Moontide Embrace (Historical Romance) (42 page)

"You don't even know what I'm talking about, do you?
Dear lord, Bandera, do you never think of anything save
your own wants and pleasures?"

Bandera tossed her sister a scathing glance. "I never
claimed to be perfect like you, Liberty. You go around
with charity and goodness oozing out of your heart, and
you think we will feel obligated to you because you allow us to live off your charity. Sometimes you make me sick."

Bandera's words found their mark, and Liberty realized
for the first time what she must look like in her sister's
eyes. Bandera was not evil; she was just weak, selfish, and
easily used by others. Sebastian had promised her riches
and glory, and Bandera had been willing to betray Judah
to get them.

"Bandera, listen to me. Sebastian has met with the
British, and told them they can use Briar Oaks as their
hospital."

The color drained out of Bandera's face, and she slid out of bed, pulling on her robe. "He had no right to do that. This is not his home!"

"I want him out of here now. You go to him and tell him to pack his belongings and get out."

Bandera whirled on Liberty. "Would you throw your own sister out with nowhere to go?"

"No, I am not that cruel. You and Alicia can stay until
Sebastian can provide a home for you. But I want him out of here today."

Without another word, Liberty went out the door. She
was so distraught that her hands were trembling as she
descended the stairs. Something about Sebastian's atti
tude had frightened her. When she remembered the feel of his wet mouth on hers, she experienced revulsion. She had
intended to tell Bandera about Sebastian's advances to
her, but had decided against it, knowing that would serve
no purpose.

When Liberty reached the landing, she could hear loud voices at the front door. Her blood boiled when she saw several men wearing red uniforms at the entrance. Sebas
tian was talking to one of them and when he saw Liberty,
he smiled.

"What is the meaning of this?" Liberty asked, facing a
soldier with sergeant's stripes on his arm. "This is my house, and you are not welcome here."

The sergeant looked shocked for a moment, but quickly recovered. "Madam, we are here at your husband's invitation. He assured my captain that we could use this home for our hospital."

Liberty glared at Sebastian, who had a satisfied expression on his face. "This man is not my husband, but my
brother-in-law. This is my house, and he is only a guest
here. I do not condone what you are doing to my country,
and I will not have you under my roof. My husband fights for the United States."

The sergeant admired the young lady's spirit and he
thought she was a pretty little thing; but he had his
orders, and he intended to carry them out. Taking Liberty
firmly by the shoulders, he moved her aside and waved to
the litter bearers, indicating that they should bring in the
wounded. "I'm sorry, madam, but I have wounded, and
their needs take precedence over everything else. Where
would you suggest we set up our hospital?"

Sebastian stepped forward, taking command. "I believe
the salon would be the best place."

Liberty froze, horror on her face, when she saw that one of the wounded was a young boy with a bloodstained bandage around his forehead. He was so young and in such pain that her heart went out to him. No
matter if he was an enemy, she could not turn a wounded
human being away. Was he not one of God's creatures?"

"No, the salon catches the morning sun and you would
have to keep the curtains closed. The ballroom would be
the best place for your wounded. It is larger." Liberty
brushed Sebastian aside. If the British were going to be in
her home, she was going to be in charge, not Sebastian.

She walked down the hall to the back of the house, thinking how angry Judah would be when he discovered
the enemy was at Briar Oaks. Suddenly, she realized the
danger he would be in if he attempted to see her. She had
to find a way to warn him not to come!

Liberty threw the double doors open and stepped aside.
"You may use this room, Sergeant, but be warned, I do
not want your men to interfere in any way with me or my
family. The upstairs, and the front of the house are off limits to you. You will always use the back entrance and-"

"Excuse me for interrupting, madam, but you don't seem to understand. We are taking over your house. I
would have been willing to be reasonable, but you seem to
be hostile toward us. I would advise that you go to your
room and stay there until the captain gets here and decides what to do with you."

"I will not!" Liberty replied, defiance flaming in her eyes. "No one tells me what to do in my house."

The sergeant smiled at her spunk as he motioned for
two of his men to come forward. "Escort the lady to her
room, and see that she stays there until further notice."

One of the men looked at Liberty with sympathetic eyes. "After you, madam," he told her.

Liberty caught the satisfied smile on Sebastian's face.
He had gone too far this time. Something had to be done about him. He was an unfeeling animal who would do
anything to get what he wanted. Holding her head high, and setting her eyes straight ahead, Liberty sailed out of
the room with the two guards right behind her.

The house seemed unusually quiet. Liberty had opened her bedroom door several times, but the guard stationed
beside it had motioned her back into the room. She paced
about while anger ate at her mind. Yes, Sebastian has gone too far, she thought. Judah will never allow him to get away with this.

The door was thrust open, and Liberty turned to see her sister carrying a tray of food. "Merry Christmas, Liberty," Bandera said with a smile. "I hope you didn't think that we had forgotten about you. Would I forget my sweet little sister?" Sarcasm threaded her words.

Liberty went to the bed and sat down. "Surely you
cannot be happy about what has taken place here today,
Bandera."

