Midnight Flame

by Lynette Vinet

  Hippolyte grabbed Roselle’s hand. “Run away with me! Then I won’t have to steal.”

  Roselle shook her head, tears brimming in her eyes. “I can’t, though I want to be free of Denis, of Jacques. Maman and the little ones would be at their mercy. I must return home before Denis awakens from his drunken stupor and comes looking for me, and Jacques returns from town. No one but Maman will know I was here. I just had to see you once more.” Her voice cracked. “I … love … you.”

  She kissed him quickly, then rose from the bed. Hippolyte implored her to stay, but her voice came out in a breathless sob. “There is no hope for us!”

  She slipped out of Hippolyte’s grasp and out of the barn. In the darkness Roselle didn’t see Laurel as she ran in the direction of the prairie.

  Hippolyte cursed and blew out the candle. When he stepped outside, Laurel’s voice halted him.

  “I think we have something to discuss, Hippolyte.”

  ~

  Laurel had lighted the candle in the barn and motioned to Hippolyte to sit upon the pallet while she stood. She hoped that she would give the impression of a stern plantation mistress, though she shook inwardly. However, when she spoke, her voice was surprisingly calm and held no condemnation for the crime Hippolyte had committed.

  She laced her fingers together and coolly surveyed the young man. Laurel could tell he was afraid, perhaps more than his countenance expressed, but he, too, was pretending a calm he didn’t feel. She cleared her throat.

  “I heard everything you and Roselle said and am deeply touched by your love for one another.” Hippolyte looked up from the floorboards, surprised. “But,” she continued, “I can’t condone what you have done to protect your secret. You’ve stolen cattle from my husband, a man who cares for you and your family. This is unforgivable.”

  “Do you have to bring in my family, madame?”

  “No, but I think that just their knowing your crime would be sufficient to shame you.”

  Hippolyte stood up, dwarfing Laurel. He might be only sixteen, but he was fully grown, and if he had wanted, he could have pushed her down and run away. Instead he waited before her with downcast eyes.

  “I will wait here until you get Monsieur Tony and the sheriff comes for me.” He looked up. “I promise I won’t escape.”

  Laurel nodded. “I know you won’t run away. You’re going to help rectify your crime, and free that pretty girl you love, along with her mother and family, from those horrid Jeanfreaus.”

  Hippolyte’s face expressed utter shock and disbelief. “I don’t understand. Monsieur Tony will insist the sheriff be called in, and my family will be shamed. What are you telling me?”

  “I’m not going to tell Tony what you have done. The cattle you stole can be replaced, but Roselle’s and her family’s lives are in danger as long as she lives with the Jeanfreaus. Once she is gone from them, Jacques can’t force you to steal for him any longer. I wondered where they got the money for those new clothes. He sells the cattle to someone else, doesn’t he?”

  “Yes, a man from Opelousas. But I still don’t know what you’re planning to do, madame.”

  Laurel shot Hippolyte a knowing look. “Yes, you do. We’re going to arrange a kidnapping.”

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  The kidnapping wasn’t as difficult to achieve as Laurel had originally imagined. Luckily, Hippolyte discovered that the Jeanfreaus had gone into town for a night of drinking and revelry, evidently celebrating the sale of the last cow they had stolen from Tony. Thus, Roselle, her mother, and the children were left alone. Laurel had decided the best escape route was across the prairie to the servants’ quarters. A cabin, set apart from the others, had recently been swept clean by Laurel and Gincie. Freshly laundered sheets covered the cots, and Laurel hoped the family would be comfortable there. She had no clear-cut idea how long they would stay, but Hippolyte had told her he would take responsibility for all of them and would keep them out of sight. Especially out of sight of Tony.

  On a clear, star-filled night Laurel restlessly paced the veranda. Her eyes wandered in the direction of the prairie, hoping against hope that Hippolyte and the others would steer clear of the house. Glancing in Tony’s direction, she saw that he calmly smoked a cheroot and read the latest edition of the Opelousas Courier. Seth swallowed down a bourbon, his eyes on her every movement.

