Temptation’s Tender Kiss

by French, Colleen

  "It's not worth getting killed over, Sterling," Captain Craig called after his friend as he rode away.

  "Sure it is," Sterling muttered, his voice lost in the wind.

  Elsa's scream pierced the early-morning air. Reagan froze. In an instant she was running down the grand staircase. "Elsa! Elsa, what is it?" She could hear her little sister sobbing uncontrollably.

  Reagan came to a halt just inside the kitchen. Elsa's cat, Mittens, was hanging from a ceiling beam, a rope around his neck. It stared lifelessly. "Oh, God, Elsa. " Reagan ran to her sister who sat on the plank floor, sobbing into her hands.

  "My kitty!" Elsa cried. "Who would do such a terrible thing to my kitty? Oh, he's dead! He's dead!"

  Reagan went down on one knee, flinging her arms around her sister's quivering shoulders.

  Sterling came running in the back door. "What in the heavens—oh, hell!" He grabbed a knife off the worktable and cut the cat down. He carried it outside and then came back into the kitchen.

  "What happened, Reagan? Tell me what happened. " He took her by the hand, raising her to her feet.

  After stopping at Ethan's with Giipa, he'd hurried home this morning. He needed to talk to Reagan. He needed to tell her he was leaving. He needed to tell her that he wanted her to go with him. Somewhere between Frankfort and Reagan's home here on Spruce Street, he'd realized he couldn't leave her behind. She was his life's breath. Once they were safely in Williamsburg, he would tell her who he really was. Then he would make her his wife.

  "I don't know. Elsa came down ahead of me. " She stared into Sterling's blue eyes. "The cat was just hanging there."

  "Where's Nettie? Maybe she heard something."

  "She hasn't been here. She spent the night with her niece across town."

  He held her hand in his. "The doors were locked?"

  "Yes. But the window's open. " She pointed to the far wall, lowering her voice. "Who would do such a thing, Grayson?" She knew who . . . a man who would kill an old printer, a man without an ounce of pity or human kindness. But that was impossible! "You killed him, didn't you, Sterling? You're certain Indian John is dead?"

  Sterling brushed the back of his hand against her pale cheek. He hated lying to her like this. God, but he hated the lies. "Yes. He's dead, I told you."

  "Well, whoever did this, they were just trying to scare us. " Reagan looked down at her sister still seated on the floor. She was crying softly now. "If they'd wanted to hurt us, they had the opportunity. " An image of Indian John's leering, scarred face flashed before her eyes and she shuddered. She knew she was being irrational.

  "You're right, someone was trying to scare you. " Sterling glanced at Elsa. "Look, I have to report to Major Burke this morning, but then I'll be back. I'll bury Mittens then. Right now I want both of you to get ready, and let me take you to Mistress Claggett's. I don't want you here alone."

  "Grayson, this is our home. " Reagan pressed a hand to her forehead. She was feeling light-headed again. It had started a few days ago, an odd queasiness in the pit of her stomach, a spinning dizziness. All of the excitement, she supposed. She turned her attention back to Grayson. "I'll not run scared. Elsa needs to be tucked into bed. We're not going anywhere."

  Elsa came to her feet, and Sterling and Reagan turned to her. Her face was bright red from crying.

  "Elsa, where are you going?" Reagan followed her sister down the hall.

  "I want Ethan," Elsa cried.

  "Elsa, you're overwrought, let's go upstairs. Grayson has some tea. Some real tea. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a cup of real tea and a biscuit?"

  Elsa shook her head emphatically as she put on her straw bonnet. "I want Ethan, and I want him now. I don't want tea and a biscuit. He said to come if I need him. I need him now."

  Reagan stepped in front of the door. "Elsa . . ." she said quietly. "Remember, we agreed you wouldn't see the blacksmith anymore."

  "Get out of my way, or I'll bust you!" Elsa stuck out her lip in determination.

  Reagan opened her mouth to speak, but Sterling caught her hand and pulled her away from the door. "Let her go," he whispered in Reagan's ear. "I'll follow her to be sure she gets there safely."

  "Grayson, I—"

  "For once in your life, listen to me. Ethan's who she needs right now, whether you approve or not."

  Reagan watched her dark-haired sister run down the front steps and onto the street. She was losing Elsa, she could feel it in her bones, and it hurt.

