by Kitty Margo
The rain poured down steadily throughout the night, drumming on the tin roof and settling the occupants of Cedar Hill into a peaceful slumber. By morning the lawn was standing in several inches of water and turning the oyster shell driveway into slush. Still the rain continued to fall over the hushed plantation.
The field hands enjoyed a day of much needed rest and most were still abed, however those who were awake were smiling broadly as the rain turned the fields to mire and assured them of at least one more day from the fields.
Going to her balcony door, Lynna saw that the storm had set in to stay. The sky was a leaden, ominous grey, draping an eerie cloak of darkness over the land as far as she could see and promising more rain to come. Dressed in warm clothes against the damp chill that had invaded the house, she proceeded downstairs in search of a steaming cup of coffee. She also had in mind to sample the country ham and buttered biscuits that smelled positively divine.
“Lynna,” Bethany Breanne chirped from the dining room. “Will you sit beside me at breakfast?”
Lynna scooped the darling child into her arms and tickled her ribs, sending her into peals of laughter. “I cannot imagine anyone I would rather sit next to.”
“I can,” Suzanne sneered behind her. “You may hope to entice Joshua with your coquettish ways, but let me assure you that you will not succeed. I noticed, as did everyone else, how you batted your lashes throughout dinner, dallying with him like the common white trash that you are.”
Lynna felt blood rush up her neck to stain her cheeks. Suzanne was jealous and spiteful, that was painfully obvious. “None of your accusations are true, Suzanne,” she spat, arching her eyebrow meaningfully. “And if you will recall, I was not the one making overtures last night. It was your Captain Jordan who seemed to have some difficulty keeping his groping hands to himself.”
Suzanne gasped, incensed. “Why, you devious little twit. You would give Daniel up just like that, wouldn’t you?” Snapping her fingers under Lynna’s nose, she gritted, “You never had any intention of marrying him, did you? You were just toying with him until you found a man with a wealthier purse. And you think my Joshua is that man? Be warned, Lynna, he is mine.”
Then, to make matters worse, Bethany Breanne chirped, “Joshua called Lynna his love last night, didn’t he, Lynna? The thunderbolts woke us and Lucy and I went to my balcony. He was talking to you under your balcony during the storm, wasn’t he, Lynna?”
Suzanne’s blood boiled as she mentally counted off the ways that she could cause Lynna a slow and painful death, while she watched a betraying blush stain the slut’s cheek. Of all the nights that she and Joshua had made love until sunrise, he had never once used that, or any other term of endearment with her. Spinning on her heels, she fled the room, humiliation causing her own cheeks to flame.
So, the little brat had heard Joshua’s words as well as that prying bitch, Lucy, her nanny. Suzanne knew Lucy would giggle and gossip about the incident for days, causing all the housemaids to snicker behind her back. She had to put a stop to this nonsense before it got further out of hand.
The rain continued even heavier than before. Lynna passed the morning lounging in her room and reading to Bethany Breanne. After lunch, she stitched needlepoint with the other ladies, huddled close to the fire. All of the ladies except Suzanne, who remained closeted in her room.
Lynna enjoyed the peaceful day, and by nightfall was pleasantly tired, quickly drifting off to a dream laced sleep with visions of a swarthy, raven haired sea captain.
The next day, after a morning of warm sunshine and steady breezes, the ground was dry enough for Lynna to venture outside. Vowing that she could not have stood one more day of being cooped up in the house with the insufferable Suzanne, she skipped down the steps in search of Daniel, hoping to persuade him to go riding. She would gladly face his pressuring questions of matrimony in exchange for an opportunity to get away from Suzanne’s veiled barbs.
However, the days of forced confinement had left Samuel’s chores backed up and Daniel had volunteered to help with his brother’s tasks.
Before Lynna could ride off on her own, which she would have dearly loved, Suzanne came traipsing out of the house looking elegant in a midnight blue velvet riding habit. She had a matching sunbonnet tied under her chin with three feet of streaming satin, and the brim pulled low over her face. “Are you two going riding?”
“Lynna is,” Daniel replied. “I was just coming to find you, so the two of you could go together. I promised to help Samuel today and I prefer she not go riding alone.”
“Daniel, honestly, I am quite capable of riding without a chaperone tagging along, for heaven’s sake,” Lynna admonished, unknowingly striking a most alluring pose with her hands on her hips and blue eyes flashing. Daniel had successfully sent her pleasant day to hell in a hand basket.
“Don’t be a goose, Lynna. I can accompany you.” Suzanne tilted her pert nose and scurried past Lynna into the stables. She returned a few minutes later leading two chestnut mares. “If I have to remain inside that house another second I shall simply go stark raving mad.”
It would be a short trip, Lynna thought sourly. But she didn’t question Suzanne’s sudden mood change. At least she would be outside and enjoying the glorious sunshine.
