Underground Captive (71 page)

    
             
Jared drew in a breath.  "God's blood, but ye're beautiful when ye're trying to bribe me," he said, taking her into his arms and kissing her.  "I love ye, Nicki."

    
             
Charles stood in the doorway watching.  Lord Fleming's look told him just how much he loved his daughter.  And Charles could see that Nicki loved Jared just as much.  His heart could swell with happiness for them if it weren't so burdened with worry over Jared's threat to kill Ricard.

    
             
"Come, milady."  Jared took Nicki by the hand.  "Yer carriage awaits."

   
             
"Oh, Jared," she whispered in awe when she arrived outside, "it's so beautiful!  It's like a dream.  A fairy tale."

             
"Do ye like it, darling?"

             
"Oh yes.  It's
magnifique
!"

             
"'Tis yers.  Let me help ye up."

    
             
Nicki laughed and placed her hand in his.  He took it, then let go, lifted her up in his arms, and placed her on the seat in
side the coach.  Looking up at Angus, who had gotten up in the driver's seat, Jared nodded, then he climbed into the carriage and closed the door.  Angus turned the exquisite horses around the winding pathway and urged them on toward River Road.  Charles, Antoinette, Blanche, Michel, and half of all the slaves came to watch the glorious spectacle.  All were in agreement it was a sight to behold.

    
             
Jared's servants stood to themselves, nearly bursting with pride at their master's generosity to his young bride.  Tears flooded Mary Douglas's face.  Jared's happiness was her happiness for she loved him as though he were her own son.

    
             
From an upstairs window, a forlorn figure stared out at the couple, watching the carriage round the bend at the end of the pathway, disappearing from his view.

             
Turning away from the window, anguish sickened Ricard.  He'd thought

many times of taking his father's suggestion and steal
ing away in the night from the wrath of Jared Fleming.  But he had done no wrong and refused to ever again leave the family he loved.  He was no coward.  He would rather die than let Jared continue baiting him the way that he was.

    
             
Ricard wouldn't play Jared's game anymore.  It was maddening.  Though aware of the heated arguments Jared and Nicki had because of him, indeed he and the entire household
heard
them,  he knew if he killed Jared in a fair fight, he would have to endure his beloved sister's everlasting hate.  He also saw the love and the torment she had in her eyes for Jared.

    
             
He had hoped that by now he would have been able to reach Jared's sense of fairness.  But the man was unapproachable.

    
             
To hell with it all.  Ricard refused to go on this damned way any longer.  He would end this stalemate.

             
He wouldn't wait for Jared's challenge.

             
Ricard decided he would challenge Lord Fleming to a duel the first chance

he got!

*  *  *

             
The next day, Nicollette sat in the library, weighted down with the problem of Jared and Ricard.  There was no reasoning with her husband where her brother was concerned.  Of course, she really hadn't tried to reason with him.  She had screamed and argued, but hadn't ever sugar-coated her demands.  But was it worth it?  Was
he
worth it?  Was Jared's damnable honor more important than his love for her?  Having been born and bred in the South, where honor and valor coursed through its proud men as surely as blood coursed through their veins, Nicki knew the answer.  His love for her had absolutely nothing to do with his honor.  Jared believed Ricard killed two people and, for that, Ricard had to pay.  On the other hand, Nicki believed her brother was innocent, but Jared wouldn’t listen to her.

             
Damn Jared!  If he killed Ricard, he would go to Scotland without her for she would never be able to forgive him.

             
Nicollette got up, paced to the window and looked out, watching Odessa and Mary Douglas as they headed to the kitchen house.  A thought came to her.  Mary Douglas once told her that if she fought Jared, he wouldn't make it easy for her… 

             
A light flutter came in her belly.  A minute later she felt it again, that slight movement from Jared's child.  Caressing her abdomen, she smiled, wishing her husband was there with her to share this moment. 

             
If Jared left her behind when he returned to Scotland, she could never bear the separation.  She would just have to be gentle and loving to him.  In this instance, she couldn't fight fire with fire.

             
"Nicollette!  What are you doing still out of bed?" 

             
She turned.  Charles stood in the doorway, gazing at her in surprise.  "It's tedious staying abed all day, Pa Pa.  I've been in here ever since Jared left for the city three hours ago."  Walking back to the sofa, she sat. 

             
Charles strolled behind his desk, sitting in his leather chair.

             
"Pa Pa, Jared and I will be going to the house by the ramparts to be in the city for the social activities.  I was wondering if you, Antoinette,
Tante
Blanche, and Michel would go to Rue Dauphine, so you could accompany us?"

             
The blatant exclusion of Ricard's name made the fury, which Charles had held back for three weeks, spill over.  He slammed his hand down on the desk.  "He refused an invitation to dine with the family last evening, Nicollette.  An invitation which Antoinette
insisted
I extend."

             
"He had made plans already."

             
"Your husband intends to kill my son and you expect me to socialize with him?"

             
"Ricard is my brother, whom I love--"

             
"Then act like it.  Show that you have some loyalty."

