Underground Captive (42 page)

    
             
"It jus' need tae simmer a bit, Elizabeth.  I need tae pay a visit tae King Louie then I willa be back tae 'elp finish up."

    
             
"Go on wi' ye then.  I willa check the wine in the cooler."

    
             
Almost in the blink of an eye, Nicki found herself alone in the kitchen.  For a few precious, vengeful moments she was free to do whatever she pleased.

She pleased to do whatever she had time to do.  In a fit of temper and bruised pride, she lost all control.  But not once as she went along like a woman gone mad did she consider the consequences of her actions.

    
             
Mary's gravy smelled wonderful.  Nicki uncovered the pot and breathed in the tantalizing aroma.  Then, she stirred two heaping cups of sugar into the pot, following that with the rest of the cayenne pepper.  She looked at the fluffy white rice, already cooked and lined up on the cabinet in a silver serving dish.  Peering around for something to mix with it, she spied a canister on the shelf.  The odorless white powdered Alum!  How could she forget about it when Mary Douglas had shown it to her earlier?

    
             
Quickly, she lifted the can off the shelf and sprinkled the Alum liberally over the rice, using both hands to turn it over.  When she heard Elizabeth's footsteps on the stone walk, she put the top back on the canister and moved away from the stove, wiping her hands on her dress.

    
             
"Ye're still 'ere, lass?  I though' ye'd be primpin' up fer suppa taenite," Elizabeth said, smiling.  "Go on wi' ye.  Master Jared willa be arriving soon and he willa be wantin' tae see ye lookin' yer most foinest."

    
             
"Anything you say, Elizabeth.  It'll be my pleasure to dress up for
Master
Jared," Nicki cooed, resenting him more and more with each passing second.

    
             
Going upstairs, she started to select her clothes.  Finally choosing a midnight

blue satin and lace gown, she laid it on the bed.  Then she thought better of it.
             

She needed a plan.

    
             
Maybe Jared's guest would help her escape.  But no, Jared would never allow her to get close enough to the man to ask for his help.  Maybe, she thought, narrowing her eyes, if she could lead the man to believe that she was a mistreated urchin, he would help.

    
             
Sneaking back downstairs, she went through the front door.  Usually she only wore a minimum number of petticoats when she went down for dinner.  Today, she had on none, and she was thank
ful for her wisdom.  She hiked her skirt, holding both sides of the gown up as far as possible without being indecent, and ran around the back of the house to the stables with her hair flying behind her like a banner.

    
             
She headed to the back of the stables, where there were clotheslines with the laundry of some of the stablehands hanging on them.

ran out.  Just as she was about to take the smallest pair of drab gray overalls off the

line, a voice asked what she was doing.

    
             
Nicki turned with a start.  "Why, er...who are you?" she said to the owner of the voice, her eyes widening in surprise.

             
"I'm Billy, Miz Nicollette," Billy drawled.   "And them there's my britches you took off the line."

    
             
"I know, Billy.  Why, I hardly recognized you in this twilight. 
Monsieur
Jared said for me to borrow a sturdy set of work clothes from you.  He wants to show me how planting and plowing is done and--"

    
             
"We done all the plantin' and plowin', Miz Nicollette," Billy interrupted.  "Un
less he aim to show you somethin' about fixin' corral fences and cleanin' and fixin' stalls."

    
             
"Whatever master wants," Nicki said, laughing. 
Non, whatever master deserves
.  "I also need to borrow a shirt.  I'll return these as soon as I finish with them."  She didn't wait for further comment.  Dismissing Billy with a "thank you", she took what she needed and rushed back to the house.

             
Just in time, she made it to her room without being seen.  No sooner had she stepped one foot across the sill of her bedchamber door than she heard Mary Douglas's voice ringing through the house saying that the master was home.  Nicki went quickly into the room and closed the door.  Soon after the announcement, she heard the familiar booted sounds of Jared's footsteps in the hall.  He stopped at her door and knocked.

    
             
"Nicki," he called, his voice soft and cheery.

    
             
"Y-yes, Jared?" At the sound of Jared's voice and with the realization that she'd missed that sound, Nicki’s first inkling of doubt over the deeds she'd committed crossed her mind.

    
             
"Are ye all right?"

    
             
Nicki opened the door far enough for Jared to see her face and smiled.  "Yes, Jared, I'm all right."

    
             
"Good.  I would be honored to have ye join me for dinner, Nicki."

    
             
"Of course.  I'll be down as soon as I finish dressing."

    
             
"Don't take too long," Jared said.  "I've missed ye."  He smiled and walked across the hall to his room.

    
             
Nicki closed the door and leaned heavily against it.  "Missed me?" she hissed, infuriated.  "How dare you? Well, I cannot wait to see you either,
master
."  Any doubts or fear that she harbored abruptly left her.

    
             
The lying knave!  The thieving rogue!  The...the conniving swine!  Well,

she would teach him a lesson he'd not soon forget!  She would show the brigand not to underestimate Nicollette Solange Duplantier.  Then, he could slither into the river!

