"So you say," Florence replied. "But I'm afraid that does not relieve my mind in the least. Not in the least."
Chapter 20
JARED leaned back against the trunk of a large coconut palm and stared out over the ocean. He looked down at the waves breaking on Waikiki Beach. Behind him was the hotel he was building. While Jared was proud to be contributing to the growth of his island, he was also sad. The old way of life was ending.
"The job goes well, huh, Ialeka?"
Jared looked over at Leonaka who straddled a bench under the palms, paring a mango and tossing large chunks of the juicy fruit into his mouth. Leonaka Naihe was a descendant of Leimomi Naihe, as Jared was, but Leo was the truer Hawaiian, lossing his pure blood line only a generation ago, when his father took a Japanese wife. He looked pure Hawaiian, for he was a dark-skinned giant, towering well above Jared, with coal-black hair and black eyes.
They had grown up together on the north shore, gone to school together, and now worked together. Leo was Jared's best foreman as well as his closest friend and distant cousin.
"Yes, the job goes well," Jared grinned. "I don't know why I even bother to come down here. You have everything running so smoothly."
"Da successful boss no need work," Leo teased in pidgin, though he spoke perfect English. "He lay in da sun all day wit' pretty wafune. No worry 'bout na'ting."
"Are you suggesting I retire before I'm thirty?"
"We manage fine without you, boss. Mo'better you enjoy life while you young, huh?"
"Thanks a lot, Leo. It's nice to know I'm needed."
They both laughed. Then Leonaka's sudden change in expression alerted Jared.
"Look who is paying you a visit," Leo said seriously, nodding toward the hotel. "It must be something pretty important to take your uncle away from Fort Street."
Jared followed Leo's gaze. Edmond Burkett was striding purposefully toward them. "I have an idea why he's here."
"So do I," Leonaka said, frowning. "I wanted to talk to you about it myself, but since you haven't brought up the subject, I haven't dared to pry. I guess your uncle's got more courage."
"Audacity, you mean," Jared said coldly.
When Edmond reached them he was sweating profusely from the noon heat and breathing hard. The exertion of trudging through the sand had exhausted him. He collapsed on the other end of the bench by Leonaka and started fanning himself with his hat.
Leonaka rose without acknowledging Edmond's presence. "I guess I better get the men back to work now."
"Yes," Jared said tightly, and watched him walk away.
"I sent messages to you for the last two weeks, Jared," Edmond began, foregoing cordialities. "Why have you ignored them?"
"I have been busy."
'Too busy to spare me a few minutes?"
Jared stood stiffly before his uncle. "Yes. And I'm sorry you came down here for nothing, because I can't spare you any time now either. I have work to do."
Edmond became flustered. "You can't pretend you don't know why I'm here. I demand to know what you are going to do about your wife!"
"Nothing," Jared replied calmly, "Now is there anything else you wanted to discuss?"
Edmond stared incredulously at him. "Nothing? Nothing?"
"Your hearing is excellent, Uncle," Jared said sarcastically.
Edmond frowned. "Perhaps you're not aware of what she is doing."
"No, Uncle. I know all about her indiscretions. I can name you every one of the lovers she's taken in the six weeks since she arrived. I know exactly what she is doing. The difference is, I also know why."
"My God, Jared! How can you let her go on flaunting her infidelity? Doesn't it bother you?"
"If you mean that she's a whore—no, that doesn't bother me. She's not going to be my wife very much longer. She will probably divorce me as soon as she gets tired of her game and returns home."
"I don't understand any of this." Edmond shook his head. "You didn't even have the decency to tell me you had married."
"As I said, it won't be for much longer."
"I had to find out from friends, and that wasn't all they had to tell me," Edmond went on as if he hadn't been interrupted. "I couldn't believe it. I went to see her, to demand she stop passing herself off as Mrs. Jared Burkett."
"You saw Corinne?" Jared began to show interest.
