"That's enough, Malia," Jared said, trying desperately to calm the rage that was burning inside him. Corinne had caused this whole situation.
"But how could you let her make such a fool of you?" she continued, undaunted. "You, who never let anyone get the better of you. Well, everyone is laughing at you now! They're laughing at all of us!"
"No more, Malia," Akela warned her.
Malia came to her feet, glaring at both of them. "Fm not through yet! Do you know what you've done to me, Jared? I can't leave this house now. I would die of shame if I went to the city for the winter season. And you know I hate it here when the storms come."
"Auwe!" Akela threw up her heavy arms. "Malia, you make me shame you act so selfish. How you think your brother feel, eh? You think he like what happened?"
"He could have stopped it!"
"You don't understand how it is between Corinne and me," Jared replied.
How could he tell his sister that he didn't stop his wife from whoring because of his pride? He couldn't let Corinne know that it mattered to him. What a mess he had made of his life!
"Did I hear my name mentioned?"
Corinne stood in the doorway, looking angelic in her pink-and-white dress. Her expression was serene, her eyes bright lime-green, innocent. Jared saw his sister's shocked surprise. He had assumed Akela would have warned her that Corinne was here.
He turned to the large woman, but she shrugged. "Not for me tell her," she said, having read his thoughts.
"That's your wife?" Malia asked. She had expected a painted floozy, not the stunningly beautiful lady Corinne appeared to be.
"And who might this be, Jared?" Corinne inquired as she came further into the room, leaving Florence standing nervously in the doorway.
Florence had good reason to expect trouble, for she recognized the aggressive note in Corinne's voice. So did Jared.
He said uneasily, "Corinne, this is my sister, Malia."
"Your sister!"
Jared was almost amused at the surprise Corinne revealed, until he saw her eyes darken to a deep emerald. The wheels of her mind seemed to be turning furiously, for she looked at Malia and then back at Jared.
"She is younger than I am, isn't she, Jared?"
Now it was his turn to be bewildered. What in damnation did that have to do with anything?
"By a few years, yes," he answered warily, unable to see what she was getting at until it was too late.
"You beast!" Corinne hissed. "You lied to my father just to make him suffer!"
Jared caught his breath. He suddenly knew what conclusions she had jumped to. "Shut up, Corinne!" he warned her, the knuckles of his hands white as he gripped the table.
"Not until you burn in Hades I will!" Corinne shouted furiously. "You tell me how your mother could have had her if she was languishing with a broken heart? I don't believe she killed herself because of my father. It was an accident, wasn't it?"
Jared had turned pale. Corinne followed his agonized gaze to Malia and saw the horror on the girl's face. She held her breath as the girl burst into tears and ran from the room.
What had she done? She was afraid to look at Jared again, but he forced her to when his fingers bit into her shoulders.
"I could kill you for that!" he said in a deadly whisper, his grip on her becoming painful. "Malia didn't know, confound you. She was told our mother's death was an accident!"
"I—I'm sorry, Jared," Corinne stammered, never more frightened by him than she was at that moment.
"You're sorry!" he spat at her, shoving her away from him. "You meant to hurt and you did. I hope to hell you're satisfied!"
He stormed out of the room to follow his sister, leaving Corinne shaken. Florence rushed to her, putting an arm about her shoulders.
"Don't fret now, Cori. I know you didn't mean to hurt the girl."
"Why couldn't I have stilled my vicious tongue? I deserved everything he said, and more." She turned to Akela. "I really am sorry."
The old woman frowned. "Bad thing you do, Kolina, but I understand now."
"Understand?"
"Your father the one my Ranelle love too much. Ialeka hate him long time. I know why he go mainland now, why he marry you. He hurt you, huh? Then you come here for hurt him back. Auwef Bad thing hate." She shook her peppered head. "Mo'better love."
"That's impossible," Corinne replied dismally, her eyes downcast.
