They had reached the hotel. Claire parked, and by unspoken agreement, both got out and headed to the dining room. They sat at a small table at the back beside a window. Within minutes they were served water and cookies while they placed drink orders.
Elanah was calm as she poured herself water from the jug and took a cookie, taking a bite and chewing thoughtfully. “Claire, do you know anything about me? Are there any historical books, facts, family diaries that talk about me at all?”
Claire shook her head, curious at the question. “Not really, only what Jacob Barrington wrote. He thought very highly of you. We know you were, are, a witch, and that you had an affair with Sean Kirkman, but no one really knew much more than that. I have family journals, of course, but none that mention you.”
Elanah dimpled as she smiled ruefully. “Of course they would not. After all, I was an adulteress and a suspected witch. Sean’s mistress, not his wife. Hester disliked me intensely, and I must say I returned the feeling. She was married to the love of my life, and I would have cheerfully seen her dead.”
Claire stared at Elanah with horror.
“Yes, well, that was a different, and often terrifying, time. You could be branded a witch if you crossed your eyes and said ‘boo’ to a rival, especially if she was the mayor’s wife, so I stayed out of her way.”
Their drinks came. Elanah sniffed her coffee appreciatively. “This is a wonderful drink.”
“So, it’s true. It was rumoured that you and Sean had a scandalous affair. Willow said as much to Sadie…and Hester found out.”
Elanah sighed, brushing crumbs from the pristine white tablecloth. She still marveled at the quality of the linen, furniture, and structures in this century. She felt like royalty. Claire’s anger was gone for the moment. Curiosity always won out.
Elanah started briskly. “Let us clear up a few things, Claire. First, Hester always knew about me. She did not marry Sean for love; it was politically arranged by their fathers. Second, Sean was Philippe’s father. The scandal there was that Hester was not his mother.”
She hesitated a moment.
“I was.”
Claire gasped. “What?”
“I didn’t want to say anything in front of everyone the other day. It’s best if that information isn’t revealed, but if Hester noted the adoption…well, she was always very precise.” Claire couldn’t tell if that was disdain or admiration in Elanah’s voice.
“I knew there was no way they were going to write the real name of Philippe’s mother in their family albums, nor record the fact that the boy was Sean’s illegitimate son. Hester did not find out about our affair. She knew about it from the start. So, while I did have a scandalous affair with Sean Kirkman,” she said quietly, “it started before we both married other people. It just continued afterward as well. I was so in love with him, you see, but I was forced to marry a plodding farmer chosen by my father. You know the type, a good, solid man from the old country; just as Sean had to marry the daughter of the richest man in Limerick, as decreed by his father. Political reasons, family advancement…those were compelling reasons to marry in those days.”
“So I’m—”
“My descendant, yes, and a Kirkman. You get your magic from me, the Von Vixen side of the family. The gift of voice you got from Sean.”
Claire was stunned speechless
Elanah put her hands over Claire’s. “Sean Kirkman was fabulous. Tall, slim, handsome, and sexy beyond words. We met at a town dance just weeks before our weddings. He was not the mayor then, just a boy with great ambition. He loved my hair. That is what got his attention that night. Apparently it shimmered like spun gold in the candlelight of the church hall.” She smiled dreamily as she remembered.
Chapter 11 – When Elanah Met Sean
Limerick: May 1591
It was hot in the barn. The May evening was cool, and all the doors and windows were open, but the spring drafts didn’t stand a chance of cooling down the room with the press of bodies laughing and eating. Elanah stood at the back near the kitchen, right beside an open window. Her long blond hair was loose and perfectly curled as it hung down her back. She wanted to lift it off her neck but didn’t want to ruin the perfect symmetry of the curls by touching them. Instead, she carefully shifted her long, heavy mane to one side and over her shoulder. Partial relief was better than none at all.
