Elizabeth Meyette (10 page)

Andrew began to tremble and sank to his knees. His body was raging with intense emotions. Desire threatened to overcome him and he felt carried away by savage hungers. Never when he thought of Jenny were such fierce feelings involved. Passion, yes, for he longed to make love to her. But the feelings Deidre elicited in him were feral and urgent. He was aghast at her proposal, but at some animal level, he wondered if he could resist her.

Jonathon was relieved that they had encountered no British ships en route to New York. He completed the delivery of munitions and supplies to the Sons of Liberty, and met with them to coordinate information among the colonies. More and more, the call for independence from England was raised, for patriots were no longer content to allow the British to rule from afar.

Arriving at the wharf, Jonathon looked out at the
Destiny
, anchored just off shore. No matter how many times he returned to her, her beauty stuck him and pride surged within him. A three-masted merchant ship, she now sat low in the water due to heavy cannon, munitions and supplies she carried to be delivered to Virginia, but the position did not detract from her magnificence. Windows lined the raised quarterdeck and the sun sparkled off the leaded panes and glistened off the brass fittings. The bowsprit sloped gracefully up from the forecastle and the mahogany gleamed as crewmen oiled and polished the rails.

Jonathon bounded up the plank observing the neatly coiled ropes and watched his men scramble up and down the sturdy rigging. His ship ran smoothly, each man knowing his responsibility and following through, not only out of obedience to Jonathon, but out of an intrinsic sense of ownership and pride born of loyalty to Jonathon. They tipped their caps or greeted him as he strode along the deck. He felt invigorated and strong imbued with the spirit of the sea and of a just cause. Fighting and danger would increase, of that he was certain, but the patriot cause was noble and the dream of independence was becoming more a reality each day. What would that mean for them? For the future of his family?

Again his thoughts turned to Emily. How he longed to be with her and share the excitement of the life that grew within her, a result of their love. He wanted to feel the baby moving and kicking and see the joy on her face at each sensation. He wanted to hold and comfort her through the discomfort and fatigue. He wanted to lie with her at night, touching and caressing in the sleepy stillness, aware of each other’s presence in their drowsiness. He wanted to look at her body in the candlelight and see how her eyes deepened to violet with her passion. How he longed for her, an aching, physical yearning. He shook his head to banish such thoughts. Right now he needed his wits about him. The trip back to Yorktown would be rife with peril.

He sought out Gates and ordered the anchor raised. The
Destiny
slipped out to sea leaving the port behind.

• • •

Evening crept across the gardens and gathered the group on the veranda into the shadows. The mild breeze brought with it the scent of the old blush roses, and the setting sun lent a rosy hue to their faces in the dusk. Relaxing after Dora’s feast of shepherd’s pie, freshly baked bread, and strawberry meringues, conversation was light.

Andrew had traveled to Williamsburg on business for David who had explained that the fields demanded his full attention at this time of year. Andrew had been gone for most of the week, but was now galloping up the drive at breakneck speed. David dashed to the front steps to meet him as the others followed.

“David, I have news!” he shouted.

Emily hastened out to him.

“Is it news of Jonathon?” she cried out to him.

He reined in Neptune and looked at his sister apologetically.

“I am sorry, Emily. I should have restrained my excitement in anticipation of your hope. No, it is not news of Jonathon,” he said seeing her crushed look. He dismounted and turned to David.

“King Louis of France has committed one million dollars in financial support and munitions, and Spain says they will follow suit.”

“My God, this could change everything,” David shouted with glee, clapping Andrew on the back.

“There is more,” Andrew continued. “The Continental Congress has authorized each colony to form a provincial government.”

“Good God, good news,” David cried. “It is becoming reality. We are indeed breaking away from England.”

Emily listened, torn. In the two years since she had arrived in Virginia, she had become acutely aware of Parliament’s stranglehold on the colonies, but she had been raised in England and she still loved her homeland. Her chest felt heavy at this news.

