When the Splendor Falls (57 page)

“You may be right,” Adam surprised him by saying. “She needs to be given little choice in the matter,” Adam said, quoting Leigh’s own words about her meeting with Neil.

“I was surprised to find her at Travers Hill.”

“You were?”

“Yes, I asked her why she hadn’t gone to a safe place, but as always, her family comes first. She won’t leave them. She feels responsible for Althea and Noelle now that Nathan is gone. Althea has been quite ill, I understand. And Guy Travers is blind. She could hardly abandon him, but what of her own two children?”

“Two children? Leigh doesn’t have any children,” Adam told him, wondering where his cousin had gotten that idea.

“I saw her with the young, dark-haired boy, and with the baby,” Neil told him. “It was dark-haired too, and she was rocking it in a cradle.”

“The young, dark-haired boy? That is Steward Russell, Nathan’s and Althea’s son. The baby is named Lucinda, and she is my daughter, Neil.”

“I see,” Neil said slowly. “I just assumed, seeing Leigh with them, that they were hers. But that doesn’t change anything. Even though Wycliffe has died, I would have thought he had enough wealth to assure her and her family a safe place to live.”

“Wycliffe?” Adam repeated in surprise. “What has he to do with this?”

“She married Matthew Wycliffe,” Neil reminded him, unable to mask the bitterness in his voice.

“Leigh and Wycliffe were never married.” Adam spoke softly, watching Neil’s face closely, wondering how much that information mattered to him.

If Neil was surprised, he didn’t show it. His hard face remained expressionless.

“They announced their engagement, but his mother died that spring, and they postponed their wedding, then the war started, and there was another postponement, and then Wycliffe was killed. Leigh is still Leigh Travers, her home is still Travers Hill, and that is why she is there. She’s never married.”

Neil laughed softly, but Adam didn’t care for the sound of it. “Well, well…” Neil murmured thoughtfully. “So Leigh Travers never married.”

“She didn’t tell you?” Adam asked, puzzled.

“No,” he said abruptly.

“She’s had her chances. I understand one of the Yankee surgeons was determined to marry her, and there have been others, but…”

“…but she wouldn’t abandon her family, would she?” Neil concluded for him.

“No. And she’s even less likely to now than she was four years ago. She wouldn’t then, would she, Neil?”

“What do you mean?”

“You were in love with her.”

“Love?” Neil questioned doubtfully.

“Well, maybe not love. You didn’t have time to fall in love, but you wanted her, didn’t you? No, don’t deny it, I saw the way you watched her. I was there that night, I felt the tension between you whenever you were close.”

Neil smiled unpleasantly. “I don’t deny it. She’s a beautiful woman. I found her quite fascinating, and quite a challenge. I wouldn’t mind having her in my bed,” he said bluntly, wanting to destroy any notions Adam had that he was in love with Leigh Travers.

“Maybe you can, if you’re still interested,” Adam said, hoping Leigh would forgive him for speaking this way, although he wondered if he would live to apologize to her, because Neil’s pale eyes narrowed dangerously.

“I’ve never needed help to get a woman before,” Neil said quietly, but there was a savage undertone to it.

“You will now, cousin, if you want Leigh.”

“I hadn’t realized you were in procurement.”

“I’m no whoremaster, Neil, but I am a very desperate man. And now that I’ve beheld the answer to my prayers, I’ll do anything to get what I want.”

“So it would seem,” Neil said lazily. “And, just out of curiosity, how would you manage to get Leigh Travers for me?
If
I wanted her, that is? And what am I to have her for? One night? I’m hardly in a position to take the lady to bed. And what price are you asking? What do I pay for that pleasure?”

“You can have Leigh for a night, or, if you want, for a lifetime. It’s up to you. Of course, you’ve got to survive the war to claim the latter,” Adam reminded him.

“Of course.”

“I’m not worried. You’ve always been good at surviving, Neil.”

“And the lady, of course, is agreeable to this. I must say, she has hidden her feelings well.”

Adam smiled grimly. “She doesn’t know yet. But I do not foresee any difficulties, because I hold the winning hand this time.”

“You amaze me. Leigh Travers is not a woman who does anything unless she wants to. And I don’t quite see her wishing to climb into my bed. Or has she led you to believe otherwise?” Neil asked softly, but there was an intentness about him now as he watched his cousin.

