Mutual attraction drew them closer together, and she snuggled in his embrace. “Have we time to continue this before you leave?” she inquired, an impish gleam in her eyes.
���You are a shameful wanton,” he whispered, hating to leave her. “But O’Reilly needs these reports before his voyage.”
“Are you sorry you aren’t able to go with him?”
“No, Dera. For the first time in my life I’m content.”
This was the answer she longed to hear. “I’ll see you tonight,” she said, a seductive lilt in her voice.
“Indeed, I’ve married a wicked woman.” He grinned and nuzzled her hair.
“Yes, and one full of secrets.”
His eyes narrowed. “Secrets, is it?”
“Just go on with you,” she laughed, fairly pushing him out of the door. “I’ll tell you all later.”
She seemed happy, full of love for him, but Quint felt slightly agitated. He decided he was being ridiculous because Rosette had upset him with her foolish words, but Dera mystified him. What secrets could she be keeping from him?
The mass had just ended when Dera and Rosette left the church of St. Louis and both blinked in the bright sunshine. Etienne Lefevre greeted the two women outside the church doorway. “This is the type of day I like,” he commented. “The hunting is good now.”
Rosette smiled prettily. “Then why aren’t you in the woods?”
���Because you aren’t there,” he teased.
Dera observed that Rosette seemed more at ease with Etienne; perhaps a marriage would be forthcoming. She hoped so, because she felt uneasy with Rosette in the house. There was a strange undercurrent in the air, something not right, when Rosette was near Quint.
Etienne walked with them to their house; when he departed, Rosette turned towards her. “I may marry Etienne. I could do worse.”
Relief flooded Dera. “He’ll make a fine husband.”
“Hmmm,” Rosette agreed absently, as if what she said no longer mattered. “I know you’re happy with Quint. Love has bloomed around you like a garden.”
Dera’s face softened and became wistful. “All of my dreams are coming true. I think I’m carrying a child.”
If Dera’s soft words had been stones, they couldn’t have hurt Rosette more. “Are you certain?���
���Already I have the signs, but I haven���t said anything to Quint. I���m barely a month along.���
Rosette looked away, the obvious happiness on Dera’s face was too much. Barely glancing at her, Rosette turned and bounded down the street in the direction they had just come.
���I’ve forgotten something,” she called. “I’ll be home later.”
Dera, totally perplexed by the young woman, entered the shop.
“What’s wrong with that one?” Anna inquired, having observed them from the window.
Dera shrugged. “She had something to do. I told her I might be with child, but she really didn’t have anything to say about it.”
“I wouldn’t have told her that, Dera.”
“I know you don’t like her, but perhaps I’ve ignored her. She was my sister in law, and this was her home before I married Dominick.”
“Henri has told me a few things about the tantrums she used to throw. She still wants her way, my dear, but I think she has become clever and achieves her aims by stealth. Just beware of what lurks behind those wild, pretty eyes.���
A prickle of uneasiness touched Dera’s spine. Except for Quint, she had always heeded Anna’s advice. Perhaps there was something to Anna’s assessment of Rosette’s character, but there was much to do and she didn’t have time to dwell on Rosette.
Until nightfall, Dera cooked, cleaned and tended to Paul. When Quint didn’t appear at the usual time, she read in bed until she grew tired, then drifted into a light sleep.
Slowly she grew aware of a heaviness weighting down the mattress. Strong arms encircled her. “Quint,” she murmured.
“Dera, me sweet.”
Her eyes opened and her heart beat faster than a bird’s wings, She gazed in repulsed horror at Jem McConnell!
She tried to scream, but his mouth pressed viciously against hers, blocking all sound. The room whirled; she felt suffocated, remembering the panic and fear she experienced that night in Avery’s library. Though fear filled her, anger grew also. She directed all her energy against him. One knee lifted and hit his groin, allowing her time to fling herself off of the bed.
“You be a cruel wench, Dera. ” He groaned in pain.
