Suddenly, in a moment of sanity, she tore her mouth from his and took several retreating steps.

Raige merely smiled and held his hand out to her. "Come here, Jade."

She hesitated, trembling with emotions she did not understand. "Non. This is not right."

He took two long strides that brought him to her. "There is nothing more right in this world than you in my arms. We were created to be together. You belong to me; do you not know that by now, Jade?''

Her eyes searched his, and in mat moment, he saw agony.

"But you went away and left me." It was a cry from her heart.

"I had to."

"Why?"

"To allow you time to grow up."

She looked puzzled. "That is no reason. I would have grown up even had you stayed. Do not say things to me that you don't mean, Raige."

"I will never lie to you, Jade. I want us to have a marriage based on complete honesty. That's why I want you to tell me this moment that you love me."

Her admission came out in a rush that surprised her. "I thought I would die when you left. I counted the days until you would return." She had to look away from the brilliance in his eyes. "And then you came back, and you seemed to ignore me."

Gathering her close, he kissed her earlobe and nuzzled her neck. "There was not one day in that long year that I did not think of you. But, you see, I am a patient man, Jade. I always knew you would one day belong to me. I told you this that night in the rose arbor. Did you doubt me?"

She looked into his eyes. "I thought you were just… there have been women-"

His grip tightened on her shoulders. "Let there be no misunderstandings between us, Jade. I have been with other women, but I have never spoken to them of love. Whether you allow it or not, I will love you until the day I die."

Such a beautiful declaration melted her heart, but caution made her afraid to believe him. He could have any woman-why her? "Are you sure you love me?"

His laughter was warm and his eyes held a light of triumph-he was a man who had just won the woman he loved.

"Shall I tell you the first day I knew I loved you?" he asked, trying not to think of the soft young body that enticed him.

Jade looked at him eagerly. "Oui, please, tell me."


******************

Olivia felt rain on her face and sat up in a daze. The sun was gone, and Raige was gone. She looked about in bewilderment. The horse had thrown her. Slowly coming to her feet, she tested her legs and arms to see if they were broken-they weren't, but she was going to ache for several days.

Looking about her, she took in the stream and the oak tree where Raige had been waiting for her. Everything was the same as she had envisioned it. Raige had been about to tell her when he had first realized he loved her. Why, oh why, did she keep getting pulled away from him?

The mare was grazing along the riverbank and did not move as she approached. Carefully Olivia mounted and turned in the direction of the house. She had ridden up the hill before she realized she was riding like one born to the saddle.

This, like her newfound ability to draw and her changed eyesight, was another gift from Jade.

Chapter Four

Olivia was delighted when Betty suggested that she accompany her into New Orleans for a day of shopping. They climbed into the late-model van, and on the long drive, the two of them talked about their favorite subject-the legend of Bridal Veil.

"Is there nothing more you can tell me about the friendship between Jade and Tyrone Dunois?" Olivia asked.

"Not too much. However, Jade's friend Charlene, who eventually married Tyrone, kept a written account of her own life. According to her, Tyrone's mother pushed him forward and made him believe he could win Jade. He wasn't a bad sort, but his one weakness was his love for Jade. In the end, it destroyed three lives, four if you count Charlene."

"There is such a quagmire surrounding the truth. I wonder why," Olivia speculated. Many things were becoming clear to her, as she became more entangled in Jade's life. Of course, she knew details she could share with no one, not even Betty.

"After Jade's death," Betty continued, "Tyrone quarreled bitterly with his mother. Until the day he died, he never spoke to her again. In later years, he was so eaten up with hate and bitterness that he became something of a recluse."

Olivia thought of the boyish Tyrone she had met through Jade. It was hard to imagine him an embittered old man. "I wonder what really happened to cause the rift between Tyrone and Raige?"

Betty shrugged. "We will never know for certain. But I believe that Jade truly loved Raige, and I don't think she betrayed him with Tyrone, as many others do."

"What more can you tell me about Tyrone's mother?"

