Echoes of Tomorrow (24 page)

Reed muttered a distracted "Good night" then stalked to the bell pull and rang for the butler.

"Lock up the house, Obiah.  We won't be needing you anymore tonight."

"Yessir, Mistah Reed.  You goes on up to bed.  You looks plum done in."

Reed's thoughts matched those of his servant. 
Done in.  That's exactly how I feel.  I just wish I knew why.

As he walked quietly down the darkened hallway he saw a dim strip of light along the floor.  A door opened downstairs and a gust of wind rushed passed him, blowing Elise's door open several inches.  He brightened.  The door stood slightly ajar, and he wondered if she was still awake for a little chat.  It couldn't have been more than fifteen minutes since she'd left Aunt Lil.

He poked his head into the narrow opening of the doorway and raised his hand to knock.  He stopped before his knuckles ever met wood.  A groan threatened to rise from his chest, and he forced himself to swallow in a desperate attempt to moisten his suddenly parched throat.  A furious heat began in his face and burned a trail to the very core of his being.

In the shadows of the canopy Elise settled herself into bed.  A single flickering candle on the nightstand caused faded beams of light to dance across her gleaming skin.  Her hair pooled upon the pillow as she fell backward.  A creamy thigh glowed as it moved into the light, then disappeared into shadows.  He glimpsed the fullness of a breast before the sheet rose with agonizing slowness, partially covering it, only to reveal the smooth skin of a rounded hip.

Every muscle in his body was paralyzed.  Yet there was a part of him that was most definitely not suffering from paralysis.  His mind was blank, and his body started toward her of its own volition.  At that moment he heard a gentle whish, and the room was plunged into darkness.

His head snapped out of the doorway as the darkness brought him to his senses.  Moisture returned to his throat, but the other effects of seeing her naked remained.  The image of Elise, her body glistening in the heat as she lay atop the sheets, would burn forever in his mind.

His thoughts returned as he limped down the hallway and readjusted his trousers.

Done in.  That's exactly what I feel like.  But now I know why.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

The following three days were an exercise in patience for Elise.  Reed was gone by the time she rose, either to the fields or into town with various errands.  He usually returned only in time for a quick, late supper.  He would then drag himself upstairs to bed before everyone else retired. 

He was avoiding her.

She worried that something had happened the night he was with Angeline - something that threatened to destroy her future...or was it her past?

The few moments she’d managed to spend in his presence, he avoided looking at her.  Conversation was stilted.  How in the world would she be able to jog his memory of her if he continued to remain so indifferent and aloof?

The front door slammed, and she heard Reed's familiar steps approach the parlor.  She was alone at the moment.  This was perfect timing.

He stopped in the doorway.  Predictably, upon seeing Elise he mumbled an excuse and started to back out the door.

"Reed, wait.  I want to talk to you."

He strolled into the parlor, inspecting the ceiling, woodwork, furniture - anything and everything but her.  When he got to the center of the room he stopped, feet planted wide apart, hands clasped at the small of his back.

She drank in the sight of him and reveled in the intoxication only he could produce.  Black riding boots hugged his strong calves.  Above the boots, buff-colored breeches accentuated the muscle definition of his massive thighs.  The white lawn shirt lay open at his neck, and Elise's fingers tingled to trace the tanned collarbone that was so enticingly revealed.  He looked so very much as he had the day they'd met.

He stood motionless, then finally turned his gaze toward her.  When she failed to speak, he inclined his head in query.

Time for action.  What she hoped for was a subtle jar to his memory.  She moved to a loveseat as if settling in for a long conversation and executed a much practiced drop onto the brocade cushion.  As planned, the underlying hoop skirt immediately flew to her face and hovered there several seconds.  Elise knocked it back down and delivered what she hoped to be an excellent act of surprise and embarrassment.

"Oh, goodness.  I'm such a klutz."

She made a big display of smoothing her skirts and re-situating herself.  When she finally peeked coyly up at Reed, she could have cried.

He stood with his back to her, pouring a measured amount of brandy into a snifter.  When he swung back around, his face showed no indication he'd witnessed her display.  He gestured to her with his snifter-filled hand.

"Would you care for a refreshment?" he questioned.

Elise stared at him disgustedly and shook her head "no."  She decided the time for beating around the bush was over.

"Reed, have I done something to make you angry?"

He blinked once, but his questioning look didn't falter.

"No.  Have I done something to give you the impression that you have?"

The days of his ignoring her, the hours of boredom and tension all came to a head.  A sigh of frustration exploded from her lungs.

"No, Reed.  I'm just not well-versed in Southern hospitality.  I realize I'm an uninvited guest, and I've taken advantage of your kindness."  She jumped to her feet and threw her shoulders back.  "I'm sorry for the inconvenience.  I'll take one of the gowns Sukie made and leave the rest.  She made several.  You'll be reimbursed when I'm able.  I do appreciate you taking me in, but now it's time I move on."

She started to march out the door, but Reed's hand shot out and grabbed her arm.  She yanked it away from him but remained where she was.

"Elise, I am terribly sorry.  I was not aware of the extent of my rudeness, and I realize now that I have, indeed, been rude.  I can only hope you believe me when I say I do not want you to leave.  I heartily apologize for any misconceptions I may have created."

She began to feel her heart melt, and her insides flowed with warm honey when his face changed from serious apology to charming smile.

They stared at each other for several seconds.  Elise's heart pounded as she welcomed back the wonderful smile she had grown to love, a smile she’d seen much too little of lately. 

"I'm sorry I blew up.  I guess my situation is getting to me."

"I was entirely at fault and deserved a more severe tongue-lashing than you delivered.  I am certainly the one who owes the apology."

Reed gestured for her to seat herself again, then took a place on a Chippendale chair across from her.

