Mardi Gras Masquerade (13 page)

“I think I should wait,” Maria quickly replied.

“Are you still
holdin
’ out for that big, new diamond?”

“No.
 
Did your brother tell you that?”

“How else could I know?”

“Well, that was all a mistake.”

“In what way?”

Being absolutely truthful, Maria replied, “I don’t need any big diamonds at all.
 
A family heirloom has so much more sentimental value.”

“Then why won’t you accept mine?”

“I can’t.
 
The timing isn’t right.”

“I know this isn’t nearly as glamorous as Paris, Maria, but I would like you to wear the ring.”

“This has nothing to do with
Paris
.
 
I should be getting this ring from your brother.”

“He asked me to give it to you so that everything looks respectable while you’re
stayin
’ in the house with me.
 
I’ll be insulted if you don’t accept it.”

Saying this, Steve took the ring out of his pocket.
 
Maria’s eyes widened as she saw the dazzling sapphire surrounded by a circle of diamonds that glittered in the boat’s lights.”

“It’s exquisite!” she could not help but to exclaim.

“Then you’ll wear it?”

Maria’s eyes narrowed as a new thought occurred to her.

“Is this your mother’s ring?” she asked.

“Yes.
 
She gave it to me just for this occasion.”

“As the oldest son, shouldn’t it be yours to give to your wife?”

“I never said I was the eldest, but we have a family rule.
 
The first son to marry gets the ring.
 
That’s the way it’s always been.”

“I can’t take it,” Maria firmly replied.

Coaxingly, Steve whispered, “Do it for me.”

Maria shook her head.
 
She saw the expression on the man’s face change, but she did not understand what it signified until he forcibly took her left hand in his and put the ring on her finger.
 
He held onto to her hand so she could not remove it.

“There,” he proclaimed triumphantly.

“This isn’t right!” Maria protested, as she attempted to pull away.

“Don’t you dare take it off before the
weddin
’!
” Steve warned her.

When she stopped struggling, he released her hand.
 
Maria looked down at the beautiful ring on her finger and tears came into her eyes.
 
She knew she had no right to wear it.
 
It was so cruel of Fate to give her the most wonderful experience she could imagine under completely fraudulent circumstances.
 
Cruel, but not exactly unfair, considering her masquerade.

“Those better be tears of joy,” Steve said in a low voice.

Maria looked up into his eyes and her heart was in her expression.
 
Without thinking about what she was doing, she raised her hand to her lips and tenderly kissed the ring.
 
A small tear fell on the blue stone to increase its shimmer.

Steve caught his breath and then swept her into his arms.
 
His lapel became dampened by Maria’s tears as she wound her arms around his waist.
 
They remained locked together like that until the boat’s horn signaled that they were coming into shore.

CHAPTER 6

On the way back to the house, Maria and Steve had little to say to each other.
 
Too much had to remain unsaid.
 
As the limousine sped along the back road, Maria looked down at the ring on her hand.
 
With sadness in her heart, she wished that it was truly hers, as a token of betrothal from the man who sat beside her.

These thoughts had no place in reality.
 
Maria knew that it would only bring her more grief if she allowed herself to think of Steve as anything other than Tienne’s brother.
 
When he found out she was an imposter, the charade would be over.
 
He would undoubtedly tear the ring from her finger while screaming verbal abuse, and then send her packing.

Those tender moments they had shared could mean nothing to Steve DuPont.
 
He was merely watching out for her until his brother got home.
 
Maria felt that she had been a fool for allowing herself to fall a victim to his romantic overtures.
 

Was he trying to teach her a lesson for her lack of fidelity to Tienne?
 
Perhaps he was like this with all of the women that intrigued him.
 
This was the closest she had ever come to a love affair.
 
What must be a casual flirtation for Steve had far more serious consequences for her.
 
Since this was her first love, it would not be easy for Maria to get over this.

Once they were inside the house, they said their goodnights.
 
Before Maria could turn to go, Steve picked up her left hand and kissed it briefly, as he looked deeply into her eyes.
 
She could feel the sudden pounding of her heart, and she knew that this was the very thing of which she must beware.
 
With a thoughtful look, she turned and climbed the stairs to her room.

Sleep did not come easily to Maria that night.
 
