“Oh, Raelynn, dear, it’s got to be a coincidence,” Heather argued. “Jeffrey would never have put on such a performance merely for the sake of his servants. Cora swore she had never seen him more outraged by an incident. She said that when she got to the house, Jeffrey was ranting something about ‘that little slip of a girl should still be playing with dolls instead of men.’ The story is that Nell woke him up out of a sound sleep, so there’s no telling what she actually did to provoke his rage after she slipped into his bed, but I rather suspect that she didn’t limit herself to just kissing him.”
Raelynn couldn’t bring herself to even entertain the possibility that Cora had lied to Heather. Indeed, the housekeeper had probably reported the incident just as it happened. Then there was Kingston, whom Raelynn had heard harshly chiding Nell for what she had done close to a year before. The butler had laid the blame solely at the girl’s feet, not Jeffrey’s.
Raelynn also imagined that when a man was as handsome and looked as enticing in clothes as her husband did, a girl like Nell, who had obviously nurtured a deepening obsession for him, might have proven herself quite brazen after launching her seduction. Since it was Jeffrey’s habit to wear no clothes to bed, Nell might have liberally indulged her fantasies, at least until that moment he woke.
Of a sudden, Raelynn felt a sizable measure of regret that she had ever allowed Nell to alienate her from her husband. “I’m ashamed to admit it, Heather, but I haven’t been a very trusting wife. I allowed the girl’s accusations to come between Jeffrey and me, just as I allowed myself to believe he could be a murderer. Now that I’ve had some weeks to reflect back upon that bloody scene in the stables, I realize I never gave Jeffrey a chance to explain anything before I took off. He has a perfect right to feel offended by my lack of trust.”
Heather laid a gently consoling hand upon the other’s. “At one time, I thought I hated my husband. I definitely feared him for a while.”
Raelynn looked up in shock. She had presumed the couple’s marriage had been idyllic from the beginning. When the two seemed so much in love now, it was impossible to entertain any notion that they might have once been dissatisfied with each other. “I had no idea.”
“Even after marrying him, I thought Brandon was no less than a tyrant,” Heather acknowledged, a distant smile curving her soft lips. “But by the time we had sailed from England to Charleston, I was wont to think he was the most magnificent man the world had ever created. Though I was hopelessly in love with him by then, pride continued to hinder us. In fact, it wasn’t until almost a full year after Beau had actually been conceived that we finally let down our barriers. Now, you and Jeffrey are having problems just as serious as we once had. I really hope that this kind of thing doesn’t become a family tradition.” She drummed her fingers lightly upon her distended belly. “If it does, I pity the ones who’ll follow in our wake.”
Raelynn almost shuddered to think what their offspring could reap if their woes were visited upon them. “Let us trust that none of those whom we hold dear will be suspected of murder as Jeffrey and Brandon have been.”
Heather murmured her agreement before moving swiftly on to a less distressing topic. “I truly wish, Raelynn, that you’d consider coming out to stay with us at Harthaven until this rift between you and Jeffrey is mended. You’d be entirely welcomed to remain as long as it takes for both of you to work out your differences.”
Touched though she was by the invitation, Raelynn shook her head. “Thank you, Heather, but I just can’t. I don’t think Jeffrey would feel comfortable visiting you while I’m there. Besides, I’m loath to involve you and Brandon in this matter.”
“But we’re family, dear. We’re already involved.”
“Of course, you are, but it just wouldn’t be right for me to put myself between Jeffrey and his family,” Raelynn argued.
Looking decidedly downcast, Heather muttered dejectedly, “Brandon said you’d refuse, but I just had to try.”
18
“MIZ RAELYNN! MIZ RAELYNN!” TIZZY CRIED IN an anxious dither as she scurried into the clothier’s shop late one afternoon three days hence. “Mr. Brandon’s coachman jes’ arrived at Miz Elizabeth’s, an’ he says dat Miz Heather’s gone inta labor an’ dat she’s askin’ if’n yo’d be o’ a mind ta come out an’ help her through de delivery.”
Raelynn rose to her feet without delay and was just turning to search out Farrell to ask for his permission to leave when she saw him striding hurriedly toward her.
