This Fierce Splendor: A Loveswept Classic Romance

by Iris Johansen

  “Dammit, what’s wrong with everyone?” Shamus exploded. “You, Patrick, Dominic. Can’t you see I’m doing what’s best for the family?”

  He honestly believed what he was saying, Elspeth thought. And for the first time she caught the faintest glimpse of vulnerability beneath the old lion’s roar. “No, we’re doing what’s best, and you’ll have to accept it.”

  “The hell I will!” Shamus fought and eventually conquered his frustration and anger. He forced a smile. “Look, I know you’re probably upset about Rising Star’s death. Perhaps Malvina and I should have been friendlier to Joshua’s wife, but we were never unkind to her. You don’t have to be afraid we’ll—”

  “I’m not afraid of you,” Elspeth said clearly. “I know you now. I know you’re ruthless, stubborn, and sly. I also know you’re loyal, protective, and love your family. In many ways I respect and admire you and in others …” She shrugged. “However, I do not fear you.”

  He blinked in surprise but rallied quickly. “Then there’s no reason why we couldn’t all get along very well together … eventually.”

  “Perhaps.” She threw the remains of the coffee into the flames and set the cup down. “But not now.” She stood up. “Don’t worry, Mr. Delaney, your son will come home to Killara, but it will be when we wish it, not you.” She turned away. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll go and try to further my acquaintance with Sean and Cort. I’m looking forward to getting to know them. The Delaneys are such an interesting family.”

  She turned and walked toward Dominic, Sean, and Cort, leaving the patriarch of that “interesting” Delaney family frustrated and perplexed.

  Dominic stayed up late talking to his brothers. It was close to midnight when he finally slipped beneath the blanket with Elspeth, who immediately turned to face him and came into his arms. She didn’t speak for a moment, content to be close to him with this army of strangers camped around them.

  “I saw Da talking to you,” Dominic said. “He didn’t upset you, did he?”

  “No.” She was silent for a moment. “I believe I’m beginning to be a wee bit sorry for him. Everything around him is changing and he doesn’t understand why or how to stop it.” She paused. “Are we going back to Killara before we leave for Illinois?”

  He shook his head. “There’s no need now. Da can take the pack animals and treasure home and we can catch the stage in Tucson.”

  “I see.” It was the answer she had hoped he would make. “How long will we be in Tucson?”

  “The stage leaves twice a week. With any luck we won’t have to be there more than overnight.”

  “Oh.” She paused. “I thought perhaps we could stay a little longer than that. I have something to do in Tucson.”

  “What?”

  She thought quickly. “Shopping. The only things I have with me are worn to rags.”

  “They have better stores and dressmakers in St. Louis. We’ll have to stop there anyway.”

  “But what would I wear on the trip? No, I need a few days in Tucson. Besides, I’m very tired. I might need to rest a bit.”

  Dominic felt a pang of remorse mixed with tenderness. Of course she was tired. She had been through trials that would have tested the endurance of a strong man. “Why didn’t you say so? We’ll give you all the time you need. A month if you like.”

  Elspeth closed her eyes quickly to prevent him from seeing the flicker of guilt she was experiencing. She feigned a yawn. “A few days will be quite sufficient. “Good night, Dominic.”

  26

  The name of the establishment was inscribed with discreet richness in gold letters on the plate glass window. Charles Durbin and Sons, Bank of Tucson. Elspeth paused to gaze at the inscription for a moment before she swept toward the front door. She closed her lacy parasol and opened the door.

  Two women were standing in line at the teller’s cage across the room, and a young man with sandy hair was bent over a ledger at a desk immediately to her right. She turned to face him. “I would like to speak to Mr. Durbin, please.”

  He looked up. Then he hastily rose to his feet with flattering alacrity. “I’m Mr. Durbin. George Durbin.”

  “No, the elder Mr. Durbin. Your father, I believe.”

  Disappointment flickered in his face. “Certainly. May I say who wishes to see him?”

  “Elspeth … MacGregor.”

