Edward raised his eyebrow. "Mrs. Hanover, you surprise me. Where did you learn such language?"
She smiled sweetly. "It must be my association with you. You would try the patience of a saint."
He laughed. "One of us must lose in this battle of wills, Victoria, and I think it will be you."
Victoria felt fear prick her spine.
"Oh, do not worry, Victoria. Dan has cautioned me to be on my best behavior, shall we say, until your bandages have been removed."
Victoria closed her eyes and thought, Oh, my love, my love, why can I find no joy in being your bride? She was tired, and her ribs were throbbing painfully.
Edward watched her carefully. He could see that she was tiring. He stood up and announced to their guests that his bride must rest. "I will take her upstairs," he told them; "then I will rejoin you."
Victoria was grateful. She kissed her grandmother and Bodine, feeling lost at the thought of being parted from them. She longed for her familiar room at her grandmother's house.
Dan told her he would be out in a few days to check on her condition.
Edward walked her to the entryway; then he gently lifted her in his arms and carried her up the stairs. He looked down at her.
"Are you very tired, Victoria?"
"A little," she told him.
"You are not to concern yourself with our guests. I will return to them once I have seen to your comfort."
He carried her down a long hall, opened a door, and carried her into her bedroom. It was so beautiful, she stared about her in amazement.
Edward set her on her feet. "Do you like it, Victoria?" His voice sounded anxious.
"It is a lovely room, Edward. I like it very much."
"I am relieved. I was afraid after its completion that it would not suit you. My room is through the connecting door," he said, anticipating her question. "I will send Juanita up to help you undress. You should try to get some rest. Are you in any pain, Victoria?"
"Not really," she lied. "I am merely exhausted."
He put his arms around her and held her to him. "Victoria Lee Hanover," he whispered tenderly. "I like the sound of that."
She felt the now-familiar feeling stir in her body. He raised her face to his. His brown eyes held her captive. His lips brushed hers as gently as butterfly wings. "You looked so beautiful today, I could not take my eyes from you." He frowned at her; then his face eased into a smile.
Her heart skipped a beat. She felt overpowered by his nearness, and the fact that they were alone together frightened her.
Gently his arms slid about her waist. "I wish I could tell you how I felt today when Rev. Blackstone said we were man and wife."
"Do you always get your own way in everything, Edward?"
"Yes, I believe I do." His hands started a circular motion on her back, but he stopped when he felt her bandages. His lips moved softly over her face. "Now for a kiss," he whispered. His mouth covered hers. Against her will, Victoria came under his domination. How she loved him. If he was aware of the power he had over her, what would be her fate?
Edward raised his head and stared at her. "You are mine, Victoria."
She felt panic well up inside of her. "Please," she said, struggling against him, "leave me alone."
He released her quickly, afraid her struggling would cause her pain. She stumbled backward, catching herself by the bedpost.
He looked at her with concern. "Victoria, I am sorry. Are you hurt? I did not mean to—"
"Please leave me alone, Edward," she said wearily.
He reached out his hand to her, then let it drop helplessly to his side. "I will send Juanita to you."
She heard the door open and close softly, and knew she was alone. She would like to call him back. The love she felt for him was so deep it left her breathless. How would she be able to see him every day, knowing he did not return her love? She remembered Clarissa and Monica, and wondered how many other hearts Edward had broken.
Victoria put her hands to her face. She had been through a lot in her eighteen years. She was not going to fall apart now. She squared her shoulders as she always did when the going got tough, and called on her reserved strength.
She smiled sadly. Edward had handled her wrong, she thought. If he had lied to her and told her he loved her, she would have been unable to resist him. Victoria knew she would need all her courage to face a life as Edward's wife.
He had been painfully honest with her. He needed a mistress for Rio del Lobo. Well, that was what he would get, and no more, she vowed, hoping she would have the strength to resist him.
