“I want to know everything,” Clay said, bending toward her. “How did you get here? What sort of passage did you get?”
“It was dreadful,” Bianca said, lowering her pale lashes. “After your letter to my father arrived, I was desolate. I realized what an awful mistake had been made. Of course, I came on the next available ship.” She smiled up at him. After her father had shown her the letter, she’d laughed heartily at the joke played on poor, stupid Nicole, but two days later she’d received another letter. Some distant cousins of hers lived in America, not too far from Clay, and they’d written Bianca to congratulate her on her catch. They seemed to think she knew of Clay’s wealth and asked to borrow from her as soon as she married Clay. Bianca dismissed the cousins instantly, but she was furious to read of Clay’s wealth. Why hadn’t the stupid man told her he was rich? Her anger quickly turned from Clay to Nicole. Somehow, the conniving little bitch knew about Clay and had arranged to go in Bianca’s place. Immediately, Bianca told her father she planned to go to America. Mr. Maleson just laughed and said that as soon as she earned the money she could go; it didn’t matter to him.
Bianca turned to Nicole, still standing in the doorway. She smiled like a gracious hostess. “Won’t you join us?” she asked sweetly. “A cousin of yours came by the house to ask after you,” she said when Nicole was seated. “She had some wild story about your going into business with her. I told her you worked for me and that you had no money. She said the most fantastic things about your selling some emeralds and working at night. It was really quite preposterous. To make sure, I searched your room myself.” Her eyes sparkled. “A passage to America is so expensive, isn’t it? But, then, you wouldn’t know, would you? My ticket cost about what I’d guess a partnership in a dress shop would cost.”
Nicole kept her chin up. She wouldn’t let Bianca see that her words hurt. But she rubbed her fingertips in memory of the pain of sewing in the dim light.
“It’s so good to see you,” Clay said. “It’s like a dream come true, having you here again beside me.”
“Again?” Bianca asked, and both women looked at him. He was staring at Bianca strangely.
Clay recovered himself. “I meant that I’d imagined you here so often that it does seem as if you’ve returned.” He picked up a bowl of candied yams. “You must be hungry.”
“Not at all!” she said, but her eyes never left the food. “I know I couldn’t eat a thing. In fact, I may give up eating altogether.” She laughed delightedly at this statement. “Do you know where they put me in that horrible frigate? In the lower deck! With the crew and the livestock! It was beyond belief! The porthole leaked, the roof leaked, and for days on end I lived in semidarkness.”
Clay winced. “That’s why I had arranged a cabin for you on board the packet.”
Bianca turned to look across the table to Nicole. “But, of course, I didn’t get such luxurious treatment. I imagine your food was better than mine, too.”
Nicole bit her tongue to keep from commenting that whatever the quality was, the quantity seemed to have been more than sufficient.
“Then maybe Maggie’s cooking will help make up for it.” Clay held the bowl a little closer to her.
“Perhaps just a little, then.”
Nicole watched quietly as Bianca helped herself to some of each of the twenty-some dishes on the table. Never did she pile her plate high or seem to eat very much of anything. A disinterested observer would have said she was a moderate eater. It was a way she’d learned over the years to conceal her gluttony.
“Where did you get that dress?” Bianca asked as she delicately poured honey over a bowl of spoon bread.
Nicole knew her face must be turning pink. She r
emembered too well Clay’s accusations that she’d stolen the fabrics from Bianca.
“There are some things we must discuss,” Clay said.
His words saved Nicole from having to respond.
Before he could continue, Maggie burst into the room. “I heard you got some company off the sloop. She a friend of yours, Mrs. Armstrong?”
“Mrs. Armstrong?” Bianca said, and looked at Nicole. “Is she referring to you?”
“Yes,” Nicole said quietly.
“What is going on here?” Bianca demanded.
“Maggie, would you leave us?” Clay said.
Maggie was very curious about this woman Roger had railed about for the last hour. It had taken four tankards of beer to calm him. “I just wanted to know if you were ready for dessert. There’s almond cheesecake, peach and apple tarts, and a custard pie.”
“Not now, Maggie! There’s something more important than food to be discussed.”
“Clay,” Bianca said quietly. “It’s been so long since I’ve had anything fresh. Maybe we could have the peach tarts.”
“Of course,” Clay said instantly. “Bring it all.” He turned back to Bianca. “Forgive me. I’m too used to giving commands.”
Nicole wanted to leave. More than anything else in the world, she wanted to get away from this man she loved who had suddenly turned into a stranger. She stood up quickly. “I don’t believe I want any dessert. If you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll go home.”
Clay rose with her. “Nicole, please. I didn’t mean—” He looked down, for Bianca had placed her hand on his. It was the first time she’d voluntarily touched him.