Spirit [New Crescent 2] (BookStrand Publishing Romance) (24 page)

Reggie waited for her to continue, but she stayed silent. Finally, Reggie asked, “You had so little power over Vincent yourself. How did you stop him?”

The sorrow in Constance’s face when she replied was heartbreaking and Reggie let her take her time responding. She felt a twinge in her belly when the ghostly woman spoke at last.

“I was with child.” Her tears fell unchecked. “After that first night, my husband never visited my bedchamber again. He’d achieved his goal. I carried his child. We both knew it almost immediately. I could see my future, my child, his instrument.”

Reggie was struck speechless. Without mercy, Constance told her story. “I told my husband that I would kill his son if he laid a hand on Mai again. He went mad with anger, but I knew he’d dare not touch me for fear of hurting his son. My delicate condition gave me a small advantage. I then contacted my father’s lawyer, and we found a good home for the girl. I instructed him not to tell anyone, even me where he’d placed her. He was a kind man. I knew I could trust him with Mai’s future.”

“I’m so sorry, Constance…I…”

Constance ignored her and ruthlessly continued. “I knew what his seed would become. I was no longer a Guardian, but I could still see what would be. What my actions would yield. If I didn’t die in childbirth, my husband would see to it that I would never raise my own child. He would kill me to ensure that I had no influence in the child’s life. It occurred to me that I lived only while I carried his seed.”

“What about the other Guardians? Couldn’t you go to them for help?”

Constance hissed at her in anger. “Fool! I was my husband’s property! No one could interfere. Vincent wouldn’t risk hurting the child, but he still controlled everyone in this house. When I tried to leave, he sent men out to bring me back and made me watch while he whipped a young servant in my place. After that no one dared help me. I was watched every second of every day. I tried to get a message to my family, but my messenger never returned. I could not ask another innocent to risk their life for me.”

“So what did you do?”

“I incubated his seed. At first, I refused to think of it as mine. The child was a parasite that would lead to my death. I tried to stop eating, but the thing inside me demanded sustenance, and I was too weak to resist.”

Reggie looked at Constance with horror. The ghost sneered at her. “I disgust you, don’t I, Regina? Don’t judge me too harshly. I was a victim of my own destiny. I couldn’t hate my child. Every day he grew inside me I knew a love unlike anything else I’d ever imagined. My dreams were filled with the exquisite joy of feeding my son from my breasts. My instinct to love and protect him was primal and beyond my control.”

She started to keen. This was not the quiet, discreet expression of a remembered grief. This was the gut wrenching assault of fresh loss.

There was nothing Reggie could do to console her, so without a word she waited for Constance to calm down. Her own tears, she wiped from her face with the back of her hand.

Constance drew her dignity around her like a cloak. She straightened her shoulders and held her head high. In a flat tone, she addressed Reggie.

“Is there anything else you’d like me to relive for you?”

“No! Constance, I didn’t know. I had no idea of what you’d endured. How could I have known?”

She just looked at Reggie blankly.

“I’m more sorry than I can say, Constance, but at the risk of sounding cruel, I have to remind you that that was a long time ago. Somehow, you managed to neutralize Vincent until now. You have to help me end all of this. Maybe then you can cross over and be with your child.”

The fury Constance aimed at Reggie was equally self-directed. Her image flared and blinded Reggie for a split second. Dizzy, Reggie lost her balance and reached for the stone bench to break her fall. Landing hard on one knee, she cried out in pain.

Constance’s image softened and grew hazy. Reggie could hear the regret in her voice as she faded away. “Forgive me, forgive…forgive.”

Using the bench as support, Reggie regained her footing and limped into the house. All she wanted was a long hot bath…and maybe some cookies. She hesitated in the hallway…food or bath…bath or food?

Chase saw her as she stood indecisively motionless in the hall. Concerned, he asked, “Reggie? Are you okay?”

She smiled at him. “I will be. I hurt my knee.”