  Sterling went out the door behind Elsa. "I have something very important to talk to you about, Reagie," he said, pulling her along. "I have to be at Major Durgen's tonight, it's a important affair, a ball, and I want you to go with me. Have you a gown?"

  "Grayson, this isn't working anymore. Shouldn't we just say good-bye?" Her dark eyes met his. God, but she loved him, redcoat or not.

  "Reagie"—he spoke haltingly—"I'm in trouble. I may need your help. " He pressed a kiss to the center of her palm.

  She watched him intently. His striking face was etched with fear . . . she could smell the danger. He wasn't lying. "That really wasn't you at Miss Kate's, was it?" she half whispered. The sights and sounds of the busy city street faded. Suddenly nothing existed but the two of them.

  He hung his head. "No. There's a lot to tell you. I've deceived you. " He felt her stiffen and he looked up. "But not the way you think. We'll go to the party and then we'll go somewhere and talk."

  "I really should stay home with Elsa tonight."

  "I'll get Nettie from her niece's and I'll bring Elsa home, too, tonight, before we go. " He leaned for a kiss and she offered him her trembling lips. His kiss was hard and demanding. He tasted of ale and desperation.

  When Sterling pulled away, Reagan was breathless. "Go after Elsa and see that's she's safe," she told him, pressing her hand to her abdomen.

  "Tonight? You'll go with me tonight?"

  She knew she should say no. Captain Grayson Thayer had been nothing but trouble since that Christmas night they first met. But she wanted to know what he had to confess. He had deceived her? How? Why was he choosing to tell her now? What kind of trouble was he in? She leaned against the wooden rail of the front stoop watching him disappear down the street. She was anxious to hear him out. She went into the front hall and closed the paneled door, heading upstairs to her bedchamber. She already knew what gown she would wear; it was one tucked away, having never been worn. If tonight was to be her last with her captain, she would make it a memorable one.

  "Reagie!" Sterling burst into her bedchamber and she turned from the mirror.

  He inhaled sharply. Reagan was a beautiful woman, but he'd never seen her like this. She took his breath away. She was dressed in a gown of cream silk brocaded in metallic gold gilt. Her stomacher was sewn from gold gilt lace, paper, and floss silk. Her petticoat was of green satin, quilted in running stitches. Her glossy auburn hair was twisted fashionably on her head with strands of metallic gilt threaded through it. Around her neck she wore a heavy gold necklace.

  Reagan laughed, self-consciously. "What? I look ridiculous, don't I?" It was her wedding gown she wore, the one she'd intended to wear the day she and Josh married.

  "No, you . . . you look beautiful. " He came to her, kissing the soft, silky flesh of her bare neck.

  "It's not too fancy for the ball?"

  "No, certainly not. " He was so taken aback by her fairy-princess transformation, that he had forgotten for a moment why he'd come to her. "Reagan, we have to hurry. I'm going to leave you at the major's—"

  "I don't want to go alone!"

  He put up his hands. "Please. It's almost over. Just trust me a little longer. I won't be gone long. I'll come back to the ball, we'll dance, we'll drink a little of the major's wine, we'll make conversation, and then we'll go."

  "What's so important that it can't wait?"

  Sterling touched his hand to his scarlet uniform coat. Under his white vest was a message he'd just written to Captain Craig. His mission was
complete. Beneath his coat he carried the official date of the British evacuation of Philadelphia and the direction they were moving. His earlier sources had been wrong! It wasn't south! It was north! On June 18, only a little more than two weeks from today, in the wee hours of the morning, General Clinton would be taking his army across the Delaware river to the Jersey shore.

  General Washington was going to get his chance. It was a commander-in-chief's dream come true. He would be able to hit the strung-out enemy line from the flank with his compact force. The question was, would the councils of war agree to the chancy maneuver or would they advise Washington to sit tight in Valley Forge?

  "Grayson?" Reagan waved a hand in front of his face. "Grayson, are you all right?"

  Sterling looked up at Reagan. He wanted so badly to share the information he'd just gleaned from the drunken Edward who'd heard it accidentally in Clinton's headquarters only yesterday. But he couldn't, not yet. Not until the information reached General Washington safely, not until he had Reagan out of the city.

