Authors: Constance O'Banyon
He sat down on the bed and touched her lips. “If I stay, Alexandria, it will have to be because you want me to. Say the word and I’ll leave now.”
Suddenly, the age-old battle raged inside of Alexandria. She wanted him to make love to her, and yet she knew it was wrong. She could see him tensely waiting for her reply. She reached for his hand and placed it on her breasts.
The groan that issued from his lips was smothered when his lips covered hers in a mind-destroying kiss. Tag could feel the burning need deep inside him as he broke off the kiss and slipped her nightgown off her shoulders and down past her hips. Alexandria raised her hips and he removed the nightgown and tossed it to the floor.
He allowed his eyes to move over her body, and he drew in his breath at how lovely she was. Before, when he had made love to her, it had been dark, and he hadn’t realized how perfect she was. As his eyes examined every inch of her, his hands followed the same course.
Alexandria could see the admiration in Tag’s eyes, and she shivered with delight as his hands moved up her legs, across her rib cage, and then circled one of her breasts.
When his head dipped down to explore her breasts, he circled each nipple with his tongue and felt them harden to rosebud tips. There was an urgency about him as he stood and stripped off his clothing. When he returned to Alexandria, she stretched out her arms to him and he pulled her tightly to him. “I need you tonight sweet, sweet, Alexandria,” he breathed hotly in her ear.
For a long moment Tag just held her to him, loving the way she fit so perfectly against his body. Neither of them spoke as he stroked her softly. His mind was swirling and he felt a whirlwind of feelings when he turned her to her back and knelt over her. He could see that her amber eyes were glowing as he slowly moved forward and entered her body.
At first he went slowly, wanting to give her pleasure, but soon the tide of passion clutched them both in its grip and they moved together in frenzied lovemaking.
Alexandria threw her head back as Tag’s lips moved down her throat to encircle her breast. This couldn’t be wrong, she told herself. Nothing that felt so right and beautiful could be considered wrong. The love she felt for him seemed to spill over her like a volcano erupting.
“Tag, Tag,” she murmured softly, as he took her body higher then she had ever flown before.
Tag tore his lips from her breast and groaned when he returned to bruise her lips with a savage kiss.
They were both swept into a world of touching and feeling. Their senses were heightened by the fact that this time they could watch each other’s face. Tag thrust forward and saw Alexandria’s golden eyes glaze with passion. Suddenly he knew what was different when he made love to Alexandria. With Morning Song, he had always felt somehow unfulfilled—but with Alexandria he found total satisfaction.
Alexandria turned her head, arched her hips, and they both felt their bodies explode in a red-hot blaze of sensuous feeling. They clutched each other tightly until the tremors that shook them ceased.
Alexandria closed her eyes, feeling as if she had been born for this moment. It was as if their hearts had been twined together and no one could ever break them apart. She wanted to give voice to the love that seemed to swell in her heart, wondering if Tag felt it also, but she kept her silence. If she ever admitted she loved him, he might resent her tender feelings for him. She must never allow herself to forget that he had once told her he had loved but one woman and would never love again.
Tag pulled Alexandria’s head to rest against his chest. He had the feeling that he wanted to absorb her into his body and make her a part of him. When this long ordeal with Claudia was over and he had seen it to its conclusion, he wanted to ask…no, beg Alexandria to be his wife. He wanted to tell her
of his deep feelings for her, but for some reason he couldn’t seem to find the right words. He had transmitted his love to her when he took her body. Every move he had made—every kiss he had given her had told her of his love.
Tag kissed her on the forehead and sat up reluctantly. “I must go now. It wouldn’t be wise for me to be found in your room when morning comes. I do want to ask something of you, Alexandria, and I hope you will think hard before giving me your answer.”
“What?”
“Come home with me now. I don’t want you to stay in this house for another day. I worry about you.”
“I cannot come with you now, Tag. When this is all over I will leave, but it will not be with you. After tonight I just want you to leave me alone.”
