“Circe, did you hear me?”
All she could manage was a nod.
“So you now understand what you need to do?”
Again she nodded.
“Circ—”
“Let her go, Dot,” Robert said in a kind manner.
Circe took the opportunity he gave her, climbed up the stairs, and entered her bedchamber. She crossed to the balcony and stood there, looking out over the green landscape and turquoise ocean with it’s white capped waves rushing in and kissing the shoreline. A sheen of tears made it difficult to make anything out clearly. Why am I so upset? Everything she said was true. I came here with one purpose in mind and I became sidetracked. “Tonight, my quest starts in earnest,” she said to no one but herself.
Chapter 15
“How do I look?” Reese asked Tally. The little girl had sat outside his door, waiting for him to make an appearance.
“Pwetty,” the little girl said with an impish smile.
“I wish you were going to this party with me,” he told her.
She just smiled at him in response.
“How would you like to come with me? We could dance the night away, and you would be the prettiest girl there.”
“Weese,” she said and giggled as he picked her up and swung her around. Then he placed her on his hip and danced his way down the hall making her squeal then laugh uncontrollably. “Again, again,” she said, jumping up and down in his arms encouraging him to move. He wound his way into the kitchen where Ruth was sitting at the kitchen table.
“Tally, you shouldn’t bother Reese like that. He has better things to do than entertain you.”
“It’s all right, Ruth. Tally’s my best girl, aren’t you, sweetheart?”
The girl patted Reese’s cheeks, kissed one, then laid her head on his shoulder.
“Ye certainly have won her over,” Ruth said, an odd note in her voice. She let out a breath and then smiled at Reese. “Yedo look rather handsome, Reese. Ye’ll have more women fawning over ye than you know what t’ do with,” she said, sounding like herself once again.
“That is not what I want in the least. I’m merely going to make connections and introduce myself to the community.”
“And watch out for Miss Hayhurst.”
“O’Connor talks too much.”
“That’s what couples do—talk.”
“Among other things,” Reese said bouncing Tally and making silly faces at her.
“Yes, well…” Ruth went to stand up and immediately dropped back to the bench, clenching the table until her knuckles turned white.
“Ruth, what’s wrong?” She couldn’t answer him for several seconds. “Ruth?” he repeated worriedly.
“There’ll be another li’l O’Connor come morning,” she said with a smile. “Do you need to sit down?” she asked when Reese turned pale and looked as if he might wilt to the floor in front of her.
“No, no, I’m fine. But what about you? Shouldn’t you be in bed or something?”
“It’s a long way off, Reese.”
“What about O’Connor? O’Connor! I’ve got to go find O’Connor!”
“He’s work—”
“What’s going on?” The man they were discussing walked into the kitchen from the courtyard.
“Papa!” Tally squealed and reached for her father. O’Connor took her and kissed her cheek with a loud smack, making her giggle. Then he crossed to Ruth and dropped a loving kiss on her cheek as well.
“The baby’s coming,” Ruth softly told her husband.
Reese actually felt himself blush. It was like when he had walked up on private moments between his parents when they had believed themselves to be alone. He remembered walking into the study at Taggart Hall when he was home after the Michaelmas term at school one year. His parents were sitting in front of a roaring fire on the settee, his father sat in the corner with his arm around her and his mother was cuddled up next to him, her head resting on his shoulder. They were talking softly and laughing and then his father had leaned down and gently kissed her brow. At that moment he had felt like an interloper much as he did right now. He had never felt that kind of closeness with a woman, not even Isabella. He cleared his throat to ease his discomfort.
“Is there anything I can do?” Reese asked worriedly when Ruth seemed to tense again.
“Ada,” Ruth managed to say.
“Who?” Reese asked, confused.
“Moses’ wife,” O’Connor clarified.
“I’ll go,” Reese said, looking for a reason to escape. “Come on, Tally girl,” he said, plucking the girl from her father’s arms in order to give her parents a moment of privacy. Reese walked through the courtyard and towards the worker’s houses. He walked up to Moses’ house and knocked on the door. It was opened by a young girl who looked to be about thirteen. “Is Moses in?”
“Mr. Taggart, what can I do for you?” Moses asked after coming to the door.
“Ruth needs your wife.”
Moses took one look at Reese’s pale face, nodded his head, and turned to walk deep into the tiny house. A woman appeared in the doorway shortly afterwards.
“Ye tell Ruth I’ll be there as soon as I get the children and Moses fed.”
“But shouldn’t you go right now?”
“These things take a while, Mr. Taggart. Now leave Tally with us. My children’ll look after her.”
He reluctantly set Tally on her feet and she tore off after Moses’ children. When he returned to the house it was to find Ruth up making a plate of food for O’Connor.
“Shouldn’t you be lying down?” Reese asked gruffly for the second time.
“There’ll be time enough for that later. Where’s Tally?” Ruth asked.
“Moses’ children are watching her. His wife will be here soon.”
“Good. Tally won’t be underfoot. You have a wonderful time at the party.”