She watched as her parents socialized with her intended’s parents, the Wexlers. Hiram himself was nowhere to be found, of course. He didn’t go to any of the town socials. A farmer and a complete introvert, Elanah snorted as she thought of her soon-to-be husband. She didn’t want to marry him. He was plain of face and quiet natured. She was gorgeous and loved the town’s social life. Her pride was her mane of hair and her curvy body. She looked down and smoothed her dress with her fingers. Blue pinstriped cotton with a décolletage that was just a bit risqué, lined with lace. With a round, angular face, pale skin, big blue eyes, and a very attractive dimple that appeared when she smiled…she was a catch, and she knew it.
She could have married anyone. By the age of sixteen she’d already had many offers for her hand. Her father, however, loved his little girl, and only pure blood from the old country would do. That just happened to be Hiram, the son of her father’s best friend. She didn’t fight him when he suggested it. She loved her parents, particularly her father, and it had made him so happy that she had agreed, particularly as her brother was being such a handful with his obsession with Willow Kellar, a young married woman with a child. Karl’s escapades were making her father keep a very close eye on her. She needed to get out from under his thumb. Although it was a loving thumb, she was feeling smothered. Marriage would get her the freedom she so desperately craved.
She watched with annoyance as her brother and his beefy companions ate and laughed loudly. All together they didn’t have enough sense to make a complete brain. They had already hit the liquor. Elanah could see her father frowning as he glanced at her brother’s obnoxious behavior, but nothing could be done. The boy was completely out of control.
Elanah’s gaze skipped around the room. Her friends were in the other corner, eating and giggling. They waved at her, indicating she should join them, but she just smiled and pointed to the window. They were in the hottest corner, sweating. Who would want to dance with them in that state? Her eyes continued to travel around the room until they rested on Sean Kirkman, the boy all the girls sighed over, even her. He was very handsome, being tall and slender with high cheekbones that framed a cheeky smile. His hair and beard were brown. He was very dashing in his stylish, well-cut clothes. He kissed the hands of old ladies and made them laugh as they smacked him away. He winked at the younger girls and made them giggle. Dashing didn’t describe Sean’s personality adequately, she thought. He wasn’t only good with females. He got along famously with the men too, boys his age and men older than him. Charmingly confident? Elanah couldn’t put her finger on it. He had some sort of personality magic. All she knew was that he was the only boy who made her catch her breath. Her daydreams of him made her heart race. She noticed him immediately when she first moved to Limerick. He’d just stepped out of his father’s offices onto the street and looked around with such confidence, his thumbs hooked into the pockets of his vest. He would often be standing outside when she was doing her shopping, and they had nodded at each other a few times.
Sean was twenty-three, five years older than her. She knew he’d never look at her. He had just become engaged to Hester LeRoux, the beautiful, olive-skinned daughter of Philippe LeRoux, one of the wealthiest men in Limerick. People said that Hester’s mother, God rest her immortal soul, had African ancestry and had been a stunning beauty. Hester certainly took after her mother in that regard. It was also rumoured that Taxaine LeRoux had been a witch, and so was Hester, just like her mother. Elanah had to agree. Hester’s pale green eyes made Elanah nervous. They seemed to see right through you. She noted that the LeRouxs were not in attendance tonight.
She watched Sean covertly as he moved around the room, making a point of speaking to everyone. He was accompanied by his father, who smiled heartily and was obviously very proud of his son.
Elanah felt her heart twist with yearning as he smiled at the matron who was talking to him. If she were engaged to Sean instead of Hiram, her view of marriage would be very different. It wouldn’t be a chore, but a wonder. Not a means to an end, but a new beginning. All she ever dreamed of was a life of love.
While she’d been musing and staring, all the food tables had been moved close to the walls and the musicians had set up and were ready to play. It was time for dancing. By the notes coming from the instruments, Elanah could tell they were starting a reel to get everyone warmed up. No partners necessary; it was ladies on one side, men on the other. She debated staying in her corner, but now that there was space in the middle of the room, cool air was flowing and dancing may not be be a sweaty affair after all. Her friends beckoned to her and she joined them. No one ever had any fun just standing in a corner!
