Behind them, however, was the most dashing couple whom Olivia had ever seen. The woman was tall with reddish-blonde hair pinned atop her regally beautiful face in pearl combs. Even from the distance between them, Olivia could see the icy blue of her wide, cat shaped eyes. A genial smile graced her sultry mouth and Olivia could near smell the wealth and good breeding of her aura.
The man at her side was broad shouldered and possessed the dark skin of the Indians. If not for the intensity of his emerald green eyes and expensive suit, Olivia may have mistaken him for a native of the land with his raven waves, perfectly styled to his thick neck. He wore an expression of bemusement upon his face and Olivia got the sense that he did not wish to be there.
“Who are they?” Olivia heard herself breathe and Frances chuckled.
“I am surprised to hear you ask,” he replied. “That is your father’s oldest friend, Harvey Coville. Cecil, go along and introduce Miss Vangess to the Covilles.”
“Father, I would rather not,” Cecil grumbled, but he gestured for Olivia to follow. The two couples began to venture into the ballroom and Cecil raised his arm in greeting.
“Alex!” he called. The younger man raised his eyes and seemed grateful to see his friend. He patted his companion’s hand, whispering something in her ear. She maintained the smile upon her face, but Olivia saw a flash of anger in her steely eyes as he rushed toward them, leaving her standing with his parents.
“Cecil!” Alexander Coville declared, extending his arm as he approached. Cecil accepted his handshake and turned directly to Olivia.
“Alexander Coville, may I present Olivia Vangess, daughter of Arthur Vangess?”
Olivia watched his handsome face to signs of recognition, but the name seemed to mean nothing of relevance to Alexander. Instead, his warm eyes seemed to glow as he drank in the dark-haired beauty before him.
“Miss Vangess,” he purred. “I am delighted to make your acquaintance.” He took her hand, placing his lips to her white gloved hand. His mouth lingered unnecessarily long as his irises drank in her face. Olivia felt a slow blush creep up her neck. Quickly, she averted her gaze as he finally released her hand.
“Thank you for the invitation to your affair,” Alex continued, his eyes still fixed on her.
“Thank you for coming,” Olivia responded properly. She willed the hot flush from her cheeks, but she could not shake the feeling of pleasant discomfort she was feeling under his scrutiny.
“How are you enjoying Houma?” Alexander asked, guiding her arm away from Cecil as if he was a piece of furniture. Without asking her permission, he swept her into a two-step as the orchestra played.
Shocked by his brazen approach, Olivia missed the cue and tripped over her green Cromwell shoes. Alexander immediately steadied her arm, pulling her close as she regained her composure. As if the embarrassment had not occurred, he smiled easily, his green eyes glittering against the candlelight.
“Well? Have you had much opportunity to explore our lovely city?”
Humiliated, Olivia shook her head and fell into the movement of the dance, Alex leading confidently.
He is a highly skilled dancer, she thought. I wonder if he is skilled at other avenues as well.
Deeply appalled by her own improper thoughts, she gulped pulled her mind after the direction it was aching to go.
“No,” she admitted, shifting her eyes about. She felt as if the entire ballroom was focused on her and Alex as they flittered seamlessly about the room.
It is but your imagination, she chided herself. No one is paying us any mind.
“Oh, what a pity,” Alex replied. “Certainly we must arrange for you to see the sights. Perhaps this upcoming week we can – “
“May I cut in?” a voice sharply interjected. Olivia glanced at Cecil who stood staring stonily at his friend.
“No, you may not,” Alex countered, continuing to whirl Olivia away. To her surprise, Cecil approached again, pulling Alex by the shoulder.
“I do believe your fiancée is seeking your whereabouts,” Cecil told him coldly. Olivia tensed at the mention of Alex’s companion and immediately withdrew from his grasp.
“She is not my fiancée,” he growled at Cecil, but the smaller man seized the opportunity to take hold of Olivia, leaving Alex to glower after them. Olivia watched as he was quickly joined by the lovely red-haired woman.
Oh, she is lovely. I wonder why he would not be eager to call her his betrothed.