He was on his own knees in front of her in the blink of an eye. Idly, Reggie wondered if his position was just what would get Travis the answer he sought from Gillian on the whole marriage question. She winced as Chase touched her bruised flesh.

“Ouch!”

“Sorry. I had to determine if anything was broken.”

She looked crossly at him. “Nothing’s broken except my silence.”

He stifled a snort. “Where were you heading?”

She sighed. “I want a hot bath and a cookie.”

Trying not to laugh at her, Chase said, “I’ll carry you upstairs and run you a bath. I’ll give you fifteen minutes and bring up milk and cookies. Okay?”

He was so sweet, she wanted to cry, but all she did was nod at him. He swept her into his arms with ease. She loved him just a little more for that. And he took her upstairs.

In the bathroom adjoining her bedroom, Chase started the bath. He turned to her and asked, “Do you need help with your clothes?”

She shared her smile with him. “I think I can manage just this once, but can I have a rain check?”

Chase laughed. “As you wish.” He walked out. When he started back down the stairs he hollered, “And remember, no honeysuckle, unless you aim to render me impotent.”

Carefully, she shed her clothes. Her knee hurt, but she felt tension in her entire body as well. She’d been taking quite a beating these past few days. Constance’s revelations were horrific, and her stomach lurched as she remembered all that she’d learned about the Bennett marriage.

She couldn’t wait to talk to Chase and get his take on what Constance had revealed, but Reggie wondered how she’d find the words to describe an eighteen-year-old girl’s pain. Steam rose from the tub, and she tested the water with one hand. She liked it hot but not that hot. She turned the cold water knob a fraction of an inch. Avoiding the honeysuckle bath bubbles, she reached for lavender with a fond smile.

The water reached the perfect temperature, and Reggie eased herself into the tub. She was just moaning with pleasure when Chase came in with a tray.

“Yup. I’ve heard that sound before.” He held a chocolate chip cookie to her mouth.

She swallowed a mouthful of cookie. “Yes you have heard that sound, but you haven’t heard what I learned from Constance just now.”

Her bath water was tepid when she finished telling Chase what Constance had revealed. He was silent after she stopped talking. Reggie sat up in the tub and started to get out. Her tears were a little warmer than the water she soaked in, and she knew it was time to get out.

Chase wrapped a white fluffy bath sheet around her and helped her to dry off. It felt wonderful to be so pampered, and it surprised Reggie that he could be so nurturing. How little she knew about him, even after all these years. Wrapped in her terry robe, Reggie stretched out on the bed. Both Pru and Pita joined her.

“I pushed Constance hard today. It wasn’t easy. She was almost mad with grief, and I can’t blame her. What did she ever do to deserve such a fate?”

Chase looked sad. “What makes you think our fates are earned?”

Reggie sighed. “I guess you’re right, but it’s all so horrible.” She put a hand on her tummy as her stomach churned with anxiety. “How does knowing all of this, help us to beat Vincent, except that now we’re both a whole lot more motivated?”

“I don’t know, but have you ever wondered why Vincent stays in the library while Constance moves about pretty freely?” Chase asked. She frowned at him, and he said, “I think there’s something in the library he’s protecting. Maybe it’s the key to the source of his power.”

“Makes sense, but what do you suggest we do about it?”

“Why not ask Constance? She’s finally opening up to you. Maybe she’ll help us search the library.”

Reggie played with the belt on her robe. “I could try. If we’re going back into the library tomorrow, I’d appreciate Constance’s backup.”

Chase sat on the edge of the bed beside her reclining form. He too played with the belt of her robe.

She smiled up at him and said, “I feel a rain check coming on. I would appreciate some help with my clothes.”

