Riverbreeze: Part 1 (19 page)

Robert actually chuckled out loud. “Well, it
smells delicious and I’m suddenly very hungry. But what about you?”
He asked, raising his eyebrow at the sight of her meager plate.
There was only one slice of egg bread and some stewed apples on
it.

“I’ve already eaten.” She said in a low
voice.

“And young women need to watch what they eat,
except when they’re expecting.” Mrs. Jenkin added suggestively.

Elizabeth blushed and tried to hide her
face.

Robert was good enough to ignore that.

“There, now you two enjoy yourselves. I think
I shall go see how Jamie and Evelyn are coming along.” Mrs. Jenkin
said happily, pleased as punch with herself.

“I’m sorry about that.” Robert said, once
Mrs. Jenkin had left.

Elizabeth waved her hand. “She’s just a kind,
old lady.”

Robert smiled at her. “I’m glad you realize
that. Do you mind if I eat?” He raised his spoon.

“No, of course not. Go ahead.” She said,
wondering if he would be able to eat all that food. But then a man
of his size and strength might need that amount of food. She didn’t
know. And Mrs. Jenkin was probably right. From what Maureen had
told her about Robert, he was a hard-working man. Most of the boys
and young men she had known in London had been shorter than Robert
and being goldsmiths or sons of goldsmiths or artisans, had never
worked a day of hard labor in their lives.

“I’m very sorry about the death of your
father.” He said suddenly, after swallowing a spoonful of the
mashed carrots and turnips. “You must miss him terribly.”

“Yes, thank you.” Elizabeth said sadly,
sudden tears coming to her eyes. She hadn’t expected him to mention
that. “It was a terrible shock.”

“You’ll be well taken care of here.” He gave
her hand a quick squeeze. “Father is a fine man, and Maureen is a
paragon.” He added emphatically before shoveling in another
spoonful of vegetables.

“Yes, they have been ever so kind to me and
my sister, welcoming us into the family again. Uncle Francis and
Maureen have told us many wonderful stories. Of course, I do not
remember them leaving London since I was only two years old at the
time, but even after being here only three days, I feel like I’ve
known all of you all my life.”

“Indeed.” Robert responded around a mouthful
of roasted duck. A dribble of grease slid down his chin, but before
it dripped onto his shirt, he nabbed it neatly with his napkin.
Then he smiled teasingly at her. “What have they told you about
Jamie and me? Now that I recall, your sister did mention that she
had heard a lot about us.”

“Yes, we have heard a few stories.” She
blushed suddenly. She had been watching his lips and that dribble
of grease, also his throat and further down to his chest where she
could see his tanned, smooth skin through the scandalously open
neck of his shirt. Her plate lay in her lap completely forgotten.
“Well,” she hesitated, trying to gather her scattered thoughts. She
certainly couldn’t say what she had said to her sister earlier,
about them being so neglected and brave and perfect. She started
out with simple facts. “Uncle Francis did tell us that you came to
him as orphans and that he took care of you and Jamie and that you
became like sons to him.”

“That is true. He was very kind to us and has
become like a father to us as well. Jamie and I were only ten and
twelve when we came here…and very scared.” He said with a boyish
smile.

“What happened to your parents?” She asked
matter-of-factly. But she already knew; it wasn’t unusual for
children to lose both parents before adulthood.

“They died.” He answered bluntly and said no
more. He took another mouthful of food, more greasy duck, using his
fingers to pick up the meat.

Elizabeth wrinkled her nose seeing him use
his dirty fingers to eat with and she was disappointed that he
hadn’t told her more. “I’m sorry.” She murmured.

Robert waved her off. “So, what else did they
say?” He asked after swallowing.

“Oh, well…” She said, forgetting about his
fingers for the time being. What did she care if he made himself
sick? “Uncle Francis also said that the both of you had not had
much schooling, but you were smart and quick to learn...” Robert
let out a short chuckle. He took a huge bite of the egg bread,
shaking his head a little in amusement. Elizabeth stared for a
second, then remembering her manners, continued, “…but Maureen told
us that you and Jamie hated the rigors of the lessons; that all you
wanted to do was learn about planting tobacco and that all Jamie
wanted to do was ride horses.”

