Emerald Ecstasy (41 page)

“From a cockfight to a near cat fight in one afternoon.” When Isabelle calmed down he stood her beside him. “Ladies don't behave in such a manner,” he scolded but sounded amused.

“She is no lady.” Isabelle pointed to Lianne, the fury still in her eyes.

“And you are less than a
lepero
,” Lianne said, steadying herself in case Daniel's grip relaxed and Isabelle attacked.

“
Puta!
”

Raoul sauntered over to them. “Such unbecoming talk, Isabelle. Didn't Franco teach you anything after he pulled you from the gutter all those years ago? If I recall you didn't even own a pair of shoes. Now be on your way and don't bother us again.”

“Raoul…”

“Go,” he said softly.

Isabelle broke free of Daniel's restraining arm and swished imperiously away.

Raoul motioned for Lianne and Daniel to follow him into Señor Guerrero's study. When she sat in the high-backed chair, Raoul continued to stand with hands folded behind his back while Daniel leaned against the terrace door. She didn't know what to expect. Everyone was so polite, so civil. Such a change from earlier in the day. She didn't trust Raoul, didn't trust the way he observed her as if she were of no more importance than a noisy mosquito.

“Daniel won the match. According to our bet, he has won you. You're free to go with him, Lianne.”

“I don't believe you!” she blurted out and looked in disbelief from one man to the other. It was all so simple. Too simple. Didn't Daniel see this?

“Ah,
querida
, you wound me with your distrust. But it's true. You have your freedom.”

She looked at Daniel in stunned disbelief. He nodded. “Raoul has agreed to a divorce.” Daniel took a paper from his pocket. “He legalized the bet and had it witnessed. I must admit he is a gracious loser.”

“Don't be a fool, Daniel. You don't believe this any more than I do. You can't.”

Lianne's breasts heaved with emotion. Raoul made a move to the door. “I will leave you lovebirds to sort out your problems. I have kept my end of the bet.” When he left the room, she got up and ran to Daniel.

“He's lying. He told me only an hour ago that he wouldn't let me go. You mustn't believe him.”

Her nearness was like heady wine to Daniel. He had wanted to hold her for so long, and now he did. He pulled her toward him and kissed her lips, drinking of their sweetness, until she wrapped her arms around him. He groaned into her hair. “I don't believe him either, Lianne. Raoul is a devious man, but he won't destroy us this time. I have his word as a gentleman that he'll honor the bet. I just have to keep you with me, be wary of him. He may try something else, but I'll be ready for him.”

“Be careful. The day he took me from the academy he promised he'd kill you if I didn't come with him. I'd die if anything happened to you.”

He pushed loose strands of auburn hair from her forehead and traced her lips with his fingers. “Nothing will happen to me. I have all I want at this moment. Raoul can't destroy our happiness. Not this time.”

Lianne leaned her head against his chest, hearing the steady beat of his heart. She hoped he was right.

Isabelle laughed delightedly up at Raoul. She poured him a glass of amber-colored wine, her eyes shining.

“Your visit has made me feel much better,” she said and sat on the divan beside him in her room. “I thought I had lost Daniel. It seems, however, that your little game has only begun.”

Raoul swallowed the liquid, relishing the warm feeling as it slid down his throat. His dark eyes glittered. “This night Lianne shall be mine, and you can do whatever you wish with Daniel. He won't want her when I finish with her. He'll never want to see her beautiful face as long as he lives.”

Isabelle leaned toward him. “Let me see it again,” she begged.

“Such a nag,” he teased but took the red vial from his jacket pocket. He hadn't forgotten how Daniel had tossed the yellow vial in his hands earlier in the day. The man had been arrogant to think he had bested him. Well, perhaps momentarily, he silently thought. But now things would turn in his favor and not in a way Daniel Flanders would like, in a way he'd never forget.

“Can it really do all you say?” Isabelle asked and licked her lips like a cat who sees the milk but can't reach the bowl.

