As Leona etched the deer into her memory, Trace was etching her to his. This young woman was intoxicating. Some day she would be his. Someday soon.

  Suddenly the dream shifted. His brother Steven came into the picture and was beating Leona. David, the eldest brother, was holding Trace back so he couldn’t help her. As her blood flowed the more demonic, Steven appeared to become.

  “Leona! Leona!” He screamed until he was hoarse, but the beating didn’t stop.

  “Papa! Papa. Wake up, Papa.”

  The childlike voice penetrated his nightmare and Trace sat up in his bed, sweat pouring down his face. His son was by his head, fear in his eyes, but he stood tall.

  “Who is Leona, Papa? You were calling her name over and over. I couldn’t wake you up for a long time and I was getting scared.”

  As his heartbeat slowly returned to normal, Trace lifted his son up on the bed with him. “Leona is the person I am trying to find.”

  “Why do you want to find her?”

  “She saved my life when I was in the army and I want to thank her.”

  “Do you think she will like me?”

  He smiled down at him. “Of course she will. She is a very nice person.”

  “People said that about Mama, but she didn’t like me.”

  “Leona is nothing like your mother. I will never let someone hurt you like that again.”

  “What is she like?”

  “You know what your mother is like.” Talking about Bethany was just not something he wanted to do.

  “No, not Mama. Leona. Tell me about her.”

  “What do you want to know?”

  “Where did you meet her? What is she like? Is she pretty?”

  “I’ve known her since I was younger than you. We grew up together at Hawk’s Cove. She was my best friend, the one I told all my secrets to.”

  “What about Uncle Steven? Did he know her as well?”

  “Yes, but not in the same way.” Never in the same way, no matter what he claimed. “She loved to paint and draw. Those pictures that were in the store, she did those.”

  “All of those animal ones? Those are just like real animals.”

  “She came up to my chin. She had black hair and tawny eyes. Her eyes would glow like gold when she was happy. She has a smile that would light up the darkest night—”

  “Papa,” his son interrupted.

  “Yes?”

  “Are you feeling all right? Your voice changed and got all deep.”

  “Fine. I’m fine.” Trace was going to have to be careful about that. He shifted to try to get his body into a more comfortable position without revealing his current state to his son.

  “I never saw anyone named Leona around the house. Why did she leave Hawk’s Cove?”

  After lighting a lamp and taking his son’s hands in his own, Trace cleared his throat. Now was the time to figure out what his son thought of slavery. “She was a slave, son.”

  “So were you hidden inside a house like I was?”

  “No, we met in secret. After my dad found out about us, she was whipped then she and her mother left the plantation. I never saw her again.”

  “You stood there and let her get whipped?” The horrified question spilled from his son’s lips.

  “No, Uncle Steven and Uncle David had me tied up in the closet. I would have traded my life for hers that day. Does that bother you, that I was friends with someone who looked different?”

  “Why would it?” His question was direct and honestly confused.

  “Son, we owned slaves. Many people feel that they are inferior. What do you think?”

  For the first time he had seen, his son’s eyes glowed with a fierce fire, bringing out gold flecks. “I know this. The people that have been nice to me were darker. The lighter the person, the meaner they were. I don’t get it, Papa. They do all the work and live in nothing.”

  He scrunched up his face and he clearly thought about his words before continuing. “When I was hidden, I saw Uncle Steven beat them for not saying where I was. He even killed two of them, but they never told where I was. They had very little food and they still gave me some. Over and over they would tell me to hang on until you came home. Mr. Ben would try to slip me extra food. If I was spotted in the house, Mama or Uncle Steven would usually beat me. They wanted me to stay on the back porch, under the steps. The dogs had more to eat than I did.”

  Trace wanted to kill his brother, but forced himself to stay still.

  “I think that they have more…I don’t know what the word is, but it is deep within them. More than most of the ones who look like we do that I know. Are you disappointed in me?” Falcon’s voice dropped, as if he expected a sound thrashing from his father for that revelation.

  “Not at all. In fact, I am very proud of you. Skin color doesn’t make the man, or woman, just remember that. Judge a person by what’s inside them, not what’s on the outside.”

  “Okay, Papa. Is Leona pretty?”

  “I think that she is the most beautiful woman in the whole world.” Even though he hadn’t seen her as an adult, ever, his voice rang with promise as he spoke those words.

  “Me too then.”

  The easy acceptance and belief brought tears to Trace’s eyes as he pulled his son into his arms and they settled back down for the rest of the night, leaving the light on to ward off the bad dreams.

  Chapter Eleven

  England

  “For me? Are you sure? Both of them?” Leona glowed with energy as she spoke to the man who stood before her.

  “Aye. For you. Do you like them?” the man with the gray eyes asked. Conar was Ciara’s cousin.

  “They’re beautiful. Thank you. Thank you so much. This is the first time anyone has ever given me a dog, much less two.”

  “Well, with Jackson traveling so much, we thought it best for you to have some protection.”

  The dogs were thin, not in a sickly way but in a way normal for their build. They sported coarse wiry coats that were dark blue-gray in color.

  “What are they?”