Robert laughed even louder this time. “That
is true also.” He said, pointing his spoon at her after picking it
up again. “A man does not need to know how to bow properly when all
he is going to do is plant tobacco.” He ended, shoveling in a
mouthful of stewed apples.

Elizabeth nearly laughed herself. He
certainly did love his food. “But he does need to know how to bow
when he is meeting a new, young lady.” She said cheekily.

He chuckled again, smiling at her words. “Did
I learn my lesson well?”

“Very well, kind sir.” She said, teasing him.
And then remembering that bow and that kiss on her hand, she asked.
“And how did you know how to tell Evelyn and me apart?”

His grin grew wider. “I confess, Maureen told
me earlier that you were wearing a blue gown and that Evelyn was
wearing a green one. She also told me that you have a small mole on
your neck, right about there.” He said, putting his spoon down so
he could touch the spot with his forefinger.

“That is not fair! She was there at our
birth.”

“She mentioned that also, a time or two.”

“You know, most people do not notice that
difference in us! I’m glad she did tell you, though.”

“It does help.” He said, smiling into her
eyes. “Especially if you ever decide to wear the same color
gowns!”

“Maybe one day we shall do that and test your
powers of observation.” She said pluckily.

“I would love the opportunity.” He said,
accepting the challenge with delight. “So, is that all they said,
that Jamie and I hated our lessons?”

“No.” She said, turning serious. “Uncle
Francis also told us about your marriage to our cousin, Kathleen…”
Her voice went soft, watching him flinch and turn away, his spoon
forgotten on his plate. But she knew he was still listening. “…the
birth of your son and her unfortunate death.” She saw him swallow
hard. “I’m sorry, Robert.” She said, sympathetically placing her
hand on his where it lay motionless above his knee. “I shouldn’t
have mentioned it.”

He turned back to look at her and gave her a
small smile. “No, ‘tis all right.” He said, turning his hand, palm
up and clasping hers in his work-roughened fingers. “I did ask
you.”

“Tell me about your son.” She said quickly to
lighten the mood. “Maureen told us what a darling lad he is.”

Elizabeth was glad when Robert’s face lit up
and he smiled broadly. “He is.” He answered proudly. “He’s two
years old now and he’s strong and sturdy and fair, but he’s also
spoilt and mischievous and so curious it can be dangerous.” He
laughed delightedly.

Elizabeth laughed with him. “He sounds
wonderful.” She said, genuine warmth in her voice. “Where is he
now?”

“Upstairs, sleeping. The excitement of the
ride wore him out and then Maureen fed him. I’m sure he’ll awaken
soon though.”

“I cannot wait to meet him.” Elizabeth said,
but then remembered in the back of her mind that she would become
this boy’s stepmother. At first the thought startled and frightened
her, but then the thought charmed her. She loved children!

“You may regret it.” He said lightly,
squeezing her hand before letting it go to pick up his spoon again.
He started eating again, the carrots and turnips, the stewed
apples, then with his fingers he picked up the chunks of pork and
duck. “Mmmm…this is good.” He mumbled, his mouth half full. “I
didn’t realize how hungry I was. Aren’t you going to eat?”

She didn’t respond and he didn’t seem to
care. She just continued to watch him with interest and a growing
attraction. How could it have happened so quickly?

Unexpectedly she started to feel slightly
warm and a little…she couldn’t describe it, a little uncomfortable
somehow. It was a very strange feeling, something she hadn’t
experienced before.

Discreetly she pushed her hair back off one
shoulder. Was it the dream? Was she remembering feelings that she
had had in the dream, the feelings of warmth and security and
passion?

Feeling warmer but not wanting Robert to
notice, she moved slowly to lift the hair off the back of her neck.
Was it God’s plan for her to marry this man and take care of him
and his son? Isn’t that what Evelyn had said, that God had a new
plan for them and that she mustn’t question it?

Confused, her temperature continuing to rise,
she realized she didn’t have her fan—she had placed it under her
chair earlier—and that her plate was still balanced on her lap,
untouched. She knew she didn’t want anything to eat, but she didn’t
want to get up to put her plate aside either. That would draw
attention to her and for some strange reason she didn’t want Robert
to see her all flustered.

