Riverbreeze: Part 1 (23 page)

Silently, they watched Elizabeth and the
children walk towards the river, but as soon as they were far
enough away, Robert immediately turned to Maureen and asked, “Are
you all right?”

“I am fine, Robert, really I am.” She
answered, a gentle smile on her face.

“Are you sure? Did he hurt you?” Robert
persisted, examining every inch of skin on her face and neck. She
did look fine; she had washed her face and tidied her hair; her
clothing was neat and clean and he noticed that she no longer wore
her shawl, but she had donned a lace collar that covered her neck,
shoulders, and décolletage.

Maureen laughed lightly, but Robert continued
to frown. Seeing that he wasn’t giving up, her smile faded and she
said somberly, “He did not hurt me; I am all right.” She reassured
him, touching his jawline with her small fingers.

“Hmph.” Robert grunted, voicing his
doubt.

“He is not a brute, you know.” Maureen added
with a little more heat in her voice. “And I like—“ She stopped
short, quickly bringing her hand up to cover her mouth. She looked
away.

Robert’s eyes widened and he gaped at
Maureen. Oh my God, she liked it? She was one of those people? He
couldn’t believe that of her, his sweet sister, but apparently it
was true. Oh well, if she liked it, she liked it. He was not going
to judge her; after all, he wasn’t so pure himself.

Still, there was a moment of awkward silence
between them before Robert finally cleared his throat. “Ah…where is
he now?”

“Looking at the horses; smoking with his
cronies.” She looked in the direction of the paddock, shying away
from looking at Robert. “He won’t go after you again, Robert.” She
added softly, and then she finally got the nerve to look straight
at him. “He’s promised me that.”

“Hmmph.” Robert grunted, making a face.
“There was no reason for him to attack me in the first place. He
knows you and I are brother and sister, nothing more.”

“I know.” She said sadly, while they both
looked off to the side, squinting in the lowering late afternoon
sun. Robert noticed that Phillip was smoking a long, clay pipe
along with several of the other men, Edward Sparshott among them.
The men were watching the two horses that were in the paddock at
this time, Peasblossom and Penny, Jamie’s mare. Robert could see
them talking and gesticulating energetically. They were probably
making wagers on when Peasblossom would deliver and how long it
would be before Penny was in foal. “But you know how he gets
sometimes.”

Robert just snorted. He really wanted to ask
her what had happened since the last time he had seen them to make
Phillip attack him like he had. But he knew that this was not the
time to ask and Maureen probably wouldn’t tell him anyway.

“What about you?” She asked, examining the
cut on his cheek. She gingerly touched the bruised skin around the
wound. “Does this still hurt?”

He just shook his head; he wasn’t going to
admit to her that it did hurt. “’Tis just a scratch.” He said,
dismissively.

“Hmm…just a scratch, he says.” She said, as
if someone else were there to hear. Then she said, her gaze moving
back to her children with Elizabeth. “It appears that Robin has
found a new friend in Elizabeth.” She stated casually.

Robert turned to watch also. Elizabeth and
the children were crossing the yard, heading towards the river.
Elizabeth held Robin’s hand and he skipped along side her,
clutching the cloth dog to his chest with his other arm. Jamie and
Evelyn were also farther down the property, almost at the river. It
was obvious they had been down to the river’s edge and were now
returning with the dogs.

“He loves her already.” Robert responded in a
tone that revealed a touch of jealousy. He saw how happy his son
was; he saw how comfortable Robin was with Elizabeth and he saw the
way Elizabeth’s skirts swayed as she walked and the way her long
hair cascaded down her back and the way the sun brought out the
shiny coppery highlights. For a split second he remembered her
taking the clip out of her hair right before they had left the
bedchamber and the sudden sharp attraction he had felt at that
moment when she had released all that hair. He was feeling that
same intense attraction now. He could lose himself in that hair, he
thought suddenly. “She bribed him with that fine gift.” He growled,
a touch more harshly than he meant to. His whole body seemed to
vibrate with sudden resentfulness.

Maureen looked sharply at him. “What is wrong
with you?” She exclaimed. She hadn’t seen Robert this jealous in a
long time.

