Underground Captive (12 page)

She started to put on her stockings, but stopped suddenly and frowned, an unsettling thought coming to her.  If Jared’s horse was black, she would wonder if he were
Monsieur
Black Rider.  Sophie had told her the field hands whispered that the masked man could handle a horse magnificently.  Nicki imagined the man looked like a centaur, the fabled half-horse, half-man creatures of Greek mythology that supposedly lived on the mountain of Thessaly.  Just as Jared looked on King George.

    
             
She laughed at her far-fetched imaginings.  No matter what his views were, the thought of Jared being the Black Rider was absurd, although the man did seem bold enough to do anything.

    
             
Non
, she chided herself, completing the task of pulling her stockings and black boots on.  Ricard's views were just as liberal as Jared's, but that didn't mean he was out freeing slaves.  Jared deserved the same benefit of doubt.

She’d soon find out who the Black Rider was, she told herself.  No

information came on the Black Rider's next raid, but Nicki knew it had to be soon.  Prior to the raid four days ago, the countryside had been quiet for a month.

    
             
It was past due for his regular missions to commence.

    
             
Ricard.  The Black Rider.  Jared.  Scowling, Nicki wanted to scream in frustrated helplessness.  At the moment, she felt powerless with the happenings of all three.

    
             
But Jared would be fine, she assured herself, grabbing a pair of black leather gloves and running out of the bedchamber.

*  *  *

 
             
"Do not step from this carriage, Nicollette," Charles warned, stressing his words by pointing his forefinger at her as though she were a child.

    
             
"I promise, Pa Pa," Nicki said demurely.  The entire journey she had worried over Jared's safety.  When she learned it was Christian Falgout he was dueling, she was barely able to suppress the added fear that gathered in her heart.

    
             
Charles stepped out of the carriage with one last warning look to Nicki, knowing that it would not be long before she was out.  Approaching the place where Jared stood alone, Charles smiled.  "Jared."

    
             
"How are ye this morning, Charles?" Jared asked, sounding fatigued, extending a hand.

    
             
"I am fine.  The question is,
ami
, how are you?"

    
             
"Alert," Jared answered honestly.  "Although, I have not been able to rest."

Charles rubbed a hand across his chin.  "Jared--"

"Pa Pa!"
             

"Nicollette Solange!" Charles said, grinding his teeth together.

    
             
"Pa Pa, don't go into apoplexy,” she responded, drinking in Jared’s nearness.  “I became lonesome sitting in that carriage." 

    
             
"You have my carriage driver to keep you company," Charles snapped.

    
             
Nicki stared at Jared.  The sun hadn't come up yet, but still his thick blond hair gleamed with copper highlights. 
Lord, the man is handsome
.  It was hard to drag her gaze from him.  He had not an ounce of fat on him and her eyes strayed to the generous bulge between his long thighs.   She flushed at the sight. 

             
"Pa Pa, I think I will return to the carriage." She stood on tiptoe and put her arms around her father's neck, giving him a quick hug.  “Good luck, Jared," she whispered, extricating herself from her father.

    
             
Without waiting for his response, she walked with a gentle swing of her hips, Jared noted, back to the carriage.

    
             
"Forgive my daughter's impropriety.  I know she should not be here on the dueling fields." Charles said, also watching as Nicki glided back to the carriage.  "She must have departed the carriage soon after I did and silently tread upon my heels.  I promise I'll speak to her."

    
             
"I'm sure if ye could have, ye would have kept her home, Charles." Jared smiled, curious why Nicki had come.  She got more beautiful each time he saw her.

"Fleming?"

The sound of Christian Falgout's voice brought him back to the present

situation.

"Falgout, I trust ye're ready."

             
Christian's eyes lashed venomously at Jared.  "
Oui
,
monsieur
."

    
             
From her vantage point in the carriage, Nicki saw Louis Aupre, a doctor, and several other gentlemen, including Edmond Falgout, standing around the oaks.  Something about
Monsieur
Falgout always sent chills running along her spine.

    
             
"
Engarde
!"  She heard the unmistakable rich mellowness of Jared's voice.

    
             
The tips of their swords touched.  Christian lunged, aiming for Jared's gut.  Jared parried the move, deftly sidestepping Christian's thrust.  Neither opponent gained much ground for both were strong and in good shape.  The clanking of steel against steel could be heard in the stillness of the dawn.  For more than several minutes, they held one another off with their skillful moves.

    
             
Christian fought viciously and began to tire.  Sweat beaded his brow.  It was relatively cool this morning, but the heat generated from their movements, coupled with his nervousness and surprise at meeting so worthy an opponent, became unbearable.  He thrust forward with Jared's heart as his target.

    
             
Jared, following Christian's eyes, anticipated the move and parried the attack.

    
             
Christian's blade sliced through the air bringing forth a loud sloshing

sound from the atmosphere.  The blade slashed through the sleeve of Jared's

shirt, drawing blood.  He lunged forcefully, surprisingly knocking Jared's rapier from his hand as Jared fell backward.

