Love's Fiery Jewel (40 page)

His own smile widening, Armand raised his hand
dramatically to his chest, his voice low and wounded,
"Mademoiselle, you cut me deeply."

Her glance becoming scrutinizing, Amethyst responded warily, "Oh, I think it would be fair to say you
are not a man who wounds very easily, Armand,
especially when it comes to affairs of the heart."

Despite the levity of her tone, Armand frowned at her
response, finally yielding to Madame duMaurier who
hovered anxiously behind him.

"Are you alright now, Mademoiselle?" Madame was
obviously anxious, and fearful of upsetting the woman any further, Amethyst hastened to assure her.

"Yes, I'm fine, Madame. Just a little weakness. I came
out of the house this morning without breakfast, I fear."

"A cup of tea would probably help the mademoiselle
immeasurably, Madame."

"Oh, but of course..."

Moving quickly to the back of her shop, Madame
duMaurier hastened to follow Armand Beauchamps's
suggestion.

"Armand, you should not have put Madame to the
bother! I'm quite recovered now. It's foolish to make
more of a simple bout of weakness than is necessary."

"But you do realize, ma petite, that Madame's little
project now enables me a few moments to speak with you
alone, which is my sole purpose in being here today."

An expression of disbelief crossing her face, Amethyst
slowly rose to her feet, "You don't intend me to believe
you came here today solely to see me?"

"But, of course, ma cherie. Madame and I are
countrymen. I made it known to her that I would be very
interested in knowing the next time you were to come in
for a fitting, and she was very accommodating to my
request." When Amethyst's skeptical expression remained, Armand continued with an expressive lifting of
dark brows, "What other reason could I have for being in
a shop of this sort?"

"From the reports I've heard, Armand, you're
probably a very good customer of Madame's and quite
familiar with her establishment. After all," she said
slowly, widening her lavender eyes expressively, "a man
who maintains two mistresses in this city alone..."

Momentarily startled at Amethyst's disclosure of her
knowledge of that particular facet of his private life,
Armand colored unexpectedly, and noting her amusement as a fleeting dimple crossed the velvet cheek that
was now restored to its former color, he felt a flash of delight at the young woman's spontaneous wit and
charm. For a woman of her youth to bring so successfully
a blush to the cheek of a man of his worldliness was not a
simple task, and now having brought him to this point, to
turn the situation around by the simple use of her own
engaging personality so that he might even enjoy his own
embarrassment was indeed a wondrous feat! The girl was
named well! She was a true jewel!

His handsome face breaking into a wide smile that set
his dark eyes dancing, Armand laughed heartily at his
own expense, taking her slender hand into his to raise it
to his lips.

"Amethyst, ma cherie, vous etes magnifique!"

"Oh, Armand, I do believe you're flattering me again,"
Amethyst responded lightly, thoroughly enjoying their
light repartee.

Shaking his head in utter delight, Armand retained his
grasp on her small hand, keeping her far closer to him
than she would normally have dared as he smiled down
into her lovely face. "Did no one ever tell you, ma cherie,
that it is not polite to face a man with his indiscretions
when he is trying so decidedly hard to impress you with
his earnestness?"

"But I knew I had no cause for worry with you,
Armand. From all reports, you are so wildly successful in
your romantic endeavors, I knew you would consider
this campaign a very small loss. There are, after all,
countless beautiful women in Philadelphia with whom
you may console yourself."

"And none of them as beautiful as you, Amethyst."

His dark eyes suddenly serious, Armand raised his free
hand to her smooth cheek to continue softly, "And none
of them have managed to touch the spot inside me that
you warm so easily, ma petite."

A small frown covering her brow at his words,
Amethyst withdrew her hand from his, grateful to Madame's interruption as she bustled back into the
room, carrying a large tray on which sat a delicate teapot
and three cups.

"Some nice hot tea will refresh us all, will it not,
Monsieur et Mademoiselle?"

"Oui, Madame." Flushing suddenly at her own French
response, Amethyst laughed. "It seems this delightful
company is bringing out a spark of French in a
thoroughly Yankee girl!"

"Which could not please me more, ma cherie,"
Armand responded, his dark eyes showing a bit more
warmth than Amethyst would have preferred, but certain
that Armand was a thorough rake who was just passing a
pleasant hour, Amethyst dismissed her worries as she
gratefully accepted the cup Madame held out to her.

