Emerald Ecstasy (36 page)

Raoul nodded. A quicksilver flash of a smile lit up his face for a moment. “We must keep her calm, very calm.”

“Ah.” Josephine began to see why the vial was needed. “Trust me, señor. I shall take good care of your lady.”

“Wife, Josephine. She is my wife,” Raoul corrected.

“Oui,”
the maid said, much pleased. She would have a job for a very long time.

Daniel gazed with love at the woman whose red-gold hair fanned the pillows. He watched the gentle rise and fall of her breasts beneath the cover. A feeling of such love swept over him that he knelt beside her bed and took her slim hand in his. He pressed the fingertips to his mouth. She stirred in her sleep, the coral-tinged lips opened a bit as a breath escaped.

Never in his life had he felt so protective of another human being. This was the woman he loved, the mother of his daughter. He'd be damned if he'd let Raoul de Lovis steal her away from them again, not after he had found her! Lianne belonged at Green Meadows in his bed, not in the bed of a Mexican silver king who reeked of cruelty. Why was Lianne so frightened of Raoul?

“Have courage, my love,” he whispered. “You can fight him. Only you can free yourself.”

She gave a soft whimper, and he hoped she had heard him. Tenderly he kissed her lips and left her to Josephine's ministrations.

Lianne fingered the embroidered sunburst on the bed coverlet and watched Josephine as she took the silk and taffeta gowns from the wardrobe and ordered one of the house maids to press them.

“Within the next few days we leave for San Augustin de las Cuevas,” Josephine explained and handed the gowns to the waiting maid who soon left the room. “By then you shall be strong enough to make the trip with Don Raoul. He thinks you need time away from Mexico City, and I hear San Augustin is quite exciting this time of year. There are dances, card games until all hours of the night, and I also hear that the ladies change their clothes six times a day! I know you shall be the most beautiful lady there.” Josephine shot Lianne a bright smile which Lianne didn't feel strong enough to acknowledge.

One of the maids returned and declared that the Aztec girl who did the ironing had scorched Lianne's best green silk. Instantly Josephine left the bedroom to examine the damage. Lianne sighed and lifted her gaze to the salmon-colored ceiling and watched the sunlight as it filtered through the windows. She attempted to count the tiny specks of dust dancing within the beam. But even this activity was too much for her. She would have turned her attention to the myriad of roses in crystal vases on every table in the room which Raoul had ordered cut from the garden, but was too listless to care.

What's wrong with me? she wondered. She was so tired lately, so unenthusiastic about everything. The miscarriage had occurred over three weeks ago, and she didn't feel any better. When Doctor Morales examined her a few days earlier, he said she'd soon regain her strength, that rest was needed. However, she didn't miss the worried look in his eyes. She hadn't seen the man since. Raoul told her she didn't need a doctor's care any longer, that Josephine could care for her as well as any physician. She must rest and not worry.

Lianne did worry. She worried about Daniel, but could barely summon the strength to even pen a note to him. Once she thought she had heard his voice coming from the hallway one night, but had been too tired to care if he had returned. She only remembered that when the sharp pains struck her in the church, he had been the one to grab her before she slid to the floor. He was the one who carried her to the coach and held her against him until they arrived home. Not Raoul. In her mind's eye she still saw the hatred shining on his dark face for Daniel, and in the warmth of the morning, she shivered.

Maria returned and with her she held a silver tray. On the tray was Lianne's glass of orange juice.

“Here you are,
ma petite
,” Josephine sang out. “Drink this and you shall have strength.”

Lianne wrinkled her nose. “No,” she said weakly.

“You must drink. Shall I tell the señor that you don't wish to recover and go to San Augustin with him? He shall be much displeased.”

Lianne didn't have the strength to argue with the woman. However, she knew the juice wouldn't make her feel any better, but worse. Every morning for weeks she had drunk the orange juice which tasted bitter instead of sweet. Afterward, she would grow sleepier and more lethargic, but now Josephine insisted and helped raise her to a sitting position.

A knock sounded on the door just as Josephine positioned the glass to Lianne's mouth. “Who is it?” she called.

“Felix. I should like to see Dona Lianne,” came the voice from the other side of the door.

Before Josephine could protest, Lianne reached weakly for her sleeve to get her attention. “Let him in.”

“But you must drink your juice.”

“Let him in,” Lianne repeated.

Josephine sighed. “Very well, but not for long.” She placed the glass on the table next to the bed and opened the door. Lianne waved her out of the room as Felix entered.

He entered hesitantly and shut the door. “I hope you're well, señora.”

Lianne managed a weak smile. “I'll be all right.”

Felix didn't think so. He thought she looked terrible, a pale shell of her former vibrant self. Her eyes were lackluster, her lips had no color, and her movements seemed heavy. She looked as his sister had looked after the woman took her baby, but Inez had said it was only the powder the woman had made her swallow for the pain.

She inclined her head a bit, and he understood she meant for him to sit in the chair alongside the bed. Before he sat he withdrew the hand he had hidden behind his back and presented a red rose to her. “I hope this brightens up your room,” he said, intimidated by the perfumed beauty wafting from the vases surrounding them.

Lianne took it in her hand. “I shall treasure it, Felix.”

“Does Don Raoul treat you well?”

Lianne nodded. “Most kind.”

“I noticed Diego Gonzalez is around often lately. I understand he plans to marry Señorita Carmen. This marriage must not happen.”

“Why not?”

“Because Diego Gonzalez is the man who was with Don Raoul that night with my sister. Gonzalez is the one who threw me in my room like an animal. Señorita Carmen is not very kind to me, but she doesn't deserve such a fate as the wife of Diego Gonzalez. He'll abuse her.”

Tears welled in Lianne's eyes. “I pity her, Felix, but you see how things are. I can't help her. Right now I'm so weak I can barely sit up.”

