by Bobbi Smith
"Hopefully on his way home from Mobile," the older man responded. "He went there on business several weeks ago and should be back soon."
"Good. I've missed him. It'll be good to see him again.
"I've missed him too."
Peri had always been perceptive as a child. She had the uncanny ability to pick up on others' feelings. When Charles had met her at Riverwood's dock, she'd been surprised by how much he'd aged in the few short months since she'd last seen him, and right now she sensed a terrible loneliness within him. She set her glass down on the table and leaned forward to ask him in earnest, "Uncle Charles, Mother told me you haven't been feeling very well lately. Are you all right?"
"I'm fine, child," he assured her, "as fine as I can be, and once Nick gets back I'll be even better."
Peri accepted his explanation, but harbored some doubts. "Well, that's good. I wouldn't want to think that my very favorite relative wasn't well."
Charles gave her a warm smile. "You don't have a thing to worry about with me, but what about you?" His expression turned mischievous.
"Me? What did I do?"
"Here you are already nineteen and no husband," he baited her. "It's a good thing you're not my daughter..."
"Uncle Charles!" Per' cried in mock anger. "It's not my fault I haven't found my prince yet."
"Prince! You've been reading too many fairy tales and dime novels," he said in disparaging good humor. "There are no princes out there, Peri, there are only men."
"That's where you're wrong," she retorted, her eyes twinkling as she matched wits with him. "You're a prince. I'd marry you in a minute if I could. You're tall and handsome and a gentleman through and through, and those are exactly the qualities I'm looking for in my future husband."
"You flatter me, child." His heart warmed as he gazed on the lovely young woman.
"It's not flattery, it's the truth," she said staunchly. "But as far as my finding another one like you, I don't know if I can... I'm beginning to wonder if there are any more."
"We'll just have to keep looking for you, I guess. If you need any help picking someone out, I'd be glad to..."
"No, Uncle Charles!" Peri declared in laughing protest. "I don't need any help, thank you just the same. I'll find him. It's just a matter of time."
"All right. I bow to your judgment. I just hope you find him soon. I'd like to meet the man who could win your heart." Charles said the words lightly, but they were poignant to him. He wanted to see all those he loved settled and happy before...
"You will, you'll see. He's out there somewhere."
The distant sound of a riverboat's whistle signaling a stop at the dock interrupted their conversation.
Charles's face lit up as he quickly got to his feet. "Since you're already here, I can only hope this is Nick."
"Let's go see," Pen urged.
The two of them headed for the front hall, their tall glasses of fresh lemonade and talk of missing princes forgotten in their anticipation of Nick's return. Peri had always adored her older cousin. Nick was the closest thing she'd had to a brother, and she thought the world of him. She could hardly wait to see him again.
"We need to go down to the dock, Weddington," Charles told the butler as he found him waiting at the door.
"Yes, sir, I know. I've already told one of the boys to run and get the carriage for you just in case it is Mr. Nick and he has a trunk with him. They'll be round in a minute."
"You're a wonder, Weddington," Peri declared affectionately.
"Thank you, Miss Peri." Even the servant was not untouched by her gentle happy spirit, and he smiled broadly at her compliment.
Within minutes, the open carriage was brought to the front door and they were on their way to the Riverwood dock, Charles at the reins. It was not far, less than a mile actually, but Charles was secretly glad he hadn't had to walk it. The steamer was already at the landing when they rode up, and they could see Nick coming down the gangplank with a very fashionably attired young woman on one arm. An elderly matron and a young, blond man followed a few steps behind them. Peri found herself watching the strange man with interest.
"Who do you think he's got with him, Uncle Charles?"
"I have no idea, but I think we're going to find out."
Charles tied the reins and jumped down, then turned to help Peri. Together they went forth to greet them. Charles felt good. He was eager to see Nick and talk to him, to tell him that he wanted him home, that the marriage clause had been a folly of a desperate old man, and that he'd finally come to his senses and had it stricken from the will. He had so much he wanted to say to him, but he knew most of it would have to wait until later, when they were alone.