He looked at her long and hard. When he stood up and moved away Alexandria wanted to call him back, but she clamped her lips tightly together. She watched silently as he dressed and walked to the door.
Without another word, he opened the door. When he left she wanted to call him back. She bit her lip so she wouldn’t cry out for him not to leave. How empty the room seemed when he had gone. How void her life would be without him. If only she had somewhere to go, she would leave and close this chapter of her life forever. Ever since she had met Tag, it had been a little like living on the edge of a volcano and never knowing when trouble would erupt. She didn’t know how much longer she could go on this way.
She turned her face into the pillow, feeling her heartache like a knife in her heart. She loved Tag, and she would love him until she died. She would never be able to put him out of her thoughts. He would always live in her heart.
Claudia awoke and leisurely stretched her arms upward. Her head was pounding, and she felt as if the inside of her mouth were filled with cotton. She sat up and smiled, remembering the night before. Most of it was no more than a
foggy dream, and she didn’t know for sure where her memory left off and her fantasy took over. All she knew for sure was that she had never spent the night in such complete bliss. She could hardly wait to see Falcon again!
The door was opened, and the housekeeper, Mrs. Dodson, bustled in carrying a breakfast tray, which she placed on Claudia’s lap.
“It’ll take a week for me to get this place cleaned up after last night, with the help being what it is, Mrs. Landon. There isn’t a good day’s work between the lot of them—I can tell you that.”
Claudia smiled in unusual good humor. “I trust you can handle it, Dodson. Have I had any messages?” she asked, hoping there would be some word from Falcon, since she had been asleep when he left.
“As it happens, cook says this letter came by messenger this morning,” Mrs. Dodson said, handing the letter to Claudia, then turning away to straighten the room.
Claudia took the envelope and stared at the bold handwriting, hoping it would be from Falcon. “You know very well I can’t read, Dodson. Send that girl Alexandria to me immediately, and hurry.”
Claudia could hardly contain her excitement as she waited for Alexandria to come. She broke the seal and held the letter up to the light. She just knew it would be from Falcon…who else could it be from?
Alexandria entered Claudia’s bedroom reluctantly. She tried whenever possible to avoid the woman, but she could hardly ignore a direct order.
Claudia was propped up in bed, eating a hearty breakfast. She frowned at Alexandria and motioned for her to be seated beside her.
“Read this to me,” she mumbled, with her mouth full of food. “Who does it say it’s from?”
Alexandria turned the envelope over. “It merely says your name on the front.”
“Well, read the letter to me, you foolish girl, and don’t dawdle! What does it say?”
Alexandria scanned the page quickly and drew in her breath. “I…think this must be some kind of cruel jest,” she said. Scanning to the bottom of the letter, she saw Tag’s signature and drew in her breath.
“What does it say?” Claudia demanded.
Alexandria’s heart was thundering in her breast, and her hands began to tremble. Tag had started his campaign against Claudia! She cleared her throat and began to read:
Claudia,
I know you have been expecting to hear from me. Never fear, I am always watching your every move. I know everything you do. I even know you entertained a certain gentleman in your bedroom last night by the name of Falcon Knight. We have an old score to settle>—you and I. I know you are the one who had my wife killed. How frightening it must be for you to have a faceless enemy. Do you sleep well at night, Claudia? Do you ever go out of the house alone? I look forward to meeting you again after all these years.
Taggart James
Alexandria was unprepared for the woman’s reaction. Claudia bounced out of bed and raced down the hallway screaming at the top of her lungs.
“He’s here, he’s going to kill me!”
Alexandria tossed the letter on the bed and ran after Claudia. Seeing that the distraught woman had dashed into Mr. Landon’s room, Alexandria followed her, but she remained in the outer room where she could hear what was being said without being seen.
“Howard, you’ve got to do something! Tag is here, and he had made threats to me. Help me, please help me! You’ve got to tell him that it was you who had his wife killed. He won’t hurt you, Howard. Tell him you are responsible for his wife’s death!”
