Frost Fire, page 16
"I don't know. I was so appalled at the way he was raising her that I begged her to come live with my mother and me in Mexico. Burl wouldn't hear of her leaving him, and Tyler loved him too much to go against his wishes. Now, I wish I'd found a way to get her away from him."
"I don't see how she could be devoted to him," Gray said.
"It's hard to say. He was complex and charismatic, and as unscrupulous as hell. He always told Tyler that stealing and lying were all right if you were doing them for a good reason, or to evil people who deserved them. She told me that herself. I remember him asking her to memorize illegal acts as if she were in a classroom learning sums."
"What do you mean?"
"He taught her to break into safes, for one thing."
"He must have been a good teacher. I ordered mine from the best ironmonger in Philadelphia, and it didn't faze her in the least," Gray remarked dryly.
"I know it's hard for you to believe, but my father did love her, too. He protected her virtue like a true Southern gentleman, I can vouch for that." Chase hesitated, giving a slight shake of his head. "Actually, Tyler is just another one of his victims. Inside, she's as sweet and compassionate as other women with proper upbringings. But she went to him when she was vulnerable and unstable, and he used her."
"You're the second person to tell me she's basically good. The woman she was traveling with, Harriet Stokely, said the same thing."
"I don't know the lady," Chase replied, swirling the rich-colored liquor in his glass, "but I'm glad I'm here and finally able to take Tyler home with me. I intend to undo all the things my father taught her. She's still young, and I've already decided to arrange a marriage for her as soon as possible. Probably to an older man, one who's understanding and kind, and who'll be patient with her. Once she has a husband who'll give her children and a home, I think she'll come around."
Chase watched as Gray suddenly stood and paced restlessly across the room to his desk. Neither spoke while Gray took several moments to select a pipe.
"Would you like a cigar?" he offered Chase, gesturing to an inlaid silver box on the mantelpiece.
"No, but I'll have another drink. This is excellent brandy. We don't get much French wine since we rid Mexico of Maximilian."
Gray nodded absently as he packed the bowl with fragrant tobacco. "I have a proposition for you, Chase—one I'm sure you'll find strange under the circumstances."
Chase waited expectantly.
"I want your permission to marry Tyler. Now, before you return to Mexico."
At first Chase could only stare at the man across the room. "Are you serious?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
Gray paused. "I guess I feel responsible for her. I did ruin her father and take her plantation."
Chase's brows drew down. "That was war, and regardless, feeling responsible is not a good reason for marriage. Do you love her?"
Gray stared out the windows into the high branches of the live oak trees and was quiet for long moments. "Perhaps I do, I don't know. I do know I want her and that I have ever since I first saw her, despite all she's done. I'd like to try to make up to her everything she's suffered since I bought Rose Point."
"You own Rose Point?" Chase's surprise was evident.
"Yes, I acquired it when it was put up for auction during the war."
"Does Tyler know that?"
"Yes." Gray almost smiled. "She robbed my safe to buy it back from me. Ingenious scheme, was it not?
Chase frowned. "Does Tyler want to marry you?"
Gray ran a restless hand through his hair. "Good God, no. She tells me every chance she gets that she hates me and will do so as long as she lives. I suppose that's one of the rote speeches Burl taught her?" he asked angrily.
Chase nodded. "Unfortunately, one of his most frequent, I'd say."
"Still, I think she'll accept the marriage in time. I can be patient when I want something badly enough. And I do want her, Chase."
The two men exchanged a serious look.
"I think you're asking for trouble," Chase felt obligated to warn him.
"Do you think I haven't thought of that?" Gray paced back and forth a few times, then stopped, tossing back the remainder of his brandy.
"I don't know, Gray. This is all so sudden. Why the hurry? Why not take some time to get to know each other?"
"Oh, come now, Chase, if we give Tyler time to think about it, she'll probably disappear forever. We both know she's not been exhibiting mature judgment up to this point. It's your decision, not hers."
"I know, but I don't want to see her unhappy. She's gone through enough suffering. I love my cousin, Gray."