“Just go!” he urged, motioning her toward the door. “Don’t worry about cleaning up your desk. Elizabeth can put everything away. Stay as long as you’re needed. If something comes up that won’t wait, we’ll know where to find you. Now go, get yourself ready. You have a long ride ahead of you.”
“I done packed a valise fo’ yo’, Miz Raelynn, jes’ in case Miz Heather’s baby takes its own sweet time gettin’ here,” Tizzy informed her. “It’s already in Mr. Brandon’s carriage. If’n ye’re o’ such a mind, ye can leave right now.”
“Thank you, Tizzy,” Raelynn said gratefully, already scurrying. She snatched her cloak from the coat tree and dragged it on as she ran.
In a moment she was slipping out the front portal which the doorman was holding open for her. The coachman had pulled alongside the boardwalk in front of the shop and, in anticipation of her arrival, was there waiting at the open door of the conveyance.
“Aftahnoon, Miz Raelynn,” he greeted, tipping his hat. “Ah hope yo’ don’t mind rushin’. Mistah Brandon was fit ta be tied, worryin’ o’er his li’l darlin’. Befo’ I left, he said ta get yo’ dere as fast as I could whip de horses inta a frenzy.”
“Thank you for coming all the way to Charleston to fetch me, James. I want to be there.” She placed a hand in his massive, gloved paw and accepted his assistance into the landau. Her slippered feet barely touched the coach steps as she made a hasty ascent. Settling back into the seat, she felt the carriage lurch as the servant climbed to his seat, and soon they were on their way.
Once they left the outskirts of the city, James displayed a definite urgency as he cracked his whip time and again above the heads of the four-in-hand. The horses’ hooves were nearly churning up the winding road, yet the servant gave no signs of relenting. Obviously he had taken his master at his word.
Twilight had settled over the land before James turned into the long lane leading to Harthaven. At the far end of the oak-lined drive, the blazing lights of the large house cast a welcoming ambience. Soon the landau was drawing to a halt before the steps, and Raelynn caught sight of Brandon hurrying across the porch to meet the approaching conveyance. When she scooted forward on the seat, he was there to swing open the door and give her a hand down.
“I’m glad you were able to come,” he murmured, obviously relieved that she had seen fit to do so. Settling a hand beneath her arm, he whisked her across the porch. “Heather said something about you two being sisters almost as much as Jeffrey and I are brothers. She got it in her head that she wanted you beside her, and there was no denying her request.” He chuckled softly, but it lacked a carefree tone. “I told James to drag you forcibly into the carriage if need be, but he only laughed and assured me that he’d bring you back without going to that extreme.”
“Heather is not in any danger, is she?” Raelynn queried anxiously, glancing up at her brother-in-law as he opened the front door for her. Perhaps it was only because she had been away from Jeffrey for more than three weeks, but at the moment she was struck with a keen awareness of just how tall her brother-in-law really was. But then, she reminded herself, he was no taller than Jeffrey.
“Hatti says everything is going along as it should be,” Brandon informed her, but in the brief pause that followed, he released a wavering sigh. “Since that could mean a whole plethora of things, her statement is hardly very soothing.”
Heather was in the grip of a painful contraction when they arrived at the master bedroom. Even so, she managed an
anguished grin for the new arrival. When she finally could relax, she dropped her head back upon the pillow and, regulating her breathing again, rested a moment before reclaiming a genuine smile. In spite of the crispness of the weather, her hair was damp and a tiny dappling of sweat shone on her face. Yet she seemed oblivious to that and the pain she had just endured as she stretched forth a slender hand, inviting Raelynn to come near. “I’m sorry I couldn’t greet you properly just now, but this baby has a way of demanding my full attention. My labor started some hours ago, so I don’t imagine that it will be too long now before I give birth.”
Raelynn clutched the woman’s thin hand fondly within her own and managed a wobbly smile. “James made sure I got here as soon as I could,” she replied and, in spite of her concern, tried to sound amused by it all as she added, “I don’t believe I’ve ever experienced a swifter ride.”
