Destiny for Three Read online

  Trey climbed up the stairs as fast as his limp allowed, and went directly to Edward’s bedroom. He stopped at the sound of soft feminine crying. God, was he too late? The sight before him made his heart squeeze painfully in his chest. Jemma was just inside the door, hanky pressed to her mouth to muffle her sobs. Elizabeth was on her knees next to the bed where Edward lay pale and still. She was speaking softly to him as she gently wiped his face with a damp cloth. When she turned and met his gaze, Trey saw her face was nearly as pale as Edward's, and beneath her red-rimmed eyes were dark shadows of fatigue.

  "Trey, thank God." She turned back and stroked her brother's cheek. "He's here, Edward. Trey's here."

  Trey moved close, took Edward's clammy hand in his own and watched his eyes flicker open. "Trey. I...didn't think you'd make it...in time."

  Trey's throat clenched at the sound of his friend's thready voice, and the guilt and shame hit him all over again. “I’m sorry, Edward. I should have been here sooner, I-I’m sorry.”

  Edward's lips twitched in a weak smile. “Trey, it’s all right. You’re…here now.” Edward took a breath and coughed. "I want...want you to promise...to see that Elizabeth is settled…taken care of."

  Trey heard Elizabeth's small intake of breath next to him. He squeezed Edward's hand. “Edward…”

  “Edward,” Elizabeth cut in softly, “please don’t ask that of Trey. I don’t need-”

  “That’s enough, Lizzie. We’ve been over this all day.” Edward coughed again. “You are adamant in your…your refusal to marry Jeff, and I…I don’t have the strength or the time to argue anymore.” Trey winced inwardly as Edward’s gaze focused back on him. "Please, Trey. Promise me." Another shaky breath. "Since the accident, she needs someone."

  If Edward knew the truth about him, he’d never entrust Elizabeth to his care. Hell, Edward did know the truth, just refused to believe it. Edward had believed Trey when he’d denied the ugly rumors. He’d flat out lied to Edward because he couldn’t stand to see the shock and disgust in his best friend’s eyes. Again, he’d been a coward.

  Trey blinked back the scalding tears that gathered in his eyes. "All right. I promise." He knew as he choked out the words, he was selling his own soul, but he could do nothing else.

  Over the next hour, they watched Edward's life seep away by slow, painful degrees. Finally, after one last shuddering gasp, he lay still. Frozen with grief, Trey watched Elizabeth cup Edward's cheek in her hand and bid her brother a tearful good-bye.

  She rose to face him, started to reach out to touch his sleeve then self-consciously pulled back. In her glistening eyes Trey recognized remnants of the shame and heartache he'd inflicted upon her, and despite the fact his rejection of her was completely justifiable, a necessary act of self-preservation, he still couldn't suppress the wave of regret he felt looking at her now.

  After all these years, Trey found the revenge he'd hungered for left a bitter taste in his mouth.

  *

  Thank you, Trey," Elise said hesitantly, painfully aware of his discomfort in her presence. "I know how much it took for you to make that promise. And I want you to know I won't hold you to it. It made Edward's passing easier, and that's all that counts."

  Trey averted his gaze back down to Edward's still form, giving no indication he'd even heard her, so Elise quietly left the room.

  Jemma stopped her in the hall. “You best go on to bed, child."

  Weary to the bone, Elise retreated to her room, undressed and collapsed onto her soft feather mattress. She slept soundly until late into the night then awoke with a start, the dream that had jolted her to consciousness already beyond her recollection. Sighing, she snuggled back down into the covers and tried to go back to sleep, but it was no use. A storm had rumbled to life outside; she could hear the wind through the branches of the trees and the rain beating on the siding of the house. An appropriate ending to an awful day.

  Finally, after what seemed like hours of tossing and tangling herself in the sheets, Elise left her bed and threw on a wrap. Lighting her way with a candle, she went downstairs to the parlor and poured herself a glass of port from a crystal decanter. The sudden scraping of a match being struck across the room made her jump. Whirling toward the direction of the sound, Elise saw a face appear in the darkened corner, dimly illuminated by the tiny flame.

