Rebel Dreams

by Patricia Rice

  ***

  Lud, but his words were seductive! Every night like this. Imagination could run rampant with such bliss, so Evelyn banished the notion. She couldn’t banish what he was doing to her, however. Alex’s very masculine body in her childish bed was an overwhelming incongruity. His caresses recalled previous passion, and the coffee taste of his mouth raised shivers of hunger. With the wall at her back and Alex in front, there was no escape even if she so desired. And once she felt the urgency of his need, her desire was for anything but leaving him.

  She slid her hands over his shirt to locate the buttons of his breeches. He uttered a muffled groan as her fingers rubbed against him, and when she tried to remove her hand, he caught it there, pressing her fingers against his heat.

  “It’s all right for you to touch me, just as I like to touch you. But I’m like to burst from the need of you, love.” Alex’s voice was almost rueful as he traced his kisses from her jaw to her throat.

  Evelyn tentatively explored the place where he held her hand. The knowledge that she had the power to make him as crazy as he made her was thrilling. His breath played across her skin as he unfastened her gown and trailed his kisses to the aching peaks of her breasts. In a dreamy lethargy, she offered herself to him. When he took her in his mouth, the blood in her veins turn to molten lava.

  Their clothes became disarranged enough to feel flesh against flesh and to escalate urgency to a burning need. Lying on her side facing him, Evelyn bit her lip as his hardness slid between her thighs. When he lifted her knee to give him entrance, she arched her hips to ease his way.

  He took her swiftly, with all the need she had felt in him when he first appeared at her door. Evelyn followed him without hesitation, taking him deeper, reveling in his strength as he drove her to boundaries previously unreached—while they bit back their cries. She had never known it could be like this, like a tumultuous storm that dissolved the world in one mighty blast, until they floated weightlessly in each other’s arms.

  Tears of joy rolled down her cheeks once her body achieved release. She had wanted this so much, she could not be angry that he had broken her family’s trust to come to her. She bent her head beneath Alex’s chin, and he rubbed lightly at the soreness until she glowed with desire again. His breathing was labored once he extricated himself and smoothed her gown back over her legs.

  “Now there are only nine hundred and ninety-eight more ways to teach you.” His breath teased along her ear.

  “That’s not possible,” she argued despite herself. “I cannot possibly think of more than four or five.”

  “And I doubt that more than ten or twelve are physically practical, but I’m willing to try them all and invent some new ones if you are willing. Hold me just a little while, and then I’ll behave and return to my room.” He released her hands to pull her close and sleepily trace a pattern of kisses across her cheek.

  “Alex, we cannot do this again,” she admonished, not as severely as she ought when it felt so good to be in his embrace. “What if there were a child?”

  “I hope there is,” he informed her. “I fully intend to watch you grow big and round with my child. I want it more than anything else I can think of at the moment.”

  Evelyn gazed at him with curiosity. “What of your precious freedom? Imagining catching me in such a state is one thing, but what happens when I produce that mewling, whining brat you so despise?”

  “That’s what nursemaids are for. When he reaches the age of reason, I’ll take him with me to learn those things he needs to know to survive in this world. I won’t neglect our children. You need not worry over that.”

  He had ignored her question of freedom and deftly avoided all the important issues involved in the raising of children. One did not just shove an infant in an oven until it was properly done. She wanted her children to grow strong and free and independent, to know the value of hard work and the pride of love and friendship. She didn’t want the jealousy brought about by title and entailment. Why should one son be given a fortune while the other was forced to work or marry well for his living? She had no use for the system that had left Alex to idle away his youth in hopes of inheritance. She shook her head against his chest, but she was too weary to argue.

  “I’ll not worry, because there’ll be no children. Go to your bed, Alex. We are being foolish even to consider such things.”

  Alex kissed her brow, then traced the tears at the corners of her eyes. “This is one argument I’m going to win, Evelyn. I’ll probably be a rotten husband and an even worse father, but even that is preferable to rotting in prison. You’re going with me, whether you like it or not.”