Jordan was nervous as she watched the tall, silverhaired man and beautiful young woman walking down to the landing from the carriage. Her entire future rested on the next few minutes, and she was afraid. What if Charles Kane didn't like her, or, worse yet, what if he saw through their charade? Nick had mentioned many times how brilliant his father was. What if he wasn't fooled for a moment by their ploy? What if he took one look at her and knew...
At that thought, Jordan laughed inwardly at herself. If Charles Kane looked at her and believed she didn't love his son, then he was not the astute judge of character Nick had made him out to be. Despite her convictions to the contrary, the days since she'd discovered her true feelings had not given her any reprieve from them. No matter how she fought against it, there was no escape. No matter how she tried to tell herself that Nick didn't love her, it didn't seem to matter to her rebellious heart. In spite of the futility, in spite of the heartbreak she knew would be hers one day, in spite of the deceit on both sides, she loved Nick.
Because of that love, Jordan regarded the other woman suspiciously. Who was this lovely creature with the perfect figure and beautiful dark hair? Was she one of Nick's past loves? The way she looked at Nick with love in her eyes stirred ugly jealousy within Jordan. She'd never been jealous before, and it made her decidedly uncomfortable. Jordan clung a little more tightly to his arm, wanting him for herself, not wanting to share him with anyone.
Nick thought Jordan was clinging to him because she was worried. He put one of his big hands over her much smaller one where it rested on his sleeve.
"Don't worry. It'll work, you'll see," he encouraged her, his gaze sweeping over her face in a loving caress.
"Nick!" Peri and Charles both called out to him at once as they lifted hands in greeting.
Nick had not realized how much he'd missed his father until he saw him again. A pang of bittersweet emotion rushed through him, and he hurried his pace.
Peri and Jordan both stood back as the two men came together. Father and son first clasped hands then embraced warmly as the others looked on. Peri watched the scene through loving eyes, for these two wonderful men meant the world to her. When their embrace finally ended and Nick turned to her, his arms spread wide in invitation, she flew into his embrace with a laugh of pure delight. He swung her around and around as he'd done ever since they were children and then set her to her feet before him, still holding her hands in his.
"Peri! I'm so glad you're here!"
"It's about time you came home, Nicky!" Peri scolded, her face glowing with the love she felt for him.
"Have you been here long, Peri?" he asked.
"No, as a matter of fact, I only arrived this morning. Your timing is perfect. But tell me, Nicky, we're dying to know." She took his arm and pulled him close. "Who are your friends?"
The way she drew him to her looked like the possessive gesture of a lover, and Jordan felt an unbidden white heat growing within her. Her jaw was clenched, and her hands were balled into fists. She hadn't known she'd be subjected to any of his past loves. She felt humiliated and embarrassed. She wondered how he could subject her to such a display and then expect to introduce her as his fiancee. Jordan fought to keep her expression a bit haughty and aloof.
Nick straightened and looked to his father. "Fath
er ... Peri... I have a surprise for you." He let go of Peri and held out one arm to Jordan inviting her back to his side.
"You do?" Charles studied with interest the beautiful, young woman who moved to his son's side.
"Yes ...Father, this is Jordan Douglas, my fiancee. Jordan, this is my father, Charles Kane, and my cousin, Peri Davidson."
At the introduction of the other woman as his cousin, Jordan felt all the jealousy drain away. She was greatly relieved, for the girl was so pretty she would have been strong competition for Nick's love had she been an adversary. When she saw the warm, welcoming expression on the other woman's face, she returned her smile with ease.
"Your fiancee? How wonderful!" Peri exclaimed happily as she gave her a quick hug. She thought Jordan absolutely beautiful, far more gorgeous than any of the girls from the area, and she believed Nick had chosen well.
