Ecstasy's Promise (Historical Romance)

by Constance O'Banyon

  He smiled and chucked her under the chin. "See you tonight, Imp."

  After he left, she lay quietly, her mind in a turmoil. She wondered what Edward thought of her now that he knew of her past. Bodine said he wanted to help her. Oh, my love, she thought, there is no help for me.

  She remembered that he was to be married and felt the old familiar ache. She thought of how kind he had been when Consuelo was having her baby. Then yesterday he had stood between her and harm. Somehow he always seemed to be there when she needed him, and now he wanted to help her once more. She could not understand him. What a complicated man he was. She remembered how he had been at her grandmother's birthday party. He had been angry then, although she still did not understand why. Most probably she would never understand Edward Hanover.

  Her grandmother, carrying a tray with Victoria's breakfast, came into the room. Bodine had told her all that had occurred, and she was delighted that Edward and Victoria would find each other at last. She said nothing, however, since Edward had not yet proposed.

  "You must eat a good breakfast, child, and then we will make you presentable for Edward's visit."

  In spite of everything that had happened Victoria could not help but be excited about seeing Edward again.

  Dan came by and checked her over.

  "Please," she begged him, "allow me to sit in the chair."

  "No, I cannot allow that, but if you are very still and do not move about, I will allow you to sit up in bed for a short time," Dan told her, unable to resist her plea. He offered her something for the pain, which she refused. He told her he would return later in the day, and left.

  Her grandmother brushed her hair and helped her into a pretty blue bed jacket which she did not recognize. "Clarissa sent it over for you," her grandmother told her. "She wanted to come up and see you herself, but Dan left orders you were to have no visitors with the exception of Edward."

  And so the morning went slowly as she waited for Edward to appear. Finally there was a knock on the door, and her grandmother opened it to admit Edward.

  "Well," Mammaw greeted him, "how is it that you can take off from your duties to squander your time in town?"

  "When I heard you were here, I dropped everything to rush to your side."

  She smiled. "You have a silver tongue, Edward. Watch it does not get you into trouble."

  "It already has on numerous occasions," Edward quipped. He looked past her to where Victoria was sitting up in bed.

  Mammaw smiled at him. "I will be in the next room if you need me." She went out the door.

  The room was silent. Victoria was amazed that her grandmother had left her alone with Edward.

  Edward felt his heart tighten in his chest. He felt nervous and unsure of himself.

  The sunlight filtered through the window, turning Victoria's hair the color of burnished gold. The blue color of the satin bed jacket made her eyes shine like deep limpid pools.

  Victoria watched as Edward picked up a chair and moved it to the side of her bed. He was so handsome. The stubborn lock of ebony-colored hair fell across his forehead. He was dressed in tan, tight-fitting britches that outlined his masculine body. He wore high-topped brown boots and a yellow silk shirt. Victoria looked into his eyes—those beautiful fiery brown eyes—then, remembering that he knew about her past, she lowered her head.

  Edward sat down and crossed his legs. "Should you be sitting up, Victoria?"

  Victoria twisted Paul's ring on her finger nervously. "Dan said it would do no harm if I remained very still."

  "How are you feeling? Are you in any pain?"

  "I am fine." She hesitated. "Bodine told me you know about my shooting the Yankee." She raised her head and looked at him defiantly. "You might as well know I am not sorry I killed him. If the circumstances were the same, I would do it again, Edward."

  She saw a muscle twitch in his jaw. "May he rot in hell for what he tried to do to you," he said coldly. Then he changed the subject abruptly. "Did Bodine tell you of our conversation yesterday?"

  "He said you wanted to help me." She sighed deeply. "No one can help me."

  "You are mistaken, Victoria. Trust me when I tell you I can and will see you cleared of these false charges."

  Victoria frowned thoughtfully. "Why would you want to help me?"

  Edward wrestled with himself. Should he tell her of his love? A love so all-consuming it burned like a fire out of control inside his body. What of Paul O'Brian? She loved him. Oh, Lord, he thought, give me the right words to say.

