“And if you can’t, you’ll stay here and allow me to see if I can turn this plantation around?”
“Only if you will allow me to help.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m giving you fair warning, I’m hoping the ship captain refuses your request.”
“I would be surprised if you had said the opposite. Also before we marry, I will have the truth of all that happened between you and your brother. If it comes to us marrying, I want to know where the rumors end and the truth begins.”
“That is fair enough, but I want your word that at the end of the tale you will still marry me.”
“Is it that bad?”
“Let’s just say it is not the proudest moments of my life.”
“Where will we get married?” she asked, hoping he would take that as an agreement that no matter how bad his history was, she was willing to marry him.
“I don’t know, but I will figure that out as well. Now, can we seal our agreement?”
“I suppose,” she said, holding out her hand as if to shake his. She watched as Reese approached her, ignored her outstretched arm, and instead cupped her face with both of his hands. Knowing what he was planning, she closed her eyes as he moved in and brushed his lips against hers. Circe focused on the feelings he evoked within her. She sighed, allowing him to deepen the kiss. She reached out and grabbed his waist to steady herself as their tongues dueled with one another.
The feel of a little body launching into their legs had them breaking apart, but Reese refused to let go of Circe while she bent down to pick up Tally. He put an arm around her waist and tugged her close to his side. Tally dropped her head on Circe’s shoulder and grinned at Reese.
“I can’t wait to try to make one of these with you,” he whispered in her ear.
Circe knew the blush moved through her body, from her hairline down, and felt a place low in her pelvis clench with anticipation.
“So, what’s goin’ on?” Ruth asked.
“We’re getting married,” Reese answered, a smile on his face and in his voice.
“What?” O’Connor asked, joining the group.
“Papa!” Tally squealed excitedly squirming to launch herself from Circe’s arms to her father’s.
“Hi, baby,” he said, catching her in mid-air and swinging her up in his arms. He crossed to Ruth and brushed a kiss on her temple. “Now, what’s this ‘bout ye gettin’ married?”
“There’s nothing about it. We’re doing it and that’s the end of the story.”
“If there is no way I can get to England,” Circe interjected.
“You’re leavin’?” Ruth asked, visibly upset at the news.
“Possibly,” Reese answered, “but doubtful.”
“No leave,” Tally pouted. Circe reached out, took her hand, and dropped a kiss on it.
“When?” Ruth asked.
“Tonight,” Reese again supplied the answer.
“Should I send men for your things?”
“No!” Circe shouted.
“Circe, trust me,” Reese said calmly. “If necessary, we’ll get her things later.”
“All right,” O’Connor agreed.
“Circe, would you like to help me with the food while the men get cleaned up?”
“Yes,” she agreed readily.
“Don’t run away,” Reese instructed her and dropped a kiss on her brow.
“I have given you my promise,” Circe said and gave him a wary smile.
“You won’t regret it.”
Once the men left, Ruth asked, “Ye’re marryin’ Reese Taggart? I thought he wasn’t the man ye were lookin’ for?”
“It seems fate had a different idea. Besides, by tonight I might be on my way back to England.”
“Ye’re leavin’ somethin’ as important as marriage up to fate?”
“Believe me, Ruth, the alternative is much, much worse. Now, what do I need to do to help you?”
“Oh, you can’t leave it at that.”
“I am,” she replied as her insides churned nervously.
* * *
Hours later, after a futile trip, depending upon how one looked at it, to Bridgetown that required Circe disguising herself as a man, she and Reese returned to Windcrest Plantation. Both were drenched from the storm that had rolled in while they were on the ship speaking to the captain. It was said storm that had the captain telling them that no ship would be leaving the safety of the harbor for the next three to four days. As if punctuating his words, a lightning bolt had struck the topmost mast of a nearby ship, sparking a fire, which in turn struck fear into one and all. So here they were, standing in the kitchen, dripping water onto the floor after having taken care of the horses, eyeing one another awkwardly.
“I suppose I should get out of these wet clothes,” she said nervously.
“Allow me to show you to my bedchamber.”
“I remember where it is from when I changed clothes earlier,” said quickly.
“Of course.”
She was halfway across the kitchen when she remembered something rather important, at least to her. “Reese, I…”
“Yes?” he prompted when she didn’t continue.
“I think I forgot to pack a night rail and wrap. I was in such a hurry this morning that I only grabbed a few things.”
He started to tell her there was no need for her to wear anything at all, but knew that would be the wrong thing to say at this point. Reese could see she was nervous and perhaps already regretting the exchange of their vows in front of the ship’s captain, his first mate, and another sailor. The latter two had served as witnesses. So, instead of teasing her, he said, “If you look in my wardrobe, you should find a shirt you can sleep in.”
“But what will you wear?”
“I think it best we not discuss that right now,” he said. “I’ll get you something to dry off with.”
“Thank you.” Circe walked down the hall and saw Ruth peeking around her bedroom door. The other woman slipped out, pulled the door closed behind her, and met Circe, throwing her arms around her.
“I’m so glad you didn’t leave,” she said.