Juanita came in and helped her change into the lovely nightgown Consuelo had given her. Juanita then pulled the covers down and Victoria slipped between white satin sheets. They felt cool and soothing against her skin.
The Mexican woman smiled down at her. "I am so pleased you married Senor Eduardo. He has had a sadness in his heart for so long. Though he tried to hide it, I, who know him so well, could see it. You have made him a very happy man, Senora Victoria."
Victoria smiled at her and wondered how Edward's housekeeper could be so mistaken. Did she believe Edward had married her for love?
Juanita removed her wedding gown, promising to pack it away with her veil.
Victoria lay alone in the beautiful room. Her ribs and her heart ached; she wondered which hurt the most.
Victoria awoke slowly. She could hear the sound of music and merrymaking coming from the garden. It was dark now, she noticed. She had not meant to fall asleep, but she did feel refreshed and able to face the ordeal that lay ahead.
She eased herself into a sitting position; then she rose slowly to her feet. Her robe was across the foot of the bed. She slipped it on and tied the belt about her waist.
She moved over to the large vanity and seated herself before the mirror. Her eyes fell on a silver comb-and-brush set. Picking up the brush to admire it, she saw her initials were engraved on the silver base: V.L.H.
She felt an overwhelming anger. He had been so sure of himself. She restrained her urge to throw it across the room. Instead, she started brushing her hair with a forceful motion, venting her anger on the golden strands that hung about her shoulders.
There was a soft knock on the door. She turned defiantly, ready to do battle. "Come in," she said in an icy voice.
Juanita and two serving girls entered. "Senor Eduardo asked that we serve dinner in your room so you will not need to climb the stairs. Is that all right with you, Senora Victoria?"
"Yes, of course, Juanita," Victoria said, feeling embarrassed. She did not want Juanita to see that she was angry. The Mexican woman had been so kind to her. Victoria watched as they set up a table, spread it with a linen cloth, and placed silver candlesticks and serving dishes on it.
"If you will pull the white cord, Senora Victoria, I will come and remove the table when you are finished."
"Yes, I will do that, Juanita. Thank you."
Victoria returned to brushing her hair. She heard the connecting door open and saw Edward's reflection in the mirror. He had removed his jacket, and his shirt was partly unbuttoned revealing curly black hair on his chest. She noticed the lock of black hair that had fallen across his forehead. He moved leisurely toward her and stood behind her. Their eyes met in the mirror. His hands came down on her shoulders lightly.
"Always wear your hair as it is tonight," Edward said. He picked up a golden strand and caressed it with his fingers. She felt such a longing for this man who was her husband. She wondered what he would say if she told him she loved him.
"The guests have all gone?" she asked.
"Yes, long ago. I looked in on you earlier, but you were asleep. I decided not to disturb you."
She felt strange to think he could come into her bedroom anytime he wished.
"Shall we dine?" he asked, removing his hand from her shoulder.
"I am not hungry," she said pettishly.
"You hardly ate anything at the reception. You need to
keep up your strength."
"I do not want to eat!" she said angrily.
He shrugged his shoulders. "It is all the same to me, even though Juanita went to a great deal of trouble on your behalf. I would hate to see her disappointed."
Victoria looked at him in exasperation, and rose to her feet.
He smiled and pulled out a chair for her. After she was seated, he sat down opposite her.
"Allow me to serve you," he said, spooning food onto her plate from one of the silver dishes, each of which was engraved with a wolfs head. She picked up the silver fork that also bore the sign of the wolf, and began to eat, though she hardly tasted the food. Looking up at Edward, she saw him frown.
"You do not seem happy, Victoria. Shouldn't a bride be happy on her wedding day?"
She laid down her fork. "I am hardly the typical bride, Edward. You forced me to marry you, remember?"
"You could have refused."
"You left me very little chance to refuse."
"Nonetheless, you belong to me now."
She rose to her feet. "Oh, yes. I belong to you, as do your horses and your cattle. I might as well bear the brand of the wolf across my forehead."
