Ecstasy's Promise (Historical Romance) (28 page)

"What do you mean?" she asked, wiping the tears away.

"They might not hang a woman for murder. No, I think they would merely put you in prison. But Bodine, I think, they would hang."

There was fear on her face. "Are you saying you would turn Bodine over to the authorities if I don't agree to marry you?"

"No, I would not. But Major Courtney is strictly military. He goes by the book, Victoria."

She shook her head, and placed her fingers to her temple. "You have confused me. I cannot think."

"As I see it, your only choice is to become my wife, Victoria. When you are cleared, it stands to reason that Bodine will also be cleared."

She looked at him, feeling defeated. "How can you ask me on one hand to become your wife and on the other threaten me with Bodine's life? You are a very cruel man. You know I will do anything to save Bodine."

"Even marry me?" he asked curtly.

"Have you thought—if my name is not cleared, you will have a murderess for a wife?"

"I have already told you I would handle it. Just put yourself in my hands."

"It seems I have no choice, Edward."

"You will marry me, then, Victoria?" There was no emotion in his voice, but his dark eyes burned into her blue ones.

She was quiet for so long. He waited, knowing his whole future hung on her answer.

"Yes,
”
she whispered, "I will marry you, Edward, but you may come to regret your decision to make me mistress of Rio del Lobo."

Lord, she said yes, he thought. "Who knows, Victoria, you may come to enjoy being my wife," Edward told her.

"I doubt it. I will marry you, I will bear your
name, but I will not enjoy it, and," she said pointedly, "I will not let you . . . you are not to—"

He smiled. "We will see, Victoria. Do not commit yourself to a vow of celibacy. You would only break it."

His dark eyes challenged her to deny it. She looked away and spoke softly:

"When will the ceremony take place, Edward?"

"I thought Saturday, if you have no objections."

"But that is only four days away. Surely that is too soon."

"There is every need for haste. Dan said you could go home Saturday. You will be taken to Rio del Lobo, and we will be married there."

"You have worked out all the details, haven't you?”

"I pride myself on being very neat and orderly. That reminds me—" He took a black velvet case from his pocket, opened it, and removed his mother's diamond ring. He picked up her hand and looked at the ring that Paul O'Brian had placed on her finger. He angrily removed it and slipped his own ring on in its place.

"I will see that this ring is returned to Mr. O'Brian," Edward said.

"No! Give it to me," Victoria said. "It is mine."

Edward placed it in her hand. "Do with it what you will, Victoria. I could not care less." He was angry, but did not want to push the point about the ring since Victoria had just consented to become his wife.

"You were very sure of yourself, weren't you, Edward?"

He looked into her eyes. "Not at all, Victoria, but I hoped your answer would be yes."

She looked down at the ring that sparkled on her finger, but felt no happiness in its possession. She
would gladly change it for a ring of glass if his love
went along with it.

Edward leaned forward and cupped her face in his
hands. His face was very near her own. His eyes looked deep into hers. "Shall we seal our bargain with a kiss, Victoria?" His lips came down on hers softly, holding her prisoner. Then he released her abruptly and rose to his feet. "You are tired. I will leave you now, I have much to prepare for."

"Edward . . . thank you for helping me yesterday."

It seemed such a ridiculous statement after all that had transpired between them.

He threw back his head and laughed deeply. "If I live to be a hundred, you will never cease to amaze me, Victoria."

She watched him as he walked across the room. He turned to her at the door. "I look forward to Saturday, Victoria."

Edward left her, closing the door softly behind
him. He leaned against the door and closed his eyes.
"I will have all of you, Victoria. If I have to wait and
win you away from Paul O'Brian, I can do it, my beloved."

From that moment, things moved swiftly. Vic
toria's room quickly became filled with flowers from
the greenhouse at Rio del Lobo. She could not help
smiling when she recognized a big bouquet made up
of the red flowers she had admired the night of the fiesta. A note accompanied them. It was written in bold black print:

You once expressed an interest in the name of this flower. It is a poinciana.

                                                                                                                Edward

The food Victoria now ate was prepared in the kitchens of Rio del Lobo and delivered to her by a smiling Estancio. Well-wishers came by in such large numbers that Dan had to restrict her visitors once more, so she could rest.

Each day a gift arrived for her from Edward; a beautiful pearl necklace, a diamond bracelet, a cameo pendant. They were always wrapped in brightly colored paper, but Edward did not come himself.

Clarissa sat beside Victoria's bed. "Victoria, I am thoroughly confused. What happened to you and Paul, and why are you and Edward being married?"

Victoria knew Clarissa asked the question that was on everyone's mind, and wondered how she could answer it.

"Clarissa, I found I did not love Paul as I thought I did. That was why I could not decide on a wedding date."

"Dan told me yesterday, Victoria, that it was you Edward planned to marry all along. Why did you not tell me?"

"Believe me, Clarissa, I was as surprised as you when Edward asked me to marry him."

"You know," Clarissa said, knitting her brow thoughtfully, "now that I think about it, maybe I was not so surprised. I knew from the first day Edward met you that he was interested in you." She looked at Victoria. "Do not let him hurt you, Victoria. I do not think Edward is capable of loving anyone, and I have become very fond of you."

"Does this affect our friendship, Clarissa?"

"No. I was upset when I first heard the news, but not now."

"Do you still have feelings for Edward, Clarissa?"

"I love Dan. He is wonderful and kind, but he does not cause me to feel the emotions I felt for Edward. Maybe that is a good thing."

