So Fair a Lady (Daughters of His Kingdom Book 1)

by Amber Lynn Perry

  He winked and his smile softened, but not enough to soothe the waves of Eliza’s embarrassment that crashed against her. She sat up straight and pressed her hand to her chest as she tried to calm the rapid thumping of her heart.

  Thomas pointed out the cave with a tilt to his voice that announced his teasing. “You could have been killed.”

  His winsome smile almost took away the shame. Almost. “I’m glad you were both so entertained.” She stood and brushed off her stiff skirts, attempting to appear as casual as possible.

  Kitty continued her playful snicker. Despite her humiliation, Eliza couldn’t help but be grateful. God knew her fear of those wretched creatures—as ridiculous a fear as it was. Perhaps He’d sent it there to simply bring a smile to Kitty’s face. If that were the case, it was well worth the terror.

  Thomas stood and looked over at her as he slipped his pistol back in place at his side. A jovial smirk spread across his handsome mouth.

  “So, you don’t care for squirrels, I take it.” He flashed his straight white teeth when he laughed again.

  “Oh no, she doesn’t.” Kitty answered, standing and brushing off her skirts as well.

  Pursing her lips, Eliza sent her sister a look that said, “That’s enough.” Wisely, Kitty complied, but not before her face bloomed into another taunting grin. Eliza started to walk out of the cave when Thomas called after her.

  “Where do you think you’re going?”

  She looked at him with cocked brows and lowered her chin. Did she have to say it and complete her utter humiliation?

  His face reddened. “Oh, well . . . don’t go too far.”

  She nodded and walked out, hearing from behind her the two of them laughing and discussing the hilarity they’d just witnessed.

  Mortifying! She buried her face in her hands as she walked.

  That dreadful display wasn’t the kind of thing she wanted anyone to witness, let alone the dashing press owner.

  She couldn’t explain why she cared about his opinion of her—or why the thought of never seeing him after this turmoil ended made her insides tie in knots. But it did. Within a few short weeks, or sooner, after Samuel heard of this and came to their aid, she’d likely never see him again.

  When she returned to the cave, Thomas and Kitty were donning their dry cloaks and Eliza quickly did the same.

  “Do we have everything?” Thomas asked as he looked around.

  “I believe so. Then again, we didn’t come with much.” Eliza shrugged and winked at Kitty to show her good humor was repaired. At least that’s what she wanted them to believe.

  Kitty massaged her stomach. “Liza, I’m . . . I’m . . . oh, never mind, forgive me.”

  Gripping Kitty’s hand, Eliza looked her over. “Are you all right?”

  She shrugged. “It’s nothing.” Just then her stomach groaned and Kitty’s cheeks reddened.

  Eliza frowned and squeezed her hand. “Kitty, I’m so sorry I didn’t bring more.”

  “’Tis not your fault.”

  Thomas stepped forward, his large frame silhouetted against the bright mouth of the cave. “I’ve stored much food, so you can have your pick of goods when we reach Sandwich.”

  Ignoring a hunger pang of her own, Eliza straightened. “See? We’ll be eating like King George before you know it. We best get going, should we not?” She followed Thomas out of the cave with Kitty close behind.

  After several more hours of torturous hiking over rain sodden earth, Eliza stopped and leaned her hand against the rough bark of an old tree. Oh, the pain! The quick rest allowed her to take some of the weight off her feet and legs, but doing so did little to ease her discomfort. She’d nearly bit her lip in two as she tried to keep from groaning.

  Thomas must have heard her stop. He turned around, worry shaping his features as she attempted to pry her shoe from her foot.

  “Are you all right?”

  Eliza bit her lip harder. No.

  When she didn’t answer he called for Kitty to stop.

  “What is it?” he asked again. The concern in his velvety tone made her legs even weaker.

  He came close and Eliza choked back a cry when her skin peeled away from her heel as she removed her shoe. The large blisters had long since broken and her shoes rubbed her stockings into the raw flesh on the backs of her feet. Blood stained her white stocking and the inside of her shoe, a shoe made for appearances, not functionality.

