"I see. If I had never come, then Sebastian would have been back in Grandfather's good graces."
"Perhaps. But I know your grandfather did not want Sebastian to marry my sister."
"How can you know that?"
She smiled, hoping to make Judah jealous. "He thinks Sebastian and I were made for one another. According to Sebastian, he believes we deserve one another."
"What do you think?" Judah asked in a deep voice, as possessiveness burned in his heart. He could not stand the thought of Sebastian touching Bandera. "I have never hesitated to take any woman I wanted. But with you it is different. I hope you know that I respect you, and would never do anything to shame you."
"Do you hesitate because you think I belong to Sebastian?"
His eyes burned into hers. "Yes. After all he is my cousin. I cannot take from a man when I am living under the same roof with him." Judah took her hand and raised it to his lips. "Be warned, however. The moment I leave, I am no longer honor bound to keep my distance from you."
His deep voice made Bandera tremble with excitement. As he brushed his lips across her fingers, she felt her legs go limp. Never, had she desired a man as much as she desired Judah Slaughter.
"Are you sure that you will never change your mind and decide to marry my sister?"
"Yes, I am sure. Liberty is young and vulnerable —too young to be a player in my grandfather's game. I would never drag her into this conflict."
"Yet you would drag me in," Bandera said with feeling. "Is she so much better than I?"
Judah watched Bandera's lips part, and he had to control the urge to take her in his arms and crush her mouth with a burning kiss. "Will you marry my cousin?"
"I —We have planned to marry one day."
Judah smiled as he released her hand. "I will not take Sebastian's inheritance, but I had better leave before I take his woman."
She threw herself into his arms. "I do not want you to go away. Promise you will not leave until we have talked again."
"I will not leave until we have come to some kind of understanding," he promised.
She brushed her lips against his cheek and turned to walk away. Judah watched her until she disappeared into the pine woods. He wondered what kind of people was he dealing with here? His grandfather was a man who would do anything to get his way. Sebastian he did not trust at all, and beautiful Bandera was the most baffling of them all. Judah thought of little Liberty and smiled. She was like a breath of fresh air. He wondered what she would think if she knew his grandfather had offered her to him in sacrificial matrimony. He could almost envision the humor that would gleam in her eyes if she were to learn about the plans that had been made for her future.
His life was becoming a tangle. He had come here for his mother's sake, never dreaming that he would become involved in a love triangle. If he wanted Bandera, why didn't he just take her, and say to hell with Sebastian! He was caught in a crosscurrent and would be pulled under if he did not watch his step.
8
The scents of wisteria, jasmine, and magnolia blended to enrich the evening breeze and welcome the guests to Bend of the River Plantation. The sound of music and laughter filled the air, and the brightly lit chandeliers displayed hundreds of candles.
From miles around, the haut monde came in response to the coveted invitation issued by Gustave Montesquieu. Inside the mansion, ladies in brightly colored silk skirts swished across the polished floor of the grand salon, while gentlemen in pantaloons and elaborate neckpieces bowed gracefully to some passing beauty. The delicious aroma of food gave promise of a feast later in the evening; the gala would last into the night, and in the morning, breakfast would be served. The doors were thrown wide, as the stiff-backed butler, Noal, admitted only those who handed him the coveted gilt-edged invitation.
Judah had adhered to his mother's wishes, so he reluctantly stood in the receiving line with the rest of the family. His grandfather seemed to have made a miraculous recovery, and was jovially greeting the guests. Rigidly Judah waited beside him, trying to hide his boredom. To Judah's right was his mother, looking lovely in a green silk gown. Beside Gabrielle, with a dour face and her lips compressed, stood Alicia. Her eyes were red rimmed, and she had almost shredded the white lace handkerchief she clasped tightly in her hands. Sebastian stood at the end of the line, polite as always, his eyes watchful and cunning.
