Underground Captive (80 page)

             
Jared walked over to Charles and patted him on the back.  "She's tired,

Charles," he said gently.

             
"
Oui
, I know, Jared.  I'll let her get some rest."  Charles brought one of

his grandson's tiny hands to his lips for a kiss.  "I love you, little one."

             
He patted Nicki on the head, then filed out behind the others.  Only Ricard

remained.  He looked at Jared for a long moment.

             
Jared nodded.

             
Ricard walked over to the bed.  "I'm very proud of you, Nicollette

Duplan...Fleming.  And I love you very much."  He leaned down and kissed her on the top of her head.

             
"I love you too, Ricard," Nicollette said tearily.

    
             
"I know you do," he whispered.  "Jared told me how you tried to board that burning boat to rescue me."  He laughed.  "And how hard you fought him when he restrained you.  What other man can claim a sister with that kind of love to give?  I pray that you'll always be as happy as you are at this moment."

    
             
He kissed her again and turned to Jared.  "I've grown quite fond of you, Jared.  For all that you are a blackguard and a lord, you have created a splendid addition to our family, as well as yours.  Congratulations, Lord Fleming."  Ricard bent in a mocking bow.

    
             
Jared grinned.  "Ye've a bit of the devil in ye, Ricard.  I accept yer congratulations." Then, in a more serious tone, he said,  "I also know a true friend when I see one.  Ye've made my life richer for knowing ye."  Then back to mocking.  "A blackguard, a ghost captain, a thief and a man who'd steal from his own father to realize his goal.  A man after my own heart!"

             
They laughed.

   
             
"Are you both daft?  Suppose someone overhears you?  Ricard, you know I love you, you just admitted it.  But I want you out of here before you get my husband in trouble," Nicollette demanded in an unmistakable order.

    
             
"Will you let her order me around like that, Lord Fleming?" Ricard jested.

    
             
"Better 'tis ye than me, peasant.  Now out with ye!"  Jared laughed, watching Ricard shuffle to the door.  He turned to Nicollette and their son.  "Alone at last."  Going around to the other side of the bed, he settled himself beside his wife and son.

    
             
To Jared, she’d never looked lovelier.  Black as a moonless night and shining like pearls, her hair swept over her back onto the pillows.  Her ivory complexion now glowed a rosy pink.  Her amethyst eyes, ringed by long, thick, raven lashes, gleamed with tenderness.  He captured her bruised mouth for a gentle kiss.

             
"Thank ye, milady, for presenting me with so beautiful an heir."

    
             
That got him a quick kiss on his jaw.  Nicki sighed.  Their son began to wail.  Unbuttoning the top of her cotton nightrail, she freed her breasts to suckle him.

             
Jared held one tiny hand between his thumb and forefinger.  "Don't get too

accustomed to those, Jamie.  They were mine first.  They're only on loan to ye," he

said, kissing Nicki's snow white mound.

             
Nicollette laughed.  "Jamie?"

             
"Aye.  James Charles Duncan Fleming.  Do ye like it, milady?"

             
Jared's eyes shone with pride, and so much love that Nicki's heart

wrenched inside her chest.  "It's beautiful,
mon amour
," she said, tears cascading down her cheeks.

             
"Nay, no tears, sweet Nicki, unless they're tears of happiness."

             
"They are, my only love.  They are."  She leaned back in Jared's embrace.

   
             
More exhausted than she'd realized, she fell asleep as soon as she closed her eyes.

    
             
Taking Jamie, who was also asleep, Jared placed him in his cradle.  He removed some of the pillows from behind Nicollette's head, allowing her to lie comfortably.  His hands gently caressed her exposed breast before refastening her gown.  She was almost angelic in sleep. 

             
His eyes roamed over her.

    
             
She was woven into his very soul.  His blood raced hot through his veins, quickening his heartbeat, dictating demands to his groin.  He swallowed hard, pushing the amorous thought and starving passion to a place in his heart that would nurture it.  Nurture it until his beautiful countess was ready once again to receive his heart and eternal love to her body and soul again.

    
             
Jared smiled, walking to the door and opening it.  His eyes went from his son to his wife before stepping into the hallway, closing the door behind him.

             
He was very satisfied, indeed, with the new addition to his family.

59

    
             
"Happy New Year, Pa Pa," Nicollette said happily, glancing at the pelican button on her father's waistcoat.  It was the symbol of those who supported secession.

    
             
Charles rose out of his chair in the parlor to embrace his daughter, the two small streamers on the blue cockade moving slightly.  "Happy New Year, Nicollette.  Where's my grandson, young lady?"

    
             
"
Tante
Blanche and Antoinette took him, Pa Pa.  I saw them go upstairs."

    
             
"And where's your husband?  I want to thank him once again for that wonderful Christmas dinner we had at Highland Acres."

    
             
"He knows you enjoyed it.  He's in the stables with Ricard looking at Yvonne's Pride, the horse Ricard retrieved from Baton Rouge.  Come join me for a glass of brandy."  She slipped her arm through her father's and walked to the cabinet holding the liquor.

