Catalina's Caress (26 page)

❧

When Charlotte stopped before a door and swung it open, Jake gasped in disbelief. She had never seen such a beautiful room in her life.

She walked slowly into it, tears stinging her eyes. Suddenly, she felt dirty and displaced, and she wasn't too sure she could handle her upsetting emotions.

But Charlotte, who had been studying her, felt a touch of pity. She kept it from showing, for she knew Jake just might be astute enough to perceive it. She was certain that Jake had enough pride to resent such a reaction.

"I'll have some water drawn so you can bathe, and I'll have one of my nightgowns brought so you can sleep comfortably.''

Jake turned to Charlotte, tears that could be restrained no longer welling in her eyes.

"You are so kind. I... I can clean and cook," she began enthusiastically. "And maybe I can care for your clothes, I'm really a good worker. I'm strong and—"

"Child, child," Charlotte said, her eyes now growing suspiciously moist, "you are a guest in my house. I want you to enjoy your stay here. We can become friends. I will enjoy having a young woman to talk to."

"Friends?" Jake questioned, aghast. "I've never ... I mean..."

"I know," Charlotte replied in a conspiratorial tone. "To tell you the truth, child, I don't recall having many real women friends either. But if you'd like we can share breakfast in the morning and get to know each other better, would you like that?"

"Oh, yes," Jake breathed out.

"Good. Now enjoy your bath, have a good sleep, and I'll see you in the morning. I'll send a maid to waken you and show you to the breakfast room. Good night, Jake. Sleep well."

"Good night... and thank you."

Charlotte patted Jake's cheek, then left, pulling the door closed behind her.

Alone, Jake turned in a slow circle in the center of the room, her eyes trying to absorb all of its comfort and beauty at one time. The bed was a large oak fourposter, a white ruffled spread covering what promised to be soft welcoming warmth. The thick carpet was soft beneath her feet, and she could inhale the clean scent of the room. The walls were papered in soft blue with small pink and white flowers, and to Jake's delight there was an ivory white mantel over the hearth upon which a fire briskly glowed.

Jake felt she could cry out in delight, but a light rap announced a young maid who carried a soft white nightgown over her arm.

"Good evening, miss. I was to lay out this for you and to tell you your bath is ready." The young servant spoke as she crossed the room to place the nightgown on the bed.

Jake didn't want to appear foolish so she remained silent.

The maid turned from the bed and smiled again. "If you will come with me, miss, I'd be delighted to help you."

Jake followed her from that room to another, which astounded her even more than the first. Never having taken a bath in anything but a wooden tub filled with heated river water, she could not hold back a gasp of pure awe. They actually took baths in this huge white tub! Right inside the house! This was beyond her imagination, and she stored this knowledge so she might impart it to her grandfather at the first opportunity.

The tub was nearly full of steaming water on which there was a covering of thick white suds. She closed her eyes to again inhale the exquisite scent that emanated from the enticing tub.

"Shall I help you undress, miss?"

Ashamed, both of the outer clothes she wore and of her rough cotton undergarments, Jake could only shake her head negatively.

"Here is a robe, miss, and there are some warm towels. I shall return in an hour."

The maid left, drawing the door closed, and Jake went to the tub, almost tearing her clothes off as she did.

She sank into the water, thinking that she had never felt anything so wonderful in her life. The water had begun to chill before Jake rose reluctantly from it. The towels were soft, and she leisurely dried herself before donning the robe.

She wasn't too sure she should try to find her room herself. Maybe Seth's aunt would not want her to be wandering about in the halls.

Insecure and more than a little nervous, Jake sat on a small stool and waited for someone to come for her.

By the time the maid finally came, Jake, who had begun to think she was forgotten, sat huddled on the stool.

"Miss, I've turned the bed down."

Jake followed her like an obedient child, and was left alone again in the large bedroom.

She slipped out of the robe and took up the soft nightgown. It slid over her skin like satin and she closed her eyes, enjoying the sensuous feeling. Then she blew out the lamp and climbed into the bed.

The room was now lit only by the red glow of the dying fire, and Jake lay gazing at it, letting forbidden dreams have their way. She could enjoy them because she was alone and no one would ever know. Finally she slipped into a peaceful sleep.

❧

Charlotte returned to the sitting room to find Charles and Seth in deep conversation. Seth had been telling Charles what had happened from the night he had left the house.

"And I never got to the
Belle
at all," he said.

"So he was telling the truth," Charlotte mused.

"Who?"

"Marc Garrison," she replied thoughtfully.

"Marc Garrison?"

"That's another story, Seth." Charles laughed.

"Well, tell it to me. I want to know just what Cat's involved in and why she's not here. Come on, Aunt Charlotte, out with the truth, all of it."

