Ecstasy's Promise (Historical Romance) (37 page)

After dinner that night Victoria and Dorothea went into the sitting room, while Edward and Cullem shut themselves in the study.

Cullem handed Edward a brandy and took a drink of his before he spoke.

"Anything you want to talk to me about, Son? You seem troubled about something."

"Does it show, Cullem?"

"I can tell something is wrong between you and Victoria."

Edward paced the room as he told Cullem about Victoria's flight from Georgia and the incident that led up to it. Cullem listened quietly, wondering how such a thing could happen to a lovely girl like Victoria.

"You are sure you can clear her of the charges, Edward?"

"No; that is one reason I brought her here, Cullem. If I fail, I will simply not take her back to the United States."

"You must love her very much, Son."

Cullem saw pain in Edward's eyes.

"Yes, very much," Edward said quietly. He did not want to confide in Cullem about the way he had tricked Victoria into marriage, or her love for Paul O'Brian.

After Edward and Victoria left that night, Cullem discussed with Dorothea what Edward had told him.

"That could explain why I have had this feeling that something is amiss between the two of them," Dorothea said.

"You have sensed it, too?" Cullem asked.

"Yes. I cannot yet pinpoint it, but there is more to it than what Edward told you tonight. I am sure of it."

"I think so, too, Dorothea. There is definitely something else troubling the two of them. It's like they are afraid to let their feelings show."

Dorothea nodded. "Yes. Well, there is nothing we can do unless one of them comes to us and asks for our help," she told Cullem.

It was hard to believe they had been in Jamaica for six weeks. Victoria and Dorothea had become close friends. They felt easy in each other's company, and were content to sit and chat, or take quiet walks in the garden.

Edward had begun to spend less and less time with his bride and this puzzled Dorothea. She could see that the two of them were very much in love. In her motherly fashion, she wanted to help, but could see no way to approach the subject.

Victoria had been alone in the cottage all morning. Edward was spending most of his time with Cullem. She missed him terribly. Her love just seemed to grow each day. She noticed everything he did: the way he walked, the way he smiled, the sound of his voice, and she missed him desperately when he was away.

She felt feverish and restless. She tossed in her bed at night, unable to get him out of her mind. She remembered the feel of his hands, the touch of his lips. She did not know if she could continue much longer. Surely she had almost reached the breaking point. His cool politeness was like daggers in her heart. Well, she had only herself to blame. He had tried on several occasions to reach out to her, and she had made him angry. She knew the next time he tried to make love to her, she would not fight him. She no longer wanted to. Even if it meant betraying her feelings, wouldn't it be better to have him near her, no matter the cost to her pride?

Victoria heard the front door open. Looking up, she saw Edward. You are home early, she thought. He walked toward her and sat down on the couch beside her. She laid aside the book that she had been trying to concentrate on.

"We have mail from home, Victoria."

She looked at him and saw that his eyes were shining.

She held her breath. "Is it good news, Edward?"

"Price wrote that the charges against you have been dropped."

She sat very still, not able to understand it all at once. "What are you saying, Edward?"

"You are free, Victoria."

"Free ... I am free!" She repeated the words, trying to grasp their meaning. She threw her arms about his neck. She was laughing and crying at the same time. "Oh, Edward, I am so happy. It is as though a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I am free, I am free." She smiled through her tears. "I owe it all to you. Oh, thank you, Edward, thank you.

"You owe me nothing, Victoria," he said, dislodging her arms from about his neck.

"Oh, yes, I owe you so much. You have cleared Bodine as well as myself. Tell me how it happened."

"I do not know all the particulars, Victoria. Price found Corporal Fish and he testified in your favor. It seems he was afraid to come forward with the truth in case it would incriminate him."

"How did Mr. Williams convince him to testify for me?"

Edward looked at her. "Greed, Victoria. Price offered him a substantial reward for telling the truth. Anyway, with his testimony and the letters Ray and I wrote in your behalf, the charges were dropped."

"Edward, I am so happy. Do you see what this means? I can go home." Joy washed over her. "Home," she whispered. "Now I can return to Georgia."

"Yes," Edward said quietly. "You can return to Georgia, Victoria. I almost forgot," he said, changing the subject.  "You have a packet from your grandmother." He handed it to her and watched as she opened it eagerly.

Victoria read aloud to him:

"Dear Victoria and Edward,

"How are things in your vacation paradise? Texas is just not the same without you. I have been keeping busy, but still miss the two of you.

"Old Ned dropped in last week. He said to tell you Rebel is fine. Bodine sends his love to you, as I do. I am enclosing a letter you received from Paul O'Brian.

Hurry home. We miss you both.

"Love, "Grandmother"

Victoria sat silent for a long time, turning Paul's letter over in her hand.

"Would you like me to leave while you read your letter from Paul?" Edward asked.

"No, of course not, Edward. I will read it to you." She opened the letter and began to read aloud:

"My darling Tory
. . ."Then her voice trailed off. "Edward, Paul did not know when he wrote this letter that I was your wife."

"Apparently not," he said angrily. He rose and walked over to the window. "Read it to yourself, Victoria. I can assure you I have no interest in your precious love letter."

"Edward, I will not read it if you do not want me to.

"I don't give a damn what you do."

Victoria felt a tightening in her throat. She picked up Paul's letter and began to read to herself.

My darling Tory,

I am so lonesome for you, I decided to chance writing. A friend of mine promised to post this letter from Augusta, so there will be no way the authorities can trace you through me.