When there was a lull in the steady stream of newcomers, Gustave, leaning heavily on his gold-tipped cane, eyed Judah. "I was proud to present you as my grandson, Judah. What do you think of my friends and neighbors? Do you think you would like living around them?"
Judah's eyes narrowed in on the old man's face, and he answered without hesitation, "For the most part, I find them snobbish and haughty, as well as careless in their need to find pleasure. No, I would not like to live within a hundred miles of any of your friends."
Gustave chuckled. "When your Americans first came to this land, we found them intolerant and provincial. They did not seem to know how to have fun. It is easy to see why the two do not mix. I fear we have come together for mutual benefit and a mutual desire to make money. Your Americans are shrewder than we are when it comes to money matters. Many of my friends cannot match wits with them. I see my friends becoming poorer, while the Americans become wealthy. I fear they will win in the end and destroy our way of life forever."
"If your friends have your attitude, you will probably never acquire statehood."
The old man smiled indulgently at his grandson. "You will pardon me if I do not look forward to that prospect with great enthusiasm. We were governing ourselves long before you were acquiring your independence."
Judah drew in a deep breath. "That is the attitude I was talking about."
Gustave smiled and clapped his grandson on the back. "Perhaps you will be the one to change things for the better. Take what I offer you, and you can Americanize Bend of the River until your heart is content."
At that moment, Judah caught Sebastian's eye and saw the hatred burning there. Looking into his grandfather's eyes, he spoke so everyone in the receiving line could hear. "Bend of the River be damned. I would sooner see it put to the torch than accept any part of it." He was tired of playing games and wanted everyone to know what his feelings were concerning his grandfather's plantation.
Gustave laughed heartily, while turning to the next guest, which happened to be Liberty Boudreaux. "Did you hear how the young pup just insulted his frail old grandfather?" His eyes were dancing merrily as they met the young girl's.
"I have every confidence that you bring most of the insults upon yourself," Liberty observed laughingly.
Gustave lifted Liberty's hand to his lips. "Well said. Most probably you are right. I am finding that you young people have very little respect for the older generation."
Again Liberty laughed. "I have every respect for you, Monsieur."
Liberty stepped forward as Judah bowed to her. Her serious little face was drawn up in a frown; her lovely eyes searched his face to see if he was glad to see her.
"Hello, little friend," Judah said, forgetting to be formal. "I have not seen you these two weeks past. Have you gone fishing lately?"
"No, I no longer fish. I am growing up."
His laughter was warm. "I hope you do not grow up too quickly. I like you just the way you are."
"Do you really?" she asked breathlessly.
He glanced at the green gown that somehow did not look right on her. It did not take a man who was well versed on ladies fashions to guess it had been Bandera's and had been altered to fit Liberty. She looked like an adorable child who was trying on her mother's gown, one that was too sophisticated for her.
"Indeed, I speak the truth. I like your impertinence, I admire your honesty, and most of all, I adore your pert little nose." Judah glanced up at that moment and caught his grandfather's satisfied smile and his blood flamed with rage. He knew his grandfather was reminding him of their bargain concerning Liberty. Judah
bit back the angry remark that begged to be spoken.
"I was so pleased when your mother invited me," Liberty said innocently, unaware that she was a source of contention between grandfather and grandson.
"You have always been welcome in this house ma chere," Gustave declared. "If I were a younger man, I would seek you as my bride. It takes a stupid man not to see your qualities." He was looking at Liberty, but his words were for Judah.
Liberty felt light-hearted and happy. She was attending her first ball, and Judah was glad to see her. She moved on down the line and was greeted warmly by Gabrielle.
Judah might have voiced his anger to his grandfather had his eyes not fallen on the vision of loveliness that came through the door. He had not seen Bandera since their encounter on the hill, but she had never been far from his thoughts. She seemed to shimmer in a lovely cream-colored gown embroidered with golden threads. When she approached and pressed her hand into Judah's, he realized she had placed a note in his palm, and he quickly pushed it into his pocket, to read later.