  Trey. Sprawled in a chair, he lit the cigar clenched between his teeth, then the flame was snuffed, and he vanished into the darkness once again.

  Elise pressed her hand against her pounding heart. "Good God, you scared me. I didn't know anyone else was up at this hour." Silence greeted her, and she squinted to barely make out his form in the murky corner. "What are you doing here, anyway? It's the middle of the night."

  Finally his voice drifted out of the gloom. "Same thing you are, I suppose."

  "I thought you'd be back at Hopeton. I didn't realize you were spending the night.”

  “Can’t you hear the storm outside? I’d rather not ride through it to get home.”

  Elise saw the tip of the cigar glow orange for a second as Trey took a draw. "And you're having trouble sleeping, too," she observed quietly.

  "I've got a lot on my mind." His voice was flat, emotionless. It was clear he wasn't going to elaborate and he wasn't in the mood for company. Or perhaps it was her company in particular he couldn't stand, Elise thought with a pang of heartache.

  "Well, I won't bother you any longer." Motioning with her glass, she continued, "I'll just take this back up to my room. Goodnight."

  “What am I going to do with you, Elizabeth?”

  Elise froze in her tracks and turned back. "Excuse me?"

  “I promised Edward that I’d see you’re settled.” He sounded as if he had to force each word past his lips.

  Elise raised her chin a notch. "I'm a grown woman. I don't need anyone to take care of me.”

  There was a pause as the cigar tip glowed again. “Seems to me that you only have two options. Marry Jeff Turner or come to New York with me. And seeing as how you’re refusing Turner, I imagine that leaves me with no choice but take you to New York."

  “Thanks, but no thanks. And as for Jeff, he seems nice enough, but I'm not going to marry a man I don't love.” She’d nearly done that a week ago, in another century. She wouldn't let herself make the same mistake again. Elise paused, peering into the darkness across the room then sighed in frustration. "Look, would you mind coming out of that corner? I feel like I'm arguing with a disembodied voice and it's giving me the creeps."

  She heard his grunt of annoyance, but he ground out his cigar and stood up. He moved across the room to pour himself another brandy, his limp pronounced without the support of his cane. Her irritation with him softened a bit. “Trey, I refuse to be a burden on you when the only reason you’re offering is because of an obligation to Edward. Be honest with me, would you be asking me to come with you if Edward hadn’t forced you to make that promise?” The only answer she received was a distinct stiffening of his back as he took a gulp of brandy from his glass.

  Elise's heart sank. "That's what I thought." Sighing, she walked over to the piano, then set down her glass and absently caressed one of the ivory keys as she contemplated her next words. "Look, I made a fool of myself the other night, telling you...well, you know what I said." She had to pause as a wave of humiliation threatened to set the tears flowing freely again. She steeled herself; she would not cry. "It was a mistake. But at least now I know exactly where I stand, and I will not put myself into a situation that would make us both miserable. You because of your inability to forget or forgive what happened before, and me because..." Her voice broke softly, but she cleared her throat and went on. "Well, let's just say I'm not a glutton for punishment. So you see you're wasting your breath trying to change my mind. Please, just go back to New York."

  "I intend to," Trey answered coolly, turning toward her. "Just as soon as you're packed."

  Elise tamped down a shiver of excitement at his word
s. "Did you hear any of what I just said? How much plainer do I have to be? No! I'm not going!"

  Trey shrugged. “Fine. Then marry Turner."

  "I can’t believe you’re being so pigheaded about this. I’ll stay here and-"

  "And what," Trey demanded, a thread of disdain woven into his voice. "Run this plantation yourself?" At Elise's uneasy nod, he snorted. "What the devil do you know about running this place? You've never shown any interest in making money, just spending it. You haven't the knowledge or the capital to drag Cottonwood out of debt."

  Elise chewed at the inside of her lower lip. She'd spoken without thinking. Of course she knew how to run a small business, but a rice plantation? She hadn't the slightest notion of the requirements of managing a working plantation. More than a bit embarrassed by her lack of forethought, she inquired, "Exactly how deep in debt is Cottonwood?"