They retreated again to the veranda where Dulcie had laid out wine and brandy. A lively discussion of possibilities ensued as each tried to imagine what freedom from British rule would mean. Throughout the discussion, David studied Deidre as he had been wont to do since receiving Jonathon’s letter. He had seen no indication of her ill intent toward Emily; in fact, if anything, she seemed quite solicitous toward her. He had made vague references to Joanna about the relationship between the two women, and she agreed that Deidre appeared concerned for Emily’s well-being. But she had added a comment that made his neck hairs stand on end.

“But I would not trust her as far as I could toss her,” his wife had added.

This evening Deidre appeared quiet, almost disconnected from the conversation flowing around her. He did notice her watching Emily often, perhaps more often than was usual. He also noticed an unusual interplay between her and Andrew. If their eyes met, she would smile but he would turn away. If she was not looking at him, he would stare at her appearing perplexed. David decided to heed his wife’s counsel for all did not seem as it appeared.

• • •

Andrew’s hasty return to Brentwood Manor was not solely due to the exciting news he had to impart. During his stay in Williamsburg his thoughts had continually turned to Jenny, and the image of her laughing eyes and crooked smile haunted him day and night. He had ridden Neptune hard along the roads, but the horse seemed eager to take the challenge and their flight home had been swift. Now Andrew sat across from Jenny, entranced by her every gesture. He watched the candlelight reflect golden off her face, the flame mirrored in her eyes. When she was speaking, the lilt of her voice was soft in the evening air; when she was listening, she leaned in toward the speaker, rapt and engaged. Occasionally, her glance would find Andrew, and their eyes would lock and he believed she, too, felt the expectant, hopeful recognition, understanding subconsciously that their lives were meant to intertwine, but not yet consciously aware of how this would progress. A simmering, nascent understanding of their shared destiny, pregnant with promise and nurtured by untapped passion held him. But the moment was fleeting, and their eyes would search for grounding in the ordinariness of the moment.

Something primordial happened when Andrew’s eyes met Deidre’s, too, but the deep emotion it evoked held neither the innocence nor the purity of the other. Deidre’s eyes slid to meet his, and a small seductive smile played on her lips. She shifted her position to allow him full view of the swell of her ample breasts as she ran her hand along her thigh. Heat spread through Andrew as he recalled her offer, but the desire he felt was antithetical to the tenderness he felt for Jenny. Looking away, he strained to concentrate on the conversation.

“May I go riding tomorrow, Uncle David? I have not had an opportunity since my arrival, and the days have been so beautiful. I would love to explore Brentwood Plantation,” Jenny said.

“The British still scout Brentwood property. I am not sure it would be safe for you to ride alone. I am unable to stray far from the plantation at this time,” he said stealing a look at Deidre, then Andrew. “Andrew, would you escort Jenny?”

Startled, Andrew felt the heat rising from his neck to his face. He was grateful that others would not notice in the darkening evening.

“Yes, I would be happy to accompany you,” he said turning to the girl. The single dimple showed in the candlelight when she smiled at him causing the already simmering heat to intensify in his gut. He swallowed.

“Thank you, Andrew. I look forward to our outing,” she said.

“Mmmph,” he replied unable to connect any words.

• • •

As she watched the interaction between Andrew and Jenny, Emily hid a smile at her brother’s discomfort remembering the effect Jonathon’s words had on her early in their relationship. Thinking of Jonathon brought a pang of loneliness that grabbed at her heart. How she missed him. She remembered the ride they took to view Brentwood lands, and how it resulted in the consummation of the love they had tried to deny for so long. Those first moments in his arms were as vivid to her now as they had been at the time. How she longed to be in his arms at this moment, skin to skin, his touch, his lips covering her body. Desire mingled with sadness as she realized that more than physical distance separated them; the future of the colonies depended on the spirit of patriots like Jonathon to leave home and families to fight against an unjust rule. While Emily understood this in her mind, her heart felt no relief from its longing for him.

• • •

Andrew strode to the stables to prepare the horses for their ride. Neptune greeted him with a nicker and nuzzled his shoulder as Andrew presented the horse a handful of oats. He helped the groom saddle Neptune and Shadow, and was just running a final check when Jenny approached.

