Dakota Dreams (Historical Romance) (14 page)

Dakota was contemplative for a moment. "Yes, I will do that. I will give her time to know me."

***

After dinner that night, John and Levi excused themselves, leaving Breanna and Dakota alone in the salon. For a long moment there was silence between the two of them.

Breanna wore a gown of white, with green ribbons on the sleeves and skirt. Her hair was pulled away from her face with a green velvet ribbon and fell in curls down her back. She moved about the room, examining different objects, pretending interest. She picked up a delicate white porcelain vase, softly touching the tiny yellow roses interwoven on the smooth surface. In truth, she could hardly breathe because Dakota's eyes were on her, watching her every move.

"Breanna," he said at last. "The night is warm. Would you care to walk with me in the garden?"

"Yes, my lord " she said, quickly moving across the room like a dutiful wife, knowing he was following her into the garden.

It was a beautiful night. A bright moon was suspended in the ebony sky, and stars twinkled like thousands of fireflies.

Dakota stood beside her, taking care not to touch her. He decided to make polite conversation.

"Breanna, I read in a book that when it is night here, it is daytime where I come from."

"Can you read?" She hadn't meant to ask that, and wished she could take the words back when his jaw tightened.

"Yes, I can read. I have been reading books since I was a child."

"It is astonishing, is it not? I mean—the part about it being nighttime here while it's daytime in America."

He smiled. "Yes, it is astonishing. It means that before I came here, while you were awake, I was asleep."

"Do all Indians read?" she asked, hoping she hadn't offended him.

"I cannot speak for others. Levi always brought me books. I have come to appreciate that since it prepared me for this time in my life."

Breanna glanced at his handsome profile in the moonlight, wishing she could know all about him. She could tell he was a complex man, and she found herself wanting to please him.

"I have read very little. I suppose there was never enough time."

Dakota turned to her. He watched the soft moonlight play across her face and felt his throat tighten. He had not been with a woman in a very long time, and this one was so desirable, and she was his wife. He wanted to say something to show how he felt about her beauty, and John's suggestions came to mind.

"Your eyes are beautiful," he blurted out. "Your hair is lovely." It sounded rehearsed, even to his ears.

She smiled. "Did you read that in a book?"

A smile curved his lips. "No, actually on asking advise on how to please a woman, John and Levi offered me those choice suggestions." His voice deepened with sincerity, and his eyes plundered her face. "However, I hasten to add that your eyes and hair truly are extraordinarily beautiful."

Breanna stared into his eyes, feeling the magnetic pull of them. She knew she was swaying toward him. Her hand came up against his hard chest, and she jerked it away quickly. She could scarcely catch her breath. "I . . . feel chilled. Would you mind if I go in now?"

"No, of course not," he said, hiding his disappointment and wondering what he had done wrong. "Forgive me for keeping you out in the night air."

She searched his face, wondering if he would allow her to go to her room alone. "I will bid you good night, my lord" she said nervously.

"Yes, sleep well" he told her, wondering if he would ever breach the wide gap that separated the two of them and join their two worlds together.

13

For two days it had been raining, and Breanna's spirits were dampened. She saw Dakota only at dinner. Immediately thereafter, he would excuse himself, and she would not see him again until the next day.

Breanna wondered what she had done to offend him and why he was trying to avoid her. She was hurt and disheartened, thinking he did not find her pleasing.

She often stood before the mirror, trying to find what might be displeasing to her husband. Even John appeared to be avoiding her company. The only one who seemed to tolerate her presence was Levi, and she thought Dakota might have encouraged the hunter to be her companion, so it would free him from the task.

She liked Levi, and found his tales on America fascinating. So far, however, they had avoided talking about the one person who dominated Breanna's thinking—her husband.

***

It was a cloudless morning as Levi accompanied Breanna into the garden to cut fresh flowers. She was dressed in a blue taffeta gown that rustled as she moved down the garden path, gathering flowers that were in full bloom. She had to smile at the picture of the rough hunter following behind her, carrying an armful of red roses.

It was a glorious day, and she slowly felt her cares melt away beneath the clear blue skies. Breanna was unaware of her fragile beauty, but Levi was very aware of it. He smiled, knowing this little girl had Dakota in a spin.

