From the Torrid Past

by Ann Cristy

  Before D'Arcy really knew what was happening, she was led into a spacious mirror-lined room. Two women helped her. She was undressed and no one said a word as a turquoise dress with a fitted bodice and a skirt of ruffles to the floor was pulled over her head. D'Arcy was sure it was going to look awful on her. She never wore ruffles. She mumbled this to the silent duo that were sliding the gown down her body. One of them fluffed her hair while the other fluffed the dress, urging her to lift one foot at a time and don the robin's egg blue leather slides. With an exasperated sigh, D'Arcy jerked her head back and up and looked at her image in the mirror. She gulped, lifting her hands to press down on the silk material that clung to her body like a second skin, the tiny raffles like unopened petals. Her neck looked delicate as it rose from the rounded neckline, her face had a fragile, rosy cast, her hair had taken fire. Her waist had never looked so tiny, her hipline so smooth.

  She drifted out to show Keele, knowing she shouldn't be showing him her wedding dress, but unable to resist.

  He rose to his feet, his lips parted, his eyes lasering her from head to foot and back again. "You are one beautiful woman. Let's fly to Nevada and marry tonight. Don't even change out of that."

  D'Arcy swayed toward him, wanting to please him more than she had ever wanted anything. She saw him move to her, his arms outstretched. Sean. "No." She steadied herself, putting one hand in front of her. "I can't get married that fast."

  "It seems that I've heard that before.. .and today." Keele's voice was low but the words were like bullets.

  "My son is important to me. I won't do anything that might hurt him."

  He reached out to D'Arcy and turned her slowly, his eyes assessing. "Was his father that important to you too? He must have been quite a man."

  "Quite a man." D'Arcy ignored the question, feeling like gelatin in Keele's hands.

  "Forget him. Now I'm the man in your life. Take the dress off. We'll buy it. Madame La Rue has a suit I want you to try and she has all the lingerie that you'll need."

  "Your favorite colors, of course," D'Arcy snapped, shrugging away from his hold.

  "Naturally. You don't have to try much more. She has your measurements."

  D'Arcy was dazed when they left the salon. She had tried to argue with Keele about spending so much money , but a look from those gold eyes had quelled her. Now as they approached Fifth Avenue, D'Arcy rounded on him. "I'm not some courtesan that has to be draped like a mannequin. I don't live like that. I could easily have settled for half the things. Don't you ever think of starving people?"

  Keele threw back his head and laughed. "A crusader! I'm marrying a bloody crusader."

  D'Arcy felt as though she were swelling. She could feel the rage run through her as she clenched her fists. As she opened her mouth, Keele took hold of her fists and kissed them. D'Arcy looked around her, but none of the hurrying New Yorkers took any notice.

  "Cool down, angel. I'm not laughing at your altruism. It's just that you are totally different from any of the women I've known."

  "I should hope so." She lifted her chin, trying to pull free of his hold.

  He wouldn't release her. "You're a delight to me. I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll add up all we've spent today and you can send an equal amount to any charity you choose or any organization. Does that meet with your approval?"

  D'Arcy felt a sudden shyness. Before she could question her actions, she stepped close to him, reached up and kissed him, then stepped back at once. "I would like that, very much."

  Keele looked like a graven image, the skin pulled so taut that the bones were pushing through. "That's the first time you've ever touched me without me making the first move. I hope it won't be the last, or will I have to give my entire business away to make you come to me?"

  "You wouldn't do that." D'Arcy gave a shaky laugh.

  "Wouldn't I?" Keele lifted her hand and kissed the palm. "Come along, woman, I can think of a more pleasant spot to make love to you."

  "Lunch," D'Arcy gasped. "We'd better eat."

  Keele grimaced at her. "You are the most mundane woman! After we're married, I'm going to teach you to concentrate on me, not on your stomach."

  "You think you can do that?" D'Arcy laughed, feeling younger and more carefree than she had in years.

  "I guarantee that I will." Keele pulled her hand through his arm, keeping her close to his side as they headed toward the car. "What do you say to dining at a little seafood place I know out on the Island, then stopping to see your Sean?"

  "He'll be in school," D'Arcy said in fading accents.

  "Not all day," Keele pronounced, accelerating through the crowded streets. "He's only four, isn't he?"

