Moontide Embrace (Historical Romance) (20 page)

But Sebastian had been very clever. If the plan worked, she would soon be installed at Bend of the River as his wife. An involuntary shudder shook her. She could not stand it when Sebastian touched her, and his lovemaking left her feeling unfulfilled.

Bandera thought of Judah Slaughter and she remembered how she had trembled at his touch. There had been moments when he had almost made her forget her goal in life. How beautiful it could have been if only ... if only . . .

Judah moaned as he regained consciousness. Pain pinned him to the hard ground and he could not see anything because it was pitch-black. He tried to rise, but he gasped and fell back. A strange weakness held him in its grasp. Where was he? What had happened?

After struggling, he managed to get to his knees. He reached out his hand, and it came in contact with a splintery wall. Dear, lord, what was happening to him? Where was he?

A feeling of nausea rose up inside him. Gasping for breath, he fell backward. He felt something sticky run
ning down his face, and knew it was blood. What was the
unbearable pain in his chest? he wondered. Feeling light
headed, he rolled over on his side, trying to find relief. Soon unconsciousness took him to a soft dark world where there was no pain and no memory of betrayal.

9

Gustave Montesquieu stood at the window watching the last of the guests depart while he waited for Sebastian. Moses had told him everything that had happened, and Gustave was angry. He cursed the sickness that kept him prisoner in the house. How could an evening that had started with such promise, end in such tragedy? He stared out the window vacantly, unaware that rain fell to the earth in heavy drops and pelted against the glass windowpanes. He wanted some answers, and he wanted them immediately!

Since Judah had come to Bend of the River, Gustave had found a new joy in life. It had sharpened his wits to bandy words with his grandson. Where was Judah? Why had he not come forward to face his accusers? His jaw tightened. He wanted Sebastian and Bandera to stand before him and repeat those ludicrous accusations.

He was an old man, who felt all of his eighty-three years tonight. No one could make him believe that Judah had committed the atrocity of which he had been accused, especially not Sebastian.

When Gustave heard the swish of silk and the hurried footsteps, he turned to see his daughter rushing toward him. Her face was pale and he could tell she had been crying.

"Papa," she cried, running forward and dropping to her knees before him. "It isn't true, it isn't true. Judah could never have committed the monstrous deed he has been accused of. Someone is not telling the truth."

"Have done with your whimpering,
Madame.
The seed of your body has caused enough grief for one night. He does not need your tears."

She reached out her hand to him pleadingly. "Allow me to see my son. No one will tell me where he is being kept. If you have ever loved me, Papa, have mercy. You know in your heart that no son of mine would ever attack an innocent girl."

Gustave laid a trembling hand on his daughter's head. "Bandera is no innocent. I have my suspicious as to who is behind tonight's business, but nothing was ever gained by hasty action. Have no fear, I will get to the bottom of this,
ma petite.
I wait only for them to dig themselves into a hole, so I can push the dirt in after them."

Gabrielle gazed up into her father's face. "You believe Judah innocent, Papa, I know you do. I can see it in your eyes."

"If he is innocent, he will suffer no more than this one night under lock and key. Tomorrow I intend to take a hand in this matter."

Grateful tears ran down Gabrielle's cheeks. "I have heard that Judah was hurt, Papa. May I see him and tend his wounds?"

"No. I have sent for a doctor to look after him. I have heard that your son suffers from no more than a scratch." The lie did not come easily to Gustave's lips. Moses had told him that Judah had been shot, but he did not know how serious the wound was and he did not see any reason to worry Gabrielle at this time. He had already ordered Sebastian to have his grandson brought to the house at once.

"Take comfort in the fact that tomorrow your son will be reinstated to his rightful place. Now off to bed with you, before you wear my nerves thin."

Gabrielle smiled half-heartedly. "I shan't sleep, know
ing Judah is locked away."

"If you trust me, Gabrielle, do as I say. You have my
promise that I shall get to the bottom of this. Go and
rest. I will send you word as soon as I hear anything."
Gustave turned his eyes back to the window, and watched
rain make runnels down the glass panes. "Leave me in peace so I might untangle this web of truths and untruths."