Alexandria heard Mr. Landon’s laughter. “I…knew he was back, Claudia. I think…he will deal with you…soon. Why…did you have…his wife killed?
Alexandria could hear the humor in Mr. Landon’s voice and realized he was enjoying his wife’s anguish; he was even adding fuel to the flames.
“How could you know he was back?” Claudia’s voice was bordering on hysteria.
“Never mind…how I know.”
“Tell me what he looks like so I’ll know him when I see him,” she cried.
Howard’s hideous laughter rang out. “How…should I know…what he looks like?”
Claudia glared at her husband. “I’m not alone in this, Howard. It was you who stole the James fortune and had Tag and Joanna’s father murdered. When I go down, I’ll take you with me,” Claudia threatened.
“What more…can be done to…me, Claudia? Have I not suffered all these years…having you…as my wife? If Tag killed me, it would…be a blessing.”
“You are a monster!” Claudia raged. “How can you make light of this?” Claudia was so distraught, it didn’t even occur to her that she was understanding Howard’s speech. She didn’t realize that when he wanted to, he could speak well enough.
“I don’t, my…dear. You see, I…enjoy a good joke, even if it is on…me, and especially…if it’s on you.”
“I will go to the authorities and demand that they do something. Surely there is a law about threatening people’s lives,” Claudia said, wringing her hands.
“You do…that, Claudia, and when…they ask you who this person is that…threatened you, tell them that he’s the person whose home…you treat as your own…and whose wife was killed by the men you…hired to kill…him.”
Claudia’s face became distorted with anger. “All you care about is lying in your bed and staring at that damned picture of Joanna. Do you think I don’t know why you keep Alexandria around? I’m also aware of her resemblance to Joanna. Enjoy her while you can, because I’ll yet find a way to be rid of her—just mark my words, Howard.”
Alexandria stayed to hear no more. She slipped out of the
room and up the stairs to her own room. She wanted to send Tag word about what Claudia’s reaction had been to his letter. She felt strongly that things would soon come to a conclusion, now that Tag had decided to make his move. Surely, it wouldn’t be too long until the whole thing would blow up!
Tag read the note Mrs. Green handed him in silence, while Farley looked on.
“What does Alex have to say? I miss her ’round here—when’s she coming home?” the old trapper wanted to know.
“She doesn’t say here, Farley. She says only that Claudia received my letter, and it had the desired effect.”
“I don’t like that little lady being mixed up in this nasty business. I wish she were safely out of it. All hell’s gonna break loose in the next few days, and she’ll be caught right in the middle of it,” Farley stated.
“There isn’t anything I can do, Farley. As I said before, she has a mind of her own and I damned sure can’t change it for her.” Tag remembered the night before when he had held Alexandria warm and yielding in his arms. She had given him all he had asked of her. Today her letter had been cold and impersonal, and he felt confused.
“Ain’t a woman always saying opposite of what she’s thinking? What you should have done was to bring her back here with or without her permission.”
“Not likely. She is as stubborn and bullheaded as Joanna. When she gets a notion in her head, no one can change it.”
“I don’t think you are feeling brotherly toward our little lady. To my way of thinking, you are having too much thought ’bout her lately.”
“You want to know the trouble with you, Farley? You think too damn much,” Tag said, stalking out of the room.
The old man’s face crinkled as his laughter followed Tag up the stairs. “I figure you got it bad for her,” he called out, slapping his legs with mirth.
It was two days after the masquerade ball, and Claudia now very rarely came out of her room. Her curtains were drawn, and Alexandria had heard from Mrs. Dodson that she was nervous and jumped at every noise. Mrs. Dodson declared she was not too happy about going into Claudia’s room. The housekeeper complained that Mrs. Landon kept a gun under her pillow and aimed it at her every time she entered her bedroom, claiming someone was trying to kill her.
Alexandria had noticed that Claudia’s lawyer had come to the house several times, but she had no notion as to what the two of them had discussed.
