Emerald Desire (Emerald Trilogy) (27 page)

She felt the last remark was meant to hurt her; and it did. He had been the loner and she had meant nothing to him except as someone with whom he trifled. Her love for him had been thrown in her face too many times. Why should he care what happened to them? She was unimportant to him, yet there was a ring of truth in his words. She must persuade Dominick to take the oath.

So he wouldn't see she understood the import of his words, she peered sweetly at him from under long lashes. "Thank you for your kind concern." Then she turned and flounced away, but he caught her by the arm.

"Don't play the high and mighty lady with me, Dera. I can make things rough for you and your Dominick. Anyway, we have a bargain and I'll be receiving payment for saving his life.”

She trembled at his hard unyielding gaze; she knew he hadn’t forgotten what she owed him, but she eyed him with contempt and pulled away from his grasp. She continued down the street toward home, aware that he watched her.

Entering the shop, Dera fanned herself with her hand. The room felt like an oven and perspiration dripped from her She opened a drawer and rummaged for a kerchief when she heard the tinkle of the bell, announcing the arrival of a customer.

“
We're closed today," she said without glancing up.

"I'm not here to purchase any goods."

The perspiration instantly evaporated from her body as a chill overtook her. She raised her eyes to see Jem McConnell, lounging across the counter from her. His lecherous grin brought back the sordid memories she had tried to bury in the depths of her mind.

"What are you doing here?" she asked through pale lips.

He regarded her with an insolent but pleased expression. "I'm a soldier for the Spanish." He moved backward so she could see his uniform, devoid of decoration. "I joined with Quint after his escape. The army is a noble calling."

The shock wore off and the loathing she possessed for him resurfaced. "Noble, is it? You haven’t a noble bone in your body, Jem McConnell. You joined for the money only."

"And what is wrong with that, my lady? You married for it."

"Get away. You sicken me."

He laughed, seeing that he had gotten a response from her. Leaning forward, he seized her hand. She tried to pull away, but his grip tightened. "Don't take on so. When I saw you with your husband at the executions, I couldn't believe t'was you, but I remembered him from his stay at Fairfax Manor. You wasted no time latching onto him. Does he couple with you on the floor, too?"

Dera's face flamed a bright red as he jerked her against the counter. "You were real nasty to me that night, and I've not forgotten how you treated me. But it will be a long time before I forget the feel of your flesh and the smell of your body. I long to do the deed again, pretty Dera. 'Tis not over for us."

His face came nearer, his lips ready to devour hers. She was unbending and unable to break away. She knew that if his mouth touched hers, she would be sick. The tiny bell tinkled, and in an instant, she was released.

Dominick walked in and saw an ashen-faced Dera and a crude looking soldier handling a piece of fabric on the counter top. "What's going on here?" he asked suspiciously.

Dera gave him a strained smile. "This gentleman wishes to purchase some material, but I told him we were closed today."

"Take my advice, sir. That yellow silk you're fingering doesn’t become you."

Jem laughed. "T'was for a lady friend."

“
I see, but we’re closed today.”

“
Then I’ll be bidding you and your wife a good day." Jem walked towards the door but turned around and bowed to Dera. "I will be back to complete my business some other time," he said.

To hide her trembling hands, Dera picked up a bolt of fabric. The first traces of her fear vanished, and she felt like a coward, because Jem had always frightened her.

"An unpleasant man and another Irishman,” Dominick commented. He kissed the back of her head. "I'm weary and would like to rest."

She followed him to the bedroom. She sat on the bed beside him and stroked his forehead, but she wasn't thinking about the executions or Dominick. She thought that life was strange. In a new country, things should have changed, but everything seemed the same. Again, Quint had reentered her life. She tried not to think about him, but that was impossible. Every nerve in her body knew he was nearby and every part of her responded. Never had she expected to see him again, and now Jem had shown up, too.

Goose bumps rose on her flesh as she remembered Jem's touch. He wanted something from her, something she wasn't prepared to give, and she would rather die than submit to his animal lust ever again.

Dominick stirred and raised his head from the pillow. "I won't ever forget what happened this afternoon. I'll remember forever the sorrow on the faces of the Noyans and the other families. I don't understand why I was released."

"There was no cause to keep you, Dominick."

He faced her, a slight accusing look in his eyes. "O'Reilly signed the warrant for my arrest. I saw him do it. That Irish colonel was there and then you came. And I was released. Were you responsible for changing the colonel's mind? Did you promise anything for my release?"

"I told him you had a wife and a family who love you."

"That makes no sense, Dera. The others had families, and yet he thought nothing of giving the signal to fire."

She hesitated a moment, seeing he was disturbed. "Will you take the oath?" she asked at last.

"No!"

"But if you refuse to swear, we'll lose everything. The shop, house, our belongings will be confiscated. You'll be kept under constant watch by the general. You must do it for us and yourself."

“
From whom did you learn this information?" he asked.

She glanced down, unable to meet his inquisitive stare. "The colonel suggested it would be the wise thing to do.”

“
How caring of him. Do you wish me to do this, Dera? You know that if I pledge my loyalty to Spain, I’ll be abandoning my principles, and my friends will have died in vain."