“Ah, Isabelle, don't tell me you can't fire a man's ardor with your seductive charms.”

“I can, but the possibilities are intriguing. Perhaps you can save me a drop for Daniel.”

“What a lusty wench you are!” Raoul was amused by Isabelle. If he weren't so obsessed with Lianne, he'd bed the woman right now. But he must keep his wits about him. The next few hours were too important to be swayed by anything or anyone.

Before the night ended Daniel Flanders would detest the woman he claimed to love, and he, Raoul de Lovis, would hear her ecstatic cries when he possessed her. Her body, her heart and soul would belong to him forever.

A fog of disbelief still shrouded Lianne as she waited in Daniel's room that night. The evening sky had long since turned from dusky purple to velvet black. Stars twinkled overhead, and the voices of the other guests rose from the courtyard which was bedecked for dancing. Glittering torchlights outlined festive figures in brightly colored clothes.

The party had barely begun when Daniel took her to his room with strict orders not to unlock the door while he spoke to Señor Guerrero in his study. So she barred the door and wondered if she'd ever feel a sense of security as long as Raoul lived. She still couldn't believe he had freed her, that he'd grant her a divorce. Something was wrong, very wrong, but she had no idea what Raoul would do to keep her from leaving with Daniel.

She hadn't changed from the white peasant-style dress with the embroidered flowers. Some red stains still showed on the skirt though she had taken great pains to remove them. She could go to Raoul's room and get other clothes, but she didn't wish to take anything from him now. The break with Raoul must be clean, but she still didn't trust him.

When a knock sounded on the door, she jumped. Collecting herself, she asked who was there.

“It's Josephine, señora. Please let me speak with you.”

“No, go away!” She didn't trust Josephine. The woman idolized Raoul and would do whatever he asked.

“Please listen to me,” said Josephine in urgent tones. “Señorita Carmen needs you.”

Lianne moved closer to the door. “What's wrong with her?” she asked in concern but not wholly trusting Josephine.

“Open the door for me. I can't tell you here in the hallway. Someone may overhear.”

The maternal instinct in Lianne couldn't deny Carmen. She had to know what might be wrong. Slowly she withdrew the bolt and opened the door. Josephine smiled at her and forced her way into the room.

“Tell me what's wrong with Carmen,” Lianne said, staying on her guard.

“I shouldn't mention this to you, señora, not now that Don Raoul is giving you a divorce. But señorita is very upset that without you she will have to endure much from Diego Gonzalez, once she marries him. She fears no one will aid her if he abuses her. Certainly not Don Raoul. The girl is beside herself and has locked herself in Don Raoul's room.”

“Does Raoul know about any of this?”

Josephine shook her head. “No, that is why I've come for you. If he returns and finds her in his room, locked in and hysterical, there's no telling what he'll do to her. The girl hasn't a mother any longer, and for some reason she feels closer to you now then she did. Please talk to her, Señora Lianne.”

Lianne knew all Josephine said was the truth. She couldn't desert Carmen, couldn't leave without speaking to her. She remembered the girl's fears of Diego, that she'd have no one to help her. She must see that Carmen felt secure before she left, must let her know she cared for her and would speak to Raoul about Diego.

“I'll come,” Lianne said and left the room with Josephine following her.

The walk to Raoul's room was brief, and when Lianne entered the room she found Carmen huddled on the bed. Tears streaked her face, and her eyes were puffy. Lianne went to her immediately and cushioned her in her embrace.

“Carmen, everything will be all right.” She stroked the girl's dark hair which tumbled around her shoulders. “You mustn't worry about Diego. I'll speak to your father about him.”

Sobs racked Carmen's shoulders, and she glanced at Lianne with wet black eyes. “I'm sorry,” she moaned over and over. “So sorry.”

“Sorry for what? You've done nothing wrong,” Lianne said in a vain attempt at consolation but Carmen wailed all the louder.

