“Has taken her up?” A quick little pain pierced her heart at the mention of his name. She ruthlessly shoved the feeling aside as she had pushed aside all errant thoughts of Hugh Talverton for the past week. “I wouldn’t have said she suits him, but then, I don’t know him all that well,” she said bitterly.
“I’m sorry I said anything. I didn’t mean to cause you pain,” Adeline said lamely, a worried little frown creasing her brow.
Vanessa smiled lightly, a weary, wan smile that was all she had been able to manage on any occasion during the past week. “I know. Well, talking won’t pay toll, so I suggest we find Paulette and be on our way. Or did you mean to buy this material?”
Adeline looked at the bolt in front of them. “No, no, I don’t think so. Now, somehow, it seems just too depressing a color.”
“I’m sorry, Adeline. I am not good company for someone with happy plans on her mind.”
“Oh, Vanessa, no, please don’t say that. I wish, I just wish you would talk to Mr. Talverton. Trevor says he’s determined to leave New Orleans today. I know he wouldn’t go if you’d just talk to him.”
“Mr. Talverton and I have nothing to say.”
“But—” Adeline protested.
“No buts. We would not suit. Hugh Talverton was an educational interlude for me, and I an amusing dalliance for him, that’s all. I neither wish to see the man again nor hear his name mentioned.”
“You may find that before this day is out, you have cause to regret your words, Miss Mannion.”
Vanessa whirled around, shocked to hear a melodic and lightly-accented woman’s voice directly behind her. It was the quadroon woman. She was beautifully attired in a glowing turquoise silk gown and was redolent of a heavy rose scent. She smiled down at Vanessa, her wide mouth open, revealing pearly white teeth. She was a beautiful woman, and a woman obviously well-versed in the pleasures of men.
Vanessa glared at her and tilted her head up haughtily. “I beg your pardon?”
The woman merely laughed, not at all put off by Vanessa’s manner. “It is perhaps well that you care so little for this Mr. Talverton,” the woman serenely said while fingering a brilliant swath of red silk, “as he is not long to be alive."
"What are you talking about? What do you know of Mr. Talverton?” Vanessa demanded, suddenly very frightened, for something about the woman’s calm manner instilled belief in her words.
Adeline pulled on her sister’s arm. “Come away, Vanessa. Don’t talk to this woman.”
Vanessa ignored her, her eyes locked with those of the beautiful quadroon.
“My—ah—gentleman has arranged for his demise this very day,” she said with a smile, her dark eyes expressive. She ceased her contrived interest in the fabric around them.
“It seems this Mr. Talverton has caused him no end of inconvenience.”
“What? Are you Mr. Wilmot’s . . .” Vanessa began, then stumbled to a stop, uncertain what to say.
The woman laughed again. “You ladies are all so prim and formal. Yes, I am his mistress, and he belongs to me. You are lucky you did not see fit to marry Russell, for if you had, you would not have lived long. I would have seen to that,” she ingenuously added, as if it were no great matter.
“How dare you!” exclaimed Adeline. “Come, Vanessa, this woman is obviously a troublemaker.”
“No, wait,” Vanessa said, grasping her sister’s hand when Adeline would have left. She cocked her head to the side as she considered the quadroon. “You have some reason for telling me all this.”
The woman’s finely-plucked brow rose in appreciation for Vanessa’s understanding. “Indeed.” The woman’s eyes darkened, and she seemed to look past Vanessa as she spoke, her voice low and vibrant with conviction. “Though Mr. Talverton has defeated Russell at his game, it is still for me to strike a lesson home. I wish to teach Mr. Russell Wilmot that I am not a trifle he may shuffle aside at his convenience. I take second place to no one.” She looked back at Vanessa, her sultry eyes gazing into hers. “So, I tell you of Russell’s plans for Mr. Talverton, and leave it to you to effect a rescue, if you’re able.”
“What does he have planned?” Vanessa asked hoarsely, her grip tightening on Adeline’s hand.
“An accident at the docks. Before he boards the steamboat."
"How? When?”
The woman shrugged expressively. “I know not, but you may be certain he shall not escape as easily as he did last week, for I understand a certain river man is also out for his life.”
“Trevor said he was to be off at noon or as soon as the last of the cargo was loaded,” Adeline offered.
Vanessa glanced around until she spotted a lovely ornate clock in the corner. “It’s after eleven, now!” She dropped Adeline’s hand and reached out tentatively to touch the quadroon. “Thank you,” she said simply, then grabbed her skirts and turned to run from the store.
“Vanessa, wait,” called Adeline, starting after her.
