Fire and Ice Page 24

  Kate found her several minutes later in her sitting room. “Thought I might find ye here. Do ye intend on hiding up here all evening? Barbara noticed ye were missin’ when Jerry Turnbill couldn’t find his dance partner.”

  “He’s here,” Kathleen whispered, holding her head in her hands.

  “If ’tis Reed ye’re referring to, yes, I know he’s here. ’Tis no great surprise, love, not to me, and surely not to ye. Ye knew he would be back sometime. After all, he lives here, and so, incidentally, does his wife.”

  “He’s going to make things difficult, Kate. I don’t think I’m up to handling it yet.”

  “If ye counted on Reed takin’ this lying down, ye judged him wrong, lass. That’s not his way.”

  “I know,” Kathleen sighed. “I guess I just hoped he would stay gone longer.” She stood and straightened her dress. “You’re right, Kate. I can’t avoid him forever. I’ll just have to meet the devil on his own ground this time and hope I don’t lose too badly.”

  “I’ll walk down with ye,” Kate offered. “Now smile and throw back yer shoulders. Don’t admit defeat before the battle starts, lamb, or ye’ll give him the edge.”

  “The sharp edge of my tongue is all he’ll get willingly from me,” Kathleen vowed with a wry smile.

  Reed was waiting for her at the bottom of the staircase. “I was hoping for a dance with the belle of the ball,” he said, catching her hand and leading her toward the dance floor.

  “Oh, but I’ve promised them all already,” Kathleen objected, pulling back.

  Leaning his dark head down to hers, he whispered, “Ah, but I’ve never danced with my wife yet, and I’m not about to let this opportunity slip away.” His hand tightened warningly on her arm as he guided her along. “You are bruising my arm, Reed,” she grated out between clenched teeth as she continued to smile for the benefit of those who might be watching.

  “I’ll bruise more than that if you don’t behave,” he answered tersely.

  As they started to dance, he commented, “How nice. A waltz. Appropriate for our first dance together, don’t you think?” When she made no comment, he drew her closer to him. Kathleen tried to draw away again, but his arm about her waist was like a steel vise. She turned stormy eyes up to his and he laughed aloud, then said quietly, “I am anxious to see if having you dancing with me is as interesting as having you dance for me.”

  Still she refused to speak. “Oh, surely you remember, my pet,” he continued. “Surely you must recall how the evening ended—or should I say, how the next day dawned.”

  “Must you remind me?” Kathleen asked in a low voice that she could not keep from quavering slightly.

  “Could it be you miss me?” Reed went on in his taunting tone, bending close to her ear. “Do you miss having me to warm your bed and your body? Do you enjoy playing the innocent virgin, or does your body betray you when you are alone at night? Don’t you long to be kissed and caressed and made love to till dawn?” His voice had itself become a caress by now and she trembled in his arms.

  “Please stop it, Reed,” she half pleaded, half demanded.

  “Must I remind you to smile, my love? People are watching.”

  “Damn you!” she replied softly as she threw him the required smile. “If they are watching us, it is most likely because you are holding me more closely than is acceptable!”

  As the music stopped, they were standing in the center of the ballroom. Keeping one long arm firmly around her waist, Reed reached into his pocket. “I brought you a gift, my love. A small token of remembrance, you might say.” He produced a glimmering band of emeralds outlined in diamonds.

  At first Kathleen thought it was a bracelet, and almost at once realized it was too long.

  “Do you like it?” Reed was asking.

  “It’s beautiful, Reed,” she breathed, “but what is it?” He released his hold on her waist to place both hands behind her head and snap the band about her throat. “It is a necklace of sorts. The jeweler in New Orleans called it a collar.”

  “Please, Reed. Don’t tease me like this!” Kathleen begged, looking up at him with wide green eyes. “You know I cannot accept it, no matter how much I love it. What will people say? What will they think? You are creating a scandal right now!”

  “I have every right to give my wife jewels if I so desire,” he countered, his eyes gleaming with malice.

  “You are doing this on purpose, you beast!” she accused hotly. Her hands went up to unclasp the collar, but he grasped both wrists tightly.

