Bobbi Smith (19 page)
Authors: Heaven
She picked up a small, wrapped package that had been on her desk.
“I am firmly convinced that my judgment in this is right. I wish you good fortune as you continue on your quest.”
She handed the book to Winn.
“Thank you, Reverend Mother.”
“It is my pleasure to be giving this to you, Father Bradford. I had long hoped that the day would come when I could pass along this key to the crown, and now I’ve done so. Your kindness has wrought many changes here. Thanks to you, Father, and Matthew, Widow Hawkins’ house is now repaired, and thanks to Alexandra, Eleanor Andrews has returned to our fold. We have been blessed by your presence.”
“Don’t give us too much credit, Reverend Mother,” Alex cautioned.
“It was Lawrence who sent us here,” Matt added.
“Without his foresight, none of us would have had this chance to come together.”
“I pray Lawrence is resting in peace.”
“So do we.”
“Our prayers will be with you as you continue your journey, my friends. Travel safely and if you ever need anything from us, just send word.”
They returned to the bedroom where Winn quickly unwrapped the package. As they’d suspected, it was another book. Winn opened it and began to read aloud,
“ ‘Let the waters be your guide, to the south where they merge.
From this place a saint did come, in her quest to set men free.
Life’s little flowers will now grow, warmed by a gentle sun.
See the unseen, and you will find the treasure that will be yours.’ ”
“Father Winn, wait!” Matt grabbed his book. “Listen to this . . . ‘Onward ever onward, cease not your search.’ Now, read your first line again.”
“ ‘Let the water be your guide, to the south where they merge.’ ”
“ ‘Here two shall be as one, but your fate is not that to be,’ ” Matt added his next line.
“ ‘From this place a
saint
did come, in her quest to set men free.’ ”
saint
did come, in her quest to set men free.’ ”
“ ‘Seek here the bearer of the path, whose gift will guide you on.’ ”
“ ‘Life’s little flowers should now grow, warmed by a gentle sun.’ ”
“ ‘Love is the key to all that thrives, its power can conquer the curse.’ ”
“ ‘See the unseen, and you will find the treasure that will be yours.’ ”
Alex was smiling widely as they finished. “I knew it!”
“Knew what?”
“That Lawrence was saying more than just the obvious. Now, the ‘two shall become as one’ in the first clue makes more sense than ever. The books!”
“How soon do we head south?”
Matt already had the map out. “Let’s see . . . There’s New Orleans . . . That’s it! St. Joan came from France . . . from Orleans! It has to be New Orleans!”
“This time we’re traveling by steamer,” Winn insisted, bound and determined never to take a train again. “I’ll go down to the riverfront and check the schedules. We’ll leave on the next boat.”
Later, when they left the convent for the final time, the mother superior went out with them to bid them good-bye. As they departed in a hired carriage, she closed the gates to the grounds behind them. When the two wrought-iron gates were joined, what had appeared to be an abstract design on either side became two hearts entwined. The three in the carriage were so intent on the next leg of their search, they did not look back and see.
Ten
The lap of luxury—that’s what traveling on the Westlake Steamship Line felt like after their endless hours on the trains. The paddlewheeler was one of the most modern boats on the river, and Alex, Winn, and Matt were reveling in its white, glittering splendor.
As they dined on their second night in the elegant salon, Alex finally relaxed and began to enjoy herself. The meal was superb as befitted the steamer’s reputation. The table was set with a white linen tablecloth, the finest china and crystal, and highly polished silverware. An assortment of fine wines were offered with the roast duck and wild rice, assorted steamed vegetables, hot rolls and creamy golden butter. They ate the sumptuous meal with gusto and then enjoyed the fancy, rich-to-the-point-of-being-decadent desserts.
“Isn’t gluttony one of the seven deadly sins, Father?” Matt asked as he downed the last bite of his dessert. It was a thick slice of chocolate cake, heavily covered with fudge icing and then smothered in raspberry sauce.
“Yes, and I think after tonight we probably all need to go to confession,” Winn laughed, finishing off his own delicious dessert and leaning back in total, sated comfort.
“I think your idea to travel by steamer was the best one you’ve had yet, Father Winn,” Alex told him as she, too, savored every luscious bite of her food.
“Maybe some day in the near future, travel by rail will be as smooth and fast and comfortable, but for right now, riverboats are by far more modern.”
“Paddlewheelers are nice,” Alex agreed, gazing around at the high-gloss white walls, crystal chandeliers, and abundance of mirrors that reflected the pristine beauty of their surroundings. “There’s so much more to do and see on a steamer.”
“Indeed, there is, my dear wife,” Matt said with a grin. “What do you say we go to the ballroom tonight and dance? It seems strange that we’ve been married all this time, and we haven’t had the chance to dance yet.”
“ ‘All this time’ is really just about a week, Matt,” she teased.
“Then we need to dance to celebrate our one week anniversary. What do you say, Father Winn? Will you join us?”
