Caroline (33 page)

The carriage continued on its way to Germantown in what was now total darkness. Caro tried to read the expression on Alec's face, but could only perceive the hard line of his jaw as he stared out into the night, deep in thought. She was chilled by his words and instinctively huddled against him for warmth and reassurance. As if sensing her feelings, Alec put his arms around her so that she could rest her face against his broad chest.

"I fear that there's only one answer for this," he told her. "Until I can see that man dead you shall not leave my sight. I don't think he will stop at anything to get you and I won't take any chances with your life. I will appreciate your cooperation in this matter, my dear—you'll have to go everywhere with me from now on and give up all your privacy. I fear it will not be a very serene existence."

Caro's heart soared as she smiled to herself against the buttons of his waistcoat. "I shall try to adjust, sir. After all, you know I am totally subservient to your wishes!"

Alec laughed out loud at that, tilting up her chin to look into her eyes. "You are the most impertinent minx—"

His words broke off as Caro boldly pulled his head down to her kiss.

Chapter 23

In the weeks that followed, Caro was happier than she had believed possible. Alec let his business slide with his new marriage and Christmas provided a double excuse. Occasionally, men would come out to Belle Maison to speak with him, and before any of these conferences, Alec always arranged for Caro to be in the company of Pierre and usually Grandmere as well. She was never left alone, but the advantages of this situation outweighed the inconveniences since she spent nearly every waking minute with Alec.

They rode together every morning, even in the snow, and gradually Caro came to know nearly every corner of the five-hundred-acre estate. Many hours were spent in the library, where Caro would perch in a window seat and read while Alec worked at his desk. She was to learn that he read a great deal himself, at a speed which astounded her, often completing an entire book in a few hours. During the afternoons, they visited Grandmere together, the old woman watching them with shrewd satisfaction as they bantered good-naturedly back and forth.

Even though she could sense that a strong bond had formed between them, Caro knew that her marriage was far from ideal. Alec never mentioned the word love or even spoke of their future together, and at times, she felt that he longed to be free of her completely. The circumstances of their marriage worried her, until she began to have nightmares in which Alec would invariably leave her alone in the woods. They always ended with her running through a maze of trees, calling his name uselessly. When she woke, he would be holding her in the darkness, asking her to tell him what she had dreamed.

"Was it anything that might give us a clue to your past?"

"No," she would murmur dismally. "Far from it."

Most of the time he would cradle her in his arms until she was calm again, helping her to relax with a few drowsy kisses. By the time his warm, hard body moved over her in the darkness the horror of her dream would be swallowed up in the splendor of their union. It was at those times that Caro was convinced that he loved her as she loved him, and afterward she would fall asleep in his arms, contented and unafraid again.

By mid-December, preparations were well underway for Christmas, for Caro had persuaded Alec that they should have a full celebration in their house. At her urging, he invited his family to spend the holiday with them and Antonia agreed immediately.

"It will be the first time in thirty-five years that my parents will not have been in their own home on Christmas," Alec told Caro a trifle sadly.

"She is pleased—she told me so! They can still have a celebration there, too, Alec. Don't worry."

After two weeks of marriage, Caro had nearly forgotten about Ezra Pilquebinder, but Alec had not. One afternoon she had left the bedroom while he dozed on the bed, and stood examining a bookshelf in the library when Alec suddenly appeared in the doorway. His eyes were stormy with rage as he gripped her arm so hard she gasped.

"What the devil do you think you're doing? Are you trying to scare me to death? How many times do you have to be told that you are not to be alone—not under any circumstances!"

Tears of anger and pain sprang up in her eyes as she tried to wrench free from his bruising hold.

"You are being ridiculous!" she choked. "Would you have me be a prisoner in my own house?"

He regarded her in silence for a long minute, and when he spoke his voice was dangerously low.

"If you continue to defy me, you will find yourself a prisoner of someone very different, and this house you value so highly will be lost to you. Perhaps you would prefer to share your bed with Ezra Pilquebinder? Do not doubt what I say, Caro—you cannot be sure of safety even here at Belle Maison." Dropping her arm, he crossed the room to his desk, then gazed back at her coldly. "You would do well to make Mr. Pilquebinder the subject of your nightmares, for I cannot but believe that I have been unfairly cast."

* * *

That night, a sudden snowstorm provided an excuse for Caro to break the silence that had continued stubbornly between them since their confrontation in the library.

After an unbearable evening meal, during which Alec drank too much wine, Caro and Pierre began a game of chess in the parlor. Alec sat in his favorite wing chair appearing to read, but Caro's practiced eye easily detected his lack of concentration, for he was staring at each page as though it had insulted him.

Pierre beat Caro easily two games in a row, and finally she got up restlessly to look out the window. The trees that lined the long drive were outlined in black against the deep indigo sky, and even as she watched, the first snow-flakes began to drift out of it. Multiplying rapidly, they fluttered gracefully to the ground, each one unusually large and well defined against the dark background.

The beauty of it brought out Caro's impulsive gaiety and before she could remember their quarrel, she had thrown herself on her knees beside Alec's chair, pushing his book away as she smiled up into his face.

"It is snowing! Please say that we may walk in the garden! New snow at night is one of my favorite things—"

His eyes softened and Caro thought for a moment that he might smile. Before he could refuse her, she jumped up, pulled him to his feet, and led him, muttering gruffly under his breath, past a grinning Pierre. Moments later they stepped into the garden, and even Alec was impressed by the unique beauty of the night. Caro, her face framed by the fox hood, pirouetted in the snow, catching a delicate flake on her tongue and laughing in delight. Alec watched her, trying halfheartedly to resist her charm, but smiling in the end when she came dancing back to him.

