“People would do anything for money,” he said in disgust. “And Bianca has all of the Armstrong plantation at her disposal.”
Nicole put her arms around his c
hest, clung to him.
“Clay, what are we going to do? We have to risk it. Maybe she’s bluffing.”
“Possibly, but I can’t be certain. It’s taken me months, but I’ve come up with a plan. We’ll go west. We’ll change our names and leave Virginia.”
“Leave Virginia?” she asked, pulling away again. “But your home is here. Who will run the plantation?”
“Bianca, I guess,” he said flatly. “I offered to give her the whole place, but she said she wanted a husband to run it.”
“My husband!” Nicole said fiercely.
“Yes, yours always. Listen, we’ve been out here too long. Can you meet me tomorrow by the cave? Can you find it all right?”
“Yes,” she said hesitantly.
“You don’t trust me, do you?”
“I don’t know, Clay. Every time I believe in you, in us together, something dreadful happens. I can’t stand anything else. You can’t imagine how horrible the last months have been for me. Not knowing, wondering, always confused.”
“I should have told you. I know that now. I just needed time to think.” He paused. “At least you haven’t had to spend time with Bianca. Do you know that woman wants to tear away part of my house and add a wing? If it was left to her, she’d make it into a monstrosity like that place of Horace’s and Ellen’s.”
“If you leave her, she’ll be able to do what she likes to the house.”
It was a while before Clay answered. “I know. Let’s get the twins and go back.” He released her and took her hand in his.
All through the long, uncomfortable dinner, Nicole’s thoughts whirled. It wasn’t just Bianca she was fighting but Arundel Hall also. She knew how much Clay loved his home, how he talked about the place almost with reverence. Even when he’d seemingly neglected the house for the fields, he’d been aware that Nicole had given the house the attention he felt it deserved. She always felt that was what had prompted his first marriage proposal, when he’d said he’d remain married to her if Bianca didn’t arrive.
Nicole picked at her food, vaguely listening to Travis’s plans to visit England in the spring. Clay was right, she didn’t trust him. Too many times, she’d held her heart out to him and he’d rejected it. Even remembering the time he’d gotten her drunk and made her admit she loved him made her blush. Later, he’d invited her to his house, and when Bianca arrived he was no longer aware of Nicole’s presence. He’d made love to her at the Backes’s house but deserted her soon afterward. Of course, he always had marvelous reasons. First, there was the story of Beth, and now Bianca’s treachery. She believed him—the stories were too bizarre to be lies—but now he said he was going to leave Virginia—and Bianca—so they could be together. He said he hated Bianca, yet he’d lived with her for months.
She stabbed at a piece of turkey. She had to believe him! Of course, he hated Bianca and loved her. There were logical reasons why Bianca lived with him and she didn’t. But at the moment, she couldn’t remember a single one of them.
“I think the turkey’s already dead,” Wes said at her side.
“Oh,” she said in puzzlement, then tried to smile. “I’m afraid I’m not very good company.”
Travis grinned at her. “Any woman who looks like you doesn’t need to do or say anything. Someday, I’m going to find a pretty little girl and keep her inside a glass jar. I’ll only let her out when I want her.”
“Probably about three times a night would be my guess,” Wesley said as he helped himself to more candied yams.
“I will not stand for this kind of talk!” Bianca said stiffly. “You Colonials must remember that a lady is present.”
“The way I been raised, ladies don’t live with men they’re not married to,” Travis said flatly.
Bianca’s face turned red with anger as she stood up quickly, knocking over her chair and upsetting the table. “I will not be insulted! I am the one who will own Arundel Hall, and when I do—” She stopped, then let out a scream as Mandy, staring up at the big woman, her plate in her hand, let slide a great wad of cranberry sauce onto Bianca’s skirt.
“You did that on purpose!” Bianca screamed, and drew back her hand to strike the child.
Everyone was on their feet to stop her. But Bianca stopped herself as she gasped, her eyes tearing; then she jumped backward from the table, holding out her foot. There, resting against her thick ankle, was a large, very hot plum pudding.
“Get it off me!” she screamed, kicking her foot.
Nicole was the one who tossed her a towel, but no one bent to help her wipe away the sticky mess. Travis pulled Alex out from under the table. “I think his fingers are burned, Janie.”
“Such a waste,” Wes said sadly, watching Bianca trying to balance herself as she made swipes at her foot with the towel. Her stomach was so large that she could hardly reach her ankle.