Olivia voiced her question to Cecil.
“Are they betrothed or simply courting?”
Cecil laughed mirthlessly.
“Alexander would like to set distance between himself and Miss Collier, but I fear it has already gone much beyond that point for both of them…if you understand my meaning.”
Olivia gasped at the bold answer, and to her surprise, a jolt of jealousy zipped through her bones as if she had been struck by static.
How terribly sinful to give yourself to a man before marriage! She thought righteously, glancing over at the couple. Alexander continued to watch after them, and she caught a wistful expression on his face. She could understand why a woman might feel compelled to give herself to such a man. Olivia’s gaze shifted to Vivian Collier. The strawberry blonde glared holes in their direction as they danced away. The inexplicable sense of desire she was feeling toward Alexander Coville vanished, and suddenly Olivia was filled only with a terrible sense of foreboding.
Chapter Four
“Livvy, Cecil Green is calling,” Connie announced, entering Olivia’s room unannounced. Olivia raised an eyebrow in surprise.
“Calling for me?” she asked.
“I could ask again, but he might think me daft. Yes, sister dear, for you.”
Slowly, Olivia rose from the vanity, placing the silver handled brush on the table and eyed herself in the mirror.
Staring back at her was a solemn-faced girl with large, dark blue eyes and high cheekbones, one whom many would consider lovely but Olivia failed to see her own prettiness. Her hair was a deep chestnut, silky and thick and fell to her tiny waist in a fountain of waves.
“You best hurry,” Constance urged. “No man wishes to be kept waiting.”
Quickly, Olivia pinched her cheeks and headed toward the staircase on her sister’s heels.
I should not be accepting suitors, she thought, watching as Constance bounded down the steps. Connie is two years my senior. It is improper for me to court before she does.
While Olivia knew that her thoughts were proper, she also knew she would likely die an old maid before Connie opted to court. Connie was already twenty-three and had not had one proper prospect. She was much too stubborn and particular, disregarding every potential suitor their father had selected. She had been beaten several times by Arthur for her insubordination, but it did not seem to faze her. She much preferred the company of her horses to the prospect of marriage.
“Perhaps we should match you with a rancher?” Olivia had suggested once, and Connie had snorted.
“I would sooner marry a Pinto.”
Why she did not even bat an eye when announcing Cecil Green, she thought. And listen to me, getting ahead of myself. Just because a man comes calling, does not mean he intends to court.
Yet, that was exactly Cecil’s intention, one he made known from the moment Olivia appeared.
“Miss Vangess, I apologize for the intrusion,” he told her. “But I have been unable to get you out of my mind since the ball on Saturday evening. Would you care to join me for a walk this afternoon?”
Flattered and taken aback, Olivia stared at Constance for guidance. Her older sister grinned and nodded from behind the wood door where Cecil was unaware she stood.
“I – yes, I would rather enjoy that,” she mumbled. “Allow me to ask my mother for permission.
As she rushed off to find Mary, Olivia’s heart began to race. She has only been courted once before, and it had not ended well.
Of course, it was a different cir
cumstance with Daniel, Olivia reminded herself, trying to steady her nerves. She shoved the thought of her former suitor from her mind, but the nagging worry in her mind would not go away.
“Darling, you seem so far away today,” Vivian commented, propping herself up on one arm to look into Alex’s deep eyes. They had just made love on the bank of Lake Long, just outside the Houma city limits. They both lay naked, basking in the sunshine of the warm May day.
“Do I?” Alex replied, continuing to stare at the cloudless blue sky. Vivian was right. He was extremely distracted and had been since the moment he had laid eyes upon Olivia Vangess. He was not sure specifically what it was about her which had consumed him on sight, but he knew that he wanted to spend more time with her. He assumed he was merely drawn to a new attractive face but something inside him, somewhere in his true core, he knew there were other factors at play.
Damn Cecil for interrupting our dance, he thought bitterly, scowling. He had been unable to shake Vivian from his arm following Cecil’s bold interception and therefore unable to get Olivia alone again. He idly wondered if Vivian had noticed the attraction and had purposely clung to him. It was impossible to speculate, but it had certainly felt as such.