“Get out of my house!” she screamed, knowing her daring words would be short lived if he rushed her. “Quint will be home soon and he’ll kill you for touching me.”
A knock sounded outside on Dera’s door. “Are you all right, Dera?” Rosette called.
A vicious look from Jem gave Dera reason not to scream. Besides, she didn���t know how to explain him to Rosette. ���I���m fine,��� Dera called, barely able to mouth the words.
Rosette���s footsteps moved away and to Dera���s amazement, Jem got up and grabbed his shirt but didn’t bother to cover his beefy chest.
“I must be on my way, love, but I want a kiss from your pretty lips.”
���I’d rather die first,��� she hissed.
“Nay, but your husband might like knowing I was in his bed.” He took advantage of her momentary horror to grab her and lock her to his chest. His mouth assaulted hers before she could utter a sound.
“Well, this is a charming scene.”
Dera jumped away from Jem, though he still held her upper arm. Quint waited in the doorway, paler than the moon.
She wiped at her mouth in revulsion. “Jem sneaked his way in here,” she said.
“Is that true, Jem?”
“I’m here with half my clothes on, kissing your sweet wife who wears nothing but her nightdress. What do you think?”
“He slithered into our room!” Dera exclaimed, not liking the way Quint calmly surveyed the situation. “He’s a vile, loathsome creature.���
“Dera, my love, you didn’t feel that way the night I had you on the floor of Lord Fairfax’s library.”
Dera sucked in her breath, feeling horribly ill and weak.
“Is that true?” Quint said, walking into the bedroom and standing far from her.
“Aye, but, Quint, I never forced her,” Jem defended himself. “She willingly opened her legs for me.”
Dera looked at Quint, imploring him with her eyes to believe her. She could barely speak, barely breathe. She moved further away from Jem, knowing somehow she must convince Quint of the truth. In a rush, she said, “I did let Jem��� have his way with me. He took me like an animal, but it was the only way to save you. My body freed you from Kilmainham Gaol. Jem kept his word and bought your freedom, but Jem was the one who betrayed your cause. He told Avery where to find you.”
“She lies!” Jem cried. “I’d never betray you. The cause was mine, too.”
���Liar!��� Dera shouted back.
Quint looked at them in confusion. He wasn’t certain who told the truth. Dera appeared so sincere and distraught, so outraged. She was his wife, but only moments ago, he had found her in another man’s arms. Yet, Jem was his friend, obnoxious as he was. They had been through much together. If he believed Dera, then what of Jem? He had trusted him, but Dera claimed Jem was the culprit. A part of him wondered how he could stand there so calmly when he wanted to knock Jem unconscious for man-handling Dera. Rosette’s warning came back to him. Had she known about Jem? A surge of anger flooded him at appearing a cuckolded husband.
“Return to the barracks,” Quint ordered harshly. Without another word spoken, Jem left through the veranda doors.
No sooner had Jem gone than Dera spoke. ���I told you the truth. You must believe me.���
���Don���t add further lies to your soul.���
Her chin trembled but she re
fused to cry. “How can you not believe my innocence? You���d rather believe that Jem is blameless. You’re a fool.”
“Perhaps I was a fool for marrying you. Do you know how many women’s beds I could be warming?”
His words were meant to wound and they did. With fists doubled, she sprang forward. ���Miserable, arrogant bastard!” she screamed. “Go find someone who will lie with you. But I am the bigger fool for letting you creep into my bed and give me a child.”
She was like a wild vixen, but he grabbed her wrists and pinned her to him. “A child is on the way?”
“As if you really care. Don’t let the news prevent you from leaving.” Dera broke free, breathing heavily.
He sat down in a rocker and took off his boots. “I’ll not be leaving. After the child is born, you can bed anyone you want.”
“You’re a beast!” she yelled and ran to their bed. She covered herself up to her chin and faced the wall. She had told him about Jem. Why did he choose to ignore her instead of discovering the truth for himself? It seemed all he cared for was the baby. He cared nothing for her.