“Since I performed the ceremony, it’s only right that I have a dance with the bride,” Winn answered, not about to let them go off alone. He wanted to keep an eye on Matt while he was with Alex.
They left the dining room and entered the ballroom. The dance floor was crowded with couples enjoying a waltz, and Matt immediately took Alex in his arms and swept her out to join them.
Winn moved to the side of the room to look on. His gaze was centered on Matt and Alex as they circled the floor. He watched Matt guide her through the waltz, his hand resting possessively at her waist. When he saw Alex laugh in delight at something Matt said, Winn felt jealousy blaze to life within him. He scowled.
“Damn it!
” he snarled to himself. He wanted to be the one holding her close, dancing with her and making her laugh, not Matt!
” he snarled to himself. He wanted to be the one holding her close, dancing with her and making her laugh, not Matt!
“Good evening, Father. Are you enjoying the trip?”
Winn was dragged back from his irritated musings to find the tall, dark-haired captain of the steamboat, Jim Westlake, standing beside him. Westlake, Winn had been told, was one of the youngest captains on the river, but those who spoke of him lauded his knowledge of the Mississippi and steamboats.
“Oh, yes, Captain,” he replied in an easy tone that revealed nothing of his conflicting emotions. “Your boat is beautiful. I’m convinced this is the only way to travel.”
“I’m glad you think so. We’re happy to have you with us. Enjoy your trip, and if there’s anything you need just let us know.”
The captain moved off to visit with the other passengers, and Winn turned back to watching Matt and Alex. The need to waltz with her became almost unbearable.
It puzzled Winn that he couldn’t remember another time he’d wanted to dance with a woman so badly. There had always been dances and there had always been women, but this need was different. He wanted to be the only one holding her, the one making her laugh. He wanted his hand at her waist. He wanted to feel her moving in rhythm with him. He wanted to be Lord Winn Bradford for just tonight, instead of Father Bradford, saint-in-training.
Winn’s frustration grew, and by the time the waltz finally came to an end, he knew what he was going to do. He was going to waltz with Alex. Nothing and no one was going to stop him.
“The next waltz is mine,” he stated as Alex returned to his side on Matt’s arm.
She glanced at him in surprise, and he smiled wryly at her.
“Yes, Alex, priests really do know how to dance.”
The music began again, and to Winn’s pleasure, it was another waltz.
“May I have the honor of this waltz, Alex?” he asked with formal precision. He gave her a slight bow as gallant as any he’d ever offered in any of the glittering ballrooms in London.
“I’d love to dance with you,” she accepted, meaning every word.
Winn led her out onto the dance floor. He took her in his arms and began to move. In that moment, he was transformed. He was no longer Father Bradford. Now, he was Lord Winn Bradford and he was in his element. His hand at Alex’s waist was knowing, his steps sure, his lead confident. The music spun a magical spell around them as they swayed and swirled to its fantastic rhythm.
Alex was breathless. She’d gone into Father Winn’s arms expecting a quiet, simple dance, but as he squired her about the floor, she discovered it was much more than that. He was an excellent dancer, far better than anyone she’d ever danced with before. Waltzing with him was a purely sensual experience, and she knew such an attraction was perilous. Still, all the logic in the world couldn’t stop the excitement coursing through her.
Alex surreptitiously glanced up at Winn. He wasn’t looking at her right then, so she had time to study him. She’d expected him to be a little uneasy dancing; instead, he’d proven himself an expert. She’d thought he might be a bit nervous; instead, he appeared relaxed and self-assured. She realized in confusion that he seemed born to this life. He fit in here—in this sophisticated ballroom with its shimmering candlelight and graceful music. Her gaze dropped to his throat and she stared at his collar in confusion. Tonight, somehow, it seemed alien to him. She lifted her gaze again, and it was just then that Winn glanced down at her.
Winn was amazed at how she instinctively moved with him and how perfectly matched they were. He looked down at her to find her watching him, her expression unreadable. Their gazes met and locked. Everything faded from his consciousness except her nearness. His hand tightened at her waist as he spun her in a dizzying circle. It was an exhilarating move, and Alex instinctively clung more tightly to him as he all but swept her away. The intimacy of the graceful maneuver transported them. They pivoted around the dance floor, their eyes only on each other, their bodies moving as one. It was heavenly.
And then the music stopped.
Winn was abruptly forced back to reality. He would have to let her go. He didn’t want to. It wasn’t easy for him, but he did it. Even though he really wanted to keep her with him for the rest of the night.
Alex had been caught up in the splendor of their waltz. When the music stopped, her spirits plummeted. She was amazed at how abandoned she felt when Father Winn stopped dancing and moved away from her. Dancing with Matt had been pleasant. Being in Father Winn’s arms had been wonderful. Alex knew it was wrong for her to feel this way. She also knew it was a good thing she was out of his embrace. The waltz had been delightful, but she was being foolish if she let herself forget who he was or why they were there.
