“Smart minx. Is that why you look like a cat who just cornered a mouse?”
She smiled with those golden eyes. “In a way, I have. Good news, future brother-in-law. We’re going to end up with more than you think, and soon.”
“Sweet Jesus. I don’t think I even want to know how you know that.”
She smiled back, mysterious, self-satisfied. “I’m not sure I want to tell you.”
He looked down at her frowning face. “What’s the matter?”
“My feet hurt.”
He chuckled and fingered his diamond stick pin. “You should stop trying to stuff big feet into too small shoes.”
“Big feet?” Her golden eyes widened with outrage. “I don’t have big feet. Small feet are a Carstairs family trait.”
“Remind me to tell you something about that sometime, although I’m not sure you’ll find the irony funny.”
She looked bewildered and angry. “For pity’s sake, Shelby, have you had too much to drink?”
“Hmm.” He was only half listening. His mind was on the luscious Laurel. Vanessa danced by with her rum-soaked father and waved. He smiled and nodded, his mind still on Laurel. He wanted her, first chance he got. He wondered if she were still out on the balcony? He’d seen her go out there with Rand Erikson.
So Rand was plowing two fields at the same time, also, just like Shelby. Shelby looked toward the balcony, wishing he were in young Rand’s shoes. Shelby wanted a sample of Laurel’s kisses first chance he got. Pouty Lenore was more tiresome by the day. “So how are you and your newly found baby sister getting along?”
She made a slight face and lowered her voice. “For pity’s sake, Shelby, don’t you remind me. I was afraid I was going to have to share the Carstairs estate with her, but something’s happened.”
“Uh huh. Like what?”
“Remember you said I needed proof? I found the gun, Shelby.”
Some friends of Lenore’s danced past and they both nodded. Shelby nodded back and, without looking at Lenore, said softly, “What the hell are you talking about?”
“For pity’s sake, don’t swear. I’m a lady, you know.” She fanned herself vigorously.
He fingered his diamond stickpin, deciding not to anger her further by pointing out that real ladies didn’t roll in the dirt with their best friends’ fiancées. “So some soldier dropped it during the war, so what?”
“A derringer?”
She had his attention now. “Sweet Jesus! Ivory-handled?”
“How did you know that?”
“Lucky guess.” He shrugged and ran his hand through his perfumed, greasy hair. “Where is it?”
“Never you mind, I’ve got it safely hidden.”
He managed to keep his face immobile as he sipped his punch, just as if he were sharing a few pleasantries with his future sister-in-law. “You got it with you?”
She fanned herself. “Don’t be silly! I’m saving it for blackmail—if I need it.”
The orchestra began to play softly: Alas my love, you do me wrong to caste me off discourteously.. .
Her words came in such a rush that he had a hard time making sense of them. “I think my mother was having an affair with a gambler. Suppose my father caught them and they killed him? They took all of the valuables like money and his watch. Then they took their bastard brat and left. I’ll bet my Grandmother’s been sending them money all these years to stay away and not create a scandal. Now their bastard brat is back trying to cut herself in on half the estate, but I’ve fixed that.” She smiled smugly, evidently pleased with herself.
... Greensleeves was all my joy, Greensleeves was my delight, Greensleeves was my heart of gold. . . .
Clint. Unknowingly, Lenore was talking about his brother-in-law, Clint. Did her theory make any sense? “Who knows about this?”
“My grandmother and the judge, I think. You should have seen their faces when I confronted them.”
He shook his head. “Naw. No mother would help hide something like that.”
“You don’t know Elizabeth Carstairs! She would do anything to protect the family name. Besides something she blurted out suggested it wasn’t murder, it was an accident.”
Shelby stared out across the floor, but his mind wasn’t on the dancers. Was it possible that Clint had gone West with the lady and died out there?
“Shelby,” she said, “Don’t you see? If what I suspect is true, I can blackmail my grandmother into cutting my bastard half-sister completely out of the will. Somehow, we’re going to end up with both estates.”
