Underground Captive (21 page)

Underground Captive
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
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Charles would never allow Nicki to come into the parlor with the men.  If she were in another gown, Jared wouldn't mind.  But her breasts seemed like they'd spill free at any moment.  'Twas definitely not a gown for the company of a room full of men.  It should be preserved for private occasions where he alone could enjoy her in it.  As if he alone had sole privilege, he thought.

    
             
Jared groaned.  'Twas beside the point.  Charles had invited him, Nicollette hadn't.  'Twould appear strange to insist on staying at her side the entire evening.

Hell!  What could he do?

    
             
The meal ended soon after.  As Nicki saw to the comfort of her father and his friends, fate stepped in.  Jared would have been grateful if fate hadn't come in the form of Edmond Falgout.

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15    

"If your father doesn't mind, won't you please stay?" Edmond smiled, scrutinizing Nicki from head to toe yet again that night.  "Unprecedented as it may seem, perhaps, a woman's point of view may prove helpful."

    
             
Condescending viper
, Nicki thought, preparing to exit the room.  Her father's voice stopped her.  "
Messieurs
, would you mind if my daughter were to stay?"

"We don't want to detain her if she is tired," Phillipe intoned.

    
             
"You're being an ass, Phillipe," Jacques snorted, then laughed.  "The least of which has to do with your assumption that Captain Blossom and the Black Rider are one person."

Phillipe bristled.  "Would you please elaborate, Jacques?"

    
             
"You want to see
Mademoiselle
Duplantier leave because she took you to task."

"We know all about it," Phillipe barked.

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Edmond chuckled evilly.  "I'm afraid I've started a war here." 

   
             
"Please excuse these two, Edmond."   Henri waved a dismissing hand at them.  "If they were not close friends, they would surely have met on the dueling field by now."

    
             
Any mention of dueling brought to Edmond's mind his son's death.  For a moment, he forgot his pretense of goodwill toward Jared.  He wanted vengeance on both Jared and Charles.  Charles had sided with Jared Fleming in Christian’s deadly duel.  Using Nicki in some way would bring Charles to his knees.  But what would he do to her?

    
             
She was
Charles'
daughter.  The arrogant bitch couldn't replace the son he lost as
his
daughter.  Perhaps, she could give him another heir.  That luscious body of hers was ripe for childbearing.  But he knew he'd never live to see the fruit of his loins.  Charles would kill him.  Maybe Edmond would just kill her and be done with it.  Let Charles suffer the grief he, himself, had endured these past weeks.

    
             
Jared Fleming was another story.  Edmond hadn't found out where his vulnerabilities were.  Judging from the way Jared glowered at him, Edmond’s task wouldn’t be easy.  It took all his courage to return the man's gaze with his own insolent stare.

    
             
"Nicki, if you'd like, you may stay for a while," Charles said graciously.

    
             
"Well, Pa Pa," Nicki said, glancing at the clock. 
Damn! Eight-thirty
.   She had to be crazy to even consider carrying out her intentions to rout the Black Rider alone.  But, in order to do that, she had to get out of the blasted house undetected.  "I appreciate the offer, but--" 

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Her voice snapped Jared out of his murderous thoughts toward Edmond.  "Nicki, we're very interested in hearing more of yer ideas," he said, following her gaze, which rested on the silver timepiece.  "One glass of wine before ye depart," he coaxed.

    
             
Jared’s suspicious look, as if he knew what she planned, gave Nicki pause.  Still, she couldn’t refuse Jared.   "I'll have only one since I am obviously outnumbered here." 

    
             
"Nicki, why don't you seat yourself.  I was going to refresh my drink, so I'll be happy to get you one," Louis offered.

"Isn't that what your slaves are for?" Edmond asked with vicious scorn.

    
             
Nicki cleared her throat and gave him a look to freeze a hot stove.  "
Oui
, I concede that is what our slaves are for.   But we don't work them to their death,
Monsieur
Falgout.   When the liquor cabinet is right at our disposal, it is unnecessary to disturb them from their other chores.  Or their rest." 

    
             
Jared eyed Nicki carefully, wondering if she defended her servants because of dislike for Edmond or because the words were her true sentiments.

    
             
"Louis, please seat yourself," Nicki said pointedly.  "I'll act the proper hostess tonight."  She poured Louis a brandy and red wine for herself.  Before taking a seat in a Seignouret chair close to her father, she noted that Jared's glass was empty and replenished his drink of scotch.

"Dare I assume, Nicollette, that you have sympathy for Negroes?" Edmond goaded.

    
             
"
Monsieur
, you are putting my daughter on the spot," Charles said as kindly as possible, his temper rising.  "I don't wish for her to be uncomfortable in her own home."