"I had intended to speak to you today, anyway.  To date, none of the inquiries I have made have produced any information on you or your family.  I feel certain it is just a matter of time.  In the meantime, there is to be a ball here at Oak Vista in six days.  I apologize for failing to mention this sooner, but I want to assure you that your presence at the ball is desired.  I realize your wardrobe is limited, therefore I have instructed Sukie to fetch whatever you need.  She is at your disposal and is very capable of producing appropriate attire for the function."

Elise saw her chance to spend some time with him.

"Oh, dear."

"Is there a problem?"

"Well, it's just that...it's a ball, you say?"  Reed nodded.  "I'm just not quite sure I know how to dance.  That seems to be one of the things I've forgotten."

She wore an apologetic mask when she looked up into his eyes.  After a disappointed sigh she shook her head.

"I'm afraid I'll have to take a raincheck."

"Raincheck?"  Reed's eyebrows lowered, his eyes squinted as he questioned this phrase.

"Decline.  I wouldn't want to go and then embarrass you.  I already seem to stand out like a sore thumb."  She shrugged and strolled away from him, playing her disappointment to the hilt.

"Er...quite."  Reed scratched his temple as if he were waging an inner struggle.

He had spent every waking moment finding ways to avoid this woman.  Each time he saw her, all he could think of were the flashes of bare, golden skin he'd glimpsed - and still saw vividly each night in his dreams.  His thoughts of her were becoming a threat to his relationship with Angeline.  And now here she was, being charming and pitiful, obviously wanting to attend the ball - the ball where he would announce his intentions to marry Angeline.

The last thing I need is to spend time with this woman.

"Perhaps I could spare some time each day to instruct you.  I am sure you will remember the steps once your memory is refreshed."

Elise perked up at once.

"You would do that for me?"  Her smile really was endearing.  "How about now?"

"Well...I..."

"Are you busy?"  Her bright-eyed look of anticipation was so sweet.

"Well, no, but...I...well, okay." 
Okay?  Good Heavens, now I'm picking up her language.

"Great!  So where do we do it?"

Reed groaned internally as double meanings and second thoughts ran rampant.

"Right here will be fine.  We have sufficient room to maneuver.  Let's see, where shall we begin..."

"The waltz.  I want to learn the waltz first."

Her enthusiasm made it difficult to deny her.  After squeezing his eyes shut and pinching the bridge of his nose, he dropped his shoulders in defeat and nodded.  He had hoped she would at least remember that one.

What ensued was a comedy of errors.  Elise's first step treaded lightly on his toes.  She apologized and they began again.  This time she stepped on his other foot.  When they finally managed a few steps without mishap, Reed's hold on her became feather light.  He tried to hold her at arm's length without actually touching her.  Just as he seemed to be getting the hang of it, she tripped and barreled into his chest.  His hand tightened around her waist, but as she slid downward he found himself cupping her breast instead.  Her right hand grabbed the front of his shirt, while the left one slid roughly down the back of his trousers to grab a handful of fabric at his thigh.  When they got their balance the two stood motionless through several heartbeats, then jumped apart as if they'd touched their hands to a flame.  Elise laughed.

"Oh, geez, I'm such a klutz!  I'm really sorry..."

That did it!

"Elise!" he roared, "Where in the name of God do you come from?  What is a klutz?  What is a raincheck?  Why do you say ‘Hi' instead of ‘Hello?'"  He paced the floor while he plowed his fingers through his hair.  "Why do you speak the way you do?  Why do you dress the way you do?"  His voice escalated to a bellow. 

Verda was passing the doorway, and when his voice crescendoed she skittered, wide-eyed, up the stairs and out of sight.  Obiah calmly strolled past the scene, visibly forcing himself not to look.

Reed's diatribe ran out of steam quickly as he watched Elise back away from him, her wide eyes filling with tears and turning pink.  She backed away until her hip met the escritoire.  She didn't try to speak, but simply shook her head slowly in denial, tears shimmering on her lower lashes.

"Elise, I am sorry.  I did not mean..."

As Reed took a step toward her, his hand outstretched, she turned to run from the room.  Her hoopskirt caught between the loveseat and table, and when she yanked it free, it clanged back and forth against her legs like a huge bell.  He heard her sob "Damn" under her breath, then she ran to the foyer and clattered up the staircase.

"Elise, stop!  I didn't mean it, little one!"

He rushed to the newel post, hoping to catch her, but she'd already disappeared.

Elise slammed her bedroom door and fell back against it in a dejected slump.  Her eyes burned with tears but she was too stubborn to allow them to fall.

What had gone wrong?  Reed had fallen in love with her so easily in the twentieth century.  They were the same people, but now he held himself so distant.  She refused to admit the lifestyle they were living now might influence his feelings toward her.

A lone tear found its way onto her cheek, with the threat of more to follow.  She swiped at it angrily, then tilted her head back, opened her eyes wide, and blinked until the threat had passed.

While she stood there she strained to hear any sounds from downstairs.  She prayed she would hear the familiar thud of boots come down the hall and stop in front of her door.  But all she heard was the muffled ticking of the grandfather clock in the foyer.

The flood of tears no longer imminent, Elise walked with stooped shoulders to the window seat overlooking the back gardens.

I
really screwed up this time,
she thought as she hugged her legs to her chest and propped her chin on her knees.

She had seized the opportunity to coax some dance lessons from Reed just so she would have a reason to touch him and spend more than five minutes in his presence.  She had been deliberately clumsy in order to inspire him to continue the lessons until the ball.  The flaw in her plan was that she kept expecting him to react like the semi-liberated, twentieth century Reed.  The answer was simple.  She could either loosen him up all over again, or she could regress a century and a half to being a true Southern belle.  She opted to aim for somewhere in the middle.