"You promise you will let me know, no matter how late
it is?"

"You have my word." The old man was so deep in thought, that he did not hear his daughter depart. His
senses became alert only when, moments later, he heard
the sound of Sebastian's familiar footsteps.

"I was told you wanted to see me, Uncle. Forgive me for not coming at once, but I had pressing business."

Gustave glanced up through bushy eyebrows and
sneered.
"Oui,
the business of betraying someone of your
own blood could be referred to as pressing business."

Sebastian seated himself on the window seat and stared
at his uncle, knowing he must proceed carefully. "If you do not believe me, at least believe Bandera. I can assure
you that if I had not come along when I did, Judah would have raped her."

"I would sooner believe the deed of you. It was always your style to sneak around corners and practice mischief.
When you were a boy, you would torture the plantation
horses and dogs, and later my slaves bore the mark of
your cruel deeds. At that time I realized you were slightly
mad. I did not know how mad until tonight."

"Those were a young boy's pranks. I — "

"So your mother tried to convince me at the time. I
know about you, Sebastian. You are unscrupulous and
ambitious. You always wanted Bend of the River, and you
know Judah stands in your way. You chose to remove him
as a threat."

"No, I would never—"

Gustave broke in. "Let me finish. You and Bandera
cooked this up, but you forgot one very important thing.
You forgot I am not so easily duped."

"My God, Uncle Gustave, Bandera would not lie about
something like this. Do you think she wanted all our friends to know about her shame? This will be a cruel blow to her reputation. She was so overwrought, that I had to send her home."

Gustave whirled around and snarled. "I will not believe his guilt until I hear it from his own lips. Where is Judah?
Why have you not brought him to the house? Moses gave
you my order."

"Our neighbors became so incensed when they saw
what had happened, they would have done Judah bodily
harm if I had not insisted on locking him in the tack room. I can assure you it was done for his protection."

"What devilish plan is afoot here? I order you to bring
Judah to this house immediately. I thought many things
about you, Sebastian, but I never thought you would betray one of your own kind. It seems I was wrong."

To Sebastian, it appeared that his uncle had aged right
before his eyes. His frail hands shook as they rested against the arms of the leather chair.

"How badly is my grandson hurt?" The old man
asked, his voice so low, Sebastian had to lean forward to
hear him.

"He had been wounded. I am sure you have already
heard I had to shoot him to get him away from Bandera.
He was like a mad man."

"Damn you, Sebastian, you will pay for this," Gustave
roared. "How dare you take it upon yourself to harm my
grandson? I will have you horsewhipped."

Sebastian's eyes blazed. "I had hoped you would believe
me. After all, you have known me all my life. What do you know about Judah Slaughter?"

"I know Judah is as honorable, as you are dishonor
able. You covet what I have, while he wants no part of it.
You are a disgrace to me and to the Montesquieu name."

"You never had anything good to say about my son!" Alicia Montesquieu screamed, stepping from her hiding place behind the draperies at the end of the room. "I have
stayed with you when your own daughter turned her back
on you. My son has always carried out your orders as if
he were one of the slaves. We have lived on your crumbs
and abided by your wishes. Now you want to replace my
son with an outsider, Judah Slaughter! I will not be shoved aside by this upstart and his mother!"

Gustave shook his cane at Alicia. "You can take what
ever you believe is owed to you,
Madame,
and leave this
house tonight. I will tolerate your presence here no longer.
I should have put you and your son out long ago."

There was madness in Alicia's eyes as she flung herself on the frail old man. She licked the foam from her lips as
she pinned him back in the chair. "I will see you dead!"
she screamed, trying to take the cane away from him. "I
hate you and your precious daughter and grandson," she
muttered, finally gaining possession of the cane and striking Gustave with the heavy gold tip.