Akela shook her head again. "Think of the keiki and you see love mo'better.''
Corinne drew herself up defensively, but Florence urged her out of the kitchen before more damage was done. She spent the rest of the day with Michael and Florence in their bedroom. Akela brought them food, stopping to fuss over Michael for a while. Wisely, she didn't say anything more about him, or about Jared and his sister.
Corinne knew it had taken Jared hours to calm the girl down, for they had all heard the heartbreaking tears coming from the patio. If only she hadn't barged into the kitchen that morning. Damn her temper.
Jared hadn't left that day, and it was too late for him to go now. She dreaded facing him again, especially alone. But by that night, she dreaded even more the thought that he might come looking for her.
She bid Florence good night and walked hesitantly to Jared's room. He was there already, standing at the far window, looking out, his arms braced on each side of the window. He was so deep in thought that he didn't hear her come in and she had to clear her throat. Because he was in the shadows, she couldn't see Ms expression when he turned to look at her.
"If you've changed your mind about my sleeping in this room, I'll—"
"Come in, Corinne," he said. "You're my wife and this room is as much yours as it is mine. I told you before, there are no other rooms. And I won't have you inconveniencing your maid just because you and I would rather not share the same room."
"She wouldn't mind."
"I mind."
His voice was not harsh. In fact, he sounded terribly tired.
"Well, I won't sleep on that chaise again," she warned him. "My neck is still stiff from last night."
"Suit yourself."
"You wont—"
Corinne halted in mid-sentence and bit her Up.
"I won't," he answered.
Corinne closed the door and crossed to the bed where Akela had left her nightgown. She picked it up and went on towards the bathroom, but stopped before she got there and turned slowly to Jared.
"I—I really am sorry for what happened this morning," she said, thankful his back was to her and he hadn't turned around. "I would never have hurt your sister intentionally, Jared. I had no way of knowing she wasn't aware of the circumstances surrounding your mother's death."
"I know," he murmured, still without facing her. "It's over with, so forget about it."
How can I? she wanted to say. But she went slowly into the bathroom and closed the door quietly. She changed in what little light the moon provided as it filtered in through the row of short windows high on the bathroom wall. When she came back into the bedroom, Jared was still standing at the window, looking out at the front yard and the high clifflike base of the mountain on the other side of the road.
She got into bed, but hesitated before asking, "Do you mind if I turn the light out?"
"Go ahead. I'll be up a while yet."
Sleep was impossible. And it was indeed a long while before Jared finally left his vigil at the window and came to bed. Corinne pretended sleep as she heard him removing his clothes. When she felt him get into bed, she stiffened.
He was so close, so very close, and she couldn't help thinking of their wedding night a year ago on this day. She would never have that thrilling pleasure again, never know his strong arms holding her close, his lips touching hers, drawing her will away. Never again seemed so very long, when at this moment she wanted those powerful hands to caress her, wanted to feel the length of his body on hers. Why had they destroyed what might have been?
She fek the bed move
again, and sensed that he was looking down at her. She kept her eyes closed and held her breath.
"I'm sorry, Kolina," he breathed softly and then moved back to the far side of the bed.
Sorry for what? But she knew that he had assumed she was sleeping. He believed she hadn't heard him, or he would never have spoken. Would she ever know what he was sorry for? Sorry that he had ever met her? Tears welled fiercely in her eyes and she didn't know why.
Chapter 28
Corinne woke to find Jared's chest against her back, with one arm slung over her possessively. Her first impulse was to scramble from the bed, but she realized that would wake him and might even draw his anger. She lay still, revelling in the feel of him pressed to her.
She became unnerved by his closeness, feeling his warm breath on her neck, the weight of his arm over her, his hand slack against her breast. She could feel the excitement building in her like a live thing. Daringly, she pressed even closer to him and her eyes widened when she felt the soft bulge of him against her buttocks. She had forgotten that he was completely naked. Her own gown was bunched up about her waist.
