Calypso Magic (Magic Trilogy 2)

"I will not argue with you. You are not coming, and that's an end to it."

She opened her mouth, further arguments --- quite good ones actually --- already formed, but he forestalled her.

"No, Diana. I want you to stay here, safe."

"Safe! Now that is excellent male logic. Have you forgotten so readily that Moira was strangled? Murdered by someone, and we haven't the faintest idea who did it?"

"I will also add that I wish you to be in your father's company at all times. I expect you to take care. I have forgotten nothing."

"I am going with you."

His eyes darkened. He said slowly, as if she were a dim-witted child, "I am your husband and you will obey me. You are remaining here on Savarol. I should be back in two or three days."

She argued with him, she couldn't help herself, but he was immovable. Finally, furious with him, she shouted, "Go, then! I hope the boat springs a leak. I hope you end up by yourself on another Calypso Island, alone!"

"Ah, my loving wife," he said, tight-lipped.

He left just after breakfast, Bemis with him. Diana watched him stride toward the stable, Bemis beside him, from her balcony, and cursed softly. "Idiot man."

Her eyes widened with fury when she saw Patricia, skirts flying, race after the men. She saw Lyon turn and speak with her. Patricia, laughing, stopped, then waved good-bye.

It is not fair that a man can tell me what to do and what not to do just because he is married to me. Not fair at all. Her major failed argument with him was that she didn't trust Bemis, and he'd merely given her that arrogant stare of his.

But she didn't trust Edward Bemis. She didn't trust anybody.

Her father spoke to her from her bedchamber door. "Diana, my dear, would you like to come with me to the fields? Grainger has told me there are problems, particularly with Bob, the young man in love with Moira. He is upset and making crazy accusations. Evidently the other slaves are listening to him."

At least her father trusted her and valued her opinions.

They rode with Grainger to the fields within the hour. She felt a stirring of worry at the sight of the small knot of slaves, obviously talking about Moira.

She heard Bob speaking loudly, "Dis man, Bemis," he was saying. "Bastard, dat man."

And several other men agreeing.

"You see, sir," said Grainger, drawing his horse to a halt. "I hesitate to use the whip, but ---"

"Of course you won't," said Lucien. "Diana, you and Grainger stay here. I will handle this."

Diana watched her father ride to the group of slaves and casually dismount. She saw Bob's face darken with confusion at her father's words. She wanted to ride closer, to hear what he was saying, but Grainger said softly, "No, Miss Diana. Leave him to deal with it. The slaves trust him implicitly, you know that."

"And do they not trust you?"

"Yes, but not to the same degree. I have accepted that."

"Who do you think strangled Moira?"

Grainger shrugged. "I don't know. If I did, I should certainly let it be known."

"You don't think it was one of the slaves?" Diana persisted.

"I would be very surprised."

Diana watched her father closely for many moments, watching him gesticulate to make a point. "You know," she said slowly, not looking at the overseer, "nothing like this ever happened until all the new people came."

"That is true." He paused a moment to flick a fly from his horse's mane. "That, of course, includes your husband."

"That is fair," she said after a moment, cooling her instant fury at his comment. "However, my husband was with me, and I assure you I had nothing to do with it."