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"Pa Pa, it's okay."  Nicki wanted to quickly diffuse the situation or else she'd have to witness another duel.  "
Monsieur
Falgout, your assumption leaves something to be desired.  It's arrogant and without merit.  My concern for Crescent Wood's
Negroes
has nothing to do with sympathy.  But that's beside the point.  We obviously hold a difference of opinion on this matter.  However, let me assure you, I'm merely practicing diplomacy.  Most of the time my father's guests prefer to serve themselves.  As Louis can attest to."  She delivered her retort with taut sweetness.

    
             
"You're right of course,
mademoiselle
.  And I overstepped my bounds.  Please accept my fullest apology this time."  Falgout's muscles in his jaw flexed with impotent anger. 

    
             
Jared observed the look on Falgout's face.  Despite all efforts to conceal it, the anger came through.  Nicki had made an unforgiving enemy, who bore watching.  But what was she up to? he wondered, as she continued to put Falgout in his place.

    
             
"
Monsieur
, our slaves get the utmost consideration from us. They aren't animals to be broken in with whips or shackles.  They're human beings.  And unlike some in this room, who'll remain nameless, of course," she spat, her eyes flashing fire, "
we
definitely don't torture, rape, or beat our slaves to death.  Those atrocities are reserved for only the maddened."

    
             
Edmond’s beefy hands balled into tight fists.  "
Mademoiselle
, just what are you implying?" 

All sound quit the room.  Shock and speechlessness pervaded.

    
             
Jared arched his brow, more surprised that Nicki continually amazed him with her bold recklessness.  He should have known by now that she spoke and acted without giving much regard to the consequences.  'Twas generally known Edmond Falgout was a sadistic snake.  But Jared knew 'twas an unspoken rule that planters didn't interfere with their neighbors' affairs.  Making subtle but damaging accusations was strictly forbidden.

This time Nicollette had overstepped the line.

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"Are you going to answer my question,
mademoiselle
, or will I have to draw my own conclusions?" Falgout spat, his beady eyes mere slits, his fleshy face becoming a mottled red.

    
             
Nicki narrowed her eyes at him, rising from her seat, arms akimbo, body tensed, ready for outright war, forgetting her previous uneasiness of him.  "Let me put it to you this way,
Monsieur
Falgout.  If
Monsieur
Black Rider and Captain Blossom didn't steal from Crescent Wood and so many other caring plantation owners, I'd personally guide your slaves to them.  You,
Monsieur
Falgout, are the worst sort of swamp inhabitant, and not worth the very dirt I walk upon."

    
             
"Nicollette!"  Her name was yelled in horror or outrage from every direction.

    
             
She couldn't tell how many men growled her name at once, but she distinctly heard her father's.

    
             
"Go to your chamber, Nicollette, and stay there until I am ready to speak to you," Charles said through clenched teeth, a muscle ticking dangerously in his jaw.

"Scandalous."

"Outrageous."

"Ludicrous assumptions."

"Would she really seek the Black Rider?"

"You know Nicki."

"Traitorous."

    
             
Charles listened to these comments fly about from the planters after Nicki vacated the room. 

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"Charles, what do you have to say for yourself?  You do realize that it's your duty to not only lock her in her chamber but take a whip to her.  Maybe that will get her under control.  If you can't whip her, I'll gladly take the honors," Edmond said coldly.

"
Monsieur
," Charles began hotly.

    
             
"
Falgout
," Jared snarled, standing from his seat and walking menacingly toward the man to tower over him.  In suggesting violence of any kind against Nicki, the matter was removed from Charles's angry hands and taken into Jared’s murderous, and more than willing, hands.  "If ye ever so much as glance at Nicki threateningly, I'll blow yer bloody damned head off yer shoulders before ye can blink to look at her again."  Vicious and deadly, his soft tone promised quick retribution, not to be believed by only the damnedest of fools. 

Falgout blanched, but held his ground.  "Stay out of this, Fleming," he grated harshly.  "She insulted me.  All I want is satisfaction.  If you think your empty threats will deter me--"

    
             
"Ye're a fool to believe 'tis an empty threat," Jared said, his voice edged with cold steel.

    
             
"Oh?  If it's not, tell me, what is it?" Edmond asked, knowing full well that Jared didn't make empty threats.

    
             
Dripping with fury, Jared stared down into Edmond's eyes.  "'Tis a promise."

    
             
"
Messieurs
, we are here not to kill one another, but to band together against the Black Rider and Captain Blossom," Henri said calmly.  "Jared, Charles, Edmond, please, calm yourselves.  I agree, Edmond, that Nicki's behavior was humiliating and unheard of, but to suggest laying a whip to her is pure barbarianism.  Before this gets out of hand and you're dueling with either Charles or Jared, I suggest you calm down.  Charles will take care of Nicki." 

Jared moved away from Falgout, going to the liquor cabinet with every eye on