  "I'm sorry, sweetheart. " He smiled. "I've got a lot on my mind. I'm fine. It's just that I have to make a quick stop before I go to the ball."

  "I'll go with you then."

  "No. " He smoothed his powdered wig. "You can't, but I swear, love, I won't be long."

  "You promise, tonight is it. " Her cinnamon eyes met his. "Tonight you'll tell me what's going on—why you're in so much trouble."

  He kissed her gently. "Tonight. I promise."

  "Captain, glad to see you. " Ethan came down the walk to meet Sterling in front of his home. He watched the hired carriage that had brought Sterling pull onto the street and head west. "I was on my way to find you."

  Sterling's eyes narrowed. "That important, is it?"

  Ethan gave a nod, but neither man spoke again until they were safely cloaked in the privacy of the barn.

  "So what is it you needed me for?" Sterling pulled out the message he'd written with the bell mask, disguising it as another letter to Cousin Lucy from Aunt Feddlebottom. A duplicate letter followed. One was meant for Captain Craig, the other was bound for General Washington himself.

  Ethan accepted both letters. "This business first."

  "One goes the usual route. " Sterling lowered his gaze to the blacksmith's beefy face. "When can you get the other to Valley Forge?"

  "When you need it to be there?"

  "Yesterday."

  "That important?"

  "As important as any message the general's ever received."

  Ethan patted his waistcoat. "Then I'll start it on its way myself. It'll be there just after midnight."

  Sterling broke into a grin, grasping Ethan's hand. "I knew I could count on you."

  Ethan returned the smile. "Listen, what I was coming to tell you was that I was contacted and told that you were to meet a party at 8:30 on Front and Water Streets. An alley to the left of the storehouse."

  "Meet who? About what?"

  "A young boy came here not more than half an hour ago. He said the message was for Captain Thayer to be on Front and Water if he wanted his man Murray."

  "Murray, is it?" Sterling couldn't believe his luck! He pulled out his brother's pocketwatch. "I'll have to hurry to make it."

  Ethan immediately went to Sterling's saddle. "You want me to take you in my wagon? It might be safer."

  Sterling shook his head. "Just saddle up Giipa. I can't pass this up. I haven't been able to identify the man—a spy—and he's looking for me."

  "I don't know how you keep this all straight, friend. " Ethan pulled the bridle over Giipa's head.

  "I wonder the same myself sometimes. " Sterling laughed as he cinched the saddle. Suddenly everything was falling into place! He'd make this meet, find out what the contact had to say about Murray, and he'd put someone on it right away. Then he'd be off to join Reagan. He'd ask her to go away with him to Williamsburg.

  Sterling cleared his throat, glancing over the horses back at Ethan. "I wanted to tell you I'd be leaving."

  "I figured as much. With the Army pulling up stakes, I knew they'd want you."

  "Ethan, I want Reagan to go with me."

  The blacksmith glanced down at the clean straw at his feet and then raised his gaze to meet Sterling's. "You don't mean to take Elsa from me?"

  "If she wants to come, she's welcome. " Sterling chose his words carefully. "She'll always be welcome in our home, but she's a grown woman, free to make her own choices as far as I'm concerned, Ethan."

  "If her sister goes with you, she'll try to force Elsa to go, too. " Ethan looked away, wiping at his eyes with the back of his thick hand. "I don't know what I'd do without her."

  "You're the best thing that could have happened to her, Ethan. The way you took care of her this morning when that business with her cat happened."

  Ethan sniffed. "I don't know why people do such horrible things. Why would anyone want to hurt Elsa? Her heart's golden. I don't do half as much for her as she does for me and the bobbins. " He looked at the barn. "This was my papa's barn before mine. Born and raised here I was, but I guess I could pick up and move. Just wouldn't mean anything without Elsa. " He checked a strap on the bridle and then pulled up the reins, looping them over the saddle horn. "Mind if I ask where you're bound?"

  "Williamsburg."

  Ethan nodded. "Never heard much good about a Virginian, but I guess I could get used to them."

  Sterling came around Ethan's side of the horse. "I don't want to tell you what to do, but maybe you ought to sit down and talk to Elsa about all of this. I'm not even sure Reagan'll go with me."

  "She'll go. Elsa says she loves you madly. " Ethan smirked.

