She shook her head, biting into a juicy peach. "An education is never a wasted thing. A man should know things. It makes him a better person in here." She tapped him lightly on the chest. "Besides, it made you an officer in General Washington's Continental Army, didn't it?"
Devon chuckled, taking a long pull on the bottle of wine. She never failed to astonish him. His guess would have been that she'd be totally against education. He thought she'd say it was time wasted a man could be out learning by doing. Would he ever understand Cassie? He doubted it.
After their meal, Devon stripped off his shirt and relaxed on his back in the soft grass. Between the branches of the ancient tree, he could see patches of heavenly blue sky. A hawk soared far above, making lazy circles beneath the puffs of white clouds. Cassie had pulled off her boots and stockings and her hat hung from a branch in the tree. She rested her head contentedly on his chest, making circular patterns on his bare stomach with the tip of her finger.
"Want to play?" She smiled, insinuation on the pout of her lips.
"Here?" Devon caught her hand as it traveled over his breeches. "You're kidding?"
"Certainly not." She rolled on top of him, burying her face in the crook of his neck. "Come on . . ." she whispered, dropping a light kiss here and there on his bare chest. She ran her fingers through the light crop of curly hair, catching his nipple with the tip of her tongue.
"Cassie." he groaned. "I thought you wanted to talk to me about something. Someone will see."
"Oh they will not! What I wanted to tell you can wait. We're perfectly safe. As hard as you've been working your hands, they're all asleep beneath the trees in that back field. Besides . . ." She moved her body suggestively against his, her skirts moving up with each motion.". . . it might be fun out here. You against a little adventure?" She pressed her mouth hard against his, forcing his mouth open. Her tongue danced against his, savoring the taste of the wine and his familiar breath.
"You're a witch." he accused hoarsely, his hand moving over her bare hip beneath her light petticoat.
"Ye'd not have it any other way." she told him, sitting up so she could unhook the buckle to his breeches. She kissed her way down his belly, pressing her damp mouth to his skin as she peeled the tight breeches off and flung them carelessly into the grass.
"My breeches." he protested weakly, easing his head back into the grass.
"You won't be needin' them, love . . ."
Their thirst for each other finally quenched, Cassie and Devon lay back in the grass in silence until their breath finally came more evenly, their hearts slowing to a normal pace.
"Now what would you have said if someone had come upon us with your bare bottom stuck up in the air like that?" Devon reached for the bottle of wine and took a sip, offering it to her.
Cassie rolled over on her stomach, pushing down her skirts. "I'd have said, 'Excuse me, but your master is occupied for the moment. Couldn't you come back later?" She raised her eyebrows, a smirk on her face.
He laughed, pushing the bottle into her hand and dropping back on to the ground. "Nothing about you would surprise me, Cassie. Not a blessed thing!"
She took a drink from the bottle. "You have to admit it was fun." Draining the bottle, she dropped it to the ground and rolled over to prop herself on his chest.
"Admit it."
"Yes. It was. I've never met a woman like you." He kissed the tip of her nose. "I love you." he added softly.
"If I'm such a terrific girl, you certainly couldn't live without me . . ."
Devon's face turned stony. "Is that what this is about?" He sat up.
"What?"
"Don't you 'what' me." he told her angrily, getting to his feet. "The meal, the . . ." He was so mad he could barely speak. "This!" He motioned to the patch of grass they'd just made love on.
Cassie jumped to her feet. "How dare you! You think I'd . . ." She shook a finger at him. "You think I'd . . . Oh!" She stomped off toward the horse.
"You're not going, Cassie!" Devon shouted after her, searching for his breeches. "Do you hear me? You'd better get it through that thick Irish head of yours. You're going to stay here at Marshview! Here where you're safe!"
Cassie mumbled an obscenity beneath her breath and swung into the saddle, barelegged and without her hat. "You can just go straight to hell, you hear me, Devon Marsh?" Sinking her heels viciously into the horse's side, she rode past him, still standing naked beneath the tree, with his breeches in his hand.