  He nodded and hurried toward the door of the glass-enclosed office to the right of the teller’s cage. Elspeth’s gaze followed him as he opened the door and spoke to a man at a large mahogany desk. Charles Durbin wasn’t what Elspeth had expected. He was somewhere in his early fifties, with dark hair abundantly flecked with gray. He was slightly rotund. An indulgent smile creased his plump cheeks as his son spoke to him, and the sharp blue of his eyes softened for just an instant as he nodded and then leaned back in his big leather chair.

  The younger Durbin came out of the office. “He’ll see you now.”

  Elspeth bestowed a glowing smile on the young man as she moved toward the door. “Thank you, you’ve been very kind.” She entered the office and closed the door behind her, smiling coolly at the man behind the desk. “It’s good of you to see me. I’ve come on a rather important matter.”

  Charles Durbin rose to his feet, a genial smile on his face. His gaze ran over the lady before him with discreet admiration. No wonder George had run in here all flushed and calf-eyed. He found he was a bit dazzled himself. A gown of emerald green silk displayed the delicate curves of Elspeth MacGregor’s exquisite figure and reflected the deep green of her eyes. A saucy lace bonnet with a green plume was perched on shining hair that might once have been light brown but was now sunstreaked to a shade nearer tawny gold.

  “I’ll be delighted to help you, of course. You wish to open an account?”

  “No, I wish to close one.” She moved to stand before his desk. “An account that has been open for too long.”

  He frowned in puzzlement.

  “I’m afraid I didn’t tell the entire truth to your son. I was afraid you wouldn’t see me. My name is Elspeth MacGregor Delaney.” She paused. “I’m Dominic Delaney’s wife.”

  The smile on Durbin’s face vanished. “You’re right. I wouldn’t have seen you. Please leave.”

  “Presently. After I’ve said what I wish to say.” She placed the tips of her fingers on the desk and leaned forward. “It has to end. You have to stop sending killers like Torres after my husband.”

  “Get out of here!” Durbin’s face was suddenly twisted with hatred. “Did he send you to beg for him?”

  She shook her head. “He doesn’t know I’m here and I have no intention of telling him about our discussion. This is between the two of us, Mr. Durbin. You see, Dominic is acting under a disadvantage with you. He bitterly regrets killing your son and so he won’t confront you as you deserve to be confronted.” Her eyes widened as she saw a flicker of expression cross Durbin’s face. “Why, I think you must have realized how Dominic felt all along. You knew you were safe to do anything you liked because he was no threat to you personally.” A glint of anger appeared in her eyes and a fierce smile curved her lips. “I’m afraid you’ll find that’s all changed now. I’m not at a disadvantage.”

  Durbin’s plump face was turning beet red. “I’ll have you thrown out into the street.”

  “I think not. It would reflect quite poorly on a respectable businessman like yourself to manhandle a woman. Be patient, I won’t be here long.” Her smile faded. “Just long enough to warn you.”

  “Warn me?”

  “Oh, yes, I believe your code out here requires a warning.” She paused. “Though the men you sent after Dominic often gave him none.”

  “Your husband is a murderer who should be shot down like a dog in the streets.”

  “My husband is a wonderful man who deserves to live, and I’m going to see that he does.” She stared unblinkingly at Durbin. “Now, listen to me. If my husband is shot, stabbed, or run over by a coach, I sh
all make you pay. If he catches influenza or stumbles down the stairs, I shall still make you pay. It would be wise of you to surround Dominic with bodyguards as you did with murderers, if you wish to survive.”

  “And what harm do you think you can do to me?”

  “Dominic and I have come into a great deal of money. More money than you can possibly imagine. You’re a banker, Mr. Durbin. You know the power of money. I will ruin you.” She paused. “And I will ruin your family. I’ve inquired, and I understand you have another son besides that handsome boy out there; you also have a very pleasant wife, I’m told. I’m sure you wouldn’t want their lives made … uncomfortable.” She took a deep breath. “And after I’ve ruined both you and your family, I will walk up to you and shoot you dead.”

  “You’re bluffing.”

  “Am I?” She smiled mirthlessly. “Look at my face. What do you see there, Mr. Durbin.”

  He studied her. He inhaled sharply. “My God, you’d actually do it. Murder! They’d hang you.”