“There again, because of Charlene we know quite a lot about Felicity Dunois. She was an outsider, not a drop of French blood, which was unacceptable in the aristocratic Creole circles. William Dunois brought her here as a bride. She was from Philadelphia, and not from a wealthy family, but she certainly married well. The strange part is that she was no beauty and she was ten years older than her husband. Still, she bore him a son and a daughter, and by all accounts, William was a contented man."

By now they had reached New Orleans, which was teeming with life. While Betty did her shopping, Olivia strolled down the narrow streets of the French Quarter as any tourist might. For some reason, she avoided St. Louis Cathedral, not wanting to visit the site where Jade had died. She wandered through quaint shops and walked through the colorful open-air markets, where vendors still displayed their wares much as they had in Jade's time.

After exploring a stall where there were dried spices and herbs, she left the market and climbed the wooden steps that led to the top of the levee so she could see the Mississippi in all its glory.

Colorful paddle boats seemed to skim the murky water, their huge wheels making a melodic sound. It took Olivia several moments to realize that something was wrong.

Paddle boats? she thought with trepidation, counting three, four, five, six! There might be one or two of the graceful old relics that ferried tourists up and down the Mississippi, but not half a dozen.

She glanced down and saw that she was wearing a long gray silk dress with an empire waist and puffed sleeves. Dear God, she was Jade, but with the consciousness of her own mind! This had never happened before. Somehow she and Jade were beginning to merge into one being, and Jade was growing stronger every day, while she was becoming weaker. How much longer could she hold on to her identity-did she even want to?

One thing she was certain of was that Jade was not aware of her existence.

Behind her, Olivia could hear the sounds of horse-drawn buggies clattering down the street. She felt herself getting dizzy and she seemed to be falling into a dark crevice, into the very arms of oblivion.

Betty Allendale elbowed her way through the crowd to Olivia's side. The girl was pale and shaken and was being assisted by a policeman.

"Olivia!" Betty cried with concern. "What has happened to you?"

"She just collapsed," the policeman stated, putting away his notebook. "I offered to take her to the emergency room, but she says she's fine. Are you a friend of hers?"

Betty took Olivia by the arm. "Yes, I am, Officer, and I'll take care of her."

Olivia pushed a damp curl from her forehead and smiled with embarrassment. "There is nothing to be concerned about. This has happened before. Could we return to Bridal Veil now?"

Betty looked doubtful. "Yes, of course, if you are sure you're all right. Lean on me and I'll help you to the van."

Once they were speeding along River Road, Olivia closed her eyes and tried to comprehend what was happening to her. She felt like she was suffocating, so she adjusted the air conditioner vents to direct cool air on her face. Her nerves were raw and her mind was being tugged in two different directions.

The transitions were happening more frequently and they could happen at any time. How much longer could she dwell in this twilight of unreality?

"Betty," she asked, turning to her companion, "have you ever had an out-of-body experience?"

Betty turned to her, her brow furrowed in thoughtfulness. "I'm not sure I know what you mean."

"I can't explain it. But something is happening to me. I don't expect you to believe me, but I have walked in Jade St. Clair's shoes, felt what she felt, and for reasons I cannot explain, I often occupy her body."

Betty had growing concerns about Olivia's fixation with Jade. She was getting worse, as if she were truly obsessed. "I have watched you change your appearance to what you think Jade might have looked like. You lightened your hair, and I assume you've changed the color of your eyes by wearing green-tinted contacts. What you're doing is unhealthy, Olivia."

"Betty, you don't understand." Olivia knew that she sounded demented, but she had to tell someone what was happening to her. "The changes you see in me are not of my doing-you must believe me! I did not color my hair and I am not wearing contacts. Explain how this has happened to me."

Olivia seemed so sincere. That was the pity of it, Betty thought. She actually believed that she was becoming Jade. "Perhaps all you need is a good night's sleep."

"Betty, have you noticed-have… have I been absent from Bridal Veil for long periods of time?"

"Not that I am aware of."

Olivia buried her face in her trembling hands. "More and more I am becoming Jade St. Clair. I believe Olivia Heartford will soon cease to exist."