  Alex pulled the covers snugly to her chin. He left a lingering kiss on her lips to soften his words, but Evelyn felt the fierceness of them just the same. He was not a man accustomed to taking no for an answer. Even her own body betrayed her. How could she fight for a principle in the face of such weapons?

  Especially since he had a modicum of right on his side.

  She watched as Alex slipped from the room wearing only breeches and a partially open shirt, the rest of his clothing in his hands. Anyone seeing him leave would know precisely what they had been doing. She buried her face in the pillow and drank in the musky scent of him, and with the memory of Alex’s caresses on her skin, she drifted into sleep.

  ***

  The second announcement of their impending marriage was made in church the next day. Evelyn held Alex’s arm as they stepped into the October sunshine. The memory of the prior night lingered, and she was surprised that no one saw her disgrace. Was she the only one who noticed how Alex’s hand remained proprietarily at her waist, how his eyes lit with deep fires when they looked on her?

  She felt trapped and helpless in the ring of fire that consumed them. The touch of his hand created a longing for more. She waited for his kiss, physically absorbed the deep rumble of his voice as he spoke to the others, and couldn’t part from his side.

  Alex seemed as aware as she of these physical bonds. She sensed it in the wry way he kissed her hand when she had come downstairs that morning, his mocking words as he wrapped her in her cloak, and the way he refused to leave her side at the invitation of his friends.

  “I will be quite domesticated by next week,” he whispered as they strolled toward the street. “How much longer will it take for you to catch up with me?”

  “If last night was an example of your domesticity, I am far ahead of you, sir. At least I stay at home at night and avoid tavern brawls.”

  He winced. “Well, perhaps I shall never quite be a domestic fowl, then, but I cannot imagine you fluttering happily about a chicken coop either. Still, I understand even certain wild birds mate for life. Is my plumage grand enough?”

  Since he was as elegantly garbed as ever in a coat of rich brown velvet, brocade vest of gold, fawn breeches, and immaculate lace, Evelyn laughed at his nonsense. “Your plumage suits me very well. And how does the cock select his mate? Her plumage is rather drab, I believe.”

  Today she wore a gown of modest gray adorned only by lace at her throat and wrist. Alex surveyed the costume. “The cock sees further than the plumage, I believe. A most perceptive bird, although the shape the plumage covers does create a certain susceptibility to make decisions on the basis of less intellectual qualities.”

  A shout from down the street interrupted their laughter. More shouts followed, and in a matter of minutes men were striding purposefully in the direction of the harbor.

  Worried, Evelyn started to follow. Alex halted her, recommending her to the company of her mother nearby. She shot him a look of irritation. “If there is something happening at the wharf, I would know of it.”

  “In a few weeks you will be in jail if you have your way. Get used to having someone else deal with the warehouse. Go with your mother, and I’ll be right back.”

  Evelyn held his arm. “What is it, then? You know something.”

  “They have been waiting for a ship from
England bearing the tax stamps. I suspect one has been sighted.”

  Knowing he awaited news from home, Evelyn watched him stride away. Alex had proved adaptable to the capricious elements of her world. If the stamps were on that ship, he was more capable of dealing with the angry mob than she.

  Unnerved by that knowledge, Evelyn followed her mother home to prepare the Sunday repast. She had no fondness for cooking, but the events of these last weeks had disturbed her state of mind to the point that the simple task of creating a meal suited her mood. She took satisfaction in the fact that one dish was goose pie.

  Jacob scampered in less than an hour later, bouncing with news. Evelyn raised a questioning eyebrow as she pinched the last of a pie crust. From his excitement, it was evident that the news could not be entirely bad.

  “There’s an English ship in the harbor! They’re trying to keep it from docking, just like we planned, but Alex says it’s one of his. They’re arguing something fierce, and Alex is swearing he’ll take a sword to any man daring to keep him from his own ship. I think the ship has cannon! I saw them rolling one out on deck.”

