Emerald Ecstasy by Lynette Vinet Read Free Book Online

charming. “I still haven’t recovered, but I am so happy to see you again! I’ve paced the room all morning.” Dera put her arm around Lianne’s waist and led her into the house then took the baby from Maria and played with her before Désirée grew fussy. When Maria and her charge were escorted to rooms upstairs by a servant, Dera smiled apologetically.
    â€œGreen Meadows has no nursery for a baby. My son Daniel and his wife are childless.”
    Lianne patted Dera’s arm in sympathy. “I’m certain they shall have children someday.”
    Dera shook her head. “Amelie suffered a fall and can no longer walk.” She changed the subject. “What brings you to Louisiana?”
    Absently stirring her tea, Lianne’s face paled. She couldn’t tell her godmother the truth, that she ran away because she had killed one of the most powerful men in Spain. So, she quickly hedged on the truth. “I wanted to see you and also my parents’ home, the plantation they sold before the move to France.”
    â€œAh, yes, Belle Riviere. It’s a beautiful plantation. My Quint was always jealous of your father’s ability to turn a quick profit, but no sooner had Michel bought the best farm land in the Louisiana valley than he sold it for an exorbitant amount. I think your father would have been quite pleased if he had seen Belle Riviere even five years ago.” Dera sipped her tea.
    â€œYou sound as if it isn’t prime property any longer.”
    Dera sighed and laid down her teacup on the table beside the couch. “Not now, and it hasn’t been since Philippe Marchand inherited it from his father.” She lowered her voice. “He is a terrible planter and businessman, but I shouldn’t criticize him. Philippe is my daughter-in-law’s brother. Poor Amelie received none of the land in the will. Her father hoped that by bestowing the plantation upon Philippe, it would make a man of him. It hasn’t. He squanders the money like river water flowing through his fingers. But as the Mississippi is full, I’m afraid Philippe’s river will soon run dry.”
    â€œC’est dommage,” Lianne said.
    At that moment heavy footsteps sounded in the hallway, and then a large man, the color of light brown velvet, entered the room. He carried an extremely fragile woman whose blonde hair framed a tiny face, set off by light blue eyes. He placed her in a cushioned chair as if she were a china doll and immediately lifted her legs to rest upon an ottoman. Then he moved silently away to stand in the corner of the room.
    â€œAmelie,” Dera smiled and addressed the woman, “this is my goddaughter, Comtesse Lianne Laguens. And, Lianne, this is my son Daniel’s wife.”
    Lianne spoke a courteous greeting to Amelie, but the hard stare the woman bestowed upon her momentarily startled her. Never had anyone unknown to her looked at her with such hatred. “You’re the mother of the baby I heard crying.”
    â€œOui. Désirée is my daughter. I hope she didn’t disturb you.”
    Amelie shrugged as Dera poured her a cup of tea. “I’m not overly fond of children,” she said softly, but her face stayed hard.
    â€œI shall inform Maria to see Désirée remains quiet.”
    â€œNonsense!” Dera’s eyes flew to Amelie, and she frowned. “It’s impossible to keep children quiet all the time. They were meant to play, to scream their lungs out. Remember, I raised two rowdy boys, and I know that for a fact.” She gave Lianne a smile. “Don’t give the crying another thought.”
    Amelie sniffed, not seeming to care for Dera’s affinity for Lianne and her child. “I suppose children have their place in life, however, I shall never have to worry about them.” Her icy sapphire gaze settled on Lianne. “As you can see, I’ll never have children in my condition. However,