Heather groaned in mock chagrin. “I didn’t mean for him to scare you to death, dear. I would’ve been content to wait another half hour if need be.”
“Our offspring might not have waited that long,” her husband interjected, moving around to the opposite side of the bed. Lifting a knee upon the mattress, he settled beside his wife and gathered her free hand within his much larger one. “You were having hard contractions when I sent James to Charleston to fetch Raelynn, and now they’re coming with greater frequency. Frankly, madam, I don’t know how much more of this I can stand.”
Heather and Raelynn smiled at his dry wit before his wife reached up to run a hand lovingly along his upper arm. “You’ll do fine.”
“Doesn’t help knowing I promised to stay with you until the end,” Brandon confessed. “My knees are already feeling a little weak at the idea.”
“That was your suggestion, not mine,” Heather accused sweetly. “I can manage without you.”
Brandon laid a gentle hand over the sheet that covered her distended belly. “Who’s responsible for this baby?”
“We both are,” she acknowledged with a smile.
“Then we’ll both be here when she’s born,” he assured her, his green eyes gazing into hers. He brought her hand to his lips for a doting kiss. “Now tell me, my sweet, how are you feeling now?”
“I’m doing fine,” she assured him, threading her fingers through his. She lifted sapphire orbs and perused his face with wifely concern. “How about you?”
Briefly Brandon held out his free hand before her as he boasted, “You see? Steady as a rock.”
“Aye, and I’m my mother’s uncle,” Heather replied, chuckling as she caught the large extremity within her grasp.
Barely a half hour later, a servant softly rapped on the door and, when Brandon went to open it, a young black woman announced in soft tones, “Mistah Jeffrey’s downstairs, suh. He jes’ arrived.”
“Thank you, Melody. Tell him that I’ll be down directly.”
Brandon closed the door as the servant left, and when he turned, he found himself meeting Raelynn’s gaze. It seemed to him that she looked suddenly unsure of herself, but he had no idea how to put her at ease. He lifted his shoulders in a lame shrug. “Farrell must have sent word over to him.”
“All the way to Oakley?”
“Probably at Jeff’s townhouse in Charles . . .” Brandon broke off abruptly, realizing he had just betrayed his brother’s confidence. Seeing Raelynn’s deepening confusion, he offered an excuse that was no real exaggeration of the truth. “Jeff has had a lot to do lately at his shipping company. He didn’t want to have to ride in every day, so he let a townhouse from a friend.”
Raelynn opened her mouth to speak, but then closed it again just as quickly, realizing she was on the verge of tears. In view of the fact that Oakley was about an hour’s ride from Charleston, she had consoled herself that her husband had had no time to come in to see her when he was so busy tending to his many business affairs. If, however, he had been in the city all this time, then she could only believe he had been deliberately avoiding her since she had started working at Farrell’s.
In fear of betraying her crumbling reserve, Raelynn cleared her throat and dared to put forth a question. “Has he been there long?”
“I’m not exactly sure how long it has been now. Only a couple weeks or so, I think. I’ve lost track.” It seemed a trite excuse Brandon offered, but true. While he had been so wrought up worrying about what Heather would have to face during the birth of their child, he hadn’t hardly thought about anything else.
“Brandon,” Heather called from the bed.
“Yes, my love?” he answered, moving to her side. He was grateful for her interruption, yet he also sensed she had something on her mind that didn’t necessarily involve him.
His wife clasped his large hand against her bosom and smiled up at him gently. “Go downstairs with your brother. I’d like to talk with Raelynn alone for a few moments.”
Brandon perceived that she intended to lay out the complete and honest truth before their sister-in-law, and that it would be better for all concerned if he removed himself. He did so willingly, preferring to leave rather than witness the tears that would likely be forthcoming. “Don’t do anything while I’m gone now,” he urged with wane humor. “I said I’d be here with you to the end, and you know I always keep my word.”
“Even if you pass out doing so,” Heather teased, lifting her face to receive his doting kiss.
“Me?” Brandon straightened and turned a pointing finger toward his own chest in an attitude of wide disbelief. At her grin and nod, he feigned a bruised countenance, “Why, madam, shame on you. I wouldn’t do anything like that.”
