by Betty Bolte
"I'll take your word for it." Resuming stirring the batter, Peggy glanced over her shoulder at Evelyn. "I wouldn't tolerate such interruptions myself."
"We're living in extraordinary circumstances until the house is completed." She smoothed the blanket over her suckling baby. "When we move, we'll have the appropriate spaces to retire to when necessary."
Nathaniel returned a few minutes later. The rush of chilly air cooled the cozy room until he fastened the door. She studied him as he removed his cloak, the shoulders glistening with rain, and hung it on a peg. He crossed to the table and pulled out a chair to sit.
"What did Enoch really want?" Evelyn asked.
Raking a hand through damp hair, Nathaniel aimed eyes laden with concern her way. "He'd heard some fearful news that has every man up in arms."
Gripping the arm of the chair, Evelyn peered at him. His expression sparked alarm in her heart. "What has happened?"
"General Greene has informed the Assembly that if the Congress does not address the deficiencies in paying the soldiers their due, the army may mutiny and turn against the government." He stared at her, his lips pressed into a line, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees.
"They wouldn't!" Evelyn could not believe any person would condone such action against the American Congress.
"I do not know, but that is the gossip spreading across the state." Pushing to his feet, Nathaniel paced between the table and where Evelyn sat. "I thought the fighting had ended."
"The threat does not equal the return of conflict." Evelyn stilled the chair to hand Jim to Jemma, then refastened her clothing and removed the blanket. Folding it over her arm, she stood and went to pause Nathaniel's agitated tour of the room by halting in front of him. "Surely the general is merely trying to draw attention to the possibility in order to avoid the event."
"I hope you're correct, but I am deeply troubled by these events. Come to me."
He gripped her upper arms for a moment before pulling her into an embrace. He rested his chin on her head, and she slipped a hand inside his coat to lay over his pounding heart. She stroked her fingers back and forth across his shirt as he held on to her. Slowly, he eased away far enough to regard her for a moment before he pressed his lips to hers.
The contact swept a charged current of desire crashing through her. He deepened the kiss, exploring the inner regions of her mouth with a playful flick of his tongue. She responded by wrapping her arms around his neck to draw him closer. Part of her chastised herself for the impropriety of her actions in front of her servants, but she ignored the voice of reason and chose to listen to the voice of passion. Teasing his tongue with flicks of her own. Enjoying the splay of his hand on her lower back, pressing her to his hard frame. He'd awakened a need she'd never experienced prior to his first touch of her hand. A response she could easily become dependent upon.
Nathaniel ended the kiss after several moments, pecking her mouth a few times before pulling away. She reluctantly let him go, embarrassment replacing the passion when she spied her maids watching with shock and a dash of envy.
"With this news, I'm afraid I must leave for town immediately." He studied her for a second and then dropped a kiss on her lips.
"I understand." She squeezed his hands and smiled up at him. "I'll be here when you come back, waiting."
"Fare thee well, my sweet." He pecked her lips again, and then hurried out of the door.
Her lips tingled from his attentions and she raised her finger to rest upon them to calm the sensation. Staring at the door for several seconds, she hoped he'd come back and kiss her again before disappearing for untold days. The door remained shut and finally she blinked and pivoted to address her maids.
"You want to go after him, don't you?" Peggy asked, with a wink.
Evelyn lifted Jim, squealing, into her arms. "I don't need to because I know he'll come back to me."
Chapter 23
Several weeks passed before Evelyn stopped waiting for Nathaniel to return. She tried to excuse his absence, making up reasons for why he had not ventured out to her estate. In truth, although she no longer watched the door or listened for the sound of his horse's hooves coming up her lane, her heart still waited to be reawakened by his presence.
The afternoon had turned stormy, driving every one under shelter in the carriage house. Lightning flashed and thunder shook her composure. Hail had littered the barnyard earlier but had since melted into the puddles stretching across the area between the buildings. Evelyn rocked in the chair by the fire, contemplating the flames while pondering fate and destiny.
Perhaps she was destined to live alone, to never have a loving, kind man in her life. Sure, she'd have her son, and of course her servants, to keep her company. People to bestow her love and care upon. Additionally, she'd have students to shower her attention on and help mature. Such love as she garnered from her family and friends may have to be enough.
"Would you care for a cup of tea or coffee?" Peggy paused by the chair, Jim on one hip with his arms around her neck. "We could make it for you, this little one and me."
She gazed up at her son and then her maid. "I've had enough tea to float a boat."
"You should do something to occupy your hands and thus your mind." The maid joggled the boy for a moment before turning away. "Waiting is difficult when you're bored."
She was right, but Evelyn had no interest in doing much of anything. Especially with the three cousins lounging around the room, sprawled on beds or reclined in chairs, dozing during the unexpected break in their work. She'd not wake them, naturally. With all the hard work they'd labored to accomplish, they'd earned a rest.
Each day they came in and gave her a progress report. The rain delayed the raising of the walls, but only for an afternoon. On the morrow, they would resume their effort to rebuild her home. Moving from the constraints of the carriage house to the much larger space couldn't come soon enough to bring peace to her heart. She liked her companions, and of course loved Jim, but she wanted more privacy than afforded by the small building.
