Moontide Embrace (Historical Romance) (41 page)

Obediently, Liberty got into Zippora's boat and leaned
her head back. Yes, she was weary. When Reuben scam
pered into the craft, Liberty made room for the boy
beside her. Sleep, she needed sleep, she thought wearily.
She could only imagine, how exhausted Judah must be.

When Zippora let Liberty off at the pier of Briar Oaks,
she waved to her and paddled swiftly back toward the
swamps. Liberty's footsteps were heavy as she made her
way toward the back of the house, hoping she wouldn't
meet anyone.

Oralee met her at the back door and helped her out of her coat. "I saw you coming, and am preparing a hot
bath. Go to your room and strip those filthy clothes off. I will bring you something to eat." Oralee asked no ques
tions, but there was concern in her soft brown eyes.

"Do not tell my sister or Sebastian that I have returned,
Oralee. I am too weary to deal with them."

"They are not here,
ma chere.
Your sister cried and
carried on so, M'sieu Sebastian agreed to take her and his
mother into New Orleans."

"What about the fighting? How did they get past the
British?"

"I do not know about such things, but I heard M'sieu
Sebastian tell his mother that he had a pass for safe conduct from the British."

Liberty stared at Oralee. "How can that be?"

"I do not know."

Liberty drew in a deep breath and made her way slowly
up the stairs. She was glad everyone was gone —now she
wouldn't have to deal with any questions —but it nagged
at the back of her mind that Sebastian had a pass from the enemy.

When she reached her bedroom, Liberty was too weary
to think. She dropped down onto a chair and closed her
eyes. Tomorrow would be time enough to worry about
Sebastian.

19

Liberty awoke when Oralee pulled back the curtains and let the sunshine stream into the bedroom. The maid
was smiling cheerfully as she placed a brightly wrapped
package on the bed. "Merry Christmas,
ma chere."

Liberty rubbed her eyes, trying to come fully awake.
"It's Christmas? How can that be? I didn't even know it."

Oralee laughed. "It happens every year on this same
day. You have just been too busy to notice anything but
that new husband of yours."

"Who is the package from?"

"It was brought to you by a man who called himself Philippe Cease. He said to tell you that this was from his
captain."

"Oralee, I have no present to give Judah. For that matter, I have no gift to give anyone."

"That is not quite true,
ma chere.
The kitchen is filled
with enough food to feed an army, and there are brightly
colored bolts of material in silks, satins, and linens. Not to mention money." She dropped a leather pouch that tinkled with money into Liberty's lap. "It would seem your husband intends to take very good care of you."

Liberty's heart melted at the thought of Judah's gener
osity and thoughtfulness. "I wish he had come himself.
Did Philippe have any message for me?" she asked hope
fully. Wouldn't it be a wonderful Christmas if they could spend it together? she thought.

"Just that M'sieu Slaughter wishes you a Merry Christ
mas."

Liberty threw the covers aside and moved off the bed.
"Is Philippe Cease still below? I would like very much to
talk to him."

"No, he said he could not stay. He and another man by
the name of Rojo unloaded the packages in the kitchen and then took their leave."

Liberty pushed her disappointment aside. "I wonder what is in this box?"

"The best way to find out is to open it," Oralee suggested.

Liberty tore the brightly colored paper to shreds in her
excitement. She scarcely breathed as she lifted the lid of
the box, then a gasp escaped her lips as she stared at a
lovely, white velvet gown and matching white satin slip
pers. "This is the loveliest gown I have ever seen," she
exclaimed, touching the soft material. "It looks just the right size. How do you suppose Judah got it?"

"How he got it is not important. When a gentleman gives his lady a gift, she should not ask questions."

Liberty's eyes fell on something wrapped in bright blue
paper at the bottom of the box. "Look, there is a note, and a smaller box.".

Oralee smiled as she crossed to the door. "You read
your note, and I will bring your breakfast." She paused at
the door. "I almost forgot. Last night your sister, her husband, and his mother returned."