  “No! Leave it, Kat!” His looked dared her to defy him.

  “I can’t accept it, and well you know it! And I will not back down and reveal our marriage just to keep a few jewels, Reed Taylor! You had better remember our agreement, too, if you know what is good for you!”

  “Never fear, my precious. I promised not to tell anyone of our marriage. However, if you will recall, I never said I would keep quiet about our intimacies.” At her quick gasp, he leaned forward and continued in a menacing tone, “If you do not keep the necklace and any other gifts I decide to bestow on you, I assure you that I will leave no doubts in anyone’s mind as to how well I know your sweet body, including the shape and location of your birthmark.”

  “You—you cad!” she sputtered, and finally she snarled, “and just how am I supposed to explain this?”

  “Well, sweetheart, they are your jewels. They are from the cache you recovered from the sunken ship in the bay. I merely had them set in the mounting for you. That should solve your dilemma a bit.” He grinned down at her devilishly and added, “This time.”

  “Well why didn’t you say so to start with, you Yankee devil!” she spouted, eyes flashing. “No! You have to put me through hell’s own fire first, don’t you?”

  “Not so loud, my love,” he cautioned. “Besides, this is just the first of many gifts to come. You see, Kat, I intend to court you openly, and God help the man who tries to stand in my way!”

  “I don’t want you to court me. All I want you to do is leave me alone,” she groaned.

  “There is really very little you can do about it, Kat, unless you set so little value on your reputation, so don’t try refusing to see me or to accept my gifts.”

  “That’s blackmail!”

  “Precisely, my dear! How does it feel?” His eyes shot blue sparks as he finally released her wrists. “Now, we seem to have created quite a spectacle, so take my arm, smile warmly up at me, and we’ll walk over to where Barbara is standing and looking very pale about now.”

  Kathleen felt as if she were running the gauntlet as they made their way off the dance floor. To her credit, she held her head high, smiling sweetly up at Reed. As he looked down at her, Reed thought her flashing green eyes nearly outshone her jewels in her anger. He leaned down and whispered, “You are really such a splendid actress, my love. You should have been on the stage.”

  “You are insufferable!” she hissed.

  Mary, Barbara, and Kate were all standing together, Kate being the only one who did not look as if she were about to faint.

  “Reed, dear, would you please explain what in the world is going on?” Mary insisted in an urgent whisper.

  “I suppose, Mother, you are referring to the jewelry I just gave Kathleen?” he drawled.

  “You suppose correctly, son.”

  “Does this mean you are engaged?” Ted interjected, popping up behind Kathleen.

  “Heavens no!” Kathleen exploded.

  Taking Kathleen’s arm, Barbara admonished, “You really cannot mean to accept such a lavish gift, Kathleen. And you, Reed,” she continued, turning anxious eyes on him, “should know better than to create such a spectacle!”

  “Please!” Kathleen cut in, holding up her hands for silence. “There is a logical explanation, I assure you. The jewels are mine, so of course I mean to keep them. Captain Taylor merely had them reset for me in a new mounting. He is acquainted with a jeweler in New Orleans, and was kind enough to take them
there for me.”

  “See, Mother,” Amy said in a disgusted tone. “I told you it was not as it appeared. Why would Reed give such an expensive item to a girl he barely knows?”

  “Well, I must say this jeweler must be an artist in his field,” Kate contributed. “I have never seen such a unique piece. What do ye call it?”

  “It is a collar, my dear lady,” Reed answered. “I must tell you that the design was my idea, though the craftsmanship his.”

  Susan, who had come up quietly to join the group, asked, “It is magnificent, but why a collar? What put that idea into your head?”

  “What could be more natural?” Reed answered with a laugh. “Here, have a look!” Before she had time to react, he placed his palm below Kathleen’s jaw, tilting her head up. “What do you see here but the slanting green eyes of a feline?”

  His smile widened as he continued, “Her name even fits, and it just struck me that every cat needs a collar.”

  Jerking her face away, Kathleen whirled on him, her emerald eyes shooting flames. “That may be true. Captain Taylor, but you should be cautioned. Cats are very unpredictable creatures, and even the smallest kitten has sharp claws. Remember, sir, that no cat can ever truly be tamed.”

