“Mademoiselle,” Jean said in his delightful French accent as he brought her hand to his lips.“What a rare flower in our midst.”
Jean’s sparkling dark eyes would be hard for any woman to resist and Elizabeth could tell he was accustomed to using those charms with women.
His mischievous smile proved that.“I have heard about you,” Elizabeth said before she thought.
“I assure you none of it is true,” Jean said with a grin.“I wish I could say the same of you, but your brother has done a good job of keeping you secret.”
“Look elsewhere, Lafitte,” Jonathan said with a silken thread of warning in his voice.
Jean looked at Jonathan with an arched brow.“It’s good to see you, too, Jonathan.I suppose the wound has made your disposition ...what shall we say?Sour?”
“A bit,” Jonathan admitted.
“Pierre and I will be sailing soon.We could take you with us and have you back in shape before we return to port.The sun and the sea have never failed to cure anything.”
“I wish it were that simple,” Jonathan said, his tone a trifle wistful.
“There you are!”General Jackson called as he approached the group.He shook Pierre’s hand and then Jean’s.
“If you will excuse us,” Pierre spoke his first words as he took Jewel’s hand and led her onto the dance floor, “I would like to dance with my niece.”
At the same time Adam took the general’s wife for a whirl around the floor.
“Anytime you want to fight with my men, you are more than welcome.Your men are almost as good as my coon hunters,” Jackson joked to Jean.
“Almost?”Jean stared at the general.“I will give you that point on land, my friend.But on the sea, my men would be fighting while your coon hunters would be hanging over the side of my ship heaving.”
Jackson laughed.‘You are probably right.But in all seriousness, it was an honor to have your men fighting with my own.”
“Ladies, gentleman.Dinner is being served downstairs,” Governor Claiborne announced as he laid his hand on Jackson’s shoulder.He bowed toward Elizabeth.“I’m afraid I must steal our guest of honor.”
Jean turned to Jonathan as the general and Claiborne strolled away.“Claiborne is one man I have no use for.”
“Nor I,” Jonathan agreed, shrugging.“But he is our host.And we should be cordial for at least one night” he added, then looked at Jean.“Shall we dine?”
Chapter 6
The dining room glittered with hundreds of candles set in gold candelabras up and down two long, white tables.
Elizabeth entered the room on the arms of both Jonathan and Jean.The envious looks of the other women made her smile as she and Jonathan neared the table where some dinner guests already sat.A servant dressed in white greeted them and directed each to their respective seats.
Elizabeth was seated on the opposite end of the table from Jonathan.It was probably just as well, she thought as she looked far down the table at him.She felt a pang of longing so strong she wanted to cry.They needed time together, not apart.She dared glance at him again, but he wasn’t looking her way.He’d turned to speak to Jackson.
As the servants poured champagne, Elizabeth half listened to the conversations around her, shrugging her shoulders in halfhearted answers.Meanwhile, Jonathan seemed to be entertaining the two ladies on either side of him, and Elizabeth couldn’t stop the twinge of jealousy that skittered through her.
One of the ladies smiled at everything Jonathan said; now and then her eyelids dropped a little in a flirtatious manner.Jonathan’s mouth twitched with amusement.
Elizabeth ground her teeth, but managed to keep her temper in check.During all the excitement of actually getting Jonathan out of the house, she’d almost forgotten that she wanted to speak with him.She needed answers.She was tired of this state of limbo.
And she would talk to him tonight.
The servants entered with the food, drawing her attention.Soon the spicy aroma of the Creole dishes filled the room.She had learned to love the special Louisiana food that was so different from that of her English homeland.The first course was gumbo, followed by spicy shrimp in tomato sauce served over fluffy white rice.Some of her favorites.
Elizabeth looked at Jonathan again just in time to see one of the women grab his arm possessively.She stiffened, her eyes flashing with anger.It took all her control not to jump up in the middle of dinner and have a word with Mr.Hird.
She took a deep breath and managed to finish the gumbo, but when the main course was served she found her appetite had left her.She barely touched her food, pushing the rice around her plate, eating only a few bites.
As soon as the meal ended, Elizabeth made her way over to Jonathan.She figured if she had to wait for him to escort her out, she might never leave the table, since the other women were keeping him company.
