Deceive Not My Heart (39 page)

Dominic grinned at him. "Now that's an odd statement coming from you. Can you actually be thinking 'no place like home'?"

Morgan frowned. "I don't know. I only know that I'm damned glad to be here... and glad to know that my charming, lying wife hasn't managed to disappear behind my back."

Dominic's grin faded. A troubled expression on his young face, he said slowly. "I don't think she had the resources
to
disappear. I'd wager my entire inheritance that if it hadn't taken every bit of ready money she possessed to get them all here, she
would
have disappeared despite anything I might have done to stop her."

Looking thoughtful, Morgan sipped his whiskey. "How do you know it took all her money to reach here? For that matter that the lot of them really did come from New Orleans? We have only her word for it!"

"I know you're going to think I'm vacillating, but damn it, Morgan, there are times I actually believe what she says... or at least
some
of it," Dominic admitted uncomfortably. "I'm so confused I don't know what to believe anymore. You say you didn't marry her, and I'll take your word for it. On the other hand, there are things that Leonie says that I believe also."

"For instance?"

"Well, I believe that they did all live in that old rundown plantation she talks about." Glancing at Morgan he asked, "Did you happen to pay close attention to her clothes and hands before you left for Baton Rouge?"

His brow furrowed in concentration Morgan thought back, remembering the faded old green gown she had worn and the singular sameness of the gown she had worn for dinner. He tried to remember her hands, but the memory of her soft, impudent mouth got in the way and somewhat abruptly he answered, "The clothes can be discounted. It would be stupid of anyone telling the story that she is, to wear anything
but
old, worn clothing. As for her hands, no, I didn't pay them much attention. I generally do not make a study of a woman's hands." A sudden gleam of amusement flickering in the blue eyes, he added dulcetly, "They have such other interesting facets, you understand."

Dominic smiled faintly. "Agreed. And I don't usually notice their hands either, but in her case I did. If you'd have been around a bit longer before leaving for Baton Rouge I'm certain you would have discovered the calluses on her palms. You won't see them as clearly now, but at first her hands showed plainly that she had worked, worked hard and not just the sort of lady's nonsense that maman does with a needle to amuse herself. I mean hard, physical work, Morgan. And when father talks of planting and the like, she has no trouble following him. Every other female I know, including maman, doesn't understand a word of farming and planting, but Leonie
does.
She even offered one or two suggestions about rotating the cotton fields that impressed father. She may be an adventuress, I'll grant you that, she might even be a scheming little cheat, but she also, I think, did do the things she claims to have done."

Morgan looked at him consideringly. After a long moment he asked, "You will concede the fact, won't you, that she is obviously after money?"

Dominic flushed and replied, "I'll admit that. But I'm not so certain that it's greed that motivates her." Fiddling with his glass, he added softly, "The morning you left, when I told her about it, somewhat gleefully I'm ashamed to confess, it was like I'd given her a facer. And it wasn't so much that you had left, but the fact that I implied you might not be back for weeks, instead of days, that disturbed her. She wanted the money, I can't deny that, and it all might have been a clever act to gain my sympathy, I don't know, but I'd swear she was genuinely upset by the news. Not because she couldn't get the money from you, but because of the fact that even if you gave her the money when you returned it would be too late to save the Chateau."

"Save it? I thought it was already lost... or has she changed her tale?"

"I don't know that she's changed her tale, so much as she's telling more than she did to begin with. Seems some old neighbor of theirs held a note against the place and when he died, his heir demanded restitution. She had nothing to pay him with but the Chateau." Meeting Morgan's skeptical gaze, he said bluntly, "That place meant a lot to her. There was a note in her voice—I don't know... something that made me think of how I would feel if Bonheur were sold to a stranger."

"That's hardly proof she's telling the truth, Dom."

"Don't you think I don't know it?" Dominic burst out irritably. "That's what has me in such confusion. She damn well doesn't
act
like an adventuress!"

"And you, of course, have known so many," Morgan drawled mockingly.

Dominic glared at him. Then taking a hasty gulp of his whiskey, he said almost apologetically, "I'm not saying that she isn't still trying to get money out of you, I'm only saying that she might not be quite as black as we first thought."

Regarding his dusty foot somewhat blankly, Morgan finally said, "You might be right. Perhaps she is telling intricate tales of half-truth, half-lies—tales that are damned difficult to disprove simply because they
are
half-true."

Eagerly Dominic sat forward on the edge of his chair. "That's what I think. And if we go on the premise that not everything she says is a lie, that she is partially telling the truth, won't that make our task easier? I mean won't we have something more to go by?"

Morgan sighed. "Hell, I don't know. Maybe. Maybe not. I foresee a trip to New Orleans soon, though. That's where this tangle started and that's where I'm afraid I'll have to go to sort it out."

Setting down his glass, Morgan ran a hand across his forehead. "Right now nothing makes sense to me. It was a wasted journey to Baton Rouge, and I'm not even certain now why I was so positive that seeing Gaylord was absolutely vital to unraveling this mare's nest!"

The door to the study opened just then and startled, both men turned to stare in that direction. Litchfield haughtily strolled across the room, and deposited on a table near the chair where Morgan sat a large silver tray heaped with slices of cold roast beef and ham, as well as golden brown biscuits and a large hunk of yellow cheese. His face expressionless he said coolly, "If you
will
insist upon remaining up for the night, I suggest that some sustenance is in order."