    
             
In order to appear mistreated, she realized she needed to be soiled. 
Non
, dirty, really filthy.  Looking frenziedly around the room, her eyes fell on the fireplace.  Though it had been cleaned for the approaching summer, there must be
some
soot left in the chimney.

    
             
Stooping beneath the mantel above the fireplace and reaching her arm into the chimney, she extended it as far up as it would go, coming out with a hand full of soot.  She wiped her hands on Billy's clothes then passed her hand over her face.

             
It was time to get dressed and present herself to
Master Jared
.

*  *  *

    
             
Jared sat in the parlor, talking to Morgan.

   
             
"Beggin' yer pardon, Master Jared, but we canna wait fer the lassie any longer," Mary Douglas interrupted.  "The food is gettin' cold."   
             

             
"Very well, Mary.  You may set the table then summon, I mean
ask
Nicki to please join us," Jared said, smiling sheepishly.

    
             
Morgan laughed mischievously.  "Your ward sounds like a hand full, Jared," he said, going along with Jared's little charade as were Jared's servants, who knew Morgan.

   
             
"Sometimes she can be," Jared replied, anxiety filling him.  What was the little vixen up to?

             
"Suppa is served, Master Jared," Elizabeth announced.  "Mary 'as gone tae ge' the lass."

    
             
Jared showed Morgan to the dining room and just as they seated themselves, Mary Douglas' pleas with Nicki that she not go down dressed as she was filled the air.  Dread swept over Jared.  He’d known that she wouldn't be pleased with him and wondered what revenge she had planned for him.  He didn't have long to wonder.

    
             
Nicki ambled into the dining room wearing Billy's overalls and shirt, which was two sizes too big.  Her hair was tied back with a drapery cord and long, stringy strands were purposely left out.

    
             
She stood there barefooted and covered with soot from her head to her feet.

    
             
"I'm finished cleaning the fireplace, Master Jared.  May I rest now?" Nicki said in a timid voice.  She looked over at Jared's guest, who was observing her in amusement.  Rushing over to his side, she dropped to her knees.  "Oh,
monsieur
, please help me," she blurted, choking back a forced sob.  "
Monsieur
Fleming is a freedom sympathizer and he's kidnapped me and is holding me captive.  He forces me to do the worst kinds of work.  Oh, please
monsieur
, help me!"

    
             
Shaking his head, Morgan looked at her, then, unable to con
tain himself any longer, he burst out laughing.  "Why this is the most mischievous little ragamuffin I've ever seen.  And believe me, in my travels I've seen them all.  Jared, you do have your hands full."  He winked at Jared.  "Nicki, your guardian tells me you are very pretty," he said, still chuckling.   "But you've hidden it well.  You must be hungry.  Please join us, young lady."

    
             
Guardian?  Guardian!  The lying, decayed rodent!
  Appalled, Nicollette bolted to her feet and looked in
credulously at Morgan. 
Whatever tale Jared spun was most convincing because the horsebreeder doesn't believe me! And now he wants me to sit and eat that...that stuff!  What in the world did that beast tell him
?

             
"No! I'm not hungry, thank you," Nicki said coolly, flinch
ing at the thought of tasting the concoctions she'd created.

    
             
"Sit down!" Jared commanded, his voice edged with granite.

    
             
Nicki's eyes locked with his and it took all of her self
-
control to keep from blanching.  She swore she saw the promise of murder in his gold-green depths.  Her anger fled and, without a word, she pulled out one of the heavy chairs and sat down.

             
As Elizabeth and Mary Douglas busied themselves fixing the three plates,

Nicki went over the menu in her mind.  There was rice and alum, sliced pork and sage gravy mixed with half a canister of pepper and sugar, candied yams and turnip greens.  For dessert, cherry cake with the rest of the canister of pepper and a large quantity of salt.

    
             
Gazing hungrily at the food, Morgan sighed appreciatively.  "This looks very good.  And I am starved."  He took a forkful of greens and wolfed it down.

    
             
Jared smiled at the satisfaction on Morgan's face, then mixed rice with the gravy and put a forkful in his mouth.

    
             
His eyes suddenly began to move rapidly from one side to the other, looking for a place to expel the food.  The longer he held it in, the more his mouth felt like it was shrinking!  Finally, taking the only thing he could, he pulled his hand
kerchief out and held it up to his mouth.  When he removed it, his mouth was empty.

    
             
"I've been poisoned," he managed weakly, after drinking greedily from his goblet of water.  He looked up to see Morgan make the same mistake he did.

             
But Morgan didn't look for a handkerchief.  The food came out of his

mouth in a rush and spattered across the table, catching Nicki squarely in the face!
             

             
She gasped and jumped up in disgust.

             
Jared, too, was on his feet and instantly beside her.  In a black fury, he pushed her back down in the chair.  "Did ye do this?" he asked through clenched teeth, bending down to stare into her eyes, angrily grasping her by the forearms.

    
             
"That there little missy need her bottom tanned, Jared."  Mor
gan frowned, pointing to Nicollette, all pretense gone.  "Why did she go and ruin a good meal like this?"  He drank a second goblet of water.