"Your fiancee?" Charles repeated, not sure whether to be pleased or upset. Here he had been ready to admit his mistake and make amends, and now there was no need. He could tell just by the way they were looking at each other that everything he'd hoped for had happened. Nick had found the woman of his dreams. His ultimatum had been foolish, true, but it had accomplished what he'd wanted. It hadn't been a failure if Nick had truly fallen in love.
"How do you do, sir?" Jordan asked, turning her emerald gaze from Nick to her future father-in-law. Their eyes met for the very first time, and in that moment Jordan knew she was going to love Charles. She saw no suspicion or meanness in his expression, only open loving kindness and immediate acceptance.
"How do you do, Jordan? What a wonderful name. You're obviously English. Wherever did you meet my son?" he inquired politely as he took her hand in his.
Charles's voice sounded so young and full of life that Nick suddenly felt much better about his deception. If his bringing home a bride could make his father happy, it was worth every cent it had cost him and every minute of the aggravation.
"We met through a mutual acquaintance in Mobile," Jordan supplied, just as she and Nick had agreed.
"Well, you must tell me all about it, Jordan," he told her as he took her arm and drew her along with him away from Nick toward the carriage.
"Father, you haven't met Miss Layton or the new accountant I've hired, Philip Montgomery," Nick pointed out in exasperation as his father took command of Jordan.
"Bring them along up to the house, son. You can make the rest of the introductions there. Right now, I want to escort my future daughter-in-law up to Riverwood."
"Peri? Aren't you coming with us?"
Peri had been watching the new accountant from beneath lowered lashes. At her uncle's call she dashed after him, wanting to find out all she could about Nick's love.
Nick had no time to protest further as Charles handed both women into the carriage and climbed in with them.
"I'll send the carriage back for you and the others."
Swept away by Charles's charming insistence, Jordan could only glance back helplessly at Nick. Her expression was a mixture of doubt and pleasure until she saw him smiling widely as he watched them go.
"I'll see you at the house in a few minutes."
Charles slapped the reins to the back of the horse and they moved off.
Jordan's first sight of the Riverwood plantation house nearly took her breath away. Majestic in its whitepillared Grecian design, it sat on a low hill, glistening brilliantly in the afternoon sun amidst the perfectly manicured lawns and bright flowering gardens. Jordan knew she was gaping, but she didn't care. She'd had no idea Nick's home would look like this. When he'd said the house was big, she'd never dreamed it was a mansion, especially not one this beautiful.
"It's lovely," Jordan whispered.
"Thank you," Charles swelled with pride, pleased that she was impressed.
"Do you live here, too?" she asked Peri.
"Me? Oh, no. My family's from New Orleans. I just came upriver to visit with Uncle Charles for a few weeks."
"I can understand why you'd want to. It's ...so peaceful."
"Uncle Charles and Nicky have..."
"Nicky?" Jordan repeated, and she couldn't help but chuckle at the nickname.
"I'm sorry." Peri laughed, too. "I should stop calling him that now that we're both grown, but he's been Nicky to me ever since I was little and used to follow him around the plantation. Anyway, Uncle Charles and Nicky have worked for years to make Riverwood the showplace it is."
"It's been a labor of love, Peri," Charles corrected.
"Riverwood is heavenly, Mr. Kane. I never imagined it would be this wonderful."
"Please, call me Charles."
Jordan favored him with a bright smile, liking him more with every passing minute and regretting his illhealth. "Charles."
"But tell us about you, Jordan," he asked as he drew the carriage to a stop before the house. "How did all this come about?"
She had just begun to give them the version she and Nick had concocted when a tall black man came out of the house.
"Mr. Nick ...I'm..." Weddington stopped abruptly when he realized that Nick wasn't there. "Mr. Charles, I'm sorry. I thought it was Mr. Nick coming home."
"He's here, all right, Weddington, but I left him down at the landing. I wanted to bring his surprise home myself."
"Surprise, sir?"
"Jordan meet Weddington. He's the mainstay of my household. Weddington, this is Miss Jordan Douglas, soon to be Mrs. Dominic Kane."