“Ruth, you will get wet.”
“Oh, my, goodness, you are soaked.”
“A storm moved in.” Circe’s explanation was punctuated by a loud clap of thunder.
“So I hear. What does that mean?”
“It means we’re married,” Reese’s deep, husky voice answered. He carried a large bath sheet in his hand.
“At first the captain did not believe I was a woman and would not perform the ceremony. I had to prove to him I was a woman,” Circe said, choosing the funniest thing about the trip to share.
“What did ye do?” Ruth asked, her eyes round.
“She showed him her hair and he decided no man would go around with that much hair, not even a sailor at see for months at a time,” Reese answered.
“Hmph. Good that he didn’t ask for more proof.”
“He wouldn’t have gotten it,” Reese said.
“Go to the kitchen and wait for me, Circe. We need to get you warm and dry.”
“But Reese—”
“Can wait,” Ruth said. “Can’t you, Reese?”
Circe saw a look pass between the two before she heard Reese say, “Yes, I can. Do as Ruth says.”
“All right,” Circe agreed. She took the proffered towel and smiled shyly at him as he gave her a wink.
“I’ll get you a shirt to wear.”
“Thank you, Reese,” she said. She felt both grateful for his kindness and the reprieve from her wifely duties. Her stomach churned with a combination of nervousness and anticipation.
“Come along, Circe,” Ruth said, tugging her towards the kitchen.
Circe followed her to the fireplace and rubbed her hands together, realizing that they were, indeed, cold. The storm had brought with it a coolness that she had been too distracted to feel until now. She watched Ruth stoke the fire back to blazing life. She stepped c
lose to it and held her hands out in an effort to warm them up.
“I need to learn how to do that,” Circe muttered absentmindedly.
“What?”
“Start a fire.”
“Oh, I imagine ye’ll be startin’ plenty o’ fires soon ‘nough,” Ruth said teasingly.
Circe blushed, not sure what she meant, but guessing it had something to do with the intimacy she and Reese would be sharing.
“Here’s that shirt,” Reese said, carrying it into the room and laying it on the table.
“Thank you,” Circe said. Her clothes had begun to feel hot and cloying in front of the fire.
“I’ll leave you in Ruth’s capable hands,” he said before dropping a kiss on her brow, and then turning to leave the two women alone once more.
Circe stood and watched his retreating figure.
“He cares about ye.”
“He says we are friends.”
“That’s a good thing. Ye care ‘bout him, don’t ye?”
“I am afraid to,” Circe admitted as she struggled to remove the unfamiliar men’s clothing.
“Why?” Ruth toweled Circe’s hair trying to soak up as much water as possible. As soon as she was out of the clothes, the bath sheet was wrapped around her.
“I am afraid of being hurt. That he will want someone else eventually.”
“What exactly did the captain say?” Ruth asked, wisely changing the subject.
“There would more than likely not be any ship leaving for several days due to the storm, and if there were, he doubted that any of them would be willing to take on a female passenger.”
“And?”
“And Reese checked and could not find any captain willing to take me on. So we went back to the first captain we spoke to, and he agreed to marry us. Perhaps he will be gone before Dorothea can think to check the ships.”
“And?”
“There is nothing else, Ruth,” Circe said as she lowered herself to the floor. She turned her back to the fire so that her hair would hopefully dry faster.
“Tonight you’ll become his wife.”
“Please, do not remind me,” she replied as she placed her forehead in her palm.
“Circe, ye do know what happens between a man and a woman in the marriage bed, don’t ye?”
“Of course, I do. My mother told me all about the physical aspects of a wedding night.”
“Ye’ve told me ‘bout yer mama before. I’ve no doubt she loves yer papa and he her. I also believe she’s quite smart, but did she tell ye ‘bout the emotions and feelin’s ye experience when ye come together with a man ye care ‘bout?”
“In a way, but I really do not want to have this conversation. I am too nervous as it is, Ruth. If I go into this marriage with expectations based off my parents’ relationship or your marriage, it would be too much. Already I am fearful that I will be a disappointment to him.”
“How? Ye’re smart and want t’ help him.”
“Do you realize you have just described everyone on this plantation? I am afraid I will disappoint him in our bed,” she whispered the last two words. “He has a certain reputation in that area, and I have no experience whatsoever.”
“Reese will take care of you.”
“Or laugh at me and wonder why he came up with the idea to marry me in the first place,” she said and laughed caustically.
“Stop that,” Ruth admonished. “One thing I’ve learned ‘bout yer husband—”
“Please do not say that. That word makes me nervous.”
“Yer husband,” Ruth said, ignoring her, “does nothin’ he doesn’t want t’, and that includes marryin’ ye. Now, slip into this shirt. Yer hair’s dry ‘nough.” As Ruth helped her to put on the shirt she continued to talk, “There are few women that aren’t a little nervous on their weddin’ night. It’s because it’s unknown. Let Reese take control. Trust him.”
“I will try. That is all I can promise.”