The reel started and Elanah laughed, the curls she had painstakingly tied last night bounced around her as she stepped to the music. The line moved sideways as couples, or whomever you ended up with, danced down the line together. It was finally her turn and when she curtseyed to her partner, she found herself staring into the warm brown eyes of Sean Kirkman. She was pretty sure he had not been her partner in the line, yet here he was. Her heart was already thundering with exertion but it raced even faster as she stared into his smiling face. For a moment she was certain she was going to faint, but when he held out his hand, his mouth quirking into a mischievous smile, she took it and straightened. His hands were smooth and long fingered, warm against her cold ones. They danced down the line and she laughed with delight. She was holding hands with Sean Kirkman!
After the fun reel finished, the band played a waltz, and before she had a chance to leave the dance floor, Sean had pulled her into his arms. She could feel the warmth of his body through his white cotton shirt. It was unbuttoned at the throat and dark curls of hair peeked out the top.
“May I have this dance, Miss Von Vixen?” he asked with a laugh, whispering in her ear. His hand swept down her hair before he put it firmly at the small of her back, pulling her toward him.
She was breathless, and nervous. She didn’t know what to say. Her father glanced at her, checking her dance partner, and turned back to his conversation. He knew Sean was engaged and wasn’t concerned.
“Your hair is like spun gold in the light,” he said in her ear, his breath warm on her neck. “I especially like your dress. It truly flatters your lovely figure.”
Elanah looked up at Sean. He was smiling, but there was a serious light in his eyes, making his warm brown eyes shine golden.
She was speechless.
“I felt your eyes upon me from the corner of the room,” he said, pressing her tightly against him as he twirled her around, making her gasp. “I am fairly certain you find me as attractive as I find you.”
Elanah blushed. He was so bold! He’d noticed her obsessive staring. Thankfully, exertion could be used as an excuse for the colour flooding her face.
She felt his hand rub her lower back and drift up. No one was paying attention to the young couple, but Elanah could see that her father had taken a renewed interest in them. They were pressed very close to each other, and while that was fine for married couples, it was a bit too close for youngsters betrothed to other people.
“Your father is coming,” Sean noted and then chuckled, “and so is mine. Meet me at the back of the barn just past the kitchen door behind the old oak tree. Half an hour. Don’t be late.”
Sean looked at her, his eyes burning with emotion. “Yes?”
Elanah felt weak, her stomach was a jumble of nerves and excitement. “Yes,” she said back.
Her father reached them first. Sean handed her over with a bow. “Mr. Von Vixen,” he said gallantly. At the sight, Sean’s father halted his trip across the room and went to rejoin his group.
Elanah’s father bowed graciously. “Thank you, young man,” he said in heavily accented English as he took his daughter and continued the dance. “He was holding you very tightly,” he said in German. “It is not appropriate behavior for a woman betrothed. I just hope the Wexlers did not notice.”
Elanah laughed lightly. “Oh, daddy,” she responded in German, to please him. “He had to hold me tightly to swing me around. It is part of the dance!” she said gaily, remembering his hand running up and down her spine, the movements hidden by her long hair.
“That may be true, but you must be careful around men,” he said, looking toward his rowdy son. “Sometimes, their intentions are less than honourable.”
After half an hour, Elanah told her parents she needed some air and wanted to talk to some of her girlfriends outside. As she passed them, she stopped to listen to them giggle before heading to the back of the barn.
It was quieter there. Only faint strains of music could be heard. Light streamed from the huge door, which was open to allow the breeze into the kitchen, and Elanah could hear the ladies talking inside as they cleaned up and got dessert ready. Thankfully, no one was outside as she ran for the tree.