Saddled up, they cantered down the path behind the house at a leisurely pace. Lynna held her face to the sun, soaking up the rays as a warm breeze fanned her hair behind her. Feeling lighthearted and wanting to feel the wind, she glanced over at Suzanne who refused to allow her horse to move at a pace above a trot, lest an errant breeze muss her elaborately styled coiffeur. Throwing caution aside, Lynna raced with the wind, leaving a preoccupied Suzanne far behind.
She was some distance ahead, racing at a speed most would consider risky on a sidesaddle, and laughing gaily when she spotted a lone figure watching her from the shadows of a sycamore tree. She immediately recognized the black hair and broad shoulders. Must he be at every turn? Her first impulse was to turn and rejoin Suzanne, but his horse was already trotting toward her.
“Hello, Lynna.” Joshua’s heated gaze held hers prisoner. “You look radiant this morning, as usual.”
When she ignored his compliment, he grinned. “It would seem that wishes do indeed come true, since I was just wondering how I might have a private moment with you, when you magically appeared out of the blue.”
The man’s arrogance knew no bounds. “Captain Jordan, it would seem that you either suffer from hearing loss, dementia, or a sad combination of both. I have told you in English as well as French that I do not wish to have any private moments with you ever again. I made a huge mistake once, but I have put it behind me. Now, I would be eternally grateful if you would do the same.”
“And what was your mistake, my sweet?” He smiled, showing perfect white teeth. “We had a pleasurable… encounter, but unless you have been intimate with another man, why did that thought cut through his heart like the sharp edge of a knife, then you are still very much a virgin.”
Could what he was saying possibly be true?
“It has been three years, Joshua,” she pleaded with tortured eyes. “Please, tell me the truth of what happened that night. It is a question that has tormented me for too long.”
“Nothing,” he answered softly.
“How can you say that nothing happened?” she murmured. “I remember…”
“You remember a pleasurable experience that was very memorable, my love. But I did not take your maidenhead. On this, you have my word as a gentleman.”
Suddenly, she knew that his words were true. She felt it in her heart. She had leveled untrue allegations against an innocent man, yet, surprisingly he held no animosity toward her.
Joshua could plainly see the relief in her eyes when she finally accepted the truth.
“I’m sorry, Joshua,” she breathed. “I remembered feeling your hands … and Miss Johnson said…”
“All is forgiven.” In an effort to ease her discomfort, he fla
shed a brilliant smile that caused her pulse to quicken. “Now that we have that matter settled, finally. Would you care to ride with me down by the river? He winked. “Or are you perhaps afraid to be alone with me? Afraid you would not be able to…”
“To do what, Captain Jordan?” She grinned. “Resist your irresistible charm?”
“Those were your words, not mine,” he chuckled. “But yes, something alone those lines.” His dancing eyes suddenly dimmed when Suzanne appeared from behind a thicket of trees.
Suzanne positively glowed upon seeing Joshua, and she snatched off her bonnet after noticing Lynna’s golden locks flowing past her waist She yanked the pins haphazardly from her hair to shake it loose in what she hoped was a provocative gesture. “Why Joshua, I certainly did not expect to see you this morning. What a pleasant surprise.”
He smiled lazily, lighting a cheroot and sending smoke circling around his head. “I was just asking Lynna if she cared to accompany…”
Suzanne interrupted him, having no qualms with either including herself in the invitation or answering for both of them. “Why, we would love to, Joshua. How very considerate of you to ask. I might very well take leave of my sanity if I am forced to be shut up in that dreary house with that bothersome child for another day. It simply baffles me why children feel the incessant need to prattle on and on about such inconsequential things.”
Suzanne surreptitiously steered her horse next to Joshua’s. “Why, I might become as famous as Mr. Eli Whitney and his cotton gin were I to invent a muzzle for little girls,” she laughed gaily, totally dominating the conversation and leaving Lynna to follow behind, which suited her fine.
From this angle she could observe Joshua at her leisure without him ever knowing, and hopefully not get caught in the act this time.
Joshua knew he was being watched when the hair on the back of his neck prickled. He smiled broadly, leaving Suzanne with the mistaken impression that he truly delighted in her inane chatter.
The land was fresh and green after the rain, the fields a gay riot of wildflowers. Joshua nudged his horse off the main path onto a narrow trail that led through the woods. The damp leaves muffled the sound of the horse’s hooves with the only noise being the flapping of wings as frightened birds left the trees in droves.
“Ouch!” Lynna cried as a limb in front of her that was bent back by Suzanne, whether intentional or not, slapped her sharply across the face. Rubbing her stinging cheek, she could already feel an ugly, red welt rising. Clenching her teeth and muttering under her breath, she drew back and allowed them to proceed some distance ahead of her. Suzanne could be a royal pain in the derriere, especially when she was jealous, and the green eyed monster was perched front and center on her shoulder today.