Restless, she gripped the chair arms and pushed to her feet. Peggy glanced at her but didn't comment when Evelyn put a finger to her lips and started toward the door. She needed air, to escape the four walls surrounding and protecting her, despite the storm. She felt as though she couldn't breathe. Something lying in wait for her to lower her guard. She even once thought she'd seen Walter turning the corner of the barn, walking into the shadowy depths, dissolving into the darkness. Impossible. She shivered at the memory and squared her shoulders. Grabbing her shawl from its peg, she wrapped it around her and stepped outside.
She stayed close to the outer wall, protected under the roof extending over the porch. The cool rain-scented air washed her cheeks. Drawing in a long breath, she surveyed her estate, noting the framing of the new building shimmering and patient. The three white tents appeared much like mushrooms springing from the wet ground beneath the trees in the distance. She pulled the shawl tighter about her shoulders and sighed. All around her stood the elements of her life. Was it fate that had brought her to live on this piece of property? Was this estate where she would spend the rest of her life in peace? Or would the echo of her dead husband continue to unsettle her composure? She hugged herself, hoping she had done the right thing for her and her precious child.
The door opened beside her, and she glanced to see Ethan emerge and close it behind him. Her cousin had behaved in an odd manner ever since Nathaniel departed weeks before. She rarely went anywhere without him appearing at her side. Smiling and offering his assistance at every turn. Such as at the moment when all she craved was to be left alone for a brief period of time.
"You okay?" He leaned against the wall on her left side. "I thought you didn't like thunderstorms."
She shrugged, unsure how to respond without revealing too much of her inner soul.
"Anything I can help you with?" Ethan angled his body to close the gap between them. "You need only to ask."
If she asked him to go inside, would he comply? Most likely not. Unless she became ugly and angry, and thus rude. A state which she would never become on purpose. "I'm content as I am, but I appreciate your offer."
He pushed away from the wall to stand square, his hands by his sides. "I've known you a very long time, Evelyn."
"Yes, you have. What about it?"
"You cannot hide your feelings from me. I can read you like a book."
"I see." She lifted a doubting brow. "What am I feeling now?"
He folded his arms across his impressive chest. "You're lonely and desire a man's attentions."
She raised both brows and regarded him for several moments. He hit upon the right answer on the first guess. Perhaps she exhibited too much of her inner self. "How could I be lonely surrounded by so many people?"
"Being lonely has nothing to do with being alone, but more about wanting to be with someone in particular." He dropped his hands to clasp one of hers. "Someone like me."
She studied him in silence as she adjusted the soft knitted garment draping open and hanging from her shoulders. She tried to control a laugh and compose a polite response to the ludicrous suggestion. While they were cousins, and thus permitted to marry, she did not have any attraction to him. She well understood what role a woman played as a man's wife. Ethan had always been like a brother to her. She couldn't simply turn those feelings into something more appropriate for a life companion to harbor.
"Ethan, I believe you've mistaken my demeanor." She pulled her hand from his grasp and wrapped the shawl around her again. "I am not desirous of a relationship with you."
"You're not?" He frowned as he gazed down at her. "My apologies. I had thought we had the potential for a respectful marriage."
"A marriage barren of love."
"Pshaw." Ethan waggled a hand in the air. "Love is not a requirement for a man and woman to merge their fortunes and futures."
"Mayhap." She shook her head at him. "But I've survived one such marriage, and I shall not submit to another."
He regarded her for several breaths, then looked away to the puddles merging into a shallow lake. "I'd not heard about your husband treating you with disrespect."
"Nor would I hope many people have learned of the truth." Evelyn followed his gaze, noting the lessening of the heavy rain to showers. "I care for you, Ethan, as my cousin and my friend. Isn't that enough?"
He swung his head around to nod. "I will respect your wishes. I'll make no further attempt to persuade you in a different direction but support you in your true desires."
She inclined her head in acceptance of his apology. "Thank you. For that I am grateful."
"It's Nathaniel, isn't it?"
"Yes." A lot of good it had done her to admit as much. "I hope we can work it out, in time."
"If it's meant to be, nothing will stop you from being together." He leaned down to kiss her cheek. "I believe in destiny."
"But the Fates have a way of writing their own surprising ending to a person's story." She could only hope they agreed with her version and not interfere.
Chapter 24
The arm of the press stuck midway, and Nathaniel struggled to release the jam. He retrieved a screwdriver to attempt to loosen the tension on the mechanism. Frank strode out of the back room, carrying a stack of blank books.
"This thing is not working correctly." Nathaniel finished making the adjustment just as the front door opened.
He glanced up to see who entered. Emily strolled in out of the cold rain falling outside. She closed the door with a quick push and shivered.
"What are you doing here?" Frank deposited the stack on a shelf by the door. "I thought I was to meet you at home?"
"I needed to bring this essay for the next edition." She pulled a set of pages from her pocket and handed them to Frank.
"It couldn't wait until later?" Frank perused the pages, a frown appearing on his brow. "Freedom of choice?"
