Midnight Bayou

second-floor gallery. There were still some of General Renault’s militia on the lower level. “They’re like ants,” he babbled. “Crawling out of the woodwork when you’re not looking.”
    “What’re you talking about?”
    “People. Everywhere. Watch that bucket. I think the ballroom’s safe.”
    “Feeling a little pressed, are you, cher ?”
    “I’m thinking of a nice vacation in Maui until this is over. I’ve got to say, I admire women.”
    “Really.” She glanced down at the ladders, the tarps, the debris of construction—and the two women picking their way through it with visions of tulle and lace in their heads. “Why is that?”
    “You can be spitting mad, and still carry on a polite conversation about rhododendrons.” He peeked through the ballroom doors, sighed. “All clear. Anyway, when most guys work up a head of steam, it spews. Well . . .” He stepped inside. “What do you think?”
    The walls were a pale rose, the floor gold and gleaming.
    “It’s big.”
    “It’ll need to be for this little do. The General says we’ve got two-fifty coming. Otherwise, you can use the pocket doors to turn it into a couple of parlors.”
    He crossed the floor, drew one of the big doors out of its slot. “Isn’t this amazing?” He trailed his fingers over the carved wood reverently. “The craftsmanship in these. More than a hundred years ago. I hate hiding them. See how the pattern matches the ceiling medallions? Tibald did a hell of a job restoring those.”
    She had worked up a head of steam since her conversation with her grandmother, but found it dispersing now as she watched his undiluted pleasure and pride.
    “It’s true love, isn’t it? You and this house. Most men don’t look at a woman the way you look at those doors.”
    “I look at you that way.”
    She had to turn away. “You make it damn hard to hold on to a mad. Tell me why you’re not mad, Declan. Why aren’t you mad she stole from you?”
    “I am. And if I have occasion to see her again, she’ll know it.”
    “You should go to the police.”
    “I thought about it. I might get some of the money back, but it would embarrass Miss Odette.”
    “She’s already embarrassed.”
    “I know. Why add to it? I got back the things that mattered.”
    The bitterness gushed through her anew. “She came in your house, she went through your things. She took from you.”
    He lifted a brow at the tone of her voice. “Working up that steam again?”
    “Goddamn it. Goddamn it, Declan, she violated your home. It’s not like taking from me or Grandmama. How much did she take?”
    “Couple thousand.”
    The muscles in Lena’s jaw tightened. “I’ll have you a check tomorrow.”
    “You know I’ll tear it up. Put it away, Lena. I figure it was a cheap lesson. If you’re going to live in the country, have a houseful of valuables and spare cash, you don’t walk off and leave it unlocked and unattended.”
    “She’d have broken a window.”
    “Yeah. That’s why I’m getting a couple of dogs. Always wanted a pack of dogs. I thought I’d go to the shelter after the wedding. Want to come with me?”
    She just shook her head. “You lose two thousand dollars—and I bet it was more—to a thieving junkie, and your response is to buy some dogs.”
    “Figured I’d get some fun out of it. How about it? They’ll be your dogs, too.”
    “Stop it, Declan.”
    “Uh-uh.” With a satisfied smirk on his face, he walked toward her. “Let’s get us a couple mongrel puppies, Lena. They’ll be good practice before the kids come along.”
    “You get your own puppies.” But he’d teased a smile out of her. “And run around after them when they pee on your rugs and chew on your shoes.”
    “Maybe Rufus will teach them their manners. You’re wearing my earrings,” he said as he slipped his arms around her and glided into a dance.
    “They’re my earrings now.”
    “You think of me when you put them on.”
    “Maybe. Then I think how nice they look on me, and I forget all about you.”
    “Well, then I’ll have to find other ways to remind you.”
    “A necklace.” She skimmed her fingers up the nape of his neck, into his hair. “Couple of nice glittery bracelets.”
    “I was thinking of a toe ring.”
    She laughed, eased in closer so that she could rest her cheek on his. They were waltzing, and a tune was playing in her head. One she’d heard him hum or whistle countless times. She could smell his workday on him—the