"Yes, I saw her," he replied in disgust. "A trollop! With a painted face. Even after she knew who I was and had showed me her marriage papers, she had the effrontery to make a pass at me! Why, I'm old enough to be her father, let alone the fact I'm your unclel How could you have married such a creature?"
Jared's eyes had turned slate gray. "Why I married her is not important."
"Maybe you don't mind having your name dragged through the gutter. But I am a Burkett too, and so is your sister. Have you considered how Malia is going to feel about having a whore for a sister-in-law? The whole bloody island knows about it. You've got to put a stop to this!"
"Since when are you so concerned about Malia?" Jared asked icily.
"I know how she is going to feel when this reaches her. It's fortunate she's in the country now. She probably won't ever want to leave once she hears."
"That's enough!" Jared said furiously.
"Then do something about it! The damage has been done, but it needn't continue. The political problems on this island are coming to a head. We might have a revolution soon. At least that will make people forget about your wife."
"I told you never to mention revolution to me. You know I am opposed to overthrowing the queen."
"I'm just saying that your scandalous wife won't remain the topic of conversation for very long once she's gone."
"What are you suggesting? That I ship her home whether she wants to go or not?"
"Yes. And pay her to leave, if you have to. I'll even help you if her price is too high for you."
"She's richer than you and I together, Uncle," Jared replied, watching his uncle's reaction carefully.
Edmond was surprised, but not deterred. "Damnit, Jared, you have to do something! You're letting that woman make a laughing stock of you and ruin our name."
"All right, Uncle," Jared sighed, turning to look down the beach at the castlelike structure of the Royal Monarch Hotel, where Corinne was staying. "I will take care of it."
This was the second conversation he had had about his wife since her unexpected arrival. The first had been with Dayna, the woman he ought to have married. She now knew all the sordid details of the marriage. Curiously, Dayna had recently accused him of being jealous, which was absurd. He didn't care for Corinne. Couldn't Dayna see that?
"You'll put a stop to it soon?" his uncle pressed.
Jared's mouth was set in a grim line. "Yes, soon."
chapter 21
was bored. The constant acting, the long drives from Punchbowl to Waikiki and back again kept her irritable. The charade was keeping her away from Michael far too much, and she hated that.
Yes, it was time to go home. The venture just hadn't been satisfying. If only Jared had reacted in some way, if he had shown her that her behavior had had some effect on him, she'd feel as though she'd accomplished something. But she hadn't seen him once. Maybe he didn't give a damn what people thought.
"I think I might just miss this island, Russell," Corinne remarked as she poured more Chinese tea into a tiny cup. "You have to admit, it's nice having summer all year round, and fresh fruit whenever you want it."
They were at a restaurant in Chinatown, a crowded part of Honolulu not far from Punchbowl. It was an exotic experience, eating pork chow mein, egg fu yung, chow fun, and a host of other delightful dishes. The courses just kept coming, seven different dishes in all, enough to feed ten hungry people. Corinne was aghast at the waste, but she did get to sample each dish.
"So you've finally decided to give it up and go home?" Russell asked.
"Yes. I should get Michael away from here before he gets too a
ccustomed to the warm climate and has trouble adjusting to Boston."
"Michael," Russell said drily. "Everything you do now seems to center around him. When you're not acting out your little drama, you're playing with that baby, nursing him, bathing him. I hardly ever see you anymore unless it's my turn to be your lover for the day."
"Don't be crude, Russell."
"I wouldn't mind, if it were true—if I really were your lover," he replied bitterly. "But the only one you let get close to you is that damn baby."
"Russell!"
"I'm sorry, Corinne," he said quickly, taking her hand in both of his. "I didn't mean that. I'm just dispirited. I've been losing constantly at the cockfights in Kalihi, and this muggy weather we've been having is enough to put anyone on edge."
Corinne sighed. "I know. Why don't you see about finding us a ship tomorrow?"
"You're that eager to leave?"
"Aren't you? It's been ten months."
