A Touch of Passion (boxed set romance bundle)

by Uvi Poznansky

  Smiling, he bent down and lifted her into his arms.

  Henry stood and very formally said, “Blake, sir. Very glad you could come.” Then he reverted to the excited little boy. “Blake, can we go to the wharf and see the ships? Please?”

  “Henry, let Blake sit before you bombard him with questions.” She pointed to the blanket on the ground with food laid out upon it. Roast beef sandwiches, cucumber sandwiches, potato salad, several apples and oranges.”

  His mouth crooked up at the corners in a small smile. “I see Cook got into our stash of oranges. They just came in yesterday. I was going to surprise you.”

  “And so you did, by your presence, not the oranges, though they are a good surprise, as well. Thank you for joining us today. Both children were hoping you would. Coffee, tea, or lemonade?”

  “Coffee. Are you drinking tea now?”

  “Yes, it seems to stay down better than the coffee.”

  “What about food? Can you eat anything?”

  She appreciated his concern. “The cucumber sandwiches are for me. Something light. This won’t last long, the morning sickness I mean. Then I’ll be eating like I may never get to eat again. I’ll gain weight and you’ll be totally repulsed by me.” She shifted on the blanket. “Robert always was. Though he was happy enough when Henry finally got here.”

  “You husband was an ass,” said Blake under his breath, aware that Henry idolized his father and avoided hurting the boy’s feelings.

  Nellie nodded in agreement and handed him his coffee.

  “I could never be repulsed by you, no matter how big you get. You’re carrying my baby. How could I be anything but pleased with you?”

  “That’s very kind, but you haven’t seen me yet. This reminds me, I’ll need to order more dresses to wear as I get bigger.” She brushed a crumb from her skirt. “I also want to give my older clothes away to the needy. Is there someplace I can do that?”

  “Order as many dresses as you want, as often as you want. I don’t care about the money, you know that.” He took a bite of his sandwich and swallowed before talking again. “There is a shanty town just outside the city. Mostly widows and orphans live there but some of the miners live there with their families. I’ll have Otis take your clothing there. I’m sure your donation will be appreciated.”

  “I’ll go with him.”

  Blake shook his head. “I don’t think that would be wise. The conditions there are very poor.”

  “Perhaps there is something I can do to help. We have so much, if we can help others, I think we should.”

  “Nellie,” Blake sighed. “My business is to part the miners from their money, not to help them keep it.”

  “I’m not trying to take away from your business, just to help out the families. Or maybe the widows and orphans.”

  “There is a separate area for widows who have no men to help out. Mining is a dangerous business. There are lots of accidents. Against my better judgment, I’ll have Otis take you later in the week. Will that suffice?”

  “Yes, thank you. I’ll have time to go through my closet and those of the children as well. They grow out of their clothes so quickly, sometimes it looks like their clothes have hardly been worn. I still have all of Violet’s baby clothes, but they will be wonderful for the new babe.” She automatically touched her stomach where the new life was forming.

  He placed his hand over hers. “When do you think our child will be born?”

  “I don’t know for sure.” She pursed her lips, like she always did when she was thinking about something. “I really should see a doctor. I think when we have the dinner party on Saturday, I’ll ask the ladies who they recommend. It will be a way for us to become friends and invariably good for your business.”

  “I need to befriend their husbands not them.”

  “You don’t know much about doing business with married men, do you? If you want these men to approve your plans, that approval would be much easier if their wives are in agreement. And I think they will be. The business you want to open, a family amusement emporium, is unique and very much needed as San Francisco grows.”

  He reached over and placed his hand on top of hers, where it rested on her leg. “You’re amazing. I never thought I could get as lucky as I did when I married you.”

  Heat rose to her cheeks and she looked down at her lap. “Blake you don’t need to say such sweet things to me.”

  “You need to hear sweet things. I doubt your dead husband said sweet things to you, did he?”

  “No, he didn’t. We didn’t actually talk very much. He was gone for more than half of our marriage. He joined the Army in late 1856, just after Henry was born. Because of his father’s status, he was stationed in New York but was only home on weekends. When the war started, he was sent to the Carolinas and I don’t know how many places after that. It was one of the most peaceful times that I had.”

  She stopped and realized she’d always known something was wrong with her marriage, even though she didn’t admit it.

  “Go on, you need to get these feelings out and I need to know what your marriage was like. I don’t want to make the same mistakes.”

  “You couldn’t make those mistakes. You’re not that kind of person.”

  Henry reached for another sandwich and Nellie suddenly realized that he was listening.

  “Henry, take Violet and go play on the swing that James and Otis hung for you children.”

  “Ah, Mama,” he dragged his feet, but took his sister to the swing in the garden. Before long Violet’s shrieks of pleasure were heard through the yard.

  “I didn’t realize that the men put up a swing. I should have thought of that myself,” said Blake.

  “Why would you think about that? You’ve never had children before. I asked if one could be put up so the children would have something to do when they went out to play.” She smiled and gestured toward her playing children. “It’s worked wonderfully. Henry is happy to push Violet for a while and then he takes a turn before she bullies him into pushing her again. She really is the spoiled child.”