He ignored the question. There was nothing
wrong with him. “And have you seen that embroidery on her gown?” He
asked, still bad-tempered.

Maureen began to realize what his problem was
and she was overjoyed. Elizabeth would have never shown him that
embroidery unless she had felt some connection. Maureen knew that
they didn’t show that embroidery to just any one. “Yes, I’ve seen
it.” She answered nonchalantly, smiling to herself. “I’ve seen both
the twins’ gowns. The embroidery work is exceptional.”

“Her sister stitched it.” He continued in
that same surly tone of voice, not even noticing the change in
Maureen. “Can you believe that?”

Maureen almost laughed. “Yes.” She answered,
amused at Robert’s attitude. She didn’t think there was anything
wrong with their gowns. “Their governess was French, you know. And
their mother.”

He froze, taken aback. “I knew about their
mother, but not about their governess.” He said thoughtfully, a
frown on his face.

Now Maureen did laugh, but kindly. “Robert…”
She said, smiling affectionately at him. “You’re attracted to
Elizabeth, aren’t you?” She asked, softly.

Robert immediately opened his mouth to deny
it, but in the end, why bother? Maureen would see right through
him. And he might as well admit it to himself. He was attracted to
Elizabeth, but…he closed his mouth and looked away. His body
slumped as all the fight drained out of him.

When he didn’t answer, she continued,
touching her fingertips to his cheek. “Oh my dear Robert, ‘tis all
right. You’re allowed to be attracted to another woman.”

“I know, but I still think about Kathleen
quite often.” He said in a low voice. “I wonder if I will ever stop
remembering her.” He looked at Maureen, his eyes tortured.

“No, you will never stop remembering.” She
said in a comforting voice. “And you shouldn’t ever forget for
Robin’s sake, but as time goes by those memories will only occupy a
small corner of your heart leaving the rest available to love
someone else. Open your heart to Elizabeth. She is a lovely young
lady; she would make you a fine wife and a wonderful mother to
Robin. And I know that Kathleen would approve; she would not want
you to live the rest of your life alone and grieving. You need to
be happy again; you need to love again.”

Robert heard Maureen’s words and knew in his
heart that they were true. Even though he did visit his Indian
lover every month, he hadn’t opened his heart to her. He didn’t
love her. Kathleen had been his first love and he still missed her
and the closeness they had shared. This morning he had told Jamie
that he was content with his life the way it was, but he hadn’t
expected to meet a beautiful young woman with captivating green
eyes and a ‘come hither’ message on the bodice of her gown!

He scanned the property, found Elizabeth
sitting in the middle of a grassy area with all the children
surrounding her and Robin on her lap. Robin still had that cloth
beagle clutched tightly in one arm, the other stretched out to the
sniffing noses of the dogs. He shrieked with delight when one of
them licked his fingers and Elizabeth immediately laughed. Her face
was alight with joy; and Robert watched, spellbound, as she
interacted with Robin, whispering something in his ear and kissing
the top of his head.

Evelyn and Jamie were there also, keeping a
tight hold of the dogs’ leashes. Robert was surprised to see how
completely at ease they were with each other, talking and laughing,
and stealing touches, as they watched the children play with the
dogs. They appeared to have made friends with each other or perhaps
‘friends’ wasn’t quite the right word.

“Go to her, Robert; do go.” Maureen said,
gently urging him.

Finally he nodded his head, turned to her
with a small smile, and hugged her tight. “Thank you, Maureen.” He
said thickly.

* * *

Unfortunately on his way to join the happy
group on the lawn, Robert was intercepted by Edmund Sparshott. He
must have been watching Robert out of the corner of his eye, the
sneaky bastard. He stopped Robert right smack in the middle of the
yard, where everyone would see them.

“Bassett.” Sparshott said brusquely, his
expression bitter.

“Edmund.” Robert said politely, but wary.

“Did you bring your sword today?” Sparshott
asked, his hand resting ominously on the hilt of his rapier.

Oh great
! Robert
thought.
He’s challenging me and I’m terrible at
swordplay
. He did have a sword though, both he and Jamie
did, nice rapiers that were gifted to them by Francis, (like
everything else they owned), but neither one of them was very good
at fighting with a sword. They had both learned the basic steps of
fencing, thrust, parry, riposte, but didn’t practice very often.
Maybe he should start practicing again. “No, I didn’t.” Robert
said, but then at an attempt at lightness, quipped, “But I have my
stick.” And he raised the tip slightly in demonstration.

