Karen Michelle Nutt (40 page)

“Oh, Bernadette.” He groaned beneath his breath and captured her lips. Breathless they moved to the bed. He explored every curve with his caresses and she in turn did the same. Then he made her his wife.

Bernadette wrapped her legs around him and raised her hips to meet his every thrust. She never dreamed a man’s hands could feel so warm, so gentle—loving. She was drawn to a height of passion she had never experienced before. She felt herself surrendering completely to his masterful seduction and gasped in sweet agony as she felt the explosion of passion only seconds before he responded in kind.

He moved to lie down beside her, bringing her with him so that he cradled her in his arms. He kissed the top of her head.

She sighed. “Will it always be so beautiful?”

“Maybe even better.” He grinned.

“Um.” A smile curved her lips as she thought about the possibility. She looked at him again. “I love you.”

“I love you, too, with all my heart.”

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

Keldon wanted to punch Vincent for keeping Arianna's whereabouts from him, but how could he hold a grudge? Vincent only protected Arianna from his stubborn pride. Besides, Bernadette would have seen to his death, if he had touched one hair of her husband’s head.

Keldon looked out to the blackness of the night and took out his bagpipes. He played the song that reminded him so much of Arianna. He poured his heart out in every note he played. He could almost smell her sweet fragrance. He closed his eyes, relishing in the memory of her. To think she resided in New Orleans, not too far. “I’m comin’ for ye on the ‘morrow Arianna, to bring ye home where ye belong.

****

As soon as he docked, Keldon rented a carriage and headed over to Chantal’s home. He knocked at the door and an older woman answered. She spoke French and unfortunately very little English that Keldon could understand.

"I want to see Arianna Buchanan. She is my wife," Keldon shouted as if talking in a loud voice would force the older woman to understand his words.

Somewhere in the back part of the house, Keldon heard a baby cry.

"Pardon," the woman said as she hurried off.

Keldon entered the dwelling and waited for the woman to return. A few minutes later, she came back with the small bundle in her hands. "Arianna's bébé," she said.

“May I hold the baby?” He motioned to the child.

The woman nodded and handed him the small bundle. The child was all wrapped in a blanket and a bonnet was securely tied around its head.

Keldon’s hands felt sweaty and too awkward to be holding such a small being. He was ready to give the child right back, but then his gaze took in the innocence of the soft, chubby face with pink pouty lips and a tiny upturned nose. Tears welled in his eyes as he stared at the child,
his
child. “So small.” He looked at the woman, again. "Is the baby a lass... jeune fille... garcon... lad?"

“Aah … jeune fille... lass? Oui."

"I have a wee lass.” Keldon touched her little hand that was curled into a fist. The baby stirred. She latched onto his finger, making Keldon chuckled. "Yer a strong lassie.” He looked at the woman, again. "Arianna, the baby's mother, do ye know where she is?”

The woman seemed to understand what he wanted to know. She sadly shook her head. "She gone."

"Gone?" Keldon repeated.

Again, the woman sadly shook her head. "Oui."

Blood slid through his veins like cold needles, as the realization of what she told him sunk in. His eyes took in every delicate detail of the infant. Arianna had sacrificed her life to bring this small wonder into the world. His gaze locked onto the old woman again, wanting to know what had happened. Why was his daughter without a mother? "Tell me that ye are mistaken. Arianna dinnae die."

The old woman’s eyebrows furrowed. “Arianna gone.”

Keldon held the baby close to his chest as if he needed to protect her. The tiny little girl was all he had left of Arianna. He waited too long to let her know how much he loved her. How much he needed her. Now, she would never know. He felt his heart breaking into a million pieces. He wanted to scream at the top of his lungs at the injustice of it all, but he heard the little bundle in his arms whimper. He moved her away from his chest to look at her. Her eyebrows knitted together, her feet kicked and her hands started moving as she fought to release a little sound. This display would have made Keldon laugh, but instead he wanted to sob, too. "I know how yer feelin’, my wee lassie.” He cradled her close to him again, rocking her until she fell asleep.

Keldon never wanted to put her down. He would take care of her and love her. She was his daughter. My daughter, he thought to himself. He wasn’t prepared for the wave of emotions that welled up inside of him. He was proud of the perfect miniature person he held. He would do right by her. He owed Arianna that much.

“I thank ye for carin’ for my daughter,” he told the old woman. He shook his head. “I’m sorry. I cannae make ye understand.” He talked louder. “The wee lassie is my daughter.” He pointed to the baby then to his chest. “I will take care of her now.” This was the best he could do and he headed for the door. The old woman yelled for him to stop, running after him and trying to grab the baby. He pushed her aside. “I'm the baby's father,” he told her again. “I willnae have someone else raise her.” He put the baby in the carriage and rode away as the old woman chased after him, screaming for him to stop.

****

Arianna and Chantal arrived back from shopping to find Gerard's mother in hysterics. Arianna understand some French. Chantal had been teaching her, but Mrs. Devereux was speaking so rapidly that she could only pick up a few words here and there. When Chantal’s eye grew wide, she realized something terrible had happened. She caught the word baby. She ran to the back room to find the cradle empty.

"Where is she? Where’s my baby?” She confronted Mrs. Devereux.

Chantal broke the terrible news to her. "She says a tall dark-haired man came and took her."

"She let a stranger take her?" Arianna cried, as her world seemed crumbled down around her.

"She said the man asked for you by name."

"Oui, Oui.” Mrs. Devereux nodded her head frantically.

The only tall dark-haired man Arianna knew was Keldon, but he didn’t know she was staying here.

