“Nice to know you are not an early bird,” he said and smiled as he pushed out the bicycles.
“Why?”
“You’ll be able to stay awake for late night games.”
She just shook her head and straddled the bicycle. “I think it’s nice that your mother’s not a snob. I love these bloomers.”
“Me too,” he whispered, eyeing her rear end.
Jesse placed a foot on the peddle and practiced balancing. Then she pushed off. It was a bit shaky at first, but she soon got the front tire under control. Her husky laughter trailed after her as she went down the drive. Dulac hastened after her.
“Remember the brakes,” he hollered.
But it was too late. She had already crashed into another bicyclist. Both women lay entangled in legs, arms, and bicycles. Dulac rushed to help, but Jesse was already on her feet and dusting herself off. So he bent down to help the other woman only to stop in his act of kindness.
“Isabella,” he said with surprise.
Jesse stopped what she was doing and took a closer look. She crossed her arms and tapped her foot as Dulac assisted the woman up. She assured herself she wasn’t jealous, just aggravated at having took a tumble.
“Nice to meet you in the light of day, Isabella,” she said with a hint of vehemence.
“What are you doing here?” Dulac’s face became wary.
Isabella smiled prettily as she smoothed down her bloomers. “I was coming to see if your mother wanted to cycle.”
Dulac’s jaw dropped. “You’ve been spending time with my mother?”
“Why, of course, dear.” She patted his arm.
He grabbed her wrist roughly and pulled her close. Only the three of them could hear him. “I don’t know what you’re up to, Izzy, but you’d better not hurt my mother.”
Isabella stuck her nose up and yanked her arm away. “Why, I’m sure I have no idea what you’re talking about, Dulac. You know I would never do anything to hurt that dear woman. Now if you’ll excuse me, my dress is ripped, and I would die if anybody caught me out like this.”
The redhead spared a scathing glance at Jesse before picking up her bicycle and marching saucily back to her house. The look Jesse received left her feeling shaken to the core. There was even more coldness in that woman’s eyes than in LeBlanc’s.
“Oh my, what happened?”
Both Dulac and Jesse turned to see his mother rushing down the front porch steps. “Are you all right, Jessamine? I saw the crash from upstairs and came as quickly as I could. How is Isabella?”
“Mother, I cannot believe you would still associate with her after all she’s done to me,” Dulac snarled.
Mrs. Dulac made a face. “Oh nonsense. She is quite a dear and quite accomplished. She helps us a lot with the children, plays a mean game of croquet and is a wonderful poker player. Besides, I’ve always said let’s let bygones be bygones.”
Dulac’s face turned to stone, and Jesse’s heart stopped at the seriousness of it. He stepped close to his mother. “Please tell me you haven’t been spending time with her.”
His mother became just as serious. “Why does it bother you so? You both cheated on each other, and it was such a long time ago. Why, you both were only fourteen. Such a young age to take love so seriously.”
His mouth fell open, but he shut it quickly. “I suppose you are right, but you need to remember that she is not the sweet young lady you presume her to be.”
He then turned to Jesse. “Are you coming?”
* * * *
After touring the Garden District, they stopped at his sister’s home. She lived on Jackson Avenue, five blocks west of his parents’ home on Race Street. A little dark-haired boy opened the door. He looked them up and down with a haughty air. He had to have been only six or seven.
“Halt! Who goes there?” the boy asked sternly.
Dulac spread his legs and crossed his arms as if he were on ship. “Captain Cristienne Dulac reporting for duty, sir.”
He saluted the youngster, which caused the boy to break into a huge smile. The child stood his ground and tried to retain his superior attitude. “Yer just in time, sir. The crew’s abandoned ship, and I fear we’re about to sink.”
There was suddenly a loud crash and the angry cry of a woman’s voice. A large yellow dog dashed through the open door and past them into the yard. Then another little boy followed the dog. He was screaming at the top of his lungs.
“Don’t you hurt my dog! Don’t you do it!”