The tea having restored her flagging energy and the
pleasant company having restored her spirits, Amethyst
spent the time until Armand's departure fascinated by
his engaging personality as Madame duMaurier fussed
and hemmed diligently. Emerging from the boutique
some time later, Amethyst adjusted the hood of her cape
against the chilling cold. Lined in luxurious sable, the
forest green velvet was well insulated against the winter
wind that lifted its ample folds to set them dancing
against the frozen street. Amethyst had just raised her
hand to secure a long black curl that had whipped free of
its confines when a broad figure stepped forward to tuck
the windswept curl securely inside.

Surprised to find Armand waiting for her, Amethyst
flashed him a startled smile. "I thought you had gone,
Armand. But I'm glad you haven't because I'm now
afforded the opportunity to say how much I've enjoyed
our chance encounter. You are a very amusing man,
Armand."

Obviously pleased, Armand's eyes moved slowly over
her lovely face, allowing himself the luxury of drinking in the beauty of Amethyst's flawless ivory complexion,
colored lightly on the graceful contours of her cheek with
a natural pink flush. The brilliant lavender of her eyes
were raised to his, the thick black lashes almost touching
her slender, slanted brows as she stared expectantly into
his face. Her slender lips parted into a small half smile
awaiting his response, allowed a glimpse of perfect white
teeth as a small dimple winked appealingly in her cheek.
Lost in her beauty for a few long seconds, Armand felt the
rise of a new emotion as his jaded heart began a rapid
thudding against his ribs. Never had he met a female so
fresh and sincere, whose glance, so free of guile, had the
power to lift his heart to a plane just short of giddiness
with her innocent allure. Experiencing a longing to touch
the ivory cheek, to feel the delicate smoothness of her
skin beneath his lips, Armand swallowed tightly, a small
smile moving across his face. Amused at his own
susceptibility to her unaffected manner and spontaneous
charm, Armand replied softly, "And I fear I must not tell
you my thoughts with regard to you, ma petite chou, or I
will again be accused of libidinous desires. It will suffice
to say that I should like your permission to call on you
this week so I may..."

Her expression suddenly serious, Amethyst interrupted his declaration, putting her hand lightly on his
arm as she said ardently, "No, you must not, Armand.
Please.. .it would be very difficult for me..."

His expression slightly bewildered, Armand frowned,
covering her hand with his. "Pourquoi...why, Amethyst? Surely you..."

Lowering her eyes from his searching gaze, Amethyst
replied softly, "Damien ...he doesn't approve of you,
Armand. He's suspicious of your intentions." Finally
raising her eyes to his, she said with an embarrassed
laugh, "I think he thinks you mean to seduce me."

To Amethyst's surprise, Armand's expression grew suddenly tight as he stiffened noticeably. His voice when
he finally spoke was stiff and formal. "Then I suppose I
shall have to speak to Mr. Straith myself and explain the
error in his thinking."

A sudden rush of panic overwhelming her, Amethyst
could feel the onset of another bout of weakness, as she
exclaimed softly, "Oh, please don't, Armand. Damien is
too impulsive. There will be angry words exchanged, and
I wouldn't wish to see..."

Raising her hand to her head, Amethyst continued
determinedly despite the lightheadedness assailing her,
"I wouldn't want to be the cause of any problems..."
Her eyes moving to his pleadingly, she entreated in a soft
voice, "Please... please promise me you won't speak to
Damien, Armand. Please, I ask you..."

Noting Amethyst's sudden pallor, Armand took her
arm to steady her as he said softly, "Do not upset
yourself, Amethyst. I will not speak to Mr. Straith if that
is your wish.. .not yet." And then with a small smile,
he added softly, "You must merely find the necessity for
many more fittings, so that I will not expire from
boredom without your lovely face to spark my day. Etesvous d'accord? Do you agree, my lovely?"

Nodding her head quickly to pacify his injured pride,
Amethyst said softly, "I must be going now, Armand.
You...you will remember your promise... you
won't..."

"You have my word. Do not fret, ma cherie. It is not
my desire to grieve you in any way."