    
             
Nicki clutched her hands to her breasts and, without hesitation, dashed

from the carriage, running to the field.  If not for her father, who grabbed her by the waist, she would have run to Jared.

    
             
"
Non
, Pa Pa.  Release me.  I must go to him," she said, struggling against her father's hold, keeping her eyes on Jared.  Realizing her struggles were useless, she rested her cheek against her father's chest, her eyes still on the field.

    
             
Jared moved with the grace of a panther as he swiftly grabbed the sword and leaped to his feet with the clear intent of ending this duel, by whatever means necessary, etched into his features.  Desperately, Christian lunged again.  With his answering riposte to Falgout, Jared let out an angry growl.
             

Nicki glanced up, worry upon her face.

Christian parried Jared's attack, aiming for his opponent's ribs.  Jared

thrust forward, aiming for Christian's heart, successfully finding his target.  Blood spurted from the wound, a surprised gasp escaping Christian Falgout's lips.  Jared pulled the sword out of Christian's flesh and bright red blood dripped from its tip.

    
             
Nicki screamed in outraged horror even as she thanked God that Jared was safe.

    
             
Clutching at his heart with one hand and extending the other out to his frantic father, Christian fell forward to the ground.  Edmond Falgout, taller and stockier than his son, ran forward.

    
             
Angus came to Jared's side and took his master's sword.  "I need tae check the gash on yer arm, master."

Jared nodded and held up his arm, his eyes on the Falgouts.

    
             
"'Tis only a flesh wound," Angus said, after checking the arm.  "I willa ge' the bindings and--"

    
             
"Nay, Angus, don't bother with it.  I'll see to it later," Jared said, walking away from his servant.  He went to stand at Edmond Falgout's side.

"
Monsieur
," Jared began quietly.  What could he say?  He hadn't

wanted to take the life of Christian  Falgout.   But it had been Falgout's or his own.

    
             
Edmond Falgout looked up, his face unreadable.  "There is no need to say anything,
Monsieur
Fleming.  My son died upon the field of honor.  His challenge brought him to this pass.  I cannot blame you." He gathered his bloodied, lifeless son into his arms and carried him to his waiting carriage--a Fleming Barouche.

    
             
Jared ran his hand through his hair.  The sun that rose before Falgout's death was slowly making its ascent into the sky after the man's lifeblood had been spilled.  From Patricia's death, Jared knew the loss of a loved one brought drastic changes.  Yet, so many things remained unchanged.  God, he hadn't wanted to do this.  The horror on Edmond's face brought back the horror of his wife's death.

Charles, Louis, and Angus reached Jared at the same moment.  Nicki still clutched her father's side and she refused to look at Jared.

    
             
"Jared?" Charles inquired with gentle concern at the bleak look on his face.

    
             
Memories of finding Patricia flooded Jared, reminding him with painful clarity why he was involved with the Duplantiers.  He stared at Charles and Nicki.

    
             
Sensing Jared's eyes on her, Nicki raised her head.  At the icy look on his face, she narrowed her eyes at him and stared boldly back, covering the hurt she felt that he’d suddenly turned against her.  "Pa Pa, I think I'll return to our carriage.  Please don't dally too long.  I wish to return to Crescent Wood to rest and try to forget the horror of seeing a man murdered."

    
             
"Nicollette!" Charles bellowed, but she had already started toward the carriage, which was a blessing. 

Jared felt as if he would throttle Nicki at any moment.

    
             
"Son," Charles said, once Nicki was safely out of reach.  "I know you couldn't prevent Christian's death.  I know that does not help--"

"Nay, Charles, it doesn't."

Angus stepped toward Jared with an arm outstretched.  "Master, ye should

come and rest.  Ye were almost killed, which ne'er 'appened before.  This 'as

noot been verra pleasant..."

    
             
Jared glared at him with incredulity.   "Is that all ye can say? Not very pleasant?  Angus, bring King George to me then ye may take yer leave.  I wish to be alone."

    
             
"Aye, master," Angus said, turning in the direction of the horse without breaking his stride.

    
             
"Nothing will be lost by his death...." Louis began, abruptly stopping.  "Dieu!  Forgive my callousness."

    
             
Jared looked into each of their faces.  Unable to find any answers, he stormed past them, going in the direction of the Duplantier carriage.

    
             
When he came close enough to Nicki, he stopped and stared into her blue-violet eyes.

    
             
For a moment, Nicki thought her heart would break.   She had a quick urge to take him into her arms to make the hurt that was in his hazel eyes go away.  The heartbroken, wounded look came into his eyes for the briefest of seconds.  Then it was gone.  She shook herself mentally when the disdain came back into his features.

Indignant, she looked away.

    
             
Cursing under his breath as his long strides carried him quickly away from the temptation of that little minx, Jared wanted to do more than seek comfort from her arms.  He wanted to seek comfort and relief by sinking his member into the warmth between her thighs.

    
             
He reached King George.  Glancing one last time in Nicki's direction, it