Page 116 of The Enchanted Land

“Morgan?”

Gordon’s voice caused her to start. She looked up into Seth’s smiling eyes. “I’m afraid we’re being rude. Why don’t we have coffee in the courtyard?”

“What about your business?”

“It can wait. Dave and I will have plenty of time to discuss it later. Right now I’d rather spend my time with a beautiful woman. Don’t you agree, Dave?”

“I’m afraid I agree more than I’d like to admit.”

“Martin,” Gordon turned to the butler, “we’d like coffee in the courtyard.”

“May I, Mrs. Colter?”

Morgan looked warily at Seth’s proffered arm. She chided herself for being so silly.

“Of course.” His arm was larger, harder than she remembered. His body was so incredibly warm. Images of the times she had been cold and had snuggled against him for warmth danced in her mind. She took slow, even breaths, trying to calm her frantically beating heart.

“You two go ahead. I want to get a couple of cigars.”

The courtyard was still and quiet, with only a cricket’s sounds. She removed her hand from his arm.

“Are you happy here, Morgan?” His voice was gentle. It was the first time he’d called her that.

“Yes, I am.” She hesitated. There was no anger now. “Why are you here, Seth? Why couldn’t you leave me alone?”

The moonlight played on Seth’s hair, turning it silver. They held one another’s gaze. Neither of them heard Gordon’s footsteps.

“I want you. It’s that simple. I decided I couldn’t live without you, no matter what I thought you had done.”

“What I had done! I have donenothingwrong.”

“I know that—now. I met your friend Jessy and she told me everything. I had the whole story wrong.”

Morgan tried to control the anger she felt surging through her. “Let me see if I understand you correctly. As soon as you discovered that I wasn’t the … what you thought I was, you decided you’d take me back?”

“No, Morgan. That’s not what I said. I decided a long timebeforeI met Jessy that I wanted you and needed you, even if I had to buy you.”

“Buy me! Why, you insufferable…” She stopped as Gordon noisily entered the courtyard.

“It took me longer than I thought it would.” He quickly took in Morgan’s stormy face and Seth’s helplessness and bewilderment.

“I’m rather tired tonight.” Her voice was curt. “Goodnight, Gordon. Goodnight.” She did not look at Seth, but merely inclined her head in his direction.

The two men watched her leave. “Well, Dave, shall we go to my study and get down to business?”

Morgan tore her dress from her body and collapsed on the bed, nude. “Of all the despicable, insufferable—” She was at a loss for words. “He’ll take me back! After all I’ve been through. After all the pain he’s caused me, he decides he’ll come back and forget everything. How generous.”

This has all happened because I tried to save his life! I should have laughed at Joaquín and told him to go ahead. How could I ever have loved such a man?

She grabbed a vase from the table by the bed and hurled it at the bedroom door. It made a loud crash, mollifying her just a bit. “Damnallmen except my son!Myson, and no one else’s!”

Below, in the study, both Seth and Gordon looked toward the ceiling as they heard the crash. Neither made any comment.

It was after midnight when they concluded their business. As Gordon walked past Morgan’s room, he saw there was no light coming under the door. Everything was quiet. He went to his own room and removed his coat, vest, and cravat. He loosened his shirt and lit a cigar.

Gordon needed to think. He knew that Seth Colter and Dave Blake were the same person. It should have been a bigger surprise than it was. He realized in retrospect that everything had pointed to this: the way Morgan had reacted to “Dave” on the night of the party; her nervousness since then; and the way she had started flirting with him—but only when Seth was near.

Right now she fought Seth, but Gordon knew it would be only a matter of time before she admitted her passion for him.

---