Blake talked as they rode back to his home and they parted good friends again. Now he had to tame a wild cat and he knew it wouldn’t be easy.
Casey huffed and cursed all the way up the stairs. She was glad everyone but the butler was abed and she practically bit his head off when he offered to help her with her shawl and gloves. Once in her room she discarded her clothes leaving them in a pile on the floor. “The maid would get them in the morning,” she grumbled to herself, knowing all to well that she was being unfair to the help. She’d never treated anyone like that before, taking out her anger on people that she shouldn’t.
Oooo! Blake made me so... so...!
“Casey! I’m coming in!”
She gasped and threw the blanket over her head. What was she thinking? Trying to keep him out would be like trying to take a pork chop from a wolf. Impossible. Blake didn’t even knock or wait for her acknowledgment. He entered and closed the door behind him and she heard the click as he locked it. She was huddled under the blanket and by the time he reached the bed, she hoped his ears were burning from her colorful language. He smacked her on the rump causing her to yelp and she called him more names.
“I’m in no mood for your foolishness, pregnant or not!”
“Go away,” she sniffled. “Go back to that hussy with the big... Oh!”
The covers were roughly pulled from her grip and she had not even bothered to put on a nightgown. Could her cheeks feel any hotter? His eyes raked her nude body boldly and without saying a word, he undressed and climbed in with her.
“Sweetheart, I’m not about to apologize for doing nothing wrong, but I’m definitely going to show you the error of your foolish ways. He kissed the tip of her nose, then her eyes, and finally, he kissed her mouth hungrily. She moaned, but she also held her body ridged, fighting him. Blake took the challenge and his lips burned a trail down until his lips touched a nipple letting his tongue caress it until it swelled making her shiver.
“Do you still believe I’m interested in an old flame?”
Casey dug her heel into the mattress.
What was his question? Something about a flame. Yes, she was on fire.
“Yes,” she gasped. Why couldn’t she resist him?
Blake looked up at her and quirked a brow. “Still stubborn, I see.” His lips traveled lower, and he placed butterfly kisses on her stomach as his hand searched for pleasure points. “Do you think if a man can make your body sing, he needs any other woman?”
Why was he talking so much, especially about other women? Damn, she should throw him out of her bed. But she couldn’t she loved him too much. Had she no shame? Hell noooo! His lips were kissing her inner thighs, she was quivering all over.
“Ohhh! Blake. Please?”
“Please what?” But he didn’t wait for her answer and his tongue probed into that secret place casing her to explode with waves and waves of ecstasy. She nearly pulled every hair out of his head, clutching and yanking at it. He returned to her mouth and kissed her again. “Do you still believe I do not love you?” She looked at him feeling her face on fire and her breathing was labored. He answered his own question for her. “You silly goose, I should’ve spanked you instead of loving you. You ran out before I had a chance to give you something.”
He left her for a moment and pulled the box out of his pants pocket. When he returned, he knelt on the bed and placed a beautiful ring onto her finger. “I should have my head examined, but will you marry me?” Casey’s reply was a bucket of tears.
THIRTY-TWO
Casey wanted to get married as soon as possible, since she was entering her fifth month, but Liana wouldn’t hear of it. Her only son was to have a grand wedding. And that was that. She barked her objections to Blake that day who just said, “Mother might not have many days left, I’d like to make her happy.” With that, his whole face spread into one of his most charming smiles, disarming her completely.
Well that was down right unfair of him!
But she made Blake pay for that.
“So you think you can just smile at me and I’ll melt like a candle, huh?” She purred, her deep voice becoming huskier and it was his turn to melt. She knew when she made her voice sultry it always made him lose all control of his senses, as well as other parts of his anatomy. Casey began running her palm under his shirt and she notice he was becoming more uncomfortable by the minute.
“Little tease, so you want to play dirty, huh?” He began unbuttoning her cotton dress, purposely rubbing his knuckles between her breasts.
