“All the same, she ought to be able to remember the silver in the house. She was Mr. Buel’s housekeeper for all those years”
“Ask Lester.”
“He said much the same as you.”
“There you have it. Now don’t worry me anymore. If I don’t get this bread to rise proper, I’ll be fit to bust”
“If you want me to help …”
“You’ve been a blessing, child, teaching me to cook a dozen things I didn’t know nothing about. Don’t know what I would have done without you, but I got to learn to do it myself. If I can’t do all the dishes you been helping me with, when Christmas comes Mr. Trent’s going to know it was you all along. I may complain about Mrs. Noyes, but this is the best situation I ever had. I can’t afford to give it up to anybody else.”
“I don’t know what’s getting into servants these days,” Serena was saying to her guest. “When I first came to Springfield, I had no trouble at all.”
“It’s because of the war,” Agnes Porter said, “and all that foolishness the politicians talked, about equality and such.”
“That was just to get them to fight,” Serena said.
“Maybe, but now they think they’re just as good as anybody else.”
“Don’t I know it. The things I have to put up with from that Stowbridge girl. She won’t even put herself out to find the serving pieces I ask for. Of course I put the blame entirely on Nathan’s shoulders. And I’ve told him so.”
“Is he still encouraging her?” Agnes asked.
“Worse than that. If I told you the things I saw … Well, I won’t. I couldn’t. Suffice it to say Miss Stowbridge is in for a shock unless she’s more clever than I give her credit for.”
“You ought to have more servants,” Agnes commiserated. “You shouldn’t have to run a house of this size without at least three more. It must keep you worn to the bone.”
“It would if Priscilla weren’t such a dear. She takes a lot off my shoulders. I couldn’t go on otherwise. And now with Nathan gone for I don’t know how long …”
“Didn’t he give you any idea when to expect him back?”
“It wouldn’t surprise me if he’s away for another three weeks. A man of his importance must be in great demand in Boston.”
“Peggy Oliver despairs of ever having Tom at home again. She declares she almost wishes they were still poor. At least she saw her husband then.”
“Peggy Oliver is an underbred woman.” Serena lowered her voice to a confidential whisper. “Do you know she told me she finds pleasure in her husband’s arms. I never thought to hear a respectable female make such a statement.”
“You won’t hear it from my Lucy,” Mrs. Porter said. “I’ve made sure she knows what’s her due.”
“And I’ve done the same with Priscilla. Nathan will find that she will steadfastly eschew the marriage bed except under the impress of duty.”
“I didn’t know she and Nathan were engaged.”
“They’re not—officially. I thought Nathan ought to have some time to settle in before being thrown into a whirl of nuptial celebrations.”
“When are you going to announce the happy event?”
“Priscilla hasn’t quite made up her mind. I think she should wait until Christmas, but the girl is so deliriously happy I doubt she’ll be able to keep it quiet beyond Thanksgiving.”
“I doubt they’ll be back by then, not with this spying business to settle.”
“Spying?”
“Haven’t you heard?” Mrs. Porter asked, glad to find something Serena didn’t know.
“Nathan is a very sparing correspondent,” Serena said through compressed lips.
“Someone on our side is giving Shays information. He knows our plans almost before they’re made.”
“Delilah,” Serena expostulated with satisfaction.
“I know how much you’d love to place the blame on her, but almost anyone could have done it. All of us have friends or relatives associated with the regulators.”
“But none more conveniently placed than Delilah”
“How would Nathan feel about that?”
Serena responded as if she’d been shot. “About what?”
“Your accusing Delilah of spying. I hear tell he promised her brother he’d take a special interest in her. And from what I saw the night we came to dinner, he’s fulfilling his promise.”
“Nathan cares for no one but Priscilla,” Serena stated with all the hauteur she could muster. “But he’s most determined that Reuben Stowbridge shall have no cause to complain of our treatment of his sister.”
“But that wouldn’t extend to her being a spy.”
“It most certainly would not,” Serena snapped. “If such proves to be the case, I shall drive the girl from the house myself.”
Delilah walked disconsolately along the river’s edge. The sharp breeze coming off the water made her pull her collar closer around her cheeks, but she hardly felt the cold. She’d hardly felt anything since Nathan had left two weeks ago. Serena had said his two letters mentioned no date for his return. Delilah longed to read them, but she knew Serena would never allow it. Not wishing to give Serena the pleasure of refusing her, she hadn’t asked.
The days dragged endlessly by. With little work to do, time hung heavily on Delilah’s hands. She was about to sit down on the bench in her favorite arbor when she caught sight of Applegate trudging along the path behind her. She waved and waited for him to catch up.
“Got a letter for you. From Boston.”
Delilah’s heart nearly jumped into her throat.
“One of Asa Warner’s boys brought it over. Said I was to put it in no hands but yours.”
Delilah thanked the old man and took the letter with a shaking hand. She suffered while Applegate finished his chat and then turned away and headed back down the path. Feverish to open the letter, she waited until she was absolutely alone. Then she ripped it open and her gaze flew to the signature.
It was from Nathan.
Her heart fluttered, and she smiled.