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Rand Erikson come in off the balcony alone. He looked distressed. “Excuse me, dear sister-in-law,” Shelby said politely. “We’ll continue this conversation when I get a look at that derringer. Right now, I think I’ll go out on the balcony and smoke a cigar.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“What would people say?”
But about that time, Mrs. Erikson came up. “Oh, there you are, dear.” She took Lenore’s arm and smiled at Shelby. “Come along and we’ll talk to Vanessa about when she thinks we should make the announcement.”
Shelby nodded politely. “I’ll leave all those decisions up to the womenfolk and go smoke my cigar.”
He turned and limped out onto the balcony. Was there anything to Lenore’s wild story? He wouldn’t bet the farm on it. Laurel Carstairs was still out there, and there was no one else on the balcony. He could see by her silhouette that she was shaking with sobs. Vulnerable. That was just the way he liked them. Shelby had followed in his handsome brother-in-law’s footsteps—except that Shelby had small feet. But he, too, made use of rich, beautiful women who liked the thrill of the forbidden. “Excuse me, Miss Laurel, may I be of service?”
Kimi looked up abruptly at the man bowing gallantly before her. She didn’t care for Shelby Merson; the way he looked at her always made her want to cross her arms over her bosom. “I was just going back in; stepped out to get a breath of air.”
“Yes, it is stuffy in there, isn’t it?” He leaned against one of the big, white pillars. “Thought I saw Rand come back in a minute ago.”
She didn’t know what he expected her to say. She could smell his strongly perfumed hair oil from here. “We—we were talking about his and my sister’s wedding, and how nice that it would be a double ceremony.”
“And you got so emotional over the plans that you’re crying.” He sounded cynical. “I’ve heard of women weeping at a wedding, but not sobbing their hearts out over someone else’s.”
She took a step away from him, looking toward the open French doors. “What are you implying, Shelby?”
He grinned. “Did I say I was implying anything? My, you are a suspicious person, aren’t you? We need to get a little friendlier, ’specially since we’re all going to be one big, happy family. Besides, I know something, that if you knew, you could cut Lenore right out of her share of the Carstairs money.”
His tone sent shivers down her back. He seemed so incredibly evil. How could she brush past him and return to the ballroom without creating a scene? “I don’t know what you’re talking about, and I don’t care about the money.” She hadn’t the least idea what he hinted at. Had he been drinking? All she could smell from here was that flowery hair tonic he wore.
“But I do care about the money and blackmail’s a good way to get it.” His mouth smiled but his eyes didn’t. He advanced a step. Kimi backed against one of the large pillars that held up the balcony, and she glanced behind her. There was a three-story drop to the flagstones below.
What was Shelby hinting at? He must know about her and Rand. He was going to tell if she didn’t pay him.
“I think I need to go inside.” She started past him, but he caught her arm.
“Don’t hurry off, we’ve a lot to talk about.”
She hesitated. He was going to blackmail her. Everyone would know about her and Rand. Nana. What would Nana say if Kimi disgraced the Carstairs name by the affair bec
oming common gossip? “What do you want to keep quiet?”
For a moment, he blinked as if in surprise, then he threw back his head and laughed. “I do declare, everyone in the world, or at least this county has something to hide! What I want, my dear, is you.”
She hesitated, almost speechless at his insolence; unsure what to do, how to bargain with this snake.
He snickered, but he didn’t let go of her arm. “Like most women, you’re more afraid of making a scene than you are of me. As long as women fear being ridiculed, what people might think, they will always be at the mercy of men who prey on that hesitation.”
He was right, of course. If she screamed, or created a scene trying to get away from him, it would be both humiliating and embarrassing. What to do? If Rand were here, he’d know what to do. No, he’d probably punch Shelby in the mouth and there’d be even a bigger scene, more gossip. Kimi glanced around. There was a staircase at the end of the balcony that led down onto that flagstone veranda and on past that, into a rose garden. If she could reach the end of the balcony, she could go down the stairs and either go out and have her driver take her home or make a new entry downstairs and return to the ballroom without anyone knowing what had happened.
