Southern Seduction (32 page)

Mr. Jefferies met Paul in the foyer.
The man took the note, opened it and quickly scanned the contents. Jeffries glanced up at Paul and, for a moment, did nothing. Finally, tension mounting, he said, “Wait here.”

Jeffries found Travis in his study.
"If you'll excuse me, sir. I have an invitation to dine in town tonight with a friend. I shall be back later." Jeffries thought this would be the best excuse to get out of the house without raising suspicion.

Travis smiled a knowing smile.
"I hope you enjoy yourself."

"Good night, sir," Jefferies said, not bothering to comment on
the look that suggesting he was meeting a woman. If he’d known just who Jeffries was meeting, Travis would have shot straight out of the chair and demanded to see her himself. Deep down, Jeffries truly believed that Travis loved the girl.

Jeffries had no idea what to think as he rode with Paul to the houseboat.
Where had Brooke been all this time? And if she had gone overboard, how had she survived?

When they reached the small houseboat -- if one could call it a house -- Jeffries saw Brooke waiting on the deck.
He smiled broadly. She really was alive and, it appeared, well.

Brooke carefully stepped up onto the wharf, then ran the rest of the way to him, throwing herself into his arms.
"I'm so glad to see you."

"I say, not nearly as happy as I am that you are alive, my dear,” he said, stepping back he took in her ragged clothes.
“I never believed that you were dead though many people insisted that you were. We'll get you a nice room in the city, and then you can tell me all about what happened."

“Did Travis miss me?” Brooke asked.

Mr. Jeffries nodded. “I believe he did.” Brooke’s heart soared.

There was nothing to pack, so Brooke told her friends
good-bye and thanked them for all their help. As happy as she was to be resuming her old life, she knew she would miss her new, caring friends.

Mr. Jeffries handed
Penny a bag of coins. She tried to refuse, but Brooke insisted that they could use the money to improve their boat, then she made them promise to stop and visit her at Moss Grove.

Once Brooke had obtained a room in at the Le Meridien, one of the nicest hotels in New Orleans, she sat down and told Mr. Jefferies everything that had happened. She held nothing back.

"You sound as if you love Travis," Jeffries observed.

"I do,” Brooke said softly. “Or I did. I don’t want to believe he was the one who pushed me overboard," she said, and with her very next breath asked, "How is he?"

“What makes you suspect that he was the one to push you?"

“I don’t want to think that Travis did,” Brooke said quickly. “However I was hit so hard that it would have taken someone with a great deal of strength. Who else would have wanted me dead? And he would get full title to Moss Grove,” she added softly.

"Travis has been a different man since you have been gone, my dear.
He has done nothing but work since his return. I see sadness in him that I have not seen before, but he doesn't talk much. I never quite know what he is thinking.”

“Yes, I’ve learned that Travis is a very private person, but I do believe he cares.
Just before I went into the water, I had been talking to Travis’s mother. I can’t imagine her pushing me either. She doesn’t seem strong enough.

“But someone doesn’t want me around.
What do you think that I should do?"

Mr. Jeffries stroked his chin as he thought.
"First,” he finally said, “We must get you some decent clothes."

Brooke looked down at the ragged, borrowed dress.
It was one of Penny’s, and had been taken in for Brooke. "I didn't have a lot to choose from. You can have Millie Ann bring me something to wear."

"Splendid idea.
Mrs. deLobel is having a Christmas party tomorrow. After all, it is several days before Christmas."

"Really?” Brooke said, a little surprised.
“I guess I've lost track of time."

We'll never know who is trying to kill you if you remain in hiding. My suggestion is that you to resume your rightful place at Moss Grove. I’m sure it will be a shock to everyone, especially the one who wishes you dead. “Perhaps, it will draw him out.”

Brooke’s mind whirled with a crazy mixture of hope and fear.
"I like that idea. I can just imagine the expressions on everyone's faces when I walk in -- especially the culprit.” She felt momentary panic as her mind jumped onto the fact that whomever was trying to get rid of her might try again.

She got up and went to the night stand to pour herself a glass of water.
“Would you care for something to drink?”

“No thank you.”

“You do realize that getting a home of my own has proven to be a lot harder than I had originally expected," Brooke said.

Mr. Jeffries smiled.
"But has it been well worth it. Has it not?"

Brooke smiled grimly.
"I'll let you know once I see Travis."

Millie Anne couldn’t believe that Brooke was alive.
It was just too good to be true, but sure enough when Mr. Jeffries opened the door, there she stood. “We done t’ought you was dead, Miz Brooke.”

Brooke hugged Millie
Anne. “I thought so, too. But when I woke up, I found that a kind family had rescued me.” Brooke stood back. “Did you have any trouble getting my clothes out of the house?”

“No, ma’am, th
ough I had to get Mammy to help me,” Millie Anne said as she shook out the red velvet gown she’d brought. “But don’t worry, Mammy won’t say nothin’. You see, after ever’bod’ came home, Miz Margaret said I wasn’t needed no more, and she sent me back to de fields.”

Brooke was pulling her undergarments out of the satchel, but she looked up.
“Why does that not surprise me? Margaret could have been the one who pushed me. Perhaps, she has more strength than I imagined.”

“
Lordy,” the girl gasped. “You was pushed?”

Brooke sat down on the bed.
“I’m afraid so, but I don’t know who did it.”

“Well, Miz Margaret is mean enough.
Dat’s fo’ sure,” Millie Anne said then slapped a hand over her mouth. “I shouldn’t be sayin’ such.”

Brooke laughed.
“You’re only speaking the truth.”

Someone knocked on the door, interrupting them.