  Thomas crouched beside her and tenderly reached for her foot. “Why didn’t you tell me?” He lifted his eyes to hers. “May I look at it?”

  Eliza nodded, hesitant for him to touch her, but somehow she couldn’t refuse.

  Kitty came near, her mouth pressed with concern.

  “How are your feet, Kitty?” Eliza asked, suddenly worried her sister might be suffering the same as she.

  “They hurt, but I’m all right.” She leaned closer. “Eliza, you’re bleeding!”

  “It doesn’t really hurt. Don’t worry.” Eliza worked a tone of confidence in her voice that she could only hope was believable.

  Thomas performed the polite examination, his masculine fingers so gentle that the pain in her foot faded at his touch.

  “You should have told me, Miss Campbell.” He shook his head and Eliza tried to guess his meaning. Was he upset with her? Worried? “I’m not sure there is anything we can do until we get to Sandwich.” He kept his hand around her ankle for a moment longer than necessary before looking up at her again.

  Her lungs froze.

  She pressed her teeth around her bottom lip again, but this time for a different reason. She placed one hand over her middle, attempting to still the flurry of butterflies that was multiplying with rapid succession.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered. His soothing voice evaporated the world around her. In a quick, smooth motion he removed the cravat from around his neck, and bent down to tie the fabric around her foot—fabric that was still warm from being so close to his skin.

  She relaxed her hands at her side and tried to keep her breathing even when he gingerly finished doctoring and slipped the shoe back on her foot.

  He stood and towered over her, squinting his eyes. “Are you sure you’ll be fine? I can carry you if needed, at least for a while.”

  Yes. I mean, no!

  “No, thank you. I’ll be just fine. I promise.”

  Thomas looked at Kitty. “How are you holding up?”

  “As well as can be expected, I suppose.”

  Thomas put his hand at Eliza’s lower back and gently nudged her onward. For some reason he felt the need to walk beside her. Perhaps he thought she would have to be carried after all. She would rather die before that happened, and prayed that God would help her appear healthy and normal so not to attract unwanted attention. The last thing she needed was to be swept-up in the strong arms of the handsome man at her side.

  She exhaled, blowing away the unwanted imaginations.

  Kitty began to snicker and looked over her shoulder. “Oh, Eliza you should have seen yourself this morning.” She laughed aloud this time as she walked ahead.

  Eliza stole a swift glance at Thomas. She could see the hint of a smirk raising his lips.

  “You know, Mr. Watson. Eliza has always been a very good sport.” Kitty giggled again. “She is afraid of many things. We teased her mercilessly growing up.”

  Eliza didn’t really mind laughing at herself, but she feared where the course of this conversation might venture, so she spoke up. “Thank you, Kitty. That’s quite enough.”

  “Oh no. Please go on. You have me exceedingly curious now.”

  Eliza jerked her head toward Thomas. Disbelief took possession of her. He grinned back and gave her a playful wink, as if he were enjoying this all too well.

  “Aye, let’s see,” Kitty said, obviously feeling playful as she slowed her pace to walk closer to them. “Hmmm . . .” She cocked her head to one side and squinted her eyes as if trying to think of something specific, but couldn’t
quite place it. Her act helped to relax the heavy mood and Eliza let a small humming laugh escape her throat.

  “Eliza’s afraid of water, heights, spiders, bees, and as you witnessed this morning, she is deathly afraid of squirrels.”

  Kitty’s gaze followed Eliza, as if to explore how far she could take her story. Eliza pinched her mouth, raised her eyebrows, and shook her head, but the reprimand went unheeded.

  “Oh, you must continue. You have me baited now.” Thomas’s winsome grin widened.

  Without losing a second, Kitty cleared her throat and started into the story that Eliza secretly prayed she would never share. “One day, Eliza and I were enjoying a marvelous autumn afternoon in front of the house under the maples. The sky was a lovely blue if I remember right, dotted with the puffiest clouds.”

  She stopped, as if waiting for Eliza to concur.

  Eliza glared, willing her sister to stop, but she did the opposite. “We decided to make beds out of the crunchy leaves, and we reclined on our backs, finding shapes in the clouds for hours on end. Eventually, the musky smell of the leaves and the warm autumn sun lulled us to sleep.”