Victoria did not speak. She knew only too well how Clarissa felt.

"Mama says she is surprised you are not having a big wedding. What I cannot understand is why the wedding is taking place so soon, and with you incapacitated."

Victoria did not know what to say. She was sure the speed with which the marriage was taking place had caused much speculation among the community. She was saved from answering, however, by her grandmother's entrance.

"You are not going to believe the beautiful gown Consuelo has made for you. It is amazing what she can do on such short notice." She opened a large box and lifted out a white gown. It had tiny puffed sleeves and a high neckline, with a full billowing skirt. The material was satin overlaid with delicate lace.

"It   is   beautiful!"   Clarissa exclaimed.   "Your
Consuelo is really a marvel."

Victoria felt no joy at the sight of her wedding gown.

"Where is the veil?" Clarissa asked excitedly.

Mammaw opened another box and pulled out a veil. The lace was yellow with age. "This was your mother's," she told Victoria, laying it across her lap.

Victoria felt the delicate lace that had been worn by her mother when she had married her father. She felt tears come to her eyes. "Oh, Grandmother, thank you." Victoria smiled gratefully. "I will be so proud to wear my mother's veil. It means a great deal to me."

"I know it does, child. Your mother would be so pleased to know you will be wearing it tomorrow."

Victoria held the veil to her face. She could almost feel her mother's presence.

"Now, I have something that Consuelo sent to you.

"What is it, Grandmother?"

Her grandmother removed the veil from the bed and laid a box across Victoria's lap. Victoria opened the box and found a white satin robe and a delicate gossamer nightgown. She looked quickly at her grandmother, whose eyes were twinkling.

"It is lovely. Did Consuelo make this also?"

"Indeed she did."

Clarissa exclaimed over the beauty of the delicate negligee. "That is the loveliest thing I have ever seen, Victoria."

For a moment Victoria saw envy in Clarissa's eyes and knew it was because she was marrying Edward. Victoria began to feel uncomfortable, and was glad
when Clarissa finally left.

Later that night Bodine came in and sat down beside her.

"Well, Imp. Tomorrow I turn you over to another man's keeping."

"Oh, Bodine, I love you. I do not want to be away from you." She held on to his big hand tightly.

"I will never be far away if you need me, but something tells me you will not be needing me much in the future. I am confident that Edward will take the greatest care of you."

"No one could take care of me as well as you, Bodine."

He saw her tears.

"It is not a time for tears, honey. This is a time for great happiness."

If he only knew, she thought, how unhappy she really was. What would Bodine say if he knew she had agreed to marry Edward for his sake? He could read her so well; she must take care he did not find out.

"Promise me I can come and talk to you anytime I need to, Bodine."

He pulled her gently to him. "I did not say I would give you up completely." He kissed her cheek. "You are going to know great happiness, Victoria. I know you do not think so now, but you will." He raised her tear-stained face up to his. "Find the happiness that I could not have, honey. That is what I want for you.

He left her quietly.

Edward rode to Rio del Lobo. He had spent the day with Ray Courtney. They had put their heads together, trying to leave no stone unturned to clear Victoria. Ray had written some letters of his own, hoping to add his support to Edward's.

As Edward rode up to the corral, he saw Old Ned coming out of the stables.

Edward dismounted. "How are you, Old Ned?"

"I am just fine, Mr. Hanover. Could I talk to you for a minute?"

"Sure, what can I do for you?"

"I just delivered Rebel to your stable."

"I had completely forgotten about him."

"Mr. Bodine told me to bring him over. I was wondering, seeing as how he won't let no one near him, maybe you would let me come to work for you, kinda look after him and do odd jobs around the stable for you."

"You have been in Mammaw's employ for many years," Edward said in amazement. "Why would you want to make the change?"

"Well,
it's like this, Mr. Hanover. I became attached to that horse. Besides, I like keeping an eye on Miss Victoria."

"So she has won you over, too, has she?" Edward laughed.

"It kinda brightens up my day when she smiles at me. She is a sweet little lady, always has a kind word for everyone. She was never too busy to talk to Old Ned like most people."

Edward studied him for a moment. "You talk this over with Mammaw, and if she is in agreement, come over tomorrow and report to Estancio. He will find
you living quarters and get you settled in."

"Thank you, Mr. Hanover. You won't regret it, I promise you."

"Old Ned, how would you like to come to the wedding tomorrow?"

Old Ned blinked his eyes. "You want me to come to the wedding, Mr. Hanover?"

"Yes, and I know Victoria would like you to attend."

Old Ned's face lit up. "I would be right proud to come, Mr. Hanover. Yes, I surely would."

Edward smiled as he watched the old man's shining face, and thought he detected a hint of tears.

After Old Ned rode away, Edward went into the stables. He walked up to Rebel's stall, folded his arms across the rail, and rested his chin on his hands. He watched Rebel as the beautiful animal tossed his head defiantly.

"Your being here makes it official," he said out loud. He reached out his hand to Rebel, only to have the horse back away from him and paw the ground.

"Just like your mistress, aren't you? No matter, I will win you both. I can be patient if it does not take too long."

After a bath and a good dinner, Edward sat down to ponder his wedding day. Victoria would be his tomorrow, at least legally. Had he done the right thing? He knew she loved Paul O'Brian. It did not matter; he wanted her anyway. Edward knew she was attracted to him. He could not be mistaken in that. Maybe with time and patience, she would come to love him just a little.