  “You seem quite overwrought tonight, Cousin Laurel. Is everything all right?”

  Seth’s question took her unawares. Her gold silk gown swished around her ankles as she turned in Seth’s direction, the torchlights attached to the house flickering over her. She gave him a wan smile. “I suppose it’s the heat that agitates me.”

  Tony put down his paper. “How do you feel?” he asked, concern on his face.

  Involuntarily she stiffened as she did so often in Tony’s presence lately. “I’m fine,” she snapped. “Must everyone comment on my every movement?”

  “We think only of your comfort, my dear.” Seth smiled an ingratiating smile, which set Laurel’s nerves on edge worse than ever. Tony said nothing more, puffing on his cheroot and watching her like a cat silently inspecting his next mouse.

  Realizing that she was making a spectacle of herself and worried that her plan might go awry, she flounced into a white cast-iron chair and fingered the leaf motif on the edge of the arm. If only she could have personally supervised Roselle and her family, but Hippolyte had suggested that things would be better if she wasn’t seen on Jeanfreau property. He insisted that he could convince Roselle and her mother to flee to the safety of Petit Coteau. Laurel hoped so. If the girl was forced to endure another beating at the hands of that beastly husband of hers, she might not survive.

  The minutes slowly ticked by. When she thought she could no longer stand Tony’s silent perusal of her and Seth’s constant talk about San Antonio and the large profit the Little L had turned that year, Hippolyte appeared. He waited before Tony with hat in hand on the pretext of informing him about the cattle on the north forty, but Laurel knew his presence was to assure her that all was well.

  “I hope you’ve passed a nice evening,” she told the young man.

  “Oui, madame. Very kind of you to ask.” He bowed, then started to walk in the direction of his parents’ home, but Laurel guessed that once out of sight of the main house, he would take the small gravel road in the direction of the cabin where he had hidden Roselle and the others.

  Laurel felt as if a great burden had been lifted from her shoulders. She felt quite happy and spoke almost breezily to Seth. “Now, what was that you said about Uncle Arthur’s herd?”

  “I thought you might be bored, Cousin Laurel. You didn’t seem to be paying attention.”

  “Oh, piddle. Of course, I was listening, Seth. The whole thing sounded quite fascinating. Please repeat the story for me.”

  Laurel didn’t fail to miss the glimmer in Seth’s eyes now that he had her attention at last, or the assessing look Tony threw her way.

  ~

  The house was silent when Laurel sneaked down the staircase. The large grandfather clock in the foyer chimed the hour, and she stood on the last step, breathless. No one appeared on the upstairs landing. She let out her breath and continued into the hallway and out the back door until she stood under the breezeway connecting the kitchen to the rest of the house. Pulling her black lace shawl over her head, she ran across the lawn, then down the road to the hideaway.

  Once on the porch of the small Acadian cabin, she knocked gently on the door. “It’s Madame Duvalier,” she assured the occupants.

  Slowly the door opened, and Roselle stood there with her mother behind her. Both women were illuminated by a lone candle on the table. Laurel entered and nodded to them. Her glance swept swiftly over the children, asleep on the cots.

  “I hope you’re comfortable,” Laurel said, practically cringing under Roselle’s stonelike countenance.

  Roselle’s mother came forward and offered Laurel her hand. “I am Delphine
Moret, Madame Duvalier. I thank you for your help. You have no idea the horrors my daughter has been forced to endure the past months. Denis Jeanfreau is an animal, and I think his brutality would have extended to me and my little ones if Roselle hadn’t borne the brunt of his wrath. I would liked to have saved her, but with these children and my own poor health, I was unable to stop Denis from harming her. I blame myself for her marriage to that man. If only—”

  “Maman!” Roselle cried. “Please don’t humble yourself to Madame Duvalier. You couldn’t do anything to stop Denis’s rages, nor could you risk injury yourself.” Roselle glanced at Laurel. “My mother is very ill, and she is quite weak.”

