by Jo Goodman
"Try ravishing."
Noah's expression became solemn. "You're ravishing," he said sincerely.
She spun around and faced Noah, giving him a dimpled smile. "Do you really think so?"
Growling playfully, Noah advanced menacingly. "Out of my way, Circe." His hands circled Jessa's waist, lifted her, and set her down again when she had cleared the mirror. He turned to his own reflection, smoothing his cuffs, plucking a speck of lint from the knee of his satin breeches, and striking a series of casual poses solely for Jessa's benefit.
Watching him, Jessa feigned a yawn, tapping her open mouth lightly with her fingers. "You'll do," she said.
Noah stopped preening. "You overwhelm me with that complimentary turn of phrase," he said dryly.
She stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the cheek. "Sweet, vain man. Your handsome countenance quite takes my breath away."
"Say that again without simpering and I may believe you."
"Oh, do be quiet. Can't you see that I'm as nervous as a fox before the hounds?" She moved away from him, picked up her ivory shawl, and draped it over her shoulders. "Promise you won't desert me this evening. And that you won't dance with anyone else unless I already have a partner. And that you won't play cards with the delegation from South Carolina again. And—where are you going?"
"To get paper. I'm writing this down."
"Beast!"
He took pity on her. "Jessa, you're worrying over trifles," he said soothingly. "I'm not going to do any of those things—especially the one about playing cards. I nearly lost my shirt to them in my own home. There's no telling what would happen in someone else's." That raised a tremulous smile to Jessa's lips. "Are you sorry we accepted the Porters' invitation?"
She shook her head a little uncertainly. "No... that is, I don't think so. I wanted to go when we received the invitation. It's the first one we've had to anything so grand. I suppose I'm a bit wary."
"Think of it as a small dinner party. You enjoyed yourself at those."
"Hilary wasn't at those."
"She may not be at the Porters' either. I only know that Anne invited her."
"I wish I had known when I accepted."
Noah slipped his arm under Jessa's and gently nudged her in the direction of the hallway. "Smile, Jessa. We're within days of finishing the work on the Constitution. We'll be back in Virginia soon. Forget about Hilary and concentrate on enjoying yourself."
"All right," she said. "I suppose there will be so many people there that I'll hardly notice her."
She didn't sound very convinced but Noah let it pass. Tonight was the first time he and Jessa had ever been invited to the same function as Hilary Bowen. Most hostesses had taken special care not to create this uncomfortable situation. Anne Porter, however, was a mutual friend and she didn't want to offend either Noah or Hilary. Noah thought she was probably hoping that one of them would decline, or at the very least, decide at the last moment not to attend. If that was the case, then Anne would have to depend on Hilary. He had every intention of being there, Jessa on his arm, and giving Hilary the cut direct if she stepped even once into his field of vision.
Henry had the carriage waiting out front. Jessa gave last minute instructions regarding Gideon to Cam and repeated them to Sally. She would have delivered the same speech to Mrs. Harper but that woman was fortunate enough to be visiting her sister in Camden. "We're only going to be gone the evening," Noah said, hustling her out the door just moments before Gideon screwed up his face and began crying for his mother.
The Porter residence was north of the city proper on the eastern banks of the Schuylkill. Its imposing columned entrance faced the river. Strains of music coming from the ballroom greeted guests as their carriages turned up the wide, horseshoe drive. Lamps burned in every window and light winked in the entrance hall as the front door was opened and closed at regular intervals and new arrivals were announced.
Jessa and Noah milled with other couples on the edge of the ballroom until Anne and Harrison Porter opened the dancing. After that Jessa felt as if her feet were never still. Following the first dance, Noah despaired that he would ever partner his wife again.
Noah lifted a glass of wine from a tray passed before him by one of the servants, and his eyes followed his wife's graceful movements as she went through the steps of a country dance.
"Don't be so obvious," Anne said, tapping Noah's forearm with the end of her fan. Her full mouth was set sternly but her deep brown eyes were amused. "Your eyes are eating her up. People will talk."
"They already do," said Noah, glancing sideways at his hostess.