"Yes, Seth. You deserve an explanation. If you had not come home when you did, both Charles and I would have been gone."

"Gone where?"

"After Cat, who is on board the
Belle
with both Marc Garrison and Travis Sherman."

"By herself!" Seth's alarm made it quite obvious he had very little faith in either man.

"By herself," Charlotte reluctantly responded. "The next boat for Natchez leaves tonight Charles and I have accommodations."

"Aunt Charlotte, I know you want to go after her but I think Charles and I would be more effective, and"— he bent toward her, his gaze intent on hers—"Jake needs you desperately. I've made her a lot of promises, and I'd hate to disappoint her. She needs what only a woman can provide. She... well she's kind of helpless."

"I understand, Seth." Charlotte smiled. "I don't want to, but I'll stay behind. She's a sweet child, Seth, and I do believe we are going to become good friends."

"Aunt Charlotte, I would be most appreciative. You have no idea how difficult her life has been or how grateful I feel that she saved my life."

"I do have a slight idea how appreciative you might be," Charlotte said softly. "You go after Cat, and leave Jake in my hands. Cat needs you now."

"Thanks." Seth chuckled. "You can add this to all the other things I owe you. You will explain to Jake in the morning—tell her I'll be back as soon as I can?"

"I'll explain. And you might just start getting some clothes packed. Your boat will leave soon. Charles can see you to the dock."

Seth rose, bent swiftly to kiss Charlotte's cheek. "I love you, Aunt Charlotte. You're a grand lady. I couldn't have brought Jake to anyone better."

Charlotte was silent. The constriction in her throat forbade words, but Seth had expected none. He left the room and took the stairs two at a time to go to his room, removing his jacket as he went.

He changed his clothes and packed. Then he returned to the sitting room. Charles rose, and they said their goodbyes quickly, then left Charlotte standing in the open doorway and waving.

When they were out of sight, she stepped back inside and closed the door. Going up the stairs, she went to the room in which Jake slept. She opened the door quietly and crossed over to the bed.

As she stood looking down at Jake, a smile touched her lips. Relaxed in sleep, Jake had lost her defenses, and Charlotte could see beyond them now.

She was looking down at a girl who would develop into a beauty. Her skin, tanned by exposure to the sun, was smooth and flawless. Her body, slim and small, was nonetheless a soft womanly form. A mass of red-golden hair was spread across the pillow, and Charlotte knew that with proper care it would be extraordinarily beautiful. All in all, Charlotte quite approved of Jake, and she approved of Seth's interest in her as well. She had noted the change in Seth, and it had pleased her. For the first time in his life, Seth was thinking first of someone else.

"I think, little Jake," Charlotte said softly, "you are going to be the best thing that has happened to our Seth—yes, the very best. Sleep well, child. Tomorrow we will begin to let the butterfly out of her cocoon."

She left the room as quietly as she had come.

❧

Jake opened her eyes at the same moment the door opened. She was momentarily disoriented, but when the young maid who had prepared her bath entered, Jake gathered her thoughts.

"Good morning, miss," the girl said brightly as she drew the drapes open to let in the morning sun. "Miss Charlotte is waiting breakfast for you. Did you sleep well?"

"Oh." Jake sat up, wide-eyed. The announcement that Charlotte was waiting for her shattered her composure. She searched wildly for her clothes.

"Miss Charlotte told me to bring you something of Miss Cat's to wear," the girl explained as she took a pile of clothes from a chair and brought them to the bed.

Jake just stared at the lovely dress. "Oh no, that's too beautiful! It must be one of her best dresses. She will be angry if I wear it."

"Oh no, miss." The maid laughed. "I assure you, it is one of her oldest But even if it were her best, Miss Cat would be pleased to share it with you."

Jake was doubtful about this, but she rose from the bed, almost reluctant to remove the soft comfortable nightgown.

"If you'll dress, miss, I will brush your hair and pin it up for you. I've done Miss Cat's hair a lot, and quite nicely I'm proud to say."

Still full of doubts, Jake dressed slowly, savoring the touch of silk against her flesh. She had never felt pretty in her life until this moment.

She sat nervously on a small bench while her hair was brushed and pinned atop her head.

"Now, miss, why don't you come to the mirror and look at yourself. You're ever so pretty."

"Pretty? Me?"

"Oh yes, miss."

Jake walked across the room to a full-length mirror and stood in wide-eyed disbelief. She had changed so, she did not even recognize herself.

"Grandpa won't even know me," she whispered, and somehow this thought sent a shiver of fear through her. She was no longer her grandpa's Jake... but she didn't know who she was.