“Oh, Blake,” she quivered, “not here in the den. Someone might come in.” She wanted him but she didn’t want to be caught in a compromising position.
“You started it.” His voice sounded like a child’s, but his kiss was that of a lustful, hungry man. They groaned together and she didn’t know where her breath stopped and his began. Picking her up, he carried her to his room.
She giggled, feeling naughty. “It’s the middle of the day.”
“Are you afraid that someone will tattle on us? We’re not children, you know.”
She would have loved to debate that remark but she was too excited with anticipation.
“Your mother gave us separate room, so I got the message that she wanted us to stay away from each other until we are legally man and wife. We are under her roof and I think we should respect her wishes. It’s not right, especially with the sun out,” she stated weakly.
Blake threw back his head and roared with laughter. “You’d have to be blind not to notice your belly. I think the damage is done, my sweet. Mother knows I sneak into your room.”
“Oh, so now I’m damaged goods.” Casey pouted and slapped him playfully.
Blake placed her feet on the plush carpet and pulled her dress off her shoulders exposing her breasts then proceeded to take one of her rosy pearls between his teeth and tickled it with his hot tongue. It sent sweet sensations clear down to her toes. Her core became damp with the familiar feelings he always stirred in her.
“Does this feel wrong?” he asked, his eyes darkening with passion, his voice heavy with want as he paid homage to the other nipple.
“Nooo,” she gasped in delight. “But---”
“No buts.” he stripped her before she could utter another objection.
Casey couldn’t think of one single reason why she should object.
A seamstress, along with many bolts of beautiful fine satins, silks, and laces arrived at the plantation one day. Casey had never seen the likes of such marvelous fabrics. Liana sat in her wing chair and pointed to this and that, never once blinking or stopping to think, she seemed to know just what she wanted and spent no time idling to make up her mind.
A soft cream silk was chosen for the gown, trimmed with Swiss lace and seed pearls. It all took Casey’s breath away, thinking Liana was spending too much on her. But she didn’t utter a sound remembering Blake’s warning on the subject of protesting, or objecting about anything his mother was doing for her. His mother was delighted and overjoyed to be able to plan and host this wedding, but she still didn’t feel right. She held her tongue, especially after seeing how Liana’s eyes lit up with excitement. By the end of the day, Casey was exhausted just watching all the preparations that were taking place.
She was measured here and there and was told by the seamstress, to her mortification, that a dress would be designed to hide her rounded belly. It would have a high waist and fall in pleats down the front; no one would ever guess she was with child. This she was promised by the little lady with the tape measure in her mouth. She looked down at her stomach and almost laughed out loud.
Ha! Was she kidding or was she blind? No amount of material could hide the fact that she was entering her six month.
All this preparing for a big wedding was taking too long and it told on her nerves. She’d have the baby before she walked down the isle. To make matters worse, the seamstress took ill, so the gown was not ready for the blessed event; the wedding was moved ahead two
weeks. Casey continued to fuss and gripe that she’d only wanted to be wed before the baby popped out. But Liana was adamant and promised her she had nothing to worry about; the wedding would go on as planned now that the seamstress was well again. Of course, the dress had to be altered. Now she was gaining too much weight and to fast.
Finally the day of the wedding the house was a bustle of excitement and chaos only adding to Casey’s nerves. Servants scooted here and there; dozens of flowers arrived and perfumed the vestibule like a garden. The band was rehearsing in the large living room as delicious, mixed aromas of cooking food filtered through the house. Even the sun smiled down on her that day. It was all too good to be true. This was the thought that was going through her head as Maggie was arranging her glorious flaxen hair in ringlets, to be adorned with pink and yellow rose buds; her favorite.
Casey couldn’t contain the butterflies that fluttered in her stomach. She wiggled in the chair making it difficult for Maggie to finish her job. She still couldn’t get used to having someone fuss and dress her. Though, she had poo-pooed the idea of having a maid around at first, she loved the young Negro girl, whose father was from England and mother from Africa. This was another of Liana’s gifts she had to accept, like it or not.
