by Kitty Margo
After thanking each man personally for his years of loyalty and faithful service, Joshua strode below deck to his cabin to pack. Memories flooded him as his eyes fell on souvenir pieces from the various countries that he had visited over the years.
He gently lifted the teakwood box that contained his most treasured possession and breathed a deep sigh. Lynna’s locket.
As he had every night for the past three years, he wondered what if. What if he had wed Lynna Rhodes when she believed herself to be carrying his child? Would he now be settled on his family’s cotton plantation bouncing a baby on each knee? Would he have Lynna in his arms each night instead of only imagining her there? But enough of rehashing the past, he had done more than his fair share in the last three years.
The locket contained a likeness of Lynna’s mother that had been lost under his bed during their one and only intimate encounter. Looking at it was akin to looking at Lynna herself since both women possessed the same unique beauty. Joshua held the tiny locket close to his chest, remembering the tiny wisp of a girl who had stolen his heart three years earlier.
No one since, and there had been many in his futile effort to banish her from his mind, had come close to loosing the passion that the little lady had stirred in him. Returning the locket carefully to the box, he stored it with the other treasures in his sea trunk. Now these pieces would serve as his only link with his past.
Shaking his head, he forced his mind to concentrate on the business at hand as he quickly completed his packing and left the ship.
Nothing had changed. The Battery was still a noisy beehive of activity with ships loading and unloading their cargo, peddlers hawking their wares, and drunken sailors returning to their ships after a night on the town.
To Joshua’s well traveled eyes Charleston was still the most beautiful city on earth. He had found nothing in his journeys to rival the stately mansions, picturesque homes, and colorful gardens. As always, Charleston’s beauty and grace were unequaled.
He steered his horse along the cool shade of Church Street where towering oaks and magnolias stood alongside stately palmetto trees, their leaves swaying softly in the gentle breeze that blew inland over the Cooper River. Tiny sparks of sunlight filtered through the trees, dancing a mottled pattern around him as the rustling leaves blocked the sun’s rays for a short time before shooting through in a burst of gold when the leaves again parted.
The loud clip clop of horse’s hooves could be heard as he steered the steed down cobblestoned Chalmers Street. The cobblestones had been brought to Charleston as ballasts on English ships and then unloaded and replaced with cargos of indigo, rice, or cotton. A wide grin split his rugged features as he thought back over the many memorable evenings spent in this area, in what the more religious sect called the houses of ill repute or Mulatto Alley.
As he rode through town a nagging thought struck him as he passed by a milliner’s shop and caught sight of a very immodest, bright pink satin ball gown on display in the window. He envisioned a slim body draped in that gown, or one very similar to it, but could bring to mind neither a name nor face to go with the body. He dismissed it as trivial. If the lady in question had appealed to him in the slightest, she would not have been so easily dismissed from mind.
Once out of the city he spurred his horse to a full gallop, eager to be home. Breathing deeply of the scent of the rich low country soil, he rode for hours as the sun moved higher in the sky, stopping once to rest his horse and drink from a cool, bubbling stream. Worry gnawed at him as he neared home, dreading having to relive the pain he had felt at Christmas, finding his once hale and hearty father bedridden.
A few miles from home he steered his horse up the avenue of cedar trees that led to Cedar Hill, a neighboring plantation. Whether a wish to be welcomed home by old friends or simply postponing the inevitable, he could not be sure.
Stopping in front of the towering white columns of the plantation house Joshua leapt from his horse to grab Beth, who had dashed down the steps to greet him.
“Joshua, I’m so glad you’re home.” She laughed gaily as he lifted her from the ground to twirl high above his head. “I have missed you something terrible.”
“I’m glad to be home, Little Bit.” He winked slyly, knowing that she detested the nickname he had tagged on her as a child. “And you have grown even lovelier than you were when I left.”
“Joshua Jordan. We were wondering when you would show your ugly mug around here,” Beth’s husband Samuel bellowed, coming around the side of the house from the direction of the barn. “Unhand my wife, sir.”
“There is the rutting scoundrel who stole my one true love whilst I was away at sea and could not fight for her,” Joshua accused a grinning Samuel, while still holding a merrily giggling Beth high in the air.
“Oh, Joshua, you are incorrigible,” Beth smiled down at him affectionately. “Put me down.”
