by Jewel Adams
Clenching her jaw down she didn’t like the possibility, but then what choice did she have? Common sense told her no one could know. Heaven help her--somehow she must keep the secret if she wanted to survive. “I do, here or there, and I will.”
Feeling as settled as she could be with what she now accepted as her new reality she oddly found some humor. “And I thought he was a nut… Oh, Cassie he is the only sanity you have in this world.”
She couldn’t make herself voice all the problems she suddenly started to think about. Thankfully, someone came into the room sparing her the impossible task.
The girl Blaine spoke to downstairs. Was she his sister?
She is very pretty girl with soft brown eyes and hair the same chestnut color. Only the sun turned Blaine’s gold. Cassie might have been an inch or so taller at five four than his sister. She could see a resemblance to Blaine in the aristocratic bearing of the woman. Brother and sister alike seemed to hold their pride as armor. Frowning, Cassie sensed the girl held trouble behind those kind eyes.
“Alisa, isn’t it?”
“Yes, how are you?”
“Better. I am sorry for the intrusion.”
“Nonsense, this is Blaine’s home.”
The girl must have seen her surprise but neither broached the subject, making Cassie wondered if they just touched on the problem. Cassie thought it strange that Blaine never mentioned his home; the slip didn’t fit the open manner he used with her. “Alisa, could you tell me something?”
“Certainly.”
“What day is it?”
“Blaine said you were very ill. It is Friday.”
“And the date?” Cassie held her breath. The girl wasn’t the type to lie.
A little taken back by the question the girl must have decided Cassie’s illness left her very confused. “July second, 1784.”
“Washington is the president?”
“Well, we all think he should be and hope it will come to pass. See, you are remembering. It will all come back. Blaine is so worried.”
“I’m sorry. I’m tired.” Afraid of what the girl might see in her it seemed the best excuse.
“I will tell them you are sleeping.”
She tried to control herself until his sister left. “Alisa thank you for understanding.”
“Just get better Cassie.”
Closing her eyes the shut door muffled out the hushed voices in the hall, Cassie couldn’t hold back the tears any longer.
~*~
Blaine felt the explosion coming. At least Alisa kept mother and Gallagher away so he could talk to the doctor. Believing Cassie to be his fiancé finally brought the man around. Thankfully his judgment was no longer affected by prejudice against her status.
“She suffered a severe shock probably from the incident when she received the injury.”
“But she seemed to have gotten over any fears.”
“A delayed reaction, sometimes it happens that way, it should pass soon enough.”
“And travel. How long before she can ride?”
“The lady is strong, as long as the journey isn’t overly rough, the wound shouldn’t open. I’d say it is her decision.”
The answer wasn’t palatable, but better than he expected. Blaine didn’t believe Cassie’s regression today had anything to do with the doctor’s conclusion. Something was going on inside that pretty head of hers and Blaine wanted to find out the truth. Whatever kept scaring her must be stopped!
It would have been too much to hope that the good doctor left without conversing with Gallagher.
“Mr. and Mrs. Gallagher, you will be relieved to know your son’s fiancé will recover.”
His mother’s sharp intake of air hardly surpassed her husband’s red-faced stammering. All the pretenses fell away when the door closed behind the doctor’s departure.
“What exactly are you up to? I heard how that strumpet came to be in your company.”
To her credit, his mother stepped between them ending Blaine’s advance. “John, I think you may have misunderstood.”
Vacating this place with Cassie and his sister wouldn’t come any too soon. Blaine could sense the man’s fear mounting.
“I tell you he is up to something, passing her off as his fiancé. Hogwash! You take her and get out of my house.”
“Up to? Mother, maybe you best mention the law to your new husband because I have every intention of remaining in--my house until I decide otherwise.”
“Why you…”
“John please…Blaine why must you do this?”
“Ah mother doesn’t a son usually expect a warm welcome after a year at sea. Don’t look so worried I haven’t gotten that since I turned sixteen.”
Alisa’s gasp smothered the one from the top of the stairs. The large blue eyes couldn’t tear themselves away from the scene below her. Coming to ask the girl for tea or something to take the cotton out of her throat, Cassie didn’t mean to intrude. Discovering that the heated discussion centered on her made it impossible to go back to the room. Biting her lip Cassie took a deep breath to still the urge to go down there and defend herself. The questions it might create would lead to wanted answers. Sadly, she doubted she could give a believable one at this point.
What worried her more is the position her presence seemed to have put the Captain in with his family. Still in a shaky state, it became obvious to her exactly what transpired between the doctor and Blaine. More than just clothes and transportation were different in his world. To go down and deny the status he deliberately used concerning her could be disastrous. She sucked in her breath over the thunderous spark in those green eyes of his that said her interference wouldn’t be appreciated. Holding her tongue, yet unable to leave, she edged back into the shadows. Never an eavesdropper she stubbornly told herself curiosity had nothing to do with it. Having determined her desperate situation whatever was spoken here could be vital to her existence!
