With any luck he could reach Catherine, signal her to silence and gether away before anyone knew he was around. He didn't know what kind of servants the American employed, but Patrick concluded that they paid aslittle attention to their employer as the governor did.

Moments later, he learned they were neither sloppy nor unaware of his presence. And it wasn't servants he need fear, it was armed guards.

"Well, now, Mr. McLendon, or is it the pirate, Stone?"

Patrick had heard that voice before, beneath his window that night inNatchez-under-the-Hill. He was the man who'd sent Lopaz after him.

Patrick was stunned.

Catherine had come directly to the man from whom they'd beenescaping.

Patrick could make no sense of what was happening. His best action was escape. It took four guards to subdue Patrick, but in a matter ofminutes he was shackled, chained, pushed down to a stool and surroundedby guards.

A lamp was lit as well as the candles in the holders along the wall,revealing the American sitting in a large chair in the corner.

"You have me at a disadvantage, sir," Patrick said.

"I don't believe we've met."

"I don't really think we need an introduction, Mr. McLendon. You knew where you were coming and why. You know who I am and that Catherine is here."

A noise down the corridor heralded the approach of the woman inquestion.

"Charles? What is it?" She was fastening her wrapper as she steppedinto the room.

"Hello, Cat," Patrick said, giving her an appreciative, involuntarygrin.

"Looks like I've run afoul of the law again. It's back to the dungeonfor me."

"Not this time!" she exclaimed, running to his side and dropping toher knees on the floor.

"Unfasten him, Charles. This is Patrick."

"I know, my dear. I've been waiting for him. We wouldn't want to marry without having your pirate as a guest, would we?"

"I can't do that, Charles. I don't understand all this."

"Oh, but you do. You promised that you'd do whatever I wanted, if Iwould arrange to clear Patrick's name. And I told you that what Iwanted was for you to become Mrs. Charles Forrest, just as we'dplanned."

"But--but you can't be serious. I'm in love with Patrick. You know that. I always have been."

"Love? What does that signify?"

Catherine felt Patrick's muscles tighten beneath her hand resting onhis thigh. She hadn't believed Charles was serious when he'd left her earlier. He didn't understand how she felt about Patrick. She'd planned to explain her feelings when he returned. But it was obvious that he had no intention of listening.

How could she have been such a fool? Why hadn't she listened toPatrick? Because of her, Patrick had been lured to New Orleans, whereCharles intended to hand him over to the governor for execution as thepirate, Stone.

Finally, shoulders bowed in defeat, she stood.

"If I marry you, you'll release Patrick?"

"Don't believe him, Catherine. He's lying to you. He set you up,knowing I'd come for you."

"Of course," Charles agreed, ignoring Patrick.

"Take him away." He directed the men who were standing at the fourcorners of Patrick's stool. At their nudging, he uncoiled hiswell-honed body and stood proudly, undaunted by the danger of themoment.

Catherine thought of the child she was carrying and weighed theconsequences of her rash actions while Patrick moved toward the door.

As he came even with her, he smiled, lifted his eyebrow and gave her adevilish wink as if to say, take heart. Then he moved on and she wondered if she'd imagined his carefree boldness.

No, this was Patrick, her Patrick, and he'd never give in to defeat.

He was telling her to be patient and he'd think of a way out. But this time the way out might get him killed and she couldn't let thathappen.

"You tricked me, Charles," she said as she turned to face this manshe'd once thought to marry.

"And I suppose that's only fair after what I did to you. But Patrick doesn't deserve this. He never did anything to harm you."

"Doesn't matter," Charles admitted.

"Patrick is my leverage. As long as I have him, I have yourcooperation."

"I can't think why you'd want a woman who doesn't love you."

"It's very simple. I intend to make a name for myself in governmentservice. But, I'm afraid that Governor Carondelet isn't as cooperativeas he should be. Your father was a prominent man in the revolution andI need the prestige of the Caden name, and your dowry. And now I have the means to get both."

Catherine let out a gasp.

"My dowry? I'm afraid you're in for a surprise, Charles. There is no dowry."

"But of course there is. Your mother's new husband, Judge Taliferro,is supplying it. We settled the terms before I left Petersburg."

"You went to the judge and asked for my dowry?"

"Or course, why else do you think I went to him except to offer to takeyou off their hands? You'll find that I always do what is proper,Catherine, and expect the proper response in return."

"You never loved me, did you, Charles?"

"No more than you loved me, Catherine. We were both the means to an end. But don't worry, I will be good to you and in return you willenjoy a fine life and give me children."

Catherine didn't mean to laugh. She knew as quickly as her laughspilled out that she'd angered Charles at a time when she needed tomaintain some kind of reasonable relationship between them. She'd never given in to hysterics, not even when she'd been told that Patrickwas dead. But suddenly she couldn't stop herself from retaliating.

"Children?"

"You find it amusing that I expect children, Catherine?"

"No--no." She struggled to control her emotions.

"At the moment, I find it impossible."

"Impossible? Why, are you barren?"

"No, Charles. Quite the contrary. I'm already carrying a child,Patrick's child. Any children I give you will have to wait."

"He took you?"

"No, Charles, I gave myself to him, not once, but many times."

Charles had never thought himself to be a violent man. He would have said he was not. He honestly didn't know he'd moved, until he slappedher. Even as he pulled his hand back, acknowledging the sting, heattributed his rage to the uncivilized city to which he'd been sent,not jealousy.

