Love's Fiery Jewel (42 page)

"His life...!"

"You don't think I'll allow that Frenchman's little
sordid plans to go unacknowledged now that I'm aware of
them. He has attempted to dishonor your name, my very
virtuous `ward,' and I intend to demand satisfaction!"

"Damien, you're not serious! Just a few harmless
meetings... that's all they were... certainly not worth
taking a life!"

His hands biting viciously into her shoulders, Damien
searched Amethyst's face for a sign of deceit. Her
lavender eyes wide, she stared openly up into his face.
She was extremely pale, with dark smudges under her
eyes, her lips trembling lightly as she spoke. She was
obviously frightened and upset, but there was no sign of
deceit in her glance. His momentary weakening suddenly
dissipating, he thought viciously, but then she was an
actress, was she not... experienced in pretense... she
had been deceiving him for over a month while she
sneaked off to meet that damned Frenchman! Whatever
made him think she would reveal herself now?

"Just a few harmless meetings, is that all they were,
Amethyst? But he stayed for the duration of your
fittings, did he not? Did Madame manage to leave you
conveniently alone so you might have some privacy? Did
you allow Beauchamps to kiss you, Amethyst, to hold
you in his arms? Did..."

"Damien! Please stop this inquisition!" Amethyst's
lids were beginning to flutter weakly. "Nothing improper
passed between us, I swear. Armand was a gentleman at
all times. He wanted to come to the house to call on me,
but I told him you would object."

"Yes, I would have objected, and I do object! But that
didn't stop you, did it, Amethyst? You managed to
conduct your illicit rendezvous right under my nose!"

There was no mercy in his glance as Amethyst swayed
weakly under his hands. His broad chest was heaving
heavily now, his handsome face contorted with rage as he
demanded, "And what other deceits have you practiced
upon me, Amethyst? What else are you hiding? Tell me
now..."

Swallowing tightly, Amethyst raised a hand limply to
her brow. Her dizziness was increasing, Damien's
threatening visage beginning to blur as she stammered
softly, "There was no deceit... nothing... I'm hiding
nothing..."

"Damn you!" Damien swore heatedly under his
breath. "Damn you, you are lying to me again! Gin you
never tell me the truth? Must I shake it from you?"
Giving her a vicious shake, he growled, "You've been
having bouts of sickness for two weeks now, haven't you?
You've been vomiting, and have fainted twice."

"How... how did you know?"

"Come, Amethyst," Damien offered insidiously, "you
know I have powers of obeah. Did you think you could go
on much longer without being found out?" Despising
himself for using Amethyst's fear of his nonexistent
magical powers against her, he continued, "You are
pregnant with my child, aren't you?"

"No! No, I'm not, I'm not!" Amethyst protested
wildly, struggling to free herself from his grip.

Realizing she was close to hysteria, Damien's voice was
sharp, her struggles having no effect whatsoever on his
hold. "Control yourself, Amethyst! Now answer my
question! How long has it been since your last monthly
flow?"

There was no response as Amethyst became suddenly
still, her glance moving to a spot in the far corner of the room in an effort to avoid his eyes. His voice low, Damien
demanded again, "How long has it been? Answer me,
Amethyst!"

Her face still averted from his, Amethyst's voice was a
small whisper in the quiet of the room. "I've not had my
monthly flow since I was ill in Kingston."

Her glance refusing to meet his, Amethyst was not
aware of the relief that flashed across Damien's face as he
closed his eyes, a brief smile curving his lips. Three
months! It had been three months since her last menses.
There was no doubt!

Abruptly aware that Amethyst was beginning to sag
under his hands, Damien was suddenly conscious of her
extreme lack of color. Scooping her up into his arms, he
carried her to her bed. Laying her down gently, he
returned quickly to the washstand to take the bowl and
cloth to bedside, and began bathing her brow, mumbling
softly as he did, "You'll feel better in a few moments,
Amethyst. That's right, just breathe deeply."

Amethyst's eyes were closed, and as Damien knelt
beside her, a small tear slipped out of the corner of her
eye to the pillow beside her head. Unable to suppress the
tenderness welling inside him, Damien brushed the damp
path from her cheek, and bent to press alight kiss against
her lips, his former anger completely dissipated.

