Ecstasy's Promise (Historical Romance) (11 page)

"Let us eat together," Clarissa said. "We can combine our resources and have a feast."

Dan looked at Victoria. "Would that be all right with you?"

"Of course," she answered, still a little apprehensive.

Edward took the basket from Clarissa, and she placed her hand in the crook of his arm. Dan and Victoria led the way up the hill. Victoria felt as though the dark eyes of Edward Hanover burned into her back. Edward watched Victoria as she walked in front of him. Her slim body moved gracefully. He remembered his first reaction to her, and wondered what it was about her that stirred his
blood. He smiled to himself. She would probably turn out to be just another pretty face with an empty head, caring only for compliments and pretty words from a man, but still, she was the loveliest creature he had ever seen.

"This is perfect," Victoria said, helping Dan spread out the bright red- and white-checkered tablecloth Mammaw had provided for them.

"Edward and I used to come here often as boys," Dan told her. "We would go fishing first, then cook and eat our catch."

"What happened if you caught no fish?" Victoria asked lightly.

"Then we left early," Edward said, sitting down with his back to a tall oak tree, his long legs crossed in front of him.

"Yes," Dan agreed, "and as often as not, we stopped by Mammaw's for a raid on her kitchen."

"Oh, that reminds me," Victoria said. "Grandmother sent an apple pie with a message for you, Dan. She said to tell you she owed you two slices."

Dan's eyes twinkled. "So she does." He laughed. Dan went over and sat beside Edward while Victoria and Clarissa laid the food on the tablecloth.

"Why did your description of Miss Farraday fall so wide from the mark?" Edward asked, smiling at Dan. "Were you afraid of the competition?"

"No, I swear to you, Edward, she really did look, I mean . . . well, I was mistaken."

"I'll say you were," Edward said. His gaze wandered to Victoria, who was chatting easily with Clarissa. "Doctor, I think you had better have your eyes examined."

"Yeah, she is so lovely," Dan said softly.

They ate the picnic lunch and chatted easily. Victoria was beginning to relax, and felt some of her confidence return.

"Edward, did you like the chocolate cake? I baked it myself," Clarissa said.

"It was indeed delicious," he told her. "How about you, Miss Farraday, did you prepare the food we enjoyed, with your own little hands?"

She caught the sarcasm in his voice and wondered at the reason for it. "No, I am afraid I cannot take credit for any of it, as my grandmother did all the preparations."

"Have you not heard that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach?" Edward asked.

Victoria looked into his face. "I have always thought that to be a vulgar description," she told him.

He laughed heartily. "I think I have just been put in my place," he said.

Victoria chose to ignore Edward Hanover. She turned to Dan instead. "Have you been out to see the Delgados?" she asked.

"No," he said, "I have not seen them since the night you and I met."

"I worry about Consuelo," Victoria said; "she seems so fragile."

Dan smiled at Victoria. "She is strong and healthy. You need not worry about her."

"Dan," Victoria said wistfully, "I do worry about them. They are such nice people and they are trying so hard to remain in Texas."

Dan studied her face. "You have become good
friends with them?" he asked.

"Yes. I will never forget their kindness to Bodine and I. They had so little, but were willing to share with us."

"Who are you speaking of?" Clarissa asked with interest.

Victoria turned to her. "Manuel and Consuelo Delgado."

"Oh, I have heard of them," Clarissa said. "They are the poor Mexican family that lives beyond Rio del Lobo."

"Yes, that is right," Victoria said.

"Surely your grandmother does not allow you to associate with them?" Clarissa asked.

Victoria drew herself up proudly. Her eyes sparkled dangerously. "I have the great honor of being their friend. My grandmother also, considers them her friends."

"Well," Clarissa said indignantly, "I am sure my mother would not allow me to visit them."

"Pity," Victoria said softly.

Edward was leaning against the oak tree. He was listening with interest to the conversation, but did not wish to take any part in it. He was content to just watch the lovely Victoria. He searched for some flaw in her, but could find none. His interest in her increased.

Victoria turned back to Dan. "Are you aware that they may have to return to Mexico if Manuel does not find someone to buy his leather work?"

"Yes, I did know that," Dan said, "but, I am unable to help them. It is inevitable, you know."

"I suppose so," Victoria said sadly.

"I am sure Mama and I could dig around in the attic and come up with some clothes for them," Clarissa said thoughtfully. "Mama is always willing to help the unfortunate."

Victoria turned to Clarissa quickly. "I hope you will not do that. They are very proud. They do not want charity. They only want to earn their own way.

"When one is poor, one should not be proud," Clarissa told her airily.

"I had not thought being poor meant giving up one's pride," Victoria said, beginning not to like Clarissa. Clarissa frowned, looked at Edward, and shrugged her shoulders. There was no expression on his face. Victoria turned back to Dan. "Consuelo is teaching me Spanish. I ride over every Thursday. To tell you the truth, the Spanish lessons are only secondary. I adore little Roberto. He has me twisted about his little finger. I am lost when he looks at me with his big brown eyes."

"Yes, he is quite a boy," Dan told her, feeling admiration for the beautiful girl beside him. Never had he met anyone like her. Not only was she beautiful, but compassionate as well.

Victoria smiled at Dan. "I am afraid I have been talking too much. It is just that they have been so much on my mind lately."

"I love the sound of your voice," he told her earnestly. Then, feeling embarrassed, he turned to Edward. "You are quiet," Dan said, looking at his friend.

"Just listening," Edward said, his eyes lingering on Victoria's face. "One learns a lot that way."

"Edward," Clarissa said, bringing his attention back to herself, "when am I going to get an invitation to Rio del Lobo? It has been a long time since I have been there."