I rode over to Farraday last «week and just walked around for most of the morning. It made me feel closer to you somehow, remembering all the good times we shared there. Moss said to tell you to come home. Oh, my love, I wish you could. Please let me hear from you. I am enclosing the address of my cousin, Holly, in Charleston. If you will send the letter to her, she will forward it to me.

There was a tax notice on Farraday and the townhouse, so I paid it for you. I could not stand to see your Farraday on the auction block. Please send me some word of you. I will be waiting. I love you, Tory.

Yours forever, Paul

Edward stood silently as she read the letter. He watched as different emotions played across her face. When she finished, she looked up at him.

"Edward, Paul says there was a tax notice on Farraday Plantation. He ... he paid the taxes for me. Edward, if you will send him the money, I promise I will pay you back every cent. I know Paul can ill afford such a large amount of money."

"Does he say how much the taxes were?"

"No, but—"

"No? It is of little importance. I shall send him sufficient funds. I do not wish to be indebted to Paul O'Brian."

Victoria gathered up the letters. "I meant what I said, Edward. I will repay you for the taxes, as well as the money you spent on my defense in Georgia."

He lifted his eyebrow, and said sarcastically. "I was not aware you had any money, Victoria."

She rose to her feet and faced him defiantly. "You do not know everything about me, Edward."

He looked at her wearily. "You are wrong, Victoria. I know you very well. You have become very predictable to me. We leave for home at the end of the week. When we reach Galveston, you are free to return to Georgia, if you wish." His voice was devoid of any feeling.

"Are you sending me away, Edward?" she asked in a shaky voice, her anger forgotten. She could feel her whole world tumbling down about her.

"I am saying you are free to choose, Victoria."

He walked away from her, leaving her feeling more alone than she had ever felt in her life. He did not want her anymore, and she could not blame him. She had certainly not been an ideal wife. Victoria wondered how she would bear it if she could never see him again.

That night they dined with the Marshalls. After dinner, Edward told Cullem and Dorothea of his plan to leave at the end of the week.

"But you cannot leave. You cannot take Victoria away from us so soon," Dorothea protested. She put her arm about Victoria. "I have grown so fond of you. You have become the daughter I never had."

Dorothea noticed Victoria was close to tears, and Edward was acting very strangely. There was something definitely wrong. Dorothea decided it was time for her to take a hand and try to help the two people she loved so dearly.

"Victoria, you must spend tomorrow with me," Dorothea told her. "I want to spend as much time with you as I can before you leave."

"Yes, I would like that, Dorothea."

"Good. Come over early so we will have plenty of time to visit."

When Edward and Victoria returned to the cottage, he excused himself. "I am going to get up early and ride into town with Cullem to book passage for our return trip," he told her coldly.

"Edward, are you angry with me because of Paul's letter?"

"No, Victoria. I have just been facing a few truths concerning us. It was a mistake for us to marry. You will have no trouble acquiring an annulment, as our marriage has been on paper only." He looked at her coldly. "I cannot fight you any longer, Victoria. You have won."

Won! What did he mean she had won? Without him she would be lost forever. "Edward—"

He held up his hand. "Save it, Victoria. I am going to bed, and you my love, can go to Georgia, or hell, for all I care."

Victoria felt the  tears  behind  her  eyes.   She wanted to run after him to beg him not to send her away. It was almost as if he hated the sight of her.

That night she cried into her pillow^ feeling very lost and alone.

Edward stood before the window in his bedroom,
and looked out into the starlit night. He knew today he had been defeated. When Victoria had received Paul's letter, he knew for a certainty that his dreams
had been destroyed. He remembered Victoria telling him that a Farraday loves only once in a lifetime. He
would not try to prevent her from going to Paul. He must be getting soft. He smiled bitterly, thinking of the way he had been in the past, taking his pleasure when he wanted, never caring about the consequences, feeling no compassion for the women he used and tossed aside. He had been brought to his
knees by Victoria. She had fought him at every turn, made him humble, torn his heart out. He supposed it
was justice.

The old loneliness returned to haunt him. He
wondered how he would be able to live without her.
As hard as it was to have her near and not be able to
make love to her, he knew his life would be pointless
without her.

He had not been with a woman since he had met Victoria. He had felt no desire for any woman but her. It was getting almost impossible to stay in the same house with her. He wanted to pour out his love. His body ached to hold her. His sleep was interrupted by visions of her lying in his arms, giving herself to him freely and with love.

He wondered if he would ever have the courage to
let her go. He had to. It was the only way.

The next morning after breakfast, Victoria walked over to the main house. Edward had been gone when she awoke. Victoria tried to join in the conversation with Dorothea, but her heart was breaking and she could not seem to sit around making polite conversation while her world was falling apart.

After a light lunch, Dorothea invited Victoria to walk in the garden. They walked about quietly for a while; then Dorothea led Victoria to a wooden bench and sat down beside her. She took Victoria's hand in hers and smiled at her.

"Victoria, I have become very fond of you in the short time I have known you. It is because I care about you that I am going to do something I very seldom do. I am going to be nosy and ask you some questions. You do not have to answer if you do not want to. You can tell me to mind my own business."

Victoria smiled sadly at her. "I care a great deal for you, Dorothea. What is it you want to ask me?"

Dorothea looked her in the eye and said deliberately, "What is wrong between you and Edward?"