The thrilling feel of him was almost more than she could bear. She forgot everything that had ever passed between them, everything—except his lovemaking on their wedding night, the night that he had inflamed her passion. She wanted that again, she wanted to stir his desire and -make him take her again. But could she do that? Would he forget his hate long enough to satisfy his needs—and hers? Yes, she admitted that she needed Jared.
Corinne's passionate quandary was all for naught, for at that moment the bedroom door opened and a young, very attractive Hawaiian girl with light golden skin burst in on them.
"Ialeka! I see your carriage and—"
The girl stopped, her dark eyes widening as she took in the scene on the bed. Jared had awakened instantly and Corinne could feel the tightening of his body before he pulled away from her with a muttered curse.
The girl raced back out of the room with a strangled cry before Jared bellowed, "Naneki!"
Corinne watched with shock and disbelief as Jared yanked on his trousers and, without looking once in her direction, ran out after the girl. She stared at the empty doorway and felt her face grow hot with the rage that suddenly took hold of her. The girl was Jared's mistress! Nothing else could explain her familiarity with his room or her reaction to Corinne's presence.
"Damn him!"
Corinne grabbed her robe and went after them. Jared had caught up with the girl in the back yard, just outside the patio. Corinne stood bristling on the top step that led down to the sunken patio. She could see them clearly through the screened door, Jared holding onto the girl's arm, making her listen to him even though she tried to pull away.
The dining room was beside her, enclosed with latticed shelves that held all manner of colored crystal and china vases. The kitchen was directly across from this and Akela appeared at the door there.
"Leave alone, Kolina."
Corinne turned flashing emerald eyes on her. "He's my husband!"
Akela nodded. "But I no have chance tell Naneki you here. She hurt. Let Ialeka explain."
"What is she even doing here?" Corinne demanded, her fists clenched in anger.
"She live here, work here. She away yesterday, come back just now. Naneki my adopted keiki," Akela explained.
"She lives here? And he brought me—"
Corinne couldn't finish she was so choked with rage. She ignored Akela's staying hand and moved down the steps and across the room. But she stopped before opening the door to the patio and revealing her presence.
"Why you bring her here?" Naneki was crying. "How you can forgive her for what she did to you?"
"I haven't forgiven her for anything, Naneki," Jared said impatiently. "And I brought her here to put a stop to her whoring."
"But you sleep with her!"
"Only sleep, confound it! Nothing else."
"Well, I no stay here with her," Naneki said defiantly. "I share you with Dayna, but not with this haole!"
Who was this Dayna? Corinne wondered. Another of Jared's mistresses? Corinne started to turn around, but her attention was caught by a little Hawaiian girl who came running around the side of the house toward Jared.
"Papa!" the little girl cried and flew into Jared's outstretched arras.
Corinne gasped, watching Jared hug the child. But Naneki grabbed her angrily from his arms.
"Come, Noelani," she said roughly. "We go back Aunty's house."
Corinne opened the door. "You don't have to leave on my account," she purred smoothly, wondering how she managed such control.
Naneki looked at Corinne with loathing before she walked away stiffly, little Noelani waving good-bye innocently over her shoulder. The little girl with dark hair and eyes and golden skin was the image of her mother. But Jared also had those dark good looks. Was this really his daughter?
"So you have a daughter, Jared." She smiled. "How nice for you. I wonder why you never mentioned her before."
"Because Noelani is not mine, Corinne," he said flatly and started to walk back into the house.
"But Naneki is your mistress, isn't she?" she said to him, her voice rising.
Jared turned on her and said icily, "She was my mistress before I married you. But I'm afraid I haven't found any time for her since I got back from the mainland."
"You expect me to believe that?"
"Jealous?" he said sarcastically.
"Of course not!"
"Good, because you shouldn't be. You can't begrudge me one mistress," he said in a cruel tone. "Not when you give yourself to any man who comes along."
