Karen Michelle Nutt (11 page)

Arianna stormed into the house with determination. She headed to his study, knowing she’d find him there. She threw open the doors. He sat behind his desk. The jerk didn’t even look up. Arianna cleared her throat. “May we speak?"

Keldon wondered if he should prepare himself for a battle. Maybe her memory had returned and she wanted to make up for lost time. He leaned back and his breath caught in his throat. Pale blonde hair loose from its bounds tumbled carelessly down her shoulders. Her cheeks colored like a sunset on fallen snow and her scowl did nothing to hamper her beauty.

She flipped a strand of hair away from her face and placed her hands on her hips. Keldon had the distinct feeling he was about to be reprimanded.

"She's just a little girl.”

There was defiance in her tone as well as subtle challenge, causing him to take heed.

“She should be playing and having fun like any other little girl her age. All she does is work all day.” She threw up her hands.

Keldon had no idea what she was talking about or why she thought he’d care. "Are ye feelin’ all right?"

"What? Am I feeling... Are you hearing me? I'm talking about Sally Mae."

"Sally Mae?” He still didn’t understand.

"You know, the cute little girl, who is in charge of the upstairs chores. You do know who she is, don't you?"

"Aye, I know who she is. I doonae know what ye are accusin’ me of."

Arianna took a deep breath. She strode over to the desk and met his gaze head on. "You can't do this to Sally Mae or any of the other children for that matter.” She leaned toward him but pointed behind her. “They should be enjoying the outdoors.”

"Are ye thinkin’ of sellin’, Sally Mae?"

"No! God no.” Her eyes flashed with outrage. “I could never sell a person. That's appalling."

He was more confused than ever. Slaves were a part of her life. She never cared what happened to these people. He leaned forward now. They were only a breath away. "The slaves are yers, no’ mine."

“What… I…” Arianna sputtered. “I own another human being? That's impossible.” She shook her head and moved away from the desk. "It just can't be.” Her eyelids fluttered and she swayed on her feet.

Keldon whisked around the desk and held her steady. "Ye better have a seat.” He led her over to the high back chair.

Her hand lingered at her neck and her mouth stood open as if words were stuck in her throat. Keldon poured her a drink from the decanter.

She lifted the glass to her lips and downed the contents.

Keldon lifted his eyebrows in surprise.

She held out the glass to him. He hesitated.

She jerked the glass at him.

With a shrug, he filled it for her and she did a repeat performance. This wasn’t like her, not that anything she did of late was. Maybe she should lie down until the shock of what he told her wore off. “I’ll find Maeve.”

In his absence, Arianna must have poured herself a few more drinks. She looked up when she saw him. She quickly threw back her head, emptying another glass. She held the decanter against her chest.

"Ye have had more than enough, I believe.” He strode toward her.

“No, I haven’t.” Her words were slurred. “No why? ‘Cause I’m not stinking drunk yet and I need to be to escape this living nightmare called my life.”

Keldon wrestled the decanter from her, but the effort pulled her from the seat. He caught her before she fell on her face. He easily scooped her up and she threw her arms around his neck. He motioned for Maeve to follow him with a quick jerk of his head.

"Where...
hiccup.
.. taking me?"

"Up to yer room. Ye need to lie down for a while.” She snuggled close, burying her head in the crook of his neck.

His muscles stiffened. “What are…” His voice failed him, as she pressed her lips against his skin. “Dear Father in Heaven,” he cursed.

How he opened her bedroom door was beyond him. He made it to the bed and threw her from his arms.

She flipped her long hair away from her face. Her eyes were glazed from too much alcohol, but he didn’t miss her intent as her gaze scorched a path down the length of him.

“I want you to make love to me,” she announced.

“What are ye aboot lass?”

“I’ll leave you ter handle her then.” Maeve chuckled as she headed for the door.

“Doonae leave,” Keldon commanded.

“No, you should leave,” Arianna countered as she moved from the bed as if stalking prey.

While Keldon was busy trying to control where Arianna’s hands were groping him, Maeve abandoned him. “Stop it.” He threw her back onto the bed.

Her chest rose and fell as she leaned back on her elbows to look up at him. “Why, Keldon Buchanan, I do believe you’re afraid of me.”

She had no idea. “Doonae be absurd,” he told her with a harrumph.

“No? Hmm. Your accent thickens when you’re flustered, too. Interesting.”

“Doonae…” He took a deep breath. “Doonae be ridiculous.”

“I tell my husband I want him to make love to me and he tries to run away. I know you want me.” Her eyes traveled the length of him again.

He kept his hands balled at his side. He swore under his breath as he turned away. "Annabelle, please stop this."

"If you won’t sleep with me, then at least kiss me."

Keldon whipped around and stared at her.

"Kiss me and I'll let you go," she repeated.

"Ye’ve had too much to drink.” Keldon decided.

"Yep. I have…
hiccup
… too much to dink … I mean drink. It’s the only way to forget what a terrible person I am?” Her lips pouted pitifully. "Kiss away all the nightmares?” She closed her eyes and puckered.

His mind shouted for him to walk away before he made a mistake he couldn’t take back.

He ignored the plea of good sense. On the open sea, he thrived on danger. Why not here, now? He couldn’t help but see her in a different light and God help him, he wanted what he saw to be true. He took the steps that separated them. Cupping her chin, he searched her upturned face, her lips posed in an offering he couldn’t refuse. He covered her mouth with the hunger of a starved soul. He heard her small intake of breath as she shifted closer and deepened the kiss. He wrapped both arms around her, crushing her to him. His body rippled with tension, but he was terrified to give into the desire, to trust her fully. He must stop. Now! He broke the embrace and she winced as if he nipped her flesh. He backed up, eyes wide and hands trembling.