"I just thought you would settle things with Burkett first. You haven't even seen him."
"Why should I?"
"What about a divorce?"
"Russell, I told you. There will be no divorce. Jared will continue to be my absentee husband, even if we never see each other again. I happen to like the present arrangement."
"Where does that leave me?"
"Just what are you getting at, Russell?" Corinne demanded, putting down her fork and sitting back.
"I want you for my wife, Corinne." His hands squeezed hers more tightly. "/ want to be your husband, not that rascal who doesn't give a damn about you."
Corinne sighed. "That's impossible now. I've told you that before. I never made you any promises, Russell. I don't love you and I wish you would stop expecting my feelings to change. I don't want anyone except Michael."
Russell's eyes darkened. "Maybe you wouldn't feel that way if you didn't have the baby," he said acidly. "I wonder what your husband would do if he knew he had a son."
Corinne's face turned pale. She had never heard Russell talk so callously before. Why did he seem so bitter?
"Are you threatening me, Russell?"
"I'm just curious, is all," he shrugged. "Do you think he would try to take the boy from you?"
Corinne's green eyes darkened and shot sparks. "If you told him, Russell," she said in a whisper, "I would probably kill you."
"The lioness protecting her cub, eh?" he sneered. Then his dark eyes widened in surprise. "Well . . . the lion just walked into the den." "What?" "Your absentee husband is no longer absent."
Corinne felt her heart begin to pound. She couldn't bring herself to turn around and look. She glared at Russell.
"If you dare say one word about—"
"Relax, Corinne." Russell smiled warmly and kissed the palm of her hand. "I was only teasing you. Don't you know me better than that?"
"I was beginning to wonder," she said with little relief. "Has he seen us?"
"Not only that, my dear, but he is coming this way," Russell answered smoothly.
Corinne held her breath. How should she act? For some reason, the old anger at Jared wouldn't surface. Instead, she found herself worried about his anger, about what he would do.
When she heard the slow moving footsteps stop behind her, she wanted to run.
"Mr. Drayton," Jared drawled. "I trust you are enjoying my wife's company, but would you mind if I borrowed her for a few minutes?"
Russell didn't move. He replied smugly, "I do mind, Mr. Burkett. I don't believe your wife would care to be borrowed, as you put it."
Jared placed his palms flat on the table and leaned toward Russell. "Let me put it another way," he said in a dangerously calm tone. "If you don't leave, I am going to personally escort you out of here and beat you senseless."
Russell rose indignantly. He wasn't quite as tall as Jared, and was ridiculously slim in comparison, but he didn't appear in the least bit intimidated.
Corinne rose also. "Russell, please. We're finished here, anyway. Wait for me in the carriage. I'm sure whatever Jared has to say will only take a few minutes."
Russell looked at Corinne for a long moment. Quickly, he reached into his pocket and threw money down on the table for the bill. He then stalked angrily from the restaurant without another word.
Corinne sat down again, aware of the many eyes focused on her table. She finally looked up at Jared. A spark seemed to pass between them. She couldn't tear her eyes away from his.
"You're looking fit, Corinne." Jared broke the silence and sat down opposite her. "My uncle was right, though. That makeup you wear is appalling. Didn't anyone tell you that you don't have to look like a whore to be one?"
She had expected similar words, but they stung nevertheless. "You've grown a beard," she remarked in lame retaliation, noting that his tan was darker, too. "It doesn't suit you."
"I didn't ask for your opinion."
"Nor did 1 ask for yours!" she retorted hotly, the old anger coming back with surprising quickness.
"What's the matter, Corinne?" he asked. "You enjoy being a whore, but you don't liie being called one? Is that it?"
Corinne changed her demeanor with great effort. "It doesn't bother me, Jared," she said. "Does it you? Don't you like having it known that your wife is a whore?"
"That's enough, Corinne."
"Has it been humiliating, Jared? Tell me how you felt. Did you feel just a little bit like I did when you left your newspaper ad behind? A little bit shamed, Jared? A little bit of a fool?"