“Señorita Carmen needs to return to her own room,” Josephine said quickly, “but first I think she should drink some wine to soothe her.” She handed a cup of wine to Carmen then offered another one to Lianne.

“For you, señora.” Josephine held it out to her and Lianne took it.

“Drink, señorita,” Josephine urged Carmen. “You, too, Lianne. The wine is soothing.”

Carmen sipped at the wine as did Lianne who still held her around the shoulders. “All will be well,” Lianne promised her. At that moment Carmen sobbed and dropped the cup.

“I'm sorry, Lianne. Forgive me! Father made me do it.” Carmen jumped from the bed and ran out of the room, her high-pitched wails echoing down the hall to her own room.

“Whatever is wrong with her?” Lianne asked and put down the cup from which she had unwittingly drunk half of the wine.

Josephine smirked. “The girl will be well soon. She has done her job and will be rewarded by her father.”

“I don't understand.”

“Don't you?” Josephine went to the wardrobe and laid out a flimsy gauze creation of white and gold which Lianne would have worn on her wedding night to Raoul if the miscarriage hadn't occurred.

“You're baffling me, Josephine. I demand to know what's going on.”

“In a few moments you won't care about anything but Raoul de Lovis.” She stroked the soft folds of the gown. “See how generous the man is to you, señora. He loves you and buys you beautiful clothes and jewels. And you repay him by desiring an artist. Granted a very handsome one, but he can't give you what Don Raoul can. You've been very foolish, Señora Lianne, but after this night, I think you'll see the error of your ways.”

Something in Josephine's face, perhaps the glittering eyes, frightened Lianne. What was wrong with her, what was wrong with Carmen, and why did she, herself, feel so strange suddenly?

She tried to move but felt a heaviness of limb. When she finally lifted her hand to clutch at the bedpost, she saw it moving slowly, so slowly. She felt and saw Josephine removing her clothes, but was helpless to protest. She felt so languorous, so dreamy, that she barely registered when Josephine had pulled the thin gown over her body or seemed to care that the woman brushed her hair. She stood by the bed like a zombie.

She registered the fact that Josephine turned down the bedsheets and plumped the pillows. She heard the woman's voice from behind her. “Don Raoul shall have his wish tonight, Lianne. When he comes in, you'll desire him as he desires you. The drug takes a few minutes to work, but soon, your body will come alive with passion, and when Don Raoul fills you, you'll welcome him.”

Still in a trance-like state, Lianne was helped onto the bed by the woman. Then Josephine went to the door which led to the stairs and opened it. The gay music drifted up to Lianne, but she barely heard it. Something was happening to her. She felt so warm, felt every nerve and muscle come to life within her. Yet she found it difficult to move.

She heard Raoul entering the room. “She is prepared, señor,” came Josephine's voice, sounding as if it were far away.

Then she saw Raoul gazing at her, saw him take a few puffs of his cheroot before dropping it in the cup of wine she had drunk from earlier. Dimly she noticed he was dressed in his robe, that it was open to the waist. When he removed it, she found herself thinking what a handsome man he was with broad shoulders and a powerful chest. He bent over her and smiled.

“How do you feel,
querida
?”

She couldn't speak and had no idea that her eyes were glazed over with a hot green flame. She began to writhe on the bed, not from agony but from the glorious sensations she felt when his hands moved across her thinly veiled breasts. Lianne moaned as his fingers traced across the flatness of her abdomen to the secret recess between her thighs. Raoul laughed. Desire flickered in his dark eye.

“You're mine,
querida
. Mine!” He tore at the gown, ripping it away from her body, but Lianne didn't care. Suddenly her arms opened for him and he came to her, branding her lips with his as she drank in the ecstasy he promised her.

Her body was on fire, the unquenchable flames rising higher and higher within her. She wanted Raoul de Lovis, and though part of her was shocked at this discovery and ached for Daniel, she couldn't still the rushing tide of desire which washed over her when Raoul's lips teased her breasts or resist the thrilling sensations as his hands moved hotly across her body.