“You always were a cold child.”
“A child only gives what he receives. But we have both known that for some time.”
“You are not welcomed here.”
“I never was, but unfortunately I am here, and unless you would like me to make it a permanent condition…keep your dog away from me.”
“Elizabeth, how dare you let him talk to you like that? And what are we to tell our neighbors about that…her?”
Walking past his mother, Blaine came up in the man’s face. Pushing Gallagher, back against the wall, Blaine refused his attempt to escape his vicious attack. Lifting him to his toes by his coat jacket, “I suggest you tell them, my fiancé and I are your beloved guests! Should you have a problem with that, I will see you are personally run out of town on a rail…for the stealing thief you are.”
Blaine’s threat paled the shaking idiot. Disgusted, Blaine released him, letting him slide down the wall to his knees in a blubbering heap.
His mother’s glaring gaze said it all. Sadly, there were no feelings left for the woman. “Keep him out of my sight.”
Lips pressed, she nodded in burning understanding.
Turning away before his revulsion made him lose what little control he retained, “Alisa?”
“Yes, Blaine, I’m coming.”
“Alisa!” Their mother’s cry left him cold. Holding his rage back, Alisa needed to do this alone.
“I will be leaving with Blaine and his fiancé, mother. I cannot tolerate this life any longer. You didn’t have to marry him…you didn’t, and I am sorry for you.”
“Elizabeth, you…”
“Oh, shut up, John!”
Holding out his hand to his sister, he squeezed it when she came to him. Looking back at his mother helping Gallagher to his feet, “Mother, don’t take my threats lightly…keep him away until we are gone.”
Nodding, the stern glare never showed the slightest warmth or sorrow over the irrevocable loss of her children.
Outside his room, where he’d placed Cassie, he said, “Alisa, we must leave t
his place as soon as Cassie is able. I am sorry you witnessed that.”
“I’m not Blaine. They stole everything from you.” Smiling up into his concerned gaze, “But you never wanted father’s holdings, did you?”
Shaking his head, “No, it was his. I needed to make my own way. Father and I never did think alike, but he understood how I felt.”
“He was proud of you, he told me so before he died.”
“I know…What happened here Alisa? Why would she marry something like that? She must have known I wouldn’t have questioned the inheritance.”
“I think she was afraid to be alone. It is ironic, she never cared to be around us, and yet, she marries so she has someone…anyone?”
“We don’t need to stay and watch what happens.”
“He is ruining everything. He drinks and he’s gambled half the line away to cards.”
“Then it seems justice is taking its own course. You can’t help her anymore, little sister.”
Hugging him in assurance, “I already like, Cassie.”
She knew him too well. “She needs a friend.”
“Then she won’t need to look any further. She is different. Where is she from?”
“I don’t know, but I intend to find out.” His answer made Alisa’s thin brow rise.
“I think maybe you best tell the lady, she is now your fiancé. Mother may question her.”
His sister’s acceptance over what she knew he did drew his relief. Eyeing the bedroom door in concern, Blaine didn’t think the girl inside would be as understanding.
https://www.amazon.com/Jewel-Adams/e/B0056QBXRW/
Look for Falling in Time in the fall of 2017
Jewel Adams’ Current Releases
SAVAGE DESTINY-- The Story of Cali and Blackhawk--Historic Indian White Captive Romance
MOONDOCK -- Fantasy Romance
CREOLE BLUES -- Contemporary Erotic Romance
PINKY SWEAR -- Contemporary Romance
CATCHING SHADOWS -- Gothic/Time Travel Erotic Romance
AFTERNOON DELIGHTS--Erotic Romance Collection
UNDERCOVER LOVE--Erotic Romance
HELL TO HEAVEN--Romance Contemporary
COWBOY LOV’N--Erotic Romance Collection
VAMPIRE LUST--Erotic Romance Collection
LOVE IN TIME SERIES – Book One – Sails in Time, Coming Summer 2017
About the Author
Jewel Adams - Best Selling Author of Romance with a Touch of Spice!
The last few years have certainly seen changes for Jewel. An outstanding author of over 15 novels and novellas, she will be the first to tell you that the Romance genre is thriving here on the internet. As an author, Jewel found the freedom to take her love of romance fiction beyond the established barriers. Danger, love, tears and romance; Jewel’s erotic and sensual romance Time Travels, Gothic, Paranormal, Fantasy, Westerns and Contemporary Romances will take you on a thrilling journey sparked with adventure, and fill your lifetime with the love that can cross centuries and worlds.
Be sure to look for her new releases and news at the following sites:
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