Mr. Landon was growing steadily weaker, and this seemed to cause Claudia much distress. Alexandria knew Claudia feared that if he died she would be turned out of the house.
The doctor had been sent for, and he informed Alexandria that Mr. Landon was failing rapidly. He cautioned her to keep him as quiet as possible and allow no one to upset him.
As she sat beside Mr. Landon’s bed reading his favorite book aloud, Alexandria noticed that his eyes kept wondering to the portrait of Joanna.
“If only…Joanna had come,” he said in a strangled voice. “If only…I could…look upon…her face once…more before I die.”
Alexandria closed the book and patted his hand. “You shouldn’t talk such nonsense, Mr. Landon. Nothing is going to happen to you.”
He smiled as his eyes lighted on her curly head. “You can’t…fool…an old trickster, Alexandria. We both know…it’s just a…matter of time…for me.”
She stood up and opened the window so the morning
breeze would penetrate the room. “I won’t listen to such talk! You and I will prove the doctor wrong,” she said, thinking that she had grown very fond of the sick old man.
He motioned for her to come closer. “I…believe…you really mean that, Alexandria. I can’t tell…you what a joy you have been…to me. You have…brought a…ray of sunshine into my drab…existence.”
She sat down once more and held on to his hand. “You have also brought some substance to my life. I have enjoyed the times we have shared, Mr. Landon.”
“If you…consider me your…friend, Alexandria, tell me what…is bothering you. Sometimes…I can tell you are troubled about…something. I am not without…influence, if you are in some kind of…trouble…I can…help you.”
“I don’t want to talk about me. Besides, the doctor said he didn’t want you upset, remember?
“I will be upset…if you don’t…tell me…what you fear,” he said, looking deeply into her amber eyes.
“I…it’s hard to talk about.”
“Try.”
For some reason, Alexandria had the feeling she could trust Howard Landon. After all, he hadn’t betrayed Tag to Claudia. He might have done some bad things in the past, but she felt he had changed. Perhaps she could end her dependency on Tag if she were to talk to Mr. Landon about her problems, she thought.
“I am afraid you may not think very highly of me when you learn what I have done.”
“Tell…me, and let me judge…for myself, Alexandria.”
She took a deep breath, not knowing where to begin. “I was born and raised on a large farm in Valley Forge. My mother died when I was young, and my father remarried. My stepmother, Barbara, has a son named Rodney who is some ten years older than I. When my father died, she found out the farm had been left to me by my mother’s father. Barbara must have decided that if she were going to keep control of
Meadowlake, she would have to force me to marry my stepbrother, Rodney.”
Alexandria’s voice faltered, and Howard could tell she was having trouble reliving what had happened to her. He patted her hand comfortingly. “Go on, Alexandria…what happened next?” he urged.
“Barbara and Rodney forced me to come here to Philadelphia, where her sister lives. They found a parson who was willing to marry me to Rodney without my consent. You can imagine how horrified I was! There was no one to whom I could turn for help. The night before the wedding was to take place, Rodney came to my bedroom and tried to…he was…”
“I know what…you are trying…to say, Alexandria. Go on from…there.”
“I tried to get away from Rodney, but he was very strong. I picked up a lamp and threw it at him, and he was engulfed in flames! Barbara had me locked in the basement, and I thought I had killed Rodney. She threatened to have me committed to an asylum for the insane, and I didn’t know where to turn. With the help of one who will remain nameless, I was able to escape. I have since learned that my stepbrother didn’t die, but the authorities are still searching for me.”
Howard was quiet for a moment. “How…did you meet…our friend?”
“I cannot tell you, since that has no bearing on my situation. You know about my past. Do you still want me to stay?”