Placing the tray on a table and shrugging her shoulders, Bandera turned to her sister. "Why should I care
who wins in this war?" Laughter bubbled from her lips.
"No, that isn't true. You see, if the English win, which
Sebastian assures me they will, he believes they will give
us Briar Oaks for being loyal to them." Her eyes clouded.
"It isn't Bend of the River, but if the British clear the debts, Sebastian thinks we can live very comfortably here."

Liberty stared at her sister in amazement. "I always
thought you were featherheaded, Bandera, but I never
took you for a fool. How many promises has Sebastian
made to you, and then broken? He always has these
schemes, and you go along with him. The British are not
going to win this war, and even if they did, they could not
overturn my father's will. Why don't you use your head
for a change and stop letting Sebastian do your thinking
for you? Besides, Sebastian would never be able to make
Briar Oaks prosper. It would take too much of his time away from gambling."

Bandera was thoughtful for a moment. "I wish
Maman
were here. She would know what was best to do."

"Bandera, listen to me, Sebastian is using you. Wake up
and see for yourself."

Confusion registered in Bandera's eyes. "I don't know. I
need to think."

"Bandera, you have to send Oralee to me. I need to get
a message to Judah."

A smile spread over her sister's face. "Sebastian told me
you would suggest something like that. It isn't me who is the fool, but you, Liberty. You think Judah is so wonder
ful. Do you know why he married you?"

"I don't delude myself into thinking he is dying of love
for me, Bandera. We both know that Judah loves you."

Bandera's eyes narrowed. It was Liberty who was the
simpleton. Bandera had seen the admiration and love in
Judah's eyes when he'd looked at her sister. Jealousy
burned in her heart, taking precedence over every other
feeling.. Finally she knew how to bring her sister tumbling
off her pedestal. She was tired of feeling inferior to Liberty.

"I know why Judah married you, Liberty. It was the
only way he could get his hands on Bend of the River. I
happen to know that Monsieur Gustave told Judah the only way he could inherit his fortune was by marrying you. It seems the old man has always fancied you.
Anyway he told Judah if he married me he would be cut
out of his will."

Liberty didn't believe Bandera for a moment, but the
words stung all the same. "That is just another lie spun by
Sebastian. Judah does not care about Bend of the River."

"Sebastian wasn't the one who told me about Monsieur Gustave's stipulations, Liberty, because he doesn't know
about it. I didn't tell him, fearing he might try to marry
you himself, so he could have Bend of the River. I heard
this from Judah himself. If you don't believe me, ask his
grandfather. For that matter, the next time you see Judah,
ask him . . . unless you are afraid to hear the truth."

Something in Bandera's eyes made Liberty believe her.
No, she cried silently. Do not let this be true! She tried to
smile, but did not succeed. "I cannot believe that, Bandera. Judah would never marry a woman for—"

"You admitted yourself that he didn't love you. Why else do you suppose he married you?"

Liberty had believed Judah had married her because he
thought he had ruined her. Now she wasn't so sure. Doubt and pain walked hand in hand through her mind. "I won't
listen to you. Sebastian has poisoned your mind, and you
are beginning to think like he does."

At that moment Bandera's eyes fell on the white velvet
gown that had been carefully draped over the foot of the
bed. "What is this?" she asked, picking up the lovely garment and holding it up to her. "Where did you get this?"

"It is a Christmas gift from Judah," Liberty answered,
only half attending to her sister. Her mind was in a turmoil. She was a prisoner in her own home, and she had just learned something very disturbing about her
husband. Liberty didn't know where to turn for help. She
had already decided, that if she wasn't released tomorrow,
she would climb out the window tomorrow night.

Bandera smiled. "Since you cannot come downstairs and enjoy the lovely Christmas dinner with us, I think I will just borrow this gown from you."

"Do as you wish," Liberty said dully. "But I doubt it will fit you."

"It has a wide hem, and Oralee can let it out. Cheer up,
little sister. You wouldn't like dining with us tonight
anyway. You see, we are entertaining some of our new
found English friends. There will be two doctors, and a
captain." Laughter trilled from her throat. "It's amusing
when you think about it. The British will be dining on the
food Judah sent to you. Do you think he would be angry if he knew he was furnishing the enemy with Christmas
dinner?"

"Just leave," Liberty said, bending down and picking
up the shoes that Judah had sent to her to wear with the
dress, and tossing them at Bandera. "You may as well have the complete outfit. I hope your friends choke on their dinner."

"My, my, but we are vicious.
Maman
would not approve you know."

"Maman
never approved of anything I did, Bandera. I
was always a disappointment to her."

A smile played on Bandera's lips. "I know. I made sure
that she saw only the worst of you. I could make her
believe anything I wanted to. You wouldn't believe the
things I made up about you. She was horrified that she
had given birth to such a rebellious child." Bandera's eyes
grew cold. "Papa always saw through my little schemes.
He wasn't as easy to fool as
Maman
was."

Liberty felt the life drain out of her. She had the feeling
no one cared what happened to her. "Please leave, Ban
dera. I no longer want to talk to you."

"It's too bad we could never be friends, Liberty. But
you always thought you were superior to me —you who
had the father with the aristocratic French blood, while my father was from a poor Spanish family."