"Yes, but they're bound to start saying you're in love with her if you keep looking that way."
"I am in love with her."
Anne laughed and closed her fan, letting it dangle from her slender wrist. "Ask me to dance, Noah, and you can tell me all about it."
Noah set his drink aside and drew Anne out onto the floor. "Half of Philadelphia is here, Anne. You've outdone yourself."
"Why, thank you." Anne Porter was a handsome woman rather than a beautiful one, but when she smiled, as she was doing now, she was clearly striking. "I gather you're enjoying yourself then."
"Very much."
"And Jessa?"
Noah chuckled. "She asked me not to desert her this evening. It appears I should have extracted the same promise from her. I'm certain she's enjoying herself."
"That makes me very happy. I find that I like her, Noah."
"You say that as if it surprises you."
"Perhaps it does. I was-prepared to dislike her... because of Hilary. How horrible that sounds!" She shook her head sadly. "I hope you can understand how difficult it's been. I'm sorry there's been so much bitterness between you and Hilary."
"For the most part, the bitterness has all been Hilary's."
"I've come to realize it these past weeks since her grandfather died. She's been acting... I don't know that I can explain it. Her moods are so changeable and she's been so secretive. I feel as if I don't know her any longer."
"You're frowning, Anne. People will think I'm crunching your toes. Let's speak of something else."
She smiled. "Of course. Forgive me. I've taken frightful advantage of our friendship and forgotten my manners." Anne's steps faltered as she looked past Noah's shoulder to the arched ballroom entrance.
"What is it?" he asked, helping her recover her balance.
"Oh, God! No, don't look!" She raised anxious eyes to Noah. "Hilary's just come in on her father's arm. Please, Noah, don't cut her dead."
"How did you know—"
"Because that's what Harrison said he would do if he were in your place. My husband's completely out of patience with Hilary and wanted me to cut her from the guest list. I couldn't do it. Hilary was so helpful in the planning. She's the one who insisted I invite you and Jessa. She promised to behave herself. Oh, dear. Harrison's going to greet her now. I suppose you'd better let me go so I can join him. You'll have to find another partner."
Noah escorted Anne to the edge of the dancing area. "There are no other partners," he said, pointing to the far corner of the room where Ben Franklin sat surrounded by a number of women, most of them a quarter of his age. "Dr. Franklin's got them billing and cooing, making sympathetic noises about his gout."
"So join them," Anne advised before she hurried away. "And limp!"
Noah didn't have to resort to that. The dance ended and he managed to claim Jessa before the next one began. Her face was flushed becomingly and her eyes were bright. Soft, featherlight strands of hair had come loose from her coil of ringlets and curled against the nape of her neck.
"Did I mention earlier that you look ravishing, wife?" he asked, taking her hand.
Jessa gave him a mischievous, sidelong look, fluttering her lashes coyly. "I seem to recall goading you into saying something to that effect."
"So you did. How clever you are at wheedling the truth out of me."
They danced twice more be
fore Jessa begged off. "I could do with a small glass of punch," she said, taking Noah in hand. "Would you be so kind?"
"Wait over there by Dr. Franklin," Noah suggested. "No one would dare steal you away from him." He watched her go then went for her refreshment. Charles Bowen was standing by the crystal punch bowl as Noah approached. For a moment he looked indecisive, as if he weren't certain he should stay or go. He looked uncomfortable in the extreme, though his round, ruddy features were incapable of expressing tension. "Good evening, Charles," Noah said pleasantly.
"Good, umm, evening," he replied. His eyes darted nervously about the room for his daughter. When he saw she was dancing with Mr. Rufus King of the Massachusetts delegation he relaxed. "It's a pleasure to see you again. Quite the squeeze Anne and Harrison have here."
"Yes, it is." Noah accepted the crystal cup a servant passed to him. "You're looking well, Charles. May I express my condolences about your father-in-law? I admired him greatly. I would have attended the services, but... you understand, don't you?"
"Yes, umm, yes. Certainly I do. I wish Hilary were taking this better."
"You mean her grandfather's death?"
