The Secret of Stavewood (Stavewood Saga Book 4) (27 page)

Sixty-Six

     
L
uke sat on Avalanche’s broad back and pulled Louisa up behind him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and he felt her lean against him.

      “I want to ride like the wind,” she said softly. “Wherever you go, I want to go.”

      Luc turned the big stallion and kicked him to a fast run. They raced across the lawns, along the orchards and beyond Fawn Lake. Louisa caught her breath as the wind rushed past her. She could almost feel Avalanche spreading huge wings, taking them high into the heavens. Below her Stavewood, her home, was at peace. Louisa Elgerson felt like her own person at last.

      Luc pulled Avalanche to a slow trot and eased him to a stop in front of the cottage on the old Elgerson property. Louisa looked up and realized where they had landed, but she felt as if she were still swept up in her imagination. Luc dismounted and lifted her down. The porch was filled with pots of roses, all a soft shade of apricot. She walked up the steps slowly and bent to examine them.

      “They’re beautiful,” she said, as she lifted one to her nose and inhaled the delicate fragrance.

      “The color made me think of you, and this.”

      Louisa watched Luc drop to one knee and open a small velvet box. “Will you marry me, Louisa, and love me for all time?”

      In the box was nestled a golden ring, finely crafted into the detailed image of a dragon.  She put out her hand and he took the ring from the box.

      The tiny dragon encircled her finger, its delicate tail crossing its head. Nestled into its mouth was a perfect ginger diamond.

      Louisa looked up at Luc. “Yes,” she said softly. “For all of time.”

      “I brought the roses,” he said, “so they could be planted here, at our home. I bought the cottage from your father this morning. This is exactly where you belong. I will take you anywhere in the world you would like to go, but this is where you should always come home.”

      Louisa choked back tears. “It’s perfect. I’m ready now, Luc.”

      Luc pulled her to him and she did not resist. For the first time, while in the arms of a man, she felt completely free and uninhibited. When he kissed her she wanted to surrender to him. There was no expectation, no standard she thought she should fulfill. His kisses were hungry and passionate and she felt delightfully captive in his arms.

      “When?” he said hoarsely.

      Louisa looked into his eyes.

      “When?” She could feel he was struggling for composure. “Now,” she whispered.

      “When can we marry?”

      “Right away. But I want you now.”

      Luc pushed his fingers into her hair and pulled her to him. Louisa wrapped herself around him and pressed into him. She kissed his neck, his ear, his face and his lips. She felt a hunger she had never imagined. She wanted him and she needed him to become part of her. She ached with desire for him.

      Her heart pounded louder and louder in her ears until she realized it was not just her heart. Someone was approaching. She could hear the hoof beats on the road.

      “Someone’s coming,” she whispered into his ear. Luc cursed under his breath and struggled to compose himself quickly. As Mark pulled his horse into the yard, Luc sat down hurriedly on the step.

      “Oh, hi.” Louisa said as she smoothed her light dress and tried to catch her breath.

      “Hi,” Mark said. “Pa said you were getting married. Congratulations!” He slid from his horse, a wide grin on his face. “What are you guys up to?” He winked at Louisa and she knew exactly what he was doing.

      Luc did not stand up, but shook Mark’s hand from the step.

      “Pa said you bought the place. Nice flowers.” Mark stepped past Luc and stood on the porch with his hands on his hips. “Are you going to move in right after the wedding?”

      Louisa scowled.

      “I know what you’re doing, Mark, and it’s not funny,” Louisa said.

      “Doing? I came out to congratulate you on your new home and upcoming nuptials. I figured you wouldn’t want to wait too long to get married.”

      “Not long at all.” Luc stood up and cleared his throat.

      “Luc, Colleen and I thought you might like to stay with us until the wedding. You know, all that stuff about not seeing the bride ahead of time and that kind of thing.” He winked at Louisa again.

      “I’m not a child,” Louisa huffed.

      Mark smirked.

      Luc rubbed his chin.

      Louisa knew exactly what Mark was up to. When Mark and Colleen first came to Stavewood they were constantly trying to sneak off and spend time alone. At every opportunity young Louisa had caught them kissing and interrupted them in her jealousy. When they married she was warned that if she disturbed their honeymoon she would be punished as never before. Louisa sighed. Now it was Mark’s turn to interrupt her.

      “Well, you’re welcome to stay with us, Luc. Just remember when it’s time for the wedding and honeymoon it’s nice to have waited.” He grinned broadly and climbed back onto his horse. “You two have fun!” he called as he rode away.

      Louisa watered the last bush they had planted and stepped back to admire the roses. “There’s one bush left to plant, but that will wait until the eve of my wedding day.” She looked down at her hands. “I want to wash up and then we can go back to Stavewood. Would you mind terribly if I didn’t bring my things here or move in myself until the wedding?”

      “Is that what you want to do?” He looked down at his own hands.

      “Yes,” Louisa said with conviction. “We’ll wait and move in together. I’ll let mama know we want to be married as soon as possible. Sooner even.” She smiled happily.

      “Sooner sounds good to me.” He kissed her cheek and followed her into the cottage to wash up.