He wiped his mouth on the napkin, leaned back in his chair, and smiled. "Victoria, I do not brand my cattle on the forehead," he said meaningfully.
She turned her back to him, trying to swallow her anger.
"Come, Victoria," Edward cajoled. "Finish eating. I will not tease you anymore, I promise."
Victoria turned back to the table. She was hungry. She sat down reluctantly and began to eat, refusing to look in Edward's direction.
Edward sat back in his chair and watched her. Her skin looked almost transparent against her white satin robe. Her long hair hung about her shoulders, shining from the light of the nearby candles. He looked at her dainty hand where his wedding ring glittered on her finger.
If God had made the perfect woman surely Victoria was it. He could only imagine what perfection lay beneath the satin robe. He longed to hold her body against his own, to make love to her and drive all thoughts of Paul O'Brian from her mind forever.
Edward's hands were unsteady as he reached for the wine bottle. He poured the red liquid into two crystal wineglasses.
"Let us drink a toast," he told her.
"Very well, what shall we drink to?"
"Wedded bliss, of course, Victoria."
He clinked his glass to hers. "To us, Victoria, and the day your bandages are removed."
She looked at him nervously, and took a sip of wine. "I think I should tell you wine makes me dizzy. I say and do things I would not ordinarily do."
"Is that a fact?" Edward's eyes gleamed and he refilled her glass. "Did you know Old Ned is coming to work for Rio del Lobo?"
"No, whatever for? He did not mention it to me today."
"He wants to be near you, so he says."
Victoria laughed. "He is such a dear little man. I have become very fond of him."
"I have been thinking," Edward said, changing the subject, "I have some very close friends who live in Jamaica. When you are sufficiently recovered, we could take our honeymoon there. Would you like that?"
"I do not know. I did not think we would have a honeymoon."
"Of course we shall, Victoria, but you do not need to decide tonight. Think about it, and let me know your decision tomorrow."
He filled her glass once more. "I almost forgot, I have a wedding present for you."
He rose and went into his room through the connecting door. When he returned, he had a red velvet case which he handed to Victoria. She opened it and saw a large diamond in the shape of a teardrop on a long gold chain.
"It is lovely, Edward, but please do not think you must give me expensive presents. I assure you it is not necessary."
"You do not like it?"
"Of course I do, it is beautiful."
"I want to lavish you with presents, Victoria. Anything you want, you have only to ask for."
"Please do not say that. I do not want your gifts, Edward."
"Perhaps you will change your mind. Shall I fasten it for you?" He did not wait for an answer, but lifted her hair and fastened the gold chain. She felt the stone nestle between her breasts. His hands lingered about her neck, caressing her gently. She felt as though his fingers burned into her skin.
"I have a gift for you also," she told him, trying to compose herself, "if I can find where Juanita has placed it."
She looked about her, wondering where the black leather case was that held her father's dueling pistols. She remembered her grandmother had told her she had packed them in a wooden box.
Victoria opened the wardrobe and saw the box on the top shelf. "Edward, will you please reach the box for me?" she asked.
He reached over her head and handed it to her. She opened it, lifted out the black leather case, and handed it to him.
He smiled at her. "What is this, Victoria?"
"I want you to have them. They were my father's."
He opened the case and lifted out one of the dueling pistols. He examined it carefully. The handle was silver and ivory. Edward recognized the name on the handle. They had come from a very fine gunsmith in England.
"It is very well-balanced," he said, turning it over in his hand. "These are very valuable. Are you sure you want me to have them, Victoria?"
"Yes, of course." She tossed back her head proudly and smiled at him. "You should have them checked by a gunsmith though. I killed a Yankee with one of them. The other misfired or I would have killed the second, saving Bodine the trouble. Then you would have had no way to force me to marry you."
He looked at her and laughed. "I thank you for them, Victoria, and I shall certainly have them checked." He paused, then spoke softly: "In case you need them again."
