Read Creole Hearts for Free Online Page B

forgotten me so soon?" a woman's voice asked softly. Senalda's voice.
    Guy looked up, got hastily to his feet.
    "Now," she said. "Don't rise. I'm teasing, for I know the pain in your shoulder is what drives you from the party."
    He said nothing, tongue-tied by the sight of her before him like a visitation in a dream with her gown of white, embroidered with the palest pink, the enticing rose lips, the blonde curls falling to white shoulders.
    She sat on the bench and nodded her head to indicate he should sit beside her. Guy reseated himself.
    "I could never forget you," he said, leaning toward her. "I'd like to sweep you onto my horse and ride off where none would find us, to keep you to myself for the rest of time."
    Senalda smiled and lowered her lashes. "Is it only your arm that prevents you?" she murmured.
    Guy's eyes widened at this encouragement. He leaned closer, ignoring the slice of pain down into his chest.
    "I want you to be mine," he said. "Say you'll marry me, say you'll live with me and make La Belle as radiant as any casa in Madrid."
    She swayed toward him, then straightened. "You must know I can't give you a hasty answer," she said so softly he could scarcely hear her words, "but if anything would compel me to stay in New Orleans . . ." She left the sentence unfinished.
    Guy's heartbeat quickened. As good as a yes. He reached to embrace her, but the throb of agony in his shoulder stopped him. She edged away with a cry.
    "Your wound—it's bleeding."
    Guy glanced down at his right shoulder and saw the stain on the sling of white silk. The pain increased until sweat broke out on his brow. Senalda bit her lip, her eyes frightened.
    With an effort, Guy stood up and bowed. "I'm sorry to distress you," he said, feeling his head whirl, his legs tremble. "Please pardon me."
    He walked away from her, determined to get out of her sight before he showed any sign of weakness. Mon Dieu , why did this have to happen at such a moment?
    Once outside the small gate, he leaned against the wall, taking deep breaths. He must get home, get to bed, have the doctor summoned. The rapier wound was putrefying and making him sick. He'd have one of the slaves here send round for his carriage.
    No, he wouldn't go back inside. It was less than a mile to his townhouse. He could make it on foot. He would make it. Guy pushed away from the wall. His head spun as he set off and he had a dim awareness that his thoughts weren't logical.
    "Feverish," he muttered. "Must get home."
    The banquette stretched out endlessly, then dirt, mud underfoot. There shouldn't be mud on the way to—where? Where was he headed down these endless streets? He was dreaming, a nightmare . . .
    Someone screamed his name and he was falling, falling.
    "Guy!" she called again. "Guy!"
    With great effort he forced his eyes open and found himself looking into the yellow cat's eyes of Aimee, then everything went dark.
    When he came to himself, the first thing he noticed was a pungent but not unpleasant smell. Guy stared about at a familiar room, he lay in a four poster bed, the one he'd bought for Aimee. He was in the cottage bedroom, he was at Aimee's. And the smell—he felt his right shoulder, his fingers encountering a soggy mass of leaves plastered over the wound.
    "Aimee!" he shouted, sitting up.
    She ran into the room.
    "You're better, merci de Dieu " she cried.
    "What's this?" He touched the poultice bound onto his shoulder.
    "Healing herbs from maman . She said they'd draw out the evil and heal the wound."
    "Voodoo," he said with distaste. He flexed his arm, testing the shoulder. Very little pain. Cautiously he shifted the shoulder. Definitely improved.
    "Much evil flowed green and yellow from your shoulder," Aimee told him. "Now it's all gone."
    "Voodoo or not, your maman's herbs seemed to have cured me overnight," he said in apology. "You must thank her for me."
    "Oh, but you've been here three days," Aimee said.
    " Dieu !”
    "Your sister sent a slave to inquire and