Sixty-Seven

     
O
ver the next several days Louisa rode with Luc nearly everywhere. She learned about his mapmaking and his hunt for Zhi, the rightful owner of the diamonds. Luc wanted his family to meet Louisa and together they decided to pay a visit.

       Louisa took to Luc’s mother immediately. She liked the fact that Irene Almquist was tall, like her, and that she was genuine and open. Her hair was a fresh shade of red, tucked casually into a twist on the top of her head. Her complexion was rosy and fair and her smiles were always kind.

      His father, Karl, was fun and persistently teasing, often openly referring to Louisa as
Luc’s Juliet
. It was clear that the long-time rivalry between her father and Karl Almquist was a large part of how the two men measured one another.

      Luc was a child of both his parents and Louisa felt welcomed sincerely into their family.    

      Irene invited Louisa fishing and the two women spent time alone together in the early morning light. Louisa showed her the carp Luc had carved for her the first time they had angled together. Later that day Irene shared her collection of whimsical figures Luc had made over the years.

      On the last morning of their visit, Luc gathered his belongings to move into the cottage. They ate together, said their goodbyes and started off.

      Back at Stavewood Louisa felt restless and ready to begin her new life as a wife. In her bedroom she found her belongings that had been sent from New York City. Luc had gone to stay at Mark’s ranch and so she sorted through the boxes alone. Most of them were filled with the latest fashions from expensive dressmakers. Louisa held up an evening dress, pulling it close to her waist in front of a long mirror. Glittering beads dangled from the hemline. Once it had been her favorite dress to wear to the speakeasies, the sparkling stones catching the light in the smoky darkness. Now it looked like the clothing of a complete stranger. Louisa set down the dress and studied her reflection. She remembered how she often felt trapped in the crowded bars where young couples converged and drank. More than once she saw twosomes in the corner kissing far more openly than was appropriate for a public place. Now she could not imagine how she had ever fit in.

      Louisa smiled at herself. Her cheeks were rosy and her eyes bright. Across her nose was a sprinkle of soft brown freckles. She had filled out a bit now that she was no longer cinching her waistline tightly and she was far curvier. She hoped that Luc would find her attractive on their wedding night. Louisa was much happier than she ever imagined she could be, happy the way she had been in her childhood. She sighed with contentment.

      Louisa put the dresses back into the boxes, took them up to the attic and walked out to the orchards. Her mother was there, her dark skirt brushing the ground as she spoke to a farmhand that was pruning branches from an apple tree. Louisa watched from the edge of the orchard for several minutes. Rebecca had always run the household and all of Stavewood with a velvet glove. In her delicate and patient way she saw to it that every detail of the beautiful estate was polished and maintained with care and attention. The workers at the estate loved her, always listening attentively to what she expected of them. She never missed an opportunity to thank them for helping her keep the home up to her standards and they felt appreciated. Louisa’s father had built the estate with hard labor and love and Rebecca had doted on every aspect of Stavewood since the day she had arrived. She was devoted to him and her children as well.

      Louisa realized that being a wife was much more than the intimacy between a couple when they were alone together. Her mother always strived for true contentment and happiness. She gave it to her husband and her children and in doing so, gave it to herself. Louisa vowed that she would be a good wife to Luc and one day, a good mother to their children. She would always do everything she could to make those she loved happy. It would be the way she would find happiness herself.

      Corissa Elgerson had chosen to smother happiness, Louisa thought. Then she had stubbornly stuck to her choice. She had listened to the lies of a man who did not care for her and let Jude Thomas into her heart. Louisa had nearly followed the same path. She had considered returning to New York City and marrying Talbot though she knew she did not truly love him. Louisa had wanted happiness and once she simply let it in she saw that it had been within her reach all the time.

      “Loo!” Rebecca swept across the row between the apple trees and smiled at her daughter. The scent of fresh-cut apple wood hung about her.

      “I didn’t know you were back. Is Luc with you?”

      “We left his things at the cottage and he’s out at Mark’s helping at the ranch.”

      “So the cottage is done then? I can send the maids out for a good cleaning if you like.”

      “Thank you.” Louisa smiled. “That would be nice, Mama.”

      “I have everything I need to fit your gown.” Rebecca’s eyes sparkled.

      “I’m ready,” Louisa said.

      “For a fitting?” Rebecca was certain her daughter had more than trying on a gown on her mind.

      “Yes, and to marry Luc and to be a wife.”

      Rebecca smiled and took her daughter’s hand and the two walked back to the house. “You have your own fairy tale happening right now, Louisa,” she said. “Being a bride and becoming a wife will be one of the most beautiful fairy tales in your life.”

      Louisa knew that the wedding her parents had planned would be huge. Weddings at Stavewood were lavish and this one would be the largest ever. She wanted that as well. The Elgersons knew everyone and all of them had been invited. Luc had always expressed his admiration for Mark and had asked him to stand at his side as his best man. Mark had said he would be honored.

     “I’m excited, Mama,” Louisa said. “Let’s see this gown you’ve been talking about for all of my life.”