A short while later they left the forest and entered a clearing dazzled by iridescent sunlight. Lynna was about to dismount when, much to her dismay, yet still not as much as Suzanne’s, strong, deeply tanned hands gently lifted her from the saddle. She glanced toward Suzanne and noticed her mouth forming a perfect O of outrage.
However, apparently unperturbed by Suzanne’s infuriated stance, instead of releasing her immediately, Joshua’s hands remained tightly clasped around her tiny waist. The pressure of his hands brought back such passionate memories that Lynna had to struggle against the urge to brush her lips against his as he gently lowered her to the ground.
Why did this man affect her so? The feeling was so strong that it was almost impossible to deny. She could almost taste his lips on hers. Thank God Suzanne was only a few feet away or she might have succumbed to the unrelenting urge to taste them again.
“What about me?” Suzanne whined, sounding on the verge of a childish temper tantrum. “Would you have me break my neck taking leave of this huge beast unassisted?” The high color in her cheeks was the only sign of her mounting fury.
Ever the gentleman, but with great reluctance, Joshua released Lynna. As she bent her head he noticed the vivid red welt rising on her cheek. Guessing correctly that Suzanne was to blame for marring her porcelain skin, he walked over and wrested her rather unceremoniously from her steed.
“Well,” Suzanne he hissed, smoothing her skirt. “I would have been better off falling from the blasted animal.”
Lynna could not suppress a giggle, which she quickly tried to cover. Too late, it only served to infuriate Suzanne and cause her eyes to blaze with smothered fury.
Releasing a seething Suzanne, Joshua returned to Lynna’s side to gently take her hand and lead her to the pond. “Allow me put some cool water on your face. Perhaps it will take some of the sting out.”
She opened her mouth to reply when she felt herself being drawn down beside him at the water’s edge. She watched as he dipped his kerchief in the cool water and with a feathery touch gently caressed her cheek. His touch was soothing and immediately removed any trace of pain from her skin, leaving in its place a warm, tingling sensation that left her face and rapidly spread throughout her midsection to parts beyond.
Joshua watched the passion flare in her eyes and his willpower altogether deserted him. The world around them ceased to exist as his hands moved behind her head and through her silky golden hair as his mouth descended to hers. His lips were so close he could feel her warm breath against his cheek.
Suddenly a splash, followed by a cooling spray of water, made them both glance up.
Horrified, Lynna’s hands flew to her mouth as Suzanne cavorted in the pond, absent her clothes, with her small breasts bobbing on top of the water.
Suzanne laughed derisively at Lynna’s shocked expression of horror. “Lynna, honey, close your mouth before a dragonfly gets in, and come join me.” Then to Joshua, “The water is heavenly, Joshua. Much warmer than it was last week when we got chilled to the bone before…”
“Enough, Suzanne,” Joshua warned.
Totally ignoring him, she gushed, “Oh, don’t be shy, darling. Lynna knows how we feel about each other, don’t you, Lynna? We don’t have to hide our true feelings for each other around her.”
“I said that was enough,” Joshua voice was as hard as burnished steel.
Heading toward her horse and intent on fleeing Suzanne’s humiliating display, Lynna was stopped by Joshua’s hand on her shoulder. “Don’t leave, Lynna. I don’t expect you to remove your clothes and join her.”
“How very generous of you,” she snapped, shoving his hand away and heading for her horse. “However, I do not intend to be a witness to Suzanne’s appalling lack of morals.”
“Please stay, Lynna.” Joshua grabbed her hand, seemingly not at all shocked by Suzanne’s lewd behavior. That should have been some indication that the man was accustomed to viewing Suzanne in all her glory, but she was too besotted by his devilish grin to think rationally. “Let’s take a walk until she cools off. Hopefully she will get dressed and forget this ever happened.”
Reasoning that Joshua could not be blamed for Suzanne’s disgraceful conduct any more than she could, Lynna allowed him to take her elbow as they moved toward the shadow of the trees. After all, he was an innocent bystander to Suzanne’s revolting escapades, and his dreamy eyes were coming closer, fusing with hers, his moist, soft lips inches...
“Joshua, honey, are you coming in?” Suzanne called, standing temptingly so that her bosom jutted out of the water. “We have not been able to meet here in days because of the rain. But we are here now, and surely Lynna could be prevailed upon to leave us alone for a short while. Couldn’t you, Lynna?”
“Certainly.” Incensed by Suzanne’s words, Lynna snatched up her skirts and raced to her horse.
Joshua had brought her to the very spot where he and Suzanne had their trysts?