  Kitty’s giggle grew until she couldn’t even continue.

  Thomas slipped a questioning glimpse toward Eliza, and she smiled in return but her face burned.

  Kitty went on between titters. “The next thing I remember is a hair-raising scream. I sat straight up and heard Eliza repeating, ‘Help! Get it out! Get it out!’ Father rushed out of the house . . .” Kitty had to stop again to release another fit of giggles, and wiped her eyes. “Apparently, while she’d been sleeping, a squirrel climbed up her skirts and somehow had gotten lost. What a sight! Her legs were flailing, her skirts were flying, and all the while the screeching of the little creature could be heard from under her clothes!” Kitty burst out laughing again and used her arms to imitate the scene.

  Thomas could no longer suppress his obvious amusement and his robust laugh bounced on the air between them. Reliving the memory Eliza too burst into the laughter she’d been attempting to repress, basking in the joy of the moment as they temporarily forgot their weighty pressures.

  Kitty calmed, wiped the happy tears from her eyes, and sighed. “Oh, it was wonderful.” She gazed at her sister, her head cocked with a joyful swoop on her mouth. “I’ll never forget it as long as I live.”

  “When did this memorable incident occur?” Thomas asked.

  Eliza stopped laughing and froze, her features dropping. She shook her head at Kitty and narrowed her fiery gaze. Kitty had better not . . .

  Kitty’s smile expanded and occupied her entire face. A thud of dread socked Eliza in the gut and she closed her eyes.

  “Last year,” Kitty said. “Just about this same time, I do believe.”

  Thomas snapped his head toward Eliza, his eyes wide. A grin expanded his lips as he spoke. “Really? Just one year ago you were romping in the leaves and finding shapes in the clouds?”

  Eliza’s face heated until she knew her cheeks were as red as the leaves at her feet. No use in hiding it now. Her embarrassment had tripled, and there was nothing she could do about it. Better to accept it than try and hide it.

  “Yes, it’s true,” she said, walking to try and keep her embarrassment at bay. “I know it seems childish. And, I suppose I shouldn’t allow myself to be frightened by a woodland creature, but so it is.”

  She pinched her mouth into a thin smile and marched ahead, exhaling plumes of chagrin through her lips. What must Thomas think of her now? The sooner she got back to Boston and away from this handsome stranger, the better.

  Chapter Eight

  “This is madness!” Samuel barked, leaving the damp, smelly prison yard. He slammed the door behind him and yanked at his cloak. The cloudy skies above matched his mood.

  Donaldson marched to keep up with his feverish pace.

  Samuel kicked a bulbous rock that blocked his path. “All I know is Eliza stopped by his press that morning. To what end?” he yelled, raising his arms. “The man has no other information to offer? I don’t believe it!”

  Donaldson only nodded, but said nothing. That was fine. Samuel wouldn’t have wanted to hear anything anyway.

  Walking down the crowded street to his meager office, Samuel pushed through the door, still talking. “Watson lured Eliza there for some reason, and that George fellow knows why but isn’t saying.”

  “I’m sure you’re right, sir.”

  “Of course I’m right!”

  Samuel removed his hat and cloak and whacked them on the peg by the door. Donaldson followed his lead, like the loyal puppy he was.

  “Eliza is an innocent pawn in Watson’s wicked game.” Samuel paced the room. He removed his sword and pistol from his side and dropped them on his littered desk. The papers and maps reminded him of the duty he owed his superiors, but he pushed the twinge of his conscience aside. Eliza waited for him to rescue her from capture. What could be more urgent?

  Donaldson crouched by the soot-covered fireplace as he built a royal blaze.

  “Have you nothing to add? No ideas to offer?” Samuel snapped.

  The muscles in Donaldson’s jaw flinched. “What would you have me say, sir?”

  Samuel plunked into the hard chair and ran his fingers across his scratchy face. What a nightmare. “Lieutenant, I want you to tell me again everything that happened.”