Chapter Twelve
Cassie heaved a sigh, moving away from the window. She was bored to tears. There was nothing for her to do here at Marshview—she had no responsibilities, no concerns. The maids cleaned and cooked, Mother Marsh ran the house servants, and Devon and his overseer managed the plantation. Not a soul would know if I died standing here in my boots, she thought dejectedly. Well . . . maybe Devon, but he wouldn't notice until well after nightfall when he climbed exhausted into bed.
Spotting her kitten dart under the bed, Cassie got down on her hands and knees. "Here, kitty, kitty. Here, kitty, kitty, kitty." she called poking her head beneath the high bed. Moses had been a present from Devon. Something to keep her busy, he had said. "Humph!" She snatched the calico from under the bed and crawled from beneath it, having a seat on the floor.
"Aren't you a pretty kitty." she crooned, stroking the cat's back until it purred beneath her hand. Dropping Moses into her lap, she watched him curl up in her abundant skirts and drift off to sleep.
For a long time Cassie just sat there on the floor, petting her kitten, her legs spread and her head propped against the side of the bed. Wouldn't Mary love to see me now, the old biddy! Sittin' on the floor with my fancy riding skirts all akimbo! Cassie laughed, her clear voice echoing in the empty room.
"What am I going to do?" she asked the kitten, scratching him behind the ears. "If he leaves me here, I'll rot!" It had been two days since she had stomped off, leaving Devon beneath the tree. Since then, he had been behaving rather coolly, and she'd just sat around sulking. She was furious, furious with him for accusing her of trying to bribe him with her womanly wiles and furious with herself for making it look that way. The truth was, she had been hoping he might realize just how much he'd miss her if he left her behind. Still, he should have kept his mouth shut!
She shook her head. "Oh, kitty Moses, how could I have been so foolish? Why didn't I use my head instead of my loins? Why did I marry the arrogant bastard?" She hit the polished wooden floor with her fist. If only she didn't love him . . . then she could just walk away. But it was too late for that. Those hasty wedding vows had sealed her fate.
Coming to her feet, Cassie dropped the kitten onto the bed. If she didn't find something to do, she'd go stircrazy. Sitting here feeling sorry for herself wasn't going to make a lick of difference! Cook was supposed to be baking peach pies today . . . maybe she could use some help.
Still dressed in her riding outfit from her morning outing, Cassie came down the front steps and started down the hall. Stopping at the sound of voices coming from the study, Cassie broke into a smile. It was Mordecai! Mordecai had come to visit! And Devon had come in from the fields to see him. Maybe they'd stay and have the evening meal with her. Taking the doorknob, she went to turn it, but the tone of the voices within made her stop and put her ear to the door.
"Don't look at me." she heard Mordecai say. "I didn't tell you to marry her so you could lay her. If it'd been me, friend, I'd have lost the horse before I'd have married the wench."
Cassie inhaled sharply. Trembling, she turned to lean her back on the paneled door. "Please . . . no." she begged. She didn't want to hear anymore, but the voices kept coming, words jumbled. Nothing made sense. Run! Run! her inner voice screamed, but she couldn't move. Her feet seemed to be nailed to the floor. Her eyes drifted shut as Devon's voice filtered through the air.
". . . it's just we're so different." He laughed. "Can you believe she thought I was going to take her to New York when we left?"
<
br /> Cassie pushed herself from the door. If she didn't get out of here, she was going to be sick! It had been a lie! All a filthy lie! A bet . . . he'd married her to win a bet!
"What's the matter, Cassie?"
Cassie turned to see Mary coming up behind her.
"Heard something you shouldn't have?" Devon's sister brushed past her, a silly smile plastered on her face. "That'll teach you not to eavesdrop, won't it, little Miss Barmaid!"
Cassie squeezed her eyes shut, letting the remark pass. She just wanted to get out of here . . . away from them all. He had lied to her! Devon had said he loved her . . . he had said he'd loved her from the moment he'd set eyes on her. He said he'd waited his whole life for her. Lying colonial bastard!
Racing down the hall, Cassie flew out the front door and down the steps. Tears streamed down her face as she made her way to the barn, blindly, not caring if anyone saw her or not.