“Miz, Casey.” Maggie clutched the brush against her chest. “Yo’ sho’ do looks like a princess. Ah so happy fer yo’ mah’ryin’ de most handsome man.” The servant reached down between the bosoms of her dress. “Heah,” she handed her a tiny glass object. “De lady of de house gives me dis puhfume fer yo’all to wheah.”
Casey accepted it and twisted off the crystal top to smell the scent of roses. “Thank you, Mag Pie.” She dabbed behind her ears and between her breasts. Her smile broadened with mischief, anticipating her wedding night. She went to the window and noticed for the first time that the sun had disappeared behind threatening clouds. A storm was brewing.
“Oh, no, it looks like rain,” she sighed.
“Mah mammy says rain is good luck, fer bride.”
Casey bit her thumb nail not liking the looks of the sky. The sun had deserted her and to her dismay, a lightning bolt flashed making her jump back. “Well, if you mother is right, it looks as if I will have tons of good luck. It’s starting to rain buckets out there.” Her voice didn’t hide the disappointment that flowed through her and her mouth formed a horseshoe that reflected in the window.
As it turned out, Maggie’s mother had been wrong. It was the worst day in Casey’s life and in the little town in Georgia. The storm flooded all roads, making them impassable to use. Trees and weak structures were blown down as Mother Nature spilled her fury against the town of Brunswick and Casey’s wedding day. Without a preacher and guests, there was no marriage. The servants and band members were invited to eat the food least it spoil. Her fiancé tried everything he knew to brighten her spirits, but to no avail. She left her wedding gown in a silken puddle on the floor and crawled into bed.
It was weeks before the roads were passable and the destruction cleared. Blake was out every day helping his neighbors who were less fortunate and lost their homes. His cotton crop was ruined, but this setback did not land them in the poor house. His father’s trust fund left him with plenty of money to plant again. Some of his friends were not as lucky. And Casey’s black mood was not helping him much and made him lose his temper one night. He was tired of seeing her pouting and feeling self-pity. She hadn’t lost as much as some folks and he had told her so in no uncertain terms.
“You, young lady should be thankful that you still have a roof over your head. A spoiled wedding day cannot compare to what I saw out there. Come with me tomorrow and see for yourself how lucky you are.”
Blake left her standing in her room in disbelief but after sulking awhile, she came out and apologize claiming that he was right. The next day his fiancée brought food to the less fortunate and he made amends for his sharpness. She accepted and they made up in bed that night.
As days turned into weeks, his mother had taken to her bed, but insisted on having another wedding. By now his bride-to-be was almost in her eight month. She agreed, but this time the ceremony would take place with just a few neighbors and Maggie as her maid of honor. It was all set. Her dress had been altered, but no amount of added material could hide the fact that she was pregnant. Very pregnant.
Casey told him that she no longer cared. She was getting married at last. As soon as she reached his side, she doubled over and he knew a powerful twinge had ripped through belly. She gasped and her water broke before horrified eyes.
She groaned, “This couldn’t be happening!”
“Nooo! Put me down, you big oaf! I don’t want to go upstairs. I want to get mar... Ouch!” Casey clutched her belly, her face contorted with pain.
Blake didn’t care what she wanted and ignored her caterwauling. This shouldn’t be happening it was too soon; his stomach knotted in fear. Something was wrong, but you wouldn’t think so the way she was carrying on and worrying about being hitched legally. Damn her pig-headedness.
“Damn these petticoats,” he groused almost dropping the struggling bundle.
“Quit squirming, or we’ll both land on the floor,” he scolded, not caring how gruff he sounded. “What’s wrong with you, anyway? You care so little about your own welfare and the baby’s.”
If she weren’t in pain, he would have inflicted some on her cute bottom. God, he had a hard time gripping her and staggered forward nearly tripping on the yards of material. In an awkward fashion, he carried her upstairs, nearly dropping her half way up when she screamed in pain, nearly deafening him.
