"I—I'm just saying working with Scott isn't going to be easy. I—I don't want you to be disappointed if the restoration doesn't turn out the way you expect. If Scott ties my hands, if he doesn't give me carte blanche, I can't guarantee the results."
"Don't you worry one bit," Uncle Luther thundered. "I have some control over the restoration. If you and Scott have any disagreements over what you want to do, leave it to me. I can handle him. Now, is there anything else bothering you?" he demanded with a fierce scowl.
"No," Jacquelyn choked feebly. "Nothing."
"Good," Uncle Luther said, his scowl relaxing into a smile. He replaced her hand gently on the table and returned his attention to his breakfast.
Jacquelyn picked numbly at her poached egg. She knew she could no more let Uncle Luther down than she could forgive Scott McCrann. It was an impossible situation, one that was tearing her heart in two.
Her preoccupation was interrupted by the arrival of Austin D'Raulde.
"Ah, Austin," Uncle Luther said, smiling and rising. He pulled out a chair, indicating with a sweep of his hand that Austin should occupy it. "Good you could join us this morning."
Austin settled his slender frame into the chair. His gaze rested on Jacquelyn, reflecting a mixture of anticipation and uncertainty. "How are you this morning, Jacquelyn?" he asked. "Did you enjoy the party last night?"
She sensed that behind the question was his wanting to know how she had reacted to seeing Scott and Natalie together. She flushed involuntarily, wondering if Natalie had told him of catching Jacquelyn in Scott's arms.
"It was very nice," she replied evasively. "I appreciate Uncle Luther's thoughtfulness. I know he did it to make me feel at home." She smiled at her uncle, her heart filled with a warm affection that made her cowardly impulse to run away seem terribly selfish.
Austin and Uncle Luther returned her smile, and then the three of them concentrated on eating breakfast and engaging in inconsequential chatter about Austin's accounting business.
Austin had been Uncle Luther's business manager for some while. But that occupied only part of his time. He had branched out by keeping books for other businesses and now had an established and growing accounting firm.
"I have customers in New Orleans," Austin told Jacquelyn. "I'm opening a new office there and plan to spend a few days a month in the city, picking up accounts from even larger concerns. I have two customers already and prospects for several more." The expression on Austin's face told Jacquelyn he hoped she was impressed.
"That's wonderful, Austin," she said, genuinely happy for him.
"As a matter of fact," he went on, "I'm going to run into New Orleans today to make some arrangements. Want to ride along?"
"Well, I could bring back some of my things," Jacquelyn replied thoughtfully. "I packed only enough for a few days, really. I miss some of my personal belongings, and since I'm going to be here awhile…"
"Good," Uncle Luther chimed in. "Then by all means go along, my dear. I do want you to feel comfortable here. This old house hasn't been the same without you. It's really wonderful to have you back."
Jacquelyn smiled feebly, thinking that her greatest desire was to complete the restoration of the mansion as quickly as possible and leave. As it was, she didn't know how she was going to stand Scott's presence for the duration of her work.
In a way, she felt she had been trapped in an intolerable situation from which there was no escape. Her conscience was her warden, for it was her love and her devotion to Uncle Luther that kept her from refusing his job offer. How could she live with the guilt if she denied his most cherished request?
And yet, there was the specter of Scott McCrann tainting the entire project. Almost as powerful as her guilt was her hatred of that man.
It was only because her love for Uncle Luther was stronger than her hate for Scott McCrann that she could swallow her negative emotions and stay.
After breakfast, Jacquelyn went upstairs to change. She slipped into a bright red blouse that contrasted with a blue denim skirt edged with matching red piping sewed into the flared gores. The tight waistband hugged her small frame and gave her the appearance of a teenager dressed in an adult's attire. While she was fully developed and shapely, she had the lean, compact body of her youth. Only after she swept her long dark hair up into a neat knot on top of her head and applied a touch of mascara to her large blue eyes did she approach looking her age. She stepped into high-heeled sandals with just her bare feet, for the muggy heat of New Orleans made wearing hose quite uncomfortable this time of year.
