Elusive Hope (22 page)

Chirp, tweet, chirp, tweet
, the shrill clamor pierced Magnolia’s ears and penetrated her blissful slumber. She groaned and tossed the quilt over her head. Mercy me, why did the jungle always have to wake up so early?
Wait
. She wasn’t in the jungle. Moving her hands, she felt the scratchy fabric of the bed sheets. She wasn’t in a hammock on a ship or on her feather bed in Roswell either. Or even on a bamboo cot in New Hope. Her mind snapped to attention. She was in some shamble of a hotel in Rio de Janeiro. But she wasn’t complaining. It was the first night she’d slept on a mattress in nearly five months.
Chirp, chirp
. Drawing the cover from her head, Magnolia pried one eye open to find a small, plump, and very colorful bird sitting on her window ledge. Behind the winged annoyance, a pinkish-gray glow chased away the night.

“Shoo! Go away!” She swatted the air and closed her eye again. An unavoidable smile curved her lips as memories from last night came out from hiding. The ball, the music, dancing, Hayden…

She let out a satisfied moan and stretched across the lumpy mattress that was, no doubt, home to a myriad of tiny beasties. But what did it matter? She’d had such a marvelous evening—a fairy tale evening, an evening she wished had never come to an end. But it had…and today…

She shot up in bed, rubbed her eyes, and glanced once more at the window. Dawn. She must leave before Hayden arrived! The bird cocked his red-feathered head and stared at her curiously.

“I suppose I should thank you for waking me, little one.”

Leaping from the bed, she made quick work of her morning toilette, all the while ignoring the pain lancing through her heart. Pain at leaving Hayden. Wasn’t this what she wanted? To go back home, find Samuel, and get married? She shook her head as she made her way to the wardrobe, trying to break the spell Hayden had cast on her. Last night was a fantasy. Today, she was back to reality. Today she would begin her journey home.

After dressing, she packed everything in her valise and checked herself in the mirror, pleased she’d been able to pin up her hair in a fashionable coiffure all by herself. Removing a slip of paper and a pen and ink from her case, she scribbled out a note.

Hayden
,

I’m sorry. Hope you can forgive me someday…Yours affectionately
,

Magnolia

Short and to the point. No sentimentality. He would appreciate that. No doubt he was still fast asleep somewhere and wouldn’t see this for hours. And she’d be long gone. She hoped. For she didn’t think she could handle saying good-bye to him again.

Releasing a heavy sigh, she cast one final glance at the bird who still stared at her from the window before she grabbed the door latch and swung it open.

To find Hayden sound asleep on the bench across the hallway.

Hayden peeled his eyes open and was rewarded with a vision of loveliness tiptoeing past him. Lovely until she saw him looking at her and her expression crumpled. She halted with a huff. “What on earth are you doing here, Hayden?” Her shrill voice bore no resemblance to the soft, enchanting cadence of last night. Had the princess turned into a pumpkin while she slept? All the better. For it would make his task today much easier.

Rubbing his aching eyes, he sat, leaned forward, and placed his elbows on his knees. “I was protecting you.”
And keeping you from leaving without me
. He wouldn’t tell her that he’d sensed something in her last night, something secretive, duplicitous.

“Protecting me?” The hard edge to her voice softened.

Hayden raked his hair back and gazed up at her. “Rio’s not the safest town, nor are we in the safest location down here by the docks.”

Her delicate eyebrows folded together, and she glanced toward the stairs as if she wished to escape. “How very chivalrous of you,” she mumbled. Then why did she seem so troubled and distant?

She faced him, her smile tight as a stretched bow. “You must not have slept at all on that hard bench. Why don’t you go lie on the bed? I believe we have the room until noon, do we not? In the meantime, I will go see about some food and perhaps stop by the dock master’s.” She batted the air around her face, her gaze skittering about. “After the news about this Godard fellow, I assume you aren’t going back to the States with me. So, after I book passage, I’ll return to say good-bye.”