  Evelyn could not get a word in until he stopped to gasp for air. “The name of the ship, Jacob?”

  “The Neptune. I’m going back to see what happens.”

  “Not without me, you aren’t.” Dropping her apron on a kitchen chair, Evelyn grabbed a cloak by the kitchen door. “Mama, you might want to make a few more pies. That is one of Alex’s ships. After this ordeal, he might wish to invite his officers to a meal. I’ll be back as quickly as I can.” She kissed her flustered mother on the cheek and took to the street with Jacob.

  The scene at the wharf was the chaos she expected. Every available fishing boat was manned in an attempt to form a feeble flotilla to prevent the towering Neptune from docking. Alex stood on a barrel to shout reason at the gathering crowd. Tarring and feathering of interfering Englishmen seemed more likely, however.

  Evelyn found Sam Adams stroking his chin on the outskirts of the crowd and tugged his coat for attention. “Wouldn’t it be more sensible to let the Neptune dock and then go aboard and seize the stamps if they are there? You cannot reasonably expect to keep a ship that size from landing where it will.”

  “You’re quite probably right, Miss Wellington, but if your forceful young man cannot convince the crowd of that, I can assure you that my chances are slim. I take it that actually is one of his fleet?”

  “With a name like Neptune, can you doubt it? All the Cranville vessels have classical names. His cousin apparently has a sense of humor as well as an education.”

  “Well, the god of the sea will have to spew forth his trident to attempt landing in this mob. I don’t envy your fiancé.”

  Evelyn contemplated pushing her way through the crowd, when she noted Alex had evidently given up on reasoning. He leapt from his barrel and minutes later she discovered him in a disreputable dinghy, garbed in his best Sunday suit, rowing toward the immense brigantine.

  Alex’s abrupt change from speech to action caught the crowd by surprise. Perfectly willing to be entertained, they watched as the English dandy rowed with expert skill, expensive lace flapping in the cool October breeze.

  Evelyn hid a grin at the crusty comments around her as Alex climbed the ladder to join the ship’s crew, shaking hands with the waiting officers. Her fishermen friends hadn’t thought it possible that a man in velvets and lace could perform physical labor, but she knew Alex’s strength. His willingness might occasionally be called into question, but not his competence.

  The crowd watched for further enlightenment, but to their disappointment, Alex and his officers disappeared down the companionway. The brigantine made no further attempt to land, and the flotilla of fishing boats bobbed idly without direction. If Alex had accomplished nothing else, he had caught their attention.

  Obviously pressing his advantage, he appeared several minutes later, making a show of handing a letter to a crewman. The sailor nodded and clambered down to the dinghy. The crowd waited in anticipation.

  The young sailor docked the boat at the wharf and nervously climbed the stairs toward the threatening mob. He cast a quick glance around and looked relieved when his gaze found Evelyn.

  She took the letter in surprise. Alex’s black scrawl answered her questions. I told the lad to deliver this to the aggravating female in dowdy plumage, he had written. As long as you must disobey orders, at least make yourself useful. Persuade some of your more persuasive friends to join me. If there are stamps aboard, I will gladly hand them over and pretend they’ve been delivered honestly.

  Evelyn could tell by the tone of the letter that the stamps were not there, but the crowd would never believe his word. Without comment, she handed the missive to Adams.

  Adams chuckled and nodded agreement. “Your gentleman has a head on his shoulders, and I trust his heart is in the right place. Will you join us?”

  “Tell the conceited beast that I have gone home to finish cooking the meal he had better arrive in time to eat. If he isn’t hanged before then, he may invite his officers to join us.”

  She walked off. The men near them had missed little of this scene. Adams would have no difficulty finding volunteers. She reserved her irritation for the man who dared order her about as if she were already his wife.

  Chapter 18

  Alex raised his eyebrows in shock at the occupant of the ship’s main cabin. The captain tactfully bowed out, leaving Alex with his cousin, the Earl of Cranville. Recovering from his surprise, he shook the older man’s hand. “What brought you from the comforts of home all the way out here?”

