Moonwitch (41 page)

After she had finished her letter to Beth, Selena’s thoughts turned to another matter: Kyle’s interest in steamboats. The previous day, when Bea and Thaddeus had come to dinner, Thaddeus had mentioned that in the next session the members of the legislature planned to address the need for a regular steamboat service for Natchez. It would be a perfect opportunity, Selena realized, for Kyle to pursue his venture.

She was aware that Kyle had given up the idea of starting a steamboat company, at least temporarily, for the sake of the plantation and his sisters, but she desperately wanted him to be happy in his chosen occupation. Despite his success with the plantation, despite his avowal that he was growing accustomed to working the land, Kyle wasn’t a farmer. What he needed was interests and challenges outside his plantation and family.

And perhaps she had another more selfish reason, Selena reflected. Kyle had refused her dowry out of a sense of honor, because he didn’t want to feel like a “blasted fortune hunter,” or so he’d said. Yet she still wasn’t certain he wanted to remain married to her. It would provide some measure of compensation, Selena decided, if she could supply the means that enabled him to pursue his dream. And in some twisted application of logic that originated more in her heart than her head, she rationalized that if Kyle accepted her dowry, he would be committing himself to her fully.

That night, as they lay together in the warm darkness, Selena renewed their last discussion about steamboats by bringing up the subject of the legislative session. She was surprised when Kyle seemed less than enthusiastic about attending.

“The legislative session?” he murmured. He found it difficult to focus his thoughts on business after the passion they had just shared.

“You remember what Thaddeus said. Tomorrow the assembly plans to discuss the need for a regular steamboat service.”

“Selena… it isn’t really crucial that I go.”

“That wouldn’t be wise, would it? If you aren’t there to show your interest, the legislature may grant a charter to someone else. Besides, even if you mean to wait for a year or two before you purchase any steamboats, wouldn’t it be better for you to be in on the discussions at the start?”

“Yes, I suppose so.”

“Well, then, why don’t you attend?”

Kyle hesitated, not wanting to admit the real reason for his reluctance. How could he woo and win Selena if he was away pursuing steamboat ventures? “Do you know how guilty I feel,” he prevaricated, “always leaving you here alone to shoulder the burdens of the plantation?”

“Kyle, it isn’t a burden, truly. And I don’t want you to defer your venture because of me, certainly. I know how you feel about it—” Her tawny brows drew together in a puzzled frown. “You haven’t changed your mind about investing in a steamboat enterprise, have you?”

“No.”

“Then I don’t understand your indifference.”

Because I’m busy courting you, blast it. Can’t you see that? Kyle wanted to say. Every day for a week he’d spent all his free time with her, and every night he had come to her room. But he seemed to be making little progress in winning Selena’s affection. “The legislative session may last all day,” he murmured, watching the moonlight play on her beautiful face.

“Shouldn’t you leave early, then?”

Am I doing something wrong? Like not acting enough of a gentleman? Or too much? he wondered. “I expect so,” he said finally. “And I suppose while I’m there I ought to contact an agent to discuss arrangements for shipping our cotton after the harvest begins.”

“Good.”

Kyle gave a sigh. He had hoped Selena felt the same bliss he’d felt during the past week, but it seemed as if she were anxious to be rid of him. Trying to bite back his frustration, he gently placed a finger under the delicate curve of her jaw. “Are you sure you will be all right here with the girls?”

“Yes, of course.” She sounded mildly exasperated as well as amused. “It’s only for the day.”

He didn’t like to be reminded how easily she could manage without him. He wanted her to need him, to miss him when he was away, to count the hours they were apart, as he did. He wanted her to ask him to stay.

“At least young Parkington can be relied on to help you,” Kyle said lamely. “He’s proving even better a factor than I’d hoped.”

“Kyle, we’ll be fine. And Tanner needs the opportunity to demonstrate his capabilities without your supervision.”

He gave up. “Very well, I’ll go to Natchez tomorrow.” He pressed a tender kiss on her brow and gathered her close, trying not to dwell on his dissatisfaction or his deepening worry that he might never win her love.

They were both silent for a moment while the warm night surrounded them and their separate thoughts.