  "Yes." D'Arcy's mind numbed, then a small light gleaned. "But he's to go to his friend Jimmy's after school. They're great friends. Jimmy has a rooster."

  Keele barked a laugh. "Yes, I can see that a rooster would be a magnet to a boy. I had a hawk when I was a schoolboy in England. My Grandfather Keele had a manor house in the shires. The hawk had been hurt and I found it. My grandfather let me nurse it and keep it. When it was well, it used to soar over my head. One whole summer he was mine. When I was back at school, my grandfather drove down to see me one day to tell me that a gamekeeper had killed the hawk."

  D'Arcy could hear the masked pain in his voice and slid closer to him on the seat, putting her hand through his arm.

  He gave her a quick downward look, his face like granite. "I've never told anyone that story. I was sure I had forgotten it. You do have a strange effect on me, lady."

  There was a long silence. The powerful car ate up the miles as Keele took every opportunity to pass the slower vehicles in front of them.

  D'Arcy was still musing over the complex man who was, in fact, the father of her son and would soon become her husband. Would he want to become her husband when he learned about Sean? Would he, instead, try to remove Sean from her life? Would he go away too?

  "Come out of your dreamworld, lady," Keele said. "We're here. It doesn't look like much, but the lobster is very good."

  D'Arcy had felt Keele's sharp-eyed gaze while she ordered and when they were waiting for the broiled lobsters to be set before them.

  "What was making you frown, D'Arcy?" Keele reached toward her, wiping a drop of butter from her chin with his napkin.

  When she hedged, Keele's mouth tightened, his eyes an angry glitter. She tried to talk on other subjects, but Keele only muttered his responses, so that lunch was eaten in near-silence.

  D'Arcy was glad to return to the car, heaving a big sigh at Keele's stiff-necked attitude.

  As they turned onto the highway, a dog ran in front of the car. Only Keele's quick reflexes prevented an accident.

  "Sean loves animals," D'Arcy ventured tentatively. "He has a dog and cat. The dog is called Rag and she looks the part. The cat is called Mushroom and is so lazy that she only moves to eat."

  "Typical lotus-eating female," Keele chuckled, making D'Arcy sag with relief that he was no longer angry with her.

  Then she realized what he had said and rounded on him, ready to defend her sex. Before she could lash out at him he reached an arm around her and fastened her to his side. "Another first. I've never wanted to have a female that close to me when I'm driving. My cars were always important to me. You've changed that too." He frowned for a moment. "I never thought that would happen."

  D'Arcy wriggled one hand free and reached up his shirt, running her fingers over him, trying to tickle him. "Don't you dare say that women are lotus eaters."

  "You never let anything get by, do you?" He put his mouth to her forehead. "Incidentally, I'm not too ticklish, but you are having an effect on me. In about two minutes I'm pulling over to the side of the road and to hell with the world."

  D'Arcy gasped and tried to lever away from him.

  "No, I'm not letting you go. Not now, not ever. Just don't touch me with those magic fingers of yours while I'm driving, angel. Comfortable?"

  "Yes." And
D'Arcy meant it. It felt wonderful to be cuddled to Keele's side. For a moment she could pretend that she really did belong to him. For a moment she could forget that all this would change when he discovered the facts about Sean's birth. She sighed and let her head lean on him. She heard the growl of contentment he gave.

  "Where shall we go on our honeymoon?" he muttered into her hair. "I'll take you anywhere you'd like to go, D'Arcy. All I ask is that you consider somewhere private. I don't relish meeting other people when I want to be alone with you."

  "It would be nice to be alone," D'Arcy gulped, feeling a shyness that she thought long buried surfacing as his arm tightened.

  "Nice is a very mild word for it." He chuckled, following her directions and turning the car with one hand.

  "That's the house." D'Arcy pointed, trying to sit straight.

  Keele let her sit erect but didn't let her move away from him as he switched off the ignition. "Kiss me," he demanded, his fingers coaxing on her arm.

  D'Arcy had to open her mouth to breathe. She felt as though all the avenues of air had shut down. She could almost feel her hatful of inhibitions sailing over the windmill. His lips felt cool and familiar as he let her push him back against the seat. The feeling of power grew as she felt his heart thud under her hand. She moved her mouth on his in a deliberate provocation and at once his body responded. The heady feeling increased as the kiss deepened. His hands fastened to her and her mind went blank and drowned in sensation.