“No, and I’ll leave that part of the arrangement to you, but she’ll do what I want.”

“You sound very certain. You’ll forgive me if I have my doubts,” Neil said.

“If she wants to keep my daughter, she has no choice. She loves Lucinda as if she were her own. She promised Blythe she’d always care for her. I’ve threatened to take Lucinda away from her, to take her to a place of safety.”

“Blackmail, Adam?”

“I’ll do anything to save my daughter. To give her a chance to live. I don’t need to tell you what the next few years will be like. We’re losing the war, Neil. The Union forces, followed by the federal government, with all of the politicians and profiteers flocking into the South, will be hard taskmasters when they occupy the disbanded Confederacy.”

Neil didn’t try to argue.

“We will be the vanquished. Our pride, our heritage, ground into the dust beneath a Yankee heel. No, it’s the truth. The war may end, but it won’t be over for a lot of people. Until now, Leigh has always managed to call my bluff. She knew I’d never take Lucinda away from her and give her to strangers to care for. I am also guardian of Noelle and Steward, by Nathan’s request, and I have the responsibility of Althea’s welfare to think about. If Althea had not become ill, if Nathan were still alive, I would have given Lucinda to them. Leigh would have agreed to that, but I don’t have that choice.

“I want them out of Virginia, Neil. I had thought to send them to the Bahamas, then to England. I am not without contacts, and aboard my ship I could see them safely to Nassau, then, with the proceeds from selling her, I’d get them to England. I’d thought to contact Maribel Lu and J. Kirkfield, but I’m not even certain where they are. They are constantly on the move, traveling from one European capital to another, still trying to drum up support for the Confederacy. Until now, I’d never considered sending my daughter, and Althea and her children, to Uncle Nathaniel and Aunt Camilla. It wasn’t possible. I knew I couldn’t get them out to the New Mexico Territory. And even if I had, they’d just have been homeless relatives to house and feed, and I couldn’t be certain that Leigh and Guy would agree to go out there. And I knew if they would not, then Althea wouldn’t. But now that you’re here, I’ve suddenly realized that there is another way that I can ensure a family, and a home, for my daughter. My first thought was that you, with your Yankee connections, could make certain that Lucinda, and Althea and her family, got safely to the New Mexico Territory. You could, couldn’t you?”

“So that is what I do? Get your daughter and Althea and her children out of Virginia. And in return, I get Leigh Travers? Would you mind showing me your cards, Adam, because I don’t quite see how you intend to win the hand.”

“Very well, but could you?” he persisted.

“If you chose that course of action, then I would telegraph a message to Santa Fe, letting my father know of your plans. He would, most likely, meet Althea and the children in Westport or Council Grove and escort them the rest of the way into the territories. He wouldn’t trust anyone else with their safety. He trusts the teamsters less than the Indians. But I would have some difficulty getting them out of Virginia.”

“No problem. I have a pass to get them to Richmond. From there they’ll sail to New York. Then you take over and see that they get to New Mexico.”

“But, Adam, you know that Royal Rivers would always be a home for you and your family, for Althea and hers. You’re Braedons. This business with Leigh is unnecessary. I’m certain, if she chose to come, and she will if you take your daughter from her, that she, and even Guy, would be welcome in my father’s house. Royal Rivers is always full of guests, and two more people wouldn’t make any difference. Besides, as you say, the war can’t last much longer. Then you can claim your daughter. I’ll see that she gets to New Mexico, to Royal Rivers. She’ll be safe there until the war is over.”

“It won’t matter, Neil, whether the war ends tomorrow, or two years, or three years from now. I’m dying, Neil,” Adam said quietly.

This time Neil couldn’t hide the expression that crossed his face.

Adam shook his head. “No, don’t look like that, cousin. I had almost four years of happiness, and I was blessed with a beautiful daughter. My Blythe is gone, and once I see that our daughter is cared for, I can die contented.”

“Adam.”

“There is no hope for me, Neil. Three months, four, I don’t know. I’m becoming weaker by the day. I’ve consumptive lungs. I’ve been coughing up blood for some time. Bed rest, the doctors said. To prolong the agony?” Adam laughed harshly. “I’m not going to waste away. I suspect I caught the damned disease when I was wounded and had to stay in the hospital. I’m afraid I wasn’t strong enough to fight off the infection. I’d had pneumonia, complicating my recovery. The only plague I didn’t seem to catch was typhoid fever. I suppose it had infected too many Braedons already.”