  Laurel squeezed the thin hand of Delphine Moret. The woman was quite fragile, and she realized that Roselle had probably married Denis only to keep a roof over this woman’s head and to protect her brothers and sisters. A warm smile engulfed Laurel’s face, encompassing all of them. “I understand you love your children very much, Madame Moret. You needn’t apologize to me.”

  Delphine Moret smiled tiredly and sank into a chair. “My mother must rest,” Roselle said.

  “Yes, I’ll leave now. I wanted to know if you have everything you need. If there is anything you want—”

  “I’ll ask Hippolyte for it.”

  Roselle’s frosty attitude puzzled Laurel. She didn’t seem to care for Laurel at all.

  “Good night,” Laurel mumbled and was barely out of the door when Roselle closed it with a heavy thud and bolted it. Roselle was a strange young woman, she thought and apparently didn’t mind taking refuge at Laurel’s expense and wasn’t even grateful for it either.

  Retracing her path, she went inside the house and up the stairs. Just as she reached her door in the darkened hallway, she heard Tony’s voice.

  “Where in the hell have you been?”

  She turned to see him leaning against the wall, arms folded across his chest in a gesture of disapproval. Her throat was as dry as a desert, and she couldn’t utter a sound.

  “I asked you a question, Laurel. I presume you know what time it is?”

  “Of course I know what time it is!” she snapped, finding her voice at last. He looked so handsome, standing there in a dark-blue robe that matched the highlights in his hair. So big and bold and unafraid of anything or anyone. Just looking at him caused her to feel wobbly, and so she pretended outrage to keep from throwing herself into his arms.

  “Explain to me why you’re sneaking into the house at two in the morning.” His tone held a challenge.

  “I took a walk.”

  “You’re lying!”

  “I did take a walk,” she hissed. “And where I go and what I do is my own business, Tony. Remember, we have an agreement. I don’t appreciate being badgered by you.”

  “So you weren’t alone.”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  He grabbed her arm, hurting her. “Who were you with, Laurel? Who did you run off to meet? Was it Seth?”

  “No. Why would you think such an absurd thing? Anyway, if I were meeting him, do you think I’d take off in the middle of the night? He happens to sleep only down the hall,” she reminded him and attempted to shrug off his hold, but his hand clamped down tighter.

  “If I ever get wind that you’ve been seeing another man, I’ll kill him.”

  “Big, brave bully.” Laurel trembled not from fear but from her own traitorous thoughts at realizing that Tony’s lips were inches away. “Your bullying tactics leave me cold.”

  Even in the darkness she saw the flame kindle in his eyes. “Do they? Let’s see how you take to this then.”

  Without any warning, his mouth captured hers and devoured her lips in a hungry, punishing kiss. She pushed clenched fists against his granite-hard chest, refusing to allow herself to feel anything for Tony. However, her body wasn’t of the same mind. Without meaning to, her fists unfurled and her fingers, fiery and satin smooth, splayed across the downy surface of taut pectoral muscles.

  This response didn’t go unnoticed by Tony. “I know you want me, Laurel. You can’t live up to our agreement in the same way that I can’t. I want you now and will have you.”

  The passion that had built within her dissolved at his words. She wanted him, and she knew he wanted her, but he had to learn that he couldn’t manipulate people because he deemed it so. Especially not her.

  With a strength of will she pulled back. “You won’t bend me to your will! As far as I’m concerned, our agreement stands.” Twisting around, she rushed into her room and slammed the door behind her.

  Outside she heard Tony’s loud curse, then his own door hitting the doorframe so hard the house seemed to shake.

  ~

  “The object of your affection isn’t sharing a bed with his wife.” Seth leaned back on his elbows and watched in fascination as Simone sat up from the blanket spread on the grass. He had never known a woman more unself-conscious of her nudity than this one. Even the whores he had frequented in the last fifteen years of his thirty-one years didn’t possess her nymph-like beauty or stroll as unabashedly before him with only her long blond hair for cover. She pirouetted like a graceful ballerina and shot him a most engaging smile. If he wasn’t careful, he could fall in love with such a creature. However, Simone lacked the necessary requirement to win his heart. Money.