A post in Paris or London was what Charles had requested. He'd been bitterly disappointed when he'd been sent instead to the LouisianaTerritory, and he'd intended to quickly accomplish his goal and applyfor a post in the new capital. He hadn't expected the Spanish governorto refuse to discuss the negotiation of favorable trade agreements withthe Americans. Nor had he expected the defiant look in Catherine's eyes.

Even now, with the red print of his hand staining her face, she glaredat him. No trembling, no fear. He felt a swell of repulsion sweepover him. His Catherine was carrying another man's child. The bodythat was to be his had been defiled by Stone.

Stone.

Well, this time Charles held the upper hand. He wouldn't be beaten.

The child didn't matter; it only took away his desire for Catherine'sbody temporarily.

The wedding would still take place. Let her have Stone's brat, thenshe'd have to learn what was expected of a proper wife. They'd stillbe married right away.

But first he had to deal with that pirate. Tonight Catherine couldwait.

Three days later Catherine was still waiting. She'd been confined to her room. Only Topsy was allowed to go inside, to bring food andbathwater. Charles didn't send for her and he refused to respond toher summons. She'd paced the balcony nightly, searching in vain for away to distract her guards in the courtyard below.

Then one night a figure slipped through the window and put his hand over Catherine's mouth, signaling her to silence."Jillico! Where is Patrick""Shhh. He's in jail.""In jail? Then the governor refuses to pardon him?""Stone is to be executed tomorrow night. Senor For- rest delivered him to the governor himself. In return, the governor has agreed to grant

free trade."

"Prison! That liar! Get me a knife. If they hurt one hair on Patrick's head, I'll kill Charles myself!"

"There is more. Your wedding is to take place the same night. I have not found a way to rescue Stone, though Pharaoh is trying to find a wayto reach you through Topsy."

"Topsy?"

"Yes, she was on the ship with the others who came from the island.

She knows that Patrick didn't kill anybody, but she's afraid of the Sun

King's black magic.

He is a very powerful man. And they say that he's dangerous as well.""I wish we had some of his black magic right now. There has to be a way to get into that jail and rescue Patrick. Even a dying mandeserves--wait, that's it! A confession. I will visit Stone as the priest who goes to hear his last confession, Jillico."

"You can't mean to go to the jail yourself. What will thataccomplish?""I'm not certain yet. I'm thinking.""I will go.""You cannot go, Jillico. Suppose they notice that you're an Indian.There are no Indian priests. "

"And I don't suppose they'd notice you're a woman?""Of course they wouldn't. They'll accept what they see. If I looklike a priest, they'll believe I'm a priest. Get me a priest's robe,Jillico, and... yes, I will take Patrick food, and a jug of wine thatyou will have drugged. The guards will take the wine and drink it.

Later, when they sleep, Patrick can be set free. "

"And what about you and Mr. Forrest?"

"I don't know," she answered in a tight whisper.

"I'm working on that."

Charles caught himself just before he slammed the door to thegovernor's office. He'd planned to hold the marriage ceremony first tomake sure that Catherine didn't have a chance to change her mind. But he'd been thwarted at every step of the way. The dress wouldn't be ready until tonight and the minister was not free until the next day,unless he would accept an evening hour.

After reasoning that Catherine wouldn't know when the execution was totake place, he'd agreed to a ten o'clock ceremony. That way he'd viewthe execution at nine and by the time his bride found out what hadhappened, it would be too late.

At least one thing had gone right--he'd collected the reward forStone's capture, and he'd made an appointment with a banker who knew apotential buyer for his house. Staying in New Orleans held no appealfor Charles now; he and Catherine would leave on the next ship. He checked his pocket watch. Just enough time to arrange passage on theship and meet with the house buyer. Then he'd be off to the jail.

As he stepped into the street he heard the frightened cry of a horsebarreling down the narrow street, forcing him to jump back into analleyway adjacent to the French Market.

"Hold up, governor!" Two masked men stepped out of the shadows andpushed him against the wall.

"Don't move," the tall slim one said.

"Hand over your purse, or die!"

Another man might have recognized the melodramatic flair and theaffected voice of the robber, but Charles was so frightened that hedidn't even turn around. Instead he thrust his purse containing thereward behind him and held his breath, expecting to be stabbed at anymoment.

He wasn't. He was hit on the head, and after being checked to makecertain that he wasn't hurt badly, left abandoned in the alley. After a time he came to, rubbed his pounding head and pulled himself to hisfeet. He was alone. The robbers had taken the reward money anddisappeared into the night. After a quick check of the time he hurriedtoward the bank. He was late. He'd already lost a considerable sum ofmoney, he couldn't afford to lose more.

"I feel like the grim reaper," Catherine said, adjusting the length ofthe priest's robe she was wearing by tightening the ties.

Jillico didn't answer. Already dressed as a servant accompanying theholy man, he was placing the jugs of wine over his shoulder, suspendingthem by a thong tied between.

"You are certain that Senor Forrest will not return tonight before thewedding?"

"Certain. He finally honored me with a visit to explain. He is buyingmy wedding gown and arranging for our departure. First he has to sell the house to pay for our passage. And he won't leave until he's collected the reward for Patrick's capture. Then he returns with the priest to conduct our wedding."

Jillico grinned.

"It would be too bad if the American official collected the reward and was robbed on the way home, wouldn't it?"

"No, Jillico. Stone must cease to exist. We don't want any morerobberies blamed on that river pirate. Come, let us go. You have the wine?"