“Damn,” Neil said beneath his breath, staring at Adam’s thin face, and realizing now the reason for his shortness of breath.

Adam could feel his despair and was touched. “That is why I must be certain my daughter will have a home, will have a family to care for her. Leigh loves her. She is Lucinda’s mother now. I doubt Leigh will ever marry, because she’ll put Lucinda’s needs before her own, and most men would be reluctant to take on another man’s child, especially one that’s not even his wife’s by a former marriage. A niece? And what of Althea and her children? Leigh seems to think she is the only one who can care for them, and I do not see a prospective bridegroom looking forward to that responsibility. None of their futures holds much hope. Royal Bay is gone. Travers Hill may not survive, and afterward, how will Leigh and Guy be able to keep it? I saw the tax assessment Leigh received, and it’s hopeless. They will become homeless, and that is why I want you to marry Leigh.”

“
Marry?
”

“Yes, together, you and Leigh will become my daughter’s family. That is my deal. Leigh will marry you in order to keep Lucinda. And I’m hoping that you desire Leigh enough that you’d marry her, or if you have no feelings for her then because you cared enough about my daughter and Nathan’s family that you would agree to my terms to ensure that they get out of Virginia. You see, I’ve also thought that it would be far easier for you to assure their safe passage if Leigh were your wife. Right now, if they were to leave Virginia, they would be spat upon as rebs, perhaps even accosted and denied transportation. But as the wife of a Yankee officer, Leigh and the others would have safe passage. But if that were not reason enough, then I’ve one other card to play. And it’s one you cannot beat. What is the price of your men’s lives?”

Neil’s eyes narrowed on Adam’s flushed face.

“You have wounded men. One has a shoulder wound? Another has several broken ribs? I’ve just overheard that another is suffering delirium from malaria? And the countryside is crawling with Johnny Rebs out for your blood. Your chances aren’t very good, Neil. But what if they saw the infamous Captain Dagger riding hell for leather toward Charlottesville, then spied him near Richmond. Then on the docks, maybe planning his escape by sea? You, and your men, could take a nice, leisurely ride in the opposite direction, no rebel troops in pursuit, and what a wild-goose chase I’ll lead them on. Yes, me. I do look like the infamous Yankee raider, don’t you think? We do bear a remarkable resemblance to one another. Your men just proved it. Even they mistook me for Captain Dagger. It’s your chance, Neil. Take it, and take what else I offer you.”

“Leigh Travers?”

“Yes, you get Leigh. You’ve always wanted her. And you get your men out safely. You may never get another chance. What do you say to that?”

“I’d say I couldn’t lose. You’ve given me everything. Except that I don’t want the lady under those conditions. I don’t want her marrying me to save her family, to keep your daughter. I’ll see that your daughter gets to New Mexico, and I’ll always be responsible for her, and I’ll take care of Althea and her children, but I won’t marry Leigh. All you have to do is call her bluff. She’ll come out to the territories, because she won’t want to lose Lucinda. But I am not going to be blackmailed into marriage. Believe me, Adam, it is not an auspicious beginning for a life together. I learned that when I found out that Serena had only married me because her father had forced her to. And my motives weren’t much better. Although I found her beautiful, I wasn’t in love with her. But it seemed a good arrangement. I thought it time I took a wife, and I wanted the land her father was thinking of selling to an outsider. It was a parcel of grazing land with a year-round stream, and bordering Royal Rivers and Riovado. Alfonso Jacobs made it his wedding gift.”

“You and Serena were never happy? You never came to love one another?”

“No. Serena was in love with another man when she married me. He was a man unacceptable to her father. They eloped and secretly married, but were caught, and Alfonso almost beat the man to death. But Alfonso knew that dead, the man would no longer be of use to him. Alive, he could threaten Serena with her lover’s death unless she did as he wished. He had the marriage annulled, then planned her marriage to me. I had openly pursued her, and my intentions were honorable. Serena finally agreed out of fear for her lover. We married, but Serena was a very devout woman, and in her heart she was still married to another,” Neil told him. “I pity her now, but I was in a rage at the time, believing I’d been cheated, and we became bitter enemies. I sometimes wonder if she wasn’t going to meet him that day when she became lost. Another rider had been there. I saw the tracks, but the trail was washed away before I could follow it.”