  His smile was contagious. Sterling took Ethan's hand, then on impulse, swung his arms around the man's massive shoulders. "I hate to force Elsa into it, but she may have to make some choices."

  "Thanks for lettin' me know. " Ethan patted his back. "You're a good man, whatever your name might really be. " He backed off, swinging open the barn doors. "So good luck to you, friend. Good luck and Godspeed."

  Sterling tipped his hat and then rode out of the barn and headed for the docks.

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Reagan sipped champagne from a Venetian glass, watching the doorway. Thousands of fragrant beeswax candles glittered in the crystal chandeliers above, reflecting light off the etched mirrors that lined the walls. Heavenly music filled the grand ballroom.

  Where was Grayson? She had been here well over an hour and she was beginning to get restless. She offered the red-faced Hessian officer standing beside her a smile. She hadn't heard a word he'd said in fifteen minutes, but he hadn't seemed to notice.

  Lieutenant Roth Gardener strode by, bowing slightly but didn't stop to speak. He'd steered clear of her and Elsa since that night Grayson had kicked him out of the Llewellyn home. Reagan still didn't know to this day how Grayson had managed it.

  The Hessian laughed and she laughed with him, not having the foggiest idea what he'd said that amused him. She wondered if he had a wife somewhere on German soil. She sidestepped him as he attempted again to fondle her buttocks through the yards of brocaded silk of her gown. "God's teeth," she murmured. "Where are you, Grayson?"

  As if she was able to conjure him up by magic, he appeared in the far doorway. He was stopped by a handful of women fluttering lace fans, and they burst into laughter when he made some reply.

  Across the wide expanse of the crowded room, their eyes met. He lifted a blond eyebrow and she covered her smile by sipping from her glass. She was suddenly warm from the tips of her toes to the top of her head. She could feel her cheeks burning. He could be so irresistible when he wanted to be. The trouble was that she wanted to resist. Tonight was not the night for charm. Tonight she wanted truths.

  Slowly Grayson made his way toward her, stopping to speak with this officer or that. His immaculate scarlet coat, faced in black, complemented his striking form. The gold lace of his buttonholes, the gold of his buttons, gorget, and e
paulets sparkled in the candlelight. The crimson net silk sash he wore over his white vest was tied precisely, his black shoes buffed until they shone.

  Reagan gave a sigh. Handsome, he was.

  Captain Grayson Thayer walked over to Reagan and nodded to the Hessian officer. "Good evening to you. " He caught her hand and pressed a hot kiss to the back of her hands.

  She offered him the barest smile. "I thought you'd never get here, Captain. Henrich has been kind enough to keep me entertained while I waited."

  Grayson took the glass from her hand and sipped from it, nodding approvingly. "I must thank you then, Henrich."

  Reagan didn't know what had gotten into Grayson. That insolent grin on his face, though utterly captivating to her, certainly wasn't appropriate. It was obvious he'd been drinking; an unfamiliar aroma clung to him.

  "Excuse us, Henrich," Reagan said, taking Grayson's arm.

  The German stepped back, bowing stiffly. "A goot night to you, mistress. It hass been a pleasure."

  Reagan gave a nod and lifted her skirt, allowing Grayson to lead her away. "I trust your business went well," she murmured when they were a safe distance from the Hessian.

  "Well enough."

  Reagan nodded to Lieutenant Warrington as they passed him.

  "Captain Thayer, I need to talk to you," the lieutenant called after them.

  Boldly, Grayson rubbed Reagan's bare arm. "Later, Lieutenant."

  "Where are you taking me. " she asked as he whisked her through the doorway and out onto a patio illuminated by soft candlelight.

  "Out," he whispered in her ear.

  His tongue darted out to touch her lobe, and she shivered. "I thought we were going to make an appearance and then go home. I thought you had something important to tell me. The trouble you're in, how you might need me . . ." She closed her eyes, savoring the feel of his touch.

  He took her around the waist, guiding her until her back pressed against a whitewashed rail.

  Her eyes fluttered open. "You remember, Grayson, the part about you deceiving me."

  He chuckled. "Not now, sweet. " He kissed the pulse at her throat. "Watching you from across the room, I wanted to lift you into my arms and take you there on the ballroom floor."