  He stood up, walked to the window, and looked down on the street below. He watched as two barefoot boys ran down the street kicking up dust as they tossed a ball back and forth. Chuck Benson, the owner of the general store, was loading boxes onto a wagon. The world looked normal outside this room. It seemed a day like any other, but it was not. Today was the day Victoria would decide his fate. She would either make him the happiest man alive, or she would condemn him to a life of loneliness.

  "I have a proposition for you, Victoria. ... I have been thinking for some time about taking a wife."

  She frowned. "I know that, Edward. Everyone knows. You speak of Monica, do you not?"

  He smiled and turned to face her. "What makes you think I speak of Monica?"

  Victoria shrugged. "You brought her to my grandmother's birthday party. The two of you seemed . . . very close."

  He sat on the window ledge and crossed his arms over his chest. "I seem to remember wanting to be close to you at your grandmother's party."

  Victoria blushed. "Monica has my sympathy, Edward, if you are as faithless after you are married as before."

  Edward laughed. "Do not worry, Victoria. I shall be a very devoted husband." He studied her face. "Do you remember the day of the box supper?"

  "Yes, but what has that to do with Monica? Are you telling me Monica is unhappy because you and I spent the day together?"

  "Damn it, Victoria, will you forget about Monica?" he said impatiently. "Just sit quietly and listen to me."

  She opened her mouth to voice an angry retort, but the look in his eyes silenced her.

  He walked back to the chair beside her and sat down. Damn, this was going to be difficult. He knew he was not handling it very well so far.

  He took a deep breath. "The day of the box supper is the day I decided to take a wife, Victoria."

  Victoria felt the sting of tears in her eyes. Why was he telling her of his wedding plans? If he only knew how it tore at her heart to think of him being married.

  Edward continued. "It was not Monica I wanted for my wife, Victoria, or any other woman, save yourself."

  He stared out the window, giving her time to digest what he had related to her.

  Victoria looked at him; her heart was racing wildly. He wants me, she thought. She could hardly believe her ears, or contain her joy as she waited for him to say the words that she wanted so desperately to hear. She wanted to hear him say he loved her as she did him. She wanted him to take her in his arms and kiss her. How often had she thought him unfaithful; yet if what he said was true, she had badly misjudged him. She was about to tell him her feelings when he spoke.

  He still stared out the window. "As owner of Rio del Lobo, I have to do a certain amount of entertaining," he told her. "I need a wife who is bright and intelligent, beautiful as well as gracious. You meet those requirements."

  Victoria felt her joy turn to anger. Her voice was cold. "You are asking me to marry you for the sake of Rio del Lobo?"

  He turned to her and met her eyes. "That is partially true. You have a style and grace that would be a great asset to me. If you will consent to be my wife, my name will protect you from the charges lodged against you in Georgia."

  "You speak as though we were two businesses merging for mutual gain," she said angrily.

  "That is not a bad description, Victoria. You have what I require, and I have much to offer you."

  "Let me see if I have it correct, Edward." Her voice sounded
calm; it did not show the overwhelming anger she felt. "You want me for my intelligence and education?"

  He raised an eyebrow; a smile played on his lips. "Not entirely, Victoria. You have other attributes which good taste forbids me to mention."

  Victoria's face flushed. "That is a ridiculous reason to ask a woman to marry you, Edward. I am sure there are any number of women who would give you what you want without your having to marry them."

  Edward laughed. "That may well be true, Victoria, but I do not want just any woman. ... I want you, and the only way I can have you is by marrying you."

  Victoria closed her eyes. What he offered with one hand he took away with the other. She wanted to be his wife more than anything she had ever wanted in her whole life, but the cold, businesslike manner in which he proposed hurt her deeply and made her angry at the same time. Did he really suppose she would accept such a proposal?

  "I am sorry Edward, but I will not accept your proposition." She felt very close to tears, and fought hard for control.

  He looked at her for a long moment. "I do not see that you have much choice, Victoria."