Hiking up her skirts, she climbed up the ladder to the loft and threw herself into the straw. The barn was silent except for the sound of an occasional horse munching or shifting in his stall. The stable boys were gone. Only the pigeons in the rafters heard her sobbing.
Devon rested his hand on the knob of his bedchamber door. "Cassie?" He frowned, pushing the door open a little farther. Where could she be? He'd looked everywhere for her.
Her kitten ran across the hard wood floor and plopped itself down on the toe of his shined boot. Absently, he scooped Moses up off the floor and held him against his chest, running his hand over the downy fur. The kitten wasn't supposed to be in the house. His mother strictly forbade any animals setting foot on her polished wood floors or elegant Persian carpets. Dropping the kitten carefully on the floor, Devon closed the door behind him.
Outside, he made his way to the horse barn. Maybe she'd gone riding again; it seemed to be the only thing that kept her amused while he was busy. Stepping inside, the smell of sweet hay and good, solid horseflesh filled his nostrils. Seated on a small stool, a bridle in hand, he spotted old Joseph. "Hey there." Devon called, kicking at a tuft of clean straw with the tip of his boot. "Have you by chance seen my wife, Joseph?" He nodded at a stall. "The bay she rides is in."
Joseph chuckled. "Whew! Been a hot one today, ain't it, Master Devon." He chuckled, his snow-white head bobbing up and down. "A hot one."
"Indeed it was. But my wife. Have you seen my wife?" He walked to the old servant, eyeing the bridle he was restrapping. "She seems to have vanished."
He shook his head. "Haven't seen a soul all afternoon. Just me and them horses."
Devon turned to go, but stopped midstep when Joseph spoke again.
"'Course, did here sumptin' sound like a lady cryin'," he said softly.
"Where?" Devon spun around. "Why always the riddles, Joseph? Where is she?"
The old black man lifted a hand slowly to point above him and then dropped his attention back to the bridle on his lap.
Devon scowled darkly, starting up the ladder that led to the loft. It had been years since he'd climbed up here. This was where he had hidden from his parents as a child, hidden from the dance master, from his sisters. Only Joseph had known his secret hiding place and he had never given it away.
When Devon's head came above the floorboards, he spotted Cassie in a pile of straw. She was asleep, an old barn cat nestled in her arms. Her face was streaked with red from crying, yet she looked peaceful lying here in the barn. Silently, Devon moved across the loft and knelt beside his wife's sleeping form.
God, she's beautiful, he thought, reaching hesitantly to brush a stray tendril of bright orange-red hair from her cheek. I don't deserve her; I don't deserve her love. He smiled, his eyes transfixed on her heart-shaped face. He liked her like this, asleep. No harsh words between them, no injured feelings. Asleep, she didn't have a care in the world. It was going to be damned hard to leave her behind.
Gently, Devon shook her. "Cassie? Wake up, love. You can't sleep here all night." The moment her eyes fluttered open, the smile fell from his face. "Cassie?" He looked at her quizzically. "What's wrong?" Her accusing green eyes burned holes in his own. He reached to take her hand and she snapped it back as if she'd been singed.
"Don't you dare touch me, you whoreson cur!" she spit, pushing the cat off her lap.
His head snapped up. "What's wrong? What have I done?" He searched his mind for something he could have said to offend her this morning. She'd gotten up early to break the fast with him. They'd laughed over a maid's antics on the lawn below their window. A turkey had been tugging the clean sheets from the line and Cassie had thought it hilarious. Devon ran a hand through his hair, perturbed. He was sick and tired of these games of hers!
"What have ye done? What haven't ye done?" She scrambled to her feet, knocking the straw from her skirts. "Ye've stolen my virtue, my livelihood. Ye've locked me in a cold uncaring house . . . ye lied to me." She swallowed the lump that rose in her throat. She wouldn't give him the pleasure of seeing her cry.
"Now wait one minute." he said abruptly. "Stolen your virtue?" He laughed, but he was not amused. "Your virtue, madam, you gave freely. I married you, for Christ's sake!" He rested a tanned hand on his narrow hip.
"Married me . . . now we're gettin' somewhere, Mister Fancy Breeches. Just why did you marry that barmaid?" Her voice caught in her throat. "Why did you marry me?"
