Time After Time (69 page)

Their bodies moved together in a delicious rhythm. Then, wrapped in each other’s arms they strained toward that ultimate unity. Emily moaned, amazed at the intensity of the sensations she was experiencing.

“Jonathon… oh, Jonathon,” she called out, clinging to him, moving with him until they soared in a shimmering explosion of bliss.

Finally spent, they lay with limbs entangled, in the glow of the fire. Jonathon’s head rested on Emily’s breast, and he traced lazy circles on her stomach. She twined her fingers in his hair and pressed a kiss on his head. Neither spoke for a while.

“How is your leg, Em?” Jonathon finally said.

“Wonderful,” she sighed.

He rose up on one elbow and looked at her. Her hair was wildly tossed on the pillow and a rosy hue heightened in her cheeks. Her eyes glowed a soft periwinkle and she smiled gently.

“Really, Jonathon. I am quite comfortable,” she said, running a finger down his arm. He bent down and nibbled playfully at her breast, chuckling at the reaction it brought.

“You are excited,” he said.

“You seem to arouse that reaction in me.”

He nuzzled against her neck; his hands gently caressed her. She stroked his hair and sighed in contentment, closing her eyes. Soon their passion raged, and again they satisfied the hunger they both had fought against so long.

“Emily, are you hungry?” Jonathon murmured against her throat after a while.

“Mmmm.”

Reluctantly he rose and pulled the table next to the bed. Climbing in beside her, he sliced some cheese and poured the wine. They ate slowly talking softly and sipping wine from the same glass. Neither was very hungry and soon the food was packed away and they lay in each other’s arms once more.

“This certainly complicates things,” Jonathon thought aloud.

Emily pressed her finger to his lips. “Jonathon, we are here together right now and I have never been so happy in my life. I want to bask in the glow of this joy and worry about complications tomorrow. There is precious little we can do about it tonight.”

Jonathon rose up and leered wickedly. “Well there is
one
thing we can do.” Emily laughed.

Their fevered, pent-up passion had been sated, and their lovemaking this time was languid. Finally, entwined in each other’s arms, they slept deeply.

• • •

The early morning sun streamed in across the nestled, sleeping couple. Slowly Jonathon awakened, disturbed at something of which he was not quite aware. Suddenly, he reached beneath the bed for his pistol and aimed it as the cabin door opened.

“And we were worried about you,” Randy chided.

Jonathon pulled the blanket up around Emily’s shoulders as she slowly opened her eyes.

“Jonathon — what is it?” she murmured.

“We have company, Em.”

Closing the door, Randy came in, his eyes stormy. “I hate to disturb you two, but Andrew and some others are close behind me. I took the detour to check this cabin. You might want to put some clothes on before they arrive.”

“Well not with you standing here we will not. Go tell them we are in need of a wagon. Emily has hurt her leg. And Randy, that is all they need to know.”

“I am not daft, man,” he snarled. “Emily, are you all right?” he asked, a worried frown creasing his brow.

“Yes, Randy. Jonathon took good care of me.”

“I can see that,” he snapped and left the cabin.

Jonathon turned to Emily. “I am truly sorry, Em.”

“Jonathon, do not be; I am not. Randy is a good friend, he will not say anything.” She kissed him gently.

“Before we start something we do not want to stop, we had best get dressed,” he said.

Jonathon’s shirt was in rags as he had used it for her splint, but he quickly slipped into the rest of his clothes and gently helped Emily into hers amidst much giggling, tickling, and teasing.

“Behave, Jonathon, or the search party will discover more than they are searching for.”

Straightening up the cabin, Jonathon did his best to make it appear that Emily had slept in the bed and he on the floor. Soon they heard horses approach and Randy’s voice rang out loudly.

“I shall tell them we are here.”

Jonathon chuckled at the obvious warning and opened the door. Andrew ran up and the look of relief on his face was touching.

“Em, are you all right?” he asked, running to the bed. “We have been so worried.”

She hugged her brother, “Yes, I am well, Drew, except for my leg.” Ruefully she pulled back the covers to show him the splint.

“Another group has a wagon and they are not far from here,” he answered.

Randy had followed him in and scrutinized the cabin. Grunting in satisfaction, he gave Jonathon a long, cold look that Jonathon returned.