  “Not murder. Justice. And if I’ve learned one thing since I came to your Arizona territory, it’s how much deference is paid to women here. I think your courts would be very sympathetic to a grieving widow.” She straightened and stepped back from the desk. “Now I must leave. Dominic and I are catching a stage for the East in thirty minutes and I mustn’t be late.” She turned and walked toward the door, her silken skirts rustling. “Good day, Mr. Durbin.”

  “You bitch.” The curse came with the snarling venom of an animal at bay. “You’re a fit mate for that son of Satan, Dominic Delaney.”

  She glanced over her shoulder and smiled with dazzling sweetness. “I hope so. Oh, I do hope so, Mr. Durbin.”

  The door closed behind her.

  Young George Durbin jumped to his feet and was holding the front door open by the time she reached it. “I hope we’ll see you again soon, Miss MacGregor.”

  “Mrs. Delaney,” she corrected him. “Mrs. Dominic Delaney. Thank you, but I don’t think you will. I believe I’ve completed my transaction with your father.” Only time would tell if Durbin would be frightened enough to cease his persecution of Dominic, but the shock and fear she’d seen on the man’s face had made her wildly hopeful. She unfurled her ruffled lace parasol and stepped out onto the sidewalk. “Good-bye.”

  Dominic was waiting at the Wells Fargo office when she turned the corner. His frown disappeared and an indulgent smile lit his face as he caught sight of her. “It’s about time you got here. I was just going to look for you. I don’t see why you had to go shopping today anyway. I thought you had already bought out all the stores in Tucson.”

  “Not quite. Are we ready to go?”

  “Almost. We’re the only passengers, but Ben has to wait for a mail shipment.”

  She closed her parasol. “Ben Travis? He’s going to be our driver?”

  Dominic nodded as he opened the door of the coach. “I wasn’t sure you’d be pleased. He was here when Marzonoff was lynched.”

  “He’s your friend. I can never condone what happened to Andre but I’ll try to understand.”

  He lifted her into the coach, brushing her nose with a light kiss. “Do you have everything?” He glanced down at the dainty lace recticule in her hand. “Where are your packages?”

  “No packages.” She smiled radiantly. “And yes, I have everything.” A knowledge of her own worth, passion, love, and this man who had given them all to her. “Everything.”

  A rattle of shots broke the silence when the coach was only a few miles out of Tucson.

  Elspeth’s heart jerked crazily. Durbin? Had she been wrong to believe she had frightened the man enough to stop his pursuit of Dominic? Dear heaven, and she had been the one to tell him they were taking this stage! She could hear Ben Travis shouting a litany of curses as he brought the coach to a halt.

  Dominic drew his gun swiftly. “Get down on the floor, Elspeth.”

  “Dad blast you, Patrick. I warned you I’d blow your head off if you pulled this foolishness again,” Ben yelled.

  Patrick!

  “Easy, Ben. I missed Dom and Elspeth in Tucson and I just wanted to say good-bye.”

  “Then say it and let me get going. I have a schedule to keep.”

  A moment later Patrick climbed into the coach. He was dusty and travel-stained and Elspeth had a fleeting memory of the first time she’d seen the boy in circumstances almost identical to this.

  But it wasn’t a boy who faced her now. There was a new maturity looking out of Patrick’s dark brown eyes, and Elspeth experienced a pang of poignant regret for the lovable, mischievous lad who had vanished when Rising Star had died.

  “Gran-da told me when I rode into Killara with Silver that you were going east,” Patrick said. He held out his hand to Dominic. “Don’t stay away too long. We’re going to need you.”

  Dominic shook his hand. “A year or two.”

  “I have a favor to ask. I’ve been thinking about sending Silver to school in St. Louis.” His lips twisted. “Oh, not for a while. Not until Gran-da gives in and accepts her as a Delaney. I’m not about to remove the bit until he gets used to it. But afterward it may make it easier for Silver if she has some of the wildness tamed out of her.”

  “And you think a fancy school will do it?” Dominic asked dryly. “Heaven help them.”

  “It’s worth a try. Will you and Elspeth keep an eye on her? St. Louis isn’t far from where you’ll be digging, is it?”

