His mission accomplished, he and Litchfield left that very day for home. Riding swiftly towards Natchez Morgan couldn't say that his trip had been a success. He had eliminated Gaylord from whatever plot existed, but his notion of another man, a shadowy stranger in the background had only grown stronger. And he was precisely in the same position he had been when he had left Natchez—saddled with a lying jade who claimed to be his wife.
Through the humid heat of June he and Litchfield rode the narrow, curving trail that lead toward Natchez, arriving at Le Petit after midnight near the middle of the month. They had discussed camping another night on the trail, but both men had been eager to reach home and so, aided by the light of a half-moon, they had pushed on.
The house was in darkness, and after unsaddling their exhausted horses and giving them a scant rubdown, both men walked silently towards the house. They entered as quietly as possible, not wishing to awaken anyone, and might have managed to gain Morgan's rooms undetected if Litchfield hadn't stumbled over something in the blackness, and dropped the valise he was carrying.
The valise landed with an audible thump and there was a muffled curse from the annoyed Litchfield. In offended tones he said, "I believe, sir, that young Justin has left his wooden horse in the hallway."
Morgan grinned in the darkness, knowing that Litchfield would never have allowed such a deplorable incident to have occurred if he had been in charge while the master was away. Morgan started to make some teasing remark, when the door to the study suddenly flew open and Dominic, a pistol in one hand and a candle in the other, snapped, "Hold it right there! Make one move and you'll be dead men!"
"Dom!" Morgan said with surprise. "What the hell are you doing here at this hour of the night?"
Recognizing Morgan's voice instantly, as well as his tall form in the candlelight, Dominic grinned sheepishly, and lowering the pistol, he said, "Oh! It's you!"
"Well, who else did you expect at this ungodly hour?"
"Housebreakers. While you've been gone several houses in the area have been robbed, and with no man in the house, maman has been worrying herself into a decline fretting over Leonie and the others." Throwing Morgan a resigned look, he added, "As you know, once maman gets something into her sweet little head she instantly takes steps to correct what is bothering her."
Morgan smiled in agreement. "Yes, but tell me why you aren't abed? Surely the house can offer something more than the dubious comfort of my study?"
Dominic pulled a face. "Well, yes. But you see if maman was determined that a man stay in the house, Leonie was just as determined not to have me stay!" Shaking his head, a rueful gleam in the gray eyes, he admitted, "There have been some stormy days while you have been gone, I can tell you that! Leonie is as stubborn, independent a little minx as I have ever met. She informed maman that she had managed to live the past five years without the protection of a man and she saw no reason why she should suddenly have herself saddled with someone who probably couldn't shoot as well as she could! Maman took exception to that, I can tell you! She decided that Leonie was casting aspersions on my ability as a marksman and for a few minutes there I was afraid I'd see blood spilt."
Morgan could well imagine the scene, and a hint of laughter in his voice he asked, "What happened?"
Litchfield forestalled Dominic's reply by saying in long-suffering accents, "If you gentlemen will persist in conversing in the dark except for one candle, and after the hour of two o'clock in the morning, might I be excused to find more refined comfort?"
Dominic smothered a snort of laughter and Morgan, amusement glittering in the dark blue eyes, turned to look at his valet. "By all means, Litchfield, do take yourself off. I shall see you in the morning... unless of course, you have other plans?"
Litchfield sent him a speaking glance and without another word disappeared in the gloom of the hall.
Swinging back to Dominic, Morgan said wryly, "He is right you know, we could find somewhere else more comfortable."
Dominic gave a silly little bow and murmured, "If you will follow me?"
A few minutes later they were both seated in Morgan's study sipping whiskey. The disappointing outcome of Morgan's trip to Baton Rouge and his meeting with Gaylord had been discussed, and for the moment they were simply enjoying each other's company. Morgan had shrugged out of his jacket and his shirt was half undone to the waist revealing portions of his bronzed chest with its whorls of fine black hair. Lounging comfortably in a red leather chair, his long legs encased in buff breeches, Morgan laid his head back against the softness of the leather and expelled a long relaxed sigh. "God, but it's good to be back!"