  Donaldson pushed off his knees, his face shadowed. The pinch to his voice gave testament to a buried disdain. “I’ve said all there is to say, Captain, and you’ve heard it dozens of times—”

  “I don’t care!” Samuel slammed his fist on the desk. “I’m missing something. Start from the beginning. And when you’re finished, you and I will come up with a plan on how to find that wretched Watson before the week is out.”

  How could any woman be more charming?

  Thomas turned weightless as he watched Eliza and Kitty walk side-by-side several paces ahead of him, whispering to one another. He’d never met a woman like Eliza. She wasn’t afraid to have fun and enjoy life, as the story of her playing in the leaves demonstrated. That alone made her increasingly alluring.

  Her open nature, strength, and the fact that she had “fears” made her all the more real to him. In his past acquaintances with women, he had noticed they tried to be too perfect—in their manner, their dress. They denied any faults or impurities, trying to be something or someone they weren’t.

  Not Eliza.

  He tried not to stare at her, but where else would he look? And with her back to him, she wouldn’t be made uncomfortable, so he indulged his aching eyes. Several brown locks of hair bounced and danced around her neck as she walked. His appetite for knowing more about her deepened. They had to talk about something as they walked the last fifteen miles, why not her? Kitty would no doubt be all too pleased to comply.

  “Miss Katherine?”

  Both girls turned.

  “Aye?” Kitty answered.

  He stifled another playful grin as Eliza shyly turned forward again and kept walking.

  Kitty stopped and fell in step with him. “What is it?”

  “You have laid before us a . . . uh . . . lovely display of your sisters, well, weaknesses.” He coughed to clear his throat and peered at Eliza, hoping to see her reaction, but she kept her face forward. “Why don’t you expound a bit, and this time tell us her strengths. Her likes and dislikes.”

  At that comment, Eliza tilted her head in a quizzical manner, peeking over her shoulder. Thomas could make out the distinct presence of a grin and he floated over the bumpy path as excitement flickered within him.

  Kitty beamed at the request.

  “My dear sister is talented at many things,” she said, lifting her chin. “But there are two things that stand out in my mind at which she is proficient.”

  “Go on, please.”

  “Her primary strength is recitation and readings.” Kitty stopped talking for a moment and released a soft breath as if recalling a precious mem
ory. “After our mother passed, Eliza would read and recite poems before bed to help me feel less lonely. She performed Shakespeare most of the time and would do all the parts for me, from all the plays—she’s incredibly gifted.”

  Kitty no longer held even the slightest hint of teasing in her tone. Under her breath she whispered, “I miss those days.”

  Thomas allowed a broad smile to cover his face—a smile that matched the hidden one in his heart. “Well, that is very impressive and I do hope your sister will pleasure us with her talents one day.”

  “Eliza is also excellent with people,” Kitty said. “She understands them and always thinks of others before she thinks of herself. She can discern people in a way most others can only dream of.”

  “Oh, Kitty, you flatter me,” Eliza announced over the gentle slope of her shoulder. “I’m not that good with people.”

  Kitty lowered her head and tucked a length of hair behind her ear. “Well, you’re that good with me. And a few other people, I’ve noticed. If only you could have used those discerning skills before a certain handsome young man proposed.”

  Eliza stopped mid-stride and whirled around to face her sister. Her fiery eyes were wide as she stared at Kitty, her lips pinched white.

  Both Thomas and Kitty halted where they stood. Eliza’s gaze shot poisonous darts at her sister and Thomas stepped back, not wanting to get caught in the crossfire. Kitty’s features flattened and her shoulders dropped.

  Attempting to process what Kitty had unwittingly divulged, Thomas stared at one sister, then the next.

  Eliza was engaged?

  His heart sank for a moment before he talked himself back to reality.

  What was he thinking? He didn’t even know Eliza. His responsibility for them would end after he brought them safely home when the hunt was over—which is the way he wanted it, certainly. But his mind whirled despite his vigorous efforts to stop it until curiosity got the better of him.

  “You’re engaged?” The words splashed out.

  Eliza looked back at him, gifting him with a tiny sparkle in her doe-like eyes. “No. I am not engaged.”