"What? Oh, no. She's dealing with that admirably. She's been spending a great deal of time at his home, putting things in order. Dismissed all the servants because she wants to do everything herself. Don't know how she manages. Thing of it is, she plans to move there. Grandfather left it to her, you know." Charles raised his glass of white wine to his lips. "No, I was speaking of your broken engagement She's not umm, recovering in the manner I thought she would. Lately..." His voice trailed off as he saw Hilary coming up behind Noah.
"Really, Papa, you make it seem as if I've been ill," she said brightly. "I assure you I've never been in better spirits. Noah, how good it is to see you." She held out her hand, forcing Noah to make a decision whether to take it or ignore it. He took it politely, raising it a few degrees but making no attempt to kiss it. "I said to Papa weeks ago that it wouldn't do to accept Anne's invitation too quickly. I feared you and your dear wife might not attend if you knew I was coming. And I did so want to see you here, darling."
Noah bit back the caustic reply that came to his mind. He saw Anne Porter looking at him anxiously over the edge of her fluttering fan. He realized she was not the only person watching him. He and Hilary were the focus of a number of surreptitious glances and even a few wide-eyed stares. "Did you, Hilary? Anne said you were insistent that Jessa and I were invited. Why is that?"
"Because I want to show everyone I can be perfectly civil where you and your wife are concerned. I understand congratulations are in order. You're soon to have your first child."
"If you'd like to make small talk, I'd prefer to discuss the weather."
Hilary's smile faltered momentarily but she recovered quickly. "Oh, I forgot. You already have a child, don't you? A boy. What is his name?" she asked thoughtfully, then chattered on before Noah could interrupt. "Something Old Testament, I think. You McClellans have a penchant for Biblical names. Adam? No, that's not right, is it? Gideon. That's it. Gideon." Hilary's crimson gown rustled against her stiff petticoats as she turned to her father. "You'll excuse us, won't you, Papa? I want to dance with Noah."
Charles Bowen could not mask his bewilderment. Noah was a touch pale, his features drawn, and Hilary was smiling triumphantly as if she had scored a coup. "Of course, m'dear. Don't umm, mind me. I see George Garret I've been want—"
Noah's voice was low when he interrupted and the smile on his lips was forced. "Don't let your father leave, Hilary, else you'll be stranded in front of the punch bowl. I intend to return to my 'wife." He started to go but Hilary's fingers curved around his forearm and he nearly lost his purchase on the cup he held. "Take your hand off my arm, Hilary, before I damn the consequences and break it for you."
Hilary laughed gaily as if Noah had said something amusing. She also released his arm. "Come, Papa, dance with me. Noah doesn't want to make amends." Hilary swept her flustered father away.
Jessa's eyes asked a silent question when Noah returned to her side.
"Excuse us, please," Noah said, nodding to Franklin and his companions. He offered his elbow to Jessa. When she took it he gave her the glass of punch and led her toward the back of the ballroom where the doors to the veranda had been thrown open.
"You look like thunder," she said once they were outside. "What did Hilary say to you?"
"She knows," Noah said tersely.
Jessa's brows puckered. "What do you mean?"
"She knows about Gideon."
The glass slid easily from Jessa's nerveless fingers and shattered on the stones. It didn't seem as if her legs could hold her. "What exactly did she say?"
Noah slipped his arm about Jessa's waist and led her farther away from the house. "She wished me happy about the child we're expecting."Jessa's sigh was carried away in the breeze. "Then she made a pretense of forgetting Gideon's name. She fumbled for something Old Testament and came up with Adam."
Jessa's arms folded protectively about her middle. "It could be an honest mistake."
"Not bloody likely," he ground out. "Do you think I would have shared this with you if I thought there was any chance I was wrong? Hilary knows and she wanted me to know that she knows."
"It doesn't make any sense, Noah. We're not thinking clearly. How could she have possibly found out?"
"I have no idea."
Jessa stopped walking and held Noah back. "Please, I want to go home. Can we leave?"
"Do you think that's wise? Should we let Hilary see that she's rattled us? I probably shouldn't have even brought you out here. This is not something we can run from, Jessa. If Hilary goes public with what she knows, there's nothing we can do but come forward with the truth."