Dearest Delilah,
Forgive me for not having written sooner, but I confess that only now have I thought of this simple way of telling you how much I miss you. If I ever had any doubts about the genuineness of my love for you, this separation has removed them. I spend sleepless nights thinking only of the moment when I can hold you in my arms once again. The hours we shared are like beacons to guide me through this weary business.
And it is a weary business indeed. Everyone is determined to punish the regulators with severity. It is difficult for any voice of reason to be heard in this chorus of self-interest. Even Asa Warner has trouble remembering the truth. Pray God I, too, don’t lose sight of it.
There is one concern which casts a cloud over our proceedings. Colonel Clarke and the others have become convinced there is a spy in our midst. I only mention it because I fear it will delay my return for some days.
I send you this letter because I’m sure Serena will not let you see the ones I’ve written her. Take heart. There is nothing of interest in either of them. I’m saving it all up to lay at your feet the moment I return.
I can’t say when that will be, but I pray it will be soon. I can’t bear to be away from you much longer. Remembering you with love,
Nathan
Tears poured down Delilah’s cheeks as she pressed the letter to her bosom. Never could she have imagined that mere words on a piece of paper could have such power to move her, but she felt as though she could sob her heart out.
With relief.
Nathan had not forgotten her. He still loved her.
As long as she was sure of that, she could wait as long as necessary.
Chapter Seventeen
Two weeks later, near the end of dinner, Nathan returned home. Delilah’s first impulse was to throw herself into his arms. But even if this urge had not been quickly suppressed, it would have been thwarted.
Serena insinuated herself between t
hem.
“You should have warned us, so we could prepare a proper welcome,” she said as she rose to her feet. “Priscilla darling, poor Nathan must be exhausted from his long ride. We must take very good care of him this evening. Delilah, set a place for him immediately, and make sure Mrs. Stebbens reheats everything at once.”
“I’m not hungry,” Nathan objected. “I just want to get out of these clothes.”
Serena brushed his objections aside. “While I don’t normally dine with men in riding dress, Priscilla would think her Mama a hard-hearted soul indeed not to make an exception on this evening. She would never forgive me if I were to deny you the comfort of your own home.”
Overwhelmed by this gratification at his safe return, Nathan allowed himself to be ushered to his usual position at the head of the table—Delilah had had time to move Serena’s plate to the opposite end—and he accepted a glass of ale from Lester.
“Drink it down at once,” Serena instructed. “You must be dying of thirst after such a long ride.”
Nathan was unwise enough to respond, “I suffer from little other than the cold.”
“Lester, I want a fire laid at once,” Serena ordered.
In his eagerness to comply, Lester almost bumped into Delilah as she brought the reheated food from the kitchen.
“You must be famished,’ Serena told Nathan. “Sit down and eat your dinner before it grows cold.”
Delilah was kept busy bringing in the many dishes—most of which Nathan refused—and taking them away again, clearing away the plates, and finally setting dessert on the table. It was hard for her not to laugh. Nathan was so angry that once she thought he was going to tell Serena to shut up. She smiled at him, gave her head a tiny shake, and promptly left the room. It was her intention to stay away until they removed to the drawing room, but Nathan foiled her by following her into the kitchen.
“I want to speak to Miss Stowbridge alone,” he announced.
Mrs. Stebbens took herself off to the pantry, where she regaled Lester with her notion of what Mr. Trent must be saying to Delilah.
But Nathan didn’t waste time talking. He swept Delilah into his arms—apron, drying towel, wet plate and all—and covered her with hungry kisses. It was several minutes before she was able to take a deep breath.
“I thought I would go crazy with missing you,” he whispered as he nuzzled her ear.
“I missed you, too. But it wasn’t so bad once you started to write.” She laughed happily. “I never expected you to write at all, but two letters in one day!”
Nathan smiled. “It was a bad day. Asa must think I’m a poor hand at business. I told him you were managing some of my affairs. I insisted I had to give you the most minute instructions.”
Nathan showed every sign of settling back into kissing her, but Delilah stopped him.
“You can’t stand here kissing me in the kitchen like I’m some common wench”
“It’s my kitchen and I’ll do what I choose in it, as long as you’ll let me.”
“That’s all well and good, but I’m still a servant in this house. If Serena finds out what you’re up to, it would set the cat amongst the pigeons.”
“Then let’s tell her now,” Nathan said. He took Delilah’s hand, intending to lead her from the kitchen, but she didn’t move.
“Tell her what?”
“That you’re going to marry me.”
“But rm not.”
“Why?”
“You haven’t asked me for one thing. And even if you had and I had said yes,” Delilah added when Nathan tried to contradict her, “I’d have to talk to Reuben first.”
“Why do I get the feeling Reuben will always be looking over my shoulder?”
“Reuben’s my family. He has to know. And there’s more.”
“I knew there would be. Tell me,” Nathan said and prepared to sit down.
“Not now,” Delilah said. “We can talk tomorrow, in the library, after breakfast.”
“I can’t wait that long.”
“Yes, you can. Now go back to Serena before she comes looking for you. I’m going to have enough on my hands with Lester and Mrs. Stebbens. I can’t deal with her, too.”
