by Diana Ballew
Eden stood frozen, unable to turn away, her shallow breaths fogging up the pane of glass. How could she have been so stupid? She had allowed herself to be manipulated by the scandalous major—used once again while her guard was down. He probably went straight from her bedroom to Trinidad’s to finish what he had started!
“Oh, that snake in the grass,” she murmured. She closed her eyes, remembering how her body welcomed his, opened to him, and how at the moment of her release she would have let the man do whatever he pleased. She could never forget how he had taken her away from all the hurt and pain in her life and into a new realm of pleasure. Thinking back on it now, wasn’t it she who had been writhing in pleasure on the plush oriental carpet? Perhaps she had used him, too.
Trinidad pulled out of Rayce’s arms and rushed toward the portico when Daniel came into view guiding a saddled horse toward Rayce. Instantly, a sense of relief swept through her knowing she would not have to see him today. How could she? Her face would surely give away her feelings of hurt, jealousy, and humiliation.
She dressed quickly, and the moment she opened her bedroom door, the scents of sweet rolls, bacon, and coffee filled her nose. She breathed in the intoxicating blend of aromas before descending the long stairway. With each step, her head throbbed, and she wondered how long she would have to suffer for her brandied sins of the night before.
“Morning Miss,” Trinidad mumbled.
Eden replied with a curt nod and sat at the table with her chin held high.
“Well, look who’s graced us with her presence, and so early in the morning, I might add.” Ann entered the room with a bright smile and took a seat opposite Eden.
Trinidad brought out large plates of food and cups of coffee and quickly left the room.
“What are you doing up so early?” Eden asked.
“Did I hear tell the adorable major has returned?” Ann licked the tip of her finger and pressed a loose ebony bang back in place.
“If he were here, what would you do? Pull him into your bedroom?”
“My heavens. What’s gotten into you this morning?”
“Oh, hush.” Eden scowled and sank to the back of the chair. “You’re out of luck. He’s already gone. I saw Daniel readying his horse a little bit ago. Besides, I thought you were courting that widowed gentleman, Mr. Benton, is it?”
Ann scrunched up her nose. “Oh, I am, and he’s incredibly rich, of course, but he kisses like a little ol’ bullfrog.” She sighed and fluttered her lashes. “But he is sweet on me.”
“Good morning, ladies.” Lucy entered the room appearing fully rested. “I must say, I’m positively famished.”
Eden noticed Lucy had taken her advice and loosened the stays on her corset. With the way her poor baby had been strapped in, it wasn’t surprising Lucy’s appetite had returned.
“Your girl Fifi is just wonderful with the needle, Ann, just like you said. Why, she’s busy as a little bee upstairs sewing extra fabric into my dresses as we speak.”
Eden glared at Ann. “Her name is Sarah.”
Ann stuck out her bottom lip. “But Fifi sounds so exotic and Sarah's just...plain.”
Lucy’s eyes dulled. “But you know I have a sister named Sarah, and she’s anything but plain.”
Ann waved her words off. “Well I once had a childhood friend named Sarah, and she was a dreadful bore. But if you must, Lucy, I’m quite sure Fifi will answer to either.”
Ann’s gaze shifted around the room. “Did either of you hear the noises coming from the third floor last night?”
Lucy's brow knitted together. “No. Not that I recall.”
Eden blushed, recalling how she had been rather tipsy and far too occupied to notice. “I didn't hear anything, either.”
“Well, I suppose I can’t be certain, but I think I heard walking up there. At one point I thought I even heard voices.”
The front door opened, and Daniel entered out of breath. “Lawd, all mighty, ladies. Rebs done moved outta Yorktown and heading toward Williamsburg, and some close to the river not far from here. I was down near the fields, and I saw Reb stragglers come by saying we gotta hold ’em off at Williamsburg or they gonna take Richmond for sure. I told the major. He got on his horse and went to check on things even though the general told him to rest. Lawd, Lawd, he just don’t listen!”
As if on cue, cannon shells echoed in the distance, and all Eden could think about was the man she opened herself up to was riding straight for it.