Liberty dropped down on her bed wondering what had
gone wrong. "Are they downstairs yet?"

"It was very late when they returned—your sister is still
in bed, but M'sieu Sebastian was up early this morning and walked down to the slave quarters."

"Whatever for?"

"Who can say why he does anything? I have never known him to go to the slave quarters before." Oralee
smiled, dismissing Sebastian from her mind. "If we are to
have Christmas dinner, I had better go below and super
vise. We have Kaki's daughter in the kitchen, and I am not sure she can cook."

Liberty was puzzled by Sebastian's actions, but she was too happy to dwell on him. She waited until Oralee closed
the door behind her before she opened the note. She had
never seen Judah's handwriting, and she stared at the bold script.

Merry Christmas, little one. I am sorry that we must spend our first holiday apart. I will be think
ing of you and hoping that you have a joyous feast.
The next time I see you, perhaps you would wear
this gown for me. We will call it a belated wedding
gown. The jewelry is from my mother. It was given
to her by my father, on their first Christmas to
gether. She wanted you to have it. Think of me, and
I will keep you in my heart and prayers.

Love, Judah

Liberty's eyes softened, and she fell back against the
pillow. What an extraordinary man she had married.
There was a war going on, yet he took time to remember
her at Christmas.

Liberty opened the satin-covered box and saw a gold
chain nestled in a bed of black velvet. She smiled as she
lifted the golden chain and found a golden pendant attached to it —a ship. Joy sang in her heart when she read the name engraved upon it: 
Winged Victory.

Laughing delightedly, she fastened the chain about her
neck. She might not have Judah with her today, but she
could feel his loving care and that of his family reaching
out to her; she finally felt she belonged to a family.

Liberty tested the roasting goose with a fork and
pronounced it tender. She smiled at the young cook, and
then turned to Oralee and instructed her to see that
enough food was delivered to the slave quarters so each
family could have a feast. In addition, everyone was to be
given enough money to purchase a new pair of shoes.

"Tut-tut, such generosity," Sebastian said, leaning
against the door. "Has the hand of plenty touched you,
Liberty?"

"Where is my sister?" Liberty asked, brushing past her
brother-in-law as she made her way to the salon where the
holly wreath had been hung.

Sebastian followed after her. "I suppose my cousin
robbed Bend of the River to deliver you a feast," he said
sarcastically. "He is only doing this to impress you, Liberty. You don't know his true nature."

She glared at him. "And you do?"

"I know men like him. They want only what they can get from a beautiful woman."

Liberty mumbled under her breath in vexation. By now
she was so accustomed to Sebastian's irritating habits that
she no longer bothered to get angry with him.

When she entered the salon, her eyes went first to the
picture of her Aunt Liberty, her father's sister for whom
she had been named. She had sworn, that no matter what
she had to sell to keep River Oaks from going under, she
would never sell her aunt's portrait.

For a moment she stood in stunned silence. The wall
was blank—the picture was gone! "Where is the picture
that hung on that wall?" she said in a shaky voice.
Wheeling around, she faced Sebastian. "Are you responsi
ble for this, Sebastian?"

He shrugged his shoulders and crammed his hands into
his pockets. "I needed money. I found a buyer who was
most generous. The Americans seem to want respectabil
ity so desperately that they are willing to acquire it
through others. I can just hear this man telling his friends
the woman in the portrait is a relative of his."

Hot wrath boiled up in Liberty. "You had no right to
do that. It was very special to me. That was my aunt. I
demand that you go immediately and get it back."

"I fear that will be impossible. You see the money is
gone. I used it to settle a gambling debt. A debt of honor
must always be paid."

She was so angry she didn't trust herself to speak for a
moment. "You have no honor, Sebastian. You would
steal from me after I gave you and your mother a home. I
want you out of my house today!"

His laughter filled the room. "That will not be possible either, Liberty. You see, I have invited guests here today,
and I must be here to receive them when they arrive."

