Moontide Embrace (Historical Romance) by Constance O'Banyon Page B
Authors: Constance O'Banyon
Tags: Fiction, adventure, Romance, Historical, Adult, Action, Western, Protest, Murder, Teenager, 19th century, horse, New Orleans, multicultural, seduction, masquerade, kidnapped, escape, Enemy, Notorious, sister, tied up, Brazen Pirate, Wrong Sister, Fondled, Writhed, MOONTIED EMBRACE
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news," Sebastian stated, as he took the glass of wine Louis offered him. Taking a sip, he then balanced the glass on his knee. "My uncle has just learned that my cousin is to return home."
Ursula's brow furrowed as she stared at her husband. She had heard talk that at one time Louis had been in love with Gabrielle Montesquieu. "Can you be speaking of Monsieur Montesquieu's daughter?" she inquired.
"Oui" Sebastian answered, studying the amber-colored liquid in his glass. "I have not seen her in years. Of course, she is some ten years older than I."
Louis seemed to tense. "I know very little about Ga brielle’s life since she left Bend of the River. Is she still married, Sebastian?"
"No, her husband died several years ago. She has a son ... I suppose he would be my second cousin. My uncle assumes she will bring his grandson with her."
Bandera's eyes narrowed in speculation. The Montes quieu fortune was so near her grasp. Could this grandson be a threat to Sebastian's future? She did not want to see her dreams shattered by some long-forgotten family mem ber. "I never knew your uncle had a daughter or a grandson," she stated guardedly. "I always assumed you and your mother were Monsieur Montesquieu's only liv ing relative."
"There is no reason you should have heard about Gabrielle and her son. When my cousin married the American, my uncle disowned her and never acknowl edged the birth of her son. My mother and I are surprised he has done so now."
"Can this mean that your uncle has forgiven his daugh ter?" Bandera wanted to know.
Sebastian shrugged his padded shoulders. "Who can say? I can assure you, I am not looking forward to meeting my American cousin."
"We are all Americans in this room," Liberty reminded Sebastian.
He gave her a half-smile. "Some of us are more Ameri can than others."
"My father believes it is a good thing to be a part of America. He hopes Orleans Territory will one day become a state," Liberty declared.
Sebastian seemed not to hear. He stared into Bandera's eyes and said softly. "It seems I now have a rival for my uncle's affection."
"Gabrielle," Louis said softly. "So she is coming home after all these years. I wonder if she is much changed?"
Ursula felt jealousy tug at her heart. If this Gabrielle was a widow, would she try to win Louis away from her? No, Louis would never love anyone but her. Still she felt a prickle of uneasiness. Louis had been displeased with her quite frequently of late. Did he think she had deliberately ignored their daughter's birthday? she wondered. Good lord, Liberty was her daughter, as she was his. Did he not know that she loved the child?
The night was still, and not a breath of wind stirred the trees outside the plantation house. Darkness covered the land as ominous clouds moved across the moon.
Bandera tossed and turned on her bed, moaning in her sleep. She dreamed that she was running through the swamp, trying to escape from something horrible. Cold sweat popped out on her brow, and she felt herself falling . . . falling . . . falling.
Finally, she landed with a plop, only to find to her dismay that she was in quicksand and sinking fast. Whimpering and whining, she tried to save herself, but each time she struggled, she sank deeper and deeper in the mire. Finally, she saw a shadowy creature standing on the slope, and she reached out her hand for help.
A scream issued from Bandera's lips when she recog nized the old voodoo woman, Zippora. Fear encased her mind, and she was unable to move when the old woman grabbed her hand. But instead of saving her, Zippora brandished a knife and cut off Bandera's finger!
Sitting up in bed, Bandera made little whimpering sounds. The nightmare had been so real that it took her moments to realize she was safe. She felt her finger, and was relieved to find it still intact.
Bandera leaped from her bed, and raced down the hallway to Liberty's bedroom. She jerked the ring from her finger, trying to still the tremors of
Ursula's brow furrowed as she stared at her husband. She had heard talk that at one time Louis had been in love with Gabrielle Montesquieu. "Can you be speaking of Monsieur Montesquieu's daughter?" she inquired.
"Oui" Sebastian answered, studying the amber-colored liquid in his glass. "I have not seen her in years. Of course, she is some ten years older than I."
Louis seemed to tense. "I know very little about Ga brielle’s life since she left Bend of the River. Is she still married, Sebastian?"
"No, her husband died several years ago. She has a son ... I suppose he would be my second cousin. My uncle assumes she will bring his grandson with her."
Bandera's eyes narrowed in speculation. The Montes quieu fortune was so near her grasp. Could this grandson be a threat to Sebastian's future? She did not want to see her dreams shattered by some long-forgotten family mem ber. "I never knew your uncle had a daughter or a grandson," she stated guardedly. "I always assumed you and your mother were Monsieur Montesquieu's only liv ing relative."
"There is no reason you should have heard about Gabrielle and her son. When my cousin married the American, my uncle disowned her and never acknowl edged the birth of her son. My mother and I are surprised he has done so now."
"Can this mean that your uncle has forgiven his daugh ter?" Bandera wanted to know.
Sebastian shrugged his padded shoulders. "Who can say? I can assure you, I am not looking forward to meeting my American cousin."
"We are all Americans in this room," Liberty reminded Sebastian.
He gave her a half-smile. "Some of us are more Ameri can than others."
"My father believes it is a good thing to be a part of America. He hopes Orleans Territory will one day become a state," Liberty declared.
Sebastian seemed not to hear. He stared into Bandera's eyes and said softly. "It seems I now have a rival for my uncle's affection."
"Gabrielle," Louis said softly. "So she is coming home after all these years. I wonder if she is much changed?"
Ursula felt jealousy tug at her heart. If this Gabrielle was a widow, would she try to win Louis away from her? No, Louis would never love anyone but her. Still she felt a prickle of uneasiness. Louis had been displeased with her quite frequently of late. Did he think she had deliberately ignored their daughter's birthday? she wondered. Good lord, Liberty was her daughter, as she was his. Did he not know that she loved the child?
The night was still, and not a breath of wind stirred the trees outside the plantation house. Darkness covered the land as ominous clouds moved across the moon.
Bandera tossed and turned on her bed, moaning in her sleep. She dreamed that she was running through the swamp, trying to escape from something horrible. Cold sweat popped out on her brow, and she felt herself falling . . . falling . . . falling.
Finally, she landed with a plop, only to find to her dismay that she was in quicksand and sinking fast. Whimpering and whining, she tried to save herself, but each time she struggled, she sank deeper and deeper in the mire. Finally, she saw a shadowy creature standing on the slope, and she reached out her hand for help.
A scream issued from Bandera's lips when she recog nized the old voodoo woman, Zippora. Fear encased her mind, and she was unable to move when the old woman grabbed her hand. But instead of saving her, Zippora brandished a knife and cut off Bandera's finger!
Sitting up in bed, Bandera made little whimpering sounds. The nightmare had been so real that it took her moments to realize she was safe. She felt her finger, and was relieved to find it still intact.
Bandera leaped from her bed, and raced down the hallway to Liberty's bedroom. She jerked the ring from her finger, trying to still the tremors of
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