Aware of how hungry he was, Morgan sent him a slow, grateful smile. Affectionately he said, "Litchfield, have I ever told you that I'd sell my last horse before I'd let you leave my service?"

Litchfield looked down his long nose and sniffed. "Frequently, sir, but usually only when you are in your cups." Turning away he marched from the room leaving Morgan and Dominic to stare helplessly at each other before bursting into laughter.

Biting into a slice of roast beef with relish a few seconds later Dominic admitted, "I can see why you sing his praises so highly, but damn, Morgan, he scares me to death!"

Morgan only grinned. "He takes a bit of getting used to, I can tell you that, but I'm not lying when I say I couldn't do without him." Pushing aside the remains of his repast, Morgan looked at Dominic and asked suddenly, "Are you ever going to tell me why I found you sleeping in my study?"

Chapter 19

"Oh, that!" Dominic replied easily. "Well, it goes back to what I was telling you about the housebreakers and maman wanting a man in the house at night, and Leonie objecting to it. You know how maman will not rest until things are arranged to her satisfaction...?" At Morgan's amused nod, he went on, "Maman wanted me here and Leonie didn't. So in order to keep both of them happy, for the past few nights I've been slipping in here after everyone has gone to sleep and dozing until dawn, before returning to Bonheur." Stifling a yawn, he admitted, "I'm glad you're back, because I don't know how many more nights I could go on. Or how long before Leonie discovered what I was up to." Giving a mock shudder, he said, "She'd have my ears for breakfast if she knew what I was up to."

"You mean she
doesn't?"
Morgan asked astonished.

Dominic grimaced. "I don't know. Sometimes I convince myself that I am so stealthy in entering the house that no one can hear me, and yet at other times, especially when Leonie looks at me a certain way, I'm almost positive she
does
know and is simply keeping quiet in order to avoid open warfare with maman."

"That bad, is it?"

"No, it's not really that bad," Dominic replied slowly. "I think both of them, after a few early skirmishes, have taken each other's measure and have decided that they've met their match. Maman won't admit it, but I suspect she likes Leonie, and Leonie is such a self-contained little thing that I can't tell for sure, but I think that under different circumstances, she would enjoy being friends with maman. As it is, she views all of us with such suspicion that she won't let herself like any of us."

"Suspicion?" Morgan inquired incredulously. "She's suspicious of
us?"

"Uh-huh. She's made it quite clear that she believes that all of us are shielding you. If the situation weren't so damned serious I'd find it amusing." A note of awe in his voice, Dominic added, "She's by far and away the best little actress I've ever seen. If I didn't know you better, I'd swear she was telling the truth."

Morgan viewed his brother sourly. "Well, I
am
telling the truth! I didn't marry her! And Justin's not my son and I'm not going to be blackmailed into paying any money either."

Not meeting Morgan's eyes, Dominic muttered, "Might have to."

Ominously Morgan demanded, "And what, little brother, do you mean by that?"

"She's laid the entire thing before the magistrate."

"What?"

Dominic made a face. "Just what I said. Father tried to dissuade her, and the rest of us talked ourselves hoarse, but Monday she rode one of her mules into town and saw Judge Dangermond. Gave him the agreement and told him that she wanted justice done."

"She rode a
mule
into town?" Morgan asked, diverted, a spark of amusement glittering briefly in his eyes.

"Uh-huh. Proud little minx. Told us she could provide her own transportation, and that she didn't need any help from the Slades. Said all she wants is her dowry, and then the rest of us can whistle down the wind for all she cares."

His momentary amusement gone, Morgan frowned. "Has father talked to the judge?"

"Yep." Dominic answered inelegantly. "Did that the same day." Glancing at Morgan, he admitted reluctantly, "The judge says that unless you can prove she's lying, that the document is a forgery, and if she's determined to carry it further, that you're going to have to pay her the money. Told father that in the meantime he'd try to delay things. Good thing he's an old family friend."

"Does she know that?"

"Not yet, I don't think. But she's quick, I'll grant you that, and it won't take her too long to realize that Dangermond is in our pocket and that he is playing for time."

"She's
too
damned quick!" Morgan said furiously. "By God, if I had any doubts about her before, she's certainly laid them to rest—permanently!" His jaw tightening menacingly, he drawled in a softly dangerous voice, "So she's gone to the judge, has she?"

Made vaguely uneasy by Morgan's tone, Dominic asked, "Exactly what do you mean to do?"

Morgan glanced at him, an icy glitter in the sapphire blue eyes. "Do? Men have dealt with recalcitrant wives for centuries, Dom. I'm certain I shall prove no different in finding a way to change her mind."

Morgan's words didn't precisely reassure Dominic. Uncertainty in his voice he inquired, "You wouldn't harm her, would you?"

A nasty smile curving the handsome mouth, Morgan mocked, "Wouldn't I? At the moment I could ring her neck!"

Mildly Dominic said, "Might have a bit of trouble doing it. Somehow I don't think she'll take having her neck wrung very easily."

Reluctant amusement crept into Morgan's eyes. "I suspect you're right—and I doubt, though the idea is appealing, that I would be foolish enough to let her drive me to that extreme."

"She can be infuriating, I'll admit," Dominic agreed, and at Morgan's questioning look, he added, "I told you there have been some storms and quakes while you've been gone—Leonie is definitely a proud, prickly sort of adventuress."

His earlier fury gone, Morgan sipped his whiskey and asked interestedly, "Oh?"