Dominic grinned at him. "Now that's an odd statement coming from you. Can you actually be thinking 'no place like home'?"
Morgan frowned. "I don't know. I only know that I'm damned glad to be here... and glad to know that my charming, lying wife hasn't managed to disappear behind my back."
Dominic's grin faded. A troubled expression on his young face, he said slowly. "I don't think she had the resources to disappear. I'd wager my entire inheritance that if it hadn't taken every bit of ready money she possessed to get them all here, she would have disappeared despite anything I might have done to stop her."
Looking thoughtful, Morgan sipped his whiskey. "How do you know it took all her money to reach here? For that matter that the lot of them really did come from New Orleans? We have only her word for it!"
"I know you're going to think I'm vacillating, but damn it, Morgan, there are times I actually believe what she says... or at least some of it," Dominic admitted uncomfortably. "I'm so confused I don't know what to believe anymore. You say you didn't marry her, and I'll take your word for it. On the other hand, there are things that Leonie says that I believe also."
"For instance?"
"Well, I believe that they did all live in that old rundown plantation she talks about." Glancing at Morgan he asked, "Did you happen to pay close attention to her clothes and hands before you left for Baton Rouge?"
His brow furrowed in concentration Morgan thought back, remembering the faded old green gown she had worn and the singular sameness of the gown she had worn for dinner. He tried to remember her hands, but the memory of her soft, impudent mouth got in the way and somewhat abruptly he answered, "The clothes can be discounted. It would be stupid of anyone telling the story that she is, to wear anything but old, worn clothing. As for her hands, no, I didn't pay them much attention. I generally do not make a study of a woman's hands." A sudden gleam of amusement flickering in the blue eyes, he added dulcetly, "They have such other interesting facets, you understand."
Dominic smiled faintly. "Agreed. And I don't usually notice their hands either, but in her case I did. If you'd have been around a bit longer before leaving for Baton Rouge I'm certain you would have discovered the calluses on her palms. You won't see them as clearly now, but at first her hands showed plainly that she had worked, worked hard and not just the sort of lady's nonsense that maman does with a needle to amuse herself. I mean hard, physical work, Morgan. And when father talks of planting and the like, she has no trouble following him. Every other female I know, including maman, doesn't understand a word of farming and planting, but Leonie does. She even offered one or two suggestions about rotating the cotton fields that impressed father. She may be an adventuress, I'll grant you that, she might even be a scheming little cheat, but she also, I think, did do the things she claims to have done."
Morgan looked at him consideringly. After a long moment he asked, "You will concede the fact, won't you, that she is obviously after money?"
Dominic flushed and replied, "I'll admit that. But I'm not so certain that it's greed that motivates her." Fiddling with his glass, he added softly, "The morning you left, when I told her about it, somewhat gleefully I'm ashamed to confess, it was like I'd given her a facer. And it wasn't so much that you had left, but the fact that I implied you might not be back for weeks, instead of days, that disturbed her. She wanted the
money, I can't deny that, and it all might have been a clever act to gain my sympathy, I don't know, but I'd swear she was genuinely upset by the news. Not because she couldn't get the money from you, but because of the fact that even if you gave her the money when you returned it would be too late to save the Chateau."
"Save it? I thought it was already lost... or has she changed her tale?"
"I don't know that she's changed her tale, so much as she's telling more than she did to begin with. Seems some old neighbor of theirs held a note against the place and when he died, his heir demanded restitution. She had nothing to pay him with but the Chateau." Meeting Morgan's skeptical gaze, he said bluntly, "That place meant a lot to her. There was a note in her voice—I don't know... something that made me think of how I would feel if Bonheur were sold to a stranger."
"That's hardly proof she's telling the truth, Dom."
"Don't you think I don't know it?" Dominic burst out irritably. "That's what has me in such confusion. She damn well doesn't act like an adventuress!"
"And you, of course, have known so many," Morgan drawled mockingly.
Dominic glared at him. Then taking a hasty gulp of his whiskey, he said almost apologetically, "I'm not saying that she isn't still trying to get money out of you, I'm only saying that she might not be quite as black as we first thought."
