As her fathers sister drew nearer, Noelani was faintly relieved to see curiosity and not hostility in the pale ocean-green eyes. She recalled her mother mentioning how captivating shed found Fontaines green eyes. Noelani took immense satisfaction in knowing she, at least, didnt share that family trait.
So, youre Dukes secret daughter? Esme murmured in a slightly nasal inflection, as if English wasnt her first language. Noelani found it reminiscent of the many French-speaking South Seas islanders. Anela had spoken French fluently, and Noelani had a passable command of the language.
Oui, she murmured, considering whether or not she ought to curtsey.
My dear, you are wetter than Adam indicated. I sent him to check the towels in your boudoir. Weve hosted a round of guests this past week, what with two funerals. She shook her head without displacing even a hair. Even though Jackson knew the property settlement meeting was scheduled for tonight, he gave Betty Rabaud, our cook-housekeeper, the day off. But come, we mustnt keep you shivering in the hall. Esme scooped up the yipping dog and started back up the curving stairs.
Noelani shouldered her purse and her overnight case. She gamely grasped the handles of her two larger bags.
Leave those, Esme said sharply. Adam will bring them. Wont you, mon chèr? She fluttered an age-spotted hand. Fire shot from her many rings.
Glancing up, Noelani caught sight of Adam Ross striding down the stairs. His nut-brown hair curled over his forehead as it dried. The man shed more or less dismissed suddenly had alarm bells clanging in her head as he closed in on her.
Noelani stepped aside. Even if he was about as perfect a specimen of manhood as shed ever chanced to encounter, she hadnt come to Baton Rouge to dally with men. And if she did feel like indulging in a fling, shed never choose some honey-voiced southerner. Her mothers bleak existence had taught Noelani that much.
Work. Hard work. Shed found that to be far more satisfying than either of her own brief romances. Both had occurred while she was attending college and were irrelevant to her lifethen or now.
Dropping her bags at Adams feet without a word, she carefully skirted his broad shoulders and ran up the stairs to catch Aunt Esme of the poker back.
Esme crossed a hall at the top of the stairs and flung open a white door. This will be your room throughout your stay at Bellefontaine. I must say you arent what I expected. It appears your mother at least taught you to dress like a lady.
Noelani thought of the suitcase brimming with shorts and jeans. Shed brought one suit and two semidressy outfits in case she had to be here a week or two. But she wouldnt, not if the property settlement was tonight.
As she stepped into the room, everything else flew right out of her mind. Oh! This room is beautiful. Lookcarved pineapples on the bedposts. On the cornice, as well.
I thought youd like the pineapple bedroom. Esme seemed pleased.
Ohtheres a pineapple carved on the ceiling medallion. Now Noelani saw that the bedspread, too, had been crocheted in a pineapple motif. Do you grow pineapples at Bellefontaine?
Mercy, no. Its generally thought that early Louisiana plantation owners hosted visitors from the islands. Esme lowered her voice. Theres an old custom in Louisiana of delivering a fresh, whole pineapple to guests on their arrival. Its said that if guests overstayed their welcome, theyd wake up to a cut pineapple on their dressers, signifying it was time to leave.
Uh, thanks for the warning, but Im not planning to overstay my welcome.
Esme chuckled as she backed out the door. Youre Dukes daughter, all right. I do believe youll give Cassandra and Jackson a run for their money. If youd like a tour of Bellefontaine after youve had a chance to freshen up, Im in the last room at the south end of the hall. Dinner is at eight. Cocktails at the table tonight. Except for Adam, you and I have the place to ourselves until seven. Tanya, Miss Megans nanny, has taken the child to an after-school movie in town. Ah, heres Adam with your cases.
She moved to one side, allowing him room to enter. I know youre impatient to get back to work, Adam. However, I was telling Noelani were dining at eight tonight. I trust well see you then?
He gave a brief jerk of his chin, which sent a gold cross he wore around his neck swinging. Even though the room was large, he seemed to fill it as he entered and set her bags near the bed. Ignoring Noelani, he turned and went out again, chatting amiably with Aunt Esme about dinner.
Overwhelmed and more homesick than ever, Noelani flung herself across the crocheted pineapple spread. She blinked up at a frothy canopy hooked to the four corners of the tall bedposts. The tears that stung the backs of her eyelids didnt fallbut only by the sheer force of her will. She hadnt expected to be welcomed like a long-lost sister, but she didnt need hired help like Adam Ross slighting her as a blatant reminder that she didnt belong at Bellefontaine.
Vaulting off the bed, intent on changing out of her wet clothes, she made up her mind. By damn, shed give Cassandra and Jackson a run for their money, just like Esme had predicted. Their money? Well, her portion of it, anyway.
They were divvying up Duke Fontaines guilt money tonight, and all the people involved knew it.
CHAPTER TWO
ADAM ESCAPED NOELANIS ROOM not a second too soon. Her light, spicy perfume seemed to follow him. Hed promised Esme hed show up for dinner, but he doubted itd be an enjoyable occasion given the vulnerability hed noticed in their guests eyes as they left her alone in the pineapple bedroom.
Once Jackson got back, maybe Adam would beg off. The storm had delayed his project; hed had to cancel the roofers. It should be finished already, but hed had trouble matching the mansions old shingles. The historical societys rules for preservation made no exceptions when it came to building materials.
As Adam busied himself measuring for kitchen cabinet hardware, his thoughts kept strayingto Noelani Hana. He hadnt liked leaving her in that big old room where she looked so small and lonely. Maybe not so small, he mused. Hed assumed that as a rule Hawaiians were short. She had to be five-seven or eight. Still, short compared to his own six-two. And she certainly wasnt very big.
He had to stop thinking about her, had to keep his mind on his work. He didnt need distractions, Adam reminded himself. Refurbishing Bellefontaine was his lucky break. Not only because of the generous fee he and Casey had negotiated or the way this job would enhance his reputation, but because of Bellefontaines proximity to Magnolia Manor, his old family home. His mom had been forced to sell it after a nervous breakdown that resulted in permanent hospitalization. Adams goal had always been to buy it back one day.
Right before Nick invited him to leave Natchez and bid on this job, Adam learned Magnolia Manor might soon be offered for sale by the state. He couldnt help feeling the renovation of Bellefontaine had been an omen, bringing him within reach of his hearts desire. So no matter how pretty, lost or vulnerable old Dukes illegitimate daughter was, Adam had to forget her and stay focused on his objective.
Which proved easier said than done, especially as the afternoon wore on. Several times Noelani Hanas laughter interrupted Adams work as she toured the house with Aunt Esme. No, he wouldnt be skipping dinner tonight. Even though he should