by Jewel Adams
Beneath the tranquil, jeweled waters of desire.
A lass’ heart cries for the loss of love’s fire.
Tis a trap love sails into, in blindness.
When a predator of the heart enters in kindness.
Take care, friends of love and lassies.
That the jewel does not cut the glass.
And shatters the distant lover’s search.
For what lies close to the hearth.
High darkness should be the guiding light.
For the meeting of minds in the green sea of plight.
That steals the truth with the smile of a liar.
To destroy the guardian of love and fire.
Raven
“I hope you can read between the words, Dan.”
Her hand shook as she sealed the letter. Reaching for the brass D, her hand stopped before pressing it into the wax, exchanging it for the R Rogan used in unison with the D.
“Raven, you haven’t failed me yet; please don’t start.”
At the knock on her door, Corin quickly put everything into the desk drawer and locked it, putting the key in her jewel cup, before answering. Passing the mirror, she quickly pulled the pins from her hair, releasing it in a tumbled mess.
“Yes, I’m coming.” Taking a steadying breath, she asked, “Who is it?”
“Open the door, Corin.”
Breathless. “Paul.” Looking around, she gasped and ran to the bed, mussing the coverlet and pillows as she called back. “Go away!”
“Madame, I promise to embarrass the bride of Dèsirèe unless this door opens immediately.”
“All right.”
Unlocking the door, she stood there, barring his entrance. “What do you want?”
He leaned against the door frame as if he belonged there. Her jaw tightened over the act. When his hand reached to push the door open, she held it against him until he kicked it from her hold, causing it to slam back against the wall.
“Force, Diamond? Have you decided to end your caring cousin act?”
His hold on her arm was brutal, and Corin flinched, despite her resolve not to. With extreme effort, she controlled her reflexes from acting against the threat. Paul already witnessed her performance, and it was something Corin decided against using until she controlled the place and time.
“I will come and go wherever I please, Corin. Be sure of it.” Paul wished the need for games was finished, but the stakes were too high to let his desire to possess Corin overrule what he put in motion. No, everything was going too well to cause ill feelings with his cousins. He would need their influence once he became the master of all of Rogan Drake’s possessions.
But the fire in the dark beauty was too close not to caress at his leisure.
Pulling her forcefully against him, his arm pinned her fully to him, enjoying the struggle that made her curves press in full awareness into his powerful frame.
“We fit well, don’t you agree, Cherie?”
His fingers twisted the long, beautiful dark hair about his palm, jerking her head back to accept his ardent kiss.
Paul demolished the barriers she fought to preserve, driving his tongue deep into the pleasurable warmth as he devoured the womanly essence. Such a sweet prize… her fighting spirit thrilled him; he would embrace the enchantment of conquering her dark passion.
Pulling back, he looked deep into the blazing glare of her eyes, ones that wanted to render him lifeless. “Lock me out again, and I promise I will take what is already mine, regardless of the scandal it would bring to this house.”
He watched as she rocked in understanding. Her intelligence would be a fine asset in the future. She was everything he expected, too strong to break by brutal force and far too beautiful to destroy. He wanted her spirit to breathe in his arms. It was a soft, gentle force he would control her with. That she felt the strength of his increasing bonds pleasured him. “I want it all, Corin… you are the rare orchid, but I will take the garden around you and keep you in its wealth.”
“You can’t do this!” Fear drove the words out.
“Who will stop me?”
“He will come back!”
“Tch, Cherie, I thought you were more realistic than that. No, Corin, you will soon be a very young and unfortunate widow bride.” His hold tightened, ending her struggles and making her look at him, for Paul needed Corin’s fear to control her. Alicia was only a pawn he planned on disposing of once Corin was fully trapped.
“And I, dear Corin, will be here to pick up the broken pieces of your heart and save all of Rogan’s business and home from destruction. Oh yes, lovely Corin, you will marry me to save Alicia and her precious heritage.”
