Rebel Temptress (Historical Romance) (15 page)

She laid her head on his shoulder, feeling as though she was dying inside. She loved him so much. She wished she dared go with him, but she must think of Aaron.

"Say you will miss me, Honor."

"I will miss you always, Adam."

"Tell me that you love me," he whispered against her ear.

"There are all kinds of love, Adam."

"For God's sake, Honor, can you not say it? I asked you a question, and I demand an answer." His hands gripped her shoulders painfully.

"Do not ask it of me, Adam. You are always asking more than I can give."

"Damn you, Honor. Are you so passive you cannot reach out for what I offer you? Will you stay with a man who has obviously mistreated you, knowing he loves your sister? Are you such a martyr that you would sacrifice your whole life?"

"You have no right to speak to me this way, Adam. It is not your concern what I decide to do. I wish you would leave me in peace."

His eyes flashed angrily. "I will go, Honor, but I will be back, never doubt it." He walked away from her and she stared after him, wishing she dared call him back. He had been right. She did feel like a martyr, sacrificing her life, but there were so many people who depended on her. And there was her son. She must think of his future.

Good-bye, Adam, my love, she cried silently. God go with you.

* * *

A week later Honor received a letter from the attorney of the new owner of Landau.

Mrs. Daniels,

On behalf of my client, I wish to inform you that you must always feel free to visit and tend the graves sites at Landau. My client, knowing you have family buried there, wishes you to feel free to come and go as you will.

Sincerely,

Baker Davis

Attorney at Law

Honor was puzzled by the letter, knowing it was a very generous and kind offer. She wondered who the new owner could be.

* * *

Adam was preparing to leave for Boston the next day. He walked about the grounds of Landau Plantation. It was quiet now, deserted, waiting for the new owner. He walked to the front of the house just as a buggy pulled into the driveway. He saw the woman disembark in a flurry of rustling blue silk. Red curls peeped out from underneath a matching silk bonnet. Meagan, he thought, Honor's sister.

Meagan was halfway up the steps before she spotted Adam, and turning to face him, she flashed him her prettiest smile.

"Are we invaded by Yankees, sir?" she said in a throaty voice.

He walked up the steps slowly, studying her beautiful face.

"Major Adam O'Roarke, at your service, ma'am."

She handed him her gloved hand and flashed him a smile that showed her perfect teeth. "I am Meagan Elderman, major," she told him, looking him up and down with a look that told him she liked what she saw.

Adam tried to find something in her that would remind him of Honor, but saw nothing. She was beautiful, but she was somewhat on the heavy side, and her features, while beautiful, were not delicate like Honor's. The bold look in her blue eyes could not match the lovely sparkle in Honor's green eyes. It flashed through his mind that comparing her to Honor was like comparing a plow horse to a thoroughbred mare.

Meagan was beginning to feel uncomfortable under his searching gaze. It was as if she were being assessed and found wanting.

"If you will excuse me, major, I am anxious to see my sister and aunt."

"You will not find them here, Mrs. Elderman."

"What do you mean they are not here?"

"I believe you will find your sister living at Green Rivers."

"That does not make sense, major. How is it that you know about my family?"

Adam ignored her question. "Is there a Mr. Elderman?"

Meagan smiled, thinking the handsome Yankee was interested in her. "No, I am a widow now, and have been this last year," she told him, looking at the way his blue uniform seemed to enhance the color of his blue eyes. She smiled intimately. "My husband, Horace, succumbed to a malady while we were traveling in Europe. I have no one now."

"So you have been abroad, and now you have come home."

There seemed to be an accusation in his words, but Meagan thought she must be mistaken.

"That is correct, major, and I am most anxious to see my sister." She walked down the steps, and stood beside the buggy. Adam offered her his arm and helped her into the buggy. Looking at him through half-closed eyelashes, Meagan nodded. "Shall I see you again, major?" Somehow the question had the sound of an invitation.

"Perhaps, one can never tell, Mrs. Elderman."

"I will not be Mrs. Elderman for long, major. Very soon I will be mistress of Green Rivers."

The buggy moved forward, and Adam stepped back a pace, with a frown on his handsome face. He pondered Meagan's last words, and cursed under his breath. This woman was cold and calculating. She could destroy Honor if she had a mind to. Again Adam wondered about the man, Jordan Daniels. He was a fool. Between the two of them, they would hurt Honor more than they already had, and all he could do, he thought, was to be there to pick up the pieces.

Perhaps he was not giving Honor enough credit. She might look fragile and vulnerable, but underneath she was steadfast as well as strong when the need arose.

Adam mounted his horse and rode for Charlottesville, and from there he would ride for Portsmouth to take a ship to Boston.

* * *

The money Honor had received from the sale of Landau Plantation was being put to good use. The barn and fences at Green Rivers had been repaired, and the house had received a new coat of paint. Honor had hired workers to till the soil, and a seamstress had been summoned to Green Rivers to make Maggie a new wardrobe. She could ill afford the money for finery, but Maggie had gone into a decline since the death of her husband, and Honor hoped that a few new dresses would cheer her up.

All the slaves had deserted Green Rivers with the exception of the cook, Delia, and Chauncey and three field hands. Darcy had assumed the same duties she had performed at Landau. Honor did not know what she would have done without her, for she depended on Darcy to keep things in the house running smoothly while she was in the fields. Honor had decided she would save money by not hiring an overseer to replace Clyde. She herself would see to the running of the plantation.

Hearing a carriage pull up to the front of the house, she walked over to the window and drew the drapery aside. Her heart plummeted when she recognized Meagan being helped from the carriage by Chauncey.

She watched with a feeling of dread as Meagan made her way up the steps. There was no joy in Honor's heart at seeing her sister.

