Rebel Temptress (Historical Romance) (23 page)

"What's your angle in all of this, O'Roarke? If you want money to stay out of my wife's life, I will get it for you somehow."

Adam threw back his head and laughed deeply. "You could not interest me in money. I could buy Green Rivers and ten more plantations like it with just a blink of the eye. I have no interest in money or property. I want much more, Daniels, I want your wife."

Jordan blinked and his anger flared. "You will never have Honor. I would kill you first."

"Your threat would not stop me if I thought Honor wanted me, but for some strange reason she chooses to remain with you. Though God only knows you will hurt her and go on hurting her until you have destroyed her completely."

"What went on between you and my wife last night?" Jordan demanded.

Adam's hands itched to strangle the life from the man who threw innuendos about Honor at him. "Would it make you feel less guilty if you thought I bedded Honor as you did her sister?" he said insultingly.

"I cannot believe Honor would discuss our private affairs with you, an outsider."

"She did not mean to, but she was so crushed, so brokenhearted, she eventually told me all. Tell me something, Daniels. I lived in the same house with Honor for months, and I knew instinctively that Honor would die before she would break her wedding vows. But I have to tell you I met Meagan only once and I knew from the signals she sent me that if I asked it of her she would tumble into bed with me without hesitation. How is it you would prefer someone like her to your wife?"

Jordan leaped across the space that divided him from Adam and would have grabbed him by the shirt front had Adam not been too quick for him. He swung Jordan around with very little effort and gripped him in a headlock. As Adam applied pressure to Jordan's neck, his breath came out in a painful gasp. Reaching over his head Jordan grabbed Adam's head, and, with an upward thrust of his knee, made Adam release his grip and fall to his knees.

"Not bad, Daniels, Adam said painfully as he jumped to his feet quickly.

With a powerful upper cut Adam landed a stunning blow to Jordan's jaw. Jordan reeled and crashed into a chair, knocking it over.

"I will kill you," Jordan hissed as he got up slowly.

"That might be your best bet, Daniels, because as long as I live I will love Honor and try and prevent you from hurting her any more than you already have."

All the fight seemed to go out. of Jordan. His anger ebbed as he realized the irony of the situation. Adam O'Roarke wanted to protect Honor from him, her husband. In that moment he saw himself as he must appear to this man, a man married to one sister and bedding the other.

"I did not mean to hurt Honor. I love her," he said in a voice hardly above a whisper. Nor was he speaking to Adam, but more to himself. The two men stood looking at each other and read the love for the tiny silver-haired girl in each other's eyes. Nothing had been settled between them, but for the moment the hostilities had ceased. It was only a reprieve and they both knew it, for they would surely meet again.

"Do you intend to live here at Landau?" Jordan asked, breaking the silence.

"Only for a time. I have some important business to finish before returning to Boston."

"Concerning my wife, no doubt."

"Not directly, but yes, it concerns Honor."

"Do you intend to see her again?'

"No, I will not seek her out. She would not welcome it."

Jordan felt relieved and nodded. "It is just as well. She would never leave me to go with you. There is our son, and no matter what Honor feels she will never give him up," Jordan said as he walked to the door. He paused at the door and said softly: "I will not hurt Honor again, believe this."

"God, you really do love Honor. I pity you, because more than likely, neither of us will ever have her," Adam said, closing his eyes.

Jordan left, closing the door softly behind him.

15

Once more the huge house at Green Rivers settled into an uneasy pace. Dinner, the one time the family all gathered together, was an ordeal for all but Maggie and Aaron, who were blissfully ignorant of what had transpired that awful night when Honor's world had come tumbling down around her.

Meagan and Jordan tried to avoid ever being alone in each other's company, and the effort they were making was obvious to Honor. On two different occasions Meagan had approached Honor trying to make peace between them, but Honor had been unresponsive. It was not so much what Honor said, but what she left unsaid.

Meagan wondered why she remained at Green Rivers, for it was apparent that neither Honor nor Jordan welcomed her. Not that she blamed either of them. In Meagan's changed attitude she seemed to have gained an unlikely ally. Maggie had begun to be more friendly toward her.

Meagan adored little Aaron. He was a bright, inquisitive little boy, and though Meagan had never paid the slightest attention to children before, she found she loved being with Aaron. They would take long walks together or just sit in the garden and talk.

Meagan patted her hair into place and pinched her cheeks to bring more color to them. Chauncey was driving her and Maggie into town for some shopping. She had tried to persuade Honor to accompany them, but Honor had insisted she had too much to do. Meagan knew it had been a lame excuse on her sister's part, but did not press her, hoping in time Honor would forgive and forget. Meagan knew that was the only reason she had not yet left Green Rivers. She felt if she left now she and Honor would never see one another again, and it mattered a great deal to her that her sister come to realize that she was sorry for all of her past misdeeds.

As Chauncey stopped the carriage in front of the general store Meagan stepped from the buggy and almost collided with someone. Looking up, she recognized Adam O'Roarke, who steadied her with a hand to her shoulder.

He then bowed politely in a greeting that included not only Meagan but Maggie Daniels as well. "Good afternoon, ladies," Adam said politely.