"Oh, God." Jessa closed her eyes, her face ashen. "We'll lose Gideon. You'll be ruined."
"Don't even think those things," he said quietly. Noah realized Jessa could not return to the ballroom. Her entire body was trembling and her eyes, when she opened them, were feverishly bright. "Walk with me to the carriages," he said. "You can wait with Henry while I get your shawl and make our excuses to Anne and Harrison. I'll only leave you a few minutes."
"No." She shook her head quickly. "No, you were right before. We shouldn't go just yet. I need a few moments to collect myself."
Noah was quite willing to give Jessa all the time she needed. Her force of will amazed him as she gathered the frayed threads of her thoughts and composed herself. When they reentered the ballroom her slightly swollen, cherry-red lips looked as if they had been thoroughly kissed. Noah accepted the winks and understanding smiles that greeted them upon their return. He alone knew that Jessa had bitten them to that state.
They stayed at the ball for the better part of another hour, waiting until several delegates and a few couples had departed before they took their leave. Jessa huddled beside Noah in the carriage, shivering in spite of the balmy night air. Neither of them spoke during the drive home. They held each other, sharing strength, offering comfort, their thoughts spinning wildly in different directions.
Jessa felt completely defeated, but Noah was gathering forces for the fight of his life. He thought his battleground would be the courtroom. It wasn't until he arrived home that he discovered how wrong he could be.
"Sally and Cam must have retired for the night," Noah said as they alighted from the carriage. "There's not a single lamp burning in the house." He managed to convey the air that he was unconcerned by this fact but the truth was far different. Sally or Cam, usually both, would stay up until he and Jessa had arrived home. A frisson of alarm made the hair at the back of his neck stand up. He glanced at Jessa. She merely looked weary, not worried.
Henry jumped down from the carriage and opened the front door for them. "Just give me a moment, Mr. Noah. I'll light some candles." He ambled inside the house while Noah and Jessa waited on the stoop. Henry had taken all of six steps when he tripped over a chair that wasn't supposed
to be in his way. "Hell and damnation," he cursed loudly, shoving the chair angrily. He sat up and massaged his ankle which had been twisted badly beneath him as he tried to break his fall.
Noah and Jessa rushed into the house when they heard Henry take his spill. "Henry?" Noah asked. "What happened?"
"Fell over a chair. Have a care Miz McClellan," he said as he felt Jessa's skirts brush past him. "Gideon must'a rearranged the furniture."
Jessa fumbled in the dark for the candelabrum that normally sat on the table just inside the front parlor. Not only wasn't it there, the table had been turned on end. "Noah? Nothing's as it should be. Gideon didn't do this." She knelt and patted the floor with her hands, looking for the candles.
"Stay where you are, Jessa," Noah said. "Let me—" He couldn't finish. Jessa's scream paralyzed his own voice. Noah jumped from his place by Henry, kicked aside the chair, and felt his way in the dark to Jessa's side. She was whimpering softly by the time he reached her.
"Th-there's someone... hand... I f-felt it. Sally? I think it's S-Sally."
"All right, Jessa." Noah's arm encircled her waist and he gently moved her aside. "Wait there. Don't move. Let me deal with this." He dropped to his knees and let his hands sweep the floor. "It's Sally," he said as his fingers made contact with her curly hair. His hand roamed over her scalp. Almost immediately he found the bump at the crown of her bead. It filled the curve of his palm. He touched her throat and felt her steady pulse. "She's going to be fine, Jessa. She'll suffer a tremendous headache but otherwise she'll be fine."
"Did she fall?"
Noah didn't answer her. He found the overturned candelabrum. There were a few candles that hadn't fallen out of their holders. Noah righted the table, searched its single drawer for matches, and lit three of the candles. Holding up the light, he scanned the room. It was worse than he had expected. Two other chairs lay on their sides. The drapes at one of the windows had been pulled down. The tools for the fireplace were scattered on the apron and the poker was within a few inches of Sally's outstretched hand. She was sprawled face down on the floor, her skirts tangled in the awkward splay of her legs. Sally hadn't been rendered unconscious without a fight.