“Well, then, why don’t you attend?”
Kyle hesitated, not wanting to admit the real reason for his reluctance. How could he woo and win Selena if he was away pursuing steamboat ventures? “Do you know how guilty I feel,” he prevaricated, “always leaving you here alone to shoulder the burdens of the plantation?”
“Kyle, it isn’t a burden, truly. And I don’t want you to defer your venture because of me, certainly. I know how you feel about it—” Her tawny brows drew together in a puzzled frown. “You haven’t changed your mind about investing in a steamboat enterprise, have you?”
“No.”
“Then I don’t understand your indifference.”
Because I’m busy courting you, blast it. Can’t you see that? Kyle wanted to say. Every day for a week he’d spent all his free time with her, and every night he had come to her room. But he seemed to be making little progress in winning Selena’s affection. “The legislative session may last all day,” he murmured, watching the moonlight play on her beautiful face.
“Shouldn’t you leave early, then?”
Am I doing something wrong? Like not acting enough of a gentleman? Or too much? he wondered. “I expect so,” he said finally. “And I suppose while I’m there I ought to contact an agent to discuss arrangements for shipping our cotton after the harvest begins.”
“Good.”
Kyle gave a sigh. He had hoped Selena felt the same bliss he’d felt during the past week, but it seemed as if she were anxious to be rid of him. Trying to bite back his frustration, he gently placed a finger under the delicate curve of her jaw. “Are you sure you will be all right here with the girls?”
“Yes, of course.” She sounded mildly exasperated as well as amused. “It’s only for the day.”
He didn’t like to be reminded how easily she could manage without him. He wanted her to need him, to miss him when he was away, to count the hours they were apart, as he did. He wanted her to ask him to stay.
“At least young Parkington can be relied on to help you,” Kyle said lamely. “He’s proving even better a factor than I’d hoped.”
“Kyle, we’ll be fine. And Tanner needs the opportunity to demonstrate his capabilities without your supervision.”
He gave up. “Very well, I’ll go to Natchez tomorrow.” He pressed a tender kiss on her brow and gathered her close, trying not to dwell on his dissatisfaction or his deepening worry that he might never win her love.
They were both silent for a moment while the warm night surrounded them and their separate thoughts.
Beside him, Selena took a slow breath. Now was the time, she realized, to ask him about Danielle. “Kyle?” But when he glanced at her, Selena faltered. She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t come right out and ask, “Do you love Danielle?” She didn’t dare, for fear of what his answer might be. “I hope the session goes well,” she murmured, instead. “I want you to be happy.”
Hearing the wistful note in her voice, Kyle took heart. “Do you, Moonwitch?” His eyes glowed with golden fire as he slowly bent his head again. “Not more, I think,” he said against her lips, “than I want happiness for you.”
Her breathing quickened in response, even before he slid his hand up the quivering sleekness of her belly to mold the fullness of her breast. When she arched against him with unconscious abandon, Kyle responded with conscious delight.
Slowly, without words, he roused her, intending to show her just how much she meant to him, how much he needed and wanted her love. His hands skimmed her body, touching, caressing, claiming for his own the alluring, eloquently lovely lady who had wrapped herself around his heart.
Shortly after Kyle left the next morning, Saul’s wife, Lukey, was delivered of a strapping baby boy. Selena was present both at the birth and later, when Saul was allowed into the cabin to hold his son.
Seeing the tenderness light Saul’s dark face as he gazed at his wife and child, Selena couldn’t help but remember his fierce protectiveness when he had thrown himself in the path of Whitfield’s lash. The memory made her wonder if Kyle would ever feel the same kind of deep love for her, and thinking of Kyle naturally led to thoughts of Danielle, as usually happened of late.
That afternoon, Selena was inventorying supplies in the plantation’s store when she was surprised by a visit from the subject of her jealous thoughts. She looked up from contemplating bolts of cloth to find Danielle standing in the doorway.
“I hope you don’t mind the intrusion,” Danielle said quickly. “I wouldn’t let Martha fetch you, for I didn’t want to take you away from your duties.”
In spite of her recent thoughts, Selena gave her visitor a smile. Then she saw Clay standing behind his mother’s skirts and realized they must have come to see Kyle. “Kyle isn’t here, I’m afraid,” Selena admitted. “He went into town today and probably won’t be back till late.”
“That’s all right… That is, you said I could call. But I don’t want to impose,” Danielle added in a small voice.
Danielle had come to see her? Selena felt a moment’s surprise and then a fierce stab of guilt at the lukewarm welcome she had tendered. She should be giving comfort, not standing here wrapped up in her own concerns and jealousies.
“Good heavens, it isn’t an imposition,” Selena insisted, abruptly dropping her bolts of cloth and coming forward to take Danielle’s hands. “Indeed, I’m delighted to see you. With Bea no longer living here and Kyle away, I’ve been rather lonely. I would be grateful for your companionship. Please, won’t you come back to the house with me? We can have tea.”
“Well, actually…I thought I might help you here, instead… if you’d like.” Glancing around the store, Danielle flashed a self-conscious smile. “Orrin said I needed a rest—he wouldn’t let me work at the mercantile today. But really I prefer to keep busy.”
“Of course… I would appreciate your advice.” And she meant it, for Danielle’s knowledge of merchandise and dried goods was extensive. More than that, Selena understood quite well Danielle’s unspoken need—that occupation could keep one’s depressing thoughts at bay.