Savage Spring (24 page)

“Be that as it may, Falcon, you were foolish to come to
Claudia’s ball dressed as an Indian. She is on the lookout for anything that will tip her off to who you are!”

“Don’t you see, little Egyptian princess, the last one in the world Claudia would suspect would be me. When she sees me tonight, it will scare the hell out of her at first. I want her to know she is being watched. I want her to be unable to sleep at night. Let her wonder when and where I will strike. She will reach the depths of hell before I finally bring her down.”

The man who had been observing Tag and Alexandria faded into the shadows. He had already found out all he needed to know! There was no doubt in his mind that Falcon Knight was Taggart James!

Tag drew Alexandria into his arms and tilted her face up to his. “Allow me to taste your lips once more, Xandria. I find myself reliving our nights together over and over,” he whispered.

She parted her lips in anticipation. When he brushed her mouth and then touched the lobe of her ear with his lips, she shivered. She hadn’t realized until this moment how much she had missed his touch. Her shame over her wanton behavior had enabled her to close her mind to the feeling he had awakened in her body as Xandria.

“No, please don’t! I made myself a promise I wouldn’t allow you to…touch me again,” she whispered.

He rested his face against hers and smiled. “Did you, Xandria? It has been my experience that the promises one makes to oneself are often broken. Perhaps had I come as Mark Antony you would have been more willing.”

It took all Alexandria’s willpower to move away from him. “I don’t want you to call me Xandria again,” she whispered. “I want to forget she ever existed.”

“Why is that? I became very fond of you as…”

Alexandria placed her hands over her ears. “Do not speak it!” she cried. “I am ashamed of what I did and don’t want to be reminded of my behavior.” At that moment, she wanted
nothing more than to be in his arms where she would feel safe and secure.

Because of the mask he wore, Alexandria couldn’t see the pain that danced fleetingly across Tag’s face. “You should never be ashamed of what happened between us, Alexandria.”

“You make me feel ashamed when you refer to me as Xandria. I just want to forget all about what she…I did.”

There was a tense silence between them, and finally Alexandria could stand it no longer. “I must be getting back to the party, Falcon. The music has started again, and soon the people will be coming into the garden.”

Tag didn’t try to stop her as she turned and rushed toward the house. He watched her until she was out of sight. Staring down into the pool, he saw his image ripple on the surface of the water. He knew what he had to do tonight, and it left a strong taste of bitterness in his mouth. It was time for him to play adoring lover to Morning Song’s murderess.

He walked silently toward the house, dreading what must be done to accomplish his goals.

Claudia was in a unusually joyful state of mind. She was the belle of the ball and enjoying every moment of it. She was experiencing the same wild abandonment as had the queen of France whom she portrayed tonight. She had received more than her share of passionate kisses and caresses from the masked gentlemen who were present, but she kept searching for the one she knew could take her to the heights of passion. Falcon Knight had assured her he would come tonight, but thus far she hadn’t seen him.

Claudia walked out onto the second-floor balcony, wondering what it was about Falcon that seemed to draw her to him. It was more than the fact that he was so male. Her body seemed to react to everything about him, the deep sound of his voice, the proud way he walked, even the cruel twist to his lips when he was having his own private thoughts. She rubbed her fingertips across her lips, feeling as if her body were on fire just thinking about him.

“Does a penny still purchase a woman’s thoughts?” A man spoke just behind her.

Claudia whirled around, and her heart seemed to leap out of her body when she saw the man, who was dressed as an Indian! He was standing in the shadows, and she couldn’t tell if his hair had a reddish cast to it, as Taggart James’s had when she last saw the boy. Claudia’s first reaction was fear, thinking Tag had come at last. She wanted to call out for help, but her voice seemed to stick in her throat. The balcony was deserted and there was nowhere to run. She considered that it might be better to leap over the banister to her death than to face Tag.

“Wait…I…can explain everything, Tag,” she said in a trembling voice, and she backed against the railing.

“Now you have made me jealous, Madame Marie Antoinette. Who is this Tag of whom you speak?” the man said, reaching out for her hand and raising it to his lips.

“Falcon?” she asked, as relief washed over her.

“It is indeed I, madam. Were you expecting someone else, perhaps?”