Given the uneven number of troops on each side, Rayce knew General Johnston and his Confederates had no choice but to evacuate Yorktown. McClellan and his massive Yankee army would be right on their heels once they figured it out, following them right up toward Williamsburg. He had fulfilled each and every mission, so he knew McClellan was working under the false assumption the “immense numbers of men” and the “impregnable nature of their defenses” outclassed him. The very idea the Rebels would evacuate with such massive numbers would never enter his mind.
He couldn’t help but laugh, picturing the dumbfounded look bound to seize McClellan’s face when he found out there would be no massive assault at Yorktown like he had meticulously planned. Given he had finally prepared for the battle he had promised President Lincoln, the idea the enemy would dare evacuate would likely hit him as hard as a bodily blow. “Little Mac” would now be forced to improvise, putting his strategic plans for the grand siege as well as his reputation at risk.
Rayce had been riding for hours. Spotting a smooth flowing creek in the dense woods, he stopped to allow the horse a cool drink. The rumble in his stomach reminded him of the sweet rolls and bacon Trinidad packed hours earlier in his haversack.
He crouched on the creek bank, cupped a handful of water, and doused the dust from his face and neck. He sat, stretched out his legs, and rifled through the canvas bag for the food.
Trinidad. He had never seen her act up like this before. When she came to him with tears in her eyes, barefoot, her lovely face begging him not to leave her, it damn near broke his heart. But she of all people knew just how important these missions were. None of her begging and pleading for him to stay could change the fact he had to go.
He shook his head and sighed. A few months ago, he hadn’t a care in the world. He was fighting in the war—yes, but he had grown accustomed to such a life, as a man must do these days. Now, he had all these damn women to contend with.
Eden. What to do about her?
He knew what he wanted to do to her; that part was easy. When he was away from her, he could think clearly; knew just what he had to do and how to stay in control. But, when he’s with her, damn if that woman didn’t have some kind of control over him. And it’s not just that body of hers, either; the kind of body a man wants to curl up with every night, he conceded. He wanted all of her, body, mind, and soul, and that could only mean trouble for a man like him.
In the past, many of his women had fine qualities, some more than others. Nevertheless, there was always something missing in the package. God knows, he never understood them and their inclination to rein him into domestic oblivion. They certainly never understood him, either, and it had been like pulling teeth trying to convince any of them his lack of commitment stemmed from bad timing. In part, much of what he had told them had been the truth. He didn’t have the time, energy, or the inclination to pursue a long relationship. Now, with the war going on, timing couldn’t possibly be worse, and yet, it all felt different with Eden. He thought about her nonstop. The woman was smart and beautiful—pure fire and ice, and the play between the two piqued his interest as no other women ever had. Somehow, she had managed to fill the void—the empty vessel of darkness consuming him for so long, and he had never seen it coming. At times, he could see himself being with her—really being with her. She was the package he’d been waiting for.
He lowered his head.
Bad timing.
A sudden noise rustled in the brush. He wedged the remaining bite of bacon in his
mouth and slid like a snake on his belly behind a thick oak tree.
“So, what a we got here? Come here, you big horsy. Come to ol’ George,” the man said.
Rayce peered around the trunk and saw a Yankee private slowly reaching for the reins of his horse. Without a sound, he scanned the area, noting the private appeared to be alone.
Damn Yank deserter. He pulled his Colt revolver from the holster, cocked it, and aimed.
The man grabbed hold of the leather reins. “That there's a good horse. Good boy,” he said in a low, soothing tone.
As fast as a shot, Rayce came from behind the tree and planted the gun at the Yankee’s skull. “Hey, you Yankee son of a bitch!”
The wide-eyed Yank flinched. “Where the hell did you come from?”
“Never mind that, you son of a bitch. Give me back my damn horse, or I promise, you're a dead man.”
Chapter 10
Ann stormed into the manor and tossed her riding gloves on the entry table. “Eden! Lucy! Where are you?”