"I give you my word of honor that I'll do my best to make her happy. And you know that I'm able to support her in luxury." He grinned. "Especially since all my finances were laid out for you in the secret report you had done on me when I was in Mexico last year."
"So you know? Sorry, Gray, but Juarez no longer takes chances. Mexico's been raped too many times by foreigners. We're very careful now about choosing allies. But Tyler's situation has nothing to do with your finances. She's going to throw a tantrum if we even suggest a betrothal to you." As Chase spoke, however, some instinct deep in his gut told him that Gray Kincaid was exactly the kind of husband Tyler needed. He was strong, honest, and honorable, and he looked more than anxious to have Chase's permission. If nothing else, he would take care of Tyler and keep her on the right side of the law.
"Then it's done, amigo," he said after a lengthy pause. "But I must say I dread like hell telling her."
Gray looked relieved and very pleased, which made Chase more confident that he was doing the right thing for Tyler.
"There's something else I need to know, Chase," Gray said, refilling his drink.
"What's that?"
"It's about Carlisle."
"Your sister?" Chase waited, ready and willing to discuss that fair subject.
"As you heard outside earlier, she's desperately eager to visit the Perez family in Mexico. Arantxa Perez was her roommate for the past year in Sacred Heart. But I know little about her, except that she comes from a wealthy family living in Mexico City. Do you know if they can be trusted to chaperone Carlisle properly? Javier, the man you met in the yard, is to escort the two girls to his parents' home."
"I wouldn't trust him with any sister of mine," Chase answered without hesitation. "Javier's known to be wild. There are even rumors he runs with a revolutionary faction, though I can't say for sure."
"Then I will have to forbid the trip. Carly will be disappointed, but she'll get over it," Gray decided, downing the last swallow of his brandy as the dinner bell rang downstairs. "Now we had better go down and join the ladies. We can tell them our decisions while we dine."
"I think, amigo, that I will give you the honor of informing them."
"Are you sure they're still in the study?" Tyler asked Carlisle, alarmed at how long Chase had been closeted with Gray Kincaid.
"Yes. I listened at the keyhole for a little while just before I came to your room," Carlisle replied. "Unfortunately, I couldn't hear much."
"Oh," Tyler said, arranging her skirts carefully before she sat down on a small sofa. "What do you suppose they're talking about?"
"That nasty cousin of yours is probably blurting out every detail about my eavesdropping, the wretch. He is certainly the rudest man I ever met."
Tyler noted how the angry flush on Carlisle's face made her light green eyes sparkle.
"Chase isn't so disagreeable once you get to know him. Truly, he isn't. You just got off on the wrong foot with him. He's always been special to me, even when we were little. He's a lot older, of course, but I remember Chase letting me ride in front of him on his pony when he came to visit at Rose Point. And he tried to teach me Spanish, like he and his mother spoke, but I wasn't very good at it." She smiled, recalling some of the most pleasant memories of her childhood.
Carlisle sniffed disdainfully, not the least bit impressed. If Chase Lancaster was once a nice boy, he'd certainly outgrown it.
"All I can say is I pity you for having to go home with him. I'd die if I had to be around him for more than a minute at a time."
Tyler couldn't defend her cousin further, because Gray opened the sliding doors. She immediately lowered her gaze from the pair of pure blue eyes that sought her out, but not before she had seen some emotion in them. What was it? Triumph, perhaps? Or satisfaction? Or was she just imagining it? It definitely was not the mockery she had seen on and off during the train ride south.
"Well, it's about time. We've been waiting half an hour or more," Carlisle complained, promptly earning a disapproving glance from her brother.
"Don't be uncivil, Carly. We have guests."
Chase flashed his lazy grin, and Carlisle gritted her teeth, then marched to the table to take her seat before he could offer to escort her.
Gray politely held Tyler's chair for her, then sat beside her at the head of the table. She was glad when Chase took the seat next to her, and turned to give him a happy smile. His arrival had ended all the worry, humiliation, and confusion she had suffered during the past few weeks. She felt much safer with her tall, tawny-haired cousin at her side.