“No, of course not,” she said, linking her arm through his. I have been waiting for only you.”

“’Twas not my name you called a moment ago. Should I be jealous of this Tag?”

Claudia raised her face to him. “You shouldn’t ever be jealous of anyone, if you but knew it.”

“Tell me, was I mistaken or where you frightened a moment ago, Claudia?”

“Perhaps, Falcon. One doesn’t reach my position without making enemies. Let me tell you, there are those who would like to see me dead.”

“Surely, you jest. Who would wish to harm such a charming and lovely lady as yourself?”

“I suppose I’m just jittery. There has been a strange man dressed as a sailor hanging about lately. I don’t know who he is or why he would want to spy on me.”

“If you feel yourself in danger, you must come to me,” he said, raising her hand to his lips once again.

Claudia felt a shiver of delight race through her body and knew she would be safe with this man. She had never found it easy to put her faith in anyone, but with Falcon Knight it was different. She almost felt as if she could confide everything to him and he would understand. So far, he had shown only a mild interest in her, but she hoped that would change before the night was over.

“Come downstairs and dance with me,” she said, pulling him by the hand and leading him toward the dance floor.

Alexandria danced with a gentleman dressed as a court jester from the fourteenth century until he became too forward. After she escaped from him, several gentlemen asked her to dance, but she always politely refused. She no longer wanted to be a participant at the ball. She had learned quickly that much of the laughter she was hearing came from the amount of spirits that had been consumed by many of the gentlemen, rather than from any joy they were experiencing.

Alexandria had all but decided to go to her room when her glance was drawn to Claudia. Her heart seemed to plummet when she saw the man who was holding Claudia in his arms. It was obvious to anyone who took the trouble to look that Claudia and her dancing partner were enjoying themselves. Alexandria knew why Tag was playing up to Claudia, but still it was like a knife in her heart to watch them together. She remembered that it had been she herself who had taught him to dance.

Unable to watch any longer, Alexandria moved away from the dance floor to the study, where she could be alone for awhile. Dropping down on a window seat, she gazed out the window. Never had she been so confused and unsure of her own feelings. She knew Tag had every right to lure Claudia into a trap, but she wasn’t sure she approved of his methods.

When the door opened, she pressed herself back behind the curtains, not wanting to be discovered by anyone.

“You told me before that you didn’t like to dance. You are a marvelous dancer, Falcon.”

When Alexandria heard Claudia’s voice, she feared being discovered. She knew she should make her presence known, but she didn’t. Glancing around the heavy curtain, she saw Tag draw Claudia into his arms and lower his head to kiss her. Clasping a hand over her mouth, Alexandria dared not cry out. How could he do such a thing? she wondered. She felt as if he were betraying her, and it hurt her deeply.

“You are more of a man than anyone I have met in a long time,” Claudia said in a husky voice.

“How many men have you known, Claudia?”

“Too many, Falcon, but none of them meant anything to me.”

“Not even your husband?”

“Especially not my husband. It’s different with you, though. I don’t think it comes as any great surprise to you that I want you,” she said, pulling his head down to her.

Alexandria watched with tears in her eyes as Tag crossed the room and picked up a bottle of brandy and two glasses from the side table and took Claudia’s arm.

“It has never been my habit to keep a woman waiting,” he said lazily. “Lead the way to your bedroom, Madame Antoinette. I know of no woman from history whom I would rather make love to tonight, unless it would be Cleopatra, should she be hiding in the shadows…but she already turned me down.”

Alexandria pulled back, knowing Tag had seen her. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at his cruel jest. Her mind wouldn’t accept the fact that the man she loved would stoop so low as to make love to a woman he detested. Did he want revenge at the price of honor? Was not honor more important than revenge?

Alexandria waited until she was sure they would be safely upstairs before she went to her room. Her face was wet with tears as she pictured in her mind what was going on in
Claudia’s bedroom at that very moment. Removing the wig and gown, she placed them back in the box. Tonight had been very educational for her. She had found out how far a man would go to get what he wanted. She wondered if the love she had felt for Tag would wither and die now that she no longer respected him.