“I’m not going. O’Connor’s going to need someone to pace the floor with him and…”
“And we’ll be just fine. Now, go on. Ye’ve got people to meet. Sean went to saddle yer horse for ye.”
“He left you alone?!”
“Reese, I’m havin’ a babe. All will be well. Now, go.”
He turned, left the house, and walked to the stables. He met O’Connor coming out with a saddled horse. “Get back to your wife,” Reese ordered.
“I plan on it. Remember, people aren’t goin’ t’ like that you’ve hired on freed men.”
“I know. You let me worry about that.”
“And most importantly, don’t mention me or Ruth to anyone, please.”
“You have my word. I will be on my best behavior. Besides, you have enough to worry about tonight. Take care of your family.”
“I will,” O’Connor said and nodded at Reese. “I’m just glad I won’t be deliverin’ this one like I did Tally.”
“You did what?!” Reese asked incredulously, his foot slipped out of the stirrup. If he had not been gripping the saddle, he feared he would have landed in an inelegant heap on the ground.
“I’ll tell ye about it sometime.”
“I’d really rather you didn’t,” Reese said, feeling a little sick to his stomach. He wondered how his brother was going to be when Penelope delivered their child. “I need to go,” he muttered, put his foot back in the stirrup, and then found his seat in the saddle. He nodded at O’Connor before turning the horse and cantering down the lane.
* * *
Circe stood amongst a group of admirers talking, laughing, and hating every minute of it. Every man there was egotistical and considered himself to be the utmost authority in every topic that was initiated, yet she pushed aside her disgust and managed to simper, giggle, and flutter her eyelashes like she had seen so many other young women do. As she looked around the room, she noticed she was earning the ire and disdain of every single woman present, as well as their mothers and chaperones.
“Oh, Miss Hayhurst, might I refill your cup?”
&n
bsp; “That would be absolutely divine,” she said flirtatiously and handed the cup to the gentleman. She could not even remember his name right now. Is he the one attempting to move up within the government? No. He is the one that is the heir to the shipping company. At least I think he is. Or is he a barrister? Ugh! There are simply too many of them to keep straight, she thought disgruntled.
“Attention, the dancing will begin shortly. Let us all move to the ballroom, shall we?” their host announced.
A murmur of excited voices rose among the crowd. Even Circe perked up at this news. At least she would no longer be forced to carry on conversations while dancing.
“Miss Hayhurst, might I have the honor of the first dance?” Lord Erickson asked, having made his way to her side.
“Should you not dance first with the lady you brought?”
“Caroline won’t mind in the least. We merely came as friends.”
Circe looked over at where Caroline stood with a group of ladies and was taken aback at the cold stare the other woman sent her direction. Lord Erickson might believe they were only friends, but Caroline was expecting much more. Circe felt herself being dragged across the ballroom and took her spot for the quadrille. They waited several minutes while the musicians tuned their instruments and the other couples joined them on the dance floor. The beginning strains of the song were played. On cue, the couples began moving in and out of one another in a dizzying pattern. Something was off tonight because she usually enjoyed attending, and participating in, dances. It was one of the few things she could do without repercussions, but tonight she felt invisible daggers being stabbed into her from women all over the room. Whenever she passed one of the women participating in the dance, she felt a ghostly jab or someone try to trip her, causing her to stumble several times and receive worried glances from her dance partners.
When the quadrille was over, the musicians began the opening notes of another song. Before she was able to reach a shadowed corner, another man asked her to dance. She accepted and allowed him to lead her back to the dance floor. Again the stares and again the jabs that she could not quite see and feet placed strategically enough to make her appear to be completely lacking grace.
“Are you all right, Miss Hayhurst?” her current dance partner asked.
“Yes,” she tried to reassure him just as she turned and almost fell into the arms of her new partner. She turned and caught a glimpse of a dark-haired beauty beaming up at Lord Erickson. Lord Erickson, however, turned and looked at Circe and bestowed her with a cocky grin. The dark-haired girl followed his gaze and gave Circe a glare full of hatred, causing her to recoil as if struck at by a snake. She was passed off to a new partner and came particularly close to the brunette.
“Stay away from Erickson,” she warned. “He’s mine.”
I do not want him! she silently screamed at the chit. But soon enough, there Circe was, back in Lord Erickson’s arms with him looking down at her adoringly. He was not even the man who had asked her to dance, but because of the type of dance, she would have to partner with every male participating. Somehow, he had enough time to drone on about himself, and it took all her effort not to roll her eyes at him. Thankfully, it was time to change partners and she was paired with a pleasant, married man. That is, he was pleasant until he made a not-so-subtle pass at her.
“Sir, you are married,” she hissed when they came together.
“She need never know. I know your parents, you know,” he said with a lascivious wink.
And just like that, her heart began to race, and her stomach churned sickeningly. “How many?” she managed to ask.
“How many what?”
“Know my parents,” she clarified.
“Rather a great many, I’d guess.”