Chase patted the hand she laid on his coat sleeve, but his eyes were soon drawn across the table to linger on Carlisle. She rudely wrinkled her nose at him when Gray looked away to wave the servants forward with the meal. Tyler was surprised to hear Chase's low chuckle.
All four diners remained silent as the maids served the first course. Tyler watched Gray out of the corner of her eye. He looked as handsome as usual in the dark blue frock coat and gray satin vest. When he saw her watching him, he smiled so warmly that a flurry of goose bumps went scurrying up her bare arms. She hated herself when that happened!
"How did you like Javier, Gray?" Carlisle asked, unable to contain her curiosity a minute longer.
"He seemed a personable enough young man."
Carlisle waited for him to elaborate and when he didn't, she pursued the subject herself. A glance told her Chase Lancaster still had the same asinine, knowing smirk on his tanned, handsome face. He knew she was afraid he would carry tales to Gray about the trellis, the worm.
"Have you made a decision yet about my visit?" she prompted, deciding to pretend Tyler's cousin didn't exist.
"We can discuss that later, Carly. I'm sure our guests aren't interested."
"But the Mayan sails the day after tomorrow, and I promised Arantxa I'd let her know."
Gray looked annoyed. He set down his water goblet. "All right, then, you can send her your regrets. I've decided Javier Perez is too young to chaperone you on an ocean voyage."
"But Arantxa's going as well, and she and I would share a cabin."
"It's out of the question. I don't know his parents, or if they'd be suitable hosts for you."
"But, Gray—"
His stern expression silenced her. "I don't think we should burden Chase and Tyler with any more of this conversation, Carly. My decision is final."
Tyler watched Carlisle's jaw clamp tight, feeling sorry for the girl and angry with Gray for refusing to let her visit her friends. He was a despot! Thank goodness, Chase wasn't like that.
"May I make a suggestion?" Chase said, drawing all eyes to him.
Gray nodded, and Chase smiled at Carlisle. In return, he received a sour stare.
"I would be honored to escort your little sister to my country," he said smoothly. "I have booked passage on the Mayan myself two days hence. I have many fellow countrymen living here in the city. I'm sure I could find a suitable duenna for the journey. Once we reach Mexico, there are many guest rooms at my hacienda."
"At your hacienda," Carlisle sputtered angrily, then gave a scornful laugh.
Gray turned to her. "I think that's a very generous offer on Chase's part, Carly, but if you object, you'll simply have to forgo a journey to Mexico."
Carlisle controlled her annoyance, realizing at once that Chase Lancaster's suggestion might be her only chance to visit the Perezes. Her voice was much more polite when she spoke again.
"It's not that I don't appreciate Mr. Lancaster's kindness, of course, but I was so looking forward to visiting Arantxa's home. We have made so many plans."
"I would be happy to escort you to Mexico City, if Gray approves of such a visit," Chase volunteered, again his dark blue eyes glinting as they roamed Carlisle's flushed face. "In fact, I have business there with El Presidente later this month."
Carlisle fumed inwardly, well aware that Chase Lancaster knew she was nearly choking on her anger. He was probably enjoying it.
"If you want to go, I think Chase's idea is the only one I can agree to," Gray said. "So I guess it's your decision, Carly."
Carlisle stared helplessly at her brother, then turned glittering green eyes on the blond-haired man smiling indolently at her from across the table.
"Thank you very much, Señor Lancaster. I appreciate your kindness." You rotten dog, she added to herself.
"The pleasure is mine, señorita," Chase replied equably. You fiery little beauty, he added to himself.
Tyler spoke up then, hoping to dispel the almost tangible tension. "But it will be wonderful, Carlisle! We will be living at the hacienda together, and I can get to know your friends better. The four of us will have a splendid time!"
At Tyler's words, Carlisle brightened with genuine pleasure, not having thought of that part of it. But she was immediately wary when she saw her brother exchange a significant glance with Chase Lancaster. Tyler noticed it, too.
"What is it, Chase?" she asked innocently, afraid he had remembered a reason why Carlisle couldn't visit them after all.