And then a very pregnant woman appeared. She halted abruptly at the sight of Dulac and Jesse. Her angry words died in her throat as she realized she had company.
“Cristienne!”
“Hello, Cristi.”
She stepped past her oldest son and gave her brother an awkward hug. “I didn’t know you were home.”
“We docked last night.” He grabbed Jesse’s hand as he introduced her.
“It’s about time you got married,” his sister admonished as she led them inside.
The oldest son grabbed Dulac’s shirt. “Welcome home, Cap’n.”
“Thank you, Jeremy. It’s good to be home.”
His sister took them into the parlor and sank into the closest chair. “I have had it with all men. I am sick of being surrounded by them.”
She patted her stomach. “And with my luck, this’ll be another male. I swear, in my next life, I am not getting married nor having children.”
Dulac wrinkled his nose. “Bad day?”
“Ha! Bad day I wish. Try bad week, bad month, bad year.”
“Looks like it’s time to catch fireflies.” Dulac smiled.
Cristi tilted her head as the memory stopped her ranting. She smiled. “I haven’t thought of that in years.”
“Me either,” Dulac admitted.
Confused, Jesse looked from brother to sister. “How do you catch fireflies in the daytime?”
“You don’t.” Dulac smiled childishly. “It’s a game we made up when we were young.”
Cristi rubbed her very round belly. “Sitting on the floor is out of the question.”
Dulac pulled his chair until his knees touched his sister’s. “How’s that?”
She giggled. “Brings back memories.”
“Close your eyes. I’ll be it,” Dulac ordered.
Cristi obliged and placed her hands on her knees with the palms up. Dulac took his index finger and tapped her nose. She smiled.
“No peeking.”
“Aye, aye, Cap’n,” she said and laughed.
Jesse watched on as Dulac lightly poked his finger on his sister’s arms. Then he poked her palm and fingertips as she tried to catch him.
“Concentrate, Cristi. You’re too anxious,” he admonished.
He tapped each of her fingers, and then he dared to let his rest in her palm. Her hand never flinched, allowing him to rest his guard. Just as Jesse thought the game would never end, Cristi’s hand circled lightning fast around Dulac’s finger.
“Ha! Got you.”
Dulac smiled and pushed his chair back where it had been. “Feel better?”
Cristi hesitated and then smiled. “Somewhat.”
“Good. Now, can we behave like the adults we are and have a chat?”
Chapter 24
August 29, 1900
Numbly, Jesse sat on their bedroom balcony with her knees drawn up to her chest. She stared at the moon and imagined herself on the deck of a ship. She missed the salty smell of the sea and her shipwrecked mates. She hoped they fared well and wondered how she could get them off the island. She frowned as she realized she hadn’t a clue where said place was.
“That mouth is too pretty to be frowning.”
Startled, she looked up at Dulac as he towered over her. He sat beside her and tugged her close, nuzzling the top of her hair. “You smell wonderful.”
“Thanks,” she whispered.
“What’s bothering you?”
Jesse shrugged and chose to lie. “I was
wondering about the men who were marooned.”
He played with a strand of her silver hair. “They’re fine. I sent someone after them.”
Her joy was immediately replaced with a more sinister feeling. “Please tell me it wasn’t men from your Lifesaving Service.”
He stiffened. “Why?”
She jumped out of his arms and leaned her back against the rail. “Did you have them saved only to be hung for piracy?”
“No, of course not.”
She narrowed her eyes, instantly suspicious. “Because you had to catch them with their hands in the cookie jar.”
Dulac stood and crossed his arms defensively. “I caught you stealing a ship, and yet I brought you home.”
Her blood ran cold. “I stole from another pirate.”
He grunted. “Doesn’t matter. Stealing on water is piracy.”
Anger swirled between them before he dropped his hands to his sides. The moonlight bathed his face, and she saw his features soften. “I don’t want to fight. Rest assured, your men weren’t hung. In truth, all were offered jobs with the LSS, but most declined. I believe one said it would take three feet of snow on St. Croix before he worked for us.”