Uneasy at her nervous chattering, Hayden rose and cocked a brow. “And pay me.”

“Of course.” She gave an exaggerated giggle. “Well then, I shall see you in an hour or so. Do get some rest, Hayden. You look an absolute fright.” Sorrow cracked her voice, and he thought he saw moisture cover her eyes before she turned to leave.

Hayden caught her arm. She didn’t turn around.

“I’ve no need for further rest, Princess, though I’m thrilled by your concern.” Why was she behaving so strangely? “Perhaps it’s best you pay me now.”

She tugged from his grip and took a step back, her gaze lowering to the stained and marred floorboards. A man emerged from the room next door, assessed them for a moment, then tipped his hat and headed downstairs.

Magnolia’s jaw tightened. “I’m not sure how much my ticket will be.”

“Then I will accompany you.”

Speechless—for once—she stared at him. Or more like
through
him as alarm screamed in her eyes. Yes, indeed, there was definitely some tomfoolery afoot. Foolish girl! She obviously had no idea who she was dealing with.

After a vain attempt to press the wrinkles from his coat and trousers, Hayden escorted her from the hotel. Better to tell her the truth away from prying eyes and ears, away from people who might wish to intervene in the ensuing confrontation. And what a confrontation it would be when he told her he had no intention of allowing her to put her life at risk by traveling back to the States alone.

Except for a few people, wagons, and chickens milling about, the street was refreshingly empty. Bright fingers of sunlight curled over the edge of the water, spreading a coral ribbon across the horizon and splashing violet on the underbellies of clouds. Sugar Loaf, the peak guarding the bay, rose like a dark thumb imprinted onto the majestic painting. The smell of fish, salt, bananas, and mangoes swirled about Hayden as he battled a myriad of conflicting emotions.

Magnolia hurried along, head down, and valise pressed to her heaving chest. Perhaps she was simply nervous about her upcoming voyage. But soon enough, she would be relieved of such fears.

Of course, he had to get his money from her first. Before she got to the dock master and bought a useless ticket. Turning, he scanned the street, seeking a coffee shop or fruit stand where he could entice her to stop for a moment. Nothing but houses and hotels and a gaudy French theater lined the avenue. Dread clenching his stomach, he faced forward again.

Magnolia was gone.

His heart lurched. He scanned the sparse crowd for a flash of flaxen hair and blue skirts. There, darting down a narrow passage between a cigar shop and a stall selling fine silks. Cursing himself for his stupidity, he tore after her, down the alleyway, out onto a main street bustling with activity. Good thing he was taller than most for he had a clear view of her light hair threading the crowd like a needle through canvas.

So, she intended not to pay him, to go back on her word. Perhaps that had been her intention all along. His blood boiled. How dare she try to swindle him! The best confidence man in the Confederacy.

It didn’t take long to catch her. In fact, he considered delaying the chase to grant her a few extra moments of hope. But sweat began to bead on his chest and neck, and his breath grew heavy, so he lengthened his stride, grabbed her elbow, and dragged her off the street into an alleyway.

Forcing her against the brick wall, he imprisoned her with his arms. “What in the Sam Hill are you doing, Princess?” His breath came out in heated bursts, filling the air between them.

Her chest heaved in time with his. Waves of freed hair tumbled down her shoulders. Perspiration shone on her face and neck. But her eyes were ice. “I hate good-byes.”

“And I assume you hate parting with your money as well.”

She ducked beneath his arm and darted to the left, but he snagged her and brought her back. “Ah, ah, ah, Princess. Not until you pay me my due.” Not ever, actually. But he wouldn’t tell her that until he got his money—money he desperately needed to purchase supplies and a scout to locate his father.

“It’s always been about the money, hasn’t it?” Spite hissed in her voice. “Not about helping a lady in distress. Even last night. You were playing a part, being kind just to get the money, weren’t you?” The ice melted in her eyes, and he couldn’t tell whether the tears were an act or real.
Baffling woman!