She lay down on her bed and allowed the tears to fall. No, it hadn’t died. If it had, she wouldn’t be feeling so miserable. In her mind she could almost see Tag holding Claudia in his arms and whispering passionate words in her ear. She cursed herself for being a fool and believing in Tag—she cursed him for making her love him!

Tag uncorked the bottle of brandy and poured some of the liquid into each glass. He knew he would need the artificial stimulant if he were going to be able to give Claudia what she wanted from him tonight. He watched out of the corner of his eye as she slipped out of her gown and petticoats. She removed the powered wig and dropped it on the floor. Raising one of the glasses to his lips, he took a deep drink.

Claudia walked slowly over to him, swinging her hips enticingly. She licked her lips and took her glass. “I doubt that I will need this. I have never been one to drink very much—I find drinking dulls the senses.”

She was completely naked, and Tag’s eyes roved over her body with complete indifference. Her body couldn’t compare with Alexandria’s slim loveliness. Claudia’s breasts were overdeveloped, her waist was thick, and her hips were wide. Some of the powder from her wig had run down her face, giving her the appearance of a painted clown.

“You will have to indulge me, Claudia. I like to drink and get acquainted before I make love to a woman.”

She reached up and removed the leather headband from his head. “What an exciting thought. No man has ever wanted to know what went on in my mind before. All they ever wanted was to get me into bed.” She could hardly contain her excitement as his eyes roamed over her breasts, then down to her hips. She felt she would die if he didn’t take her in his arms. Claudia knew Falcon would be the most exciting lover she had ever been with, and her whole body seemed to burn with a slow fire.

Tag watched Claudia lift her glass to her lips and drain the contents. Reaching for the bottle, he filled her glass once more. Setting the bottle on a night table, he began slowly to remove his clothing, while Claudia watched him with hungry eyes.

She could feel the blood beating in her temples as she looked at his magnificent body. She followed him with her eyes as he picked up the bottle and sat down in the middle of the bed. Her whole body seemed to come alive, and she felt an ache deep inside when he motioned for her to join him there.

When Claudia sat down beside Falcon, he tipped his glass to hers. “To a night to remember, Claudia,” he whispered, indicating she should finish her drink. “I have waited a long time for this moment.”

“Have you, Falcon?” she asked in a breathless voice. “I can never tell what you feel about anything. You are always so secretive.”

By now, Claudia’s head was spinning, and she didn’t know if it was from the brandy or from Falcon’s nearness. She emptied her glass, and again he refilled it.

She didn’t know how many glasses she had consumed when he finally pulled her back on the bed and pressed his body against hers. She felt a warmth spread over her as his hands ran up and down her back in the most sensuous way.

“Tell me what you fear most in the world, Claudia,” he whispered against her ear.

Claudia’s head was reeling, and she couldn’t understand why Falcon was asking such a question, so she said the first
thing that popped into her head. “I fear a young boy who has by now grown to manhood,” she answered in a passion-laced voice. “He is out there somewhere watching me, and one day he will try to take my life.”

“Who do you hate most in the world, Claudia?” he asked, pulling her even closer and breathing hotly against her arched neck.

“I hate a woman named Joanna—I once told you about her. She is everything I ever wanted to be. I tried to destroy her, only to find she was indestructible.”

“We are none of us indestructible, Claudia. Each of us has our vulnerable spot, and I believe I have found yours,” he said harshly.

Claudia didn’t know what he meant—all she knew was that his wonderful hands were rendering her senseless. All at once, Claudia’s eyes closed, and she drifted off to sleep. The liquor she had consumed at the party, along with what Tag had given her, had had the effect he had hoped it would.

Tag stood up and pulled on his trousers and shirt. Standing over Claudia’s sleeping form, he stared at her with distaste. She had passed out cold, and he was grateful, knowing he would never have been able to make love to her. He shuddered in disgust when she moaned in her sleep. He doubted she would remember much about tonight when she awoke in the morning.

Tag ran his hand through his hair, feeling as if he were soiled and dirty from being in such close proximity with her. He left the room and climbed up the backstairs to the third floor. Since he had spent much of his boyhood in this house, he knew that the servants’ quarters were there. He needed to be with Alexandria tonight as he had never needed anyone before in his life. He wanted to breath in her clean sweetness and feel her soft, silky skin. Knowing how she would feel about his going to Claudia’s bedroom, he hoped he could make her understand that he had only done what had been necessary. He had found Claudia’s weak points and her fears…now he could work on them!