"Good evening, Monsieur Slaughter. One hopes you are enjoying our nice spring weather." Her voice was polite and stiff, but he did not miss the warm glow in her eyes. His grandfather and Sebastian did not miss the melting glance either.
"Spring comes earlier here than it does in Boston, Mademoiselle Boudreaux." Judah's voice was equally stiff, but Bandera shivered with delight as his eyes rested on her lips. Seeing Sebastian at the end of the line, she smiled prettily and moved away, trailing a tantalizing scent of wild honeysuckle.
Judah was watching Bandera, so he noticed the strange look that passed between her and Sebastian, but he had no time to speculate on it, as another guest claimed his attention. He could hardly wait to be alone so he could read Bandera's note. He wondered what she would have to say that she could not tell him in person. As Judah watched Bandera walk away on Sebastian's arm, he became more certain he would soon have Bandera for his very own. It never occurred to him that there was a woman he could not have just for the taking.
When the last of the guests had arrived, Judah slipped into his grandfather's study and removed Bandera's note from his pocket. By the dim candlelight he read:
It is most imperative that I see you.
Meet me in the barn at eleven.
Judah was puzzled as he crammed the note back into his pocket. Why would Bandera want to meet him in secret? Whatever the reason, he knew he would be there at the appointed time.
As the evening progressed, Liberty noticed that Bandera and Sebastian danced every dance together, and since Judah's grandfather had shown his approval of his grandson by placing him at his side in the receiving line, Judah had become very popular with the young ladies. He was surrounded by a number of them who were flirting outrageously with him. Many saw him as the new heir to the Montesquieu fortune. Judah was unimpressed with his sudden popularity, however, and while he was polite, he did not ask any of the ladies to dance with him. His eyes seemed to be on Bandera as she danced around the room with Sebastian.
Liberty spent most of the evening sitting beside Gabrielle Slaughter, watching happy couples dance by. As she looked at all the lovely gowns the ladies were wearing, it made her more aware of her own shabby appearance. The happiness she had known earlier in the day disappeared. Not one gentleman had thus far asked her to dance. She wished she had not attended the ball.
Gabrielle seemed to sense how the young girl felt, and she patted Liberty's hand. "You have no notion how lovely you look. Not even that gown can disguise the fact. It is only respect for your young age that keeps the gentlemen from asking you to dance."
Liberty gave her a weak smile. "You are kind to say so, Madame, but I—" A shadow fell across Liberty's face. Glancing up, she saw Judah holding his arm out to her.
"Would you honor me with this dance, Mademoiselle Liberty?"
All eyes were suddenly trained on Liberty. She was now the envy of every young lady who had coveted a dance with the handsome Captain Slaughter. There was much whispering behind fans, and wondering why the young girl had been singled out by Judah.
Liberty shook her head. "I do not think — "
"But I insist Liberty," Judah pressed. "I want to dance with the loveliest young lady in the room."
Reluctantly Liberty gave him her hand. As he whirled her onto the floor, she glanced up at him, and Judah was surprised to see anger flashing in her eyes. A smile parted his lips. "Am I in trouble?"
"I do not want a gentleman to tell me an untruth, Judah. I do not like false flattery. You know that."
"Are you referring to the fact that I said you were the loveliest young lady here tonight?"
"Oui. We both know you do not believe that."
His eyes brushed across her face. "Do I not? I wish you could see yourself through my eyes, little Liberty. You are the most charming, the most honest, the most — "
"If you say intelligent, I will scream. Please do not take inventory of my good points." A smile touched her lips. "That might take all night."
"You little devil," he said, swinging her wide. "You do not know how tempted I am to take my grandfather's offer tonight."
They had to move apart. When they came back together, Liberty said, "I do not understand. What offer?"
"I pray God you do not ever find out," he murmured.
"It seems I am the envy of all the ladies and their ambitious mamas. You have become the rage."