He pushed off the wall and held out his open palm. “Nevertheless, we had a deal.”

She swallowed hard, her gaze flitting from him to the street and back again. Finally, she sighed, retrieved the pouch from her valise, and slammed it into his hand.

The sheer weight of it delighted Hayden.

“You’re welcome to what’s left after you purchase my passage home. In fact”—she picked up her valise and started down the alleyway—“why don’t we go buy a ticket now? Then I’ll board the ship and you’ll be free of me.”

Hayden leapt in front of her. A breeze sifted through the passageway, cooling the sweat on his neck. He snapped hair from his face, studying her. She wouldn’t meet his gaze. “I have a better idea. How about we count it first? Three hundred dollars worth of gold coins, if I recall?”

Her face blanched. She seemed to be having trouble breathing. She set down her valise and leaned against the brick wall with a huff of resignation. “Very well.”

Tipping her valise on its side, Hayden poured the contents of the pouch onto the patterned fabric. A few gold coins sifted out from the top, but they were soon smothered beneath a massive pile of copper pennies.

C
HAPTER
18

M
agnolia gripped the wall behind her, snagging her last pair of good gloves, wishing she could melt into the bricks and disappear. The look of shock in Hayden’s green eyes transformed into fury as hard as emerald. He clutched a handful of pennies and rose, thrusting them in her face. “You tricked me!” Nostrils flaring, his jaw reddened beneath dark stubble like embers beneath coal. “You lied to me!”

Magnolia’s breath fled her lungs. A squeak emerged from her lips.

He flung the coins on the ground by her feet. Some struck her hem and landed on her shoes. Others crashed to the stone walkway, their
clanks
and
clinks
sounding hollow in her ears—hollow like her promise to Hayden. She couldn’t blame him for his anger. She’d tried to avoid it. But now as he took up a pace before her like a raging bull about to charge, she grew concerned at what he might do.

He kicked the pennies down the street, growling. “I counted on that money. I trusted you.”

Halting, he slammed his palms on the brick on either side of her and pinned her to the wall once again. The man could start a fire with that look in his eyes. As it was, Magnolia felt her heart sear beneath his stare. He tried to say something, bared his teeth, but only a groan emerged as he pushed off the wall and backed away.

Finally, she found her voice, shaky as it was. “I only had enough for my passage, Hayden. I didn’t know what else to do. You wouldn’t have taken me along without being paid.”

“No, I wouldn’t have.” Clenching his fists, he crossed his arms over his chest.

“You left me no choice.” Tears blurred her vision.

A flash of understanding lit his eyes before he narrowed them. “You prepared the trap before you even knew I would deny your request. You intended to trick me all along.”

Unable to bear the pain in his eyes, she lowered her gaze. “I suspected money might influence you, yes. I’m sorry, Hayden. I hated lying to you.” A bell rang from the harbor. She bit her lip and watched a woman pass by with a basket of fruit on her head. “Please let me use what little gold I have to buy my passage. As soon as I get home and marry Samuel, I’ll send you ten times that amount.”

He gave a cynical chuckle. “Fool me once, Princess.” He shoved a finger at her and shook his head. Then kneeling, he gathered the gold coins and slid them into his pocket—seven coins that would amount to no more than forty dollars. Just enough to pay for her passage home and perhaps conveyance to her aunt and uncle’s in Ohio. But now they were in the possession of this angry bull before her.

Angry and wounded and possessing a crazed look akin to a feral wolf. Oh, how she wished the ardor of the prior night would return, but she’d never see that again. She’d ruined that possibility with her lie. Ruined any affection that had grown between them. And now, there was truly nothing left for her in Brazil. Despite the heaviness in her heart, she put on her most charming smile and inched toward him. “I know I lied to you, Hayden, but I promise I will send you money. As much as you need.” Self-loathing curdled in her belly at another possible deception. But how else was she to get home?