“Thank you,” Winn said courteously as he led the way back to Matt.
“You’re welcome. You’re a wonderful dancer.”
“You made it easy for me,” he replied, his gaze warm upon her.
She was smiling as they rejoined her ‘husband,’ and he quickly took her back out on the floor.
Winn remained quietly on the sidelines. His expression betrayed nothing of his inner turmoil as he watched Matt and Alex enjoying themselves. The weight of his decision to assume his uncle’s role was growing more and more stifling, and he was beginning to wonder just how much longer he could maintain his charade. His logical mind told him he would do it as long as was necessary. But a nagging doubt lingered as he watched Matt see Alex to her cabin that night and press a simple kiss on her cheek.
The following day as the paddlewheeler steamed ever closer to New Orleans, they sought out a quiet place on deck and started going over Lawrence’s riddle, debating the secrets hidden within. Again, there was little solid evidence to go on, but Alex seemed convinced that the phrase ‘life’s little flowers’ somehow referred to children. They could reach no consensus and knew there was no point in trying to go any further with it until they arrived in the city. Temporarily stymied, they put the riddle aside and decided to enjoy the rest of the trip with its occasional glimpses of huge plantations built along the river.
Later that evening, the three of them dined once again in the ornate dining room. As usual, the meal was superb.
“If you have no objection, I think I’ll retire to the bar tonight and try my hand at a few games of chance,” Matt said as he finished his dinner. “You never know what I might find out about New Orleans after a couple of drinks in the saloon.”
“Good luck,” Alex told him. She was feeling a little tired and planned to retire early.
“I can escort you back to the room, if you care to go now,” he offered.
“That’s all right. You go ahead and enjoy yourself. I’ll take Alex back to her cabin when she’s ready,” Winn spoke up. He’d deliberately kept a distance between himself and Alex all day, but the opportunity to be alone with her for a few minutes was tempting.
Matt disappeared toward the back of the boat where the men’s saloon was located. A night of gambling and a few drinks were just what he needed right now.
“Do you want to go with him?” Alex asked, not wanting Father Winn to feel that he was stuck with her. He’d been rather cool toward her all day, and she feared that maybe she’d been too obvious about her feelings when they’d danced the night before. “I’ll be fine if you do.”
“No, actually I prefer your company,” Winn told her as he gazed at her in the soft light of the crystal chandeliers. He reveled in the thought that they were finally by themselves—for all the good it did him. “You look lovely tonight.”
“Why, thank you.”
His compliment caught her off-guard. She lifted her eyes to his and was immediately lost in the dark, mysterious depths of his emerald gaze. She wanted to believe that he was really thinking of her as an attractive woman, but she told herself he was just being nice. She told herself to change the subject.
“Do you think we’ll have much trouble in New Orleans?” she asked.
“I wish I knew. We’ll just have to do the same thing we did in St. Louis. We’ll start off looking for something that has to do with ‘life’s little flowers.’ The first part of the clue is simple enough. There’s no doubt Lawrence was writing about the gulf, and the river, and . . .”
“Father Winn . . .” she interrupted. “Do you suppose we could annul the marriage now?”
Winn was tempted to tell her that she wasn’t married at all, and that it didn’t matter, but he had no idea what lay ahead of them, what Lawrence had in mind. “It’s probably best to leave things as they are for now. Are you having trouble with Matt? Is there anything I can help you with?” He frowned as he considered the possibility.
“No, Father. Matt’s charming and good-natured, and he’s certainly been the perfect gentleman with me.”
Winn gritted his teeth as he listened to her litany of Matt’s good points.
“The situation is just awkward, that’s all. I’ll feel better once everything is back to normal,” she finished, meaning it. She wanted to be back home with her father, safe and sound.
“I will, too. We’ve all had to give up something to make this dream come true,” he agreed, resisting the urge to loosen his collar.
Winn was trying to keep their conversation casual, but Alex looked so beautiful in the candlelight that he was having difficulty concentrating. Though her gown was demure in cut and style, that very sedateness enhanced her loveliness. Its vibrant turquoise hue set off her creamy complexion and her burnished hair to perfection. She looked completely and utterly desirable.
Winn admitted openly to himself in that moment that he wanted her badly, and, having had several glasses of wine with dinner, he asked himself again just why he was pretending to be a priest. He had some vague and distant memory of wanting to please his uncle and help Lawrence, but right now, on this romantic steamer heading south, he wasn’t too concerned about all that. Right now, he wanted to take Alex out on deck into the moonlight. He wanted to kiss her and hold her close. He wanted to . . .
“The Crown is worth any sacrifice,” she was saying, interrupting his fantasy. “I can hardly wait to see it. I’ve read the tragic story of the prince and princess so many times, that it’s hard for me to believe this really might finally come true.”
“The history behind it is impressive,” Winn said, trying to keep his mind on history and not on the way Alex had felt in his arms when they’d waltzed.
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