Alexis nodded, unsure of her own feelings at hearing his words. Part of her was glad the wait would be over and rose to meet the challenge, while another part recognized this challenge could be the one to defeat her.
“You and I have been invited to dinner at Robert Davidson’s home.” He saw her bristle as he knew she would and he continued quickly. “Senator Howe, Bennet Farthington, and Richard Granger will also be there. They will want to discuss your help after dinner.”
“I hope they don’t expect me to feel gratitude after offering me a meal,” she said angrily. “I suppose I am to think of myself as a guest. I would rather—”
“You don’t have to tell me, Alex,” he interrupted. “I recall telling you the senator and I disagreed over a few points and tomorrow’s dinner was one of them.”
“Why do you understand so well, and they not at all?”
“They are merely conducting politics as they think it should be conducted. A meal and a few glasses of wine have obviously induced cooperation before.”
“Force, to a hungry man.”
“I suppose, though I doubt they see it that way.”
Alexis got to her feet, book in hand and crossed the room. She placed the volume back in its position and turned to Cloud slowly, thoughtfully. “You said something to me the other day,” she said. “It has not been out of my mind long. It was in reference to Lafitte. You said—”
“I said: ‘whatever the reasons, he will reap the rewards.’ Is that what you were referring to?”
“Yes, that’s right. I want to know now if he has something to do with tomorrow’s meeting.” She dreaded the answer she was prepared to hear. She braced herself against the bookshelves, feeling the hard slats at intervals across her flesh.
“He has a great deal to do with it,” Cloud said, watching his words take their toll. Her mouth sagged slightly, emitting a short gasp, and she closed her eyes briefly as if she were trying not to see fully what she knew she had to.
“Why didn’t you tell me this before?”
“I had not planned to tell you at all. I hoped to persuade the senator to see things differently. I haven’t given up entirely.”
Alexis heard the statement but none of the hope he spoke about was evident in his tone. “What is it they expect?”
“For you to convince Lafitte to come to Washington and offer his help in the Caribbean, guarding New Orleans.”
“I can’t do that. Not to him. Not after everything he’s done for me.”
“Now do you understand what I said about him reaping the rewards?”
Alexis nodded. “But that’s only a part of it, Cloud. Don’t the President and the others realize Lafitte will help them when it benefits him to do so? He has nothing to gain by British involvement in New Orleans. I know he would offer his help but not if they use the same tactics they used on me. He would laugh at a show of force. No pardon would mean anything to him at the price of the freedom he now enjoys.” She caught her breath and walked over to Cloud. Kneeling on the cushion beside him, she took his hand and held it to her face. “I can’t say yes to all that, Cloud. There is nothing that will make me seek Lafitte for them.”
“Are you still willing to meet with them tomorrow?” he asked, pulling her across his lap and laying her head on his chest.
“Do I have a choice?”
“Only the one that has been open to you from the beginning. You could try to get away.” His breath forced wisps of golden tendrils to fly across her lowered face. He brushed them aside with the tips of his fingers, pausing when he felt wetness on her cheeks. He said nothing, but he knew she was thinking the man who professed to love her so dearly would do everything in his power to prevent her from realizing that choice.
After a long silence Alexis lifted her head, making no attempt to hide her tears or her anxieties from him. “I will meet with them tomorrow. Only to be with you a few hours longer. After I give them my refusal I don’t suppose they’ll allow me to stay here.”
“No, I don’t suppose they will.” Cloud rested his chin on her head, stroking her hair gently. When her even breathing confirmed she was sleeping, he took her to her room and placed her in bed. Assured she was resting comfortably he returned to the study, wondering if he had been right to prepare her for what was most likely to take place.
It was late morning when Alexis woke. When she went downstairs she found Landis sitting alone in the kitchen, his feet propped on a chair he had pulled close to him. He was lost in thought, sipping from a cup of coffee, and did not seem to notice her entrance.
“Where are the others?” she asked, after observing him for some time.
Landis tipped his cup slightly at the sound of her voice, pouring the dark liquid over his fingers. He wiped them off on his trousers before he put down his mug and looked up at her. “The captain’s gone to town, and Harry and Mike were sent back to theConcordfor word of any…” His voice dropped off.
“Word of what?”
Landis shrugged. “You probably suspected. Word of any of your ships. The captain is still expecting your crew to show up.”
“Do you think they will come?”