Devon's face was a mask of confusion. He couldn't for the life of him figure out what she was talking about. His fists tightened at his sides. This woman would try a saint. "I married you because I wanted to make you my wife. I love you." he told her none too kindly.
"Liar!" She climbed over the pile of straw and planted herself in front of him. "You men, you're all liars!" She balled her fist and shook it threateningly beneath his chin. "If I thought I could, I'd knock your lights out!" She shoved the hair off her shoulders. "Makes no difference, does it? The fancy schools, Papa's money? You're not fit to empty a chamber pot."
"That's enough!" Devon caught Cassie's fist and lowered it slowly. His jaw tightened until the veins in his neck stood out. "Now you tell me what the hell you're talking about and you tell me now." he said through clenched teeth. "You have tried my patience to the end, Cassie. I'll take no more!" he shouted.
"You made me for a fool . . ." Her voice had dropped until it was barely a whisper. "I was taken with your looks, your honesty. . . . I loved ye the moment I first laid eyes on that angel face of yours." A single tear ran down her cheek. "You married me over a horse, Devon Marsh. Your horse meant more to ye than a person's life. My life . . ." She banged her chest with her fist.
Shocked, Devon could do nothing but stare at her shattered face. Her green eyes cried out with pain, her lips quivered. He had never meant her to know. The bet had nothing to do with her. It had been a foolish drinking man's wager. How could he make her understand now, that he loved her with all his heart? "Cassie . . ." His voice caught in his throat, choking him. He wouldn't have hurt her for the world like this. "You heard Mordecai in the library." He didn't know where to begin. Her trust in him was gone. What would words, promises, mean now? "I never meant you to know."
"You never meant me to know the truth?" She stared with numb incredulity. "Look at you, you don't even deny it! Was it your plan to leave me here all along? Just wait until I gave up on you and went away . . . or they drove me away?" Cassie had always taken pride in being tough. No one could hurt her; no one could mar her defensive veneer. It was her own fault, and she knew it. She'd laid herself open to this pain. She'd let herself love this man.
Devon squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. "I did make the bet . . . but it had nothing to do with us, it . . ." His voice trailed off into silence. She wasn't listening; a sullen veil had fallen over her face. She'd withdrawn from him. He could see it in her vacant stare. He took her limp hands. "Please listen to me. Let me explain . . ."
"I loved you." she whispered, her eyes drifting shut.
For several minutes Devon stood there at a loss.
Cassie hadn't moved; she hadn't said a word. She just stood there, the tears rolling down her flushed cheeks, not a sound coming from her. Finally, he reached out to drape an arm over her shoulder. He would wait until her anger had passed, until she was acting sensibly again. Then he'd make her understand. "Come on." he ordered quietly. "Let's get you to bed. We'll talk in the morning."
Sometime in the dead of night Cassie and Devon were awoken by the sound of pounding on their bedchamber door. "Master Devon, Master Devon. Someone here to see you!"
Cassie eased her eyes open, watching Devon slip on his breeches by the light of the new moon. He went to the door, unbolted it, and slipped out, closing it quietly behind him.
Her eyes drifted shut. She felt as if she'd been drugged . . . poisoned. She had allowed Devon to undress her, to pull a sleeping gown over her head and tuck her into their bed. She had fallen asleep within minutes while he sat there on the end of the bed, just staring at her.
Cassie's mind whirled with bitter confusion. Nothing had ever cut her this deeply—not the death of her brother, not leaving her father to come to the Colonies. No one had ever hurt her like this. She didn't know what she was going to do, where she was going to go.
She opened her eyes, staring at the ghostly shadows the curtains made on the elegant wallpaper. She could feel the tears welling up inside her again. He had said nothing of sending her away. He probably meant to keep her. Every man needed a wife; she could run his house, bear his children. But she wasn't going to do it! She'd not live her life in a loveless marriage.
When the bedchamber door opened, Cassie squeezed her eyes shut, feigning sleep. She couldn't bear to look at Devon, not yet.
"Cassie." His voice came from across the room. She tried to block it out, but she couldn't. "Cassie, I have to go. My regiment is leaving."
The Officer's Desire Page 13