The oak was huge, hundreds of years old. It was the tree everyone sat under after mass on Sundays to enjoy their picnics in the summer. The church was only a few steps away.
Sean was waiting as promised. His eyes glittered as they caught the light of the moon. When she reached him he gathered her into his arms and placed his warm mouth on hers.
For a split second she didn’t know what to do. She’d never been kissed before, but then desire for him overwhelmed her as she wrapped her arms around his neck and opened her mouth. She couldn’t get him close enough.
Sean groaned as he slid his tongue against hers and pressed her against the tree. Her body was soft and pliant under his. Desire blazed between them as he slid one of his hands behind her neck and held her mouth to his, rubbing his thumb along her jaw as he kissed her hungrily.
“Anyone seen Sean?” a male voice asked at the back door of the kitchen.
“Are ya addled, Dorn? Why on earth would Sean Kirkman be in the kitchen?” One of the ladies asked with a snort, whipping her towel at the young man.
“Just askin’,” he said, sounding slightly hurt. “I thought I saw him come out here.”
“Be off wi’ ya.”
The young man grumbled as he headed around the side of the barn. “They could have let me walk through the kitchen.”
Sean broke their kiss and laughed quietly. “Someone is always watching my every move, it would seem.” He sighed as he cupped her face in his hands. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to kiss you like that,” he said, kissing her again and nibbling on her lower lip. “You are the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen. It’s enough to break one’s heart,” he said softly. “I watch you when you shop in town. My father’s business is right on Main Street and I can see you through the window.”
“I heard you’re engaged to Hester LeRoux.”
“And you to Hiram Wexler.”
“Yes.”
“But not married yet,” he said softly. “Meet me here again in an hour.”
She did, and he kissed her again. They snuck from the dance every hour until midnight when the barn closed its doors and everyone headed home.
She gave him a small wave as he glanced back at her before entering his father’s carriage, and she was herded to her family’s wagon. Elanah was flushed with passion. The last time they had kissed Sean had cupped one of her breasts, and now Elanah was burning with desire. Her mother asked her if she was alright. She seemed fevered. Elanah just said she was tired from the dancing and the heat in the barn.
She wanted to be left alone to dream. She knew what happened between a man and a woman. Her mother had explained the marriage bed, and her older brother had been delighted to go into intimate detail, even though she hadn�
�t asked. As she kissed Sean she knew she wanted him to be her first lover, before she got married to that clod of dirt. She knew he would do it if she asked him. His hard body told her so. When she and her parents arrived home, Elanah floated to her room on wings of love.
The next day her parents took Elanah to church, and after mass they all strolled to the general store to get cherry ices.
Elanah was licking hers when she saw Sean across the street. He looked wonderful dressed in dark, tailored slacks and a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows. Her heart squeezed in her chest when he smiled at her and crossed over to her side.
“Mr. and Mrs. Von Vixen,” he said, inclining his head politely. “So nice to see you. I trust you slept well after our fine barn dance last night?”
“Ve did,” Mr. Von Vixen replied a bit stiffly. “I did not see you at church this morning.”
Love rushed over Elanah when Sean smiled. “I had the good fortune to attend dawn mass as I was up early.”
Elanah’s father grunted his approval.
A few other families were gathered around the store so the Von Vixens chatted with their friends.
Elanah gazed up at Sean. His brown eyes were warm and appreciative as they looked at her. They were a respectable distance apart, but Elanah found herself swaying toward him, her desire to kiss him overwhelming.
“Elanah, can I show you a beautiful tree that has sprung up in the alley? It’s a baby lilac and its one bloom smells heavenly.” He crooked his elbow at her.
She put a gloved hand on his arm and called to her parents. “Father, I will be in the shade of the alley, looking at a bloom with Mr. Kirkman. I shall not be far.”
There was a small space between the two buildings. True to his word, there was a small tree. “Remarkable,” she said softly, looking into his handsome face.
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