Quint came to bed astonished that he felt like holding her and telling her he thought her story was true. But there wasn’t any proof that Jem had betrayed him. If she had been with Jem that night in the library, had she done so out of love for him, believing she was helping pay for his escape by allowing Jem to have his way with her? If so, Jem had tricked her…. Yet nothing could alter the fact that Jem had been with Dera that night and this. Somehow the truth would come out, and if he discovered that Jem had betrayed him, Jem would pay for it dearly.
Rosette listened at the door after Jem left, but now all was quiet. Evidently Quint had meant it when he told Dera he was staying.
She went to her room and paced up and down in frustration. Things had gone as planned. Her knock on the door warned Jem that Quint approached and to take Dera in his arms. To her surprise, the stupid oaf had done everything perfectly. Things went well until Dera informed Quint about the baby. That must have been the reason he stayed.
She stopped pacing as an idea came to her. Her garden of herbs grew alongside Dera’s flowers. Herbs were soothing, helpful, and Rosette knew much about their efficacy. In fact, Dera loved herbal tea. In the morning, Rosette would concoct a brew for the poor dear to calm her jangled nerves���and by nightfall Dera would no longer carry Quint���s child.
CHAPTER THIRTY NINE
The warm sunshine poured into Dera’s window and covered her bed like a golden counterpane. She had no idea how long she had slept. The pain of the last few hours had been dulled by laudanum. However, the drug hadn���t alleviated the empty feeling inside her. Her pains had started after breakfast, shortly after Rosette solicitously brewed her a cup of herb tea.
Dera stirred and found the strength to open her eyes. As always, her loyal and trusted friend waited by her side. “I’ve lost my baby,” she whispered to Anna.
Anna patted her hand. “The Lord willed it. You were barely one month gone. At least you hadn���t gotten attached to the wee thing.”
“I wanted that baby.” Tears spilled onto Dera’s cheeks. “How is Paul?” she asked, after composing herself.
“He is with his father. Mr. Quint keeps him amused with tales about Ireland.”
“I can imagine what sort of stories he tells him. Probably how to torch an English man���s house, no doubt.”
“You’ve a sharp tongue, my girl, considering what you’ve just been through. Anyway, Mr. Quint wants to see you. He told me you two had words last night, and I think he regrets them.”
Dera’s eyes grew cold, her face hardened as she remembered his distrust, his words of anger. She didn’t want to see him or receive his forced sympathy.
“Tell him to go to hell,” she told Anna.
Anna tip toed into the parlor. Quint waited with Paul on his lap, but when he saw Anna he placed the child on the sofa. He stood up, the hopeful look on his face soon faded when Anna shook her head. “She refused to speak with you. Give her time. Let her pain ease.”
Quint ran his fingers through his hair. ” I killed our baby with my cruel words,” he said, anguish in his voice.
“I never knew you well in Ireland, never wanted to,” Anna admitted honestly. “So wild and untamed you were. I feared for Dera then, and I fear for her now, not because I think you’re a bad one, but… .” She stopped, not certain how to phrase her words.
“Go on,” he said.
“You’re both hardheaded and when one is ready to give in, the other isn’t. Dera was happiest when Mr. Dominick was alive. Mind you, they had problems, but she had some peace. Dera may be stubborn and passionate, but she’s the sort who needs to know her man intends to stay and won’t go wandering off after the first pretty thing in skirts-or for some lost cause. It might be best to give her some time alone to get over her loss and for you to decide if you love her enough to stop hurting her.”
Quint didn���t like what Anna said, but he couldn’t deny her wisdom. Together, he and Dera were magic but also poison. For the first time he realized his selfishness. He had reentered her life with lightning quickness and turned it upside down.
“I promised her I would not leave her again,” he said.
“She told me about that, but I think it is more important for you to salvage your emotions and for her to do the same.” When Anna saw that he was heeding her advice, she added, ‘Then the two of you can decide what is more important … love or hatred.”