“No…” Corin heard her wishing in the denial.
The evil smile frightened her more than the threats. She was fast losing all hope of breaking free of him.
“For now, I will leave you, but…” His lips cruelly crushed her own. “I will be very near. Remember Cherie, I will take by force what I want if you make it necessary.”
Paul’s release sent her stumbling back into the room, just as Tina appeared at the door.
“Mistress sent me to see if’n you needed anything, madame.” The girl’s gaze darted from Corin to the man whose smile sent a shiver over her skin.
Trying to hide what he’d just done, Corin reached deep inside herself to reclaim her composure. “Yes Tina, I need some tea. Please go and fetch it.”
The girl gave a swift curtsy before rushing from the room.
“Stay away from me, Diamond.”
His laughter was low and dangerous, like a thousand pinpricks against her flesh.
“That, dear Corin, is impossible.”
Before he turned from the door, she hissed, “I’ll kill you.”
His eyes were like daggers as they assaulted her. “Kill a lover, Cherie?”
He closed the door behind him, leaving Corin shaken and drained over the inevitable truth.
She heard Tina coming and brushed her tears away, giving the girl the best smile she could bring forth.
“You all right, madame?”
“Just tired, Tina.”
“Gives me the willies, he does.”
“Tina, please.” Corin didn’t need the girl running to Alicia with tales.
“Been all over Dèsirèe today like he’d taken possession.”
The cup fell from Corin’s trembling fingers; both girls went to their knees to mop up the mess. Corin needed to reach Dan and trusting Tina was the only way. Stilling the girl’s hands, she whispered to her. “Tina, will you help me?”
“Sam told us we was to do anything you asked. If it’s against that man, I’d help any way.”
“It’s dangerous, Tina. If he catches you…” Corin tried to be sure the girl understood how dangerous the situation truly was for them.
“If he does, I don’t know nothing.”
“Alicia mustn’t know; he’ll hurt her. Do you understand?”
The girl’s eyes looked enormous in her small face. “Yes, madame. Want I should get Sam?”
“No, he’d only get hurt. Just tell him I need to see him about the cane before dinner tonight.”
“He’ll come.”
“I need you to take this letter to Mr. Gazer; he must not come here. No one can tell Mr. Boviar he is here.”
Corin got up, fetched the key and took out the letter. “Listen to me, Tina, if you get caught with this, pretend it is nothing, written by a lovesick friend.”
“We ain’t suppose to know letters… big trouble if they catch us.”
“Oh, I didn’t know.”
“Master Drake, he does things for us that could get him locked up.”
“Then say it is mine, and I told you to toss it in the bayou, that I do it all the time since the master left. Act like you think I’m crazy if you want, anything. Just don’t lead them to Dan.”
“Yes, madame.” Tina placed the letter in her bodice.
“Go to Sam first… if you are bei
ng followed, it won’t look like anything more than an order I gave you.”
Nodding, the girl left.
Corin paced the room after watching Tina race out toward the fields where Sam would be. When no one followed her, Corin sighed in relief.
Waiting as long as she dared, she quickly dressed in a white cotton frock that cast a serene air around her. Braiding her hair, she coiled it tightly about the back of her head.
It was the heat of the day. Alicia and Louisa would be resting. The house sounded quiet, giving no indication as to where Paul might be. She went to Rogan’s study to wait for Sam. When he came in through the porch door, she almost screamed at being surprised, fearing it to be Diamond.
His dark eyes took in every aspect of her appearance, earning a troubled scowl over his proud features. “Are you in trouble, Mistress Drake?”
“Yes.” Corin kept her voice just above a whisper. “But Sam, if we’re interrupted, we’re discussing the cane production as we often do since Rogan left.”
His brow rose, but he nodded. They both knew Corin’s education on the plantation hadn’t extended past the house.
“Did Tina?”
“Yes…I got her message, Mistress.”
