“Nature.”
“What about nature?”
“Nature is why, even if they have children, they will work to have children of their own blood. Nature demands that.”
“Not sure I like the idea of some unseen force making me do something.”
Belle laughed. “Sorry.”
“So you should be.” He pushed his empty plate aside. “Excellent, as always.”
“Thank you, kind sir.” She stood and picked up their plates to put them in the sink.
“I’ll get the dishes from the infirmary.” He grabbed the tray and left.
In the infirmary, he collected up the empty dishes. “Want me to rub your hand?” he asked Robbie.
Robbie pushed himself into a more seated position and nodded. “I have decided it is something that should be done every night. Should be able to do it myself soon.”
“So how does the leg feel after your attempt at swimming?”
“It did not make it hurt, not really. A hint of an ache, no more.”
“Good. I suspect ye will be doing a lot more of it.”
Robbie sighed and closed his eyes. “If it helps I will do it, don’t worry about it.”
“I wasnae worrying about it. But it will help if ye want it enough so we have your help in getting a place to swim set up nearer to home.”
“Sneaky,” Will said.
“Aye,” agreed Robbie. “It was, but I will use my poor battered body to get ye a place to swim.”
They talked about where they could make a swimming hole as Geordie massaged his brother’s hand. He stopped when it was obvious Robbie was going to sleep. Geordie cleaned off his hands and headed to the kitchen.
* * *
Belle scrubbed the roasting pan as hard as she could and finally decided it was as clean as it would ever be. She sighed. It was probably time to get a new one. She knew it was clean despite what marks remained, but if a guest saw it they might not. Belle decided she would find out what Auntie thought about it.
Wiping it off, she put it on top of the stove and then stared at it. Then two strong arms wrapped around her. Belle sighed again and leaned back against Geordie. She felt a soft kiss on the top of her head.
“That was a heavy sigh,” he said.
“Heavy decision to make.”
“Oh, aye?”
“Aye,” she said and briefly grinned up at him. “This pan is showing its age and I am trying to decide if it should be tossed out or if I should keep using it and hope I don’t get any very fussy guests who would be horrified by it.”
Geordie looked at the pan and shook his head. “I dinnae see any reason to throw it out. It is clean, just has a few cooking scars.”
“Cooking scars.” She laughed as she took the pan and shoved it into a cupboard. “Like that one.”
“Do ye really get guests that choosy?”
“Oh, yes. There is always someone who thinks they should be treated like royalty. Why they would think that, at what I charge for a bed, I don’t know.”
He put his arm around her shoulders and started to lead her out of the kitchen. “There are always people like that.” He grinned. “I am a bit surprised ye put up with it.”
“I try, but am not always successful.” She realized he was leading her upstairs but said nothing. “Fortunately, so far, just as I was about to give my opinion, something interrupted me. Quite often, it was the husband. I think some of them can just tell when their wives have pushed someone too far. Where are we going?”
“Your room. Or we could slip into mine.”
“Being a little presumptuous, aren’t you?”
“I dinnae ken. Am I?” He turned into her room and nudged her up against the edge of the bed.
“I will have to think about it,” she said as she fell back onto the bed.
He settled himself over her and grinned back at her. “Think hard.”
“I think we need to get our shoes off before we soil the bedspread.”
He laughed, then sat up and took off her shoes before taking his own off. Slowly, he crawled back onto the bed and began to undo her gown. Belle felt drugged by his kisses and the stroke of his hands as he undressed her. She briefly thought that she ought to stop him, but she could not really convince herself to do it. A voice in her head told her she was getting in too deep, but she decided she did not need to think about that right now.
Geordie kissed her as he finished easing off her clothes. He sat back on his heels as he stripped off his shirt. There was the soft touch of a blush on her skin as he studied her. Turning a little, he yanked the rest of his clothes off, tossing them to the floor. Then, slowly, he settled his body over hers, savoring the soft, trembling gasp she made when their skin touched.
Belle smoothed her hands over his back as he kissed her. She really liked the feel of his skin, taut and warm as it stretched over firm muscle. The crisp hair on his legs rubbed against her in a way that stirred her blood. He slowly kissed his way down her body, teasing her stomach with kisses and light nips that made her shiver.
The heat and need building inside of her waned just a little as he slid down her body even further. Startled, she was about to say something when he spread her legs then lifted them onto his shoulders and kissed her there. Belle clutched his head, threading her fingers through his hair.
She loosened her grip on his hair as he teased and tormented her with kisses, the play of his tongue on the sensitive skin, and the gentle caress of his hands on her legs. Then something inside her began to wind itself tighter and tighter. Belle was both fascinated by it and a little afraid. She shifted a little in an attempt to move away from what he was making her feel but he just moved his tormenting mouth to her inner thighs.
Geordie began to slowly kiss his way back up her body. Belle wrapped her arms around him, stroking his back as he kissed and suckled her breast. Then he kissed her, a hungry, demanding kiss that clouded her mind. He softened the kiss even as he joined their bodies.