    
             
"May we join you?" Blanche asked as she and Antoinette came into the room with Jamie.  Except for the green eyes, he was a carbon copy of Jared.  Looking much older than his eight months, he could have easily passed for a year.

    
             
"Jamie!"  Charles instantly abandoned Nicollette in favor of his beautiful grandson, intercepting his daughter, who had rushed forward to take her son into her arms, and instead, drawing the babe into his own arms.

    
             
Nicollette feigned indignation at her father's quick abandonment of her company.  "Well, I see where I stand with your affections.  Come,
Tante
Blanche, Antoinette, the three of us will have a brandy instead."

             
The ladies laughed and joined her at the liquor cabinet.

     *  *  *

             
Jared and Ricard walked out of the stables into the dazzling first day of 1861.

    
             
"Hugh and Robert were very generous to offer their services and knowledge of horses to me.  I do love the noble animals, Jared, and if I ever need to, I'll certainly take advantage of Hugh's and Robert's generosity."

    
             
"As ye should, Ricard," Jared responded as they continued along to the manor.  "The expertise is there for ye."

    
             
Ricard stopped.  "Jared, I know you stayed as long as you did for my father's sake.  I know you care about him.  He's gotten to know little Jamie very well.  But it will still break his heart when you leave as I know you must.  I just want to thank you for your kind consideration of all the Duplantiers."

    
             
Jared regarded the handsome, young face.  "By birthright Nicki is a Duplantier, Ricard.  I also took that into consideration.  Ye've all watched Jamie grow from a premature bairn into the robust, mischievous little lad he is today.  But 'tis time now, Ricard.  I must go and take my rightful place in the house my father bequeathed to me.

    
             
"My birthright and Jamie's," he said with deep emotion.  "My Uncle James is getting old and is insisting I come home to relieve him of his proxy."

    
             
"I understand.  It's just that the way this country is going, I fear there will be war.  South Carolina seceded December twentieth, Jared.  How can a single little state uphold its own independence?"

    
             
"If South Carolina is forced to rejoin the Union, 'twill be no more talk of seceding from any other of yer states," Jared commented.  "I think South Carolina acted foolishly by seceding.  What can Lincoln do with so many in Congress opposed to him?"

    
             
"Your point is valid, Jared.  It isn't that simple anymore, however--"

             
"Was it ever?"

   
             
"No, I guess it wasn't.  If more states vote to leave the Union, it will be the death knell for the Southern way of life."

             
"Aye, 'twill be."

    
             
Ricard ran his hand tensely through his hair.  "Lincoln's and Hannibal's names weren't even carried on the ballots in this state.  Yet they were elected.  It angered many and shocked everyone.  Is it any wonder that four days after Lin
coln was elected the Minute Men of New Orleans was formed, pledg
ing allegiance to Louisiana?"

    
             
Jared looked at his brother-in-law.  Ricard sounded so tor
tured and so torn.  Pray, this national dissension could be solved peacefully, although Jared seriously doubted it.

    
             
"When Moore gave approval for each parish to form one cavalry or infantry company my father demanded to know why I wasn't rush
ing to join.  It was bad enough when I didn't support his deci
sion to mortgage Crescent Wood...."  Ricard's voice trailed off and he bowed his head.  His father suspected where his sentiments lay.  How could Charles not? he mused.  He hadn't even volun
teered to serve in his own parish's company, which was funded by his father and the other planters.

    
             
"Ricard, ye can't ignore yer feelings much longer," Jared counseled.  "Not with the legislature establishing a military board and appropriating a half-million dollars to arm and equip military companies."

             
"If war truly comes to pass, I fear worse that we'll not see you, my sister

and my nephew for a long time again," Ricard said quietly.

    
             
"Then come to Scotland with me, Ricard, until the storm has passed," Jared implored him.  "You and Charles.  Your whole family."

    
             
Ricard stood unmoving for a long moment.  In that span of time, he realized he could never back away from his convictions, whatever he finally decided.

    
             
"Your offer is most appreciated, my good and generous lord, but I'm afraid I cannot.  This is my home.  I was born and raised here.  Like you, Jared, I don't believe in slavery.  Maybe I can make a difference if I stay."

    
             
Jared studied him a few seconds.  "Certainly not in the South, Ricard.  Are ye telling me ye would take up arms against yer neighbors?" he asked, his tone gentle but firm.

    
             
"I can't say what I'm going to do.  I don't know if I could bear to hurt my father again.  He's such a proud man.  But I do realize my moment of decision grows insistently closer."

             
"Ye have a dilemma, my friend.  Ye'll hardly be prepared for the incredible

kinds of emotions yer choice will cause ye." 

    
             
"You're not born of this land.  But there was a time you thought it beautiful.  The kinship you once felt for it shattered with the death of Patricia.  You probably wouldn't have stayed as long as you did if you hadn't nurtured a hatred for me.  You believed so much in your conviction that you even risked hanging for it.  Do you believe I can do less?"