She sighed, grateful that he knew what she meant, and for his caution. “You and the others must be careful and stay out of what is happening.”
“How is the madame?”
Corin couldn’t be still, but moved very close to Sam for her answer. “An unknowing weapon.”
“Very effective.”
“Unfortunately.”
“Awareness may give you a lever, Mistress.”
“I’m not sure. Failure could be permanent.” Sam nodded to say he understood. To anyone listening it would be hard to decipher their meaning. “You, of course, could manage…alone, if the occasion arises?”
“Without outside influence?”
Of course, she realized Sam meant it wouldn’t do for Desireè to be left in the slave’s hands. The plantation owners would panic. Corin’s eyes brightened. “I imagine Mr. Glen Andrew could be counted on.”
“I will see he is in residence.”
“Thank you. I will be sure and issue instructions to the event.”
Sam’s gaze went to the door behind her, but Corin didn’t need the warning, her senses just went haywire.
“Ah, madame, you must be feeling better?”
She turned to face Paul. “Yes.”
“Is there a problem?”
“No, why do you ask?”
“What is the nigger doing here?” Paul’s iced politeness ended abruptly.
“Sam is my overseer and manager in Rogan’s absence. We had business to discuss. The cane is nearing harvest.” Turning away from Paul, she gave him her back. “Sam, when it is time to begin, please keep me informed of the progress.”
Bowing slightly, “Yes, Mistress Drake.”
Sam backed out the porch doors. Seeing him act like a servant infuriated Corin, even though she realized it must be that way.
Turning back to Paul, she said, “Let’s understand each other, Diamond, Desireè comes first. Without the cane, you have nothing but a shell for your greedy scheme.”
Corin held her stance, praying it covered the more obvious one, and took his attention away from Sam.
“A nigger for an overseer is dangerous.”
“Your opinions don’t concern me; running Desireè does, and it has done well without your interference.”
He started toward her with the rage thundering to life, but before he reached her, the door opened.
“Oh Corin, Paul, I wondered where you both were.”
Paul showed the lady none of the anger as he turned and took her hand in greeting. “Cousin Alicia, I hope you rested well.”
“I did.”
Corin turned away from them in time to see Sam’s shadow slipping across the porch in retreat.
“Corin, should you be up, dear?”
Corin looked directly at Alicia, hoping she’d listen. “I’m fine, Grandmere. In fact, I’ve just had my daily meeting with Sam concerning the cane… everything is going well, harvesting should begin very soon. Rogan will be pleased by the yield, don’t you think?”
“Why…yes, dear. I’m sure he will be; you are doing a marvelous job in his absence.”
Corin wanted to hug her but had to be satisfied by a smile and Alicia’s nod when Paul turned his attention back to Corin. Those familiar blue eyes just had the veil lifted, and Corin’s heart eased a little over the closed renewal of fierce scrutiny.
“I’m so pleased you are better, dear. Are you caught up now? Can you take tea out on the veranda?”
“I’ll join you both shortly. I have the correspondence to go through.” Corin picked up the letters and moved behind the desk.
“Come, Paul, let Corin finish. Poor dear, I told Rogan it was too much for her to take on without a secretary. Corin, I still think you should have some air.”
“We will see, Grandmere, there’s not much to answer that I can see.”
“If you can hurry, Gabriel will be going to New Orleans and staying over at Mr. Andrew’s… he can post them.”
“Yes, I will try to hurry. It would save a trip.”
When the door closed, Corin fell back in the chair. “Thank you, Alicia.”
Corin wasted little time on words in penning a letter to Glen. Not wanting him to grow concerned, she only told him to expect word from Sam should she and Grandmere decide to go and visit one of her relatives, and if he couldn’t stay at Dèsirèe until their return. She took the time to answer two other inquiries about shipment space, directing the inquiries to Glen.