Raising a delicate rosebud to her nose, she filled her lungs with its sweet scent. "Isn't it wondrous weather?" she said, reaching out her arms as if she were embracing the day.

Levi's heart was filled with her beauty. He was grateful that Breanna was young in spirit and mind so she would infect Dakota with some of her enthusiasm for life. Dakota was far too serious for his own good.

Levi was beginning to admire this young woman, and to realize how fortunate Dakota would be if he ever decided to overcome her maidenly resistance and take her to his bed.

"Yep," Levi agreed. "It's a right nice day. Of course, I find this island of yours too confining for my taste."

"Island? I never thought of England as an island."

"Well, it is to me. I have a hankering for home."

"Where do you call home, Levi?" she asked, realizing that she had never thought of him as living anywhere in particular.

"Most anywhere there's not many people about. I'm partial to the mountains, though."

"I would love to one day see your country, Levi. I can only imagine how magnificent it must be."

"If you don't mind me saying so, Breanna, I saw a mite more of your country than I wanted to. I want to go where I can breathe the mountain air, and where a man can ride for days without meeting another human being."

"You are staying in England for . . . Dakota's sake, aren't you, Levi?"

"Yes. And if he goes back, I'll go with him."

Her heart sank. "If he goes back?"

Levi realized he had spoken out of turn. "I don't suppose hell ever go back home, now that he has a wife."

"Has he no one in America he cares about?"

"He has friends. But me and him is kinda like family." He gave her a bright smile. "You are family too," he added generously.

Breanna laughed delightedly, knowing the old hunter had just paid her a high compliment. She had a feeling he didn't give his friendship easily. "Thank you " she said, laying her hand on his. "I can use all the family I can get."

"Breanna," Levi said, and the way his eyes shifted away, she knew he was about to say something that made him feel uncomfortable. "We are just getting to know one another, but still I feel like I can talk to you."

"I'm glad, Levi."

"You mustn't think Dakota is ignoring you. He's very aware of you at all times. He has had a lot of grief in his life lately, and is only learning to handle it. Here, everything is new to him, and you might say he's kinda finding his way."

"Why is he grieving?"

"He lost someone who was very close to him," Levi said, unwilling to go into detail. If Dakota wanted Breanna to know about Two Moons and Running Deer, he would tell her himself.

"I sense that he is troubled."

"He don't show his feelings like other people, but I can always tell what he's feeling."

"Is he feeling trapped in this marriage with me, Levi?"

"It's not my place to convince you of Dakota's feelings. I just want to say this. It's like when he met you, he got a fox by the tail and he don't know what to do with it. The fox might be a beautiful animal, but it takes lot of guessing to know what its next move will be and how to handle it just the right way."

She smiled. "Do you think me a beautiful animal, Levi?"

His eyes danced. "I surely do."

Breanna's laughter danced merrily on the wind. "It's a novel idea being compared to a fox. Do you Americans always compare people with animals?”

Levi looked embarrassed. "I didn't mean to offend you none, Breanna."

"Oh, Levi, you didn't. Are you saying Dakota is afraid of me?"

"Somewhat. But I reckon it will be best if you find out about that for yourself. I was trying to explain Dakota to you, but that takes a mite of explaining. 111 just say this and nothing more. He is the most honorable and noble man I know. His Indian father instilled in him a gentlemanly code that you won't find on the pages of a book, in the drawing rooms of London, or Washington, for that matter. If he tells you something, you can take it for the truth."

"You admire him, don't you, Levi?"

"Yes, I do. If I'd had a son, I wouldn't want him to be any different from Dakota."

"I wish I had an understanding of him, Levi. I find him very complex. Also, I must admit I am afraid of him."

“In what way? He would never harm a woman. He is a gentle and caring man."

"Well, we come from different worlds. He is different from all the men I have known. . . . I have to admit I haven't known that many."

Levi chuckled. "You don't need to fear him, he's afraid of you enough for the both of you. He wants so badly to be the man he thinks you expect him to be."

"I have not seen this, Levi."

"Sometimes we can't see what we are standing too dose to. I probably shouldn't be telling you this, but do you ever wonder what he does with his nights?"

She gave Levi a guarded look, since they both knew Dakota didn't spend his nights with her. "It had crossed my mind to wonder where he rushes off to each night."