Maggie Daniels frowned as she tried to remember where she had met the man before. He definitely looked familiar to her.

Meagan brightened at the sight of the handsome Yankee. "Major O'Roarke, what an unexpected pleasure. I did not know you were still in Virginia."

"I am no longer a major, and as it happens I am a neighbor of yours."

Maggie bristled. "I was not aware we had any Yankees for neighbors."

"Indeed you have, Mrs. Daniels. I am the new owner of Landau. My sister and I are in residence there at present."

"How is that possible?" Meagan said, flashing him her most captivating smile.

"It is a small world, Mrs. Elderman, becoming smaller every day."

"If you will excuse us, sir," Maggie said, trying to dismiss the irritating man. "We have shopping to do."

Meagan, however, was intrigued with the handsome Yankee, and more than a little puzzled as to how he had acquired Landau. Honor had not mentioned that he was the one who had bought their girlhood home.

"Since we are neighbors, Mr. O'Roarke, we should extend an invitation to you to visit us at Green Rivers. Do you not agree, Maggie?"

The older woman was put at a disadvantage. She had had a genteel upbringing that made it impossible to insult anyone who was a neighbor, but she plainly did not like the man. Her face showed that dislike as she spoke: "By all means, Mr. O'Roarke. You must visit Green Rivers one day soon."

"I am gratified by your kind invitation, Mrs. Daniels, and I would deem it an honor to visit Green Rivers. I have heard much about your home, and am anxious to see it for myself."

"I will see that you receive a formal invitation before too long," Meagan said, giving him a smile that told him that invitation would not be too long in coming.

"Now, if you will excuse us, Mr. O'Roarke, we have much to do this afternoon," Maggie said as she took Meagan by the arm and led her away from the Yankee.

When they were out of earshot Maggie scolded Meagan. "You should never have invited that man to Green Rivers. I declare, I do not like him very well. He is positively frightening, with his black hair and those eyes. Did you notice how he looked at you?"

Meagan grinned. "Yes, I did," she told Maggie. There had surely been a look in his eyes that she could not define, and it bothered as well as intrigued her, for Adam O'Roarke was a very handsome man, and Meagan looked forward to seeing him again.

* * *

Maggie brought up the incident that night at dinner. She looked at her son and frowned. "Jordan, were you aware that Adam O'Roarke lives at Landau? He is the Yankee who was so rude to your father and I when we visited Honor just after Aaron was born."

Jordan looked at Honor. "Yes, Mother, I am aware that O'Roarke lives at Landau."

"Honor, why did you not tell me that that man was the one who bought Landau? Am I the last one to find out anything?" Maggie scolded.

"Maggie, I only recently found out about it myself," Honor told her.

"Well, I am sure I do not know what he hopes to gain by living among us. I doubt he will be welcomed into many households in this valley. The man has a nerve, I must say," Maggie said haughtily.

Jordan looked at Honor. "Perhaps he hopes to find himself a Southern lady for his wife, Mother."

"Well," Meagan cut in, "I think he is quite the most handsome man I have ever met, and I look forward to knowing him better."

Honor felt her heart sink. Oh, please, she thought, do not let Meagan want Adam. Even though she knew she could never have him herself, it hurt to think of his being with her sister.

Jordan smiled to himself. Maybe the solution for all their problems would be for Meagan to become interested in Adam O'Roarke, and if O'Roarke became interested in Meagan, Honor would see that he had very little regard for her. Jordan knew Honor would not like to see Meagan and O'Roarke together.

"Mother, I think we should be neighborly. I see no harm if Meagan wishes to invite O'Roarke to Green Rivers."

All three woman stared at Jordan in shocked surprise, his mother thinking her son must have lost his mind to allow a Yankee into their home.

Meagan wondered what game Jordan was playing, and her speculation came the closest to being the truth. He wanted to rid himself of her as well as Adam O'Roarke, and that idea did not bother her overmuch; after all, the Yankee was indeed handsome. If she could win him, and she was almost sure she could, perhaps she would think of settling down to marriage once more. He obviously had a great deal of money, and even if he did not, she would want him anyway. After all, she was not poverty-stricken herself.

Honor felt sadness and something akin to betrayal. Adam would never become interested in Meagan. He could not. She looked at Meagan, her red hair gleamed with golden highlights in the soft candlelight, her skin was creamy and smooth, her eyes looked luminous. Yes, Adam
would
fall in love with Meagan. Who could resist her beautiful sister? Her heart cried out in silent protest. He was her love, and with the memories he had given her she would have been able to get through the rest of her life, but if he turned to Meagan, how would she bear it?

* * *

Meagan did not waste any time issuing an invitation for Adam to visit Green Rivers. In fact, the very next day she sent Chauncey with a note inviting not only Adam but his sister as well. Chauncey returned with Adam's reply. He wrote that his sister would be unable to accept the dinner invitation, but he would be pleased to come himself.

Meagan clapped her hands delightedly, for she had been half fearful that he would not accept her invitation. She rushed up the stairs to look through her gowns, searching for one that would be appropriate. She finally decided on a beautiful yellow creation that fell off the shoulders and showed her creamy skin to its best advantage.