Weddington's eyes widened as he glanced from the young woman to Charles. "Mr. Nick's finally gone and done it? Mr. Nick's found himself a bride?"
"He most certainly has, and she was well worth the wait, don't you agree?" he asked as he climbed out and helped her and Peri down.
"Yes, sir. Absolutely." He grinned as he held the door wide to allow them entrance to the house.
"Have one of the other servants take the carriage back down to the landing to pick Nick up. There are two other guests with him."
"I'll see to it right away, and I'll have light refreshments brought to you in the parlor and tell the cook that there will be guests for dinner."
"That'll be fine," he answered as he led the two young women into the sitting room.
Jordan was in awe from the moment she stepped through the front door. The house had been magnificent from the outside, but nothing had prepared her for the interior. The high-ceilinged foyer was breathtaking with its impressive staircase, cool white walls, and highly polished wood floors. If it were possible, the parlor was even better. Nothing was overdone. Everything was elegant and understated-from the pooling, deep green velvet drapes to the imported French wallcovering to the marble fireplace and sumptuous overstuffed furniture.
Jordan found it hard to believe that she was going to be living amidst all this splendor. When her parents had been alive, they'd lived comfortably, but it had never come close to this. She fretted for a moment that Charles might be the kind of man who was enamored of his things, but this fear was soon put to rest as he waved her and Peri into the chairs and then dropped down easily on the sofa nearby.
"This will be your home from now on, Jordan. I want you to be happy here," he said expansively. "I'll let Peri and Nick give you the guided tour later. For now, let's just get acquainted, shall we?"
"I'd like that."
By the time Nick arrived with Miss Layton, Philip, and their trunks, Jordan, Peri, and Charles were chatting like old friends. Nick paused in the hall briefly to listen to their conversation, and the sound of his father's easy laughter struck pain in his heart. He was thrilled that things were going so well, but his worry about the state of his father's health gnawed at him. As he entered the parlor with Philip and the chaperone, he had to force a smile.
"So, I can see you're well on your way to getting to know each other."
"Oh, yes, Nick," Jordan replied, turning a loving gaze to him. "Your father and Peri are wonderful and so is your home. I never realized it would be this beautiful."
"I'm glad you like it," Nick said as he moved to stand beside her. "Father, and Peri, this is Miss Audrey Layton, Jordan's companion for the trip. Miss Layton met you once before, years ago when Mother was alive."
"Audrey Layton, of course I remember, but it has been years." Charles rose to greet her. "I appreciate your diligence in safeguarding my future daughter-in-law's reputation. Knowing what a rake my son is, I'm sure she needed every bit of your expertise."
Nick tried to laugh off his father's remark, and Jordan blushed a bit, remembering Miss Layton's perfectlytimed "rescue."
"Except for the seasickness on the ship, everything went very well. Miss Douglas is a lovely young lady, and your son was the perfect gentleman."
Charles glanced at Nick, a glimmer of newfound respect in his eyes.
"And this is Philip Montgomery." Nick had already cautioned Philip to say nothing about his indentured status. "I met Philip here at the same social occasion where Jordan and I were introduced. He's an accountant just over from England, and he was looking for work. We needed someone to help out with the books, so I offered him the job."
Charles went forward to shake hands with Philip. He'd already judged him to be an honest young man, for he was most forthright in meeting his gaze. "Welcome to Riverwood."
"Thank you, Mr. Kane."
"I thought he might be able to use the old overseer's house."
"That sounds like a good idea. Join us for some refreshments now, and then you can show him to his quarters before dinner. Miss Layton, I hope you'll be staying with us until after the wedding?"
"That would be fine," she readily agreed, looking forward to spending some time at Riverwood.
"Good, then everything's settled." He smiled happily. "Welcome home, son."
"So how are you feeling, really?" Nick asked as he sat with his father in the study later that night after the others had retired. Dinner had been a cordial affair, and everyone had seemed to enjoy themselves, especially Charles.