  “Deerhounds. I initially opted for Irish Wolfhounds like Ciara has, but when I saw these two, I immediately thought of you. What will you call them?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. Let me think.” Leona ran her hands over the young pups, who both quivered under her touch. The bond between them was instantaneous. The pups vied for her attentions and stayed stuck to her when she sat in a chair. The adolescent dogs always had her in their sight..

  “I believe that I will call them Neptune and Jupiter. Oh, thank you, Conar. Thank you so much.” Leona rose and placed a kiss on the cheek of the man who had become a part of her small inner circle.

  “You are worth it, lass. And as a member of the family we can do nothing less than offer our protection.”

  It was true. For the past few months Leona and Jackson both had become close to the Marquess of Heartstone and his family. Leona and Ciara were the best of friends and shared many confidences with each other.

  “Thank you, Conar. I feel like you are a part of mine as well.” She had her family. The only thing missing was the love of her life, and he was gone.

  Leona attended operas and dances with the family. She was always escorted by Lucien, Rafe, Conar or sometimes Phillip, who was a friend to both Rafe and Lucien.

  The days passed and she did charcoal drawings of the family, both together and separate. With that done, she went back to her cottage and spent her days beginning her portrait. Neptune and Jupiter, never far from her side, grew into large dogs capable of defending their mistress should the need ever arise.

  Night was the hardest time. For, when she wasn’t busy, her mind was free to wander, and most often it chose the path to Trace.

  * * * *

  “Hang on, kitten. I am almost there.” His deep voice was filled with fear that was easy for her to pick up on.

  “I’m fine. I don’t need your help. I told you already, I’ve done this. Since I’m not as tall as you this is the only way for me to get across.”

  She and her secret friend were crossing a gorge on the island—a crossing that spelled instant death with one slip. The young man crossed carefully even while he watched her weave her way in and out of the many branches. Each time she let go with one hand his breath caught in his throat, he was so worried that she would fall. She could feel his concern for her and how it increased.

  Once across, he grabbed her and held on to her. “We will not be doing that again,” came the scold. Then he looked down into her eyes and she knew what he saw. Hers were alive with life. That alone melted him. Melted away his fear and anger.

  Again, she could feel it inside her. They’d not needed words but had been able to feel what the other did. She couldn’t remember a time when she wasn’t able to do that.

  Leona knew when he saw her at the plantation there was no life in her eyes. She kept them downcast but when he managed to catch them with his own eyes, they were almost lifeless. She knew it broke his heart to see her like that, but the result of him showing her compassion would be even worse if his father or brothers found out.

  “What are you so scared of?” she questioned.

  “Losing you.”

  Leona was a lot wiser than she let on. “I am just a slave, Trace. You will be going away to the army soon and will forget all about me.”

  He jerked her up against his hard body. “No. Don’t say that. I will not ever, ever forget you. I am joining the army because it is getting too hard for me to see you and not touch you, hold you. Not let everyone see how strongly I feel about you.”

  He set her down on a large rock and sat by her feet. She watched him absently spinning his ring that his dad had given him, staring at the endless motion. Removing the ring from his finger, he turned and placed it in the palm of her hand.

  “I want you to have this.”

  “I can’t. If I am caught with this I will be killed, then who will take care of my mother? I can’t take this.”

  “You will take this.” An order. “Put it inside your dress and keep it somewhere safe. I love you, little one. One day I will be able to tell the whole world.”

  Leona disagreed with his beliefs, but since she had her own childhood fantasy, she agreed to take the ring. They spent the day exploring caves and playing in the surf. Complete freedom and joy filled their day.

  On the way back to the plantation, she did as he’d asked and hid it in her dress. They separated a way off from the plantation with a soul-binding kiss.

  “I love you, kitten.” Trace’s husky words flowed over her.

  “And I you, Trey.” Her own voice was deeper than usual. She slipped away into the woods and headed home. As she entered the shack, she called a home her mother met her with a glare.

  “I know what you were doing and where.” Disapproval rang strong.

  “We were only exploring caves.”

  “Be careful. You know what would happen if this were to be discovered.”

  “Yes, Mama, I know.”

  “All right, I can see that you two have something unique and special so that is all I am saying to you about this.”

  “I will not forget your warning, Mama.”

  Leona bolted up. She heard the surf pounding on the rocks below and she shivered as she ran her fingers through the wiry pelts of her dogs.

  “A lot of good that was. I may not have forgotten her warning, but I still got caught.” She spoke aloud to her companions, whose only responses were to lick her hands. Unable—or not wanting—to return to sleep, Leona rose and dressed before heading downstairs to the library.

  Jackson was sitting by the fire drinking a brandy. His hair was streaked with gray, and tonight it stood out to her a bit more. When had he gotten that much? He was still a very handsome man.

  “Jackson, when did you get back?”

  “Just a little bit ago.” He rose and gave her a warm hug then bent to pet the dogs. They stood for the pats then walked over to the chair that Leona had sat in and placed themselves at each side. “They never let down their guard, do they?”

  “How did the trip go?” She didn’t even begin to answer his question about the dogs, since she knew he didn’t require one.