The next afternoon, Scott arrived unexpectedly at the mansion with Natalie in tow. Jacquelyn gasped as she rounded the staircase and ran right into the two of them.
"I've been looking for you," Scott said.
Jacquelyn's eyes darted from Scott to Natalie and her pulse raced a bit as she dreaded confronting Natalie after the episode in the garden. How could she ever explain what she had been doing in Scott's arms?
Worse was the prospect of having to cope with Scott. Would he make reference to what had taken place between them? Or would he pretend it had never happened? Apparently, he had convinced Natalie to overlook the incident. The possessive gleam in her eye said she still considered Scott her property.
"What about?" Jacquelyn asked, finding her courage fragmented. She had been determined not to let Scott intimidate her, but the unexpected encounter had taken her by surprise.
"We'll talk about it at supper," Scott said decisively, thereby closing the matter for now. "I want Uncle Luther to take part in this discussion, and he's tied up with Austin in his study."
"Good," Natalie exclaimed. "That will give Jackie and me some time together before supper." She reached out to take Jacquelyn's hand.
Jacquelyn flinched. Her eyes darted toward Scott, but his expression was impenetrable. She turned her gaze toward Natalie, whose dark eyes were glowing with a strange intensity.
Jacquelyn did not relish a confrontation with Natalie after the embarrassing situation of being caught in Scott's arms. But there was no way to avoid it.
"Where do you want to talk?" Jacquelyn asked reluctantly.
For an answer, the dark-haired girl gave her hand a tug and they strolled through the French doors and down the path to the garden.
Jacquelyn flushed when she saw that Natalie was leading them to the exact spot where Scott had kissed her the night of the party. She stopped and turned to face her childhood friend.
A gentle breeze stirred a lock of Natalie's hair that touched her forehead, emphasizing her wild beauty.
The coolness under the moss-draped oaks flanked by the long rows of hedges gave Jacquelyn a sudden chill. Or was it the deep pools of emotion swirling in Natalie's eyes?
She was reminded that although she had been close to Natalie all her life, there were times when she hardly knew her friend at all. There was a side of Natalie as wild and dark and tangled as the swamp that bordered Cypress Halls. At the moment it was impossible to plumb the depths of her black eyes.
Jacquelyn drew a breath. "We do need to talk," she sighed. "I've been trying to think how to explain this to you, Natalie. I want you to understand the truth. The other night, when you saw Scott kiss me—"
Natalie reached up and touched her fingers to Jacquelyn's lips. "Hush," she said softly. She turned and plucked a magnolia blossom. She turned it slowly in her fingers, gazing into the distance. "You don't need to explain anything, Jackie," she murmured. "I know exactly what happened. I really wasn't surprised. I knew it would happen. I just didn't know when."
She directed her gaze toward Jacquelyn. Her eyes appeared clouded now. "I'm afraid you're letting yourself in for a lot of heartbreak, Jackie. I know the kiss meant nothing—to Scott. You see, I've come to know him quite well. He was deeply hurt when you turned down his offer of marriage twice, first to finish school, then to work at your career in New Orleans."
"I didn't turn Scott down," Jacquelyn cried impatiently. "He should have
understood that. I just wanted more time—"
Natalie shrugged. "Scott is hot-tempered and full of pride. Strong men like him usually have strong egos, too. I don't know who was at fault in the quarrels you had. Perhaps Scott was being unreasonable. Perhaps you were. It doesn't matter. What does matter now is that Scott is in a threatening mood where you are concerned. I think you should know that."
"What do you mean?" Jacquelyn asked, eyeing her suspiciously.
"Simply that I think Scott is a dangerous, angry man who can be ruthless. He wants revenge, and he wants to satisfy his male pride. What better way for a man to triumph over a woman than to seduce her… have a passing affair. 'Use' her, I believe, was the Victorian word for it. Then walk away, leaving her to nurse a broken heart."
Jacquelyn's cheeks flamed. "Well, you can save your breath with that kind of warning, Natalie," she snapped. "I would as soon have an affair with a rattlesnake!"
Natalie's lips moved in a cool smile. "I wouldn't be too sure of myself, Jackie. Obviously, he still holds a powerful physical attraction for you. Given the right setting, the right moment…" She raised an eyebrow. "Who knows?"