“Admitted.” Joshua grinned. “But you love me anyway. And now that I have retired my seafaring ways, you can divorce that dirty dog from Georgia who wormed his way into your affections and married you behind my back. Come to Sea Grove where you belong, my sweet Beth.”
“Over my dead body,” Samuel stormed.
“Very well.” Joshua released Beth and clasped Samuel’s hand warmly in his. “Choose your weapon, sir.”
“Hush all of this nonsense about weapons and come inside for a cool drink.” Beth looked upon both men fondly.
Beth’s mother had died giving birth, leaving her to be raised by her overly stern father. He was a good man, but ever watchful where his only child was concerned. Beth had envied the loving family life at Sea Grove and spent a great deal of her youth there with Joshua’s sister, and her best friend, Malinda. Joshua had watched over both young girls, dismissing any number of unsuitable suitors as they had both grown into charming young ladies.
Glancing over Samuel’s shoulder, Joshua’s vision was drawn to a slight movement on the verandah. Suddenly a long forgotten memory came rushing back to him. The girl in the pink satin ball gown. Now he remembered. She was Samuel’s sister. What was her name? She really was quite lovely, but try as he might he could not attach a name to the face. Casually climbing the steps, he took her extended hand, bowing low to plant a soft kiss on it. “Good evening...”
What was her name?
“Suzanne,” she furnished somewhat crisply after seeing that her name altogether eluded him. Batting her lashes demurely, she simpered, changing her tune completely, “Surely you haven’t forgotten little ole me, Captain Jordan.”
“A man never forgets a beautiful lady.” She was pretty enough, although not exactly what he would consider beautiful. Joshua reserved that title for only one.
Suzanne’s face fairly glowed with excitement and she was about to fish for more flattery from the fine male specimen before her when Beth rudely, she thought, interrupted them.
“Joshua, I realize how eager you are to be home with your family, but surely you can spare us a toast to your homecoming.”
“Have I ever been able to deny you anything, Little Bit?”
Beth beamed. “No, and you never will.”
Immediately upon walking through the front door Joshua noticed the striking transformation.
“It doesn’t look like the same house, does it?” Beth came to stand behind Joshua as he fingered the white lacy curtains. “What do you imagine Papa would think of the place now?”
“He would be extremely proud that you married a good man and have made a charming and comfortable home for him.”
“Oh, how I have missed you, Joshua,” Beth whispered, hugging him close. “It hasn’t been the same without you.”
“If you two would rather be alone,” Suzanne whined, her jealousy overriding her common sense. “My brother and I can go back outside.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Suzanne.” Beth gave her sister-in-law a quelling glance. “Joshua is the brother that I never had.”
“Well, I do hope that yo
u will not be inclined to feel brotherly toward me,” Suzanne purred, thoroughly embarrassing her brother and his wife, evidenced by Beth’s reddening cheeks and Samuel’s disconcerting frown.
Deciding to ignore her brazen remark, Joshua took a seat on the settee, stretching his legs to relieve the cramps from the long ride. Much to his surprise, an overzealous Suzanne plopped down beside him, almost on top of him actually. Now he remembered what he didn’t particularly care for about the frivolous female. She was too forward by far and he had a definite aversion toward overbearing women.
Suzanne’s perfume reminded him of the night of a Christmas Ball when she had made it known, loud and clear, that he was her intended catch of the day. If he remembered correctly, she had been visiting her brother then also.
Always the quick study, Joshua had been shrewd enough to realize within mere seconds of making her acquaintance that her innocent demeanor was little more than a facade. He had also been quick to recognize her interest in him and add his name to her dance card.
No sooner had they reached the dance floor than she proceeded to rub her soft body against his in a most seductive and inviting manner, oblivious to the stares her actions were causing.
“You dance divinely, sir,” she had whispered softly against his ear as her tongue darted out to caress his earlobe.
Momentarily taken aback by her brazen behavior, Joshua had drawled, “That’s not all I do well.”
“Why not let me be the judge of that?” had been her heated reply, not at all put off by his boldness.
Never one to deny a willing female, Joshua had escorted the shameless young lady across the dance floor, through the open French doors, and outside into the starry, moonlit night. Leading her through the garden gate, he had taken her into his arms under the sweeping branches of a weeping willow tree, shocked by her passionate response. She had behaved as a woman starved, her hands moving through his hair as she moaned deep in her throat. His lips caressed hers, kissing her long and hard until she broke away and proceeded to unbutton his trousers.