His eyes held a light of kindness as he squeezed her hand. “I not only…want you to stay, but…I am going to help…you get out of this…situation. Tomorrow morning…I will have Barlow go…to Mr. Hammond’s office…and tell him…I want to speak to…him. He is a man with great…power. I can assure you that soon…you will be able to go on with your…life, with no fear of your…stepmother and…stepbrother. What they tried to force you to do…was criminal, and I will see that they are…punished.”
“Mr. Landon, I’m frightened—suppose I am arrested?”
“That will not happen…you have my…word. By this time tomorrow…you will be free of your stepmother!”
Tears ran freely down Alexandria’s face. “Oh, Mr. Landon, if only it were true! You cannot know what it’s been like living with this hanging over my head.”
Howard’s eyes went to the portrait. “Perhaps in doing this for you…I can somehow make up…for the wrongs…I have done. I believe…Joanna would like that.”
He closed his eyes, and Alexandria knew he had drifted off to sleep. She somehow felt better after having told Mr. Landon about herself. She didn’t know if Mr. Landon could help her or not, but she was weary of hiding and was ready to face whatever it took to see this thing to the end.
Alexandria had no idea that her conversation with Mr. Landon had been overheard. Claudia smiled to herself as she quietly left the outer room. It would be easy enough to find out from the authorities if they were searching for a young girl by the name of Alexandria Bradford! Claudia hurried down the stairs, to set in motion the means that would rid her of Alexandria Bradford once and for all!
It was the cool of the evening just before sunset, and Alexandria was walking in the garden. She was excited, and was looking forward to the next morning when Mr. Landon would try and clear her name. When she was cleared, she would be free to return to the farm and the life she had loved since childhood. The love of the land had been born and bred into her. She missed the fresh scent of the country air and being able to watch things grow.
As she made her way down to the pond, her mind was far away, and she didn’t see the shadow that fell across her path. The man spoke her name before she realized he was there. Alexandria whirled around to see a stranger step into the path just behind her.
“Alexandria, I want to speak to you. I’m sorry to have to
address you by your given name, but you see, I do not know your surname.”
Alexandria saw the man was dressed as a sailor, and she knew he must be the one who had been watching Tag for some time. She felt afraid of him and drew back a step, ready to flee back to the house.
“No, don’t go!” the man called out. “I mean you no harm—I want to talk to you about Tag.”
“I know of no one by that name, sir, you are mistaken,” she said, taking another step backwards.
“I have seen the two of you together many times, so you don’t need to try and protect him from me. I would be the last one in the world who would wish the boy harm.”
“Who are you?” she asked, losing some of her apprehension and becoming curious.
“Walk with me to the pond where we will be out of sight of the house, and we can talk unobserved,” he said, stepping aside so she could pass in front of him.
Alexandria’s fear returned at the thought of being alone with this stranger. Even though he had said he wouldn’t harm Tag, it could be that he was only trying to pacify her so he could lure her away from the house.
“How do I know I can trust you?” she asked, taking another step backwards.
The man glanced toward the house and then back to her. “Look at me, Alexandria. Do I remind you of anyone?” he asked. “Have you ever seen me before?”
She searched his face, thinking he did indeed look familiar to her. “Who are you?”
“Someone who wishes only to help Tag. Please talk with me,” he urged.
Alexandria hesitated for only a moment before she preceded him down the path to the pond. The stranger stayed a short distance from her as she waited for him to speak. “We are totally alone now. Say what you came to say and then leave,” she told him, with more courage than she actually felt.
“Look at my eyes, Alexandria,” the man said, smiling slightly. “Where have you seen eyes the color of mine before?”
It was hard to determine the color of his eyes without getting closer to him, and she was still too frightened to get too near. “I cannot see your eyes,” she told him.
The stranger took several steps in her direction and came up beside her. “Where have you seen eyes the color of mine, Alexandria?” he repeated.
Alexandria gasped as she stared into violet-blue eyes so like Tag’s that it astounded her. The man removed his cap, and she saw his reddish-gold hair blowing in the evening breeze. Suddenly she knew who the man was! Had she not many times seen his likeness in the portrait that hung over the mantel in Mr. Landon’s bedroom?
