Free A Flame Run Wild by Christine Monson Page B

"I am not the one with a foul reputation, Dona . I shall not suffer unduly for company."
    She swept the trailing robe into her hand. "And what do you propose I do?" Her lashes flicked up teasingly. "For entertainment, that is?"
    Alexandre, angry at her attempt to play the wanton, snapped, "Why not try being a lady for a change?"
    Liliane's temper kindled and her eyes flashed with anger. "You have no cause to assume me unchaste!"
    His eyes narrowed. "Have I not? Even your uncle and cousin do not know where you spent your wedding eve. Would you care to enlighten us all?"
    Liliane paled. Had Alexandre somehow talked to Jean? How could he know? Unless . . .
    Alexandre saw by her distraught expression that he was pushing too far. He had to retreat unless he wanted her to guess the truth. "Do not worry," he said slowly. "Your secret, whatever it is, is safe ... for the time being. But I warn you, play me false and you will regret it. That you are my wife matters naught; I will brook no traitors."
    "Perhaps you see traitors where none exist," Liliane whispered, turning away. Alexandre knew that Jacques had given her orders to spy, but he could not know that she had no intention of serving Jacques's ends any more than she must. Achieving justice for Diego's murder was proving much more of a burden than she had anticipated.
    Aware that he had hurt Liliane, Alexandre wanted to comfort her but he knew that she must be warned not to meddle in his affairs on behalf of her family. He did not want to be forced to punish some treacherous act, and the idea of sending her back to her relatives was repugnant. If only he could tell her how glad he was that, devious or not, she was his bride.
    He came up behind her, his lips close to her ear. "Prove me wrong, Liliane, and I will make you happy. You will want for nothing that is in my power to give."
    Liliane wanted to turn to him, for he sounded so much like Jean that her heart was torn. "But how long will you trust me, Alexandre, when any passing breeze might rouse your suspicions? I foresee nothing but your disillusionment."
    He touched her hair. "Do you suggest I trust you?"
    "I suggest you do not judge when I have done you no ill."
    No ill, he thought. When you have brought me nothing but confusion and a troubled heart? And yet. . . and yet... I had not thought to know love in my life. So much time has passed, so many weary roads have I traveled in fighting other men's battles. And when I so desperately needed peace, I was forced into this marriage, one that promised only emptiness with a stranger. Then you come, my bride and temptress, my eternal torment. If this is love, my hope of peace is forever gone. He stroked her hair. Stay. Stay and take whatever peace I have left. Make my days restless with longing, turn my ambitions to dust; only kiss me as you did one rain-swept night when the fire and the moon were spent, and ancient lovers danced round us. . . .
    Liliane thought that Alexandre was about to make love to her. She hoped for it and at the same time dreaded it. Ah, the cruelty of being doomed to live with a man in the haunting image of her lover. But Jean's spirit was gone, gone forever like a far-off hawk. Liliane became breathlessly still when Alexandre touched her shoulder. When he turned her around to face him, she offered no resistance.
    Alexandre saw the waiting in her eyes. She was soft in his arms, but the waiting was terrible. If he kissed her now, the passion within her would be lost forever. Although she did not hate him, she was ready to endure him and this knowledge cut him to the core.
    Tell her! Par Dieu , tell her the truth! But he could not. For the sake of generations of his family and the defense of their demesne, he could not. If she knew he was her Jean, she would know her very nearness made him go weak in the knees. He must first test her loyalty and prove her useless to the Signes— they must give up any idea of using Liliane to undermine the de Brueils. If he