That would only buy her a little time. Now she knew that the decision she had been contemplating all evening was the right one. “Shelby, you’re wasting your time. I’m going away. I won’t be part of whatever scheme you’ve devised. You will not disgrace the Carstairs name.”
“It’s already been disgraced. I thought it was Rose, but the flower is Camelia. Pretty, rich, married, two children, Clint said. Yessiree, there’s just all sorts of intrigue and blackmail possibilities in this county.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she snapped and tried to yank free.
“Don’t be afraid, Laurel,” he said softly and pulled her to him. “After all, I’d be a fool to do more than steal a few kisses with people liable to come out on the balcony at any time. But later, we’ll have a lot of pleasure together, so I won’t tell what I know, especially about your mother.”
If he wasn’t drunk, he must be crazy, but she had had as much as she was going to take. Kimi brought her hand up suddenly, slapped his face, and tried to break away from him.
“Why you little—!” He yanked her against him, his mouth covering hers as he kissed her so hard that she tasted blood from her cut lip. As they struggled, he pulled at the top of her peach ball gown, trying to get his free hand on her breasts.
Lenore stood talking to Rand, but she wasn’t really listening. She was thinking that Shelby had gone out on that balcony some minutes ago and hadn’t come back. She remembered Laurel was out there, too. Neither had come back in. Was her bastard half-sister capable of the same things Lenore was? Women would always forgive a little straying in a man, especially if they thought a woman had tempted him. However, the woman would be an object of scandal. Here was her chance to destroy Laurel.
“Lenore,” Rand said, “you aren’t listening to me. I said we need to go where it’s quiet and have a talk. I’ve got something very important I must tell you.”
“Hmm.” She nodded, pretending not to hear. So he wanted to talk; no doubt to break their engagement. She’d have to be blind not to suspect there was something going on between him and her bastard half-sister. “Can’t we talk later?”
“You aren’t leaving me any choice.” His face looked set, grim. “Believe me, this isn’t something to be discussed on a crowded dance floor.”
“Try me.” He wouldn’t have the nerve, not after she wept on Rose Erikson’s shoulder.
“All right, Lenore, I want to discuss breaking our engagement. It’s not fair of me to marry you when my heart belongs to another, even if she doesn’t want me.”
What a humiliation that would be. Rand looked as if his mind were made up and couldn’t be changed.
For pity’s sake, what should she do? Lenore had seen Shelby go out on the balcony and hadn’t seen Kimi come in. If there was even the slightest chance that something might be happening that Rand would misread, Lenore wanted to take advantage of it.
“Rand, if you want to talk, let’s go out on the balcony where it’s quiet.” She took his arm, and with mincing steps she led him in threading their way through the crowd. She didn’t care any more what else happened as long as she disgraced that gambler’s bastard. The gossip would make sure Grandmother didn’t include Laurel in her will. The real heir, that’s who was going to get all the Carstairs wealth.
As Lenore steered Rand toward the balcony, she looked back and saw the judge standing near the orchestra with the local sheriff, and the judge frowned, watching her. She gave him a smug smile and fluttered her fan. She had Pierce Hamilton and Grandmother right where she wanted them, because of what they thought Lenore knew. The only thing left undone was disgracing her newly found half-sister and breaking up this romance.
Kimi struggled in Shelby’s embrace, her heart pounding in terror and humiliation. He had both her hands in his, so she couldn’t strike or scratch him while he held her against the pillar with his body. Even if she had dared to scream, she couldn’t, not with his wet mouth ravaging hers. In the background, as she struggled against his strength, she was only vaguely aware that the orchestra had begun to play a loud Virginia reel, and the crowd danced and clapped their hands. The music reverberated through the mansion. Even if she did scream, Kimi thought, no one would hear her.
Abruptly past Shelby’s shoulder, she saw Rand Erikson framed in the light of the doorway, looking angry and betrayed. He swore under his breath. “What’s going on here?”
Even as Shelby craned his head to look behind him, startled, Rand grabbed him, whirled him around. “I said, what’s going on here?”