It is increasingly difficult to do anything with Vivian endlessly trailing me like a lovesick puppy, Alex thought. I must end things with her before it is too late and she becomes enraged. It is unfair to her if I keep her near for only carnal pleasure.
His mind shifted to moments before when Vivian’s legs had been firmly clamped about his neck, her head thrown so far back, he was certain she would snap in half.
Perhaps just one more week…no! You must end it with her and do it now, while she is still feeling wonderful from the lovemaking. Then you will be free to pursue a courtship with Olivia Vangess if your heart desires.
The idea filled him with inexplicable warmth as he thought of her wise blue eyes staring at him, filled with both innocence and soul.
“Vivian, I feel that you and I should talk,” he said, slowly turning to her but she was looking beyond his shoulder, her face pale.
“Someone is coming!” she hissed, scrambling for her clothing. Sure enough, Alex could make out the shape of two forms ambling in their direction. He, too, yanked on his trousers, looking about the sand for his shirt. Vivian tossed the red cotton at him, and he threw it on hastily as she fumbled with her buttons. Hearts racing, the two watched as the people drew nearer and Vivian let out a sigh.
“Oh, it is Cecil and that Vangess girl.”
While the realization calmed Vivian, Alex found his pulse quickening in anger and expectation.
What is Cecil doing with Olivia? He wondered furiously. He understood that his discontent was irrational, that Olivia Vangess had every reason to allow herself to be courted by Cecil. That did not change the fact that he was irate at the sight of the smiling duo as they approached.
“Oh! Alex, Miss Collier!” Cecil cried, as shocked by their presence as they were by his. “What a…pleasant surprise.”
“Hello Cecil, Miss Vangess. I do not know if you have had the pleasure of meeting my dear friend, Miss Vivian Collier.”
Olivia shook her head and shuffled forward to address Vivian. The redhead smiled coldly.
“Charmed,” she growled from between clenched teeth. “Any friend of Alex’s is a friend of mine.” Her annoyance at Alex’s word choice was lost on no one, but Alex decided to ignore the undertone and smile.
“Please, join us,” Alex called cordially, gesturing at the picnic blanket. The sheet was in disarray, splattered in sand and other unmentionables. Cecil and Olivia eyed it and simultaneously shook their heads.
“Ah, no, thank you,” Olivia offered, her face turning rosy with the recognition of what they had just interrupted. “We were merely out for a walk today, enjoying the loveliness of Louisiana nature. I must be returning home soon.”
“Oh poppycock!” Alex declared. “Another half hour will not do any harm. Please sit! I had the servants prepare the finest meal of -”
“Did you not hear her, Alex? She said no!” Vivian snapped, her pale face crimson with anger. He slowly turned to face his lover, his eyes lit with annoyance.
“Have you lost your sense of hospitality, Vivian? It is our duty to bring our neighbors into our fold.”
“I highly doubt that Miss Vangess and I can offer you the type of friendship Miss Collier does,” Cecil cracked. Olivia averted her eyes, deeply ashamed to be witness to the tension.
“Shall we go – “
“What is the meaning of that, Cecil?” Vivian exploded, her fists balling at her side. “What filthiness are you insinuating?”
“I think you know very well what I am saying. You allow Alex to use you at whim.”
There was a troubled silence as Alex, Cecil, and Vivian stared at one another.
“Oh, you bastard!” Vivian shrieked. She whirled at stared at Alex.
“How dare you allow him to speak to me in such a way?”
“Cecil, apologize to Vivian this instant!” Alex demanded, his own face scarlet. He did not want to admit it, but his fury had little to do with the insult bestowed upon Vivian and more to do with it being said in Olivia’s presence.
“I will not apologize for speaking the truth,” Cecil snapped back. “Come along, Olivia. We are clearly interrupting young love.”
Gratefully, Olivia hurried after Cecil who was storming through the reeds, leaving Vivian and Alex fuming in his wake.
