Take My Heart (Heroic Rogues Series) (15 page)

She knelt beside him and smiled. “I have waited for the right moment to give this to you, and I suppose now is a perfect time.”

He took the package, not believing any of this. None of this was real. It couldn’t be. His daughter talking; his son laughing with his stepmother, and Kat… Kat wasn’t herself and hadn’t been for a while. In fact, the name
Kat
didn’t fit her. Mercedes did.

“Open it, Papa,” James encouraged.

William ripped at the package while his children giggled and helped him take off the wrapping. A long steel black case sat in his hands, and when he opened the lid, he couldn’t believe his eyes.
The jeweled dagger!
He’d been eyeing this weapon for a few weeks, wondering if he should purchase it.

He brought his gaze up to Mercedes. How did she know he’d wanted it? “I…I do not understand,” he said. “Why are you giving this to me?”

She touched his hand tenderly. “Because I wanted to thank you for…everything you have done lately. You are an extremely kind and forgiving man. You have made me very happy here,” she ended in a whisper.

His heart burst for the second time today. He dropped the cased dagger in his lap and pulled Mercedes in his arms. She met his kiss halfway, and he didn’t hold back on showing her how he felt at this moment. A deep sigh escaped her throat as she clung to him. But before he could enjoy the moment, heavy footsteps ran in the corridor and Gabe’s voice echoed through the halls, calling William’s name. He cursed and withdrew. His wife’s cheeks flamed an adorable pink. Couldn’t he kiss his own wife for longer than two minutes?

“William, wonderful news,” Gabe yelled. He entered the nursery then came to a dead stop.

“What is it?” William stood and joined his friend, keeping the cased dagger in his hand.

“Umm...well,” Gabe stammered as he gaze shifted from William to Mercedes and the children. “I am sorry to disrupt your,
er
...pleasant moment, but I have wonderful news.” He showed William the highly decorated card.

William snatched it away, reading over every word. “When did this arrive?” He lifted his voice in excitement.

“Just a few moments ago by messenger,” Gabe replied.

“But, why?”

“What is it, William?” Mercedes lifted herself off the floor and moved to his side.

“An invitation to Colonel Burwell’s weekend estate party. I have waited for two weeks for this.” He shook his head. “I just do not understand why it arrived two days before the big event. Nobody sends invitations that late.”

His wife’s hand touched his arm and he met her amazing eyes, still glistening with warmth. “Lady Burwell apologized and explained there must have been some kind of mix-up. She promised she would send the invitation over right away.”

Doubt crept into his mind, and happiness drained from him slowly like a leaky bucket. “When did you talk to Lady Burwell?”

“This afternoon. It was Colonial Burwell’s dog that attacked us, and she came to see if we were all right. We talked and I mentioned—”

“You told her I’d not been invited?” He raised his voice. “Do you know how that makes me appear?”

She frowned. “No, William, it was not like that at all. In fact, she assumed you were invited. When I explained you were not, she apologized and promised to send over an invitation.”

“So what exactly did you tell her?” He folded his arms across his chest.

“I told her we would love to come.”

“We?”

“Yes, of course.” Her perfectly shaped eyebrows rose as in challenge. “I am your wife, am I not?”

He cursed under his breath for his bad fortune and glanced at Gabe. Apparently the past few moments of splendor had been a dream, and now reality reminded him he could
not
trust his wife. Kat only did nice things for
her
selfish purpose!

“Lady Burwell,” Kat continued in a shaky tone, “led me to believe this weekend gathering was for husbands and wives.”

William growled, bunching his hands into fists. “So it is.”

“Then why should I feel discouraged in going? Do you not want me there?” Pain diminished the sweetness highlighting her eyes.

His chest constricted, and he attempted to crush the guilt that filled him. “Of course I want you there. Do not be ridiculous,” he snapped.

“Then why—”

“Mercedes,” he cut her off, “please ask your maid to pack your trunks sufficiently. I shall have my servant load my belongings posthaste.” He turned and walked with Gabe out the door, calling over his shoulder, “I will be late for supper tonight, so do not wait.”

William strode down the stairs, anger burning within him like a raging storm. Why did his deceiving little wife want to come along? What was she up to? Had the missing puzzle piece to his wife’s new behavior just fallen into place? Did she want to come to the party in order to spy on him?

Chapter Nine

“Here we are.”

Ignoring William’s grumble as he stared out the carriage window, Mercedes sat forward in her seat and admired the enormous estate. Full trees, the land, and greener rolling hills made it a splendid sight.

The Burwell’s three-story house had at least three wings added to the structure as it circled around the backyard. She caught a glimpse of the rose garden that seemed to last forever. At the edge of the yard, a cluster of trees led into a small forest.

“Amazing,” she gasped.

He chuckled. “Yes, quite a sight is it not?”

“Unbelievable.”

“And can you believe I drew the plans for this house?”

She swung her head around so hard it unbalanced her bonnet. She stared wide-eyed at him as she adjusted it back on her head. “You did?”

“The people who first bought the house moved away two years ago when the taxes became so high they couldn’t afford to live here.” He smoothed his waistcoat into place. “Not too long afterward, the colonel and his wife moved in.” He shook his head. “Now it makes me wonder if the Burwell’s pushed the people away on purpose.”

His tone of voice became guarded when he spoke of the taxes. Mercedes couldn’t tell if he was concerned for the taxes in general or if he held a grudge against England. He seemed a man of honor and England was his sovereign country. Surely she bred intrigue where none existed.

But for a while, she held doubts to why the King would have such high taxes. A few other things bothered her, but she always pushed them aside and tried not to ponder on those issues.

“I think you are extremely talented.” She smiled. “This is a lovely home.”

“Thank you.” His acknowledgment held no emotion.