"Don't ever let on that I told you, but he reads—book, after book, after book. He has a thirst for knowledge that can never be satisfied. Since he met you, he has driven himself even harder wanting to please you."

"I don't understand."

"One day you will. You got a good head on your shoulders, so one day you will know what goes on inside of Dakota. For now, it is enough for you to know that he is trying to better himself, so he can stand even with you."

Before Breanna could make a comment, she saw Dakota walking down the garden path toward them. He was dressed in dark blue trousers, black boots, and a light blue shirt. His dark hair glistened in the sunlight, and Breanna found her heart pounding rapidly. As always, he seemed remote and cold. Only his emerald eyes held a hint of warmth.

As Dakota drew even with her, a slight smile curved his lips. "My lady, may I ask a favor of you?"

"Yes, of course."

"Is it possible that you play chess?"

She was so taken aback by his question that it took her a moment to answer. "Why, yes, I am a very good chess player, if I don't sound too overconfident."

"I have been studying the chessboard in the library, and I have read a book on chess that tells all the moves. I believe I understand the game, but I have no one to play with. John says he does not know the game."

Breanna caught Levi's eye and his look as much as said, "I told you so." "I would be delighted to play with you, Dakota. But I warn you, I can be a ruthless opponent, and I will give you no quarter merely because you are a beginner."

Dakota's eyes sparkled as he realized she had called him by his name for the first time. "I will chance it," he said, taking her arm and leading her toward the house, while Levi's eyes followed them.

Levi knew if the two young people spent much time in each other's company, nature and human feelings would take care of all the rest.

***

For the next three days Breanna and Dakota spent the afternoons playing chess.

With the chessboard between them, Breanna sat on a cushion on the floor, her chin resting on her hand, her mind searching for a way to get out of the trap Dakota had laid for her. She reached out and touched her bishop—but no—if she made that move, she would lose her bishop to Dakota's rook. A smile curved her soft lips. She remembered one of the rules her brother had taught her in playing chess. The best way to protect yourself, he had told her, is to launch a strong attack.

Her eyes met Dakota's, and with renewed confidence, she slid her queen across the board to confront his king. "Check!" she said with arrogant satisfaction.

Dakota arched an eyebrow at her. "You fell into my trap, Breanna. I applied an old Indian strategy to the play. I allowed you to surround me so I could pick you off."

She glanced quickly at the board. "I don't see... oh..."

He smiled, shaking his head. "This really pains me, Breanna... but, such is war and chess." He slid his knight forward, took her queen, and announced without an ounce of smugness, "Checkmate, madame!"

She slumped forward in a flurry of petticoats, her smile impish. "You have me. Never have I seen anyone play chess the way you do. I haven't won a game since the first three we played."

She glanced up at him, meeting his steady gaze and remembering what Levi had said about him wanting to please her. Breanna was sure Dakota was a man like no other, and she was astounded by his ability. al am amazed at your proficiency in everything you do, Dakota. I am considered a more than fair chess player, yet you, who learned to play from a book, have totally destroyed my game." She touched her head in a salute. To the victor goes the spoils."

His eyes softened. "May I consider you the spoils of war?" he asked, his eyes probing and searching.

In a move that took her totally by surprise, he grabbed her wrist, pulled her across the chessboard, scattering the game pieces in every direction. She gasped when he held her against him. "It is a wonder I could concentrate on anything with you sitting across from me, looking so adorable and tempting," he admitted.

Breanna lay in his arms, looking up at him and watching the darkening of his eyes. She knew that she had seen that look before, and it made her tremble with some unknown anticipation. She realized she should twist away from him, because she knew what he had in mind, but she lay there, unwilling, or unable, to move. Now his eyes were focused on her parted lips as she waited, aching for the touch of his kiss.

Softly his lips touched the corner of her mouth, but when she turned her head to meet his mouth, he raised his head and looked deeply into her eyes. "I took your queen—shall I now take my Viscountess?"

She looked confused. "I... no, please."

His eyes closed for a moment while he brought his labored breath under control. "You are free to go," he said, standing up and offering her his hand. "Flee, while you can, my lady. The day will come when I shall checkmate you."

With her heart pounding, Breanna gathered up her gown and fled from the room. On her way upstairs, she wondered what would have happened if she had not run away.