by Mia Easton
Chapter 20
Liz woke the next morning feeling different. It took a few moments before the reason for it caught up with her and then she grabbed hold of a pillow and squeezed it against herself, overcome with elation. Wes. He was in love with her. She suddenly fully understood why Scarlett O'Hara had looked the way she did the morning after Rhett Butler had finally had his way with her. Poor, stupid Scarlett. She'd been in love with Rhett and hadn't realized it until it was too late. Well, that would not be her mistake. She loved Major James Wesley Hale completely. She wanted to fling open the balcony doors and shout it out loud for the whole world to hear.
The remarkable gift she'd been given suddenly sobered her. She'd been handed a miracle, a new life, complete with all the love she could ever want or need. "Thank you," she whispered as her eyes filled. "I'll take such good care of him. I swear it."
At the sound of a knock on the door, Liz sat up. The door was already opening and May was entering with her breakfast tray. Liz dabbed at her eyes and smiled. "Good morning."
"Mornin,' Miss Elizabeth."
As May set the food out, Liz got up and put on her robe.
"A note was slid under the door," May said.
Liz saw it and went to retrieve it. Opening the folded parchment, she saw Wes's signature and closed it, attempting to suppress her smile. "Where are you from, May?" she asked as she walked to the table.
"Why…here. My folks are all here."
"Oh?"
May nodded and blushed.
"Tell me about them. Do you have brothers and sisters?"
"Three younger sisters and a baby brother."
"That's nice. Do you get to see them very often?"
"Yes, ma'am."
May seemed uncomfortable by the questions. Liz didn't know why, but she didn't want to push. "This looks delicious," she said as she sat.
"You seem happy today," May commented with a curious expression.
"I am."
"I'm glad. I was worried yesterday."
"So was I," Liz admitted, and they both chuckled.
"It musta' went well."
"Yes, ma'am, it did. It went perfectly."
May looked proud as she nodded. "I'll let you eat."
When she was gone, Liz opened the note and read. My darling Liz, it began. He never called her Liz. She couldn't decide if she liked it or not. We're going into the city on business. If I'd realized it yesterday, I would have asked if there was anything I could fetch you. I happily confess the errand would, and someday will, bring me great pleasure. Until tonight. Yours, Wes
She pressed the note to her chest and sighed. An hour later, as she practically floated downstairs on her way to find Maggie, she passed the beautiful dark haired maid. "Good morning," she greeted cheerfully.
The look she received just before the housemaid dipped her head in a mock gesture of deference sent an unpleasant chill through Liz. Unless she was mistaken, it had been a look of bitterness, almost hatred. Of course, the life of a servant was not an easy one. Obviously, the maid was having a trying morning.
Eunice was not feeling as charitable. She loathed Elizabeth Gordon. She detested everything about her, the way she moved and spoke and pretended to be so nice to everyone. She'd twisted Wesley Hale around her little finger, but Lizzy-Beth Gordon wasn't as clever as she thought because she didn't have any idea who she was really up against. Miss Gordon posed one more challenge, that was all, and Eunice loved overcoming a challenge, especially when there was an important victory at stake. And there was. Wesley Hale and Pinegrove were meant to be hers. Her reward.
She pictured herself on the front veranda of Pinegrove in a rose-pink silk gown watching Wes as he mounted his horse to go to town. He turned back to look her again with a look of awe that she was his wife. He smiled at her and she blew him a kiss. A maid, who looked a great deal like Elizabeth Gordon, came from behind to inquire if she needed anything. "A cup of tea," she'd reply.
Eunice took a deep breath and became calmer and more focused. There were so many ways to deal with Miss Gordon. All she had to do was to decide which one was best.
