"No, I was just out for a morning stroll. It's so peaceful and beautiful at this time of day."

Betty gathered her bounty of flowers and smiled tightly, her eyes frosty. ' 'You are welcome to walk on my grounds if you keep to the path. This is private property, and I do not encourage trespassers."

Olivia was suddenly shaken by a cold dread that seemed to surround her heart. There was no recognition in Betty's eyes-she did not seem to know her. "Surely you are joking, Betty. I'm your houseguest."

"No, you're not, and I don't appreciate your trying that subterfuge." Her hostess's eyes flashed and she shook her head, her usual serene expression replaced with one of distrust. "I do not welcome strangers to my grounds, because this is not only an inn, it is my home as well."

Olivia was frantic, her eyes unseeing, her mind unfeeling as she tried to hold on to her identity. "Betty," she whispered through trembling lips, "you have to know who I am!"

Now there was fear in Betty's eyes. She took several quick steps backward, her eyes darting toward the house, planning her escape from this crazed woman. "If you don't leave now, I shall be forced to call for help."

The now familiar swirling mist descended, consuming Olivia within its murky depths. Reaching out her arms, she cried out to Betty, knowing that the woman was not even aware what was happening just a few feet away from her. She also knew in that moment mat she had ceased to exist as Olivia. She had no more substance than the mist that consumed her.

There would be no one who would mourn Olivia Heart-ford, if indeed she had ever really existed. There was no sadness in her heart as she became completely absorbed by Jade's world. But she must fight to retain some of what was Olivia if she was going to prevent the tragedy that would take place on a spring morning in 1813.

"Please, God," she prayed, "show me a way to help Jade St. Clair!"

Chapter Seven

It was still dark when Charlene dashed up the stairs, not even stopping to catch her breath; nor did she bother to knock on Jade's bedroom door, but threw it open and hurried to Jade's sleeping form.

"Wake up!" she cried, jerking on Jade's arm. "You have to help me; I've done something dreadful!"

Jade blinked her eyes, trying to focus on what Charlene was saying. Her friend had always overdramatized everything. "Tell me what has happened," she said, yawning.

Charlene tearfully explained what had occurred after Jade had left the ball the night before. "How could I know my deception would lead to a duel?" she sobbed. "It will be my fault if anyone is killed!"

Jade's mind was racing ahead as she stripped off her nightgown and took her riding habit from the wardrobe. "How could you have been so foolish, Charlene? You allowed Tyrone to believe he was making love to me, and you did not explain to Raige when he came to the same conclusion."

"I know what I did was wrong. I lay awake for hours, trying to decide what to do. Someone has to stop them before Raige kills Tyrone."

Jade turned so Charlene could fasten her blouse in the back. "Where is the duel to be fought?"

"In the city, behind the cathedral."

Jade nodded. "While I finish dressing, go to the stables and have someone saddle my horse and have a boat made ready to take me to New Orleans. And hurry, Charlene! Even now it may be too late."

As Charlene rushed out of the room, Jade pulled on her riding boots, her hands shaking so badly she could not control them. In the back of her mind, it seemed she had lived this day before. It was a vague feeling, a dream-she wasn't sure what.

Jade moved quickly toward the door and paused. Turning back, she saw the Elizabethan costume where she had placed it the night before. Grabbing it up, she ran out of the room and down the stairs.

She was the only one who could stop this madness.

After leading her horse off the boat, Jade frantically urged the animal into a thundering gallop as she raced toward the cathedral. When she neared her destination, she could hear the sound of rapiers echoing off the stone walls of the garden.

Not waiting for her mount to come to a halt, Jade leaped to the ground and hurried in the direction of the duelists.

For a moment, her eyes rested on Raige, who was poised with his rapier ready to strike. He was white-lipped, unforgiving, his features savage, intent on nothing but killing Tyrone.

She watched as Raige's sword flashed with lightning, his moves like quicksilver, driving poor Tyrone backward.

She cried out when she saw that Tyrone had already been wounded and his shirtfront was bloody.

"Stop this at once!" Jade cried, clutching the beaded costume and racing toward the two men.

In desperation, she reached Raige, taking his arm. "Please allow me to explain."

He gave her a long, level stare. Where once his tawny eyes had been warm and loving, they now appeared dispassionate and unforgiving. Roughly, he shoved her aside, turning once more to his opponent, his voice laced with sarcasm. "Would you hide behind a woman's petticoat, Tyrone?"

Tyrone raised his blade. "Keep Jade's name out of this," he replied with the same anger. “This is between you and me."

"Ah," Raige replied sarcastically, "so noble of you to defend the lady's name, when it was you who tarnished it."

"My name needs no defense from either of you," Jade said angrily.

Neither man seemed to hear her as they once again became locked in their deadly contest.

Jade watched in horror as Raige's rapier slashed Tyrone's face, drawing blood. Tyrone fell to his knees, too weak to stand.

Jade still clutched the costume she had brought to show them, but the combat had gone too far for either of them to listen to reason.

In that moment, she saw scenes of her own death, and a small voice inside her head directed her next actions.

Tossing the costume at Raige's feet, Jade hurried to Tyrone and ripped his rapier from his numb fingers. With the sun reflecting off the blade, she turned to Raige.

“If you want to avenge yourself on someone, try me. I am as blameless as Tyrone."

Raige looked at her as if she'd lost her mind. Then his eyes became incredibly sad. "You have the face of a seductress, my lovely, but I saw only the innocence of an angel. There is no more fool than I to have placed my heart with you."

In frustration, Jade slashed the sword through the air. "Do we fight or talk?" she asked heatedly.

Raige could only stare at her. She was glorious with her hair flying in the wind and her eyes sparkling with anger, a goddess ready to do battle regardless of the fact that she had never before held a rapier.

"Well, which is it to be?" she demanded.

Raige's hand trembled as he reached out to touch her face. "Do you love Tyrone so much that you are willing to die in his stead?" There was sadness in his voice, but accusation as well, the accusation of a man who thought he'd been betrayed by two people he trusted.

Jade licked her dry lips. "You fool-I love you-I always have. But if you keep on with this madness, I may reconsider."

Raige lowered his blade, looking at her mistrustfully. "How do you explain my finding you in Tyrone's arms last night?"

Jade speared the costume she'd dropped earlier and extended it to Raige on the end of Tyrone's sword. "That, my husband-to-be, is the gown / wore last night. Charlene and I exchanged costumes early in the evening because everyone recognized us.''

She turned her attention to Tyrone. "It was Charlene you were kissing last night, not me."

Tyrone struggled forward. "You need not lie. We both know it was you."

Jade's eyes blazed like green fire. "How dare you! I have told you on more than one occasion that I love Raige-is that not so? What made you think I had changed my mind?"