  "Darling, if we don't get out of this car now, we're going to shock the neighbors," Keele muttered, his voice guttural, a tremor in the hands that ran over her form.

  D'Arcy looked at him, bemused and horrified at the response she couldn't control. Her life was going to be hell when he left her. Her vague reasonings that someday she would find a good man she could live with had all gone up in smoke now that Keele was back in her life. A flash of bitterness, for the empty years she would have, made her wish that he had never come into her life again. Another moment's though and she realized how ridiculous a notion that was. She wouldn't have traded these moments with him even fully aware of the pain ahead for her.

  "What are you thinking, little love? Why the crease in that lovely forehead?" Keele whispered, smoothing her clothes and pushing a curl back from her face.

  "Oh... it's nothing. I hope you like Henry and Adelaide. I don't think I could have raised Sean well without them." She gave him a flutter of a smile, trying to mask the panic rising in her.

  Henry opened the door, smiling. "We didn't expect you today, D'Ar..." His mouth dropped when he glanced at Keele, then he looked again. "My God."

  Keele's smile faded, wariness entering his eyes. Before he could withdraw the hand he had extended, Henry grasped it and pulled him in the door.

  D'Arcy could see Keele's puzzlement increasing, but she felt too frozen to do more than follow the two men. She watched a still bemused Henry turn and face Keele.

  "I think we'll be more comfortable in here. I'll just get some coffee."

  "You! Get the coffee!" Adelaide laughed, coming into the living room. "That will be the day! Hi, D'Arcy. This must be..." Adelaide's words were swallowed as she stared up at Keele, her mouth agape.

  Keele's eyes narrowed, his gaze flicking from one to the other and then to D'Arcy. "I seem to have had a bad effect on you both. Is something bothering you?"

  "Not at all," Henry said, his mask in place. "We had a different picture of you entirely. Greek men are not usually so tall and your hair isn't black. It just shows you how false preconceived notions can be."

  "That's true." Adelaide rallied, looking at D'Arcy. "Help me with the coffee things will you, dear?"

  D'Arcy could feel Keele's eyes X-raying her head as she left the room.

  The kitchen had a homey smell of fresh cut vegetables.

  "I thought I'd make Irish stew for dinner," Adelaide chatted, filling the percolator. She turned to look at D'Arcy, then looked at the kitchen doorway. She put her fingers to her lips. "We'll talk later," she mouthed to D'Arcy. "Reach down some of that kuchen, will you, dear. I made it yesterday but it's still fresh."

  D'Arcy moved like a robot to obey, her hands like puppet hands as she set out silverware. "Sean was supposed to have Show and Tell today. Did you let him take Mushroom?" she asked absently.

  "Oh dear, I forgot," Adelaide cried. "Then I had better send Henry down to your house and get Rag. That dog hates to be alone." Adelaide wiped her hands on a towel and frowned at the door. "Wouldn't you think that man would remind me that you had given Sean permission to take the cat to school? Henry forgets everything, even that Rag hates to be alone. It was Henry's day to drive you see, so they must have stopped at the house on the way to school. Why didn't you say anything when you dropped Sean at our house the other day?"

  "I forgot."

  "Really? I wonder if that runs in a family?" Adelaide looked thoughtful, then shrugged. "No matter." She glanced at D'Arcy, then away. "You know, I've often thought what a good thing it was that you were able to collect on Rudy's G.I. insurance and buy that little cottage down the street from us. It makes it so convenient, don't you think?"

  "Convenient." D'Arcy swallowed, wondering what was going on in the living room at the moment. Had Henry told Keele the truth? Had Keele guessed the truth from Henry's conversation? What would Keele do? What could he do? D'Arcy rose to her feet, accepting the tray that Adelaide had pushed into her hands. Then she followed behind the other woman like an automaton.

  The coffee hour was a nightmare. D'Arcy had the feeling that she had the lead part in one of those horror movies they kept showing at the theater in the shopping center.

  Henry talked about the fishing he had done on the Sound and how Sean was getting very interested in the sport.