  “Are you quite certain of this? If this is true, then Tony is as good as mine right now. I can feel that gold wedding band on my finger at this very moment.” Simone giggled as Seth pulled her down into his muscular arms.

  “Do you always have to mention Tony Duvalier? I get tired hearing his name. It’s bad enough that I have to live in his house, but I hate hearing about him when I’m with you.”

  Golden sunlight bathed Simone’s ivory body, which lay atop Seth’s tanned one. She ran her fingernails along his muscular thigh. “Do you know that when you make love to me, Seth, that I imagine you’re Tony?”

  “Bitch!” He grabbed a handful of hair and pushed her onto her back until she lay half on and off the blanket. “I’ve got enough to worry about trying to win that cold-hearted wife of his away from him, but I thought you’d at least do me the courtesy of not thinking about him when I’m inside of you. God, Simone, I can’t stand it!”

  Her eyes glowed with a feral light. Seth’s dark anger, the way he could break her in two with his powerful arms, the wonderful sensations he aroused within her when he made love to her, set Simone’s pulses to pounding. Seth Renquist wasn’t Tony, but he had the ability to drive her over the edge of ecstasy. She had lied to him. When she was in Seth’s arms, Tony’s image disappeared from her mind.

  “Don’t you think of Laurel when you make love to me? I can’t believe you don’t wonder what it will be like when she’s your wife and all that wonderful money is yours at last. Tell me you don’t think such a thing even a little bit?”

  Simone was right. He did dwell on bedding Laurel, but more importantly he couldn’t wait to get his hands on her fortune. Soon, he convinced himself, he would take her away from Tony and marry her. Then everything he had ever wanted would be his. The problem was how to handle the situation. An unborn child stood in his way, and though he wasn’t certain, he felt this was the reason Laurel stayed at Petit Coteau. Tony, he realized, had done something unforgivable as far as Laurel was concerned, and this prevented her from going to Tony’s bed.

  However, he would have to say farewell to Simone when he did win Laurel’s love, and leaving this blond-haired and lusty woman might prove harder than he expected. He couldn’t help smiling in triumph when she arched her body and her lips found his, tracing delicious patterns with her tongue. This was a woman who matched his passion and desires in all ways. The day would come when he would leave her and they would both win their dreams, but for now she belonged to him.

  “You’re a heartless vixen,” he mumbled as his lips found the throbbing peak of a nipple.

  “Oui, chéri, but you adore me.” She made purring sounds like a cat and
wrapped her slender legs around his waist, eager for Seth’s first strong thrust. Seth didn’t disappoint her.

  ~

  Essie ran into the parlor, her eyes as big as two ebony saucers and interrupted Laurel’s tea. Denise and Jean were there, and Tony was drinking brandy and stood by the mantel.

  “Monsieur, madame,” Essie began, out of breath. “That dirty Denis Jeanfreau and his brother are very angry. They’ve just been to the Dauzets, lookin’ for Hippolyte, and now they’re comin’ here.”

  Laurel jumped up, immediately knowing the reason why. Denise and Jean made sounds of surprise and disapproval, but Tony only glanced in a laconic fashion. “Is that all, Essie?” he asked.

  “Oui, monsieur, but they’re comin’ with guns—”

  Tony broke in. “Thank you. You may go.”

  Essie fairly scudded from the room to take refuge at the back of the house.

  Jean stood up and went to the cabinet in the corner of the room that contained Tony’s pistols. “Perhaps you should open it,” he suggested to Tony.

  “Why? I’m not afraid of Jeanfreau and that slimy brother of his.”

  “Maybe you should be,” Denise said, backing up her brother. “Those Jeanfreaus are a nasty twosome.”

  Tony laughed and placed his brandy glass on the mantelpiece. “The day hasn’t come yet when I’ll allow riffraff to enter Petit Coteau and intimidate me.”

  Laurel stood uncertainly by, twisting her fingers together.

  “You haven’t expressed your opinion,” he said to her. “What do you think I should do?”

  She lifted her head. “I believe you’re formidable enough to scare even the Jeanfreaus away if you wish without benefit of firearms. Your black mood lately is frightening to behold.”