  “That is yet to be seen,” Reed countered calmly.

  “This conversation is beginning to bore me.” Placing her hand on Ted’s sleeve, Kathleen requested sweetly, “Teddy, dearest, would you mind taking me out for some air?”

  “Certainly, Kathy. You know I am your most devoted slave,” Ted replied, giving her a small bow.

  They were halfway to the door when Reed called, “Kat!” Without thinking, Kathleen responded immediately to the accustomed nickname, only realizing her mistake after she had turned to face him. She felt the blood rush to her face as she met his triumphant smile and saw the wicked gleam in his ice-blue eyes. She sensed, rather than saw, several couples staring at them as Reed approached her. Calmly he handed her dance card to her, saying with a wry chuckle, “I believe you’ve lost something, Kat.”

  Pulling her tattered dignity about her, she replied with a nod. “The battle, perhaps, Reed, but not the war.”

  A little while later, Kathleen found herself holding court on the veranda. She was surrounded by several young men, each clamoring to be the one to escort her to the horse track the next day, or the barbecue at the Courtland plantation on Sunday. Inwardly, she was still smarting from her encounter with Reed, but no one seemed to notice. She laughed gaily at their antics as they coaxed and teased her. Ted, seeing himself outnumbered, went in search of Susan, chuckling to himself at his cousin’s prowess. Kathleen had them eating from her palm as she turned her charm first on one and then another hopeful suitor. Fluttering her long lashes and smiling sweetly, she flirted outrageously with all of them, except poor Gerard Ainsley, whom she chose to ignore. It still rankled her that he would assume so much.

  She stood with her back to the doorway, laughing up into the face of her nearest admirer. “Please, Mr. Godsey. Surely you realize that I am just one person. I cannot attend the races nor the barbecue with all of you. It would be entirely too selfish of me to deprive the other young ladies of their escorts.”

  “Yes, indeed, gentlemen,” came a familiar deep voice from behind her. “Besides, Miss Haley has already agreed to go with me, haven’t you, Kathleen?”

  As she started to turn around, she felt a hand around her ribcage, tightening in a silent warning. She hesitated for just a second and his long, strong fingers squeezed tighter until she felt her ribs would crack. She knew that to the others it looked as if he had simply placed his hand at her side; that they did not realize the hold he had on her. She gasped slightly, and Reed bent his dark head to hers.

  “Did I hear you say something, sugar?” he prompted.

  “Yes! I said yes, I have promised to go with you to the races,” she said, trying to keep the pain from her voice.

  “And to the barbecue on Sunday,” Reed went on.

  “That, too.”

  Releasing his grip on her ribs, he nevertheless let his hand remain at her side. “Well, gentlemen, I’m sorry. Perhaps another time.” Firmly he guided her inside, putting an end to further conversation. He forced her to dance once more with him, and then seemed willing to ignore her for the remainder of the evening.

  After that final dance with Reed, Kathleen developed a raging headache. Finally she had to make her excuses to her hostesses, and headed gratefully for her bedroom. Mammy helped her to undress and brought her a cold cloth for her brow.

  “Shore do hope yoah not comin’ down wif nuthin’, Miss Kaffleen,” she worried as she brushed out the copper tresses.

  “No, no, Mammy. Don’t worry. It’s just a headache, I’m sure. I’ll be fine after a good night’s sleep.”

  “Yo wants me ta stay wif ya awhile, chile?”

  “There’s no need. I’m just going to try to sleep. You go on now. Amy and Barbara will need you later.”

  “Yo shore, honey?”

  “I’m sure. Mammy. Go along now. I’m fine,” Kathleen assured her tiredly. She closed her eyes, willing herself not to think of the disastrous evening now behind her, and fell into a restless sleep.

  Kathleen did not know what had caused her to awaken. The house was quiet, and she realized thankfully that her headache was gone. The lamp still burned low outside her curtained bed. The night air was sultry, and her nightgown clung to her perspiring body. “It is going to storm soon,” she thought groggily as she watched a flash of lightning streak across the sky.

