Lessons of Love (29 page)

“
Jolie
, I shall get your thread, or better yet Jonathan will fetch it. He won
’
t mind one bit. The Monsieur said we
were not to leave your rooms.”

“
Don
’
t be silly, Celia, Jonathan is a man and coul
d never get the proper color.”

“
Then he shall bring your entire basket,
Jolie
.
”

Jolie
stamped her foot in irritation as a look of desperation came over her face. She was going to have to tell Celia the truth. “
Celia listen,
Cole
gave me a new wedding ring last night, and somehow I lost i
t. I
’
m almost sure I know where it is, and I simply must go and fetch it. It will take but a
moment to get to the gardens.”

Celia paled in horror at the mere idea of
Jolie
leaving the plantation house. She shook her head and opened her mouth to protest but
Jolie
held up her hand, silencing her, so Jonathan wouldn
’
t hear her cries of dismay. “
Celia, please don
’
t. I simply have to get my ring.
Cole
gave it to me and it is so very special. It
’
s my true wedding ring, the one that means something, the one that s
hows how much
Cole
loves me. I can
’
t
bear
the thought that I
’
ve lost it. I
’
ll only be a moment, and Gregor is with
Cole
in New Orleans.”

“
Oh Mistress. W
hy c
an
’
t Jonathan get it for you?”

Jolie
blushed scarlet as memories of their frolicking in the fountain
the previous night flashed through her head. She bit her lip and raised her eyes, knowing it was best to tell Celia the truth so she
’
d understand. “
The ring is in the fountain, Celia.
Cole
and I... we made love in the fountain last night after the ball. I
can
’
t let Jonathan know I did that! He wi
ll think I
’
m a heathen.”

“
He will think you are i
n love, and won
’
t say a word.”

“
I simply can
’
t, Celia. I
’
m going to ask him to have cook prepare our dinner. He
’
ll stay in the kitchen until it
’
s done, and I
’
ll just
slip in and out without anyone ever bei
ng the wiser.”

“
Jolie
... “

“
Celia please. I have to.”
Celia sighed and looked away. When her Mistress set her mind to something the only one who could convince her to do otherwise was the Monsieur, and he was not her
e to halt this foolhardy plan.