Regarding his dusty foot somewhat blankly, Morgan finally said, "You might be right. Perhaps she is telling intricate tales of half-truth, half-lies—tales that are damned difficult to disprove simply because they are half-true."
Eagerly Dominic sat forward on the edge of his chair. "That's what I think. And if we go on the premise that not everything she says is a lie, that she is partially telling the truth, won't that make our task easier? I mean won't we have something more to go by?"
Morgan sighed. "Hell, I don't know. Maybe. Maybe not. I foresee a trip to New Orleans soon, though. That's where this tangle started and that's where I'm afraid I'll have to go to sort it out."
Setting down his glass, Morgan ran a hand across his forehead. "Right now nothing makes sense to me. It was a wasted journey to Baton Rouge, and I'm not even certain now why I was so positive that seeing Gaylord was absolutely vital to unraveling this mare's nest!"
The door to the study opened just then and startled, both men turned to stare in that direction. Litchfield haughtily strolled across the room, and deposited on a table near the chair where Morgan sat a large silver tray heaped with slices of cold roast beef and ham, as well as golden brown biscuits and a large hunk of yellow cheese. His face expressionless he said coolly, "If you will insist upon remaining up for the night, I suggest that some sustenance is in order."
Aware of how hungry he was, Morgan sent him a slow, grateful smile. Affectionately he said, "Litchfield, have I ever told you that I'd sell my last horse before I'd let you leave my service?"
Litchfield looked down his long nose and sniffed. "Frequently, sir, but usually only when you are in your cups." Turning away he marched from the room leaving Morgan and Dominic to stare helplessly at each other before bursting into laughter.
Biting into a slice of roast beef with relish a few seconds later Dominic admitted, "I can see why you sing his praises so highly, but damn, Morgan, he scares me to death!"
Morgan only grinned. "He takes a bit of getting used to, I can tell you that, but I'm not lying when I say I couldn't do without him." Pushing aside the remains of his repast, Morgan looked at Dominic and asked suddenly, "Are you ever going to tell me why I found you sleeping in my study?"
Chapter 19
"Oh, that!" Dominic replied easily. "Well, it goes back to what I was telling you about the housebreakers and maman wanting a man in the house at night, and Leonie objecting to it. You know how maman will not rest until things are arranged to her satisfaction...?" At Morgan's amused nod, he went on, "Maman wanted me here and Leonie didn't. So in order to keep both of them happy, for the past few nights I've been slipping in here after everyone has gone to sleep and dozing until dawn, before returning to Bonheur." Stifling a yawn, he admitted, "I'm glad you're back, because I don't know how many more nights I could go on. Or how long before Leonie discovered what I was up to." Giving a mock shudder, he said, "She'd have my ears for breakfast if she knew what I was up to."
"You mean she doesn't?" Morgan asked astonished.
Dominic grimaced. "I don't know. Sometimes I convince myself that I am so stealthy in entering the house that no one can hear me, and yet at other times, especially when Leonie looks at me a certain way, I'm almost positive she does know and is simply keeping quiet in order to avoid open warfare with maman."
"That bad, is it?"
"No, it's not really that bad," Dominic replied slowly. "I think both of them, after a few early skirmishes, have taken each other's measure and have decided that they've met their match. Maman won't admit it, but I suspect she likes Leonie, and Leonie is such a self-contained little thing that I can't tell for sure, but I think that under different circumstances, she would enjoy being friends with maman. As it is, she views all of us with such suspicion that she won't let herself like any of us."
"Suspicion?" Morgan inquired incredulously. "She's suspicious of us?"
"Uh-huh. She's made it quite clear that she believes that all of us are shielding you. If the situation weren't so damned serious I'd find it amusing." A note of awe in his voice, Dominic added, "She's by far and away the best little actress I've ever seen. If I didn't know you better, I'd swear she was telling the truth."
Morgan viewed his brother sourly. "Well, I am telling the truth! I didn't marry her! And Justin's not my son and I'm not going to be blackmailed into paying any money either."
Not meeting Morgan's eyes, Dominic muttered, "Might have to."