  "Too deep for you to dig out. When your father died, he left Edward up to his neck in it. There's no way on earth you're going to be able to pay off the creditors. You've got no choice but to sell out, Elizabeth."

  Elise was hit with a wave of helplessness as she realized Trey was probably right. As much as she liked to think of herself as a self-sufficient twenty-first century woman, she had to recognize that things had changed. It wasn't the twenty-first century anymore, it was 1850, and a woman in the mid-nineteenth century wasn't afforded the option of independence, especially a woman with no family, no friends and no money.

  "So what will it be, sweetheart? Will you be coming to New York, or staying here as Mrs. Jeff Turner?"

  Elise gazed into Trey's hard amber stare, frustration welling within her breast. "I think you already know the answer to that."

  There was a spark of something in his eyes at her words--anger? "It's settled then. I'll contact Edward's lawyer in Savannah and have him make arrangements for Cottonwood's sale."

  "What about the slaves? What will happen to them?"

  "That's up to you, I suppose. They could be sold with the property-"

  "No," Elise insisted. "I want them to have their freedom."

  Trey studied her curiously for a moment, then his mouth quirked in a wry smile. "How very noble of you, but have you given any thought to what will become of them once they have their papers of manumission? How will they support themselves? No one around these parts will hire a free Negro. Life for them could be a whole lot tougher as free men than as slaves."

  Elise thought for a moment. "We'll give them a choice then. Those that want to can come north with us. You have connections in New York, don't you? We can help them get settled into a new life, see that those who'd like an education have the opportunity to better themselves." She wanted to somehow make up for some of Elizabeth's wrongs. "It's the least I owe them."

  Again, that skeptical look from Trey. "Very well, Elizabeth. I suppose we can work something out. I'll begin the necessary steps tomorrow." He turned away slightly, as if annoyed with her, took another sip of brandy and mumbled, "And I'll telegraph ahead to New York to let my family know we'll be having a guest."

  Elise noticed he said the last words with about as much eagerness as a man reciting his last request on the way to the gallows. She felt her face heat up. It hurt. And it made her angry. Unwilling to give in to self-pity again, she blinked back the tears. "Try to contain your enthusiasm, Kingston," she snapped as she brushed passed him on her way out of the room. "It's making me blush."

  His anger suddenly unleashed, Trey slammed down his glass and grabbed Elise's arm as she passed by. Pulling her to face him, his fingers dug into her upper arms, his dark brows wicked slashes above fiery eyes. "You want enthusiasm?" He crushed her against him, his mouth swooping down to capture hers, savagely.

  There was no tenderness in this kiss, no tentative probing of the tongue before it demanded entrance into her mouth, thrusting hungrily in and out, stealing away her breath, and her will to resist. As quickly as he'd taken possession, he pulled back, leaving her stunned and wanting. Elise inhaled his breath, coming in rapid gusts against her lips, felt his anger and torment envelop her.

  "Is that enthusiastic enough for you?" Trey demanded. "If not, I could lift your nightgown and fuck you here on the floor. Would that be enough to demonstrate just how thrilled I am that you're coming with me?" His intense gaze seared Elise, daring her, willing her to deny him.

  But denying him never occurred to her.

  The fierceness of his kiss had kindled a spreading fire deep in her belly, a pulsing heat that settled between her legs and begged to be quenched. At the moment, it didn't matter that he didn't care for her. She could feel the hardness of his erection press against her belly. He wanted her. And she wanted him, desperately.

  Her hands trailed over his wide shoulders, then up to grasp his head, her fingers tangling into his crisp hair. “Don’t stop.” She pulled his head down, capturing his mouth with an intensity that surprised even her. She muffled his groan with her tongue, tasting, taking what she needed, thrilling when he responded in kind, crushing her against his hard body.

  Oh, God, she was so incredibly aroused! She’d never considered herself to be an easy lay, but if he pulled her down to the floor and fucked her silly, she would be the happiest woman in the world. Her empty pussy clenched and ached with the need to have him fill her.

  Besides the ticking of the mantel clock, their harsh rasping breaths were the only noise in the quiet room as they devoured one another, their mouths grinding together, tongues twining and wrestling in a hungry primal dance. Trey reached between them and grasped her breast, his touch rough and demanding, eliciting a growling purr from Elise.