Belle clung to him tightly with her arms and legs. The tightness returned and, again, grew tighter and tighter. It had just grown rather uncomfortable and she was about to push him away when it snapped and a feeling she could only call delicious flooded her body. She tried to stay still and just savor it, but her body refused to be still.
Then Geordie thrust hard inside of her and stilled. She could feel tension in his muscles and he held himself still, then lowered his head enough to give her a slow, heated kiss. His body jerked a little a few times before he slumped down on top of her. Before she could complain about his weight, he rolled onto his side and pulled her close to him.
She thought about making a comment on how he was going to sleep, but she yawned. Biting down a laugh, she snuggled closer to him and closed her eyes. They were going to have to talk about what was happening between them. She had avoided such a talk, for she did not want to hear him say there was nothing between them save passion.
Yet, there was a part of her that believed they should stop being lovers if that was all he wanted. She admitted she wanted something more from him, yet if there was more, there would then be a lot of things that would need sorting out for it to be worth anything. Belle was reluctant to admit it, even to herself, but she was becoming certain she was falling in love with the man. She feared she was going to find herself alone and deeply hurt when this affair ended.
Chapter Fourteen
Walking into the kitchen, Geordie was surprised to find Mehitabel standing by the stove and staring at the coffeepot. “Um, Belle? I think ye need to turn the flame on under the pot before it will make the coffee. I wouldnae mind a cup myself.”
After watching her fumble to light it, he nudged her aside. “I will do it, lass. I am thinking ye need to get more sleep.”
“Have to dig clams this morning,” she said. “Tide is out, so I have to get out there.”
He looked at her and shook his head. “Ye will just end up facedown in the mud.”
“Got orders to fill
.”
“I will get her to the table,” Abel said as he walked into the kitchen and looked at his sister before grabbing her by the arm. “A couple of cups of her morning potion, which is what Auntie calls it, and she will wake up.” He led her to a seat at the table. “She can be like this when the tide is out too early,” he said as he turned and came back to the stove.
Geordie watched as Belle placed her arms on the table and put her head down on them. He shook his head, not sure coffee was going to help her this time. He would not even be up if he had not found her gone from the bed when he had reached for her.
“Oh, no,” Abel said and started back to the table.
Catching the boy by the back of his shirt, Geordie stopped him. “Nay, lad. I will dig the clams for her this morning if we put the coffee in front of her and it doesnae make her stir.”
“Do you know how?”
“Weel, I have watched her do it.”
“Do you know which beds to dig in?”
“More or less.”
“I best come with you then.”
He opened his mouth to tell the boy not to bother, then changed his mind. The boy had come home yesterday and, for the first time, he and Belle had to be a bit sneaky to be together. Now it would help if the boy had something to do. The last thing Geordie wanted to do was dig in the wrong bed. “Thank ye. Is she going to be all right there or should I tote her back to her bed?”
“I will leave her a note in case she wakes up and looks for us, but she will be just fine sleeping there. She has done it before.”
Placing a cup of coffee near her brought no reaction, so Geordie resigned himself to digging clams. Collecting her tools for the job, he headed down to the beach with Abel. By the time he and Abel returned Belle was gone when he did the evening harvest of clams. He checked her bedroom, then his own, finding her sprawled across his bed.
He bit his lip to suppress his laughter and gently moved her until he had her settled beneath the covers. Then he sighed, knowing he could not crawl into that bed with her as he would like to. Abel was waiting for him downstairs. Brushing a kiss over her cheek he went to join the boy and maybe make them some breakfast.
* * *
Although he did not like working in the mud, Geordie enjoyed the time he spent with Abel. The boy was smart and good company. He even had a keen wit that made an occasional appearance despite his young age. By the time he had rinsed off the last basket of clams and they headed back to the house with their harvest, he thought on the inheritance the boy was due one day. Abel would be a very good caretaker of the Ampleford property.
Abel, only partially cleaned off, skipped along by his side, dashing off now and then to look at something he had glimpsed on the beach. He was a happy boy, he thought, even though he had lost both of his parents. He had a sister and aunt who cared for him and a lot of cousins to play with. Geordie suspected whatever scars the boy carried from the loss were not too deep.
When they returned to the house Belle was there to take the clams and quickly began to sort them out. She also murmured an apology for sleeping past the time she had needed to get out there to dig the clams herself. He took Abel by the hand, intending to take him to the upstairs bath and rinse him off.
As they started out the door of the kitchen, he said, “Nay sure sleeping is the word ye want. It was more as if ye were unconscious yet still able to stand, even said a word or two. Interesting skill.”
Mehitabel spun around to answer him but he was already gone. She had the suspicion he had picked Abel up and dashed right up the stairs, because she could hear the echo of the boy’s giggles. Shaking her head, she went back to sorting the clams, needing to get that done so she could begin the evening meal, and hoped Geordie would get Abel cleaned up well.