  "I do have a choice, Edward, and I do not want the position of hostess at Rio del Lobo. Besides, what makes you think the mighty Hanover name can protect me?"

  "Make no mistake, Victoria; it is your only protection. I have already sent a man to Georgia this morning to clear you of the charges. I do not need to remind you that I have friends in high places."

  She tried to shift her weight, and cried out in pain.

  "Please to not move, Victoria; I do not want to upset you," he told her.

  "You have done a very good job of it, Edward." Victoria leaned against the pillows at her back. Closing her eyes, she remembered how different Paul's proposal had been. If Edward had told her he loved her, she would have been completely defenseless against him. She felt a tear slide down her cheek.

  "You are thinking of Paul O'Brian, aren't you?" Edward asked angrily.

  "Yes ... I am tired. I wish you would go away."

  "You will not marry me, then, Victoria?"

  "I have already given you my answer."

  No, Lord, please, he thought. Edward felt her slipping away from him. He had never proposed marriage to a woman before. He knew he had bungled it badly. Please, my love, he thought, do not turn me down. Do not sentence me to a life without you.

  He remembered Bodine's suggestion, and took a ragged breath. "You are being very selfish, Victoria. Have you not thought of Bodine?"

  "What do you mean?" she asked, wiping the tears away.

  "They might not hang a woman for murder. No, I think they would merely put you in prison. But Bodine, I think, they would hang."

  There was fear on her face. "Are you saying you would turn Bodine over to the authorities if I don't agree to marry you?"

  "No, I would not. But Major Courtney is strictly military. He goes by the book, Victoria."

  She shook her head, and placed her fingers to her temple. "You have confused me. I cannot think."

  "As I see it, your only choice is to become my wife, Victoria. When you are cleared, it stands to reason that Bodine will also be cleared."

  She looked at him, feeling defeated. "How can you ask me on one hand to become your wife and on the other threaten me with Bodine's life? You are a very cruel man. You know I will do anything to save Bodine."

  "Even marry me?" he asked curtly.

  "Have you thought—if my name is not cleared, you will have a murderess for a wife?"

  "I have already told you I would handle it. Just put yourself in my hands."

  "It seems I have no choice, Edward."

  "You will marry me, then, Victoria?" There was no emotion in his voice, but his dark eyes burned into her blue ones.

  She was quiet for so long. He waited, knowing his whole future hung on her answer.

  "Yes,” she whispered, "I will marry you, Edward, but you may come to regret your decision to make me mistress of Rio del Lobo."

  Lord, she said yes, he thought. "Who knows, Victoria, you may come to enjoy being my wife," Edward told her.

  "I doubt it. I will marry you, I will bear your name, but I will not enjoy it, and," she said pointedly, "I will not let you . . . you are not to—"

  He smiled. "We will see, Victoria. Do not commit yourself to a vow of celibacy. You would only break it."

  His dark eyes challenged her to deny it. She looked away and spoke softly:

  "When will the ceremony take place, Edward?"

  "I thought Saturday, if you have no objections."

  "But that is only four days away. Surely that is too soon."

  "There is every need for haste. Dan said you could go home Saturday. You will be taken to Rio del Lobo, and we will be married there."

  "You have worked out all the details, haven't you?”

  "I pride myself on being very neat and orderly. That reminds me—" He took a black velvet case from his pocket, opened it, and removed his mother's diamond ring. He picked up her hand and looked at the ring that Paul O'Brian had placed on her finger. He angrily removed it and slipped his own ring on in its place.

  "I will see that this ring is returned to Mr. O'Brian," Edward said.

  "No! Give it to me," Victoria said. "It is mine."

  Edward placed it in her hand. "Do with it what you will, Victoria. I could not care less." He was angry, but did not want to push the point about the ring since Victoria had just consented to become his wife.

  "You were very sure of yourself, weren't you, Edward?"

  He looked into her eyes. "Not at all, Victoria, but I hoped your answer would be yes."

  She looked down at the ring that sparkled on her finger, but felt no happiness in its possession. She would gladly change it for a ring of glass if his love went along with it.