"So your behavior here was all intentional?"
"Yes, you cur!" she hissed, letting her anger show now. "You're not the only one who understands revenge!"
Jared looked down at the table thoughtfully. "Wouldn't you say we are even now? I did you a bad turn, but you have retaliated."
"Whether or not we are even is debatable. I couldn't even leave my house in Boston because of the humiliation. But I see you haven't had that problem. Perhaps you don't care about public opinion?*
"I care, Corinne."
"Well, thank you for that much satisfaction," she said coldly.
"You didn't let me finish. I care, but I don't let it affect me," he said. "But since you put such importance on public opinion, how could you degrade yourself here just to settle a score with me?"
"I don't care what these people think," she replied. "I don't live here. Gossip here isn't going to follow me to Boston."
"I could see that it did," he tested her.
She glared at him. "If you're out for a never-ending battle, I will oblige you."
Jared's shoulders seemed to drop a little. "No, I just want to see this one ended. You've done enough damage, Corinne. I want you to call it quits and leave."
"You want?" she laughed derisively. "I don't give a damn what you want, Jared. Maybe / don't want to leave yet. Maybe I just happen to like it here. After all, I've been having a marvelous time."
"Whoring?" he said contemptuously.
"Yes," she grinned "You showed me how pleasurable love can be. But I've found that any man will do."
Jared's eyes were a steel gray. "You're going to leave, Corinne, if I have to—"
She stood up in rage. "Don't you dare threaten me!"You lost any rights when you treated me the way you did. I had never harmed you, Jared. You are in no position to ask me anything, ever."
Jared stared after her departing figure with a murderous fury growing in him. Why was she doing this? Was she really going to stay here?
A few minutes passed before Jared decided to follow Corinne and her favorite lover. The other men had been only one-night affairs, but Russell Drayton was a regular bedmate of Corinne's. Jared wondered what Drayton thought about sharing Corinne with other men. What kind of man loved a whore?
Jared's carriage followed theirs. He was about to overtake them when they surprised him by turning off towards Punchbowl, rather than going on to Waikiki and Corinne's hotel. Jared slowed his carriage and continued to follow them at a d
istance. They stopped on a hill overlooking the city, and he watched as Corinne and Russell entered a house there.
Jared settled down and waited, wondering who they were visiting. As the minutes turned into hours it became clear to him. He had not been able to discover where Drayton was staying. Now he knew. Corinne not only flaunted her affairs publicly, she also enjoyed them privately. Did the woman never sleep alone?
Toward midnight, Jared watched the lights go out in the front of the house. He couldn't say why he had waited so long, hoping they would leave. Why, damnit, why did he have the urge to go in there and kill Drayton? Jared didn't care who Corinne slept with. Was he letting it get to him simply because she bore his name?
Jared rode back down to the city with one thought in mind—Corinne had to leave Hawaii. He wouldn't seek her out again. Let her come to him. When she did, he knew exactly what to do.
Chapter 22
CORINNE woke with a splitting headache. Rain was blowing into her room through the open windows. She jumped out of bed and raced to Michael's room. But his windows were closed against the downpour, obviously Florence's doing.
Michael was still asleep, so she quietly closed the door and moved sluggishly back to her own room. She shut her own windows, then pressed her palms to her temples and grimaced against the throbbing pain.
Too little sleep, she reasoned, and too many upsetting thoughts—that's why her head ached. Why had she let her meeting with Jared upset her so?
She had forgotten how handsome he was. She had lain awake much of the night, recalling his touch, their wedding night, the wild pleasure he had given her. Most disturbing, she knew that if he had walked into her room last night, she would have welcomed him.
Florence knocked on the door and poked her head inside. "You're up? Good." She came into the room without invitation. "I wanted a word with you before Michael woke and demanded your full attention."
"Yes."
"Maybe you will tell me now what was the matter with you and Russell last evening?"