Honor reached the entryway just as Meagan entered the front door. Both sisters looked at each other for a long moment, then Meagan removed her gloves and handed them to Chauncey, who stood just behind her

"So the caterpillar has turned into a butterfly. I always knew you would."

"Where is your husband, Meagan?" Honor asked quietly.

"Horace is dead. Have you no greeting for your sister, Honor?"

Honor walked slowly toward her. "I am glad you are well, Meagan."

Meagan held out her arms, and Honor allowed her sister to hug her. Meagan smelled of expensive perfume, and Honor drew back, feeling repelled by her.

"Are you not going to give me your condolences for the death of my husband, Honor?"

"I will not be a hypocrite and tell you that I will grieve for Mr. Elderman, but I am sorry for you, if you loved him."

Meagan shook her head. This was not her little sister who had cried and begged her not to leave her. Honor was beautiful — and cold. Honor stood a good four inches taller than herself, and her silver hair hung down below her waist. Even in her faded gray gown, she was beautiful.

"Where is Aunt Amanda?"

Honor saw that Chauncey was still standing in the entryway, taking in every word that was spoken.

"Come into the sitting room where we can talk," Honor said, leading the way.

Meagan followed her and sat down on the edge of the blue silk sofa.

"Has Jordan returned yet?"

"No, not yet. Meagan, Aunt Amanda died about six months after you left with Mr. Elderman," Honor said dully. She watched as tears came to Meagan's eyes.

"I did not know. I suppose I thought Aunt Amanda would live forever. Did she suffer?"

"No, not overmuch. It was the fever; her heart just gave out."

Meagan cried into her lace handkerchief. "Everyone is dead or gone. Nothing will ever be the same. On the trip out from town I saw the devastation. The Morris plantation was deserted and overgrown with weeds. What has happened while I have been away?"

"There was a war, Meagan. I can see how it would be a shock to you since you were not here to witness it as it happened."

"Yes, I will always be grateful that Horace took me away and I did not have to witness Virginia's demise." Meagan thought Honor was acting strangely withdrawn. "You may find this hard to believe, Honor, but Horace was very good to me, and in my own way I came to care a great deal for him, and he has left me a very wealthy widow."

"Well, money always did mean a great deal to you, Meagan. I hope it can buy you happiness."

"When will Jordan be home? Have you heard from him? Now that I am home, I intend to win him back. I know that it was a mistake for me to marry Horace. I found out too late that I truly loved Jordan. With my money we should be able to turn Green Rivers into a showplace."

Honor stood up abruptly as the door opened and Aaron came into the room. He stood beside Honor and looked at the stranger with wide eyes. "Mommy, who is that woman?" he asked.

Honor pulled Aaron to her side. "Aaron, this is my sister and your Aunt Meagan."

Meagan's eyes widened in disbelief. "You are married, Honor?" Meagan held out her arms to the boy. "Come to your Aunt Meagan," she said.

Aaron walked over to her, smiling brightly. "I never had an aunt before. You are pretty, but not as pretty as my mommy," he said loyally.

Meagan took his small hand and planted a kiss on his cheek. "It is only right you should think your mother is beautiful, Aaron. Maybe it is lucky for me that your mother is married. One does not need a beautiful younger sister running around loose." Meagan looked at Honor. "Who is your husband?"

Honor hesitated for a moment. "It is Jordan, Meagan."

Meagan pushed Aaron away from her and stood up. Her face was white and her fists were clenched. "When did this occur? How old is Aaron?"

"I married Jordan the day after Aunt Amanda was buried. Aaron is three," Honor said, without emotion.

"Jordan did not waste much time before turning to my sister, did he?" Meagan said angrily.

"Aaron, run along to the kitchen and tell Delia that I said you could have a sweet cake," Honor said as she gently pushed him toward the door.

"He cannot love you, Honor," Meagan stormed.

Honor held up her hand to silence her sister until her son left the room. Then she turned to Meagan.

"Did you expect Jordan to wait forever, Meagan?"

"He could have waited longer than he did to replace me with my sister." Meagan started pacing the floor, then she stopped in front of Honor. "He could not love you, he loves me."

Honor's face froze. "He married me, Meagan."

Meagan's eyes narrowed. "He married you because he could not have me. He did this just to punish me."

Honor knew that was exactly what had occurred, but did not wish to confirm it to her sister. "Where are you staying, Meagan?"

Meagan looked as if she had not heard her. Then she shook her head. "I will stay at Landau, I suppose."

"You cannot. Landau has been sold."

"By whose authority?"

"Mine. Aunt Amanda left Landau to me."

Meagan whirled away from her. "It is no more than I expected. You seem to have everything at the moment, Honor, but do not be surprised if you come up with nothing in the end."

"Welcome home, Meagan," Honor said dryly.

Meagan was at a loss for words. Anger burned deep inside her. Honor did have everything at the moment. Looking into her sister's face, Meagan felt real panic. Honor was lovely, maybe even more so than herself, but she knew ways to attract a man that Honor could not possibly know. She frowned. There was Jordan's son. She did not know how she would get around that, but she would plan and when Jordan came home, she would be ready to take him back.

"You are welcome to stay at Green Rivers until you can find other accommodations," Honor said.

At that moment Darcy came bursting into the room, her black face livid. "Master Aaron told me you was here, but I had to see with my own eyes."

"Hello, Darcy," Meagan smiled.

Darcy placed her hands on her hips. She could smell trouble coming. "How long you staying?"

"Lord," Meagan said, "is no one glad to see me?"

Darcy gave Honor a guarded glance and swept from the room, mumbling about a spider coming home to the web.