Kissing her hand lightly, Armand handed her up into
the carriage that waited at the curb. His eyes moving
assessingly over her face, he noted that her color was
again returning, and breathing a relieved sigh, he smiled
lightly, the nervous smile Amethyst sent him in return
tearing at his heartstrings. Smothering the overwhelming desire to jump into the carriage beside her, take her comfortingly into his arms, and smoothe the stress from
her beautiful face, he lifted his hand, calling lightly as the
carriage pulled away from the curb, "Au revoir,
Amethyst. Au revoir, ma petite amour..."

Watching steadily until the carriage moved out of
sight, Armand felt a cold fury rise inside him. The broad
expanse of his chest beginning to heave rapidly with
anger, his expression darkened. It was obvious Amethyst
was frightened to despair of her guardian, Damien
Straith. What had the wretch done to inspire such fear
that the very thought of opposing him made her weak?
His large hands clenching into tight fists, Armand took a
deep breath in an effort to control his escalating anger.
He had given Amethyst his promise, or he would go now
and demand an explanation from the surly beast. But it
would not do to lose Amethyst's confidence. To do so
would be to lose her completely, and he was suddenly
intensely aware of the horror of that thought. His darkly
handsome face abruptly creasing in a small, wry smile,
Armand raised his hand to his temple in a weary gesture.
"Oh, Armand," he thought silently, "you are a fool. The
girl is a child... half your age. Her world and yours are
far apart, and not very likely to come together without
some violent repercussions. You have led a gay life and
known many women. Why did you have to pick this
time... choose this one, this beautiful, frightened
child.. .to love?"

Striding determindedly up the front steps to his
Chestnut Street home, Damien Straith let himself in the
front door, turning as he did to close it carefully behind
him. Keeping his anger under tight rein, he carefully
removed his hat and overcoat, and placed it on the chair
by the door. But his hands were still trembling with the
fury raging inside him and unwilling to face Amethyst
until he was in complete control, he took a deep breath and again went over in his mind the conversation that
had produced his agitated state.

Having just had a very favorable session with a
business associate over lunch at City Tavern, Damien
emerged onto Second Street extremely pleased with
himself. When the Sally sailed again in spring, her hold
would be filled with merchandise purchased at extremely
favorable prices, and should he decide to go into port
illegally, his profit would be just that much higher. But at
the present either option was open to him, a fact that
suited him perfectly. The bright afternoon sun struck his
eyes, causing Damien to squint against its glare, but its
golden glow was deceiving. The air was cold and a brisk
wind blew, tugging at the fashionable broad-brimmed
beaver resting handsomely atop his heavily sun-streaked
hair. Taking a moment to adjust his hat more securely,
Damien fastened the buttons on his coat against the chill.
A dark blue wool, slightly fitted at the waist, the rivers in
light blue buttoned back in excellent contrast to the main
color, the well cut garment fell splendidly from his
shoulder to black boots that rose to his knee. Two small
capes encircled the neck, emphasizing his breadth of
shoulder, his impressive stature drawing a few interested
glances from curious female passersby as he began a brisk
stride toward Chestnut Street.

It was a beautiful day, and he was anxious to return
home to relate to Amethyst his successful transactions of
the day. Strange, how he wished to share even this facet
of his life with the disturbing little chit. But if he were to
be fair, he would have to admit that the disturbance she
created within him was not due to a fault in Amethyst's
personality but to his own susceptibility to her charms.
But her mind was quick and keen, anxious to learn any
and all he wished to teach her. Her interest was
unflagging, contrary to the empty-headed females to
whom he had grown accustomed in polite society. Shrugging his broad shoulders slightly as he considered
the thought, he wondered absentmindedly if it were due
to the life she had led, caring for her mother since before
adolescence, forced to live by her wits when the sickly
woman was incapacitated. But no, that explanation just
would not do. A small smile twitching the corners of his
mouth, he recalled the spirit in the little nine-year-old he
had first seen, the intelligence so obvious in those
peculiar lavender eyes when she had first fixed her angry
glance on him, and the speed with which she then, at that
early age, had set him back in his traces. No, Amethyst
had not turned out the disarmingly lovely, spirited
charmer she was today because of circumstance. No,
Amethyst was merely... Amethyst.