"And it always brings me pleasure to see you, Jade," he said, as circumspect as she.
She slipped onto the sofa beside her mother and received a reassuring pat on the hand.
"Jade," her father began, "Raige was just reminding me that his mother has been dead these last five years, rest her soul, and Tanglewood Plantation has had no mistress in all that time. And since his father died some time back, that leaves Raige with something of a dilemma."
Jade raised her face to her father. "What kind of dilemma, Papa?"
"He has been telling your mother and me how difficult it is without a woman to manage the household."
Now she glanced at Raige. He stood near the window, looking magnificent with the sunlight shimmering off his ebony windswept hair. He wore tight leggings and Hessian boots and a pleated white shirt and short-waisted tailcoat.
"I can see where that might be difficult," she said at last, feeling foolish because she could think of nothing clever to reply.
"Jade," her father continued, "your mother and I have always agreed that you and your sister would not be married against your wishes. Raige has asked for your hand in marriage. Is this agreeable to you?"
Again she looked at Raige, and he smiled slightly.
"Oui, Papa, I find it agreeable."
Her father looked pleased and her mother clasped Jade's hands joyfully, then hugged her. "I can think of no more suitable match. What a happy day this is for us all," Emmaline said.
Jade's father took her hands and pulled her to her feet, hugging her tightly. "Know this, Raige: When you take our Jade, you take one of our most precious jewels. We will expect you to treat her as such."
"Have no concern on that score, Monsieur St. Clair. She will be my greatest treasure."
Jade's father nodded in satisfaction. "That is how it should be. Now, I believe it would be within reason for the two of you to take a stroll in the garden. There must be many things you will want to discuss."
"Thank you, monsieur," Raige said, holding his hand out to Jade. His clasp was warm and stilled her trembling hand.
As they moved out the door, Emmaline St. Clair looked at her husband with an expression of elation. "Imagine our daughter as mistress of Tanglewood!" Her happiness suddenly turned to concern. "He will be good to her, will he not?"
"Have no worry on that, my dear," her husband assured her. "I have always said that you can tell a lot about a man's character by the way he treats his animals. No one keeps a tidier kennel for his hunting hounds than Raige. And he is against using a whip on his horses, nor does he allow anyone else to. Our daughter should be fine in his care."
She laughed at her husband's analogy. "Have you no shame that you would compare our daughter to a horse or hound?"
He was quiet for a moment, and then he spoke with feeling. "I have lately been concerned that Jade might one day marry Tyrone Dunois. His hounds are underfed, their ribs showing through, and I have seen him whip a horse until it bled."
Emmaline shivered. "I have seen this too, and it has been a concern of mine as well."
When they reached the garden, Raige took Jade's hand, turned it over, and planted a warm kiss on the palm. His eyes were so intense, she had to lower hers.
"You have made me a very happy man today, Jade."
She smiled at him, thrilled by his admission. "When you were acting so distant in front of my parents, I realized, Raige, that although I have known you all my life, I do not really know you."
“I thought that during the night by the stream when we shared such intimacy we became quite well acquainted."
She could feel her face burn and he laughed softly.
"What do you want to know about me, Jade?"
"Everything."
His eyes swept over her beautiful upturned face, and a feeling of ownership took possession of him. "I'd say, my dearest love, that will take just about a lifetime to tell- and a lifetime is what we will have together."
Jade greeted Tyrone as he stood at the front door, hat in hand. "Have you heard the wonderful news?" she said, placing her hand on his arm.
“If you mean have I heard about your impending marriage to a man I once called my best friend-Oui, I heard," he said stonily. "Bad news travels fast, as they say."
Jade looked into his eyes, trying to discern his meaning. "I thought you would be happy for me. Let us go into the garden where we can talk undisturbed, Tyrone."
With great long strides, he moved ahead of her and waited for her to join him.
"Why have you done this, Jade?" he asked coldly.
She was puzzled at his anger. ' 'Are you speaking of my betrothal to Raige?"
His one hand twirled and untwirled a gold watch chain in agitation. “You said nothing of this to me-neither did Raige. I had to hear it from my mother."
Jade gave him a questioning stare, and said in surprise, "And you are not happy for us?"
He regarded her with caution, then said with frosty politeness, "You know how I feel about you, you've always known. You played me for the fool, Jade."
Even though the day was warm, she shivered, feeling winter form in her heart. "I did no such thing, Tyrone. I will ask you to explain what you mean by that."
He stood ramrod straight, his eyes boring into hers. "I always thought, given time, you would come to love me."
Her anger melted, and she was anguished that she had hurt him. If only she had known how he felt about her. "Your mother told me as much, but I did not believe her. I promise you, Tyrone, I would never purposely hurt you."
He looked stupefied. ' 'My mother spoke of my feelings for you?"
"Oui."
He ran one hand nervously through his hair. "Forgive me. It's just that this has all been a shock." He smiled tightly. "I only need time to grow accustomed to the idea."
She brushed her cheek against his. "There is nothing to forgive among friends. We will pretend this never happened."
"You won't tell Raige that I was such a fool?"
"It will be our secret."
He tenderly touched her face. “I do want your happiness above everything else; I had only hoped it would be with me." Without another word, Tyrone turned and walked away.
Thick fog suddenly blanketed the land, and Jade walked numbly into the darkness. The black mist of dread engulfed her and she gripped the railing of the garden gate, which was cold beneath her hands.
She shivered as a raw wind hit her in the face with the force of a blow.
Jade was so busy with the many social gatherings held in her honor that there was little time to think of anything else. Then there was her trousseau to be fitted, and, of course, her wedding gown.
To her disappointment, she had not seen much of Raige. But it was planting season, and as master of a large plantation, he was needed at Tanglewood.
Jade stood perfectly straight as she was laced into the creamy white silk wedding gown made of brocade with sprays of cream flowers. A long train trailed behind her, and she could imagine how it would look as she walked down the aisle to join her love in marriage.
The dressmaker stood back with a look of satisfaction. "A perfect fit, mademoiselle."
"Jade, dearest, you will make a lovely bride. Wait until Raige sees you!" her mother exclaimed.
The gossamer lace veil was placed on Jade's head. It drifted softly across her face. She caught her breath as a feeling of foreboding swirled around in her mind. The wind sounded mournful as it rustled the leaves on the magnolia tree, and it seemed to whisper, "You will never be a bride."
Jade yanked the veil from her head and tossed it on the bed, covering her ears with her hands to block out the sound. "I am weary. I will try on no more gowns today."
Emmaline nodded for the dressmaker to leave, then she hugged Jade to her. "You are just tired, dear. Why don't you rest a bit."
Jade wanted to tell her mother about the feeling of deep foreboding that would give her no peace, but Emmaline would only worry.