Amethyst was pregnant.. .his seed was growing
within her. This small, beautiful body lying before him
would soon be heavy with his child! He need worry no
longer. Amethyst could not hope to escape him, and soon
all Philadelphia society would be aware of their true
situation! Without breaking his word, he would finally be
able to establish that Amethyst belonged to him and him
alone!

Slipping his arms under and around Amethyst,
Damien pulled her into his arms. His face pressed tightly
into the raven curls, he breathed deeply, her familiar scent shaking his body with little tremors of joy. He had
sealed his possession of her. She could not go to anyone
else now.

Finally loosening his hold so he might look into her
face, Damien whispered softly, "Tomorrow I'll take you
to see Dr. Morgan. We must make certain that
everything is progressing normally with your pregnancy."

Shaking her head lightly Amethyst mumbled in a low
tone, "No, Damien, I can't go. I will be mortified!" Her
voice a low plea, she said softly, "Can't you just send me
away, Damien, somewhere I'm not known? Would that
not be better for both of us? And you won't feel pressed
to acknowledge the child as your own."

His expression stiffening, Damien responded softly,
"Not acknowledge the child? Why should I wish to deny
paternity, Amethyst?"

Her eyes fixing somberly on his, Amethyst's voice was
just above a whisper. "You have acknowledged no child
before this one, Damien, and I can only surmise this
child would be no different."

"And why do you assume I have fathered other
children before this, Amethyst?"

"Well, a man of your experience, Damien.. .1 mean,
you have known many women, and the ease with which
you...." Amethyst's voice dwindled off significantly,
prompting Damien's low response.

"I have fathered no child before this, Amethyst. Of
that I'm certain. I've taken particular care in the past to
avoid such a possibility."

Uncertain what he meant by his response, Amethyst
stammered lightly, "If you were cautious in the
past.. .then how...why were you not cautious this
time?"

His eyes once again becoming inscrutable, he assessed her anxious face. "Because I did not choose to be
cautious."

"Did not choose... Then you did this deliberately
...deliberately chose to..." Her voice trailing away in
astonishment, Amethyst's wide eyes remained fastened
on his face. "But why, Damien? Why?"

Yes, indeed, why? It was a question he had asked
himself many times in the past three months, knowing
full well his irresponsible behavior could result in the
present situation. But he had continued to love Amethyst
naturally, avoiding any precaution that could interfere
with the glory of their lovemaking. And his reaction, his
joy at the confirmation of her pregnancy was startling,
even to himself! He, who had always avoided ties of any
sort, had secured a bond of the very firmest kind between
himself and the beautiful woman before him. Suddenly
clear, the answer brought a lump to his throat as he
stared wordlessly into Amethyst's beautiful face. He
wanted to be tied to Amethyst. He wanted Amethyst to
bear his children, to be a permanent part of his life. Lord!
He loved this beautiful, infuriating child! His precious
freedom so carefully guarded in the past was no longer so
precious to him. Far more precious was the thought of
the child she now carried, the link that would draw and
hold Amethyst with him. But her eyes were accusing. It
was obvious she did not share his joy. Quite the contrary.
The seed growing inside her was an intrusion in the life
she had perhaps been planning with Armand Beauchamps... or perhaps still dreamed of with William
Sheridan. Feeling the resurgence of anger, Damien
firmly dismissed his negative thoughts. Whatever the
case, she would have to forget her dreams and be satisfied
with reality.

His answer to her question was a soft evasion as he
separated her wrapper to reveal her chemise. "I did not need a reason." Lowering his head, he pressed a gentle
kiss against her slightly rounded stomach, turning back
again to bewilder her with the soft glow in his silver eyes.

Amethyst was at a loss! Startled by his abrupt change
of mood at the declaration of her pregnancy and his
actions since, she could do no more than blink her
amazement. Finally able to speak, she stammered, "But if
you'll not send me away, what will I say.. .what excuse
will I give when my condition becomes obvious...?"

"The answer to that is very simple, my darling. We'll
be married as soon as possible and no one will dare
comment, no matter the premature nature of the child's
birth."