"Exactly." She smiled at him with confidence. "It's time people realize that we should each be able to make decisions and choices based on our own needs and hopes."
Nathaniel tested the level, and the arm slid smoothly up and then down. He listened to the discussion with interest, but did not interfere between the husband and his wife. Her argument would likely fall on deaf ears, however. Men made the choices for their women. Like they had forever. He didn't see a reason for the practice to change, either.
"Em, you know if I put this in the next paper, you'll receive more upsetting notes and may even be snubbed when you venture out." Frank regarded her for a long moment. "Are you certain?"
Folding her arms, she blinked at him several times and then sighed. "We have an agreement. Are you suggesting you wish to renege on it?"
"I'll put it in, but you'll need to face the consequences."
She smiled at him. "I will be happy to have the discourse with any person who wants to engage in a serious debate on the subject."
Frank shook his head as he pivoted to lay the paper on the work table to be composed using the small metal letters and punctuation. He caught Nathaniel's attention with a quick movement of his hand. "So what do you think?"
"About what?" Nathaniel laid down the tool and strode over to the high table separating the customer area from the work space.
"Her claim that every person should have free choice." Frank tossed a smile toward Emily, who waited for Nathaniel's answer.
"I believe women do not always know the extent of a situation to the point of having the knowledge with which to make an informed decision. They do fine with household choices about what to have for dinner or what bauble to purchase." He contemplated Emily's lowering expression with his every word, but continued to press home his point. "Therefore, I think men should make the important decisions."
Emily bristled with indignation. She dropped her arms to clasp her hands together as she shook her head in disbelief. "Here I thought you were more enlightened than that."
"I beg your pardon, but I do not see what you are upset about." What had he said to provoke such a response? Nathaniel went over his explanation and found no flaw with the logic. "Everyone knows what I said is true."
"Your reasoning is faulty." Emily sighed, a sound conveying her dismay at his lack of sanity. "Women are fully capable of choosing for themselves what is in their best interest."
Glancing at Frank, Nathaniel contemplated her statement. What if she spoke the truth? But did she? He studied Emily's earnest expression, espying a wary hope that she could sway his opinion.
"What kinds of choices?" Nathaniel asked.
Frank broke in before Emily could respond. His sudden smirk warned of his intent before he spoke a word. "Whether to move from one town to another, perhaps?"
Emily nodded, glancing between them with a question in her eyes. "Most definitely."
"That's too big of a choice for a woman to make." How would she know about land values and locating fertile soil? Or where to find work to support a family? "I think such a decision is beyond any woman's ability to comprehend."
"Perhaps you should find out." Frank crossed his arms over his chest with a laugh. "Ask Evelyn."
Nathaniel drew in a sharp breath and shook his head. "Why would you, of all people, suggest I ask her?"
Emily cocked her head at her husband with a slight frown. "Do tell."
Frank chortled at Nathaniel. "Because it's only right to permit her to decide for herself whether she'd deign to throw her fortunes in with yours or remain here when you move on."
"Move on?" Emily regarded him with shock in her eyes. "You're leaving town?"
"Not for a bit." Nathaniel grimaced at Frank. Why did he spill those beans? "But when I do, I'll go alone because that is in her best interest."
"Does she know this?" Emily continued to frown at him, her hands landing on her hips. "Does she have any idea of your plans?"
He shook his head slowly, agitated by the censure in her gaze. "She won't, eith
er."
Emily wagged a finger at him. "You should put the question to her. She may well surprise you."
"Do you truly believe I should ask Lyn to travel with me into dangerous lands when we are not even officially courting, let alone betrothed?"
"Absolutely."
"What do you say, Frank?" He couldn't believe his ears. Nor could he fathom why he was considering following her advice.
"What would it hurt to find out her feelings on the matter?" Frank grinned at him and crossed to clap him on the back. "I'll even give you the time off to do so."
He glanced between them, feeling as though they'd managed to set him on yet another path. What should he do? Resist or follow?
Chapter 25
A dusting of snow transformed the countryside into a fairy world. Snow rarely paid a visit to the state, and then only a brief one as the temperatures warmed quickly during the day and melted the white coating into mud. Bundled in his warmest hat and cloak, Nathaniel rode toward Evelyn's house as fast as Jingo could safely traverse the slippery and rutted road. Frank had made good on his word and gave him the afternoon off from the print shop after working days without a break other than to sleep.
Tensions in town and, indeed, across the region remained high. General Greene continued to posture and threaten to use the army to force the people to supply the soldiers. Heated letters had been exchanged and then printed in the paper for dissemination to the public. The uproar that ensued had yet to quiet. Of course, the general hadn't helped matters by his curious approach to communicating with Brigadier General Daniel Morgan by chasing after him in person. Riding one hundred and twenty-five miles into North Carolina with only a guide, an aide, and a sergeant's guard of cavalry seemed foolhardy at best. Doing so had left his army to other perhaps inferior leadership and exposed their commander to unnecessary danger. Despite the fact he succeeded in catching up to his quarry and thus joining forces with his division, most everyone subsequently questioned his military judgment.