“
Very well, but I won
’
t mislead Jonathan. You must do all the talking.”
Jolie
smiled and hugged her quickly before opening the door and giving their request to an unsuspecting Jonathan. Once he was gone, she slipped from the
room and headed for the fountain.
~
~~~~~~~~~~~
 

Cole
rode home, shoulders slumped under the pressing weight of guilt. It was a feeling that hadn
’
t touched him most of his life, and it lay sour and bitter in his stomach. He was completely lost in though
t as he made his way back from New Orleans, mulling over the latest turn of events in his life.
Jolie
’
s words and pleas regarding the suffering of the women at Lily
’
s had played through his mind all day on his long ride. He knew she was right in this where
his old business was concerned, the women did matter. They were, or at least had been, feeling, gentle beings just like his sweet wife, but
Cole
honestly didn
’
t feel he had a choice in his actions. His only options were to cho
o
se between the woman he love
d beyond reason, or the unknown face
less women of Lily
’
s.

As
Cole
rounded the corner of the stable, he saw a flash of lavender streaking across the terrace and to the house. It had taken
Jolie
longer than she
’
d anticipated to find her lost ring, and now th
e truth of her actions was about to be exposed.
Cole
stared, dumbfounded, as his wife ran, skirts held high, bare legs flashing, oblivious of her observer, as she turned the corner and raced into the mansion. He shook his head, barely able to believe his e
yes. It couldn
’
t have been
Jolie
. She wouldn
’
t have, couldn
’
t have, defied his direct order and left her rooms.
Cole
dismounted then strode forward, marching into the hous
e, fury blazing from his eyes.

He stormed the steps two at a time, straight up to
Jol
ie
’
s set of rooms, and upon hearing voices raised inside, entered quickly to catch her by surprise.
Cole
surveyed the scene before him, a grim expression on his face. He looked
Jolie
over from head to toe, yes, she certainly was wearing a light purple dres
s and her cheeks were flushed from running. Her breasts rose and fell as she tried to stop her frantic breathing. Jonathan was standing before his tiny wife, eyes full of anger, cheeks flushed as well, looking as if he were about to explode.
Cole
had never
seen the man so enraged. He turned upon hearing
Cole
enter, his expression of
anger turning to one of shame.

“
Sir, I
’
m so sorry. The Mistress tricked me into fetching something from the kitchen for her and Celia and slipped out in my absence. I was neglig
ent in my duties and shall gladly accept whatever punishment you see fit. Termination is too good for me for p
utting their lives in danger.”

“
This isn
’
t your fault Jonathan. My wife can be quite the cunning little minx when she wants to. I imagine she coul
d charm the stripes off a tiger. I don
’
t doubt for a moment that she pulled the wool over your eyes. I hold
Jolie
at fault for her behavior, not you, and she is th
e one who shall be punished.”

Jolie
had turned, shocked when
Cole
had entered, eyes growing
huge at the look on his face, and backed away from him. Now she blanched at his words. She knew from the barely concealed rage, that he
’
d seen her. He
’
d seen her and he was livid.

Jolie
moved her mouth but nothing came out. There was nothing to say that w
ould appease him. Her desperate need to find her wedding ring now seemed incredibly foolhardy in light of the turn of events. Not only had she gone against his direct orders, she had forsaken his trust as well. She had put herself in danger over the small
circle of gold and diamonds that was now safely back in place on her finger, and
Cole
was very likely going to thrash the
life out of her because of it.

“
Jonathan will bed down on a cot in the sitting room to watch over you Celia.
Jolie
is coming with me.
We shall all be leaving for Natchez in the morning.”
His voice was cold and hollow, almost devoid of emotion, but
Jolie
knew her husband well enough to know that his fury bubbled just under the surface. He stepped forward, grasping her arm with deceptive g
entle
ness and led her out the door.

“
Cole
...”

“
Don
’
t,
Jolie
. Don
’
t say a word. We both know I saw you and there is no reason on earth that was important enough for you to risk your safety by going outside.”
He led her down the hall and flung the door to hi
s quarters open, pulling her through and slamming it behind them. She walked to the window, turning her back on him,
unable to look into his eyes.

“
Don
’
t you dare turn your back on me, wife.”
Jolie
stood stone still, unable to move, lip trembling, hands cl
asped tightly together, head hung in shame, desperately trying to think of a way t
o appease her enraged husband.

“
Did you know that Gregor was on the grounds all day? He stayed here while I got the money to pay him off. He refused to come with me,
saying h
e wanted to keep an
eye on you as insurance so that I would do as I promised. He could have seen you. He very well may have! He could have... What were you doing outside,
Jolie
?”

She mutely shook her head, biting her lip in a vain attempt to stop
her tears
.

“
Damn it woman, I asked you a question. What were you doing outside?”
He was suddenly behind her, growling in her ear, spinning her around. He grabbed her shoulders and shook her, then held
her chin in a punishing grip.

“
My ... my ring. I..I lost my wed
ding ring and I knew it had to be in the fountain. I know it was stupid
Cole
, but I didn
’
t know Gregor was here. I thought he went with you. I
’
m sorry,
Cole
, please. I just wanted to find my ring.”
Her hand covered her mouth as scalding tears rolled down h
er cheeks. Her eyes pleaded with him to understand, but he was beyond reason. Once again her refusal to follow his orders had put her safety in jeopardy. He had no choice but to punish her, a
nd this time he
’
d do it so she
wouldn
’
t forget. She could have be
en raped. She could have been killed. That monster could have taken her from him and... Yes, he had to punish her to make her und
erstand that his word was law.

Jolie
reached for him, trying to hold him, needing his arms around her, needing his forgiveness,
but he backed away. The icy look in his eyes broke her heart. “
Cole
, please.”

“
Take off your clothes.”
His voice was level, almost void of emotion as he gave his order. Her body began to shake and sobs hitched in her chest but she brought her shaking hand
s up to the buttons on her gown.
Cole
watched her, his expression hard and unfeeling. He couldn
’
t let her tears stop him, not this time, not after what she
’
d done. Her bottom lip trembled and she closed her eyes, tears falling unchecked as she removed her
gown. When she was done she stepped out of it and slowly continued until she was bare.
Jolie
felt deep inside that she deserved this punishment. She would take what he gave her if only the
love would return to his eyes.

“
Lie
on the bed on your stomach and
wait for me.”
A squeak of panic escaped her, but
Cole
grit his teeth, hardening his heart to her terror. Women who disobeyed had to be taught. His wife included.
Jolie
did as she was told and lay on the bed as
Cole
went about the room and lit all the lamps
until it was infused with a warm glow. He went to his wardrobe and removed four leather restraints.
Jolie
’
s eyes filled with panic at the sight of them, instantly
pulling her arms and legs in.

“
Cole
no, please.”

“
Spread your legs wide.”
She hesitated and
he knelt on the bed, roughly forcing her back on her stomach and pushing her legs apart then tying each ankle to a bedpost.
Jolie
tried to roll over, tried to look at him, but
he refused to meet her eyes.