“Take away the weapon and the bounty, and the thief would hardly stay around to be caught.” Corin finally found her answer. She needed to get Alicia and Louisa out of Paul’s reach. Tonight, she would meet with Dan, and they would decide what to do. The ivory brow creased in concern over how she’d escape from the house. It would have to come later… she already spent all the time in the study she dared.
Picking up the letters, she buried Glen’s in the middle. She hoped he would notice his own name above the address before he posted them. Regardless, he’d eventually get it.
Joining them on the veranda, Corin tried not to draw Paul’s suspicions, laying the letters casually on the table as if it were a daily occurrence.
He did rise and held out the chair for her. It seemed an argument was in progress and her arrival only delayed its continuance. All was not well between cousins?
“I tell you, Alicia, it is not acceptable.”
“Maybe not in France, but here the Drake women are an integral part of their husbands’ success. As I told you, I have passed the control over to Corin as she will do to her daughter’s or son’s wife, when the time comes.”
Alicia was glorious. Corin understood what Paul must have insinuated. A man should be in charge—nothing he said could have inflamed the madame’s pride more. Corin no longer felt any concern over Alicia’s reaction to what she soon would tell her, and she sat back enjoying seeing Paul told off in such an elegant manner.
She did twist uncomfortably in her seat over what Alicia might do when she discovered exactly what the man was and what he was up to. She’d have to be careful.
Paul backed off, and Alicia turned her attention to Corin.
“Dear, did you remember to go over the list of thank you letters from the wedding that must be written?”
Corin blushed gracefully before answering, “I’m afraid I completely forgot.”
“A secretary could have taken care of that by now. Really Corin, you are too stubborn. Come child, we have time to get some done before Gabriel leaves.” The lady rose and Corin with her. “Paul, you will have to excuse us… Louisa can keep you company.”
Flustered and having difficulty accepting it, Paul rose and bowed curtly.
“Do forgive us, but even with guests there are priorities that can’t be put off.”
&nb
sp; Louisa piped up. “Can I help, Alicia? You know I have a beautiful pen hand.”
Alicia gave Corin a resigned shrug. “I’ve a better idea. Corin, you stay here, and I’ll bring everything out here and we’ll all work on it.”
“With Louisa’s help, we should get them all finished.” Corin gave Alicia a soft smile.
“I’ll be right back.”
Corin watched as Alicia picked up the letters and placed them in her dress pocket. Paul didn’t seem to notice. No, he wouldn’t; his intense study never left her.
Alicia did wonders to lift Corin’s spirits. She even brushed off Paul’s excuse to go riding, making him stay and address the envelopes and seal them. By the time they finished, Paul looked so exasperated he quietly disappeared. Alicia’s wink at Corin brought on her first true smile since Rogan had left.
Louisa was worn out and insisted she needed to rest before dinner. Alicia captured Corin’s hand and announced they were going for a walk to collect a dinner bouquet. When they were well away from the house and in the open where no one could overhear them, Alicia said, “I’ve been a foolish old woman, haven’t I, Corin? My first instincts were true enough, tell me.”
“He is Black Diamond.”
“Do walk slower, Corin, that announcement just weakened these old knees. What is he up to, besides threatening you with my life?”
Corin squeezed the woman’s hand. “He’s capable of anything. We mustn’t let on, you know.”
“I am no longer blinded by his charm.”
“He is planning on taking everything, Desireè, the lines…”
“Once you are a widow… and he marries you.”
“That is his plan.” An involuntary shiver passed through Corin.
“I fear he won’t wait for the nuptials.”
“No, he’s already made that clear, Alicia.”
“You must leave here, Corin.”
“No, you and Louisa must come away from here. With you gone, he has no weapons, and he’s not foolish enough to stay.”
Corin told her of her letter to Dan and Glen and her warnings to Sam and what he planned to do to Rogan. “Tonight, I must meet with Dan and plan our escape on the Raven.”
“Can you find Rogan in time?”
“If I can learn the location of the raid, I can possibly beat him there before it occurs.”