Beside him, Selena took a slow breath. Now was the time, she realized, to ask him about Danielle. “Kyle?” But when he glanced at her, Selena faltered. She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t come right out and ask, “Do you love Danielle?” She didn’t dare, for fear of what his answer might be. “I hope the session goes well,” she murmured, instead. “I want you to be happy.”

Hearing the wistful note in her voice, Kyle took heart. “Do you, Moonwitch?” His eyes glowed with golden fire as he slowly bent his head again. “Not more, I think,” he said against her lips, “than I want happiness for you.”

Her breathing quickened in response, even before he slid his hand up the quivering sleekness of her belly to mold the fullness of her breast. When she arched against him with unconscious abandon, Kyle responded with conscious delight.

Slowly, without words, he roused her, intending to show her just how much she meant to him, how much he needed and wanted her love. His hands skimmed her body, touching, caressing, claiming for his own the alluring, eloquently lovely lady who had wrapped herself around his heart.

Shortly after Kyle left the next morning, Saul’s wife, Lukey, was delivered of a strapping baby boy. Selena was present both at the birth and later, when Saul was allowed into the cabin to hold his son.

Seeing the tenderness light Saul’s dark face as he gazed at his wife and child, Selena couldn’t help but remember his fierce protectiveness when he had thrown himself in the path of Whitfield’s lash. The memory made her wonder if Kyle would ever feel the same kind of deep love for her, and thinking of Kyle naturally led to thoughts of Danielle, as usually happened of late.

That afternoon, Selena was inventorying supplies in the plantation’s store when she was surprised by a visit from the subject of her jealous thoughts. She looked up from contemplating bolts of cloth to find Danielle standing in the doorway.

“I hope you don’t mind the intrusion,” Danielle said quickly. “I wouldn’t let Martha fetch you, for I didn’t want to take you away from your duties.”

In spite of her recent thoughts, Selena gave her visitor a smile. Then she saw Clay standing behind his mother’s skirts and realized they must have come to see Kyle. “Kyle isn’t here, I’m afraid,” Selena admitted. “He went into town today and probably won’t be back till late.”

“That’s all right… That is, you said I could call. But I don’t want to impose,” Danielle added in a small voice.

Danielle had come to see her? Selena felt a moment’s surprise and then a fierce stab of guilt at the lukewarm welcome she had tendered. She should be giving comfort, not standing here wrapped up in her own concerns and jealousies.

“Good heavens, it isn’t an imposition,” Selena insisted, abruptly dropping her bolts of cloth and coming forward to take Danielle’s hands. “Indeed, I’m delighted to see you. With Bea no longer living here and Kyle away, I’ve been rather lonely. I would be grateful for your companionship. Please, won’t you come back to the house with me? We can have tea.”

“Well, actually…I thought I might help you here, instead… if you’d like.” Glancing around the store, Danielle flashed a self-conscious smile. “Orrin said I needed a rest—he wouldn’t let me work at the mercantile today. But really I prefer to keep busy.”

“Of course… I would appreciate your advice.” And she meant it, for Danielle’s knowledge of merchandise and dried goods was extensive. More than that, Selena understood quite well Danielle’s unspoken need—that occupation could keep one’s depressing thoughts at bay.

Just then Clay tugged on Danielle’s skirts. “Mama, Raysho.”

Laying a gentle hand on his blond head, the auburn-haired woman looked a question at Selena. “Clay has been asking every day to see your parrot. Do you think he might be allowed?”

Selena smiled down at the child. “Horatio will be delighted to have you pay him a visit. He has missed you most dreadfully.” When Clay gazed up at her and gave her his heart-stopping grin, Selena could see very well why Kyle had been so reluctant to give up his son.

Danielle had brought along the elderly black woman who had been Jeremiah Whitfield’s nurse and now helped with Clay. When the servant had taken Clay into the house to view his friend the parrot, Selena asked Danielle how her son was faring.

“Quite well, actually. He still doesn’t realize why Jeremiah is no longer lying in his bed.”

“And you?” Selena asked gently. Danielle herself still looked pale and a bit weary.

Her lips sketched a smile. “I’m recovering. Jeremiah had been ill for so long. I don’t think he wanted to live.” She paused before adding, “I wanted to thank you, Selena, for all the support you’ve given me. That’s really why I came today. And I thought it might give us the opportunity to become better friends, as you once suggested.”