Ominously Morgan demanded, "And what, little brother, do you mean by that?"
"She's laid the entire thing before the magistrate."
"What?"
Dominic made a face. "Just what I said. Father tried to dissuade her, and the rest of us talked ourselves hoarse, but Monday she rode one of her mules into town and saw Judge Dangermond. Gave him the agreement and told him that she wanted justice done."
"She rode a mule into town?" Morgan asked, diverted, a spark of amusement glittering briefly in his eyes.
"Uh-huh. Proud little minx. Told us she could provide her own transportation, and that she didn't need any help from the Slades. Said all she wants is her dowry, and then the rest of us can whistle down the wind for all she cares."
His momentary amusement gone, Morgan frowned. "Has father talked to the judge?"
"Yep." Dominic answered inelegantly. "Did that the same day." Glancing at Morgan, he admitted reluctantly, "The judge says that unless you can prove she's lying, that the document is a forgery, and if she's determined to carry it further, that you're going to have to pay her the money. Told father that in the meantime he'd try to delay things. Good thing he's an old family friend."
"Does she know that?"
"Not yet, I don't think. But she's quick, I'll grant you that, and it won't take her too long to realize that Dangermond is in our pocket and that he is playing for time."
"She's too damned quick!" Morgan said furiously. "By God, if I had any doubts about her before, she's certainly laid them to rest—permanently!" His jaw tightening menacingly, he drawled in a softly dangerous voice, "So she's gone to the judge, has she?"
Made vaguely uneasy by Morgan's tone, Dominic asked, "Exactly what do you mean to do?"
Morgan glanced at him, an icy glitter in the sapphire blue eyes. "Do? Men have dealt with recalcitrant wives for centuries, Dom. I'm certain I shall prove no different in finding a way to change her mind."
Morgan's words didn't precisely reassure Dominic. Uncertainty in his voice he inquired, "You wouldn't harm her, would you?"
A nasty smile curving the handsome mouth, Morgan mocked, "Wouldn't I? At the moment I could ring her neck!"
Mildly Dominic said, "Might hav
e a bit of trouble doing it. Somehow I don't think she'll take having her neck wrung very easily."
Reluctant amusement crept into Morgan's eyes. "I suspect you're right—and I doubt, though the idea is appealing, that I would be foolish enough to let her drive me to that extreme."
"She can be infuriating, I'll admit," Dominic agreed, and at Morgan's questioning look, he added, "I told you there have been some storms and quakes while you've been gone—Leonie is definitely a proud, prickly sort of adventuress."
His earlier fury gone, Morgan sipped his whiskey and asked interestedly, "Oh?"
"Well, let's see..." Dominic began reflectively. "I've told you about the mule ride, and I've told you about her little skirmishes with maman, so you have some idea of what has been going on. Leonie seems fairly content to live in your house and eat your food, but I think it's because she hasn't any choice. Other than that, she won't accept one thing more—not for herself or for any of the others." A faint smile on his lips, Dominic went on, "After you left, maman and father came over just about every day, didn't want Leonie to pine for you and of course, Justin holds a great deal of their attention. Anyway it didn't take too long before maman decided that it was ridiculous for your wife and son to continue to wear the same old clothes that they had arrived in, and she suggested to Leonie that they go to her seamstress and have some new gowns made for she and Yvette, as well as some new clothes for Justin."
Morgan nodded his head in agreement. "I can't see anything unreasonable about that. I may not wish to be cheated out of several thousand dollars, but I have no objection to clothing her, or the others for that matter." An unpleasant smile curving his mouth he added, "I am, after all, receiving a certain amount of pleasure in return."
"You might think it wasn't unreasonable, but Leonie acted as if maman had insulted her," Dominic said dryly. "Drew herself up like a furious kitten and said in the iciest voice I'd ever heard that she didn't need charity from the Slades. Said that if her husband would simply pay her what was owed her, she would buy their own damned clothes—her words, by the way—and even better, they'd all leave so maman wouldn't have to be offended by the sight of them in unfashionable clothing."
Deceive Not My Heart Page 27