Sebastian rushed forward and grabbed his mother, us
ing all of his strength to restrain her. There was horror on
his face as he saw the blood that flowed from his uncle's
forehead. He shoved his mother against the wall, and
slapped her twice across the face in an effort to calm her.

"He is badly injured!" Sebastian cried, going down on
his knees and lifting his uncle's limp hand to his cheek.
Gustave's eyes were closed, and he appeared to be dead or
unconscious. "All I ever wanted was your approval, Uncle Gustave," Sebastian said in a strangely tender voice. "You
never saw me as I wanted you to. I wanted Bend of the River, but I did not want you dead to get it."

Sebastian buried his face in his hands and sobbed like a
baby while Alicia dropped down beside him. "I just saw
his eyelids flicker, Sebastian. We had better finish him off,
before he calls for help."

Sebastian shoved his mother away as his thoughts
became more rational. "You are not to touch him, do you
hear me? Where is Moses?"

Alicia's eyes cleared. "Gustave sent him after the doc
tor."

"Good," he said. Tenderly picking up his uncle's body, he started for the stairs, while Alicia merely stood by,
wringing her hands and moaning. Sebastian spoke to her
sharply. "Run ahead of me and make sure none of the
servants are about."

Alicia dashed across the floor, knowing she had gone too far on this. If the old man lived, he would force her to leave, or perhaps he would have her arrested. She
hoped he would die because that would solve all their
problems. Sebastian might be angry at her for now, but in
time he would realize that she had done the right thing.

Sebastian carried his light burden up the stairs and into
the master suite. He gently laid Gustave on the bed. Then
he picked up a cloth and attempted to wipe the blood
from his uncle's face. He knew he could never allow his
uncle to regain consciousness.

For just a moment he bowed his head in sorrow. Then
he pulled the mosquito net down around the bed, and picked up the lamp from the round table.

"I send you to hell, Uncle Gustave, and Bend of the River along with you."

"No, no, what are you doing?" his mother cried when
she realized he was going to burn the house down. "Are
you mad! You will ruin everything!"

Sebastian pushed Alicia toward the door before he threw the lamp against the wall, and watched as hungry flames ignited the mosquito netting.

"You have done it, Sebastian," Alicia cried. "Now we
shall have nothing."

Sebastian shivered, thinking how horrible it would be
to be burned alive. There was no longer any anger in him,
only sadness, and cold, calculating reason. "Come and
help me push the bookshelf against Gabrielle's door. She
must not be allowed to escape the fire either."

Unable to sleep, Gabrielle heard the sound of the heavy
piece of furniture being shoved against her door. As she sat up in bed, she smelled smoke! Without bothering to pull on her robe, she ran to the door and pushed against it, but it would not budge. Pounding on it, she cried out in fear as the smell of smoke crept into her room.

"Papa!" she cried, knowing his room was just next-door. "Papa, help me!"

Sebastian led his mother toward the stairs, trying to calm her. "Do not tell anyone I have been here,
Maman.
It must look as if I was not here when the fire started. I
have to make everyone believe that Judah started the fire."

Alicia stared in disbelief at the flames that were devour
ing the second floor. "You have ruined it all!" she cried.
"The house will be destroyed!"

"Do not be addle-brained,
Maman.
A house can be rebuilt. Do as I say, and we will still come out of this."

Sebastian slipped out the back door and headed toward
the barn, while his mother, on his instructions, ran out the front, screaming: "Fire, fire!"

It appeared that the whole second floor was in flames.
Somewhere in the recess of the house screams could be heard. Slaves came running from their quarters and im
mediately began a bucket brigade.

No one saw Sebastian make his way toward the barn,
because he took advantage of the confusion that was
brought on by the fire. He grabbed an axe from the wall
and smashed the rusted lock on the tack room. With an ominous creak, the door swung open, and Sebastian
cautiously stepped inside. The flames from the fire gave
off enough light to allow him to find his way to Judah.
With considerable effort, he hoisted the body of his
unconscious cousin upon his shoulder. Staggering to a
horse, he then slung Judah across the animal and led the
beast out the side door.