Selena’s acknowledgment was automatic, but even as she found herself agreeing out loud that a deeper friendship between them would be welcome, she had difficulty keeping her misgivings from showing in her expression.

It wasn’t that she disliked Danielle; in truth, she liked and admired the red-haired woman a great deal. It wasn’t even that Danielle had borne Kyle a son; Selena thought she could have overlooked that indiscretion if she could be assured Kyle’s feelings for the beautiful widow went no deeper than appreciation.

It was Kyle himself who stood between them. Selena knew she wasn’t being fair to let her doubts about Kyle color her view of Danielle. Yet she wasn’t certain she could be generous and unselfish enough to develop a cordial, intimate acquaintance with the woman who might very well have captured his love.

Still, her innate sense of justice demanded that she try, and so during the next several hours as they worked together in the store, Selena made a sincere effort to cultivate their friendship.

She succeeded better than she’d anticipated, for by the time tea had been served in the small parlor, she and Danielle had passed beyond polite chatter and social conversation and were almost on what might be called intimate terms. When the talk turned to children, Selena told Danielle about the new baby who had been birthed that morning on the plantation.

Clay’s nurse had taken the boy outside to play in the courtyard, and the windows were open to catch the slight breeze. The child’s gurgles of laughter and the pattering of his feet could be heard at intermittent intervals.

After a time, however, Danielle looked up from her cup with a frown. “I don’t hear Clay,” she said, cocking her head to listen. “I hope Zelda didn’t take him to the summerhouse. Ever since the picnic, he’s been begging to go there again. But I warned her to keep Clay close…so he wouldn’t explore.”

“We can go and check on him, if you like,” Selena offered.

But no sooner were the words out of her mouth than she heard what sounded like a distant cry. Both she and Danielle froze. Selena couldn’t be sure of the direction since the parlor opened onto the courtyard and not the front of the house, but she thought the sound might have come from beyond the east wing.

When the ominous sound was followed by another muffled shout that was clearly a shriek, Selena felt dread quicken within her. Both women leaped to their feet, but Selena was two paces ahead of Danielle as they raced for the courtyard.

By that time a dozen people had appeared there to investigate the commotion, but there was no sign of Clay. They ran on, reaching the east end of the house just as his nurse burst from around the corner. Her black face was a sickly shade of gray, and she was sobbing for breath.

“Masta Clay… Masta Clay,” Zelda cried, nearly incoherent as she stumbled into Selena’s arms.

“Zelda!” Selena demanded, dread clutching at her stomach as she gripped the black woman’s wiry arms, “What happened? Where is Clay?”

“Masta Clay… he fell from the cliff.”

“Dear God, no.” The anguished moan had come from Danielle. Desperately she caught up her skirts and started running again toward the summerhouse, while Zelda kept wringing her hands and moaning, “That poor chil’, that poor chil’.”

Selena bit back the urge to follow both examples and instead shook the servant’s shoulders. “Zelda, please… tell me how badly Clay is hurt.”

Taking another gulping breath, she nodded. “I don’ know. He didn’t move… Oh, missy, I feart that poor chil’ be dead!”

A
soft smile curved Kyle’s mouth as he left the jeweler’s shop in Natchez with his purchase. The stunning set of sapphires and diamonds had cost him a small fortune, particularly since he’d requested the order be rushed, but he considered the expense well worth it; Selena would look exquisite in the fabulous necklace with its matching earrings and bracelet.

He had thought long and hard about what to get for her. He’d never given her a gift—unless he counted the wedding band that he’d been forced to bestow on her—and he wanted badly to make it up to her. Yet his sudden generosity was more than a desire to court her properly. He would have given her the moon if he could have managed it.

The thought lent a wry twist to Kyle’s smile. He was beginning to resemble a love-struck swain. But that was precisely what he was, he reflected. And nothing he could give Selena seemed good enough—even the jewels he’d ordered the last time he was in town.

They were the best he could do, though. Tastefully designed, they exuded a quiet brilliance much like Selena herself did. Yet what if she didn’t like them? Selena rarely wore jewelry and shunned ostentatious displays… His smile fading at the possibility, Kyle slid the small parcel into his horse’s saddlebag and swung himself up in the saddle.