There were three bedrooms on the third floor, but Tag already knew which was Alexandria’s since she had mentioned that her room faced the garden. He turned the handle, and the door swung open soundlessly. The bright moonlight was streaming in through the window, and he could see Alexandria curled up on the bed. Kneeling down beside her, he gathered her into his arms and kissed her soft cheek.

Alexandria awoke with a start. Her eyes fastened on the dark outline of a man’s face. Before she could cry out in fear, he spoke.

“It’s me, Alexandria. Don’t be afraid.”

She pushed him away and sat up, pulling the covers up to her neck. “What are you doing here, Tag? Get out of my room this instant, before I scream and bring the whole house in to investigate,” she whispered.

Alexandria could clearly see the smile playing on Tag’s lips as he sat down on the bed beside her.

“I was afraid you would be angry with me. I knew when I saw you hiding in the study that you would believe the worst of me tonight.”

“I wasn’t hiding, and it isn’t any of my business what you and Claudia do in her bedroom,” she said, not realizing that the hurt she felt could be heard in her voice.

Tag reached out and touched her cheek softly. “Don’t think too badly of me, sweet, sweet Xandria. If you are thinking that I was intimate with Claudia tonight, you would be only half right.”

“I don’t know what you mean. How can you halfway make love to a woman?”

Tag leaned forward and untied the ribbon of her nightgown and slid his hand across her breasts. “Like this, Alexandria,” he said, leaning forward and capturing her lips in a burning kiss.

Alexandria could taste the brandy on his lips and smell the perfume that Claudia always wore, and she began to struggle. She wanted to hit out at him in her pain. He released her, and
she drew back, not wanting him to kiss her after he had been with Claudia.

“Don’t ever touch me again!” she whispered through tight lips. “As long as you live, never come near me again! I don’t like what you have become.”

His eyes looked deeply into hers. “Don’t say this to me, Alexandria. I need you tonight.” His voice was pleading, but she felt no weakening in her feelings toward him.

“Well, I don’t need you anymore! If I never see you again, it will be too soon for me!” she cried, getting out of bed to put some distance between them. She was afraid she would weaken if he touched her again.

“You don’t mean that, Alexandria. You’re just angry with me. Let me hold you for a moment. I promise I will ask nothing more of you.”

“No! You are drunk, and I want you out of my room right now.”

Tag leaped across the bed and grabbed Alexandria by the shoulders. “I’m not drunk, except from your nearness, Alexandria. Don’t you remember how good it was between us? Forget about Claudia and kiss me,” he said with urgency.

His mouth settled on hers, and she tried to struggle at first, but soon her lips parted, and she felt him drawing her against him. He was holding her so tightly she thought her lungs would burst from want of air. When he raised his head, he sprinkled kisses over her face.

“You are my only salvation, Alexandria. When I am with you, I can forget about all the ugliness,” he breathed hotly in her ear.

“Is that all I am to you, Tag—someone to keep the ugliness out of your life? Do you come to me when you can no longer stand to live with yourself?”

He looked at her with a piercing gaze. “I don’t know, Alexandria, perhaps I do.”

“I’m not your mother, Tag, and I’m not Morning Song. If you need someone to fill either of those roles, you have come
to the wrong person. Because I feel that I owe you something, I will do all I can to help you, but I will no longer play your lover.”

“Like hell,” he whispered harshly. “You don’t owe me a damned thing. I always thought there was more to our relationship than owing, Alexandria. I suppose I was wrong.”

“Yes, you were. Now, it’s late, and if you don’t need your sleep, I do.”

Tag stared down at her. He had expected her to be angry, but he hadn’t expected her coldness. Morning Song would have forgiven him anything, and he had thought that Alexandria would be the same. But then, Alexandria was nothing like Morning Song. Each day his life seemed to become more and more entangled with hers. His body seemed to have a hunger for hers that would never be satisfied. He was troubled and confused by these feelings that tormented him.