  Adelaide talked about how large Sean was getting. "At first I couldn't figure where he was getting that rawboned look. Now I understand." She beamed at Keele.

  D'Arcy scalded her mouth with hot coffee and started to cough.

  "Don't be ridiculous, Adelaide," Henry croaked. "The Kincaids are all big boned. Look at me."

  Keele paused in the act of taking a sip of coffee. "Your name is Kincaid? Somehow I thought you were relatives of D'Arcy's, not relatives of her husband's."

  "Huh?" Henry floundered, then glassy eyed he watched his wife lean forward to speak, her head shaking, her one finger pointing. Henry coughed once, twice. "You'll want more coffee cake. Adelaide, get some."

  "What? Oh, there's enough here. See." She lifted the plate to show Henry.

  D'Arcy felt sick.

  "Let me show you my fishing equipment." Henry took the cup from Keele's hand and set it on the table.

  "Henry! What is the matter with you? Mr. Petrakis is still drinking." Adelaide was aghast. She looked at D'Arcy for support.

  D'Arcy lifted a limp hand and watched Henry pull Keele from the room.

  "I'll never understand that man," Adelaide fumed.

  "He doesn't want you to mention that he is my father's brother."

  "Why ever not?" her aunt snapped.

  "Keele doesn't know that I wasn't married again after Rudy. He thinks Kincaid is my married name." Her voice was flat.

  "Oh dear, this is a tangle," Adelaide moaned. "I don't like things like this. I get mixed up."

  "So do I."

  "I was going to ask him for dinner," Adelaide wailed.

  "Don't. I'll call Sean tonight before he goes to bed. Don't worry." D'Arcy tried to sound soothing. "Tomorrow is Friday. I'll be home for the weekend."

  "D'Arcy Kincaid, I have not had a hot flash in years but I feel one coming on now. How can I look that man in the face?" Adelaide folded and refolded the napkins. "God, D'Arcy, Sean is the image of him, isn't he?" she whispered.

  "Yes."

  "Darling, we were sure that Sean's father was not Rudy, but somehow we thought he had died or something." Adelaide sniffled. "I feel that I've failed you."

  D'Arcy rose from her chair at once to embr
ace her aunt. "Never in a million years have you ever failed me. Without you and Henry, my life would have been so hard. You gave me happiness."

  "Oh, D'Arcy, you are our daughter and we love you and Sean so much," Adelaide said. "I will not let that man hurt you."

  D'Arcy smiled. "He won't hurt me." I hope he won't, she mused to herself. I intend to keep Sean out of his way.

  With Henry's enthusiastic help, she was able to get Keele out the door and into the car. The goodbyes were flurried.

  "All right. Explain it to me," Keele demanded, the words fired from his mouth.

  "Explain what?" D'Arcy cleared her throat.

  "Damn you, D'Arcy, I'm no fool. Those people were horrified at the sight of me. I'm no Adonis, but I don't usually have such a bad effect on people I've just met. What the hell is going on?"

  "Ah, Henry and Adelaide never expected me to marry again. I never expected it myself. I'm sure they were just surprised."

  The car leaped forward like a live thing.

  "I said I'm not a fool." Keele sounded as though he had rocks in his jaws. "Who did they think I was? And why was I hustled out of the house before your son's return?"

  D'Arcy's body jerked.

  The smile Keele leveled on her had no humor in it. "Yes, I'm fully aware that for some reason known only to you, you do not want me to meet your son."

  "You're crazy!" D'Arcy whispered, licking dry lips.

  "No, you are, if you're trying to put something over on me, D'Arcy. Smarter men and women, too, have tried."

  "I'm sure of that." Fear made her reckless. "But if you don't mind, spare me a recital of your many forays with women."

  The car fired around a curve like a missile.

  "D'Arcy, I don't know what you're pulling, but by God I'm going to find out." The car hurtled into the traffic of Manhattan. "And, lady, if you have any idea of getting out of this marriage, forget it."

  They were back to square one! D'Arcy fumed, wanting to tell him to slow down but unwilling to break the fulminating silence.

  The return trip to Manhattan was accomplished in record time, but still D'Arcy felt as though it took forever. Keele's questioning anger was like a live wire between them.