"What are you talking about? What guests?"

For a moment he looked uncomfortable. His eyes shifted away from hers and he spoke in a soft voice. "I have invited the British doctors. They want to use this house to set up a hospital. I could hardly refuse."

"How dare you take it upon yourself to invite the enemy into this house. I will not allow them to set one
foot in here. You must go immediately and tell them they
are not welcome."

"You are a fool, Liberty." He moved closer to her, his
eyes assessing her lovely face. "Do you not see the British
are the superior force and they have trained soldiers. The
Americans are nothing but rabble who have no idea how
a gentleman fights a war. Surely you know it is wise to be
on the winning side, Liberty. The English will win."

"You are a traitor, Sebastian. Get out of my house at
once!"

Sinister laughter issued from his lips. "I have always
loved the way your eyes sparkle when you are angry." He
reached out and grasped her by the shoulders. "I would do anything to please you, Liberty. If you want the
British to stay away, I'll arrange it. If you want me to play
your fool, you have only to say the word. Tell me what you want, and I'll do it."

"Let go of me!" she said through clenched teeth. "The only thing I want from you is that you walk out that door
and never come back. You disgust me, Sebastian."

Before Liberty knew what was happening, Sebastian
pulled her to him and ground his mouth against hers. She
struggled and clawed at him, but he held her tightly. His
lips were wet and hot. Liberty felt her stomach churn,
and knew she would be sick if he didn't release her. She
twisted and turned, trying to repel him, but he wouldn't
release her.

"Your wife has asked for you," Oralee spoke up as she
came into the room. She had seen that her mistress was in
trouble, and knew of no other way to help her.

Sebastian flung Liberty away from him, and she grasped the mantel to keep from falling. She wiped her hand across her mouth, hoping to rid herself of the taste
of him. Her chest was heaving as she tried to catch her
breath.

"Do not ever come near me again, Sebastian. If you do
Judah will kill you. Get out of this house before I have you thrown out."

"You can't order me out, Liberty." His eyes were burning with a dangerous light. "I have promised the British officers they could use this house for a hospital, and there is nothing you can do about that."

"We will just see about that," Liberty declared angrily,
and she stalked out of the room, Oralee at her heels. "Oralee, go and find Delton for me. Tell him to bring
several men with him. I want them to throw my brother-
in-law off Briar Oaks."

Oralee's face whitened. "I cannot do that,
ma chere.
I just discovered what M'sieu Sebastian was doing at the
slave quarters this morning —he sent all the men to help
the British transport their wounded here."

Liberty whirled back to Sebastian. "You will never get
away with this."

He laughed. "I already have. One day you will thank me for this."

He strolled leisurely past her and moved down the
hallway. "My friends will be here within the hour. I trust
you will make them welcome."

Liberty pounded on her sister's bedroom door, but
received no answer. In anger, she wrenched it open and stepped over the clutter and disarray to get to the window
and let some fresh air into the room.

"Bandera, I want to talk to you, and you had better listen," Liberty commanded as she threw back the curtains and pushed the window open.

Bandera buried her head beneath the pillow. "Go away
and let me sleep."

Liberty's eyes sparked with anger. She pulled the pillow
off her sister's head and threw it across the room. "I want
to talk to you,
now,
Bandera!" she stated firmly.

Bandera slowly raised her head, trying to focus her eyes
in the bright sunlight that streamed into the room. She had never seen Liberty in such a state. "What is the matter with you? Are you crazed to come charging into my bedroom like some madwoman?"

Liberty's chest was heaving with anger. "Do you know
what your husband has done?"

Bandera sat up and pushed her tumbled hair out of her
face.
"Oui,
I do. He promised to take me and his mother
into New Orleans. But instead we were forced to wait in
that drafty boat while he talked with some very suspi
cious-looking men. Afterward, he brought us back here. I
don't mind telling you, I am not happy with Sebastian. I
had my heart set on going to New Orleans."