“Forgive me,” Felix said at once. His dark shaggy hair fell across his forehead. “I should not have bothered you.” He spied the orange juice glass on the table and picked it up. “Drink this, señora. You shall be strong.”

“No, Felix. It tastes bitter and never helps anyway.”

Felix took a taste and made a face. The juice was bitter, not sweet like oranges at all. His eyes widened. With Lianne looking on, he walked to a potted plant and dumped the juice into the soil.

“Felix!” Lianne admonished him but her eyes sparkled at his daring.

The dark eyes which lighted upon her were serious. “Señora, when Josephine returns, pretend you have drunk the juice. Do not drink any more of this. It was drugged.”

Suddenly Lianne understood why she hadn't sufficiently recovered. Josephine had drugged her every day for weeks. But why? Then the answer came to her. Raoul must have instigated this as a way of keeping her from Daniel.

“What am I to do?” she asked Felix.

“You must run away from here.”

“I can't walk, much less run.”

Felix nodded, considering. Then he said, “I shall get someone to help you. I shall find Daniel Flanders. He has been here many times the last few days but always he is turned away by Diego or Don Raoul. The back of the house is even watched by extra men, so he can't possibly get past any of them. But never fear. I shall help you and before this day is over, you'll be in the arms of your beloved.”

“No,” Lianne said. “Please don't risk your safety for me, or Daniel. Raoul is a dangerous man.”

“You don't need to tell me that, Dona Lianne. I was there the night he forced a child upon my sister. I must help you since I was unable to help her.
Adios
, señora. Until tonight.”

He left the room just as Josephine returned. “I don't like that boy,” she commented drily but smiled to see that Lianne had finished the juice.

Despite the fact that Lianne hadn't drunk the juice that morning, by late afternoon she still felt listless and woke with a start to realize that the sun had set. She stirred and sat up. Her fingers trembled as she righted the quilt over her and wondered how Daniel and Felix would free her from Raoul. Though she wished to leave, a sense of dread filled her. What would happen if Raoul stopped them before she escaped?

Almost as if sensing she thought about him, Raoul entered the bedroom. He approached her bed and smiled at her. The deepening shadows of the evening spilled forth, enclosing the room in gloom, but she saw the flash of his white teeth.

“I'm glad you're awake,
querida
. You sleep a great deal of the time lately.”

“Yes, I do,” she readily agreed. “I'd prefer not to be confined to this bed.”

“I think in a few days you'll be well again,” he said pleasantly.

“Just in time for our trip to San Augustin de las Cuevas.” She grit her teeth because she knew he drugged her to keep her under control until it was time to leave the city.

He studied her for a moment, a puzzled expression on his face. Finally he sat beside her on the bed and enfolded her hand in his. “I love you, Lianne. I hope you understand how much. I promise to be a good husband.” He hesitated a moment and an emotion flitted across his face, a look of such pain she had never thought to see. In all the time we've been together you've never told me … you love me.”

She sucked in her breath, unable to believe what she heard. How could such a worldly man as Raoul hope to gain her love, her affections, by kidnapping her from the man she loved, from the child she adored? Was he so unfeeling, or just used to having his way by whatever means? A part of her did feel something for him because, despite the absurd situation in which she found herself, Raoul had provided well for her. Yet she knew he was an evil man, although he could sometimes feel pity or love like other human beings. However, none of these qualities were enough to whitewash the vice. But an inner voice warned her to be careful, to tread softly with Raoul. She mustn't unknowingly give away her hope that tonight she'd be free of him. He was a man who loved to play games and come out the winner. She decided for once to play along.

“I am grateful for your care of me,” she said at last.

“That's not the answer I hoped for, Lianne, but if you had told me you were madly in love with me, I'd not have believed you.” He sighed and stood up to light the candles in the room. The flickering light illumined the white of his shirt and emphasized the proud aristocratic profile. “At least you have grown to appreciate my care of you. I suppose I'm grateful for that. But tell me why you haven't asked about Daniel these past few weeks?”

He turned to face her. The ominous black patch which hid his bad eye did little to ease the trembling that suddenly afflicted her. She hid her hands beneath the covers, not prepared for this question.

“I didn't know you expected me to ask about him, Raoul. To be honest I haven't thought about much at all since I lost our child.”

“Do you love Daniel?”

“Shall I tell you the truth or a lie?” she inquired.

Raoul cocked an eyebrow. “The truth, by all means.”

“A part of me will always love him. He is my child's father, but our love was doomed from the beginning. My place is here with you. I realize that now.”

She scanned his face in the hope that he believed her. She must escape him tonight. She must!

Apparently he found her convincing, because he visibly relaxed. Sitting beside her again, he drew her into his arms and kissed her gently. When he released her lips, he said, “You've made me the happiest of men,
querida
.”

Her heart lurched. Raoul truly loved her and this surprised her. However, she knew she'd never be able to return the emotion. The quiet of the room, the intensity of Raoul's gaze upon her, washed over her but when a knock sounded on the door, she started.

“You're too nervous,” Raoul noted and his voice rang out to admit entrance to Josephine. She announced the arrival of Diego for supper.

“Perhaps you should join us,” he said to Lianne.

She paled and protested she didn't feel well enough to eat. Raoul frowned and as he left the room with Josephine she heard him say to the woman, “No more juice in the mornings.”

A sigh of satisfaction escaped from between Lianne's lips, and she settled back onto the pillows. So Raoul trusted her now. She listened to the noises drifting from the garden and heard only the sound of locusts, an occasional bark of a dog. In the dining room she discerned the laughter of Raoul and Diego. She grew nervous, and she had no idea what to expect. Should she dress? But she was still weak and doubted she'd be able to walk the short distance to the wardrobe.