“I love you, Delilah Stowbridge, and I don’t intend to let Reuben or Serena or anyone else keep us apart.”
“Go.”
Nathan left, but the glow of happiness he’d brought remained. Delilah brushed her lips with her fingertips, amazed that something as simple as a kiss could affect her so deeply. Her body hummed with so much energy she could hardly stand still. She wanted to shout and dance and make impossible leaps through the air. Nathan loved her, really loved her, and nothing Serena or the rebellion could do would change that. Not even the sounds of Lester’s and Mrs. Stebbens’s return had the power to dull her happiness.
“I’ll bet Mrs. Noyes wouldn’t be grinning like a cat at a milk can if she knew what had just passed in this room,” Mrs. Stebbens said the minute she got a good look at Delilah. “She don’t know yet you took all the cream.”
Delilah blushed.
“Don’t you try and tell me Mr. Trent shooed Lester and me out just so he could ask you how your brother’s been getting along. Maybe I can’t read, but I ain’t stupid.”
“You know exactly what he came for,” Delilah said, deciding it was time to have done with pretense, “but you can also guess what a lot of trouble this is likely to cause.”
“Lord, yes. There’ll be dozens of people ready to put your eyes out for catching a man like that.”
“It hasn’t come to a question of catching him.”
“You mean he’s been nosing around like you was a bitch in heat and he ain’t even asked you to be his wife?” Mrs. Stebbens looked so indignant Delilah wouldn’t have put it past her to confront Nathan in the drawing room right in front of Serena.
“He has asked me, but I haven’t agreed yet.”
“Why, girl? You trying to play fast and loose? Men don’t like a tease.”
“It’s not that. This may sound foolish to you, but there’s going to be a lot of trouble when people find out. Maybe the worst of it will come from my own brother.”
“More like that Mrs. Noyes. She’ll screech loud enough to be heard from here to Boston.”
“I don’t care about Serena. But it won’t be just her or my brother. It’ll be everybody. And if there’s fighting, it’ll only make it worse. I’m on one side and Nathan is on the other, and nothing is going to change that. If there’s killing, there’ll be bitter hatred. I’ll be looked on as a traitor. Do you know what it’s like to have the whole town turn against you, to have the people you thought loved you the most persecute you? I saw it during the last war. People couldn’t take it. Some went crazy. Others moved away. To be perfectly frank, I don’t know that I love him enough to endure that. I’m not sure he loves me enough either.”
“Have you told him this?”
“No, but I plan to in the morning.”
“I think I’ll go upstairs; Nathan said, interrupting one of Serena’s endless sentences. He had the look of a man who has made a sudden decision which pleases him very much.
Serena looked at him in startled surprise. Nathan was never rude. His perfect English manners were nearly the only thing about him she liked. The look in his eyes worried her. Experience had taught her to distrust Nathan when he looked pleased. His ideas of fun rarely coincided with her own.
“I suppose we have been inconsiderate to keep you from your bed, but Priscilla and I are starved for your company. Why just yesterday she was saying she didn’t know how much longer she could stand your being away. She has come to rely on you so much, you see.”
Priscilla made a halfhearted attempt to support her mother’s statement, but Nathan could tell something preyed on her mind. He had no intention of asking what it might be. As long as it kept her out of his bedroom, she could keep her secrets.
He took pains to make enough noise for Serena to know he had gone to his room.
Then, taking care to make absolutely no sound, Nathan opened his door, stepped out into the hall, and listened intently. He could barely make out the murmur of voices—Serena’s and Priscilla’s—in the drawing room. Taking the stairs two at a time, he reached the top floor in a matter of seconds. He went straight to Delilah’s room, went in, and closed the door.
Breathing a sigh of relief, he lay down on the bed to wait.
The house was quiet when Delilah finally climbed the stairs. Mrs. Stebbens had been in bed for at least an hour. Even Lester had given up his late hours in the pantry and had gone to bed. There were no lights in the drawing room either. She was the only person left awake.
She didn’t mind that. She had a lot of thinking to do, and she could do it better alone. Odd, as long as even one person was up, she felt restless. But the minute everybody was asleep, she felt perfectly relaxed and free of all the day’s pressures.
Her feet dragged up the stairs, not because she was tired, but because her mind was in a turmoil, her emotions too chaotic to allow her physical energy. Nathan’s coming to her in the kitchen had brought home the reality of their situation and the inescapable fact that something had to be done soon. Their feelings for each other wouldn’t remain a secret much longer. They’d better be prepared for the avalanche of anger and bitterness when it came.
As she reached the second floor she thought of the unfinished painting in Nathan’s dressing room. That ought to be sufficient proof he loved her, but did he love her enough? His love had come so quickly, so unexpectedly, so easily. Could it go the same way?
She climbed to the top floor, thoughts tumbling about in her head. What about her love? Would she have come to love him if he’d worn the loose-fitting breeches common in America? But more important, what did she know about him and his life before he’d arrived at Maple Hill?
Nothing.
Not that she doubted he was everything he set himself up to be. His treatment of her proved that. And it had really brought about her change of heart. It was why she had come to love him.
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