Circe thought she would be ill. She had come here, hoping for a fresh start when all these people knew about her, as well. Knew about her parents. Knew she was a bastard. Will I ever be able to outrun their scandalous relationship? she asked herself, feeling dejected. She was passed onto another partner who was also married and offered her yet another opportunity to be his mistress. What is going on? This was not how the first party went. So many acted like they did not know her lineage. Of course, they were familiar with Uncle Robert and Dorothea, but they seemed to have little interest in her parents. What had changed between then and now?
Her eyes darted around the room, quickly studying different people and trying to size them up, trying to determine if they would tell her secrets or not. She was just about to be handed off to another partner when she noticed at some point a newcomer had entered their midst. Reese Taggart. Just as quickly as the sight of him took her breath away, anger suffused her, because other than Uncle Robert, only Reese knew who her parents were. He knew the gossip that was her life. He knew what she had been running here to escape from. He had known her goal and just because she had not had intercourse with him, he had felt the need to tell all the men about her past. If he could not have her then no one could. Was that his game? Even now, there he stood, holding court and regaling them with tales. Is he even now telling them about me and my family? she wondered. Briefly they caught one another’s gaze before she was spun around and placed in the arms of her next partner.
* * *
Unable to take anymore men coming to him and demanding what he thought he was doing working with only freed men, he made his way outside to the terrace. It did not have the views that Windcrest did, but it was much more pleasant than the hostile environment inside. Funny how he now looked forward to that view and how it soothed him. He was breathing in the fragrant air when someone suddenly punched his arm, close enough to the spot where Circe had shot him to make it throb.
“Bloody hell!” He reared back a fist, turned around, and just as he was about to lay into the man who had hit him, he stopped inches from Circe’s beautiful face. She was looking at him with such anger and disgust that he was baffled as to what he had done to deserve such contempt. “What was that for?”
“As if you do not know!”
“No, I don’t bloody well know. I was standing out here trying to escape accusations that I am singlehandedly destroying Barbados’ economic system and worrying about my manager’s wife when I was suddenly punched in my bloody arm.”
“What’s wrong with Ruth?” she asked, frantically. “Tell me!”
“The babe’s coming.”
“Oh,” she said with a hint of longing in her voice. “I am certain she will be fine. She is strong and Sean delivered Tally. They will all be well.”
“You knew that?”
“Women talk.”
“Well, I hope all will be well. Childbirth is dangerous, and I’ve grown to think of her like a sister,” he said before growing quiet.
“No more dangerous than duels at dawn,” she countered.
He snorted at that and they stood there for several minutes in silence looking out over the small garden. “Now, would you like to tell me why you hit me in the arm?”
“Do you know how many times I have been propositioned tonight to become a man’s mistress?” she hissed.
“What?”
“You heard me. And all because of you! You and your bloody ego! Just because I refused to copulate with you,” she hissed, “you have successfully ruined my chances at finding a husband here.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You, holding court over there and telling all who would listen of my scandalous past. About my parents and their…their…”
“Their what?” Reese demanded in a rough growl.
“Their unique living arrangement!”
“Circe, do you really think I have nothing else to do but gossip about your family to others?”
“I would not have…I would not…”
“Have sex with me? Do you really think you are the first woman who has turned me down? Besides that, do you really think I would seek revenge on a woman for turning me down?”
“Wouldn’t you?”
“What?”
“Irritating,” he practically shouted at her, taking a step towards her. He wrapped his hands around her upper arms, pulled her close, and lowered his mouth to hers, sensually attacking her mouth with his. Reese relaxed his hold when she didn’t even try to fight back.
“I should have known Taggart would have gotten to you first,” Lord Erickson tutted. “Say, old man, be sure to leave us something to enjoy. I’d rather have first go at her myself, but—”
His words were cut off when a fist landed squarely on his jaw, knocking him backwards and over the terrace’s railing.
Circe’s head was still reeling from how quickly she had gone from being kissed by Reese to being bodily pushed behind him. There was a loud thud before she heard Reese yelling at Lord Erickson.
“Miss Hayhurst is every bit a lady, and it would do you good to bloody well remember that!” The people inside standing close to the terrace heard the commotion and made their way out to see what was going on. The murmur of voices rose as they grew more excited about what they saw.
Circe looked around and knew the situation needed to be defused immediately, before they attracted even more attention. “Reese, please just—”
“Just what, Circe? Allow him to continue to malign you in that manner?”
“I can take care of myself,” she argued and stepped past him. She approached the man lying prone on the grass. “Lord Erickson, are you all right?” she asked as she squatted down beside him. She tapped his cheek lightly until he started to come around. “Lord Erickson, how do you feel?”
“I think he broke my bloody jaw,” he muttered.
“I hope I did,” Reese said from above them.
“Lord Taggart,” Circe chastised. “Come, Lord Erickson, let’s get you on your feet.” Somehow, as Circe worked to get him to his feet, Lord Erickson’s hand slipped and grabbed her breast. “Unhand me, you fiend,” she growled low so that the gathering crowd would not hear her.
“I just want my share, Miss Hayhurst. Circe,” he purred in her ear.
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