There was a moment's silence as Amethyst digested his
words. Her eyes suddenly growing wide with horror, she
attempted to draw herself away from his embrace.
"Marry? You and I? Never.. .no, never!" Her face
rapidly paling, she finally succumbed to the weakness
pervading her, and angry with her own inability to fight
him, she turned to direct a whispered declaration into his
eyes. "I'm at your mercy, now, Damien. I have neither
the strength nor the means to escape this situation, but I
tell you this. Say what you will.. .declare me your
mistress, but I will not marry you, now or ever! I will not
tie myself for life to a man who uses me at a whim and
employs the threat of black magic to keep me with him! I
would be free to leave when I am no longer desired. I will
not be forced to stay, a martyred wife, who must endure
her husband's indiscretions. Rather a brief embarrassment that will last only until you tire of me, than a lifelong humiliation as your wife!"

Damien's response was soft. "And are you so sure that
you see a true picture of our life together, Amethyst?"

Her answer was swift, without hesitation. "Yes, I am
sure, Damien. You do not love me and even if you did,I
do not love you!"

His own face paling at Amethyst's adamant declaration, Damien refused to relinquish his hold. His hand
lifting to slowly stroke her white cheek, he said softly,
"And are you also so certain there is no love between us,
Amethyst?"

Her voice bitter, Amethyst responded softly, "This
child was conceived as the result of a physical attraction
and a mutually physical act, but no such noble emotion
as love ever played a part in our relationship, Damien."

His expression unreadable, Damien's caress moved to
her hair, his fingers tangling and untangling in the
glorious mass as his eyes slowly perused Amethyst's
exquisite features. His glance finally coming to rest on
her pink, inviting lips, he whispered, "As you wish,
Amethyst. If you would bear my child without benefit of
marriage it shall be as you say, for now since
circumstance has put an end to this farce, I intend to
punish myself no longer by this unnatural arrangement
we have been living." Raising his eyes slowly, he
continued, "I will no longer prowl this house in the dark
hours of night to attain access to your bed. Your things
will be immediately moved into the master suite which
we will share. And it will give me endless pleasure to
scatter once and for all that pack of drooling puppies that
overwhelms you at each social occasion, with the
declaration that you belong to me."

Her voice hesitant, Amethyst began slowly, "And
Armand.. .you will not... certainly you see that
nothing is to be gained by challenging him."

Allowing her to suffer his silence for a few long
moments, Damien finally replied, "Yes, I suppose you
are right, Amethyst. I shall enjoy his discomfort
immensely when he realizes the fool he has played this
past month when all the time I already possessed that
which he worked so desperately to attain."

Flushing brightly, Amethyst withheld her biting response. If she were to avoid a violent scene between
Damien and Armand, she must allow Damien his
moment of gloating triumph, no matter how much it
rankled.

Momentarily startled from her thoughts by the sound
of a knock on her bedroom door, Amethyst was too late to
forestall Damien's bid to enter.

Flushing brightly as the door opened to reveal a
scarlet-faced Mrs. Dobbs with Mary by her side,
Amethyst quickly pulled her wrapper closed, watching as
Damien slowly rose to his feet. Drawing himself to his
full height, he directed a level glance into Mrs. Dobbs's
outraged expression.

"I apologize for the deceit that has been practiced in
this house, Mrs. Dobbs. It was necessary for a time, but I
will have you know the truth now. Amethyst is my
mistress, and has held that intimate position for many
months. She will bear my child within six months' time.
If you find this situation personally offensive, I will
understand your wish to leave my employ. If not, you are
welcome to stay." Giving the stiff-faced woman a few
moments to digest his remarks, Damien continued
quietly, "May I have your response, Mrs. Dobbs?"

Her expression strained, Mrs. Dobbs blinked rapidly as
she opened her mouth to speak. Swallowing visibly, she
finally regained her composure enough to respond
hoarsely, "I will stay."

"Thank you, Mrs. Dobbs. You may both leave the
room now."

Mrs. Dobbs's stern personage had no sooner cleared
the doorway when Damien turned back to Amethyst, a
surprising smile creasing his broadly handsome features.