“Please, Blake I’m all right. Please, I want to get married.” She stared beseechingly into
his eyes with a frozen plea, her face flush and anxious. “Pleeeease. Ohhh!” She convulsed, clutching her stomach.
“Hell no!” he snapped.
She shuddered and took a deep breath. “It won’t take long, just a few minutes,” she persisted.
“Woman, if you value your hide, you better shut your trap!” This was utter nonsense.
Her eyes bugged opened. “How dare you?”
“I dare.”
But the stubborn mother-to-be was not to put off by his temper.
“Preacher Gehrsitz!” she hollered, causing Blake’s ears to tingle and ring again. “Come up here! I won’t let my baby be born a bastard!” she yelped through another pain and Blake rolled his eyes and prayed for strength.
Every guest heard her announcement; gasps and murmurs followed. Liana scanned the room knowing by the guest’s facial expressions that an uncomfortable atmosphere was felt by all, especially her. Though it was no secret Casey was breeding, they all gazed at her as she sat mortified on the sofa. Earlier, she had been well enough to be carried down for the wedding, now she was fanning her face. She loved that child dearly, but the girl was different and difficult to be sure. She couldn’t help but smile behind the fan. Her stubborn son had met his match.
“Preacher!” The man of the cloth’s name was yelled out again from upstairs. The deep voice was no other than her future daughter-in-law’s; no surprise to Liana and everyone. That one was certainly steadfast, she thought. She looked up at the poor preacher, who not knowing what to do tugged at his white collar. Poor man, he was flabbergasted and people were looking from him, to her.
“Go on preacher,” Liana said. “That girl wants to get married and married she will be.”
The preacher nodded meekly and went up stairs.
“You go too,” she pointed to Maggie. “They’ll need all the help they can get.” The black girl’s face paled.
“But… but, Ah knows nothin’ about dis.”
“Well, then I guess it’s about time you learn. And go fetch Mirabel, she’s birthed a few in her time.”
“Yes’um. Do Ah ost her to boil watuh?”
“No, they make the men do that just to keep them busy,” informed Liana.
Maggie scooted out and did her mistress�
� biding, wringing her hands nervously. Liana had to smile again hearing the black servant mumbling to herself that she would probably faint dead away, anyway.
Mirabel had heard all the screaming and commotion and was on her way out of the kitchen when she bumped into Maggie. It took her a few seconds to understand the girl’s nervous gibberish and then she ran with the young maid on her heels. By the time the preacher entered the room, she and Maggie were not far behind. A tad breathless, Mirabel came to a quick stop when she saw two men in the room and Maggie bumped into her.
“Out of my way,” she ordered trying to fill her lungs with much needed air. “Everyone out!” she shouted and rolled up her sleeves. “C’mon, get! Except you,” she grabbed the nervous Negro girl by her sash. “You stay.” She had almost made it out the door.
“Me?” Maggie gulped.
“Come, come.” Mirabel practically dragged the maid over to the bed. She pushed past the preacher, her hand flying as if she was shooing away insects. “Leave us, gentlemen!” she bellowed. The preacher looked as if he was glad to go, but the woman in labor stopped him short.
“No stay Preacher Gehrsitz! I’m going to get married one way or another.”
“Humph! Young lady this is no place for men.” Mirabel waved a scolding finger at the mother-to-be.
Casey shook her head unbending. The pink and yellow rose buds flew out of her hair and some of her ringlets fell down. “I don’t care. They stay.”
Mirabel looked at Master Blake for help, but he just shrugged. That action told her that he
had no control over the matter, and that was that. She rolled her eyes and blessed herself.
“Then the men must turn their backs while Maggie and me undress you,” she said, her arms akimbo, her back stiff and her mind made up. End of argument. So while the men’s backs were turned, she undressed and put Miss Casey into a cotton nightgown. All the time she cursed and wailed in pain.
Love by Dawn Page 21