Brooke answered the door to find several maids with buckets of hot water. She pointed then over to the small alcove where a tin hip tub had been placed for bathing.

Once it was quiet again, Brooke undressed and slipped into the steamy water.
It had been much too long since she’d been able to experience this luxury, and it felt wonderful. Her baths aboard the houseboat had consisted of a small tin bowl which Penny called a bird bath.

“Here
, let me wash your hair,” Millie Anne insisted as she took the sponge from Brooke.

Brooke held her head back while Millie squeezed the sponge over her hair until it was thoroughly wet.
“Finish telling me what has occurred while I was gone,” Brooke said.

“Well, Miz Margaret told Mammy to clean out you
r room. So Mammy went to Master Travis and told him what she’d said.”

Millie Anne stopped talking as she soaped Brooke’s hair.

“And?” Brooke urged.

Millie Anne giggled.
“He told his mother dat nothin’ would be touched in dat room ‘til he said so. They was into a big argument. Mammy said that you could hear him shoutin’ clean out in de kitchen.”

Brooke’s heart swelled at the notion of her husband taking up for her.
Perhaps he did love her after all. “Well, it’s nice to know that Travis stood up to her,” Brooke said, gasping as water tumbled over her head and down her face.

“Master Travis has always stood his ground except where Miz Hesione is concerned.”

Brooke’s happiness plummeted at the mention of the other woman. Had Travis gone back to Hesione? Brooke couldn’t bring herself to think about it right now, much less ask. She would know when she saw him. Perhaps she’d just imagined their time together as something it wasn’t.

Millie
Anne held up a towel so Brooke could step out. She wrapped the towel around her.

“What are you goin
’ to do now dat you’re home, Miz Brooke?”

“I’m going to a party,” Brooke said with a smile.
“I want you to sweep my hair up in a fabulous ‘do. I’m going to dress in that red velvet gown over there, and then I’m going to a Christmas party to greet the guest I didn’t invite.”

“Lordy,” Millie Anne said.
“You is goin’ to cause a ruckus. I wish I could see all der faces when you walk in. Yes, ma’am. Brooke Hammond back from de dead. Dat is goin’ to be a site to see.” Millie giggled.

“You mean Brooke Montgomery,” Brooke reminded her.

Once her toilet was complete, Brooke was more than eager to go home. Millie Anne packed what few things she’d brought while Brooke made preparations to leave the hotel.

Mr. Jeffries had hired a coach for her, so it was waiting by the time she was read
y to leave. She settled back into the seat, wondering what would happen tonight. Mr. Jeffries had gone ahead to the party and wouldn’t tell anyone that he’d seen her. That way he would be able to gauge everyone’s reactions upon seeing Brooke’s return from the dead.

“You nervous, Miz Brooke?”

“Yes, I am,” she admitted. “I’ve been dead for over a month, so I’m not sure how I’m supposed to act.” She was glad that she invited Millie Anne to ride inside with her. It gave Brooke some much needed company.

Millie Anne giggled.
“Well, one t’ing is sure, you don’t look dead. You look real pretty.”

“Thank you,” Brooke said.
She’d chosen this gown because it had been made especially for her when she was trying to grab the attention of a Russian prince.

The fabric was soft velvet and the color was vermillion which flattered her skin and added color to her face.

The full skirt emphasized her tiny waist. The shoulder seams drooped downward, showing off her creamy white skin. The bodice was cut low and came to a vee in the front, where a cluster of small diamonds had been sewn into the shape of a large diamond. The cut of the gown made Brooke’s neck look long and graceful.

Brooke didn't know exactly what would happen tonight, but she wanted to look her best.

Finally, the coach pulled up in front of her home. She drew in a long, calming breath. Now it was time to get some answers.

Margaret was very pleased with the way the house had been decorated for Christmas.
There had been far too many sad faces around this house. She thought that everyone needed to get over the fact that Brooke was not returning, especially Travis.

Margaret scanned the room for her son.
She spotted him in a small group, but she could tell by his stance that he really wasn't paying attention to any of them. He seemed to be ignoring Hesione, who stood next to him. Margaret shook her head.

She made her way over to her son.
The musicians had just begun a waltz. "The music is so lovely, son,” Margaret said. “Why don't you invite Hesione to dance, so our guests can see us enjoying the holiday season?”

Travis stared uncomprehendingly at her a long moment, but then Hesione touched his arm, and he seemed to understand what was expected.
He took the girl into his arms and they stepped out onto the dance floor.

"Don't they make a lovely couple?" Margaret commented to Julia Ross, who was standing next to her.

"Yes, they do, my dear," Julia agreed. "Do you think they will renew their engagement now that . . . well, you know."

"I hope so,” Margaret said, nodding.
“Of course, Travis will have to allow the proper mourning time to pass, but then I'm sure he'll come around."

Thomas, Moss Grove’s the butler, answered the door.
He took one look at Brooke and jumped back, his eyes wide as he said in a cracked voice, “You’s dead.”

After Brooke assured Thomas that she wasn’t a ghost, she handed him her cloak, then made her way to the ballroom.
Brooke paused at the entrance to the hall so she could take in the beautiful decorations all around her. Margaret had outdone herself. The house was beautiful.

Speaking of her mother-in-law, Brooke spotted her across the room.
She looked very happy -- that wasn't a good sign. When Brooke saw where the woman had trained her gaze, she knew why.

Travis was holding Hesione in his arms.
Brooke’s stomach twisted. Hesione was beautiful with her dark hair and complexion.

How could he?
Brooke fumed. But then, she reminded herself they were only dancing.