In the drawing room, Maggie looked up from the letter she was writing when Elizabeth walked in. Elizabeth looked refreshed and wonderful. She looked glowing. Maggie blinked in surprise. Although she had done exceedingly well at last night's dinner party, she'd seemed subdued afterwards. Melancholy, even. Wes had seemed strained, as well, and Maggie had assumed their tiff had not yet blown over. Now, she felt a tug of anxiety. Had someone else caught Elizabeth's eye? Someone like George Lloyd? Oh, no—please not that. It would crush Wesley, and she'd never be forgiven for having invited Mr. Lloyd in the first place.
"Am I interrupting?" Liz asked.
"Not at all. Please come in. You look so—"
Maggie was clearly at a loss, and Elizabeth could only smile in response. "Happy?"
Maggie felt positively short of breath, fearing the reason that she was undoubtedly about to hear. "Yes."
"I am."
Elizabeth sat on the settee and Maggie immediately got up to join her.
"Everything went beautifully last night," Elizabeth voiced.
Maggie was filled with dread. Please, not George Lloyd. Please!
Elizabeth's smiled waned. "What is it, Maggie? Is something wrong?"
"You, first. Tell me why you look so happy this morning." If necessary, if it was George Lloyd, she'd appeal to Elizabeth to ignore the romantic inclination. At least for the present—until she could figure out how to disengage Wesley from the obvious attachment he had toward her. Oh, it would be terrible! Wesley would be shattered and John Paul would be furious with her, and she'd never forgive herself.
Liz took hold of Maggie's hand. "Tell me. I'll do anything to help you."
Maggie held tears back. "I may hold you to that. Now, please, tell me why you look aglow."
"Because Wes and I—"
Maggie felt herself jerk a little.
"We'd been…not exactly in an argument."
"I noticed the strain between the two of you."
"It was a misunderstanding. A silly misunderstanding."
Maggie's heart began hammering with hope.
"And last night, after the party, we talked." Liz felt her face heat at the thought of what else they'd done.
"You made up?"
Liz nodded.
"You made up?" Maggie repeated. "You and Wesley? And that's why you look so wonderful?"
"Yes." Liz beamed a smile. "I love him, Maggie."
Maggie felt lightheaded with relief and joy. "Of course, you do."
"And he loves me," Liz finished.
"Of course, he does. I'm so happy for you both!"
Elizabeth still looked worried. "But what—"
Smiling and blinking back tears, Maggie shook her head.
"What is it?"
"It's nothing," Maggie replied. "I feared you might have felt an attachment for Mr. Lloyd. That would have crushed Wesley."
"Mr. Lloyd? No! I've been in love with Wes since I first saw him."
"I always thought so, but—" Maggie broke off and shook her head. "What the human mind is capable of conceiving. I'm sorry."
"No, there's no need. You were just concerned for Wes."
"Terrified is more like it. And for me, too. John Paul would have never let me live down that I'd invited the man."
"I thought Mr. Lloyd was exceptionally handsome and charming. But he didn't do a thing for me."
Maggie grinned and shook her head. "That does not sound…how are you always putting it, very eighteenth century."
"Then I shall endeavor not to repeat it again," Liz teased.
"I am so happy for you. And for Wesley."
"Me, too. Now, tell me what I can do to help you today."
"Well, there's a village I visit monthly, and today is the day. You can go with me, if you like."
"I would love to," Liz replied enthusiastically.
"It will seem an outdated notion to you, but my fa
ther was the village squire and there are still certain expectations of us. Or I've always felt there was. So, I visit and do what I can."
"I would love to see it and to help."
Maggie reached over and squeezed her hand. "Good. We'll leave in an hour. I usually drive the wagon, so dress warmly."
Riding next to Maggie in the wagon was thrilling. They sat high, or it felt high to Liz, and exposed as Maggie drove the two-horse team with ease and speed. "One horse would do it," Maggie had said when the wagon bed was loaded with bags of flour, oats and various items. "But two go faster. We'll practically fly on the way home with an empty wagon." Her eyes were alight with the thought of it, so much so that Liz laughed.
The going was fun, although Liz clutched the railing on the side with one hand and the seat next to her with the other until her hands ached.