“What are you doing here, Arthur?”
Arthur Vangess strolled into Harvey Coville’s office, uninvited. He plopped himself in a chair facing the stern-faced man and smiled tightly.
“Is that any way to greet your long-time friend?” he cooed. He leaned forward and plucked a cigar from Harvey’s open humidor, sniffing it appreciatively.
“Havana?” he asked, and Harvey nodded curtly.
“What do I owe the pleasure, Arthur?” Harvey asked dully, sitting back in his writing chair and slipping his spectacles to the bridge of his nose. He regarded Arthur speculatively, apprehension lighting his eyes.
Arthur smiled coldly, settling back to light the cigar in his hand.
“Arthur, I do not have time for your petty games. Why have you come back to Houma?” Harvey finally snapped, irritated by the silence. “You seemed to be very successful in New York.”
“Oh? Have you been following my success in New York?” Arthur replied knowingly.
“I wanted to ensure you kept your distance. But I can see you have decided to return for some unknown reason. Care to explain what you are doing here, especially in the wake of what you left behind?”
“What can I say, old chum? I suspect that those years spent here in my early marriage were the cultivation of roots. In my heart, I always knew I would return to Houma. It helps that I have acquaintances here.”
“You have no one here, Arthur,” Harvey hissed. “You left me here enshrouded in speculation. It took me years to rebuild my reputation in these parts.”
“I see you are in good standing once more,” Arthur agreed, nodding as he inhaled deeply. A thick fog of smoke exhaled from his lungs as Harvey continued to stare at him skeptically.
“Arthur, are you quite through with this attempt to be coy? I haven’t all day to entertain your silly whims. What is it you want?”
The taut beam slipped off Arthur’s face, and he leaned in suddenly, startling his estranged friend.
“I want you to be aware that I am here, Harvey. I am only across Lake Long, my ear poised to the telephone. If anything untoward should occur…”
“What are you suggesting, Arthur?” Harvey growled, rising from his seat and staring angrily at the media mogul. Arthur was unperturbed by Harvey’s anger but too, rose.
“I think you know precisely what I am suggesting,” he answered evenly. “Nothing can happen in this town without my knowledge.”
Harvey’s lower lip quivered in anger, but before he could respond, the
door to his office flew open. Everly, the stable hand stood shaking in the doorway.
“Everly! How dare you barge in – “
“Sir, Mr. Coville, sir!” the servant gasped, falling forward into the room, his face aghast. “Please send for help at once!”
Harvey quickly made his way around the desk and stared at the trembling boy.
“What has happened? Is it May?” he asked, concern filling his voice.
“I don’t know, sir! The gators…”
“The gators what, son?” Arthur snapped, drawing toward the frightened hand, prepared to slap sense into his words. As if sensing the immediate threat, Everly rushed on.
“The gators are feastin’ on a corpse out by the canal,” he whispered. Harvey’s face turned ashen, but Arthur smiled mirthlessly. He clapped the banker upon his back.
“Ah, just like old times, is it not, Harvey?”
Chapter Five
“How can they be certain of the identity?” Connie muttered, casting her eyes downward as the casket slipped morosely past them.
“Surely if it were not him, he would have turned up somewhere by now,” Olivia snapped, uncharacteristically angry. Taken aback by her tone, the older sister bit on her lower lip to keep from crying. Olivia did not heed Connie’s reaction, instead watching stonily as the pallbearers lowered the coffin into the freshly dug hole in the ground.
How can something like this occur? He has lived among alligators since birth. How was he so easily captured?”
There had been little remaining of Cecil Green, and indeed, Connie’s question had validity. The medical examiner had determined that the deceased was an adult male, but beyond that, he could provide no further information.
The search through Houma heeded only one missing and unaccounted for man; Cecil Green.
For the days following, Olivia had willed Cecil to appear, proving that the tattered body in the St. Louis Canal belonged to another poor soul, perhaps a nameless, faceless vagabond.
The Virgin Secretary: A Billionaire Romance Page 47