Ecstasy's Promise (Historical Romance) (30 page)

She smiled sweetly. "It must be my association with you. You would try the patience of a saint."

He laughed. "One of us must lose in this battle of wills, Victoria, and I think it will be you."

Victoria felt fear prick her spine.

"Oh, do not worry, Victoria. Dan has cautioned me to be on my best behavior, shall we say, until your bandages have been removed."

Victoria closed her eyes and thought, Oh, my love, my love, why can I find no joy in being your bride? She was tired, and her ribs were throbbing painfully.

Edward watched her carefully. He could see that she was tiring. He stood up and announced to their guests that his bride must rest. "I will take her upstairs," he told them; "then I will rejoin you."

Victoria was grateful. She kissed her grandmother and Bodine, feeling lost at the thought of being parted from them. She longed for her familiar room at her grandmother's house.

Dan told her he would be out in a few days to check on her condition.

Edward walked her to the entryway; then he gently lifted her in his arms and carried her up the stairs. He looked down at her.

"Are you very tired, Victoria?"

"A little," she told him.

"You are not to concern yourself with our guests. I will return to them once I have seen to your comfort."

He carried her down a long hall, opened a door, and carried her into her bedroom. It was so beautiful, she stared about her in amazement.

Edward set her on her feet. "Do you like it, Victoria?" His voice sounded anxious.

"It is a lovely room, Edward. I like it very much."

"I am relieved. I was afraid after its completion that it would not suit you. My room is through the connecting door," he said, anticipating her question. "I will send Juanita up to help you undress. You should try to get some rest. Are you in any pain, Victoria?"

"Not really," she lied. "I am merely exhausted."

He put his arms around her and held her to him. "Victoria Lee Hanover," he whispered tenderly. "I like the sound of that."

She felt the now-familiar feeling stir in her body. He raised her face to his. His brown eyes held her captive. His lips brushed hers as gently as butterfly wings. "You looked so beautiful today, I could not take my eyes from you." He frowned at her; then his face eased into a smile.

Her heart skipped a beat. She felt overpowered by his nearness, and the fact that they were alone together frightened her.

Gently his arms slid about her waist. "I wish I could tell you how I felt today when Rev. Blackstone said we were man and wife."

"Do you always get your own way in everything, Edward?"

"Yes, I believe I do." His hands started a circular motion on her back, but he stopped when he felt her bandages. His lips moved softly over her face. "Now
for a kiss," he whispered. His mouth covered hers. Against her will, Victoria came under his domination. How she loved him. If he was aware of the power he had over her, what would be her fate?

Edward raised his head and stared at her. "You are mine, Victoria."

She felt panic well up inside of her. "Please," she said, struggling against him, "leave me alone."

He released her quickly, afraid her struggling would cause her pain. She stumbled backward, catching herself by the bedpost.

He looked at her with concern. "Victoria, I am sorry. Are you hurt? I did not mean to—"

"Please leave me alone, Edward," she said wearily.

He reached out his hand to her, then let it drop helplessly to his side. "I will send Juanita to you."

She heard the door open and close softly, and knew she was alone. She would like to call him back. The love she felt for him was so deep it left her breathless. How would she be able to see him every day, knowing he did not return her love? She remembered Clarissa and Monica, and wondered how many other hearts Edward had broken.

Victoria put her hands to her face. She had been through a lot in her eighteen years. She was not going to fall apart now. She squared her shoulders as she always did when the going got tough, and called on her reserved strength.

She smiled sadly. Edward had handled her wrong, she thought. If he had lied to her and told her he loved her, she would have been unable to resist him. Victoria knew she would need all her courage to face a life as Edward's wife.

He had been painfully honest with her. He needed a mistress for Rio del Lobo. Well, that was what he would get, and no more, she vowed, hoping she would have the strength to resist him.

Juanita came in and helped her change into the lovely nightgown Consuelo had given her. Juanita then pulled the covers down and Victoria slipped between white satin sheets. They felt cool and soothing against her skin.

The Mexican woman smiled down at her. "I am so pleased you married
Senor
Eduardo. He has had a sadness in his heart for so long. Though he tried to hide it, I, who know him so well, could see it. You have made him a very happy man,
Senora
Victoria."

Victoria smiled at her and wondered how Edward's housekeeper could be so mistaken. Did she believe Edward had married her for love?

Juanita removed her wedding gown, promising to pack it away with her veil.

Victoria lay alone in the beautiful room. Her ribs and her heart ached; she wondered which hurt the most.

Victoria awoke slowly. She could hear the sound of music and merrymaking coming from the garden. It was dark now, she noticed. She had not meant to fall asleep, but she did feel refreshed and able to face the ordeal that lay ahead.

She eased herself into a sitting position; then she rose slowly to her feet. Her robe was across the foot of the bed. She slipped it on and tied the belt about her waist.

She moved over to the large vanity and seated herself before the mirror. Her eyes fell on a silver comb-and-brush set. Picking up the brush to admire it, she saw her initials were engraved on the silver base: V.L.H.

She felt an overwhelming anger. He had been so sure of himself. She restrained her urge to throw it across the room. Instead, she started brushing her hair with a forceful motion, venting her anger on the golden strands that hung about her shoulders.

There was a soft knock on the door. She turned defiantly, ready to do battle. "Come in," she said in an icy voice.

Juanita and two serving girls entered.
"Senor
Eduardo asked that we serve dinner in your room so you will not need to climb the stairs. Is that all right with you,
Senora
Victoria?"