When she awoke, she felt tired and listless.
 
Once again, she spent the day by herself while Steve was at his office.
 
She tried to call Marla a couple times, but there was still no answer.
 
It was frightening for her to think that her friend might be trying to contact her at the hotel where she had stayed, especially if Steve received a message about it from the hotel manager.

Therefore, when a maid knocked on her bedroom door late in the afternoon, Maria was filled with nervous anticipation.
 
She relaxed only slightly when the maid told her that Mr. DuPont wanted to see her in his study.
 

Dressed in a simple blouse and skirt, she put down the book she had been trying to read, and made her way to the study with flagging steps.
 
The expression on Steve’s face was not alarming, but his first words were unexpected.

“I have a surprise for you,” he said.

Careful not to let her apprehension show, Maria replied, “What is it?”

The man pushed aside the papers he had been examining and stood up.
 
Maria still felt awed by his height and commanding nature.
 
Without answering her question, he walked around the desk and took her hand to lead her out the door.

“Wait and see,” was his only response.

Steve led her through the house and out a side door that opened onto a garden path.
 
The warm rays of the lowering sun dispelled any chill that might have been in the air.
 
With unhurried steps, they walked across the lawn in the direction of the river.
 
Maria held Steve’s hand firmly, reveling in its strength as they moved along.

Before he got to the river, he turned to the right and continued on toward a grove of magnolias that had not yet come into bloom.
 
As they entered the grove, Maria’s eyes widened.

There, in an opening before her, was a tall, white gazebo with Grecian lines.
 
It commanded a sweeping view of the
Mississippi
.
 
Set among the trees as it was, it could not be seen from her section of the balcony.

Several steps which encircled the structure led up to an Italian marble floor.
 
In the center of the gazebo were a linen-covered table and two comfortable-looking chairs.
 
A low centerpiece of pastel flowers lent color to the white table settings and crystal glasses.
 
Maria stopped to look at this in awe.

“Did you have this set up for me?” she asked.

“I certainly did,” Steve replied with a slight smile.
 
“I thought you might enjoy
dinin
’ al fresco.”

“It’s beautiful, Steve.”

“Then have a seat and enjoy yourself.”

Their chairs were angled in such a way that they could look out at the river.
 
Maria watched the Spanish moss sway in the light breeze as it festooned from a large southern oak near the embankment.

“
Paradise
,” she whispered under her breath.

Steve watched her closely as he opened the bottle of champagne that had been chilling in a silver wine cooler.
 
After pouring two glasses, he set one by Maria and held onto his as he sat down.

“Make a toast,” the man suggested in a casual voice.

Maria picked up her glass by the stem and looked at the bubbly liquid.
 
Her heart was heavy and she could think of nothing to say.

“You’re quiet today,” Steve commented, as he looked at her thoughtfully.
 
“What are you thinkin’?”

Maria swirled the champagne in the crystal as she replied, “About you, this place, everything.”

“Then, there should be a smile on your face.
 
Since you don’t feel inclined to make a toast, I will.
 
Here’s to you, Maria.
 
May all your dreams come
true.
”

Maria appreciated his sentiments, but there was so little likelihood that they would ever be realized that she did not want to drink to them.
 
She looked down at her lap.

Steve waited for her, and when she did not raise her glass to her lips, he asked, “What’s the matter?”

In a small voice, Maria replied, “I can’t drink to that.”

“Why not?”

“Because there’s no chance that any of my dreams will come true.”

“I thought that several of them already had.”

“You’re referring to my coming to
New Orleans
and Mardi Gras?
 
That was very nice.”

“That and other things.
 
Tell me whatever dreams you have left and I will personally see to it that they become reality.”

Maria looked up and there was a tentative smile on her face.

“Anything?” she asked in a brighter voice.

“I could say within reason, but I believe you’re not the sort of person who would take advantage of my generous nature.”

The woman bit her lower lip and thought for a few seconds.

Then, she said, “What if I asked you for a new dress?”

“I would think that your dreams could use some improvement, and take you
shoppin
’ immediately.”

“How about a fur coat?”

“You’re not an animal rights activist?”

“Well, actually, I am.
 
I didn’t really want the coat.
 
I just wanted to see what you would say.”

“If you want one, you shall have one.”