"I know," Jacquelyn stormed. "And I know that's all a lot of fantasy—"
But then, she wondered at the same time, why had Natalie's warning struck such an icy chill in her heart?
"Okay," Natalie said. She tossed the flower in a fountain pool. "You're a grown woman. It's your life. I only thought you should be warned not to believe anything Scott tells you. I know you think I'm making all this up because I'm jealous. Perhaps I am, a little. But I love you, too, Jackie. We grew up like sisters. Perhaps we aren't as close as we used to be. Still, I wouldn't want you hurt. You're Gerrard's sister, and—" She caught herself abruptly, then raised her chin and met Jacquelyn's eyes with a challenging look. "You see, I know that anything that would happen between you and Scott would have no real meaning. He and I have an understanding."
"Understanding?" Jacquelyn gazed at her with a mixture of confused emotions.
"Yes," Natalie said coolly. "Scott and I are going to be married."
Chapter Five
Jacquelyn stared across the wide rosewood table set with silver candlesticks. Her gaze rested on Natalie, who wore a demure white lace dress with a heart-shaped neckline. It hinted of a wedding dress, and Jacquelyn was certain Natalie had worn it for that express reason.
Jacquelyn was oblivious to the spicy aroma of the seafood gumbo with its pungent wafts of onion and fish. Hattie bustled around the table, ladling the okra-thick liquid into the large soup bowls.
Everyone in the room was silent for a moment. Jacquelyn felt as if she were an observer to the scene rather than a participant as she let her gaze flit around the table. She didn't notice the arborescent floral wallpaper creating a garden effect, even though this was her favorite room in this wing of the mansion. She was too busy wondering how dinner would turn out with the six people present. First there was Natalie, who flashed Scott a demure smile before her triumphant gaze settled on Jacquelyn.
Next came Scott, who was determined to have a hand in the restoration of the mansion, in spite of Jacquelyn's objections. At the head of the table sat Uncle Luther, his bushy white hair neatly combed into place. Would there be open warfare between Scott and Uncle Luther over Jacquelyn's determination to redecorate Cypress Halls her way?
Then came Austin in his tight-necked business suit, his eyes combing over Jacquelyn from time to time, making her feel uneasy. But strangest of all was the presence of Aunt Perforce, whom Uncle Luther had insisted on inviting to celebrate the beginning of Jacquelyn's assignment. Uncle Luther, while tolerant of her horoscoping, had always thought her almost as crazy as she thought him. It was as if the restoration of the old house had served as a catalyst to bring the whole family together once again. It erased all their differences and allowed them this one night together with everyone focused on their common goal, the refurbishing of Cypress Halls.
To the casual observer, it was a respectable family dinner with loved ones gathered around the table to share both a delicious meal and an evening of fellowship. But to Jacquelyn, it was an ordeal to be endured.
She was reviewing in her mind her conversation with Natalie in the garden, trying under her cool exterior to adjust to the emotional turmoil it had caused. Were wedding plans between Scott and Natalie really that definite, or was that another one of Natalie's imaginative fantasies? With a sinking feeling that confused her, Jacquelyn was inclined to believe it was true. She could usually tell when Natalie was playing make-believe.
And then she thought about Natalie's warning. It had made her angry, and at first she had dismissed it as the invention of Natalie's jealousy. But second thoughts were telling her that she might do well to give it some prayerful consideration. It certainly was in keeping with what she now knew about Scott's ruthless, vindictive character.
Jacquelyn had arrived at the dining room with a forced air of bravado, repeating to herself that if Scott and Natalie were going to be married, that would be just fine. She would be relieved that he would be taken out of circulation and would cease to be a threat to her. But her confident air melted at the sight of Scott and Natalie together. They had been standing in front of a lush dining room window hung with Waverly silk draperies. The lavender material imparted an aura of romance to the couple.
Jacquelyn took herself in hand, admonishing herself for her feelings and telling herself that she simply had a trace of possessiveness remaining from the days when Scott had been hers. No matter how she hated him now, Scott had, after all, once been the love of her life. That was enough to stir conflicting feelings over a marriage between Scott and Natalie.