Honor spent the day in the kitchen with Darcy preserving corn, black-eyed peas, and tomatoes. When the chore was completed she saddled her horse and rode to the apple orchard to check on the apple crop. She wanted to make apple butter and she feared the apples would not yet be ripe enough. Green Rivers' apples could not compare with the apples produced at Landau, and she wished for some of the plump delicious apples of her girlhood home.

She had been so miserable thinking about Adam and Meagan that she had not even been aware that preparations were being made for a dinner guest— Adam O'Roarke. After visiting the apple orchard Honor rode home and dismounted at the stable. She knew she was stalling for time, not wanting to return to the house.

Going into the stable, she unsaddled her mare and began rubbing her down, a task that was usually performed by one of the men Jordan had hired. It was about an hour until dinnertime when she finally made her way to the house, thinking there would scarcely be time for her to bathe and dress before dinner.

She walked into the sitting room with the intention of asking Maggie to hold dinner for her, but she was shocked into silence when she saw Adam O'Roarke.

Everyone was dressed for dinner, and there she stood before them in her gray print gown, which had seen better days, her hair windblown and tumbled about her face. Honor closed her eyes, then tried to speak, but could only look bemused and misplaced.

"Honor, we have been wondering what was keeping you. Mr. O'Roarke has come for dinner," Meagan said, in a voice that plainly told Honor she was displeased with her for being late and for appearing before her guest in such a disheveled condition.

Honor wished the floor would open and swallow her up. "I am sorry, I was not aware we were having a guest," she said through stiff lips.

"Maggie did not tell you?" Meagan asked.

"Oh, dear, I was going to, in fact I went into the kitchen with the express purpose of telling you, but you weren't there," Maggie said absent-mindedly.

"I was in the apple orchard," Honor said, by way of excuse, and for the first time her eyes sought Adam's. He was dressed in black formal attire, looking as if he were going to a fancy dress ball. His face as unreadable as he stared back at her.

"I hope you will forgive my bad manners, Mr. O'Roarke. It seems I was the only one who was not aware you were coming to dinner." Then she turned to Jordan, for she could not stand the pity she saw in Adam's face. "Jordan, if you will excuse me, I shall be only a moment."

Jordan smiled at her in satisfaction. It could not have worked out better if he had planned it himself. Honor was definitely at a disadvantage. She would not look so attractive to Adam O'Roarke now, he thought, while Meagan looked cool and breathtakingly beautiful. “Take all the time you need, my dear, there is no hurry."

She backed out the door, feeling as if she were an untidy child who had been banished to her room. As Honor washed and dressed for dinner she refused to give in to the tears that were so near the surface. She had nothing to wear except her one good green dress that was faded and skillfully patched at the hemline. She let her hair hang down her back, knowing there was no time to put it up.

Surveying herself in the mirror, she was not at all pleased with the end results. I still look like a child, she told herself, remembering how lovely and elegant Meagan had appeared in her yellow gown that she had brought with her from Paris.

Honor felt she was indeed wicked to care what another man would think of her appearance when she was married to Jordan, but she did care. Oh, how she cared. The longest walk of her life was the one that took her down the stairs and into the sitting room.

Adam and Jordan both rose to their feet when she entered. Honor stood in the doorway for a moment, undecided as to what to do. Looking about the room, she wondered momentarily why she was here. She did not really belong with any of these people. She felt shabby and unsure of herself, while Meagan looked so cool and lovely with her red hair perfectly arranged on the top of her head. And even Maggie wore a lovely peach-colored silk gown, looking every bit the lady she was. Honor ran her hand over the skirt of her gown, wishing it was not so shabby in contrast to those of the other two women.

Adam watched her and knew instinctively what she was feeling. Never had he felt more love for her than he did at that moment. He wanted to go to her, take her hand, and lend her his support, and he was angry knowing he could do nothing but watch and play the polite guest. He watched as she raised her head proudly, and at that moment he felt pride in her. Meagan in her expensive yellow gown paled into insignificance as Honor smiled and walked into the room.

Jordan reached out to her and took her hand. "It took no time for you to make yourself presentable, my dear. You are lovely."

Honor allowed Jordan to lead her over to the settee and sit her down beside his mother. He then sat down beside her and placed his arm across the back of the settee, his hand resting possessively on Honor's shoulder.

"Mr. O'Roarke was just telling us about the apple crop at Landau," Maggie spoke up. "He says the apples are delicious and of a great quantity. Why do you suppose our trees did not produce well this year, Mr. O'Roarke?"

"I cannot say for sure, Mrs. Daniels, but if you wish you may have all the apples you need from Landau," Adam said, trying to hide his anger as Jordan Daniels moved his hand down Honor's arm in a caressing manner. It was hard for him not to show his rage. He wanted to tell Jordan to take his hands off Honor, but he had no rights, Jordan was Honor's husband. Adam rejected the idea that Honor had forgiven Jordan. Was she now sleeping in his bed? Looking at Jordan's face, he saw a look of smug satisfaction.