“
You can't fight the Spanish forever. The executions proved that O'Reilly will enforce the law at any cost. I don't want to lose you." Tears burned her eyes and she wearily leaned against him.

Dominick felt her pain and felt guilty for putting her through such an ordeal when he knew he couldn't possibly win any longer. He held her in his arms and looked into her face. "I don't believe you have the right to ask this of me, Dera, but I haven't the right to make you heed my opinions. For you, I'll take the oath, but I'll never forgive myself for doing something I don't believe in. And I shall never forgive you for asking me to do it."

Dominick let her go and stood up. He headed for the door.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"To the one place where I feel like a man. If you need me I shall be at Vaudry's Tavern, indulging in a game of cards."

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE

The windows which lined the shaded gallery of Government House blazed with light. Dera had never been inside the elegant building. She dreaded attending General O'Reilly's soiree, knowing that Dominick did also, for he was sullen and had little to say. A special messenger had brought the invitation a week past, but Dominick regarded it as more of a summons. Rosette, on the other hand, was excited. In her new lilac gown she was breathtakingly lovely. Why the girl should be so thrilled to attend a stuffy party for the General mystified Dera, but she had worked all week to choose just the right gown and hair style.

After Henri stopped the carriage, and they alighted from it, they were ushered into the main reception room by Spanish soldiers.

"I wish this mess was over," Dominick muttered. "A lot of nonsense. O'Reilly is a bloody bastard and doesn't care for any of us."

"Please make an effort, Dominick. I know it's hard for you, but it's more difficult for everyone else, especially the Noyans. If they can be here, so can you."

He caught sight of the Noyan family. "They're here out of fear, just like everyone else," he said. Suddenly he smiled down at her, his face made more handsome by the love shining in his eyes. "But you're beautiful tonight. Sometimes I forget how lucky I am." He appraised her in the amber colored satin gown which gave her skin a warm sheen and set her apart from every other woman in the room by the simplicity of its style. The dress was cut neither too high or too low in front because she didn't want to draw attention to herself, however, her natural beauty made that impossible. "Every man in the room is watching you, Dera, but you're mine. I only hope Colonel Flanders remembers that."

Dera paled. "What are you talking about?"

"I saw the way he looked at you that night at the barracks. His eyes nearly scorched the clothes off you. He is crude and arrogant. Believe me, I'd derive great pleasure to call him out."

"Please don't cause a scene. Colonel Flanders isn't interested in me."

"How naive you are sometimes, Dera." He was interrupted as a murmur ran through the crowd. A door opened and General O'Reilly, dressed in full Spanish regalia and looking very much the stern conqueror, entered the room.

He was tall and gray haired with small eyes. His erect carriage bespoke authority. An Irishman by birth, he had quickly risen in the ranks of the Spanish army because he was clever, industrious and ruthless when the occasion warranted. He knew what he wanted and how to get it. Because he had successfully quelled the rebellion in New Orleans, he wished now to show its citizens that he was humane by making the transition from French to Spanish rule more tranquil.

Quint followed behind O'Reilly. Even at a distance, Dera was affected by his physical presence. Wearing the scarlet uniform which showed off his broad shouldered, muscular build, Quint caused other men to pale in comparison.

With Quint in attendance, O'Reilly moved about the room and exchanged comments with the citizens. The two men towered over everyone else, and it was easy for Dera to see them as they made their way toward her family. Quint and the general stopped before them, and Quint made the introductions.

"Yes, I remember," O'Reilly said and shook hands with a reluctant Dominick. Then he turned towards Dera, bowed from the waist and formally kissed her hand. "Madame," he said with a twinkle in his eyes, "I've heard reports of your beauty. They were not exaggerated."

"You're very kind, general." Dera smiled at him, wondering why everyone detested him. In person he didn't seem like the blood thirsty savage he was made out to be.

"Ah, you're Irish. My informant didn't mention that." O'Reilly glanced at Quint. "The colonel has briefed me about everyone of importance in the community."

Dera had no idea why Quint had informed him about her, but she reasoned that was part of his job. She noticed Dominick flush when the general didn't immediately release her hand. "I hadn't realized my accent was still noticeable."

"Really it isn't, but since you're the most beautiful woman in the room, I assumed you must be Irish. Don't you agree, Flanders?"

Quint stiffened. "Aye, General."

At last he released Dera's hand and looked at Rosette. "And who might this pretty creature be?"

Dominick stepped forward. "This is my sister, sir, Mademoiselle Rosette Saucier."

"Your brother is a lucky man to be surrounded by such lovely females."

“
Merci,” Rosette said, feeling bold and pretty.

O’Reilly smiled one last time before moving toward other guests and allowing Quint to make further introductions for him.

"How handsome he is!" Rosette gushed.

"You mean O'Reilly?" Dominick asked.

“
Heavens no. I mean the colonel, of course. I've never seen a more beautiful looking man."

"Such talk is unbecoming for a girl your age," Dominick rebuked her.

"I'm seventeen years old, Dominick. Hardly a child," Rosette reminded him.

Dera understood why Rosette looked so lovely, why her skin glowed and her eyes sparkled. Clearly she was infatuated with Quint. Jealousy cut through her. She tried to quell it by telling herself that Rosette was too young for Quint…but she remembered that she had been younger than Rosette when she and Quint had first made love.