* * *
Geordie laughed when the moment he got Abel dried off, the boy ran off to his room. Standing up, he looked at how his own clothes had gotten wet and quickly went into his room. Using his slightly dampened clothes to wipe himself dry, he put on dry clothes. By the time he stepped out of his room, Abel was waiting for him. Geordie crouched down to redo the buttons on the boy’s shirt. Then he looked at Abel and, knowing he was a bright boy, had to wonder why he always seemed to do his shirt up wrong.
“Abel, why are your buttons always buttoned up wrong?” he asked.
“Dunno,” muttered Abel, smoothing his now neatly buttoned shirt.
“Perhaps it would help if you looked at the buttons as ye did them up.” He had to bite back a laugh when the boy’s eyes widened a little and he just nodded.
“That’s probably a good idea,” Abel said calmly.
“Probably. Ye should practice it.”
“All right. Think the food is ready now?”
Standing up, Geordie took the boy by the hand and led him down the stairs with him. “I suspect if it isnae, it will be soon.”
When they walked into the kitchen, Belle was busy frying potatoes while ham slices sizzled in the fry pan. He got the plates and cutlery out, he and Abel setting the table as she cooked. As he sat down, Abel fetched napkins for each of them before sitting down across the table from him. Geordie glanced down, and on the floor at the end of the table sat all Belle’s pets. Staring at her. He was not surprised when she put a little meat and egg on three small plates and set them down for the pets before bringing the rest over to the table.
“You dug a good crop,” she said and then grabbed the pot of coffee and set it on the table. “I will be able to make all my customers happy.” She poured a glass of apple juice for Abel and, after serving it to the boy, sat down and poured herself some coffee.
Between discussing the crops she had, how they were doing, and eating their food they soon finished breakfast. Abel gulped down the last of his drink, leapt up to put his dishes in the sink, and announced that he was taking the dogs out. He then ran off and the two dogs were close behind him. Geordie heard the boy say good morning to the patients in the infirmary and get a cheerful answer. A moment later the front door slammed.
“Can Abel manage Thor?”
Belle smiled and nodded. “Thor behaves very well with Abel. It is as if he knows he is bigger and stronger and just doesn’t bother to show it off to the boy. One time Thor ran off and dragged poor Abel along after him, and it upset him when he stopped and saw the boy crying, so he now behaves.”
“Dogs are loyal, and Thor has decided Abel is one he will be loyal to.”
“Well, I will just wash these dishes and then we can take the boys out for a little swim.”
Geordie helped Belle with the dishes by wiping them dry and putting away the ones that he knew where they went. He leaned against the edge of the counter, crossed his arms over his chest, and watched her as she emptied and cleaned out the sink. Just as she was wringing out the washing rag, he suddenly felt a need to at least attempt to get an answer to one of the many questions crowding his mind.
“Belle? Do ye ever think of living somewhere else?”
Belle frowned. “Now and then, but not with any fierce need to go. It is a lot of work to run this place, but I can make a living here. I don’t have many animals, but I like having a place where I can keep them.”
“Aye, ye do have all those things.”
“And I don’t really know if there is a place I might like better than this.” She turned toward him, crossed her arms, and studied him closely. “Why do you ask?”
“Just curious. Ye have relatives all round but ye live alone. Most women dinnae seem to much like that.”
“I have Abel.”
“Most days, aye.”
The front door slammed open, then shut loudly. Belle frowned as she heard someone come stomping toward the kitchen. When her auntie marched in and hurled herself into a chair, Belle tried not to look too startled by the woman’s arrival. Something had really upset her aunt and Belle was not sure she wished to know what it was.
“Something wrong, Auntie?” she asked as she put a pot of coffee
on the stove. “Where is Abel?”
“Your cousin Rafe came by and they are out riding. They are not the problem. Your uncle John has arrived with his whole family.”
Things became a little clearer then, as her aunt really did not like her brother-in-law or his wife. “Has he come for his usual summer visit?”
“No. He has come to claim the house.” Mary nodded at the stunned look on Belle’s face. “Fortunately, he announced that after Rafe and Abel left. Seems my Thomas never made a will or changed his father’s. Since Tom has died, the will still states the house and land pass to his brother.”
“But he left a wife and sons.”
“Should have written a new will, his own will. I talked to someone who deals in such things and he says that without a written record changing it, the will is still in effect. I suspect John discovered that and knew his brother had not made a will. So he grabbed his prissy wife and his four sullen children and came right on over. Brought all their belongings too. Cluttered up my barn with them. I was, of course, expected to provide food and drink while they all rested from the ordeal of traveling ten miles.”
“What about his own home?”
“He is already trying to sell it. Even suggested I might want to buy it since I will now need a place to live. I was still in shock, watching his wife inspect my home, but even then, I knew I never would. He has priced it three times higher than what he paid, yet I know for a fact he has not put any money into it.”
“Ye need to find a good lawyer,” said Geordie.
“I suppose I should. They might be able to find something that will block this move. Waiting until he dies won’t help. If he still claims my house and has written a will, it will go to his wife and kids. I cannot abide sharing a house with him and that woman.”
“Then come stay here. Just make sure your leaving the house will not cause you to lose ground in an argument over the place.”
The Scotsman Who Swept Me Away Page 15