“Damn,” she swore softly, after hearing her brother Samuel calling her name from only a few feet away. “We’ll continue this later,” she had promised, pausing long enough for one last lingering kiss. “To be perfectly honest, I am sorely tempted to ignore my brother’s rather persistent calls, since I have no doubt that a tumble in the grass with you would be well worth a few lectures on propriety. But then again, it might be best not to press my luck.”
Samuel might very well become furious enough to send her home.
“And besides, there should be plenty of time to become better acquainted with you, Captain Jordan. After all, this is the season of parties and I will be attending them all, especially now that you are making the party circuit.” She had hurried back into his waiting arms for one last kiss before darting through the garden and back into the house.
She would be greatly affronted to learn that Joshua had not given her so much as a fleeting thought since that night.
“Joshua, dear, you haven’t heard a word I said,” Beth chided.
“I’m sorry, Beth,” he apologized. “Please, forgive my rudeness. I suppose that I am more tired than I thought. What with docking the ship, packing, and the ride home I’m tired enough to fall asleep right here.”
“Well then, you should.” Suzanne leaned toward him with hard to conceal excitement, quick to suggest, “Beth has oodles of beds in this big old house, and you could sleep here and get a fresh start in the morning. In fact, I could ride home with you since I have been intending to visit Malinda, but just can never seem to find the time.”
“Joshua knows without being told that he is welcome to visit us whenever he chooses, Suzanne.” Beth cast a stern glance at her over zealous sister-in-law. “However, I’m sure he is anxious to inform his family that he has arrived home safely. Malinda was here just yesterday and informed us that her parents were eagerly awaiting their son’s homecoming, so we cannot expect to monopolize all his time. Although I seem to recall that you complained of a simply vicious headache and did not venture downstairs once during his sister’s visit.”
Beth rose, gave Suzanne a pointed look, and giving Joshua one last welcoming hug escorted him to the door. “You won’t be a stranger now, will you? I’m sure they will be keeping you busy over at Sea Grove, but do stop by to see us as often as you can.”
Joshua clasped her small hands against his chest. “You just try keeping me away, Little Bit.” Shaking Samuel’s hand, Joshua asked, “Could I impose on you now and then for advice, since I may be a bit rusty on plantation affairs?”
“Call on me anytime.” Samuel intended to walk with him outside, but after a meaningful shake of the head from his sister, he bid Joshua good night at the door and escorted an exasperated Beth back inside.
“Samuel, Joshua is tuckered out and would most likely prefer not to be bothered by your sister’s simpering ways tonight.”
Samuel drew his wife close, attempting to soothe her ruffled feathers. “Joshua is a big boy, honey. If he doesn’t care to be bothered, I’m sure he will not hesitate to tell my sister as much.”
Turning to bid Suzanne good night, Joshua found her draping a lacy shawl over her shoulders. “I’m going for a stroll in the fresh air. It’s such a pleasant evening.”
“Enjoy your walk, Suzanne. I’m exhausted and headed for home.” A cool night wind blew across the land as he walked toward his horse. He turned when he felt her small hand on his arm.
“What’s your hurry?” she purred. “If I remember correctly, you and I have some unfinished business to attend to.”
A few more hours without sleep wouldn’t kill him, Joshua surmised, and she might prove a pleasant diversion from plantation life in the weeks to come. “At your service,” he chuckled. Putting his hand around her tiny waist, he attempted to pull her toward him.
Inhaling sharply, Suzanne took a step back and glanced toward the parlor window. “You cannot be serious. Unfortunately, I do have a reputation to uphold, and unless I miss my guess, Samuel and Beth are peering through the curtains this very minute like some peeping Toms. At times, I think Beth is just looking for a reason to send me packing.” Her pulse raced from the feeling of having his hand on her waist. “I’m afraid we will have to show some discretion. Shall we meet later tonight?”
Joshua climbed into his saddle and peered down at her with his sea green eyes sparkling in the moonlight. “Name the time and place.”
“Meet me at midnight down by the pond.” She smiled brightly before turning to bolt into the house.
Joshua grinned as the door slammed shut behind her. She had certainly turned nervous and jittery upon finding him a willing subject. He would keep their rendezvous at the pond tonight, although he doubted that Suzanne would show after having witnessed her hasty flight just now. He knew her kind too well.
Chapter 11