"Isn't it lovely?" she asked, her cheeks pink in the cold. When he reached out silently to take her face between his two hands, Caro's expression sobered. Grasping the lapels of his coat, she stared up at him gravely.

"I'm sorry, Alec. I did it again!" Will I never learn to control my foolish tongue?" Two large tears ran down her cheeks, melting the snowflakes that had lingered there. "Will I never learn to control my foolish tongue?"

"Will you stop!" interrupted Alec in tones of exasperated amusement. He brought his face down to hers, tasting the saltiness of her tears and then the familiar sweetness of her lips. Caro's arms slipped around his back as she rose on her toes to fit her body nearer to his.

"You're right about one thing," he murmured against her hair. "You talk entirely too much."

* * *

By morning there was a thick blanket of snow covering the grounds of Belle Maison, sparkling beneath the bright sun. Downstairs, Alec and Caro ate a large breakfast, Caro declaring that her appetite had been stimulated by the excitement of the snow. After finishing her second cup of coffee, she rose to pace before the dining-room window, gazing longingly at the shimmering white carpet outside.

"How I long to romp in it like a child," she sighed, turning to find Alec grinning at her.

"I can't imagine why you hesitate," he commented drily. He regarded her slowly, taking in the irrepressible smile that played at her mouth.

"Come over here." He gestured for her to sit on his lap. Caro did so with pleasure, and he put his free arm around her waist. "I may have a solution for your problem. How would you like to go ice-skating today?"

Sparks of pure gold lit up her eyes as she stared at him in disbelief.

"Do you mean it? Honestly?" A small frown appeared. "But I don't know if I can ice skate! What if I cannot?"

Alec threw back his head with laughter. "Then I shall have even more fun teaching you how! Don't worry, I'll try to see to it that you don't take a pratfall on the Delaware River."

There was not even one footprint to mar the crystalline perfection of the snow that stretched across the grounds of Belle Maison when they set out for Philadelphia in the sleigh. Christmas bells had been attached to Ivan's harness and he pranced along in the winter sunshine, playing his role to the hilt. Caro was bundled up in her fox cloak with a cozy blanket tucked around her legs. One arm was linked through Alec's while her hands were clasped together inside her thick fox muff, and her face glowed.

Alec seemed unusually relaxed, particularly compared to his stormy mood of the day before. From time to time he would smile at her affectionately and Caro thought he looked magnificent in his heavy navy-blue coat. He seemed to thrive in the cold weather, for their daily rides on Ivan and Molly always left him more vigorous and vibrant than ever.

The lightweight sleigh skimmed along over the road to Philadelphia under trees flocked with fresh snow. The time flew by for Caro, as it always did when they were together. Alec tooled the sleigh himself, handling it deftly in Philadelphia as they sped down Third Street toward the Beauvisage house. Caro was conscious of the admiring glances of pedestrians who turned to watch as they whizzed by, Ivan's bells jingling gaily.

They arrived unannounced to find Alec's family decorating the entry hall of the house with sprays of evergreen and holly. Natalya and Katya immediately accepted their invitation to join the ice-skating party and soon they were on their way to the banks of the Delaware.

The river was already crowded with skaters, most of whom were men.

"It's really not considered particularly elegant for women to be seen here," Alec confided to Caro with a smile, but she raised her chin rebelliously.

"What a ridiculous and confining rule. I intend to have fun today and proper society can go hang!"

He helped the three girls fasten their black, curled-up ice skates and Natalya and Katya set out immediately, laughing with delight as they skidded shakily over the ice. Caro held on to Alec's arm, watching them wide-eyed as they gained confidence and speed. Looking up at her husband, she saw him lift a dark eyebrow as he inquired lightly:

"Well, m'lady, are you ready to venture forth?"

Smiling gamely, she replied, "Of course—but do not let go of me!"

Arm in arm they slowly slid forward on the glassy river, drawing grins from the men who glided past them, calling greetings to Alec. Caro was surprised to realize that her feet were steady, and she felt sure of her balance. Alec seemed to sense her confidence, gradually building up speed and drawing her into wide turns.

"I believe you have played me false,
cherie
," he told her with a laugh. "You were probably born with ice skates on and should be leading me right now!"

His praise brought a pleased glow into her cheeks and she slid her arm down merely to hold on to his hand. As they glided deftly over the sparkling ice, Caro felt a wave of pure pleasure sweep through her body, for they were skating together with perfect symmetry.

Alec let go of her hand then, gliding back toward the bank to join the others who had stopped to watch. With an incandescent smile and an artless, fluid grace, Caro forgot everything except Alec's reckless smile as she skimmed across the ice, etching a delicate pattern of turns in its frosty surface.

When she finally slowed to a stop, embarrassment set in at the sight of so many watchful eyes. Katya and Natalya waved her over to join them, exclaiming at how beautifully she had skated. Alec merely squeezed her mittened hand, regarding her with a pride that Caro could sense was flavored with his usual light mockery. He guided her over to lean against the hull of a small boat which sat on the ice, hugging the river bank. A fire burned nearby and Caro turned her face in its direction, grateful for its warmth. Hundreds of chimneys peeked at her from the snowy rooftops of Philadelphia, each one expelling pale-gray wisps of smoke.