But she was still very warm and her collar
was making her sweat. If only she could remove it, but that would
also attract attention.

Still, she was very hot, so very slowly she
lifted one corner of her collar and flapped it a little when he
wasn’t watching. Then she thought she might be able to get away
with folding it back over her shoulder.

So far, so good.

Then she did the same to the other corner,
effectively baring her neck and upper chest and the bodice of her
gown. But this time he did notice and Elizabeth sat perfectly
still, barely breathing while she watched his eyes rove over her
flushed neck and down to the tops of her breasts and then down to
the embroidery on her bodice. She felt transfixed while he studied
the embroidery.

Her sister had done the needlework on both
their gowns and while it was exquisite work and masterfully done,
she normally kept it covered with the wide Bertha collar. She had
only allowed certain special friends to see the embroidery, people
who would appreciate and not condemn the nature of the garden
design.

Robert appreciated it right now, she could
tell. At first his eyes had shown open interest in the
multi-colored threads, worked together in perfectly placed stitches
to form beautiful flowers, birds and butterflies. Then he had
frowned slightly as his eyes had followed the very specific and
erotic path of the green vines curling over one breast and the
snake’s red tongue flicking toward the peak of the other breast,
and then very slowly he had looked up at her face, his mouth
hanging open in shock.

However, there was much more than shock in
his expression, Elizabeth noticed with pleasure; there was
appreciation and desire in his eyes too.

Calmly and demurely, she smiled.

* * *

Evelyn hurried past everyone, holding her
skirts up above her ankles, ignoring their looks of shock and
inquiry. And thankfully there hadn’t been anyone in the hallway to
interrupt her progress. By the time she stepped outside the front
door into the bright mid-afternoon sunshine, she could see Jamie
and Walter jogging across the yard toward the stables, passing
several guests in small groups who watched with worried looks on
their faces. She knew she needed to hurry; she could hear the
excited howls and barks of the dogs and the frightened whinnies of
the horses.

There had been no question of who would go to
retrieve the dogs. Evelyn wanted the opportunity to be with Jamie
and Elizabeth needed to be alone with Robert, but now Evelyn wasn’t
quite so sure how Jamie would welcome her. Their dogs were
certainly causing quite a commotion.

“Who is responsible for these damn dogs?” She
heard Jamie yell once he and Walter were inside the stables. “Get
them out of here!” His voice was quite loud and she flinched.

As she neared the stables, her walking
quickening to a jog, she could hear the chaos inside the stable
becoming louder and louder, alarming her. The horses sounded like
they were bolting in their boxes, banging against the partitions
while the dogs barked and howled.

At that point, Jamie exited the stable,
leading a pregnant and frightened mare out to the paddock. Eyes
rolling in terror, the mare strained against her harness. Jamie
spoke to her in a soothing voice, but the look on his face was
murderous. Then once he had secured her into the paddock, he ran
back into the stables, not even registering Evelyn’s presence nor
the significant gathering of guests.

Once she was standing at the stable door, an
animal that looked to be a rabbit ran by her in a whoosh. Both dogs
gave blind chase, barking uncontrollably. Oh Lord, it was a rabbit
for she had seen a flash of its little cotton tail. Now she would
never be able to control them. And where was that idiot servant who
was supposed to be watching them?

Walter lunged after the dogs trying to catch
them, but he slipped on the straw, nearly fell and cursed
profusely. The rabbit went blindly into a stall, keeping close to
the walls, with the dogs hot on its trail, not even mindful of the
big animal in their way. By some miracle they managed not to be
trampled by the stallion’s big, stomping hooves.

Jamie was in a stall with another stallion,
this one a beautiful bay color. He was trying his best to calm the
beast, holding onto the horse’s rope halter and talking to it in
soothing tones. But with the dogs still tearing around, he had a
very difficult time of it.

Evelyn hoped none of the horses had been
injured, but she had seen that the mare had some scrapes and cuts
on her knees and forelegs. That would not bode well for their
impending relationship. “Fleurette! Papillon!” She called sharply.
“Come! Come!” She called, clapping her hands twice.