• • •

Joanna and David hurried out of the house when the party arrived. Tears streaming down her face, Joanna ran up to the wagon where Emily lay on the tick mattress and pillows. Then she looked at Jonathon.

“Are you two all right? It frightened us so when Shadow came charging in last night. Emily, what has happened to you?” she cried.

Emily explained the accident as the men dismounted. Jonathon strode over to the wagon and put down the back. Tenderly he lifted her into his arms, their eyes meeting briefly.

“She needs rest. Randy went for the doctor,” he explained.

“Emily, I shall fix you some tea while Jonathon takes you upstairs,” Joanna said, looking closely at the two of them. “Then we shall visit and you can tell me all about it.” She turned and swept into the house.

Jonathon carried Emily to her room where the bedclothes had been folded back.

“I am beginning to feel like a lecher with the looks people are giving me,” he said softly to Emily.

“You are one, Captain Brentwood,” she teased.

As he gently laid Emily down on the crisp, fresh sheets, he noticed how drawn her face was. The trip had been difficult for her. He stroked her forehead.

“Em, what can I get for you? Dare I suggest more brandy?”

“Heavens, no!” she protested. “The doctor will be here soon and I can wait until then.”

Joanna entered with a tray. “Now, Jonathon, I shall take over from here until Dr. Anderson arrives.” She paused. “I would like to speak with you when he arrives, though.”

Jonathon winked at Emily as he answered, “Yes, Joanna.”

When he left, Joanna turned to Emily. “Dulcie will be up to give you a soothing sponge bath soon. Have some tea, Emily?” She handed her a cup. “Are you… all right, Em?”

“I am well, Joanna, really.”

Joanna’s wide, brown eyes, so much like Jonathon’s, searched hers. Finally she smiled, “I believe you are, Emily.”

Jonathon was in his study when Joanna came to speak to him.

“Jonathon, what have you done?” she asked.

“I am not sure I understand what you mean, Joanna,” he replied.

“The two people who left yesterday are not the same two people who came back today.”

Jonathon looked at his sister. She had always been intuitive and she knew him so well.

“Well, I did not rape her if that is what you mean. It all just… happened.”

“Jonathon, I know you have not led a celibate life, but Emily is not a… well… loose woman. Jonathon, good Lord, you are her guardian!”

“Damn it, woman! Do you not think I know that better than anyone?” he yelled. “George Wentworth, my dearest friend, entrusted his daughter to me and I took her to bed!” His voice softened, “But, Joanna, it was not like that.”

“Do you love her, Jonathon?” she asked quietly, holding her breath.

“I… I do not know. I care very deeply about her — and Andrew. But for so long I have been trying to put my feelings into perspective, trying to act the proper guardian. Yes, I love her, but affectionately — until last night. I am confused, Joanna.”

“You will marry her, of course.”

Jonathon stared at his sister. “Would that be fair, Joanna? Two lovers claim me already — the sea and Brentwood Plantation. I am spread thinly enough between the two as it is. Would it be fair for Emily to have one–third of me at best — probably less?”

“Perhaps you should have thought of that before giving in to your passion. Tell me this, Jonathon. What husband would you have for her now? And what will he do to her when he discovers on his wedding night that she is not his alone? I understand your love for the sea, but the sea is a fickle lover. If you leave her, other men will take her to their hearts never expecting her to be theirs alone. But if you leave Emily now, I do not know what you will be condemning her to. Think long and hard about this, Jonathon. Ask yourself how Emily feels right now.” Silence fell between them.

Finally Joanna walked over and kissed his cheek. “She could do much worse, you know. And so could you.”

“Joanna, I have made plans for a brief voyage next week to Massachusetts for the Committees.”

“I see,” she said thoughtfully. “Jonathon, ten men were on that search party, including Andrew. I do not know how long you can take to make a decision. Randy is a good friend, as are the others, but news has a way of spreading, and they all know you were there together all night. I suggest you think long and hard about this and ask the Lord for direction.”

She left him silently staring out the window.