"Yes, of course, Juanita," Victoria said, feeling embarrassed. She did not want Juanita to see that she was angry. The Mexican woman had been so kind to her. Victoria watched as they set up a table, spread it with a linen cloth, and placed silver candlesticks and serving dishes on it.

"If you will pull the white cord,
Senora
Victoria, I will come and remove the table when you are finished."

"Yes, I will do that, Juanita. Thank you."

Victoria returned to brushing her hair. She heard the connecting door open and saw Edward's reflection in the mirror. He had removed his jacket, and his shirt was partly unbuttoned revealing curly black hair on his chest. She noticed the lock of black hair that had fallen across his forehead. He moved
leisurely toward her and stood behind her. Their
eyes met in the mirror. His hands came down on her
shoulders lightly.

"Always wear your hair as it is tonight," Edward said. He picked up a golden strand and caressed it
with his fingers. She felt such a longing for this man
who was her husband. She wondered what he would
say if she told him she loved him.

"The guests have all gone?" she asked.

"Yes, long ago. I looked in on you earlier, but you
were asleep. I decided not to disturb you."

She felt strange to think he could come into her bedroom anytime he wished.

"Shall we dine?" he asked, removing his hand from her shoulder.

"I am not hungry," she said pettishly.

"You hardly ate anything at the reception. You need to keep up your strength."

"I do not want to eat!" she said angrily.

He shrugged his shoulders. "It is all the same to me, even though Juanita went to a great deal of trouble on your behalf. I would hate to see her disappointed."

Victoria looked at him in exasperation, and rose to her feet.

He smiled and pulled out a chair for her. After she
was seated, he sat down opposite her.

"Allow me to serve you," he said, spooning food
onto her plate from one of the silver dishes, each of which was engraved with a wolfs head. She picked up the silver fork that also bore the sign of the wolf, and began to eat, though she hardly tasted the food. Looking up at Edward, she saw him frown.

"You do not seem happy, Victoria. Shouldn't a bride be happy on her wedding day?"

She laid down her fork. "I am hardly the typical bride, Edward. You forced me to marry you, remember?"

"You could have refused."

"You left me very little chance to refuse."

"Nonetheless, you belong to me now."

She rose to her feet. "Oh, yes. I belong to you, as do your horses and your cattle. I might as well bear the brand of the wolf across my forehead."

He wiped his mouth on the napkin, leaned back in his chair, and smiled. "Victoria, I do not brand my cattle on the
forehead,"
he said meaningfully.

She turned her back to him, trying to swallow her anger.

"Come, Victoria," Edward cajoled. "Finish eating. I will not tease you anymore, I promise."

Victoria turned back to the table. She was hungry. She sat down reluctantly and began to eat, refusing to look in Edward's direction.

Edward sat back in his chair and watched her. Her skin looked almost transparent against her white satin robe. Her long hair hung about her shoulders, shining from the light of the nearby candles. He looked at her dainty hand where his wedding ring glittered on her finger.

If God had made the perfect woman surely Victoria was it. He could only imagine what perfection lay beneath the satin robe. He longed to hold her body against his own, to make love to her and drive all thoughts of Paul O'Brian from her mind forever.

Edward's hands were unsteady as he reached for the wine bottle. He poured the red liquid into two crystal wineglasses.

"Let us drink a toast," he told her.

"Very well, what shall we drink to?"

"Wedded bliss, of course, Victoria."

He clinked his glass to hers. "To us, Victoria, and the day your bandages are removed."

She looked at him nervously, and took a sip of wine. "I think I should tell you wine makes me dizzy. I say and do things I would not ordinarily do."

"Is that a fact?" Edward's eyes gleamed and he refilled her glass. "Did you know Old Ned is coming to work for Rio del Lobo?"

"No, whatever for? He did not mention it to me today."

"He wants to be near you, so he says."

Victoria laughed. "He is such a dear little man. I have become very fond of him."

"I have been thinking," Edward said, changing the subject, "I have some very close friends who live in Jamaica. When you are sufficiently recovered, we could take our honeymoon there. Would you like that?"

"I do not know. I did not think we would have a honeymoon."

"Of course we shall, Victoria, but you do not need to decide tonight. Think about it, and let me know your decision tomorrow."

He filled her glass once more. "I almost forgot, I have a wedding present for you."

He rose and went into his room through the connecting door. When he returned, he had a red velvet case which he handed to Victoria. She opened it and saw a large diamond in the shape of a teardrop on a long gold chain.

"It is lovely, Edward, but please do not think you must give me expensive presents. I assure you it is not necessary."

"You do not like it?"

"Of course I do, it is beautiful."

"I want to lavish you with presents, Victoria. Anything you want, you have only to ask for."

"Please do not say that. I do not want your gifts, Edward."

"Perhaps you will change your mind. Shall I fasten it for you?" He did not wait for an answer, but lifted her hair and fastened the gold chain. She felt the stone nestle between her breasts. His hands lingered about her neck, caressing her gently. She felt as though his fingers burned into her skin.

"I have a gift for you also," she told him, trying to compose herself, "if I can find where Juanita has placed it."

She looked about her, wondering where the black leather case was that held her father's dueling pistols. She remembered her grandmother had told her she had packed them in a wooden box.

Victoria opened the wardrobe and saw the box on the top shelf. "Edward, will you please reach the box for me?" she asked.