His face was grim. "So it would seem. You and I know how fickle fame can be. If they knew how I felt about my grandfather's holding, they would turn a cold shoulder to me."
Liberty giggled. "You underestimate your own charms, Captain Slaughter." She batted her eyes and tapped him with her fan, mimicking some of the flirtatious ladies.
Judah threw back his head and laughed. "You little minx. You will always put me in my place, will you not?"
"Where is your place?"
His mouth eased into a lazy smile. "Right now . . . right here with you."
Suddenly Liberty became aware of the heat of his hand through her white gloves. In a fluid motion he swung her around, and her shoulder pressed against his chest. Liberty stumbled and was steadied by his hand at the small of her back. The violins were playing as she looked into Judah's eyes, and she wanted to melt against him, to have him hold her very, very close.
Judah smiled down at the little face that had become so dear to him. He was about to make some joking remark when he looked into her eyes, and for a moment it was as if he were being drawn into swirling, bottomless pools of blue. The soft scent of her filled his senses, and he felt as if the floor moved under his feet.
Damn, he thought, tearing his eyes away from hers. What in the hell is happening to me? Liberty is a child — she trusts me like a brother. Why do I keep having these disturbing thoughts about her?
Liberty watched Judah's dark lashes come down to cover his blue eyes. She could feel something physical between the two of them, and she wondered if Judah could feel it also. Realizing there had been a long silence she tried to think of something clever to say—anything to cover up her confusion.
"Judah, you really should choose one of the ladies as a partner after me."
He was silent a moment as his eyes rested on her golden hair. "What if I don't want to dance with anyone but you, little one?"
Her heart was hammering in her throat, and she had to look away from the warm glow in his eyes. "I — "
The dance ended abruptly, saving Liberty from having to answer. Judah escorted her back to his mother and then disappeared through the door that led to the dining room. Gabrielle smiled and patted Liberty's hand. "You and my son dance divinely together. It was as if each knew what move the other would make."
Liberty was too disturbed by her strange feelings to answer. She just wished the evening would be over and she could go home.
Sebastian pulled Bandera behind the wisteria bush and clasped her tightly in his arms. He bent his head and swirled his tongue aroun
d her lips, then plunged it into her mouth. Bandera felt bile rise in her throat, but she knew it would not be wise to show her distaste for Sebastian's crude lovemaking. She closed her eyes, allowing him access to her creamy neck, and his wet lips moved down her throat to the valley between her breasts.
"I want you now," he breathed against her skin. By now Bandera realized Sebastian was her only hope of being mistress of Bend of the River. Judah had made it very plain that he wanted no part of his grandfather's fortune. She would have to do whatever Sebastian wanted. "It would not be good if we were found in this compromising situation, Sebastian. You said that every move we made tonight had to be well planned. It would not do for someone to come upon us now."
"You are right," he said, stepping back on the path and looking around to make sure no one was about. "Did you give Judah the note?"
"Oui, I told you twice that I did. Are you sure this is the best way to discredit your cousin? If we are not careful, it could backfire on you, Sebastian."
"Not on me—on us." His eyes were cold as he stared toward the ballroom. "I have thought this out carefully. There is no other way, and we are running out of time. My uncle has asked his attorney to come to Bend of the River next week. I know he is going to change his will in favor of Judah, if he hasn't already."
Bandera shook her head. "We cannot allow that to happen, Sebastian."
"We can stop it if we are very clever. Will you do exactly what I tell you?"
"Oui, I will! But it will be so humiliating for me."
"No, ma chere, Judah is the one who will look bad. You will have the sympathy of all our friends. It is getting close to eleven; you had better start for the barn. I will just go back inside so everyone can see me."
Bandera shivered, thinking about what she must do, but she would endure it. She must. Sebastian was clever. She would never have thought of so bold a plan. She only hoped she could carry her part off. She had to! Bend of the River was within her grasp. All she had to do was follow Sebastian's directions.
Moontide Embrace (Historical Romance) Page 13