  Elspeth shook her head. “Not far at all. Of course we’ll take care of her.”

  Patrick breathed a sigh of relief. “Good. This isn’t easy for me. I’m not used to looking after anyone but myself.”

  “You’re doing very well, Patrick,” Elspeth said gently.

  He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “Good-bye, Elspeth, and thank you.”

  “Good-bye, Patrick.” She could feel the tears brimming in her eyes and determinedly blinked them away. “Take care of yourself.”

  He opened the door and jumped to the ground. Then he turned to face them, and for an instant Elspeth was sure she saw the glint of mischief she had thought gone forever. “Oh, I almost forgot to tell you, Dominic. I brought you a present from Killara. I’m sure it will prove to be just what you need when you’re working around the dig.” He slammed the door of the coach and disappeared from view.

  Elspeth frowned. “What did he mean? I don’t see any present. Do you—”

  A blistering round of curses from Ben Travis turned the air blue. “Patrick, dammit, you come back here!”

  “Can’t, Ben. I’m in a hurry to get home to Killara.” There was the sound of hoofbeats and the ghost of a breath of laughter.

  “But you can’t leave him tied to my coach. I have a schedule to meet,” Ben shouted.

  There was no answer from Patrick.

  “Patrick, you bastard, he’s sitting down in the middle of the road!”

  “Oh, no.” Dominic groaned softly. He pulled his hat over his eyes and slid down in the seat. “He wouldn’t do this to me.”

  Elspeth began to laugh helplessly as she scooted over to poke her head out the window and take a look for herself. “I’m afraid he already has, Dominic.”

  Azuquita.

  THE EDITOR’S CORNER

  Welcome to the new Loveswept!

  It’s really thrilling to unveil the first eight Loveswept titles and to share with you these treasured classics:

  Iris Johansen’s voluptuous historical THIS FIERCE SPLENDOR.

  Sharon and Tom Curtis’s heartbreaking LIGHTNING THAT LINGERS.

  Debra Dixon’s searing western TALL, DARK, AND LONESOME.

  Juliana Garnett’s magical medieval THE VOW.

  Sally Goldenbaum’s sexy romp THE BARON.

  Annette Reynolds’s heart-melting contemporary romance REMEMBER THE TIME.

  Adrienne Staff’s alluring DREAM LOVER.

  Deborah Smith’s legendary LEGENDS.

  These very special novels made heart
s beat faster when they first appeared in the 1980s and 1990s, and we haven’t changed a word of the original text or updated them in any way—they are as seductive, intimate, warmhearted, and sizzling as when they first appeared. I know that you’ll love them as much as we do—whether they are new to you or beloved reads from your past that have been far too long out of print and unavailable.

  Going forward, we promise to bring you the very finest in both classic romance titles and brand-new works from authors who will quickly become your favorites.

  If you love romance…then you’re ready to be Loveswept!

  Gina Wachtel

  Associate Publisher

  P.S. Watch for these terrific Loveswept titles coming this fall: in September, SPELLBOUND by the wonderful Adrienne Staff; in October, the red-hot TENDER LOVING CURE by Gayle Kasper; November will bring the scorching first novel in debut author Jessica Scott’s Coming Home trilogy, BECAUSE OF YOU; and Rexanne Becnel’s spellbinding ROSE OF BLACKSWORD is our December title. Don’t miss any of these extraordinary reads. I guarantee that you’ll fall in love and treasure these stories for years to come….

  Read on for excerpts from more Loveswept classics …

  Read on for an excerpt from Annette Reynolds’s Remember the Time

  PROLOGUE

  The front porch of the Victorian house provides the only relief from the afternoon sun. The threat of a thunderstorm will only make the heat worse, and the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia hunkers down to wait out the summer of 1977. Likewise, the three teenagers who sit sprawled on the porch in various states of heat prostration.

  “Can it get any hotter?” Kate asks, her voice taking on just the slightest hint of a whine.

  “Don’t say that.” Paul watches a fly take a desultory stroll across his forearm.

  “Bet it’s hotter than this in Arizona,” Mike comments.

  “But it’s a dry heat,” Paul and Kate say in unison. Paul looks down at Kate and they grin at each other.