“Good day, Andrew. Thank you for offering to escort me on our ride today,” she said smiling, the single dimple launching darts through his heart.

“Good day, Jenny. We have a perfect May morning in which to ride,” he replied pulling his gaze from her to study the cloudless sky. Every one of his nerves was taut with awareness of her, every sense alive with longing.

She rewarded him with a full smile, her eyes gray against her burgundy riding suit. She patted Shadow’s neck and, removing her leather riding gloves, offered the horse some oats from her hand.

“You are a beauty, Shadow. Thank you for allowing me to ride you today,” she murmured against the horse’s muzzle.

Andrew helped her mount and was greeted with the soft scent of lilac. Unconsciously, he breathed deeper urging the scent into his being. When Jenny was settled into the saddle, he mounted Neptune and urged the horse into the drive. They cantered along the road, and Jenny’s expert horsemanship was evident immediately. Smiling a challenge at her, he broke into a gallop and she laughed and followed suit.

They flew through the countryside relishing the feel of the wind, savoring the beauty of a verdant May morning. Jenny kept pace with no trouble, and Andrew was impressed with her riding acumen. After a while Andrew slowed Neptune to a walk, and Jenny reigned in Shadow.

“Well, I do not know how much of the scenery I have observed, but I did enjoy that ride,” Jenny laughed. “I believe that was a test of skill, Andrew. How did I fare?”

Andrew laughed with her. “Quite well, Jenny. I sensed that you would have no problem even keeping up with Neptune.”

“Will there be other tests that I must prepare for, Andrew? What else do you wish to know about me?” she teased.

Andrew blushed scarlet, and Jenny pretended to be enrapt in viewing the field of daisies that lay ahead of them. She urged Shadow to a trot and Neptune pursued her. They crossed fields and meandered through forests until the sun had reached its peak. They rode toward the shade of a copse of trees to enjoy the meal Dora had prepared. Usually anxious to savor Dora’s cooking, Andrew noted a distinct lack of appetite, replaced instead with a swarm of butterflies in his stomach. Dismounting, he then stepped to Shadow to assist Jenny. As she bent to his reaching arms, he again caught the scent of lilac and breathed it in as he helped her from the horse. With his arms still at her waist, he set her on the ground and looked into her eyes. All sensations halted as they looked at each other. Jenny’s eyes held none of the teasing humor he usually detected, but rather a simmering longing that echoed in his own. Suddenly Deidre’s words drifted through his mind,
you lack the knowledge that a man must possess.
And he released her.

Birdsong resumed as they backed away from each other in the embarrassment that comes when hidden feelings have been exposed. Andrew coughed and Jenny brushed her skirts and turned away.

“I’ll get the saddlebags if you would like to spread out the blanket,” he said.

Shaking out the blanket, Jenny allowed it to drift, open, to the ground. Andrew brought the saddlebags and laid out sausages, cheeses, wine and fruit. As usual, Dora had outdone herself and there was an abundance of food. They piled food on plates, poured the wine and settled in for a feast. Propped up on one elbow, Andrew lay across one edge of the blanket and began to eat. Something about the sight and smell of Dora’s cooking dispelled any lack of appetite he had experienced earlier. Jenny sat across from him with her feet tucked beneath her.

“Tell me about Boston,” Andrew said.

“Boston is an exciting city, Andrew. Shops of every description line busy streets, and at one time they were filled with goods from England and Europe. The
Boston Gazette
informs everyone about events in these troubled times, and we have seen our share of fighting. Ever since the massacre, we have had British soldiers walking our streets, and tensions are higher than ever. But I love Boston, and I shall return when Father believes it is safe,” she said.

“I imagine it is difficult to be away from your family and friends,” Andrew said.

“Yes,” Jenny replied spreading honey across a biscuit. Andrew watched her intently, captivated by how small and slender her hands were and how gracefully she performed even such an ordinary task as that. He looked up and met her eyes.

“Do you have any
special
friends?” he asked feigning innocence.

Jenny cocked her head and looked at him for a moment as if trying to come to a decision. Finally, she gave him her half-smile and said, “Oh yes.”