She gasped and instantly raised her hand to slap him, but he caught her wrist and held it firmly. His eyes were cold gray slits as he looked down on her.
"Does the truth hurt, my dear?" he asked unmercifully, his grip tightening. "Whores have to get used to insults, it comes with" the trade. You really should have thought of that?"
"I would gladly give it to anyone rather than you!" she spat, wanting furiously to hurt him in return.
He paled, and shoving her away from him, marched back into the house.
Corinne turned away, fighting to control the tears. Why did they always have to hurt each other? She would rather he had struck her than say what he had with such venom in his voice. For an instant she was ready to tell him the truth, all of it. But she reasoned that he would only laugh at her, scorning her once more.
She had done too good a job of creating the illusion that she was a whore. No one would ever believe otherwise now —except her so-called lovers. They knew, but they would never tell! It was all so absurd.
Dismally, Corinne picked a gardenia from the shrubs that grew along the three-foot lava rock wall of the patio. She breathed deeply of the velvety white flower, then placed it behind her ear and slowly started walking through the back yard towards the beach. The yard was long and not nearly so heavily cultivated as the garden out front. There were banana trees, guava, lichee, lemon and lime trees, and two huge mango trees which cast abundant shade over lush grass. The giant mango tree on the left had a bench swing attached to it and Corinne stopped there instead of going on to the beach.
The sound of the waves beating against the shore was soothing. She couldn't see the deep blue of the ocean, for the beach slanted downward beyond the yard, but she knew it was very close. It was so peaceful here. It would be heavenly to sit in this swing and watch the sunset, to have someone she loved beside her, drawing her near, sharing the beauty and wonder of nature and the love of one another.
She suddenly felt so lonely and confused. Why had Jared's scathing remarks hurt her so much? She shouldn't care what he thought of her. He had admitted that Naneki was his mistress and, for some reason that hurt, too. And the little girl who had called him Papa. Corinne didn't believe for one minute that she wasn't Jared's child. Jared should have married Naneki, if only for the sake of his daughter. But instead he had come to the ma
inland and married her, for revenge against her father.
She was weary of it all. She was tired of fighting with him, of trying to understand what had happened to their one loving night. She just wanted to go home. She wouldn't even try to get back the money Jared had taken from her. Let him keep it all, she didn't need it.
A door slamming at the front of the house drew Co-rinne's attention. She turned in the swing just in time to see Jared cross from the house to the wall of pines and go toward the stable. A few minutes later she heard a horse canter away. So he was gone. And without even a good-bye. Instead of relief, she felt the tears begin again.
Chapter 29
CORINNE sat alone at the kitchen table, sipping the Chinese tea Akela had made earlier. It was the first of November, three weeks to the day since Jared had returned to the city. Her efforts to get back to Honolulu herself had been frustrated over and over again.
She had found out quickly enough that the stable was off-limits to her. Kapu, the big Hawaiian who tended the few horses had shouted at her the day she went there. Jared had left orders that she wasn't to use the carriage, nor could she have a horse. And each time she had sneaked into the stable to try and get a horse anyway, she was discovered by the big Hawaiian and had another exchange of shouts that neither of them understood, for he hardly spoke a word of English, and she understood only a few Hawaiian words.
Corinne had had only one other opportunity for getting away, when the iceman stopped to deliver ice, as he did periodically. She had quickly asked him to give her a ride to the nearest town, shoving what little cash she had into his hands. But Akela had overheard, and warned him that Jared would come after him with a club if he took his wahine male anywhere. The poor man's eyes had bulged. He couldn't get away fast enough.
"Kolina no leave," Akela had said to her afterwards. "Ialeka say so."
Corinne had been furious with her, but the huge woman only clucked her tongue and walked away. That had been more than a week ago. Corinne couldn't bribe Akela. She'd been with Jared since he was a baby. Akela would never sell her loyalty.