“I’m leaving, Alexandria, but I hate to leave with this misunderstanding between us. I thought you and I always understood each other.”

“You were wrong, Tag. I don’t understand you at all. We both have our troubles, but I don’t solve mine by jumping into bed with someone I don’t love.”

“You jumped into bed with me, Alexandria—does that mean that you love me?”

His eyes were searching as she looked into their shimmering depth. “Right now, I don’t even like you, Tag,” was all she could bring herself to reply.

Tag knew he should leave, but something kept holding him there. He took Alexandria’s hand, and even though she didn’t pull away, her golden eyes seemed to gleam defiantly in the bright moonlight. In that moment he felt pride in her courage. She would always stand up for what she believed in. She would never allow anyone to push her into anything. He knew he loved her more than he had ever loved Morning Song. He could feel her pulling away from him, and he feared he had spoiled any chance he might have had to win
her heart. Tag knew that after tonight she wouldn’t have a very high opinion of him, and he wanted her respect almost as much as he wanted her love.

“Alexandria, try to understand that I did what I had to tonight. Claudia doesn’t have the slightest notion who I am, and I have to get to her the only way I can.”

“Doesn’t it bother you that that sick old man is her husband? Don’t you have any qualms about bedding another man’s wife?” she asked, stepping back a pace.

He reached out and grabbed her, slamming her body into his with force. “Hell, no it doesn’t bother me—why should it? I feel no guilt where Claudia and my uncle are concerned.”

He felt Alexandria shudder and knew she believed he had made love to Claudia. It became important to him that she know he couldn’t complete the act. Cupping her face in his hands, he raised it up to his.

“Alexandria, I never completed the act with Claudia. I didn’t make love to her. I couldn’t.”

She looked into his eyes, wanting to believe him. It hurt her so deeply to think that he had been with Claudia.

“You went to her bedroom?”

“Yes, I went to her room with the intention of doing whatever I had to to make her talk. I didn’t find it necessary to make love to her. She told me all I needed to know anyway.”

“You kissed her.”

“Yes, I admit that.”

“I don’t like what’s going on, Falcon. This is a dirty business and I wish I’d never become mixed up in it.”

He studied her face closely and wished the ugliness hadn’t touched her life. He wanted to shield her from anything that was soiled and dirty. He wished she would come home with him now, but he knew she wouldn’t. “We are a pair, aren’t we, Alexandria? You don’t know whether to call me Falcon Knight or Taggart James. I don’t know whether to call you Xandria, Alex, or Alexandria.”

She threw back her head and looked at him with her
golden eyes sparking fire. “As far as I’m concerned, you may call me Miss Bradford.”

He reached out and touched her cheek softly. “Don’t say things in anger that you will regret later, Alexandria. Don’t tear my heart apart.”

She batted his hand away. “I mean every word I said to you tonight, Tag. Go away and leave me alone.”

“Alexandria, if you never want to see me again I’ll understand. The only reason I can give you for not turning your back on me is that I…need you in my life.”

She moved away from him and he could see the tears glistening on her cheeks. “You talk about your needs, Tag—what about my needs?”

He clasped her head in his hands and gently raised her up on her tiptoes and laid his face against hers. He breathed in her clean, fresh smell and felt his senses reel. “I will give you anything you want, Alexandria. Just don’t abandon me now,” he whispered softly.

Alexandria closed her eyes and her hands moved around his waist. She raised her head and saw the sincerity in Tag’s eyes. He was tugging at her heart strings, and she felt her anger melt away.

“I could never turn my back on you, Tag. I will always want to be your friend.”

He laughed softly and hugged her tightly. His heart felt lighter now that she was no longer angry with him. “Friendship isn’t what I want from you, but it will suffice for now. When this is all over, I will ask more of you.”

Alexandria started to ask him what he meant, when his head dipped down and his lips brushed against hers, causing tiny shivers of delight to flow through her body like a restless river.

Tag could feel her melting against him and knew she had forgiven him for tonight. He lifted her in his arms with the intention of placing her in bed and leaving, but when he laid her down she locked her arms about his neck. He could
see that her eyes were fever-bright, and he felt his body awaken with the raging passion that she always seemed to evoke in him.