  “Not my sweet Violet,” laughed Blake.

  “Yes, your sweet Violet, who is not so sweet when she doesn’t get her way. You’re very good with her. She loves you very much, you know.”

  “I love her, too.” He glanced at the children with fondness in his gaze. “And Henry, as well, but Violet is special. She took to me right away and stole my heart.”

  “She loves you. It’s very important that she has a daddy. She never knew her father. He died without ever seeing her.” Nellie stacked the empty plates to go back to the kitchen. “You are her father and you’re a good one. You do know that, don’t you? And you’ll make a wonderful father to our child, too.”

  “You don’t show yet,” he said softly. “How soon before you begin to?”

  She smoothed her hand over her flat belly. “In a few more weeks probably. I think I got with child the first time we made love or very soon thereafter.”

  “You make a beautiful mother. If we were alone, I’d make love you to right now, right here.”

  “Oh, Blake!” She laughed and waved him off. “Here in the open, surely not. We could be seen by anyone in the house.”

  “That’s what makes it interesting.” He waggled his eyebrows and then winked.

  “Oh, you, rascal,” said Nellie in mock admonishment. Actually the idea of maybe being caught was titillating. “Eat your sandwich. It’s almost nap time for the children and I just might let you join me for a nap as well.”

  “If I join you, we won’t be napping.”

  “Exactly. We can talk if you like.”

  “Talking wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.”

  “Talking or napping, those are your only options, unless you want to go back to work.”

  “Children,” hollered Blake, as he waved them in. “Time for your naps. Let’s go.” He clapped his hands to get them moving.

  Nellie laughed. Having Blake home in
the middle of the day would prove to be great fun. She gathered up the rest of their picnic and carried it inside. The children followed.

  “Henry, read your history book until Violet gets up from her nap.”

  “Yes, Mama.”

  Nellie looked at Blake, “I’ll drop these off with Cook and then meet you in the bedroom after I settle the children.”

  “Let me take that and drop it with Cook,” said Blake, taking the dishes from her.

  Henry stopped in front of Blake. “Have you decided on our trip to see the ships?”

  “It’s going to be a couple of weeks before we can go. But I promise to take you.”

  The boy’s shoulders slumped a little. “Yes, sir.”

  Blake shifted the dishes to one hand and put the other on Henry’s shoulder. “I don’t break my promises. We’ll go two weeks from today.”

  Henry’s eyes brightened. “Yes, sir, two weeks.” He ran off after his little sister.

  Nellie held the door to the kitchen open for Blake. “Thank you, for that,” she said nodding toward Henry’s retreating form.

  “I should have taken him before now.”

  “It doesn’t matter, you’re taking him, made a promise and that’s what he’ll remember.”

  He set the dishes on the counter by the sink.

  Nellie leaned into him then rose up and placed a chaste kiss on his cheek.

  He looked down at her and smiled. “What was that for?”

  “Just because.” She turned and left the kitchen.

  Blake followed.

  ❋

  Nellie settled the children, read Violet a story and kissed Henry before going to her own bedroom. As much as she wanted to make love to Blake, he hadn’t changed his mind about Maddie, and Nellie was not going to back down about this. It was too important.

  She entered her bedroom and saw Blake was already in bed waiting.

  “Glad you could join me, Mrs. Malone.”

  “For a nap? Anytime, husband. It’s going to be a few minutes while I get out of these clothes.”

  Blake hopped out of bed, stark naked and came to her. “Let me help.” He worked on the buttons of her blouse while she unbuttoned her skirt and let it fall to the floor. The rest of her clothes followed.

  Soon, she was as naked as the day she was born and Blake scooped her up in his arms and carried her to bed.

  “You wear too many clothes,” he grumbled.

  “It just makes it that much more exciting when you finally get me out of them.”

  He laid her down in the middle of the bed and started to crawl between her legs.

  “We can’t, Blake. We are just napping.”

  He kissed one of her breasts.

  She pushed him away. “I’m serious. Until you believe me about Maddie, we are not making love. I’m still angry with you.”

  He rolled to his back and spread his arms wide. “So, what? We’re just going to sleep?”

  “Yes. Just sleep.”

  ❋

  Two hours later, Blake walked into his office, whistling.

  “Well, you seem to have enjoyed lunch with your family,” said Nick.

  “You have no idea,” answered Blake.

  Nick cocked an eyebrow. “Maybe you better tell me. What has you so happy you’re whistling?”

  “Fine, if you must know. I have decided I like married life. I like having the children and definitely enjoy Nellie. I just had lunch with my family and then while the children napped Nellie and I, well…believe it or not, we napped, too. Just napped. She’s still mad at me, but even just having her in my arms was heaven.”

  “Ho ho,” laughed Nick from behind his desk. He put down the book he’d been reading. “So you’ve fallen in love with your wife. That didn’t take long.”

  “Don’t be absurd.” Blake sat in his desk chair, across the room from Nick’s desk. “Of course, I haven’t fallen in love.” He waved a hand between them as he shook his head. “Men like you and me, don’t fall in love.”

  “Speak for yourself.” Nick held up his hands. “I fully intend to fall in love and to marry that person. I think you did it backward is all…married her first.”