             
Bristling, Nicollette shot from her seat.  "I
am
showing that I have loyalty.  Jared is my husband."

             
"Then have you accepted your husband's" -- he sneered the word-- "plans for your brother?"

             
"
Non
, of course not."  She softened her tone, tears uncontrollably welling in

her eyes.  "Jared is so fond of you, Pa Pa.  And you know how he feels about
Tante

Blanche and Antoinette."
             

             
"At this point, Nicki, I only know how he feels about Ricard," Charles responded with bitterness. 

             
"You know I would do anything to keep Ricard safe," Nicki shouted on a sob, going to stand in front of her father's desk.

             
Charles turned his head, not wanting to see his daughter so tormented.  "Are you saying that this is all for your brother's benefit?" 
             

             
"Of course not.  I want Jared safe also."

             
Charles stood and went to the liquor table.  Retrieving a brandy snifter, he poured himself a healthy draught of the tawny liquid.

             
"Pa Pa, please," Nicollette whispered, tears still in her voice.  "There's no guarantee that Jared will kill Ricard if they engaged in a duel.  It could be the other way around.  I know it is Jared who seeks the duel, but how would you feel if he were killed?  Or suppose they kill each other?  Will you sacrifice one for the other, when there's a possibility we could save both?  You, of all people, should understand a man's honor.  As much as you preached it to Ricard all those years ago."

             
Not turning from the liquor table, Charles took a sip of brandy, then sighed.  He wanted neither Jared nor Ricard killed.  He admitted to himself then, that despite everything, including his anger and resentment, he still had a deep, deep affection for his son-in-law. 

             
Nicollette sniffed, swiping away the tears that ran down her cheeks.

             
Charles turned toward her.  "Nicollette, please,
ma cherie
, no more tears.  What is your plan?"

             
"I-I th-thought if we're all together, we could soften Jared.  He is so much more reasonable when he isn't angry."

             
"Are you sure?  Your husband can be a pompous, arrogant, overbearing tyrant."

             
"
Oui
, Pa Pa, I'm sure."

             
Gulping down the rest of his brandy and setting the glass down, Charles walked over to where Nicki stood.  "It will be hard to hide my anger for my son-in-law, but to keep you and the babe you carry healthy, I'll make an effort.  Besides, if you think by returning Jared's efforts of good will, it'll make a difference in his decision against Ricard, I'll do my part."

             
Nicki stepped into her father's embrace and leaned her head against his chest.  "Merci, Pa Pa.  I love you."

*  *  *

             
Determined not to let circumstances affect Nicki's health, the Duplantiers all complied to her request.  Over the next couple of weeks, they lived in New Orleans, engaging in the cultural events, which were in full gear.  Nicki was confident she would change Jared's thinking about Ricard.  How could someone as loving and kind as Jared kill in cold-blood?  And indeed, he went out of his way to be kind to his in-laws.

             
Charles, however, didn't feel as Nicki did.  He had started out this social farce, fearing for Ricard's and Nicki's well-being and resenting the man he'd once held in such high regard.  But Jared's charisma gave him hope at times.

    
             
Jared and Charles sat at the house on Rue Dauphine sipping scotch and brandy, respectively.

             
"Well, Jared, what is your opinion?" Charles asked as they sat in the parlor, referring to his suggestion of a ball held at Crescent Wood to announce the marriage of his daughter to Lord Fleming.

             
That prospect gave Charles immense satisfaction. 
His
daughter married to an earl!  What envy that fact would evoke from the other planters and their less attractive, some downright ugly, daughters.

             
"We'll see if Nicki is up to it, Charles."

             
"Of course.  We certainly can't have her overly tired."  He frowned.  "The whole city is abuzz about my daughter's obvious condition."

             
Jared's brows lifted.  "Are they?"

             
"They say she's unmarried and with child.  That is bad enough but some of the tales are outrageous."

             
Jared looked at his father-in-law sympathetically.  If only he could take away some of the man's grief.  But if he couldn't give up his quest for Nicki, Charles had to know he couldn't give up his quest for anyone.

             
"They say Nicki's condition was caused by that brute, the Black Rider, while she was his prisoner."

             
"But Nicollette was never the Black Rider's prisoner, Charles," Jared lied smoothly, "so don't let it bother ye."

             
"You don't understand, Jared.  This story goes even further, saying I paid you, the elegant, respectable, young carriage maker to marry Nicki.

             
"You, being the man of honor that you are, agreed," Charles growled.  "Besides, you're a man of modest means and my money must look damned good to you."

             
Jared stared at Charles a moment, before breaking into warm, rich laughter.

             
"They say it wouldn't be hard to accept Nicki's hand in marriage under any circumstances," Charles continued.  "She's such a fair beauty."

             
Jared narrowed his eyes.  "Charles, where are ye hearing these rumors?"

             
"I've overheard people speak of it."

             
"Don't let it bother ye.  'Tis very funny to me."

             
Charles's brows nearly overlapped from the frown he wore.  "How is it funny, Jared?  My daughter--your wife's--name is being dragged through the gutter."