Victoria put her hand to her head. Everything was spinning. She grabbed on to the door of the wardrobe. "I do not feel well. It is the wine, I am afraid."
Edward placed the guns on the table and reached for her. "What you need is some fresh air, Victoria."
He helped her over to the double doors and out onto the balcony. They could hear the mariachis singing below. When the vaqueros realized their patron and his beautiful senora were standing on the balcony, a great cheer went up.
Victoria looked down on the friendly faces.
"Viva el patron! Viva la Senora Victoria!"
She could not help but smile at their enthusiasm even though her head was spinning. She waved to them and a shout went up: "La bonita Senora Victoria!"
Edward looked down at her. "You have won them over. From this day forward, they will look after and protect you when I am not around to do so."
"This loyalty they show you, it is very moving, Edward. I can sense how they feel about you."
"Mrs. Hanover, what you are witnessing tonight is a tribute to you and you alone."
Victoria felt a dark cloud of dizziness swirl about her. "I really do not fell well, Edward," she told him, leaning her head against his broad chest for support.
"Are your ribs hurting you, Victoria?" he asked, slipping his arms about her, gently feeling the bandages that were bound about her rib cage.
"No, it is the wine."
He smiled. She nestled her face against him. She could feel the curly black hair on his chest. It felt soft against her cheek.
The Mexican guitars were playing and a lone voice was singing in Spanish. They were both quiet for a long time. The singer finished his song and started another.
"What is he saying?" Victoria asked softly.
"I will try to translate," Edward told her, "though some of the beauty of the words will be lost in translation."
He bent his head so his lips were near her ear. "It is an old Spanish love song, Victoria. He says, my world was so lonely, the nights so dark. Then one day you came into my life. Now there is sunlight.
There is music in the air. My heart is yours for all eternity. If I ever lost you, I would cease t
o exist." His voice became husky. "My love, my love, I want you. Please give yourself to me. I need you so badly."
His arms tightened about her. She felt his lips on her neck. Tears came to her eyes. She loved this man with all her heart. It was almost a mockery of her love that the words he whispered did not come from his heart, but from a man below singing for the patron and his lady.
Edward felt her tears as they fell on his chest.
"Damn you, Victoria!" He gripped her arms painfully. "Damn Paul O'Brian!"
She looked at him, not understanding what had caused his anger.
"I do not intend to share my wedding night with Paul O'Brian."
He lifted her into his arms and carried her in through the open door. He passed through the connecting door that led to his bedroom. Only a faint light penetrated the room.
Edward set her on her feet and untied the sash that held her robe together. He slipped it from her shoulders.
"What are you doing, Edward?" she asked in a shaky voice.
"Come, Victoria, you are not so innocent that you do not know what I have in mind for you." His voice was angry.
Edward unbuttoned his shirt and threw it to the floor. Victoria's eyes were wide. This was not Edward, but a stranger she did not recognize. He lifted her in his arms and carried her to his bed. He laid her down and stretched out beside her, then he pulled her roughly to him.
"You have tormented me for too long, Victoria," he whispered huskily in her ear. "I wanted to make love to you the first day we met." He was kissing her neck, her eyes, her mouth. She shivered. Victoria could feel his hands caress her body. She wanted to cry out in protest, but could not. His lips came down hungrily on hers. She could feel the hard muscular body that was molded to her own. Victoria felt weak. The blood was pounding in her veins. Delightful sensations were washing over her body.
She tried to move, but he held her firm. "Please, Edward, do not do this!" she pleaded.
His lips stopped her protest. "Did Paul O'Brian stir your blood, Victoria?"
She looked into his eyes dark with passion.
"Maybe you have already given yourself to him." His lips crushed hers. "Did you, Victoria?" he demanded. "Has my lovely wife come to me as damaged goods?"
Ecstasy's Promise (Historical Romance) Page 26