“Of course not,” she sweetly agreed and squeezed his lean fingers before letting him go.
When the door closed behind him, Heather beckoned Raelynn around again to the left side of the bed, near the spot where she lay. Raelynn readily complied, but at Heather’s sudden grimace, she reached out and clasped the delicately boned hands.
“Can I do anything to ease your discomfort?” she asked anxiously, amazed by the small woman’s tenacious grip.
Unable to answer, Heather strained downward a lengthy moment until at last the contraction eased. Then she blew out a long breath, and once more slowly inhaled. Regaining her composure, she smiled up at Raelynn. “It won’t be too much longer now.”
“You wished to speak with me,” Raelynn asked gently.
“Yes, dear. I just wanted to assure you that the reason Jeffrey is staying in Charleston has everything to do with you.”
“Me?” Raelynn laughed at the absurdity of such a notion. If not for the fact that she was so completely distraught, her actions might have seemed to mimic Brandon’s earlier protestations. “But I haven’t hardly seen him since I left Oakley. He came to Farrell’s shop briefly, but he didn’t even glance at me.”
“That doesn’t mean Jeffrey hasn’t been concerned about your welfare. All along he has had men watching over you to ensure your safety, mainly from Gustav. I haven’t been informed of just where his men are located, but I believe they’re fairly close to the areas where you’re working and living. Jeffrey is staying in Charleston in case there’s trouble.”
“It seems he’s just as honorable as always,” Raelynn replied stiltedly. “Or is he just using me as bait to catch Gustav?”
“Raelynn, dear, I truly believe Jeffrey cares for you. Otherwise . . .”
“If that is true, then why hasn’t he come to see me?” Raelynn interrupted, her voice weakening. “If you ask me, it’s just a matter of manly pride. He can hardly be accused of leaving me to my own defenses if he has men watching over me when Gustav decides to come calling again with his ruffians.”
Heather tensed and pressed her hands against her stomach as another contraction rent her restraint. After a moment, she gasped, “You’d better call Hatti. I think the baby’s head is beginning to push through.”
Raelynn tore from the room and rapidly descended the stairs, calling for the black woman. Brandon charged out of the study
like a man possessed, and as he bolted for the stairs, Raelynn stumbled to a halt, her eyes falling on the tall, handsomely garbed figure entering the main hall.
As their eyes met, Jeff nodded a greeting and leisurely advanced to the stairs, there placing a booted foot upon the first step. Though the hall had suddenly come alive with servants rushing to and fro, carrying bundles of linens and buckets of water, Raelynn remained unaware of everything but her husband until she realized of a sudden that Hatti had passed her some moments ago.
“Heather will be wondering where I am,” she gasped. Whirling, she caught up her skirts and raced back upstairs. She didn’t realize just how much she was trembling until she had closed the bedroom door behind her and leaned back against it. Of a sudden, her knees felt so weak they seemed incapable of bearing her weight. If not for the fact that she had clenched her teeth, she had no doubt that they would have been chattering by now. Chiding herself for allowing her husband to dismantle her reserve so completely, she forged an unsteady path to the bed, totally amazed by his debilitating effect on her. But that was not the worst of it, by any means, for her heart was thudding chaotically against the wall of her chest, as if she had run a fierce race.
At present, Heather was straining hard to thrust her child into the world. Brandon was beside his wife, his long fingers entwined with hers, appearing every bit as stalwart as his physical bearing conveyed as he murmured encouragements and dabbed at her glistening brow. Only Raelynn noticed that the large hand, which gently wiped Heather’s brow, was shaking far more now than it had been. Indeed, it nearly matched the tremor in her own.
“Yo’ doin’ fine, honey chile,” Hatti encouraged as she busily prepared the bunting for the new arrival.
Heather’s head fell back upon the pillow as the spasm passed, and for a moment she panted as if thoroughly spent. Then she let out her breath in a sigh, composed herself, and glanced around, only then noticing her sister-in-law standing near the end of the bed. Heather held out her free hand invitingly, and Raelynn seized it, fighting anxious tears. Between Jeffrey and Heather, she didn’t know if she’d ever be the same.
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