  “Very well. You got some requests for familial portraits. I also did some additional investing and got a few more clients. I was wondering, though, if you wanted to have more room?”

  Move? From this magical place? “No, I don’t wish to leave here. Did you want to move?”

  “Not move necessarily. We could add on to the house.”

  “That sounds better. Let’s do that. This place helps me paint. I love it here.”

  “I have noticed that some of your works seem to be with a little something new in them. I couldn’t name it before, but now I think that it’s happiness.”

  Jackson rose and walked over to her. He pulled her out of the chair and escorted her to the door. “I don’t know what you are doing out of bed, but you should be sleeping. We will have visitors tomorrow. St. Martin will be coming by with his family for another visit.”

  “Good night. Jackson. I’m glad you’re home.”

  “Me too, lass. Me too. Good night.” A chaste kiss on the head and he pushed her out of the door.

  Leona and her dogs headed up the stairs to her bedroom. The sound of rain falling made her eyes heavy and she sank into a deep sleep, thankfully a sleep devoid of dreams that had Trace in them.

  * * * *

  After a three-month voyage, they were finally on their way to London. As their rented carriage bounced over the ground, Trace found himself trembling with excitement. Soon. Soon, he told himself, she will be mine.

  “Papa, how are we going to find her?” His son was all into the adventure of finding this lost woman.

  “I guess we’ll have to ask someone when we get to London. I’m not really sure. Perhaps we will rent a small house and look for her after. Or we could stay in a hotel. I don’t know how long it will take to find her.”

  His son turned from the small window and looked up at him. “If we get a house, can I have a dog?” He flashed a grin. “I think Leona would like a dog.”

  There was no stopping the laughter. “We’ll see, son. We’ll see.” The motion of the carriage soon rocked his son to sleep and left him in silence to dwell on his own thoughts. Trace thought back to his time with Elle.

  Almost immediately, he too was lost to the world of Morpheus, as he dreamed of a voluptuously curvaceous, perfectly tan, black-haired, tawny-eyed woman who had stolen his heart, his love, his very soul.

  * * * *

  “Good morning, Leona.”

  “Good morning, Ciara, Lucien, kids.” With a smile, she welcomed them into her parlor. She had a hug for Ciara, kisses for the children and another hug for Lucien.

  “I see your dogs are doing well,” Ciara remarked as she stopped to pet them on their heads before sitting down on a rich chocolate-colored chaise.

  “They’re wonderful. Thanks so much for finding them for me.”

  “Conar was right. With Jackson gone so much, you need to have more protection around you.” Lucien looked at her as he spoke. “Are you sure you won’t come stay with us at Heartstone? There is more than enough room.”

  With a genuine smile, Leona shook her head. “No, I love it here. This place holds some kind of magic for me. And I like having a place of my own. But thank you for the offer.”

  “Well,” came the deep reply, “we will just have to keep coming out to check on you.”

  “And if Lucien doesn’t want to come with me, I will come by myself.”

  “I would never not want to go with you, princess.” There was a subtle meaning in those words that even the kids picked up on.

  “Papa, please. Don’t get all kissy with Mama.” That was from Bryn, the eldest child. He was thirteen and positive that girls were icky. Except for his sister, whom he loved with all his heart.

  “Just wait, son, someday you will change your opinion of being kissy with a girl.”

  “Humph. Can I go outside with Neptune and Jupiter?” It was obvious he had no desire to be with his parents.

  “Ask Leona, as they are her dogs,” came his mother’s advice.

  “You can take them outside. They have been inside with me for most of the day and would probably appreciate being able to run around for a while.” With a hand gesture, she released her dogs and they swarmed around Bryn.

  “Don’t forget to take your sister with you,” Lucien broke in.

  “I won’t, Papa. Come on, Keely, let’s go.” Grabbing his sister’s hand, Bryn headed outside to play as the adults sat down to talk. Jackson came into the room moments later.

  “Lord and Lady Heartstone, glad to see you both again.”

  “Call me Lucien or St. Martin. I consider you both family.”

  “Very well, Lucien. Might I have a word with you in private?”

  “Of course. Ladies, if you will excuse us.” The two men left the room.

  “How is the painting coming?”

  “Well. Very well, in fact. I should be finished within the month.”

  “I can hardly wait to see it,” Ciara said. “Can I ask you something? A personal question.”

  “Of course, you can ask me anything,” Leona responded.

  “Were you a slave?”

  Panic surfaced in a flash. Would Ciara withdraw her offer of friendship if she knew? Finally, Leona just took the chance and answered. “Yes. Until I was about fourteen.”

  “Did you escape, or were you set free?”

  “We escaped. My mother took me and we left the plantation. Hawk’s Cove was its name, and the island.”

  “Is that why you don’t want to live with us? Because owning a piece of property means so much?”

  “Part of it.” Leona looked at the woman across from her and saw no judgment in her eyes, only compassion.

  “Leona, my mom was a slave, so I won’t judge you. I only asked because I see you favoring your back every now and then and wondered if you had been whipped. Since you’re a healer I was just wondering if it was something that you couldn’t have healed properly because you were too young.”