  Edward leaned forward and cupped her face in his hands. His face was very near her own. His eyes looked deep into hers. "Shall we seal our bargain with a kiss, Victoria?" His lips came down on hers softly, holding her prisoner. Then he released her abruptly and rose to his feet. "You are tired. I will leave you now, I have much to prepare for."

  "Edward . . . thank you for helping me yesterday."

  It seemed such a ridiculous statement after all that had transpired between them.

  He threw back his head and laughed deeply. "If I live to be a hundred, you will never cease to amaze me, Victoria."

  She watched him as he walked across the room. He turned to her at the door. "I look forward to Saturday, Victoria."

  Edward left her, closing the door softly behind him. He leaned against the door and closed his eyes. "I will have all of you, Victoria. If I have to wait and win you away from Paul O'Brian, I can do it, my beloved."

  From that moment, things moved swiftly. Victoria's room quickly became filled with flowers from the greenhouse at Rio del Lobo. She could not help smiling when she recognized a big bouquet made up of the red flowers she had admired the night of the fiesta. A note accompanied them. It was written in bold black print:

  You once expressed an interest in the name of this flower. It is a poinciana.

  Edward

  The food Victoria now ate was prepared in the kitchens of Rio del Lobo and delivered to her by a smiling Estancio. Well-wishers came by in such large numbers that Dan had to restrict her visitors once more, so she could rest.

  Each day a gift arrived for her from Edward; a beautiful pearl necklace, a diamond bracelet, a cameo pendant. They were always wrapped in brightly colored paper, but Edward did not come himself.

  Clarissa sat beside Victoria's bed. "Victoria, I am thoroughly confused. What happened to you and Paul, and why are you and Edward being married?"

  Victoria knew Clarissa asked the question that was on everyone's mind, and wondered how she could answer it.

  "Clarissa, I found I did not love Paul as I thought I did. That was why I could not decide on a wedding date."

  "Dan told me yesterday, Victoria, that it was you
Edward planned to marry all along. Why did you not tell me?"

  "Believe me, Clarissa, I was as surprised as you when Edward asked me to marry him."

  "You know," Clarissa said, knitting her brow thoughtfully, "now that I think about it, maybe I was not so surprised. I knew from the first day Edward met you that he was interested in you." She looked at Victoria. "Do not let him hurt you, Victoria. I do not think Edward is capable of loving anyone, and I have become very fond of you."

  "Does this affect our friendship, Clarissa?"

  "No. I was upset when I first heard the news, but not now."

  "Do you still have feelings for Edward, Clarissa?"

  "I love Dan. He is wonderful and kind, but he does not cause me to feel the emotions I felt for Edward. Maybe that is a good thing."

  Victoria did not speak. She knew only too well how Clarissa felt.

  "Mama says she is surprised you are not having a big wedding. What I cannot understand is why the wedding is taking place so soon, and with you incapacitated."

  Victoria did not know what to say. She was sure the speed with which the marriage was taking place had caused much speculation among the community. She was saved from answering, however, by her grandmother's entrance.

  "You are not going to believe the beautiful gown Consuelo has made for you. It is amazing what she can do on such short notice." She opened a large box and lifted out a white gown. It had tiny puffed sleeves and a high neckline, with a full billowing skirt. The material was satin overlaid with delicate lace.

  "It is beautiful!" Clarissa exclaimed. "Your Consuelo is really a marvel."

  Victoria felt no joy at the sight of her wedding gown.

  "Where is the veil?" Clarissa asked excitedly.

  Mammaw opened another box and pulled out a veil. The lace was yellow with age. "This was your mother's," she told Victoria, laying it across her lap.

  Victoria felt the delicate lace that had been worn by her mother when she had married her father. She felt tears come to her eyes. "Oh, Grandmother, thank you." Victoria smiled gratefully. "I will be so proud to wear my mother's veil. It means a great deal to me."

  "I know it does, child. Your mother would be so pleased to know you will be wearing it tomorrow."