A sharp stab of loneliness and fear overcame her. At this moment she wanted only to be safe aboard her grandfather's boat, away from strangers who wanted to take away her past and leave her with a future she did not understand.

She was not yet prepared to let go of the Jake of yesterday. She tipped up her chin in a defiant lift and turned from the mirror.

"I don't like her. She isn't me. I want my old clothes," she said.

"Sorry, miss." The maid's smile faded. "I was told to dispose of them."

"Dis— What does that mean?" Jake demanded.

"It means ... I was supposed to throw them away."

"Throw them away!" Jake almost shrieked. "You have no right to throw away what belongs to me! You go get them, do you hear me, you go get them!"

"But, miss, I can't do that."

"Well, you damn well better, or I'll carve my name on your soft little ass. Now you just get them, you hear me!"

The young maid was overcome by tears and shocked disbelief.

She backed away, for the blaze in Jake's eyes promised murder and mayhem.

"Oh ... miss ... I just can't.. . I.. ."

Jake stalked the maid as she backed toward the door. Her eyes were cold chips of green ice, and her smile was really a threatening grimace.

"I got me a big shiny knife, and if you don't find my clothes in just about five minutes I'm going to cut off pieces of you and leave them all over the house."

The maid, by this time totally terrified, was almost hysterical

At that moment the door opened and Charlotte stood in the doorway.

"Jake!" Her frigid command brought a choked sob of relief from the maid and a muttered curse from Jake.

"Hell and damnation!" Jake exclaimed.

"You will calm yourself right this minute, and apologize to Sophie. She is a kind and sensitive girl, and she had only been trying to help you. Now apologize at once!"

"I want my clothes!"

"You are wearing your clothes. The rags you came in have been destroyed at my order. Now apologize."

"I will like hell!"

"You, my dear Jake, have a nasty habit of cursing. Use one more such word in my house and I shall promptly wash your mouth with soap. Do I make myself clear? You are my guest, and I suggest you begin to act like one. Develop enough manners to keep Seth from being ashamed he ever wanted to help you. Now apologize!"

Jake opened her mouth to shout a reply that would have made the devil blush, but the words never found her lips. At that moment her eyes met Charlotte's and Charlotte took a threatening step toward her.

Again Jake was meeting a challenge she had never faced before. Her wicked mouth, her more wicked knife, and the company of men who usually gave her her way had not prepared her for the menacing Charlotte.

"You are supposed to be a lady, and a lady would never hurt anyone unable to fight back. It is dishonorable and disgusting to do such a thing. That is your first lesson. Now you can remain the ugly little urchin or you can justify Seth's faith in you and apologize!"

Jake gulped. She looked from Charlotte's cold determined face to Sophie's distressed one.

"I... I apologize," she whispered.

"I didn't hear you," Charlotte declared.

"I apologize," Jake said firmly, her eyes burning and her cheeks pink.

"Very well. You may go, Sophie."

"Yes, ma'am," Sophie replied, still awed by Jake's ferocity.

When the door closed behind Sophie, Charlotte visibly relaxed. She smiled at Jake.

"You are a very intelligent, young lady. I'm pleased to see that you have enough good sense to learn to control what I assume is a very wicked temper. I hope I never see it again. Now"—Charlotte smiled pleasantly as if nothing had occurred—"suppose we have breakfast and that long talk you promised me. We are going to have a grand time today. I have planned a shopping trip to purchase all you will need, for when Seth returns, I plan on having a ball at which you can be introduced into society. I firmly believe you will eventually take New Orleans by storm."

"Miss Charlotte?"

"Yes?"

"I truly am sorry. I guess I was just... afraid."

"Do you think I do not know that, child," Charlotte said softly. She reached out to lift Jake's lowered head so their eyes could meet. "But you have something strong within you, Jake, so I will tell you something I hope you will understand and remember. Being a lady is much more than just wearing pretty clothes and going to parties. You will also have responsibilities, to yourself and to others. Can you demand respect unless you respect others? Can you expect to be loved if you give no love? And can you ask for honor and discipline unless you possess both?"

"Oh, I will never be a lady." Jake moaned softly. "Seth will be ashamed of me."

"You care so deeply about what Seth thinks about you?"

"I owe him so much. I don't want him to think I am nothing ... someone he wishes he had never seen."

"Then, if making him proud of you is so important, why don't we begin again? Let us go down and have breakfast. Then we'll go shopping. During that time we will discuss your future and just what you want to do with it. Agreed?"

"Yes," Jake said softly. Her eyes glittered with tears, and she longed for something she couldn't name but Charlotte understood.

Without a word she drew Jake into her arms and rocked her gently, like a child. She was rewarded by clinging arms and the sound of quiet tears.