I suppose they will be married before too long."

  "Damn!" Edward said hotly.

  Dan grinned. "That does not fit in with your well-laid plans, does it?"

  Edward stopped and looked at Dan. "Don't start with me, Dan. I am in no mood for your little jokes."

  Dan smiled. "Failure is not something you accept easily, is it, my friend? Even when we were boys you never gave up until you had what you wanted."

  Edward turned his back and continued toward the house. Dan caught up with him and was surprised to see a smile on Edward's face. Edward looked at him. "Thank you for reminding me not to accept defeat. I had forgotten for the moment that faint heart never won fair maiden."

  Dan shook his head. "Lord, Edward, don't you know when you are beaten?"

  "Hell, no, Dan. Just sit back and watch. Maybe you can learn something."

  They had reached the ranch house. Both of them turned to watch the buggy that carried Paul O'Brian and Victoria back to the Anderson ranch.

  "I give the first battle to Paul O'Brian, Edward," Dan told him.

  "As a Texan, you should know a battle does not mean the war, Dan."

  Edward walked into the house, leaving Dan to ponder his words. Dan shrugged and opened the door to join him. He was not sure who would win Victoria, but he gave Paul O'Brian the edge. Dan fe
lt a pang of regret, knowing that he was not even in the running.

  Consuelo's daughter was two weeks old. Victoria, enchanted by the tiny infant, had been to visit her several times. It was October, a beautiful Indian summer day, with high fluffy clouds, and bright blue skies.

  Paul's visit was bittersweet for Victoria. She was so confused. She loved Paul, had always loved him, for as far back as she could remember. Yet it was not the love a woman should have for the man she was to marry. If she had never met Edward, she would never have known what real love was.

  Victoria did not want to hurt Paul, but she knew that she could not let him go on thinking they were to be married. As always when she was troubled, Victoria sought Bodine. She found him in the barn.

  "Can I talk to you?"

  "What is on your mind, Imp?"

  She sat down on a wooden stool and watched him mending a wagon wheel.

  "I am very troubled, Bodine."

  He glanced at her, then continued his chore. He knew what was coming.

  "I have to tell Paul I cannot marry him, and I do now know how."

  "Are you asking me for advice, Imp?"

  She wondered why Bodine was not surprised at her revelation, but then, he knew her so well. "I already know what I have to do. It is just that I do not want to hurt him. Paul is so wonderful. You don't know how much I want to love him. How will I find the courage to tell him?"

  "It will hurt him more if you let him continue to hope."

  "Yes, that is what I think. Bodine, why can it not be him I love?"

  "A wise man once said we can choose our enemies, but not those we love," Bodine told her.

  "Who said that, Bodine?"

  "I did."

  She smiled at him. "I think I love you more than anyone."

  "More than Edward Hanover?"

  Victoria looked at him quickly. "How did you ... I did not say—"

  "Ah, Imp. I know you better than you know yourself."

  She stared down at the ground. "Things were so simple when I was a child. Then you solved all my problems for me."

  "I can no longer do that for you, Victoria. It is all part of growing up."

  Victoria sighed. "I know. I will tell Paul tonight."

  She walked back to the house, feeling such a sadness at what she must do.