"May I ask you a delicate question?" Maggie asked as they rode, keeping her eyes on the road.
"Of course. Anything."
"It's about conceiving a child," Maggie said hesitantly.
Liz looked at her. "Okay."
Maggie grinned. "What does that mean? Okay?"
"It means…all right," she replied with a firm nod.
Maggie hesitated. "You're not embarrassed to—"
"Not at all."
Maggie glanced at her and saw that she was not embarrassed. "Are there?" she began. "That is to say, is there a—"
Maggie was floundering, so Liz felt for her. "A what?" she asked gently. "It's just me here. Spit it out."
"Some fool proof way of conceiving in the future?" Maggie blurted, reddening in the face.
"Oh." Liz thought about it. "I know there is a lot of help available for infertile couples."
Maggie grimaced. "Infertile couples? What a dreadful thought."
"You couldn't call yourselves that. You haven't been trying long enough."
"It will be four years in May that we were married."
"Right. Not long enough."
Maggie looked at her with a look of amazement. Then she reined in the horses with a "Whoa." She turned to face Liz.
"Okay, so this is what we know. Which may or may not be common knowledge, but I kinda think not."
Maggie nodded.
"You can only get pregnant in a certain window of time. It's like five days before you ovulate."
Maggie blinked in surprise.
"Do you know what ovulation is?"
"Ahh—"
"It's when the ovary releases the egg," Liz said gesturing to her abdomen. "Just going super, super basic here, it takes a man's sperm fertilizing that egg to result in…conception."
"That is very scientific," Maggie uttered.
Liz nodded. "It is."
"How do you know when you're—"
Liz smiled that Maggie couldn't quite bring herself to say it. "That's where it becomes mathematic."
"Mathematic," Maggie repeated curiously.
"Yes. First, figure out your normal menstrual cycle. Day one is going to be the first day of your period."
Maggie's eyes widened and she turned to face front. "Go on."
"The last day is the day before your next period starts. Right in the middle of that span of time is when you're ovulating, and the window for conceiving is five days before then until that day."
Maggie looked at her with confusion evident on her face. "Are you saying a woman can…only conceive…some five days in a month?"
"Yes," Liz said with a nod.
"And you're sure of this?"
"Yes." She could have added that anyone who had gone off the pill and didn't want to get pregnant in 'the future' knew it.
A smile flickered on Maggie's lips and then she flicked the reins and started them moving again. "Thank you," she said.
"You're welcome."
Chapter 21
It was late when Wes slipped into Elizabeth's room, and she'd just begun to doze. "There you are," she said sleepily.
"It was a longer day than expected," he replied quietly as he slipped off his coat. He set it on the chair and came over to kiss her before sitting beside her and tugging at a boot.
She touched his arm. "Was it a good day?"
"It was. And yours?"
"I went into the village of Cramerton with Maggie and paid calls."
"Ah." He began unbuttoning his shirt. "Ministering to her flock," he said with a smile.
"It was very rewarding."
He stood and took off his shirt and britches.
"I'd like to know more about Pinegrove," she said.
He placed his clothes on the back of the chair and then came to bed. He already had an erection. "Do you know what I'd like?"
"Hmm. Chocolate cake?"
He got under the covers and kissed her. He ran his hand over her breasts and stomach and back up again, pushing back the covers as he did. "A good guess, but no." The only light came from the fire burning in the hearth, but it was enough to see the need and desire on his face. She was wet and ready for him. "It's something I've been thinking all day," he said in a husky voice as he gripped and caressed her mound.
She slid her foot up, lifting a leg. "That's a good clue, but I might need another."
His fingers slid inside her. He smiled to find her slick with desire. "Have you been thinking about me?"
"Oh, here and there," she teased.
He reached further in, making her groan. "Here and there, huh?"
"Here and there and…oh, there," she bit out, closing her eyes. He was good with those fingers. He was very good with those fingers. "Ahh."