“That’s all I ask.” Ruth gave her a warm hug. “Go t’ yer husband.” Ruth stayed behind to bank the fire and spread Circe’s borrowed clothes out to dry.
Circe left the room and walked slowly down the hallway. She took a deep breath and let it out before she entered the bedchamber that now belonged to her and Reese. As she approached the bed, she heard loud snoring competing with the storm raging outside. She tiptoed around the bed and peeked at him through the gauzy curtain that surrounded the bed. His eyes were closed and he snored in exhausted slumber. Suddenly she felt guilty for having kept him from his rest. He worked hard during the day trying to turn Windcrest Plantation around, and then he attended almost every party or ball she did at night. She also felt relieved at the reprieve from the wedding night activities.
She quickly visited the water closet, tiptoed back around the bed, carefully sat on the edge so as not to disturb Reese, and pulled the netting completely around the four poster, fully enclosing them. She swung her legs up and wiggled down beneath the covers. Circe watched the light chase away the dark with every lightning strike. The turbulent weather matched her mood well. She lifted her left hand and studied the ring that felt odd on her finger, the ring Reese had slid on there a few hours earlier, his signet ring. He had promised to get her something special later, but she had told him it did not matter. She let her hand fall heavily back to the bed. Slowly, she began to relax and felt sleep teasing her. Her eyes closed, and she finally drifted into a deep, exhausted sleep.
Chapter 21
Circe sighed contentedly. She was having the most wonderful dream. She had given up her husband hunt and allowed Reese to sweep her away, and now he was introducing her to the passion that had simmered between them. His body was lying spooned close behind hers. Her head was pillowed on one of his arms and she could feel the other resting heavily across her waist. Soft kisses fell along her neck to the juncture where it met her shoulder.
She was uncertain how it happened, but her nightdress was being pulled open and the kisses continued trailing along her collarbone to her shoulder. Kisses were placed along the skin of her arm that was revealed by the open gown. None of the dreams about Reese that had consumed her in the past had felt this real or caused these sensations coursing through her body, and there had been more than she was willing to admit. She found herself wishing his touch was real and not just a phantom dream lover. She rolled partially onto her back.
“Kiss me,” she murmured. “I love your kisses, how they cause tingles all over my skin.”
“I find your kisses are fairly amazing, too,” Reese whispered in her ear.
She was so deep in her dream she could feel his warm breath stir her hair. Reese nipped her earlobe playfully then took it between his lips and suckled gently. “Reese, kiss me,” she whispered again. She felt herself being gently rolled onto her back. When the kiss came, it was everything she had remembered and so much more—a tangle of tongues and of joining. Circe raised an arm and draped it about his strong neck. “I never want to wake up.”
“Oh, you’ll wake up, because I want my wife to be fully aware that I’m making love to her,” he said.
Her eyes fluttered open, and she looked upwards to see someone hovering over her. She blinked again to clear her vision until she recognized the figure over her was not her dream lover Reese, it was the real man. Frantically, she tugged her night rail closed, no not a night rail, but one of Reese’s shirts that did not entirely cover her legs. One of your husband’s shirts, she corrected herself. Just as the thought had crossed her mind, she watched him bend over and brush a kiss over her knuckles that tightly gripped the material closed.
“Where is your nightshirt, knitted socks, and matching sleeping cap?”
“Pardon?”
“You know, what men sleep in. I had always dreamed of knitting my husband socks and a matching sleeping cap.”
“I hope to hell we are both in our dotage before that happens,” he said as he leaned over to kiss her.
“Reese, I do not think—”
“Don’t think. Don’t do anything but just feel and experience. I promise I’ll take care of you and we’ll go as slow as you need to. I don’t want you to be frightened. You know I never would have imagined my breeches would look so amazing on a woman before I saw you in them tonight. The way they hugged your curves should be illegal. I wanted nothing more than to be able to strike the men we encountered blind so they couldn’t ogle you.”
“They were doing no such thing.”
“Once they knew you were a woman they were, and now to see you wearing nothing but my shirt, well, I might consider purchasing you a different type of wardrobe if I thought I was the only one that would see you in it.”
“Reese, you’re teasing.”
“Oh, I am most definitely not teasing, wife.”
She studied his eyes and realized that several lanterns were lit around the room, but turned down low, creating a romantic atmosphere. Circe heard the rain still beating against the window panes and saw the lightning flashes followed by rumbles of thunder. She looked beside her and saw that Reese was lying on his side with his head propped on one hand. Circe’s gaze skirted to the end of the bed and worked upwards. She could see the outline of his feet and legs beneath the covers which ended at his waist. He was bare from the waist up. What she saw had her salivating and her fingers itching to feel him. Her eyes moved upwards until they met his once more. His mercurial eyes looked more blue with mere hints of green and gray tonight. She must have said the words out loud because she was shocked when he responded.
“That’s the passion I feel for you showing through,” he said huskily. “Now, I believe you had a request for me.”
“I did?” she asked, drawing a blank. She inhaled sharply when he trailed the back of his fingers of his free hand down her cheek.
“You did,” he replied.
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