He sighed wearily. “I’ll be staying at the barracks if she wants me.”
“Is there anything I should tell Dera?”
“Tell her my heart grieves for the loss of our baby.”
With a quick kiss on Paul’s cheek, he departed. Anna watched him from the window and clucked her tongue. He looked so handsome and strong, but he had a weakness, a weakness who lay in the bed beyond the doorway.
Dera’s strength returned and her disappointment over her loss abated. Again, she turned to work as her healing salve.
One morning Rosette, with a picnic basket in hand, waltzed into the shop. “How are you today?” she inquired of Dera in a sing song voice.
“Much better. Where are you off to?”
A twinkle glistened in Rosette’s dark eyes. “I’m meeting my beloved, dear Dera.”
“Has Etienna asked to marry you yet?”
���I shall only say that my love shall soon be mine.”
Rosette’s cryptic smile mystified Dera, and after she left the shop, Anna shook her head. “That one is up to something.”
“Anna, you’re so suspicious of her. Rosette has been more than kind to me.”
“That’s bewildering, too, considering she never cared for you when her brother brought you home.”
“Rosette is a woman and should be treated as one. She is definitely not a little girl any longer.���
���Neither are you,��� Anna noted with a gentle smile. ���You���ve matured since Mr. Quint has been staying at the barracks. You seem calmer, more sure of yourself.”
Dera smiled sadly. “Crying doesn’t help. My baby meant the world to me, but I’ve decided something else, too. I love Quint and I need him.” She put down the quill pen she had been using to add a column of figures. “Christmas will be miserable without him, but I’ll survive it. And if he has turned permanently away from me, I’ll survive that, too.”
���Quite a change from the girl who practically threw her life away, marrying an old man out of spite, then marrying another for security. I believe you have finally grown up. It’s about time you realized that life doesn’t depend upon a man. Even a man like Quint Flannery.”
Dera stood and gazed out of the shop window. People hurriedly passed, some loaded with packages, fruits and flowers, as they readied themselves for the holiday. Christmas would be lonely without Quint, but there had been other Christmases spent without him. She remembered, when Paul was an
infant, their first Christmas with Dominick. The happiness, the joy, had warmed her and given her the first glimpse of a real family life. She had wished to find the same joy with Quint, but as with all things she wanted so much, this was denied her. She sighed and went back to the boring job of totaling receipts.
Rosette sipped from her glass of wine, not taking her gaze from Quint who sat pensively staring at the swiftly moving river. They hadn’t spoken for twenty minutes and she grew more uneasy with each passing second. He had accepted her picnic invitation, but he hadn’t smiled at her once, and she was growing impatient with his sour mood.
“Am I such poor company?��� she asked at last.
He glanced at her. “No, but my thoughts are far away.”
“Not too far, I think.”
���I shouldn’t have come here with you today.”
She moved against him, her thigh touching his. “I can make you forget Dera,” she breathed.
“Perhaps for a moment,” he admitted. “But no one lives who can take her from here.” He tapped his chest with his index finger. “She is in my heart, my blood. She belongs to me and I’ve lost her again.”
“To Jem McConnell’s arms!���’ she spat venomously.
“I condemned her too easily,” he said. “The consequences of my cruel words to her will haunt me forever.��� He looked away, remembering a child he would never know.
���Quint, I will have you anyway I can get you, even if I must live in her shadow.��� Rosette leaned against him her heady perfume assailing him; the warmth of her body stirred him. To her amazement, he pushed her away.
���I hate always being rejected!” she cried, furious that her charms didn’t move him.
“Don’t always be putting yourself in such precarious situations, Rosette,” he said, not bothering to hide his annoyance with her.
“Etienne asked to marry me and I believe I shall.”
Quint rose tiredly. “‘Tis a good idea. He’ll make you a fine husband since he’ll be easy to control and amenable to your every whim.”
Emerald Desire (Emerald Trilogy) Page 23