The coach pulled to a stop, but before the footman came to open the door, William touched her arm. “Please remember your act. Continue to play the sweet, innocent woman you have been trying to fool me into believing you are.”

His words cut through her like a knife. She wished she could make him think differently about her. She frowned. “I assure you I will be on my best behavior.” She leaned toward him and placed her hand on his knee. His muscles tightened beneath her fingers. “If you like,” she continued, “I will show these people I have changed and the only man in my life is my husband.”

His expression remained solemn and her heart sank further. Not even a twitch touched his lips. He nodded. “If that is what you wish, then so be it.”

William stepped out of the coach first before lifting her down. His grip wasn’t gentle, and when her feet touched the ground he withdrew his hands and moved away as if touching her offended him.

She took a deep breath for courage. She would show him what kind of woman she really was. Hopefully, he would come to have tender feelings for her. Eventually the truth would come out about their marriage, and she didn’t want him loathing her when that moment happened.

Pain bore a hole in her heart knowing he thought the worst of her, especially when she figured he’d be overjoyed to get an invitation. Obviously, she’d made another mistake. From here on out she couldn’t afford to make any more.

Hooking her arm around his elbow, she let him escort her into the house where servants waited to take their hats and cloaks. Colonel Burwell and his wife stepped away from their other guests to greet them. Once again, Lady Burwell, dressed to perfection, wore clothing that appeared very expensive and very befitting a Queen.

“I’m so happy you could make it,” Lady Burwell greeted first. “I must apologize again for my husband’s memory.” She elbowed him gently. “He really thought he had given Mr. Kennedy an invitation for you.”

William shook his head. “It is I who should apologize for any inconvenience my wife and I have put you through.”

Lady Burwell laughed. “Nonsense.”

William took Lady Burwell’s hand and placed a proper kiss on her knuckles. “Lady Burwell, might I say you look very fetching, making the sunshine envious of you for taking away its brightness.”

The woman giggled like a girl. Mercedes held back a laugh. William certainly knew how to captivate a lady.

“Oh, you are a charmer, Mr. Braxton,” the older woman cooed.

William turned to the colonel and bowed slightly. “Thank you, sir, for the generous invitation. I commend you for the remarkable additions you have made to this property since the last occupants owned it.”

George Burwell chuckled, his stance proud as his gaze roamed the great hall. “Yes, it was a mere shack until we made the proper accommodations.” He faced William. “I did hear, though, you were the one who designed the place. Is that correct?”

“Yes.”

Lady Burwell gasped. “Are you jesting?”

William shook his head. “I would not jest about matters so important, my lady.”

“Well, then I shall have to hire you to build me more.”

“You wish to add on another wing perhaps?”

“Oh, no.” She laughed. “This house suits my needs for the moment, but I wish to have a different stable. The one we have is too small.”

“I shall be more than happy to draw up the plans for you.”

Mercedes kept silent as her husband conversed with the couple. An underlying tone tinged his answers almost as if he lied through his teeth. Outwardly, his expression held a pleasant look, but she could read him well. His behavior wasn’t quite right and the nerve on his cheek twitched. This had happened before when he tried to hold his anger.

When more guests arrived, the
Burwells
excused themselves. William hooked her hand around his elbow again and walked away. She tried not to ponder the doubts creeping into her mind and concentrated on the furnishings.

“I think this house is immaculately decorated,” she said.

“Take a good look, my dear,” William whispered and leaned closer. “This is funded by the hardworking people of Philadelphia. Their taxes pay for Lady Burwell’s furnishings.”

She gasped, turning her head to meet his narrowed gaze. “You cannot be serious.”

“Can’t I?” His eyebrow rose. “Where do you think the money goes, but to the British people? Have you not noticed all the higher ranking men on the King’s payroll live almost as wealthily as the King himself?” He straightened when others passed by and politely nodded in greeting.

Different doubts crept into her head about the King and his soldiers. The more she thought about this, the more she realized most of the high-ranking men in the King’s Army were well blessed in land and money. William was right!

A servant joined them, interrupting her errant thoughts.

“Excuse me, Mr. and Mrs. Braxton,” the younger woman began. “Lady Burwell has asked me to show you to your room. I am certain you will want to freshen up before the garden luncheon.”

Mercedes smiled. “Oh, yes. That would be wonderful, thank you.”

She and William followed the maid up the grand staircase. When they stepped into the room, Mercedes inhaled sharply. Both hers and William’s trunks sat side by side at the foot of the large bed. Her heart jumped to her throat with the mere thought of them sharing a bed.

“Excuse me, Miss,” William spoke. “Why are my trunks in my wife’s room?”

The maid’s cheeks bloomed red and she glanced down at the floor. “Lady Burwell hadn’t enough rooms when you responded to her invitation, and she offers her apologies for you having to share one.” She peeked up from beneath lowered lashes at William. “And she hopes you will understand and not be too inconvenienced.”

Mercedes’ uneven heartbeat accelerated, but she must calm the maid’s fears although having a hard time with her own. Displaying her practiced smile, Mercedes nodded. “No reason to fret. This is acceptable. Tell Lady Burwell we are most happy with our accommodations.”

The young girl bobbed once, then left the room, closing the door behind her.

The room seemed larger than the one she occupied at William’s home. It would do. Of course this meant she’d have to share a bed with him. Her gaze flew to the large bed decorated in a blue and yellow patchwork with matching pillows.

“Things can get no worse, can they?” William grumbled behind her.

His attitude gnawed on her nerves and she whipped around, planting her hands on her hips. “You wanted to come here, so what are you harping about? Although we have to share a bed, you will not notice me in it. The bed is big enough that we can each have a side to ourselves and not worry about bumping into each other during the night.”