Jesse half-smiled. “That would be the cook, Old Man Tate. He’s always been a bit dramatic, even at his age.”
She lapsed into silence as fear nibbled at her conscience. Her teeth worried the soft flesh of her lower lip, and she kept her eyes downcast. The real reason for her troublesome thoughts was far from the fate of Captain Sawyer’s crew.
Dulac sat beside her. “There’s something else, isn’t there?”
She shrugged. “Maybe.”
“You can tell me anything, Jesse. I want to be more than just your lover.”
She raised her head and searched his eyes. “Do you?”
“Yes. Now, out with it before I am forced to tickle it out of you.”
Her chest rose and fell as she took a calming breath before spilling her guts. “I’m pregnant.”
She watched his face closely for his reaction. He blinked. He swallowed. Then his blue eyes lit up with a happy sparkle.
“I’m going to be a father?” he asked in a voice mixed with disbelief and wonder.
Numbly, she nodded. “Is that okay?”
“Well, yeah, why wouldn’t it be?”
She shrugged. “Gee, I could name a thing or two.”
He pulled her onto his lap and squeezed her tight. “Don’t worry, love, I’ll make you an honest woman.”
“What a lovely proposal.” She heard the sarcasm in her voice and instantly regretted it. “I’m sorry. That was mean.”
Her eyes filled with tears. She had pent up her emotions, and the dam holding them back broke. Strangely enough, it felt good to cry in his arms.
When the flood finally ceased, he asked softly, “Why are you crying?”
“I don’t know.” She sniffed and wiped her nose with the back of her hand. “I don’t want you to think I did this on purpose.”
He seemed truly shocked. “You? Trap me in a marriage? Honey, if I didn’t want to marry you, a baby certainly wouldn’t make me. But, it just so happens, I can’t get enough of you.”
To prove his point, he captured her lips in a soul-stealing kiss. He explored her mouth thoroughly, and when he was finished, he kissed the salty tears off her cheeks. He moved to her eyes, down to her nose, and then back to her mouth.
“I’m scared,” she whispered against his lips. “I’ve never been around a baby. I don’t have a clue of what to do with them.”
Dulac laughed softly. His warm breath caressed her cheek. “Don’t worry. I’ve had plenty of experience with my sisters, and I can assure you my mother will be there for us whenever we need her.”
Jesse groaned and hid her face in her hands. “What are they going to think of me now?”
He pried her hands away and peered into her face. “Not a damn thing. My parents aren’t like that.”
“Hmpf...”
“I promise.”
“So you’re not mad?”
“I am not mad,” he assured her. “I am thrilled. Now, let’s slip into your bedroom, and I’ll show you just how happy you’ve made me.”
* * * *
Midnight
Dulac puffed on a cigar with his legs propped on the railing. The bench he sat on was right outside his bedroom, and he had spent many a night on it pondering problems. Tonight was no exception.
While he didn’t view Jesse’s pregnancy as a problem, he knew others would. He would have to break the news gently to his father and mother, although he had a feeling they would not look down on Jesse. They were not prudish people, but many of their friends were. He didn’t care about appearances. He just hoped Jesse would not come under anyone’s spiteful attacks. He made a mental note to ask his mother to invite only those women who would treat Jesse kindly.
Dulac thought of what his boy would look like with his blue eyes and Jesse’s silver-blonde hair. He pictured himself tossing the lad in the air and couldn’t resist smiling. His heart jumped a bit in excitement, and he found he couldn’t wait for the day of birth.
He finished the cigar and tossed the remnants into the spittoon beside him. He didn’t chew tobacco but found the item handy for other reasons.
Dulac stood and stretched, then headed for his bed. He wondered how on earth he’d ever find sleep with all the excitement running through him.
* * * *
September 1, 1900
Saturday Morning
Jesse stared in disbelief at the life-size doll sitting in the chair across from her. Dulac sat beside her on the sofa, and Isabella sat in the chair closest to him.