• • •

Dr. Anderson had given Emily a sleeping draught and wrapped her leg. He announced that it was not broken, rather a severe sprain, and Emily was confined to bed. She slept all afternoon and as the lamps were lit, she roused. Andrew sat with her while she ate a light supper; she soon dozed again. She was vaguely aware of people coming in to check on her, but the moon was high and the house quiet when she became aware of a tall figure beside her bed.

“Jonathon?”

“I am here, Em,” he said quietly. Slowly she lifted her hand to him. Taking it, he sat down beside her and placed a kiss on her forehead. She lifted his hand to her lips and kissed it.

“I am so sleepy,” she said.

“I know. The rest is good for you,” he stroked her hair.

“Jonathon,” she murmured and pulled his arm to bring him closer. “Hold me.”

He leaned down, gently pulling her toward him, his arms slipping behind her back. Her arms went slowly up around his shoulders and she sighed. He buried his face in her hair and held her close.

“Em, what have I done to you?” he whispered.

Hearing her even breathing, he slowly laid her back on the pillows. She was sleeping soundly; her lips parted slightly, dark lashes against her cheeks. Jonathon wanted to crush her to him. Instead, he placed another kiss on her forehead, covered her, and slipped from the room.

• • •

It was late morning when Emily awoke the next day. The bright sun splashed in through the chintz curtains and gleamed off the highly polished floor. Joanna was just setting a tray on the bedside table and noticed Emily stir.

“Good morning,” she said brightly.

“Good morning, Joanna.”

“How are you feeling? Did you sleep well?”

“Well, and yes, in that order.” Emily laughed. “My, it must be almost noon!”

“Do not worry. You needed the sleep and the freedom from pain for a while. Andrew would like to come up now. I shall tell him you are awake.”

Andrew and Emily spent the remainder of the morning talking about his plans to attend William and Mary College after the Christmas holidays. Emily always enjoyed chats with Andrew, but, throughout their conversation, she kept listening for Jonathon’s footsteps in the hall. Twice when Dulcie entered her room, Emily’s eyes shot to the door in anticipation, but then showed only disappointment.

She slept a bit in the afternoon, but lay staring at the canopy for the hour before supper. She could not understand why Jonathon had not come in to see her. Perhaps, as she had on the
Destiny,
she was taking what happened between them more seriously than he. Perhaps he considered it only another “little incident.” But she had seen the look in his eyes — the tenderness, the passion, the caring. And she thought about how tenderly he had held her just last night. Then where was he?

“Perhaps I have been a fool. I was warned about his reputation with women. Maybe I only believed what I wanted to believe.”

Tears streamed down her cheeks and she ached with longing for strong arms to enfold her, for gentle kisses to excite her.

Joanna brought in a tray and she and Andrew ate supper with Emily. David was tending some business at a nearby plantation and would not be back until late. Joanna noticed how quiet Emily was and guessed the reason.

“Jonathon had to go into Williamsburg today,” she said casually, pouring more tea into Emily’s cup. Setting the silver teapot down, she looked up at the younger girl. “He came in early this morning to say good-bye, but you were sleeping so peacefully that he did not want to disturb you.”

The relief was evident on Emily’s face. “I see,” was all she could say, trying to stifle a cry of joy. Composing herself she asked, “When does he expect to return?”

“Tomorrow evening. He has to prepare to sail next week,” Joanna replied.

“I am to go with him, Em,” Andrew exclaimed.

“Oh, Drew, you will not do anything foolish this time, will you?” she pleaded.

Joanna looked from sister to brother. “Did something happen on the voyage from England?” she asked. Together they told her of the incident aboard the
Destiny
during the storm and Jonathon’s daring rescue that saved Andrew’s life.

“I stopped asking Jonathon about his voyages long ago,” Joanna laughed. “If I had not, my hair would be pure gray by now!”

The rest of the evening was spent pleasantly playing cards and chatting.

Emily tried to read a book the next day, but at every sound she looked up, listening for Jonathon’s step, her heart pounding furiously until the sound faded or proved to be someone else entering her room. Then she would have to reread the page, forcing herself to concentrate.

The dinner hour passed, the lamps were lit and still there was no sign of Jonathon. Emily waited far into the night, staring at the fire in the hearth and reliving those wonderful moments in Jonathon’s arms. Slowly her eyes began to get heavy and she could fight sleep no more.