  “Your letters intrigued more than informed,” the earl said dryly. “I rather expected to return with your corpse and a weeping female heavy with child. Are you leading that mob out there or running from it?” The earl’s sarcasm conveyed his opinion of his heir’s escapades.

  Over the five years of their acquaintance, Alex had discovered the two of them were much alike. That made their relationship rocky, but over time, they’d developed a mutual respect.

  Alex still wasn’t amused by his partner’s arrival. “I’m currently fighting the mob. I just sent a note to ask that a few friends of mine be brought aboard to establish that this ship isn’t the enemy. I don’t know how closely you’ve paid attention to what’s happening here, but we have a rebellion on our hands. Before company arrives, tell me, did you find the answers I needed?”

  The earl withdrew a stiff brown packet of papers from the captain’s desk. “They’re all here. You’re sitting on a veritable nest of vipers.”

  “Is Upton one of them?” That was his greatest concern of the moment.

  ”George Upton?” The earl withdrew the topmost paper and nodded. “He heads the list.”

  Alex groaned and studied the document. Upton, Evelyn’s lawyer, and a few more of her uncle’s cronies graced the list of owners of companies Alex had pegged as smugglers. So much for upright British citizens. Alex swore long and vividly as he returned the packet.

  “There are no females on it,” Cranville said. “Your lady friend isn’t involved.”

  “I didn’t think she was, but they’ve arranged for her to be arrested anyway. It’s a long story and time is short. Say nothing of the contents of that package to anybody. They are all friends and relatives of the lady concerned. I’m not certain how to deal with that information without destroying a number of innocent people.”

  Alex paced the polished teak floor wishing he were anyplace but here. To free Evelyn, he would have to accuse Upton. She wouldn’t be any more pleased at destroying her aunt and cousin than she would be about her mother and brother. They would be ruined, financially and socially, on two continents.

  Approaching footsteps warned that his company had arrived. Alex was forced to introduce the Earl of Cranville to the Whig patriots before they could search the ship and accept that they weren’t hiding the despised tax stamps. There were no royal dispatches, no parliamentary packets, nothi
ng but one earl who watched the proceedings with amusement.

  The Sons of Liberty greeted the earl with respect, accepting Alex’s explanation that his cousin had arrived to attend the wedding.

  When the flotilla of boats finally cleared the area of the wharf so the Neptune could dock, Cranville waited impatiently for explanations. All he got for his trouble was Alex’s restless pacing as he waited for the ship to position itself so he could disembark.

  “You might give me some clue as to what to expect when I go ashore,” Cranville prompted him. “Or am I to remain in hiding and not be introduced to your fiancée?”

  “That would suit me, had I a choice,” Alex responded, staring out over the wharf. “But I cannot keep the news of your arrival from her. She’s expecting me to arrive with guests. You will be an unpleasant surprise.”

  Cranville chuckled. “You made light of the forced betrothal. Do not tell me you have truly been trapped into marriage with one of these impudent Yankees?”

  Alex grimaced and continued to stare out over the city. Smoke rose from hundreds of chimneys, smudging the colors of the setting sun. The odors of whale oil and fish had become familiar. Cranville would see a quaint village with ill-mannered, argumentative inhabitants. He wanted his cousin to like these people as he did, and he braced himself for the interview to come.

  “I have trapped myself,” Alex answered. “The final banns will be read next week. The wedding will need to take place immediately so I can sail Evelyn out of here. The Admiralty intends to make an example of her, but their timing is inflammatory. If they try imprisoning her on the same day they begin enforcing the Stamp Act, that mob you saw out there today is quite likely to start a rebellion that will spread like wildfire throughout the colonies. See that peaceful village?” Alex gestured toward the panorama of Boston. “It’s a veritable powder keg. I intend to remove Evelyn and the Neptune before the keg explodes.”

  “You are marrying to protect the crown’s interests? How noble of you.”