"There's been a change of plans," Chase began, obviously uncomfortable.
Tyler's smooth brow furrowed. "A change? What is it? Carlisle can still visit us, can't she?"
"Perhaps I should talk to you about it in private," Chase suggested.
Something in his regretful tone frightened Tyler. "Please tell me, Chase. What's the matter?"
At Chase's silence, Gray spoke, his eyes never leaving Tyler's concerned face. "There's no reason to delay telling you. You'll have to know sooner or later. I have asked Chase for your hand in marriage, and he has kindly agreed."
The heavy silver fork Tyler had been holding dropped from her numb fingers and clattered against the edge of her fragile china plate. Her mouth fell open.
"What?" she managed in a strangled voice.
"We discussed it at length, Tyler, and I truly believe it's in your best interest to marry Gray," Chase began hurriedly, putting his hand on her arm.
White-faced, all Tyler could do was stare at him. The pronouncement was so unexpected, so shocking and absurd, that her tongue had completely ceased functioning. My God, they couldn't have decided such a thing without consulting her!
"Of all the dirty, low-down, double-dealing tricks I've ever heard, this is the lowest," Carlisle said from across the table. "Just who do you two think you are?"
Glad for the opportunity to think what to do, Tyler sat silent as Gray turned warning eyes on his sister's face. "This is none of your business, Carlisle."
"Just like it isn't any of Tyler's business who she marries? It's absolutely medieval for you two to force her to marry you against her will. I can see why you want her for your wife—she's so beautiful and clever, and all—but she doesn't love you. Why, she doesn't even like you. She can't stand the sight of you!"
Both men looked disturbed by her blunt words, but Tyler's mind still whirled like a windmill. She had to think of something, anything, to call the ridiculous proposal to a dead halt!
"Are you finished, Carlisle?" Gray asked in a dangerous voice, which Carlisle promptly chose to ignore.
"No, I am not finished! I think it's a nasty, mean shame. Why, the next thing you'll do is marry me off to some ignorant lout like Chase Lancaster over there!" She flourished her hand in Chase's direction, making him grin.
"Carlisle—" Gray warned through set teeth.
"You can't make Tyler marry you any more than you can make me marry somebody I don't want to!" Carlisle went on. "Marriage is sacred, to be entered into only one time in your entire life, with someone you love more than anyone on earth. It should be beautiful and splendid, and last forever and ever."
Tyler jerked up her head, inwardly blessing every hair on Carlisle's head for giving her a wonderful idea to escape her predicament. But Carlisle was not ready to end her tirade.
"I'd like to see you make her marry you. You'll have to drag her kicking and screaming down the church aisle, and won't that look good on the society page!"
Gray could barely constrain his anger. "Dammit, Carly, I don't want to hear another word out of you!"
"I am honored by your proposal, Mr. Kincaid, but I'm afraid I can't marry you," Tyler said softly. "I'm sorry."
Dead silence ensued.
Both men seemed nonplussed by the graciousness of her answer, obviously more at a loss about how to handle Tyler's gentle refusal than Carlisle's furious one.
"I expected you to be adverse to the wedding owing to our past history," Gray began in so patronizing a tone that Tyler stiffened, "but I don't think you understand the situation. The decision has already been made."
"I don't think you understand," she returned evenly. "I cannot marry you, or anyone else, even if I wanted to. Because, you see"—she paused, letting all three veritably hang on her words—"I am already married."
A cannonball could have landed between the potatoes and the roast beef and no one would have noticed. Gray stared, Carlisle sank back in her chair in shock, and Chase looked aghast.
"I don't believe it," Gray said.
"I don't either," agreed Chase.
"Well, I do!" cried Carlisle, clapping her hands. "Whoever is he?"
"He is obviously a figment of her fertile imagination," Chase answered tightly. "Surely you don't think any of us will be taken in by such a ruse, Tyler."
"I believe her!" chimed in Carlisle again.
"It's true," Tyler said calmly, her eyes as earnest as she could make them.