Eden slammed her book shut and scrambled up from the divan “My goodness, hush. Lucy’s sleeping.”
Ann turned toward her voice and marched into the parlor, out of breath. “Thank heavens—there you are. I’m just beside myself! ”
“For pity’s sake. What’s all the fuss about?”
“Oh, Eden, Mr. Benton received a letter today, and the news is simply awful.”
“All right...All right.” Eden guided her breathless stepmother to the divan. “Now, just calm yourself and tell me what’s happening.”
Ann sniffed into her handkerchief and sank into the divan. “I just knew when President Davis sent his family to North Carolina more bad news would follow. I just knew it.”
Eden frowned and sat next to her. “What have you heard?”
“Well, I was out riding with Mr. Benton, and he told me our wonderful General Johnston had to retreat within three miles of Richmond. They’re getting closer. The Yankees are coming Eden, I just know it!”
Three miles. Eden’s stomach flip-flopped. Hearing about Yorktown’s evacuation earlier had been troubling enough, and Lord knows her heart broke when the Rebels scuttled their beloved ironclad warship, Virginia, and ran her aground. But this demoralizing news put everything into perspective, shedding new light on the very real threat to their survival.
She bit on her bottom lip, staring at her stepmother, trying to absorb the news without dissolving into a puddle of tears.
“Oh, Eden. Will said that nasty Yankee general has a huge army. He plans to stay put at Benton Mansion no matter what happens and hold his ground. He said he’ll shoot any Yankee that sets foot in his home. But, what about us? What are we going to do?”
Good Lord, the last thing she needed was Ann falling apart. With the way she could carry on hysterically, she’d have the entire household panicked.
She sat up tall and patted her stepmother’s hand, affectionately. “Now calm yourself, for heaven’s sake. We’ll think of something.”
A tear dripped down Ann’s cheek. She sniffed and gazed into Eden’s eyes. “Really? Do you think so?”
“Yes...yes, I promise.” Eden stood and guided Ann by the elbow to the entry. “Now you go upstairs and check on Lucy. We’ll come up with something when the time comes.”
Eden’s mind raced in all directions. She had hoped the fighting had settled down since General McClellan’s push by sea was no longer a threat. Somehow, his army had managed to continue their pursuit on land and get within a few miles of the Confederate capitol. It was one thing with all the wandering stragglers trespassing on the grounds of Hampton Manor, but to have the massive Yankee army showing up at their doorstep was nothing less than terrifying.
Already, on more nights than she cared to count, deserters and laggards from both armies found their way to the manor under the cover of darkness. All too often, the men would break into the smokehouse or steal a chicken or two from the pens and raid the garden beds, before Daniel or Joseph came out with the shotgun.
Once, during the bright light of midday, while both men were occupied in the fields, a band of Yankees came by and quickly confiscated the cows, pigs, and horses, and if she hadn’t run outside with a musket aimed at the captain’s groin, they certainly would have taken more. Luckily, there were still some hidden bushels of grains, bacon, and hams in the smokehouse, along with a good supply of root vegetables left in the cellar. With the year’s supply of smokehouse meats and chickens dwindling, it was beginning to look like they would soon have to rely on Trinidad’s talent for turning just about anything into a hearty meal.
She walked to the front windows and stared blankly outside. Yes, we’ll think of something.
Rain had fallen steadily during the past weeks keeping Eden busier than usual. The flooded marshy tidelands had turned small creek beds into toxic swamps. As the humidity climbed with the sizzling Virginia heat, insects, poisonous snakes, and fevers flourished from the stagnant waters. Dysentery, typhoid, and pneumonia were common illnesses along the river, showing little mercy to the young and old.
Once word spread among the field hands, neighbors from nearby farms came in search of her nursing care. The small supply of medical supplies had dwindled to a worrisome level, but Will Benton rummaged through his home and brought her everything he could find. The extra bandages and surgical needles helped with injuries, and the turpentine and quinine aided just about everything else. No chloroform was available, but thanks to the major’s interest in spirits, she had a good supply of whiskey and brandy that came in handy as a cough suppressant for the cases of pneumonia she had treated and as a painkiller when Hetty and Daniel's oldest son required his injured knee stitched back together.