  Suddenly she froze, hardly daring to breathe. It was then she realized what had awakened her. Someone else was in her room. She felt his presence even though she could not see him. She sensed rather than heard a movement across the room, near her desk. So tense was she that she nearly screamed when he spoke.

  “No need for alarm, Kat. It’s only me,” Reed drawled.

  “Only you!” she cried out breathlessly. “What do you mean by stealing into my room in the middle of the night!”

  “Come now, kitten. After all the other nights we’ve spent together, you are not going to object at this late date, are you?” He walked slowly to the end of the bed and drew back the sheer curtains. Vaguely her mind registered the fact that he had changed from his evening clothes into his dressing robe.

  “Get out of here, you lousy conniving cur!” she stormed as she sprang from the bed. “Get out of my room and get out of my life!”

  “Not on a bet, my love,” he replied evenly. It was only then that she noticed the hard set of his jaw and the steel-blue gleam in his eyes.

  “Wha—what do you want now?” she stammered, backing away from him as he stalked her.

  “I think you know the answer to that.”

  “No. You can’t! We made a pact!”

  “This was not included in our agreement, Kat. I agreed to deposit you at your aunt’s house and to say nothing of our marriage. I most assuredly did not agree to forfeit my conjugal rights.” His hand flashed out and captured her wrist.

  Kathleen’s eyes glistened with spite as she snarled at him, “What a royal rogue you are, Reed Taylor! You are a blackguard and a filthy pirate, and a rutting jackass in the bargain! I despise you! If I never set eyes on you again, it would be too soon, you brute! You uncivilized barbarian!”

  “Are you quite finished?” he growled as he pulled her hard against him.

  “I could go on into next week and still have not used all the epithets I could think of for you, you insidious rake!” she spat out hatefully.

  “Then I can think of only one way to shut you up, you vicious-tongued Irish viper.” Abruptly he tangled his hand in her hair and held her head motionless as his lips came down hard and demanding upon hers. She squirmed in his arms as he scooped her up and carried her to the bed. He threw her down on the mattress, her struggling body pinned beneath his, as he continued to silence her with his kiss. His lips and tongue ravaged her mouth even as his hands disposed
of her nightgown and sought out her most sensitive areas.

  She felt a coil of heat start in her stomach and fan out to encompass her entire being in a delirious burning desire. Suddenly it no longer mattered that this man was her enemy. She only knew she loved him and wanted him with a need bordering on desperation. Her muffled oaths became whimpered pleas as her arms found their way about his neck and drew him nearer. She arched her body to meet his caresses as his lips traced a burning path along her body. Her need overcame her pride, and with trembling fingers, she untied the belt of his robe and returned his kisses, his caresses.

  As he mounted her, he bent to kiss her lips, and she saw her desire reflected in his smoky blue eyes. “Damn you, Reed,” she whispered, and even to her ears it sounded like an endearment.

  He took her with a savage urgency and she met him thrust for thrust. She stilled her outcries against his shoulder and raked his back with her nails as they reached a mind-shattering climax and the sweetest release she could recall.

  The last thing she heard as she fell asleep, her head cradled on his shoulder, was his laughing retort, “I love the way you hate me, kitten.”

  Chapter 16

  KATHLEEN awoke the next morning feeling rested and revived. She stretched languidly for a moment and breathed deeply of the morning air. It smelled fresh and clean, as it always does after a storm. Drawing back the bed hangings, she saw droplets of rain still dripping from the leaves and sparkling in the morning sun.

  Recalling Reed’s visit to her room the night before, she knew she should be angry with him, but in all fairness she could not deny that she had wanted him as badly as he had her. She smiled to herself as she wondered what Amy would say if she knew. Her smile disappeared as swiftly as it came when she thought of Mammy finding out. Hurriedly she leaped out of bed and fluffed up the pillows and made the bed. Scouring the room for signs of his having been there, she discovered his cigar in the ceramic tray on her desk and quickly discarded the remains out the window into the flower garden below. “The careless fool!” she grumbled to herself, and then giggled foolishly.