Shelby quickly regained his composure. “The lady and I were just sharing a moment. You know how it is, brother-in-law,” he winked broadly, “You two won’t tell Vanessa, will you?”
Even as Kimi paused, uncertain what to say, Lenore feigned wide-eyed shock and innocence. “For pity’s sake! I never saw such brashness. Why, my poor best friend would be so hurt to know—”
“Hush, Lenore,” Rand snapped, “Kimi, what’s going on out here?”
Shelby flashed her a warning glance, but from where Rand stood, she was certain he didn’t see it. What should she do? Shelby obviously knew about Kimi and Rand. She didn’t want to disgrace the Carstairs name or cause any more trouble. “Yes, that’s right,” she mumbled. “It wasn’t anything, just a kiss.”
She saw the fury in Rand’s eyes and the amused triumph in Lenore’s. The golden-eyed beauty had brought him out here deliberately for this, Kimi was sure of it. Probably Rand wouldn’t believe her since he’d caught her in Shelby’s arms.
Lenore grinned. “You little tramp!”
And in that split second, Kimi revolted. She slapped Lenore so hard it made the girl’s head snap back, and the Southern belle dropped her fan. “Well, for pity’s sake, did you see what that chit did?” Lenore wailed.
“Good night, everyone.” With great dignity, Kimi turned and went down the steep balcony stairs.
“Kimi, wait!” Rand called behind her, but she didn’t look back. She had known she didn’t belong here and it could never work out. Kimi might have white skin, but inside she was a Sioux, and she was going back to her people. She crossed the flagstone courtyard veranda and went around the front of the house.
From the big mansion, lights streamed and the loud music and clapping still reverberated as Kimi ran across the lawn.
There didn’t seem to be anyone else out here. Most of the drivers had gone around to the kitchen for refreshments, probably.
Kimi saw the judge’s buggy tied under an oak tree. She ran for it, climbed in, and awakened the startled, snoozing old horse with the snap of the reins.
The Carstairs carriage was parked nearby, the driver half asleep on the box. “What happen, Miz Laurel? De party over?”
“No, I’m not
feeling well. So I’m taking the buggy, and leaving early.”
“Be glad to drive you, ma’am.”
“No,” she shook her head, “you bring the others when the party’s over.”
Kimi snapped the reins, drove away from Randolph Hall, shivering in the crisp autumn night. She didn’t belong here. She had never really fitted in. Except for Rand’s sake, she hadn’t wanted to. Now she wouldn’t even have his love. Maybe that was for the best, too. Rand belonged in this society, and with Lenore, who was part of it. No doubt he thought the worst of her, but it didn’t matter. It would be better if she made a clean break, got out of Rand’s life. She had made her decision. Kimi was leaving Kentucky tonight.
Twenty-three
Swearing under his breath, Rand turned around to face Shelby. He’d go after Kimi later, tell her he’d been a fool; convince her to marry him. Of course he’d reacted with his gut feeling, seeing her in another man’s arms, but he knew Kimi better than that. He doubled his fists and advanced on Shelby.
“Now, Rand.” Shelby grinned with easy charm, backing away, holding up his hands in a placating manner, “Sweet Jesus. Who’re you gonna believe? Your future brother-in-law, or that little tramp—?”
Rand hit him then, knocking him against the pillar. Shelby fought back and they meshed and struggled. In the background, the loud music and hand clapping of the Virginia Reel drowned out the fighting.
“You bastard!” Shelby snarled as they slammed against the wall and Rand hit him in the mouth. Shelby was a heavier man than Rand, and Rand realized abruptly that he was up against an experienced saloon brawler with no qualms about how he won his fights. Neither Southern gentlemen nor Indian braves went in for fighting with their fists. This put Rand at a distinct disadvantage.
“For pity’s sake!” Lenore shouted, “you two stop it! This isn’t what I had in mind at all!”
Lenore was behind this. Rand understood now why she had brought him out here. When he finished whipping the tar out of Shelby, Rand was going to finish breaking the engagement, go tell his mother off, and then beg Kimi on his knees to forgive him.
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