"You need no invitation, Clarissa. My door is always open to you."

She smiled. "Of course, Mama would have to come along, too."

"Of course," Edward agreed.

Victoria sat watching Edward. Her eyes started at his black shiny boots and traveled up his long lean legs to his white silk shirt, opened at the neck, revealing the black curly hair on his chest. She raised her eyes to his sensitive mouth, and wondered what it would feel like to be kissed by him. Then she raised her eyes to his, to find he was watching her. He gave her a knowing smile.

Her face turned red, and she looked away quickly. She did not know what had come over her. She could not seem to keep her eyes from straying to the dark, magnetic Edward Hanover whom she had met only a short time ago. She thought of Paul and felt guilty, as though she had betrayed him in some way.

"Edward," Clarissa said, "I have heard you got in some cattle from England. Are you planning to run them with your herd, or keep them separated?"

"I will keep them separated, of course. I have run them on the eastern range. If they adjust to the Texas climate, I will have a good beef cattle."

"What if they cannot make the adjustment?" Clarissa asked, glad to show her knowledge of ranching.

"That remains to be seen," Edward said, "but if they do, I should have an excellent profit at market."

Just then they were interrupted by a young girl who looked no more than ten or eleven. She held a handful of wild flowers in her hand. She went up shyly to Edward and handed the crumpled flowers to him. "Happy birthday, Mr. Hanover," she said, her eyes shining.

Edward reached for the flowers, and looked to Dan for help.

"This is Melissa Dennison," Dan told him.

"Well, Melissa," Edward said, flashing her his famous smile. "I thank you very much for the flowers. They are almost as pretty as you are."

She looked up at him adoringly. "I think you are the prettiest man I have ever seen."

Edward took one of the flowers and placed it in her hair. "I am glad that you think so," he said and kissed her cheek. She turned and ran down the hill, holding her hand to her face, where he had kissed her.

Dan grinned. "Another conquest, Edward? Looks like you are starting on a new generation."

Edward grinned and handed Clarissa the crumpled flowers.

Clarissa linked her arm through Edward's. "I see I have a rival."

Edward's eyes went to Victoria.

"Happy birthday, Mr. Hanover," Victoria told him.

"It has been so far," he said. His eyes lingered on her face. Victoria blushed and looked away.

Clarissa was beginning to see that Edward was attracted to Victoria. "I am wondering why you came to Texas, Victoria," Clarissa said, wanting to find out more about Mammaw's granddaughter. The two men listened intently for her answer, for they, too, had wondered what had occurred to cause Victoria to make such a long and dangerous trip.

"My grandmother lives here," Victoria said simply.

"Yes, but why now?" Clarissa pressed.

"There was no reason to stay in Georgia any longer."

"Why ever not?" Clarissa prodded, not to be satisfied until she had an answer.

"My home was burned. My father was dead. There was no reason to stay any longer," Victoria said, closing her eyes, not wanting to reveal her ordeal to anyone just yet. It was still too painful to her.

"Did the Yankees burn your home? We heard awful tales of what they did in Georgia," Clarissa continued.

"It was because of the Yankees that it was burned," Victoria said, rising to her feet, turning her back and leaning against the tree trunk."

"Where did you live?" Clarissa grilled.

"On a plantation," Victoria whispered.

"Did you leave someone behind, a lover perhaps?"

Victoria was very close to tears. Talking about it had caused her to relive the whole horrible nightmare. She realized Clarissa was deliberately being unpleasant, and wondered at the reason for it. She turned to face her tormentor, too proud to let
Clarissa know she had struck a nerve. "Yes, I left someone behind. His name is Paul O'Brian. We grew up together. He was away at war. I have not heard from him, and I do not know if he is dead or alive." Her voice was devoid of any feeling.

"When he comes home and finds you gone, if he does return, will he come after you?" Clarissa asked.

"Yes, he will come. Do you mind if we talk of something else? I really do not wish to discuss this with you. It is very painful," Victoria said pleadingly.

Edward sat watching Victoria. He sensed there was more to the story than she was telling. She is like a wounded animal, he thought, and is hurting a lot. "No more, Clarissa," he warned. "She told you she did not wish to talk about it."

"Just one more question," Clarissa said, ignoring Edward. "Was it really horrible? Did the Yankees come to your plantation while you were there?"

Victoria felt her control slip away. Her emotions rushed to the surface. She looked at Clarissa with tears in her eyes. "Yes, it was awful, Clarissa, and yes, they came while I was home. They killed a slave woman, Bess, who had been like a mother to me all my life." She did not want to cry, but could not help herself. "I hate the Yankees for what they did, and I hate General Sherman most of all!"

Dan was on his feet in an instant. He gave Clarissa a disgusted look. "Victoria," he said, drawing her to him, "please do not be upset; we will talk of something else."

"Dan, I would like to see the river," Victoria said, trying desperately to regain her composure.

"Come, I will show it to you," he said softly.

Edward watched as they walked away. "You are ruthless, Clarissa," he said.

"She is hiding something," Clarissa told him. "I can feel it."

Edward had thought so, himself, and wondered what it was.

"Let us not waste time talking of other people," Clarissa said, meaningfully. "I would rather talk about us."

"Clarissa, there is no us," Edward told her quietly.

She moved closer to him, a pout on her pretty face. "I would do anything for you, Edward."

"Anything?" he asked, raising one of his eyebrows.

"Yes," she said, her hand slipping under his shirt, caressing his bare chest.

He grabbed her hand and withdrew it. "Do not play games with me, Clarissa."

"I am not playing," she said, her eyes looking deep into his. "Don't you want me?"