“I saved Serafina in the hopes that one day we could give it to our daughter,” Isabella said sadly. She gave Jesse a spiteful look. “Does she have to be here?”
Jesse’s mouth dropped at the rudeness of this so-called example of polite society. There wasn’t anything polite about Isabella, at least nothing that was directed at Jesse. Her quick retort was squelched as Dulac spoke.
“Yes, Isabella, she does. She is my sweetheart, and anything you have to say to me can be said in front of her.”
The woman was clearly perturbed. “But what I’ve come to say must be said in private.”
Dulac stood. “Then it must not be said at all, Isabella. I think you should take your leave now.”
She tossed her long, curly hair over her shoulder and stubbornly crossed her arms. “I have waited for years for you to return to me, Cristienne. I shall not wait a moment longer. I have turned down offer after offer in the hopes you would come home for me.”
“You have waited for nothing, Isabella. We have been over for longer than I’ve been gone,” he argued. “I don’t understand why you would do that. Why you would turn down so many offers for marriage; for a dream that was never meant to be?”
Sour bile rose in Jesse’s mouth. She couldn’t believe this was happening in front of her. She started to rise. “I think I should leave, Dulac.”
His blue eyes snapped at her. “No. Stay...please.”
Reluctantly, she did as she was asked and sank back down on the sofa. Her cheeks felt hot with embarrassment for the other woman. This was going to end badly. There was venom in Isabella’s eyes, but Jesse stood her ground and refused to look away. She’d physically fought scarier pirates than her.
Isabella was the first to look away and focused on Dulac. “Fine, Cristienne. Let her stay. Let your little whore hear everything I have to say.”
Jesse gasped, narrowed her eyes and was on her feet before realizing what she was doing. Dulac, however, had anticipated her reaction and jumped in between them. “Apologize, Isabella.”
“For what?” She batted her eyelashes innocently.
“Apologize, or you’ll never set foot in this house again.”
She crossed her arms, stomped her foot, and grunted, “Hmph. I’m sorry.”
Dulac turned to Jesse. “See? She’s sorry.”
“She’ll be sorrier if she says one more disrespectful thing to me again,” Jesse snapped and angrily flopped down onto the sofa.
Dulac did likewise, without the flopping. “Isabella, we have plans. Would you please get on with this?”
Tears actually slipped out of her eyes, and Jesse hoped he didn’t fall for it. Isabella pulled out a hanky and daintily wiped at each corner of her eye. She sniffed and pressed the cloth to her lips as if to hold back her emotions.
“I love you, Cristienne,” she whimpered. “I always have. I suppose I always will. I just wanted you to know that. I suppose my love will be unrequited.”
He crossed his arms and stared firmly at her. “I don’t love you. I am sorry. Now, I really must insist you leave. You are making Jesse and myself rather uncomfortable. Not to mention your behavior is rather unladylike.”
“Oh, to Hell with being a lady,” she cried and dropped to her knees in front of him. Jesse couldn’t believe it. “Please, Cristienne, please. I’ll make a good wife.”
The door to the room flew open, and a female voice spoke sharply. “Isabella Marie Delacroix! What on earth are you doing? You get to your feet this instant. You will not embarrass this family one more instant with your childish behavior.”
Isabella jumped guiltily up. “Mother, what are you doing here?”
“Trying to salvage what pride you have left.” Her mother grabbed her elbow and yanked her close. “He does not want you, dear. How many times must we go through this?”
Real tears now poured down Isabella’s face. “You don’t understand what real love is, Mama.”
The resounding slap silenced every sound in the room. Embarrassed by her own actions, Mrs. Delacroix looked apologetically at Dulac and Jesse. “Please forgive her. She’s not been herself lately. If you’ll excuse us, I will take her home now.”
Seconds later, Dulac and Jesse were completely alone. He shook his head. “That was unbelievable.”
“You think she really still loves you?”
“No, I don’t. It’s all just an act, Jesse.” He cupped her face with his right hand. “Besides, wouldn’t matter if she does. My heart belongs to you.”
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