Retreat. Escape. His mind screamed. He whirled on his heels and stalked out of the room.

Arianna sighed and collapsed on the bed, touching her hand to her lips, the kiss still singing through her veins. She closed her eyes and smiled.

****

Arianna didn’t know how long she slept. She sat up and the room spun. She ignored her tipsy state and headed for the door. She had an announcement. She gripped the banister as she descended the stairs. The floor weaved in and out, but she managed not to break her neck. She headed out the doors and headed over to the kitchen. There she found Oni and Sophie busy with their tasks for the day. They both looked up when she stumbled in. She ran her hand threw her tangled strands and straightened her dress. She stared at her bare feet wondering when she’d taken off her shoes. She looked up again, remembering her purpose.

“Stoop what your doin'.” Her tongue felt thick. She smacked her lips together. She must make the announcement. She concentrated. "I own you no more.” She waved her hand dramatically around the room, stumbling forward, but she didn’t fall. She covered her mouth and she giggled. “I must go now.” She left the two women and went to look for Maeve and Sally Mae. Before she found either one, her attention swayed. The lure of the harpsichord called to her and she entered the drawing room. She sat down on the bench and played the haunting tune from her past. The song meant something to her… a connection to… She didn’t know.

Keldon found her as she started on her fourth rendition of the same melody. He strode over to her and gripped her shoulder. She looked up, ignoring his scowl. "Weel 'ello Mr. Boocanun.” Arianna grinned from ear to ear as a little chirp sound escaped her lips in a bubbling hiccup.

Keldon had a long talk with Oni. He had headed toward the stairs to find his wife, when he heard her playing the song, his song. She didn’t realize how she tortured him with the sweetness of the melody. “I thought, I told you to rest a wee bit.”

"Ya know, I wuv the way ya talk."

"Annabelle, ye’re changin’ the subject.”

“You’re upset,” she said in a singsong voice. “I know ‘cause your brogue thickened.”

“Ye are mistaken.”

“Am not. But do you know what? I don’t care what you think even if you are a good kisser. ‘Cause you don’t know me. You don’t even call me by my real name.” She turned away and pounded out the chords as she sang. “My name is Arianna and I’m living a nightmare. My husband is cute, but he’s a…”

"Annabelle!” Keldon raised his voice over her racket. "Ye have Sophie in tears."

This stopped her and she looked at him. "Sophie, the real young one who’s going to have a weeeeee bairin? Isn’t that how you Scots say it?"

His lips puckered in annoyance that she wouldn’t pay attention. "She has it in her head that yer goin’ to sell her. Oni said ye told them so."

"Sell her.” Arianna’s eyebrows furrowed. "I'm not going to sell her. I’ve set her free.” She waved her arm and nearly toppled off the bench.

Keldon righted her before she broke her neck. He stared down at her with his hands on his hips. His eyes narrowed.

“You told me I owned the slaves,” she said. "John Adams didn’t own slaves.”

“John Adams. President John Adams? I doonae understand. What does he have to do with this?”

“I was just thinking is all. John and Abigail loved each other, did you know that?”

Keldon took a deep breath for patience. “Anna—”

“Don’t call me Annabelle.” She wagged her finger at him. “And let me finish.”

“Then do so and be quick aboot it.”

“John and Abigail worked their own land and hired people if they needed help. We should follow in his footsteps. So I freed everyone so they could make their own choices. This is America.” She frowned and hiccupped. “I can free the slaves, can't I?”

"Aye. But where are they to go? They cannae verra weel march out of here and call it a day."

“They can apply for a job. God knows they couldn’t want to work in a rice paddy all their lives. Yuck."

"Ye ken weel, the fair people of Charleston willnae have a person of color work for them.”

"No, I don't
ken
," she mimicked him. "I don't
ken
any of this! You tell me I own another human being. I know this is wrong, so how could I be so despicable? Everything you’ve told me so far, it’s as if you are describing someone else. I'm a stranger in my own life!"

Keldon couldn't argue with her. She was a stranger to him, too. She looked and sounded somewhat like Annabelle, but she by all means, didn’t act like her. What could he say? The facts remained. She had been all those things and more.

He ran a hand through his hair. "I can only tell ye what I ken. Maybe ye losin’ yer memory as you did, it’s given ye a chance for redemption."

Arianna didn't have the opportunity to reply.

Samuel escorted Nicholas Sherborn into the room.

Arianna tensed, every muscle bunching beneath her skin at the sight of Nicholas Sherborn. She may be a little tipsy, but the memory of her last encounter with Mr. Sherborn stood fresh in her mind.

"Good-day, Mrs. Buchanan.” Nicholas bowed slightly as he removed his hat. His light trousers and a blue jacket flattered him.

Arianna shook her head. She refused to find him attractive. She was a married woman. He needed to leave at once. “What are you doing here?”

Keldon placed a hand on her shoulder. “Annabelle, there is no need for rudeness. Please go upstairs. We’ll speak later.”

How foolish she felt. Obviously, Nicholas was here at Keldon's request not to meet with her. Her eyes narrowed. Nicholas wanted to harm Keldon. "I think I'll stay.” She lifted her chin and met Keldon’s icy gaze head on.

Nicholas hid a smile behind his hand.

Obviously, Keldon wasn’t amused. He leaned near and whispered, "Please doonae make a scene in front of our guest or ye’ll be sorry.”

"You wouldn't dare do anything to me," she snarled right back, but seeing his green eyes flash with anger she decided not to call his bluff. "Okay, Okay, I'm going."