Then Mrs. Devereux remembered something else about the man and told Chantal.

Chantal translated. "She says the man had unusual green eyes.”

"No.” Arianna couldn’t believe it. How did he find her? Surely Vincent would never break his promise to her.

“You know this person then?" Chantal asked hopefully.

"Yes, I do and how dare he?" Arianna balled her hands into a fist. "How dare he think he could just take her, when he didn’t want to claim her in the first place?"

"This is the father. No?"

"He may have donated a vital part of himself to make that baby, but he by no means is a father!” Arianna stormed out of the house. She knew where the black-hearted scoundrel would be heading. She hoped Keldon’s ship was still docked. If she had to, she would swim after him. He had taken everything from her. She wasn’t going to let him take her child.

****

Keldon boarded his ship with a gurgling baby in tow. His crewmen fell silent and stared at him, but no one questioned what he was doing with a baby.

He went directly down below to his cabin, laying the baby down on his bunk. He hadn’t thought this through. He couldn't very well set sail without having supplies for the infant. He stared down at his daughter, who kicked her feet. “What do ye eat, lassie?” He would have to go back into town and ask someone what he needed. He placed pillows around his daughter so she wouldn’t fall off the bunk. Then he headed back up top.

As soon as he poked his head out, he received a fist in his face. Stunned, he lost his balance and flew back down, landing on his arse.

"Oh my God, Keldon! Are you all right?" Arianna yelled down to him. She had arrived on the ship only moments ago and had been determined to do bodily harm to Keldon, but she didn’t want to kill him—at least not yet. "Keldon answer me," she shouted again.

"Arianna? It cannae be."

Her anger returned at the sound of his voice. "You can better believe it's me. What did you think I would do? Did you really believe I would just let you take the baby away without a fight?"

It took a few seconds, but Keldon began to understand what had happened. The old woman wasn’t telling him Arianna was dead. She was telling him she wasn’t there. Arianna must have thought he kidnapped the baby. He jumped to his feet and started back up the steps. "Let me explain."

"Your actions were enough for me. Where is she? What have you done with her?” She took a step back as Keldon came out into the open. She had forgotten how tall and... How incredibly handsome he was. She was angry with herself for letting her emotions for him take over, but she couldn't help what she felt. She desperately wanted to hate him, but her traitorous heart wouldn't allow her luxury.

He took a step closer.

"You stay away from me!” she shouted.

He stopped in his tracks. "Arianna, please calm yerself."

"Calm myself? I will not! You’re a snake... No you’re worse than a snake... You’re… you’re pond scum... no you’re …"

Keldon had had enough of her insults and the men were beginning to snicker. He lunged forward and grabbed her, pulling her against him. She was about to protest further, so Keldon did the first thing that came to his mind to keep her quiet. He kissed her.

She struggled only for a moment then melted against him, putting her arms around his neck. When they came up for air, he saw the flicker of emotions cross her features and he felt her body tense. With one quick movement, she raised her hand to slap him, but he anticipated the reaction and caught her arm.

"Now, is that anyway to be treatin’ yer husband."

"Husband! I'll have... Aah!” She screamed as he picked her up and headed for his quarters down below. "You put me down this instance. Do you hear me?"

"Aye, I hear ye just fine as does everyone in New Orleans.” But he didn’t slow his stride.

Arianna turned to the men on the ship. Recognizing Samuel, she looked to him for help. "Are you going to let him take me against my will?"

"We kin’t interfere with de Captain’s private matters.” He turned his back to her.

"Wise man," Keldon said as he started down the stairs.

Having no other choice, Arianna folded her arms in front of her and waited until he put her down. "There's yer wee bairn.” He placed her firmly on the floor and pointed to the bunk. Arianna raced over to check on her. She slept peacefully. Completely oblivious to anything that had happened.

Keldon stood back watching Arianna fuss over the child. She had changed since he last saw her. Her hair was long again and she was fuller in all the right places a woman should be. He felt the old familiar stirrings and he wanted to touch her, kiss every inch of her, but when she faced him, he saw that any hope of familiarity was definitely out of the question.

"So? Why did you do it? Why did you kidnap an innocent child?”

"I dinnae kidnap her. I thought ye were dead and I couldnae leave the baby with strangers. I did what I thought ye would have wanted me to do.” He ran his hand through his hair in frustration. "The old woman kept tellin’ me ye were gone and my French isnae what it should be. I dinnae understand her."

"You thought I was dead?" Arianna repeated.

"Aye, but I assure ye, I willnae make that mistake twice." His hand rubbed over his sore jaw.

Now, Arianna was confused. If he didn't come to take the baby away, why was he here?

Keldon must have read her mind for he approached her and took her hand. "Please, let me explain. This wasnae what I had planned.”

His eyes pleaded and she knew she couldn’t deny him. She nodded and he offered her a chair. He then knelt down beside her on one knee and took her hand.

"Dearest Arianna, I want ye back. It doesnae matter to me if the lass is mine. She willnae ever know differently. I will love her. From this day forward, if ye are willin’, I will claim her as mine.” He gently kissed her hand before he locked his gaze with hers. "Ye are my life and without ye my soul was dead. I doonae want to go through life without ye. If ye will have me back, I promise, ye willnae be sorry. I love who ye’ve become. I love ye, Arianna.”

Her eyes misted over with tears. He loved her not Annabelle.

"Ye're cryin’.” Keldon gently wiped the tears that slid down her cheek.

"I'm crying."

"Aye, but what does it mean?"

"It means I love you, too.” She threw her arms around him and he returned the embrace.