He grinned and dispensed with her robe smoothly. He worshipped her body with his eyes, his mouth, his tongue, and, yes, even his teeth. She writhed in response and tried to pull at his clothing, but he forestalled her. He wasn’t finished yet. His mouth traveled down her body, and she arched her back and thrust her hips up to meet his talented mouth. My God, the man was an artist. She lost all conscious thought as sensation shattered her control and she cried out her release. He looked at her with such an expression of triumph on his face, Reggie took it as a challenge and proceeded to undress him.

* * * *

In the middle of the night, together, they raided the refrigerator and hauled their score up to the bedroom where they picnicked naked on the massive bed.

After biting into his peanut butter sandwich, Chase said, “We’re gonna leave crumbs. I just want to go on record that you can’t kick me out of bed for it.”

“I’ll try to remember that.”

“I got some good news today.”

Reggie smiled. “Well, don’t keep me waiting. What news?”

“Jade’s coming home.”

Reggie remembered Chase’s stepsister and how close he’d been to her. In their youth, Jade had trailed after her older brother like a puppy. Because Chase didn’t mind, neither did the rest of them. Despite their own immaturity, Reggie, Travis, Chase, and Sam understood what being included in their group meant to the little girl. She was included in everything. Jade Adams had been a chubby little adolescent eager to grow up. Animals loved her, and she loved them right back. She could calm even the most agitated dog or cat despite her inexperience. It was a wonder to watch her with an animal who was frightened or in pain. She had a magic touch. Finally, Jade was coming home. It made Chase so happy, and Reggie said a silent word of thanks to her young friend.

“Jade’s coming back to New Crescent. I think that’s wonderful, Chase. It’s been a long time since I saw her last. When was it?” Reggie tried to recall.

“My mother’s funeral, I guess.”

Reggie nodded. “Yeah, I remember her pale face. She was devastated, and it showed in every part of her body. Those beautiful green eyes looked huge and so sad.” She turned to see the pain in Chase’s face.

“I’m sorry, Chase. I didn’t mean to be so insensitive.” She hugged him close.

He smiled at her and shook his head.

“It’s okay. It’s the truth. Jade was devastated when my mother died. I’m just relieved she’s finally coming to live in New Crescent again.”

“Will she live with you in your house?”

Chase nodded, “She’ll live in the bungalow. I’m going to give her my bedroom. Women need more space.”

Reggie nibbled on a celery stick and said, “How observant you are. Jade’s, what? Five-feet-three tops. She’s almost two feet shorter than you, but she needs more room.” She laughed at him.

Chase shook his head. “Jade comes with a menagerie of animals. I’ve lost track of the last tally, but believe me, she’ll need the room.”

“So when are Jade and the ark of animals going to arrive?”

“I’ve asked her to wait until you and I destroy Vincent. She’s so gentle and sensitive I don’t think it would be good for her to be here right now.”

Reggie said, with a teasing lilt in her voice, “So I guess I’m not gentle and sensitive then.”

He shook his head vehemently, “I didn’t say that. You’re stronger, one of the strongest people I’ve ever known.” He took her head in his hands and kissed her before he continued. “You doubt yourself but you shouldn’t. Sometimes your bravado is utterly false. I’ve seen through you for years.”

In a mocking tone, she said, “My, how Clark Kent of you. Does that mean you have x-ray vision?” She frowned at him. “Have you been peeking at my underwear?”

He laughed. “I see through that too, Crash.”

She looked unsure, and he explained. “Your sense of humor is your armor. Nothing hurts you if you can laugh at it. It took me a long time to understand that about you.”

“So you’ve been trying to figure me out have you? Tell me what else you know about me.” Stretched out on her side, she propped her head up with her elbow.

“You like bubble baths and long walks on the beach. Oh, and piña coladas and getting caught in the rain.” He laughed.

She pushed at him playfully, “Not fair!”

“I think it is. I’m tired, and I need to get some sleep. Care to join me?”

She snuggled down beside him and said, “Since you ask so nicely.”

* * * *

The next morning she dropped by her parents’ place just in time to help make breakfast. While she cooked eggs and bacon, she filled her parents in on what progress she’d made on the house.