Sparshott was not amused. “Very funny.” He
said, then pointed his finger rudely at Robert’s chest. “Next court
day, you and me, and do not forget your sword.”

“Are you challenging me?” Robert demanded,
very worried now, but keeping his expression calm.

“Make of it what you will…”

“It sounded like a challenge to me.” Jamie
said, coming up from behind Sparshott. He moved to stand beside his
brother, his expression hard.

Robert had seen Jamie coming to his aid but
had kept his face blank. Inside, though, he felt awfully glad to
have a brother right now.

Sparshott was good at concealing his
astonishment at Jamie’s appearance. He sneered in disgust at the
two of them. “First big brother comes to the rescue, now little
brother does the same. You two are like sucklings, but instead of
being attached to teats, you’re attached to each other.”

Robert had never been so insulted in his
life. His face flushed a deep red and falling right into
Sparshott’s trap, impulsively he growled, “I will be there, sir,
alone, and with my sword.”

Sparshott laughed out loud. “Excellent! I’m
quite looking forward to it.” And then he strode away,
laughing.

Jamie turned to Robert in a panic. “What the
hell did you do that for? You do not know how to fight! He’ll kill
you!”

“Shhh…Let’s move away from this spot.” Robert
said, putting his arm around Jamie’s shoulder and guiding him in
the opposite direction of the stables. At the same time, he looked
longingly at the sight of Elizabeth, Evelyn and the children,
cursing Sparshott for interrupting at this time. Elizabeth and
Evelyn were watching with worried looks on their faces. It gave him
hope actually.

There was a small grouping of holly and
azalea bushes bordering the yard that would afford them some
privacy. “Now,” Robert said firmly, once they were alone and out of
view. “I will not let him get away with saying that about us.”

“What does it matter? A few words cannot stab
you in the heart. His sword will.” Jamie exclaimed, looking very
frightened.

Robert appreciated Jamie’s concern, but he
was determined. “I have two weeks to practice before Court day.” He
said thoughtfully. “Who’s the best swordsman in the colony?”

“Sparshott.” Jamie said bluntly.

“Oh God.” Robert groaned.

“He’s not going to help you.” Jamie said
sarcastically.

“I’m really in for it, aren’t I?” Robert said
with a rueful smile.

“You can always hope that he’ll be drunk on
his whiskey!” Jamie suggested, his mood lightened somewhat.

Robert snorted. “Maybe I’m the one who should
be drunk. Maybe I’ll fall down before he has a chance to stick
me.”

Jamie laughed. “That would uphold your
reputation!”

Robert ignored him. “Who is the second best
swordsman you know?” He asked.

“Hmmm.” Jamie seemed to think for a moment,
rubbing his upper lip with his forefinger, then said triumphantly,
“Adam Cooke!”

“Adam Cooke?” Robert exclaimed. “That little
squit!”

“He may be small, but he’s as quick as a
rutting rabbit!” Jamie said firmly. “You weren’t there at the last
militia meeting but I saw him practicing with both Richard Milton
and Nicholas Clark, and he bested both men.”

Robert raised his eyebrows, impressed. Both
those men were experts at fencing.

“Was he invited to come today?” Robert asked.
He knew that Francis had handed out invitations to the citizens of
James City County at church and at the last county court meeting,
but not to the citizens of Charles City County and Adam Cooke’s
land was in Charles City County.

“No, I haven’t seen him.” Jamie said.

“Well, I guess I’ll be making a trip to his
farm then, hopefully tomorrow. Do you want to come?” He asked his
brother, forgetting all about the thought that he was supposed to
be doing this alone.

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world!” Jamie
grinned.

“Good.” He said, then switching thoughts, now
that he felt better about the upcoming duel. “By the way, what was
that disturbance that Walter was all excited about? Anything that I
should be concerned about?”

That wiped the grin off Jamie’s face in a
hurry. “I had to punish one of the servants. Oh God, Rob.” Jamie
suddenly moaned. “I never thought I would be like him.”