Weeks earlier, she had requested Trinidad and Ann stay close to the main house and keep a watchful eye on Lucy, who grew larger and more fatigued each day as her time grew near.
Lucy longed for Isaac and wrote him daily. He managed one short letter in return, and Eden was relieved to learn he and Jimmy were alive, having survived the relentless marching and fighting in the Shenandoah Valley under the resilient General Jackson, with only minor bumps and scrapes.
“Hetty, I need some fresh water. Could you send Daniel down with the pitcher?” Eden asked, having just examined her patient.
“Like I said, Mrs. Lewis, I want you to rest, and I’m going to give you this tonic of herbs, molasses, and vinegar for the cough. The fever should break soon. Also—”
The swift knock at the door caught Eden by surprise.
“Miss Eden!”
Before she could answer, Sarah bolted through the door with brown eyes as round as baby plums, her hands splayed across her chest as she struggled to catch her breath.
“Miss Eden! Mrs. Blair’s yellin’ at me, she said, ‘Fifi, you go and get Miss Eden—now hurry’, and Miss Lucy’s upstairs hollerin’ something about her baby.”
“I’ll...I’ll be right there.” Eden’s gaze shifted between Mrs. Lewis and Sarah. “Run along and tell them I‘m coming.”
The servant girl nodded. “Yes’m.”
Eden turned back to her patient. “If you have any more trouble, or you’re not feeling better within a week, you be sure to call on me again, you hear?”
“Thank you, Miss Blair. I surely will.” Mrs. Lewis smiled. “I’ll be on my way now. I can see you're mighty busy.”
“All right, and you remember what I told you about getting extra rest.”
“I certainly will. Goodbye, now.”
Daniel assisted Mrs. Lewis to her buggy and driver, while Eden and Hetty headed for the manor.
Ann greeted them at the door and tossed her hands in the air. “Oh, good heavens—there you are. I don’t know what’s going on with Lucy.”
“Has something happened?” Eden hastened past her stepmother to the water bowl and scrubbed her hands with a brush and lard soap.
Ann followed on Eden’s heels, chattering like a wet blue jay. “Well, she was in bed, and we we
re playing cards, like we always do, and I said, ‘Lucy, I think you just had some kind of accident because the bed's as wet as a duck’s feathered behind.’ And then she said, ‘It’s too early!’ and started yelling at me to go find you.”
Eden glanced at Hetty. “Her water must have broken.”
Hetty nodded and gave her a linen hand towel.
Eden’s pulse quickened, her mind snapping to attention, thinking about the preparation involved in bringing a healthy baby into the world. She turned to Hetty. “Run and fetch a pitcher of fresh water.”
Eden dried her hands on the towel, her gaze shifting around the room. She turned to Sarah. “Go fetch a small blanket, clean cloths, and the salve from the outbuilding.” She grabbed her stepmother’s arm. “Ann, you're coming with me.”
“What!” Ann squealed.
Eden snatched her by the dress sleeve and dragged her up the stairs. They entered Lucy’s room where Trinidad sat in the bedside chair, her eyes closed, gently stroking Lucy’s arm and humming softly. Lucy lay quiet and appeared comforted by the servant’s low, mesmerizing voice.
What is it with that woman?
Upon seeing Eden, Lucy snapped back to reality. “Oh, thank heavens you're here—I think something's wrong!”
Eden looked at Trinidad. The servant’s composed manner managed to chill the room. “Excuse us, Trinidad. You’re dismissed.”
The servant lifted her chin and stared directly into Eden‘s eyes. “If I am dismissed, then I shall prepare dinner.” She rose haughtily from the chair. “Let me know if I can be of help.”
“What do you suppose is with her?” Ann mumbled.
Eden watched Trinidad exit the room, her gaze narrowing in on the sensual sashay of the woman’s willowy hips as she left the room.