  She pulled back a fraction of an inch, whispering against his mouth, “Yes. Do it, please. Pinch my nipple,” then gasped when he did. Her fingers tore impatiently at her robe, tangling with his as he tried to help. Then his hand was slipping down under the neckline of her shift, the heat of his palm scorching her naked breast, kneading and milking the sensitive flesh, rolling and pinching her hard aching nipple until she cried out and pushed into his hand.

  He tore his mouth from hers and forged a hot, wet trail of hungry kisses to her neck, pausing to bite the taut cord of tendon below her ear, following it down to her collarbone, then lower. She clasped handfuls of his hair and pulled his head against her breast, whimpering and arching back as he licked her puckered nipple. He drew it deeply into his mouth, sucking hard, scoring it lightly with his teeth as he pulled back, then laving it with his tongue. Moving over, he ravished her other breast in the same carnal fashion.

  His mouth moved so deliciously on her breasts that Elise didn’t notice his hands moving downward until they were gathering up the hem of her shift. The instant his hand wedged between her legs, she felt the hot flow of her juices wetting her pussy in eager anticipation.

  “Jesus, Elizabeth…” he groaned against her breast as his fingers glided through her slick folds. “You’re so wet.”

  “I want you,” Elise panted. “Please, Trey…”

  A thunk sounded in the hallway outside the room and Trey pulled his mouth from her breast. “Shit. Someone else is up.”

  Elise wanted to scream when he removed his hand from between her thighs and pulled the front of her robe together. She stood shaking as he backed away with a grimace then watched the doorway warily.

  Footsteps shuffled closer. Jemma appeared, poking her head inside the room. “Miss Lizzie! And Mistuh Trey, what’re the two of you doin’ up at this hour?”

  Elise picked up her glass of port with trembling hands as Trey moved back into the shadowy corner of the room. “It’s all right, Jemma. I couldn’t sleep and came down for a drink. It seems Mr. Kingston had the same problem.” She cleared her throat. “We were just talking about Edward, and how much we’ll miss him.” She hoped if Edward’s spirit was still around to hear her, he’d forgive her for her lie.

  Jemma’s eyebrows drew together suspiciously. “Well, you best be gettin’ yourself back to bed. It ain’t seemly f
or a young lady to be up at all hours of the night. ‘Specially alone wid’ a man. No offense, Mistuh Trey.”

  “None taken, Jemma,” Trey answered from the shadows. “You’re right, of course. Goodnight, Elizabeth. Thank you for the company.”

  “Goodnight, Mr. Kingston,” Elise replied miserably and followed Jemma back upstairs on shaky legs.

  ****

  They buried Edward in the small family plot next to the orchard. The funeral was short, attended by a good number of neighbors and friends who came to pay their respects. Elise knew they came because Edward was well-liked; Elizabeth, not so much. Despite their coolness toward her, she thanked each one for their attendance and support. Trey hovered at the edge of the small gathering of mourners, spoke to no one, and disappeared immediately after the service. He’d spent long hours seeing to the settlement of Edward’s affairs, and for that Elise was grateful, but she couldn’t help but wonder at his antisocial behavior. He’d grown up in this area, spent the better part of his life with these people, yet he acted and seemed to be perceived as an outsider.

  “Here you are, honey. I thought you could use something cool to drink.” Jeff Turner pressed a sweating glass of sweet tea into Elise’s hand. “Is there anything else I can get you? Perhaps a little something to eat?” He motioned to the dining table where the mourners were milling about, helping themselves to the array of food that had been laid out.

  “No, thank you, Jeff. I’m really not very hungry.” Elise smiled and took a sip of the tea.

  Jeff gazed at her critically. “You should eat something. You need to keep up your strength. You’re still recovering from your accident, and now with Edward’s death...well, I’m worried about you.”

  Elise was touched by his concern and tried to reassure him. “Please, don’t worry over me. We’ll all miss Edward, but I’ll manage.”

  “You shouldn’t be alone, Elizabeth. I know I promised to give you some time to plan the wedding, but you need someone to look after you. You need a husband, now.”