Joshua was behind her, trying to help her mount, but she roughly brushed his hands away. How could she have been so blind? Such a naïve fool. Of course they were lovers. His arrogant attitude should have told her that he was accustomed to having any woman he desired at his beck and call.
Now
it was painfully obvious that he had tired of Suzanne and was ready to discard her like yesterday’s stale bread and start anew with her. What a fool she had been! Without a word, she mounted her horse and raced from the clearing.
A dark scowl crossed Joshua’s handsome features as he watched Suzanne’s dripping body leave the water and amble slowly toward him. Easing her slippery arms around his neck, she pressed her wet, naked curves against him, attempting to pull his lips down to hers. He pushed her away more roughly than he had intended.
“Is there a problem, darling?” she whispered huskily, urgently desiring to feel him inside her. “I knew you would appreciate my getting rid of Little Miss Prude so we could be alone.” Reaching for him, she was frustrated once more as Joshua again sidestepped her intended embrace. “It has been such a long time and I know you are as eager for my touch as I am yours.”
“Appreciate it?” he stormed incredulously. “Appreciate the fact that you behaved like a common whore?”
“Whore?” Her face flamed and she took a step back as though she had been struck. “If I behave like a whore it is because you made me one.”
“Your wares had been sampled long before I sailed into your life,” Joshua spat. “I was but one of many.”
Suzanne cringed as her outraged gasp echoed across the water.
With his temper somewhat abated, Joshua’s voice softened as he hoped that they might end their affair on amicable terms. “It was enjoyable for us both while it lasted, Suzanne. But our little fling is over.”
“Fling?” she cried, astonished and refusing to believe her own ears. “What are you saying? Over? You cannot mean that. You love me, Joshua. I know you do. I have been patiently awaiting a proposal of marriage.”
“Marriage?” Of all the fool notions. “Unfortunately you were dreadfully mistaken. I never promised you anything other than a good time and, unless I miss my guess, I believe that I have fulfilled my part of the bargain, Suzanne.”
With rising despair Suzanne watched him mount his steed and ride away, leaving her naked, dripping, and humiliated beyond words. In search of Lynna, no doubt. She had ruined everything. Suzanne closed her eyes, visualizing Joshua’s hands roaming over the strumpet’s more ample curves while whispering sweet words of devotion. That must never happen.
She would not lose Joshua, especially to poor white trash like Lynna. Why, the penniless waif would not have a single coin to bring to a marriage. And besides, Joshua was the only man in her entire life that Suzanne had ever truly coveted. She refused to give him up without a fight.
Lynna arrived home completely distraught and unobserved, so she was able to slip quietly into her room. Throwing herself on the bed, she silently gazed out the window at the fluffy fields of white and cursed herself for being so naive.
It was over an hour later when Suzanne arrived home with a satisfied smile and came straightway to her room to gloat. “Lynna, why on earth did you leave in such a fired up tizzy?”
Lynna could only glare at her, unable to hide her loathing. “I saw no reason to stay and watch you degrade yourself, Suzanne.”
“Degrade myself?” Suzanne’s laughter was keen as she waltzed around the room. “You never cease to amaze me, Lynna. Why, I didn’t feel degraded at all, quite the contrary. By the way, you have perfect timing. After you left Joshua joined me for a swim. Then, we lay down in the sun to…um…dry.”
“Are you saying that you paraded around him without your clothes?” Lynna tried to conceal her shock, as nothing Suzanne did should surprise her anymore.
“Lynna, dear, when will you lose that childhood innocence? It is difficult to satisfy a man, especially one as lusty as my Joshua, while still fully clothed. A real man likes to see what he has in his hands.”
Lynna was appalled by her words. “Suzanne, your behavior is like that of a common whore in the red light district. I cannot believe that you have so little respect for yourself.”
Suzanne’s hands clenched tightly by her sides and her breathing became shallow as she heard Lynna call her the very same word that Joshua had used earlier. Swallowing the rage that boiled in her throat, she forced her voice to remain calm. It would never do for the trollop to see how upset she truly was.
No, she must convince Lynna that she and Joshua had spent the better part of the afternoon happily ensconced in each other’s arms. “Respect is boring. I choose to spend my life in pursuit of exciting endeavors. With a man like Joshua, what more could a girl wish for?”
Suzanne began to undress, shedding her clothes carelessly in a heap on the floor. “He was magnificent today, by the way. I could have happily remained in his strong arms until morning.” Picking her clothes off the floor with a contented sigh, she started for her room in her chemise. “I’m going to take a nap now. Joshua insists that I meet him by the pond again tonight and I have no intention of disappointing him. The man simply cannot seem to get his fill of me.”
As Suzanne closed the door, Lynna could feel only pity for the girl. She sympathized with anyone in love with the devil incarnate, Joshua Jordan.
Chapter 17