“How can it be? You are Mr. James! I was told you were dead!” she blurted out.
“As you can see, I am very much alive. I have been watching the boy for some time, but I wasn’t sure he was my son until two nights ago, when the two of you were here at the pond and you called him by name.”
“The night of the masquerade ball? Why haven’t you gone to him and told him who you are? Dear Lord, he thinks you are dead!”
“I haven’t gone to Tag because I thought I could watch over him and keep him from harm if he didn’t know who I was. As for being alive, there were times in the past when I wished I had died.”
Alexandria reached out and touched his arm in her excitement. “Mr. James, do you have any idea how happy Tag will be to see you?” Tears blinded her, and she was so happy she had the strongest urge to hug this man who was Tag’s father.
“When the time is right, I’ll go to the boy, but I must not do so now. He is in grave danger, as you are already aware. I knew when I heard the two of you talking the other night that you cared about my son. That is why I have decided to reveal myself to you now. You must promise me that you will not tell Taggart about me. Do I have your word on that?”
Alexandria nodded. “Yes, but it would make him so happy if he knew you were still alive.”
“There will be time for happiness later. Right now, all I’m concerned about is my son’s safety. You have been living here,” he said, nodding in the direction of the house. “Tell me what has been going on.”
Alexandria sat down on the grass, and he joined her there. She told him all she knew about Claudia and Mr. Landon. The sun went down and the dinner hour came and went, and still they talked. She found Russell James so easy to talk to that she even ended up by telling him about her troubles with Barbara and Rodney, and how Tag had come to her rescue at the tavern after she had run away. She didn’t realize it was so late until he stood up and helped her to her feet.
“It grows late, and you should be in bed, Alexandria. I want to thank you for talking to me and telling me about my son. I can see why he loves you. You are such a lovely young lady.”
“Tag isn’t in love with me, Mr. James. I am no more than a friend to him.”
“As you say, Alexandria, but I think I saw more than friendship pass between the two of you the other night.”
On impulse, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “I am so glad you are alive. I have grown to know your family quite well through Tag.”
“If that’s the case, can you tell me about my daughter Joanna?”
“I would rather Tag tell you about her. I
will
put your mind at rest by telling you she is alive, and from what Tag says, very happy.”
“I like the loyalty you have shown my son, Alexandria, so I will not press you further about Joanna. Run along now, and I’ll see you again soon.
As Alexandria made her way back toward the house, her heart felt lighter than it had in months. It seemed everything was beginning to fall into place. Perhaps now that Tag’s father was here, the long ordeal would soon be over.
When Alexandria reached the house, she noticed there were two carriages at the front, so she walked around to the back entrance. When she entered the kitchen, she was met by an angry Mrs. Dodson.
“Where have you been? The entire household has been searching for you, Alexandria!”
“Has Mr. Landon taken a turn for the worse?” Alexandria asked apprehensively.
“Not so far as I know, but Mrs. Landon wants to see you in the parlor at once!”
Alexandria nodded, and hurried to the parlor, fearing that something might have happened to Mr. Landon and Mrs. Dodson just wasn’t telling her. She heard the murmur of voices coming from behind the door and rapped softly. The door was opened by Claudia, and when she saw Alexandria, a spiteful look came over her face.
“Come in, won’t you? There are some people here who are very anxious to see you,” Claudia told her in a honey-sweet voice. Taking Alexandria by the arm, she practically dragged her into the room.
Alexandria felt her knees go weak, and she grabbed her throat in horror as she recognized Barbara and Rodney waiting inside for her!
“You will have your just reward now,” Claudia hissed in her ear. “No one ever crosses me and gets by with it,” she whispered so no one could hear but Alexandria.
The last thing Alexandria remembered was the room spinning around; then everything seemed to go black, and she had the sensation of falling! She wasn’t aware that Rodney picked her up in his arms and placed her on the couch, while Claudia looked on with satisfaction.