  “Maybe you should marry before you say any more.” Blake leaned back in his chair. “Marriage isn’t as easy as it appears. Nellie and I have had to make some compromises.”

  “You? Make compromises? I don’t believe it.”

  “Well, it’s different with Nellie. I want to please her. I want her to be happy.”

  “I see. But you don’t want to fall in love with her. Why?”

  “Love is…sticky. It makes you do all sorts of things you wouldn’t do otherwise.” Like take out loans against the farm to buy your new wife all the trappings of money, when you have none. Seeing your father wither away and die, when that same wife leaves for a younger, richer man. “ It makes you go against your rules, it makes you vulnerable. I don’t want to ever be vulnerable.”

  “Okay, that explains everything, except what you want.”

  “I want Nellie, want her happy and want the children content, because she wants that.”

  “But…you don’t love her?”

  “No,” he cracked his knuckles. “Of course not.”

  Nick slowly shook his head. “I don’t understand, but if you’re satisfied that’s all that matters.”

  “Are you coming to the dinner party on Saturday?”

  “Yes, I’ll be there.”

  “Has Maddie switched back with Trixie?”

  “She must have. Trixie’s not talking to me. She says it’s my fault we don’t get to be together anymore. Frankly, I’m relieved. I was ready to end it anyway, so you did me a favor.”

  “Well,” Blake leaned back in his chair and put his hands behind his head. “I’d say I owe you one. Keeping Maddie away from me and Nellie is what’s important to me.” He righted himself and leaned his forearms on the desk. “Very important.”

  “You know,” Nick twirled the pencil in his hand.”I can only keep track of her during work hours. What she does any other time, I have no idea.”

  “I know but I’m with Nellie at night and I have Otis and James with her during the day. She’s safe.”

  “Have you heard anything from the investigator yet?”

  “No. I meet with him tomorrow. He was wiring his colleague in New Orleans and should have some information. Although, after my episode with Maddie this morning, I’m beginning to wonder if Nellie didn’t have the right of it and was telling the truth. I saw a side of Maddie I’ve never seen before.”

  “What do you mean?” asked Nick, leaning forward in his desk chair.

  “She was angry, almost out of control and she was calling Nellie a bitch and blaming her for the fact that we don’t sleep together any more. She paced the office, yelling, gesturing with her hands. And her face…my God…she looked positively possessed. She was scary.”

  “She was just upset. She’ll be fine tonight when she comes in for work. You’ll see.”

  “I hope you’re right. I don’t want to believe that she’s capable of the things Nellie said she was. That I was taken in by her beauty and may have been so wrong about her. It makes me wonder what and who else I’ve been wrong about.”

  Chapter 13

  Nellie gathered all the dresses she’d arrived in San Francisco with, every black day dress she owned, along with the undergarments and hoops that went with them. She did the same for the children’s and for Bertha’s clothing as well. Then she packed it all in crates and had Otis load the carriage and take her to the shanty town.

  The place was worse than she expected. Plain wood buildings and tents lined the streets. There must have been a hundred of them. There was also one church that she could identify. It was the largest building and had a cross on the peak of the roof.

  Entering the plain building, she was spotted by the reverend.

  “Good day, madam. What can I do for you?”

  “Good day, reverend. I’ve brough
t clothing I thought the ladies and children could use. Specifically, your widows and orphans.”

  “That is kind of you Mrs….”

  “Malone. Nellie Malone.”

  He frowned. “Your husband wouldn’t happen to be Blake Malone, would he?”

  “Yes, sir, he is.”

  The reverend’s eyes narrowed and his voice rose. “Your husband, his business and those like it, are the reason many of these people are in such dire straits.”

  “That’s not true, Reverend.” Blake warned me people would treat me this way because of him and his business. So be it. “He does not force anyone to frequent his establishment. The men who do so, do it of their own free will.”

  “He should not be allowed to be in business.”

  Nellie cocked her head and waved her hand between them. “Again we must disagree. There are not enough women to go around, Reverend. My husband provides a service. He is one of many who do so. What would happen to the good women of your flock, faced with the prospect of trying to exist, unmolested, in the midst of thousands of men, hungry for female companionship?”

  The reverend, hmpfted and said, “Let us agree to disagree, shall we, Mrs. Malone? I know the women of my flock will be very grateful for your offerings.”

  Nellie signaled to Otis to bring in the crates of clothing.

  “Where would you like these?” she asked the reverend. “Would back in this corner suffice?”

  “Yes, that will be fine.”

  After all the crates were unloaded, Nellie turned back to the preacher. “If you’ll let me, I’ll be back with food and medicine in a week. You appear to have a great need, sir.”

  “We do and I’ll not turn you away.”

  He was gracious now, having spent his anger on Nellie.

  Nellie held out her hand. “I shall see you in a week, Reverend.”

  He weakly took her hand, almost as if he was afraid some stench would rub off on him. “Thank you, Mrs. Malone.”

  “It is my pleasure, Reverend,”

  Aided by Otis, she climbed back into the carriage and had him take her home. She wanted to hug her children and tell them how much she loved them, and how very lucky they were to have found Blake.