But she could quickly replace those lingering feelings with a fresh wave of hate. For missing from the family gathering was the person who symbolized to her the black side of Scott's nature: her brother, Gerrard. If it had not been for Scott's savage desire for revenge, Gerrard would be with them now, happy and smiling, sharing this time together. He would be in one of the spoon-back chairs with their horsehair seats, eating from the Old Paris china that Uncle Luther and Hattie prized. They would be here together in the faded elegance of the old mansion, under the gilt, ormolu and tole chandelier suspended above the dining room table.
Such thoughts, with their poignant tug at Jacquelyn's emotions, rekindled her anger at Scott and chased away any lingering regrets she might have let herself feel about losing him.
The chatter around the dinner table was light. But there existed an undercurrent of tension that Jacquelyn was sure each of them felt. Austin's gaze alternated between Scott and Jacquelyn, obviously measuring Scott's impact on her. Uncle Luther ate with deliberateness. Jacquelyn sensed an uneasiness on his part about Scott and her having to work together. Natalie looked self-confident. Aunt Perforce sat back eyeing Jacquelyn, Natalie and Scott as if mentally casting their horoscopes and predicting dire consequences.
Jacquelyn carried the anxiety of the entire group in her stomach, which was a tight, hard knot. In spite of the cool summer breeze seeping in through the transom over the doorway, Jacquelyn felt clammy. Her pale yellow silk dress clung to her back and seemed unusually warm for this time of year.
Finally, when Hattie had cleared away the last of the dessert dishes and coffee had been served all around, Scott took charge of the conversation.
"I think it's time you made some definite plans, Jacquelyn," he said decisively.
"Plans? About what?"
"About the renovation. That is, if you've recovered sufficiently from your accident. We've delayed long enough. I'd like to get this matter under way."
There was a quality in his voice that infuriated her. So, he was going to start taking charge already, was he? Well, she'd just see about that!
"I've already begun," she replied tartly.
"Oh?" Scott said slowly, placing the coffee cup in its saucer with a hollow "chink."
Everyone else at the table seemed to fade into a
hazy background as Scott's image across the table began to overwhelm the entire group. Jacquelyn's eyes were drawn to him against her will. But there was a magnetism about his commanding personality that forced her to give him her attention in spite of how much she loathed him. One thing she had to say for Scott McCrann: he could dominate any situation.
"And just what have you decided so far?" Scott demanded.
"I hardly think this is the place to discuss the restoration," Jacquelyn protested.
"This is the perfect place," Scott countered. "We're all family. Everyone is interested in your plans."
"Yes, Jacquelyn," Uncle Luther chimed in. "I didn't realize you had already started seriously thinking about what you're going to do. I'm eager to hear about it."
Jacquelyn gulped. How could she admit she had lied just to irritate Scott? She picked up her coffee cup and took a big slug of the hot liquid, which burned her throat as it washed down.
"Well," Jacquelyn replied, coughing, "first, I'm going to have to make several trips to New Orleans to locate the proper wallpaper for the south wing. I thought I'd start there." She put her cup down and swallowed a mouthful of water to chase away the last of the burning sensation.
"I'd like to go to New Orleans," Natalie exclaimed.
"All right," Scott replied accommodatingly. "We'll all go tomorrow."
"Wait a minute," Jacquelyn protested. "I didn't say I was ready to go to New Orleans tomorrow." The way Scott was taking over made her blood simmer.
"Then when will you be ready to go?" he asked, his blue eyes like rapiers slicing away at her determination not to let him control her.
"In a few days."
"Fine, we'll go the first of next week," Scott replied, as if the matter were settled.
"Good," Austin cut in. "I need to check on my branch office there, so I'll join you. We can make it a foursome."
Jacquelyn shot Uncle Luther a helpless look, begging him to come to her rescue. But he smiled indulgently, as if the plans shaping up against Jacquelyn's will had been all her idea. Then Jacquelyn looked at Aunt Perforce, whose black eyes flitted between Jacquelyn and Scott. The smug expression on her face said she knew trouble had been inevitable.
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