He moved atop her and entered her slowly. He kept his movement steady and smooth as she acclimated. He was watching her face, his own pleasure evident. "Tell me when I can move faster."
Her hands slid over his chest and tweaked his nipples.
"Oh," he said, laughing. "You're ready, then."
"Ready when you are." Her hands moved to his hips and then around to his back and taut ass as he began moving faster. She closed her eyes and got lost in it. She gasped when, in a smooth move, he turned them both over so that she was on top. His hands gripped her hips as she rode him. Her movements were slow at first and then she began to pant and move faster. It was unbelievable how free she felt with him. She felt the beginning of an orgasm and grabbed hold of the headboard. "Wes," she cried. "Oh, my God." Her orgasm pushed him over the edge and he came, too. As she collapsed beside him, it occurred to her how noisy she'd been. It ought to have been embarrassing, but she wasn't embarrassed. She'd never enjoyed making love until now.
When they'd caught their breath, he rolled over to face her. "I decided today," he said. "I'm going to return home."
She looked at with alarm. Why had he said I'm?
"I need to see to some things before we go back."
"When?"
"It might as well be tomorrow. There is no reason to put it off. That is, to put it off more than it has been."
She snuggled close and put a hand on his chest. His heart was still beating fast. "How far is it to Pinegrove?"
"Three days' ride if there are no problems or terrible weather."
"Then you probably won't be back in time for the ball."
He kissed the top of her head. "I don't think so. I'll tell Maggie tomorrow." He paused. "It's just that it's time to find my path."
She puzzled over the statement.
"I let the rebellion dictate my actions, my full attention, but the war is over."
"You haven't talked about your home much."
He stroked her hair. "I know I haven't."
She rose on an elbow to look at him. "Why?"
"Unanswered questions, I suppose. I need to go get the answers."
She could see he was burdened by whatever had remained unsaid.
"May I go and get them and then tell you everything?"
She nodded. "Of course. Do what you need to do."
"I need to tell you. It is possible we will not live at Pinegrove," he said hesitantly.
She frowned curiously. "Why not?"
"I can assure you that you're not marrying a pauper, but I need to go find out about the estate. What belongs to whom." She drew breath to speak, but he held up a hand. "Elizabeth, I have to get answers," he said apologetically.
"All right." She snuggled back to him, wishing she could ease the burden he was carrying. "I love you."
"I love you."
Eunice was seething as she returned to her room. She had waited all evening for Wes to return from town. She'd planned and she'd readied herself and she'd waited. For hours. It was imperative that he fuck her soon or she would watch as her dream turn to ash. Had it already happened? Had it already turned to ash? Wes had gone straight into Elizabeth Gordon's room and they had fucked. Eunice had heard it happening with her ear pressed to the door.
So, Elizabeth Gordon was not such a lady, after all. What she was was an even bigger obstacle than previously thought. One way or another, she had to be taken care of.
Chapter 22
Wes reined in Halcyon when Pinegrove came into view. To the east, flashes of brilliant silver lake showed through towering pines that swayed in the wind. Nothing seemed changed from a distance. A scent of pine filled the air and the breeze felt familiar on his skin. He was home. Or was he? One way or another, he would soon know.
"Good God, Almighty," the older woman cried when she saw Wes ride in. She rose from her seat on the front porch. "Arthur! Come quick!" Tears filled her eyes and she lifted her skirt and went to meet Wes who was dismounting.
Wes's throat was too tight to speak, so he simply embraced the woman who'd helped raise him. "Hello, Inez," he finally managed.
She pulled back, shaking her head and wiping the tears from her face. "Look at you. When I finish having a conniption, I'm going to take you over my knee for not showing your face sooner. Do you know how worried we've been?"
He grinned. "Are you sure you're big enough to take me over your knee? Seems to me, you've gotten smaller since I've been gone."
"Are you well, Wesley?" she asked worriedly. "Why are you limping?"
"I am well. What about you and Arthur?"