Moonwitch by Nicole Jordan

existence she would rather not acknowledge. At least her rigid training stood her in good stead, allowing her to maintain an appearance of cool composure. In truth, she was struggling with shame and mortification, for now that she had time for calm reflection, she greatly regretted her rash behavior. Throwing away her innocence because of a childish desire for vengeance hadn’t solved her problem with Avery. She would still have to deal with that when she returned home.
    “Is this the place?” Kyle asked after a time, interrupting her thoughts.
    Seeing the plantation house gleaming in the moonlight, Selena nodded. “Perhaps you shouldn’t come any closer,” she said, thinking of Avery. “You might be seen.”
    “Very well. Where are the stables? I’ll put your horse away.”
    Selena thought about protesting, but the hard edge to his tone warned her he wouldn’t brook a refusal. “Along this path,” she replied quietly, “beyond a stand of mango trees. The second stall on the right.”
    Kyle halted the mare, then hesitated a moment, as if trying to decide what to say. Putting a finger under her chin, he turned Selena’s face to his. “Look, Miss Markham, I’m sorry about what happened tonight. If I had known—”
    “Please, Captain, I don’t blame you in the least.”
    “Is that supposed to make me feel better?”
    She gave him a faint smile. “Most definitely. You were quite… considerate.”
    She started to dismount then, but Kyle forestalled her with a light grasp on her arm. “Are you going to be all right?” he asked softly, searching her face.
    “Yes,” Selena murmured, uncomfortable with his scrutiny and with the gentle concern she saw in his hazel eyes. She slid from the mare’s back and hurried across the lawn, knowing he was still watching her.
    But when she had mounted the steps to the gallery and entered her bedroom, she froze.
    In the faint light, she could see Edith Markham sitting in a damask wing chair, waiting, her dark eyes gleaming with malice.

Chapter Three
    “I mean to have him,” Edith said at once before Selena even had a chance to react.
    “H-him?” Selena stammered, thinking of the rugged sea captain she had just left.
    “Avery, of course. I intend to be his wife.”
    Selena lighted the lamp on her dressing table as she tried to collect her scattered wits. Why her hands should be shaking, she wasn’t sure, but she clasped them together as she turned to face her stepmother. Edith had changed from her dinner gown and was dressed in a lime-green peignoir that clashed with the soft corals of the bedroom.
    “Don’t play innocent with me, my girl,” Edith demanded when Selena stood there silently. “You came snooping and saw us together, didn’t you?”
    “I thought you were hurt… since you screamed…”
    “I’ve been seeing Avery since Thomas died. Usually we meet at Five Islands plantation, but since it was occupied tonight by that Yankee captain, Avery came here.”
    “Please,” Selena said hoarsely, “I don’t want to hear about it.”
    Edith surveyed Selena’s pale face, taking in her unbound hair and disheveled nightdress. “I was never unfaithful to your father, if that is what concerns you.”
    It was some consolation, at least, Selena thought, feeling a little sick. Realizing she had better sit down, she crossed the room and sank down onto the edge of the bed.
    “Avery only wants to marry you for the plantation, you know,” her stepmother continued. “You were always such an ungainly child. He never would have noticed you if not for your inheritance.”
    The accusation stung Selena, particularly since she suspected it was true. “Perhaps so,” she replied with scarcely bridled anger, “but I didn’t expect him to betray me in my own home!”
    “Oh, come now, Selena, you can’t be that naive. Avery is a man, with a man’s needs. An overnice chit doesn’t interest him. I must say, he couldn’t keep his hands off me once I made it known I