When she heard the door shut quietly, Eugenia opened her eyes and checked the room to see if she was truly alone. Then she had the long wait, until she would hear the carriage leaving once again. She only hoped that in the meantime, Frederick wouldn't bother to check on her.
The aroma of smoke filled her nostrils once again. She sniffed noisily. Then her fingers went to her hair. She hadn't had a chance to wash it. She sighed heavily. If Clarissa hadn't had her mind elsewhere, she most certainly would have noticed the smell. It was quite strong.
Hurriedly, Eugenia went to the bathroom and splashed some rose water over her hair, then began a slow pace, back and forth, waiting and watching. She had to get Drew to safety.
* * *
Chapter Ten
The two shadows against the snow moved along, making their way toward the back door of The Towers. Eugenia shivered in the cold, only having wrapped her loose cape around her chemise. "We must hurry," she whispered, watching the lights in Clarissa's room. She only hoped that Clarissa had retired for the evening. After Frederick's departure from the house, Eugenia had waited impatiently for noises to cease throughout the house, knowing that only then Clarissa would be in her room.
"I hope you know what you're doin'," Drew growled, watching around him for any quick movement.
"Shhh," Eugenia whispered. "Just follow close beside me. I only hope the tower rooms aren't locked."
Drew's heart faltered. He stopped and pulled Eugenia next to him. He turned her to face him. Even by the light of the moon, he could see her loveliness. But he was afraid that she was being a bit daring now. "What the hell do you mean?" he snapped. "You don't even know if those rooms are unlocked?"
Eugenia fluttered her lashes. Her emerald-colored eyes were like a cat's, penetrating through the darkness, seeing his face so close to hers, a face that she had held in her dreams so very often. How she wanted to touch it and never set her fingers free. "I told you, Drew," she whispered. "I've never been to the tower rooms. But I'm sure we can get in. Please don't worry."
Drew groaned noisily. "Don't worry? You get me in this German's house and you're not sure that you can really hide me? Don't you know what that could mean?"
Eugenia forgot once again her newly taught manner of speaking. She had found that when she got upset, this always happened. "I don't know what you're speakin' of, Drew," she snapped back. "But I know I'm a freezin' standin' here in the snow. Now will you jist come on? If the tower rooms ain't open, you can hide in my room for the night."
A low, hoarse laugh filled the night air as Drew's lips brushed by Eugenia's. "Now that sounds more like it, hon," he drawled.
"Oh, Drew," Eugenia said, pulling herself away from his hold. Right now she didn't need him disturbing her train of thought by teasing. She needed to get him to safety. And fast. She took him by the hand and pulled him up the stairs of the porch and through the back door. There was only a dim light burning in the hallway, a light always left on for Frederick's arrival back home. And this was light enough to guide Eugenia and Drew up the spiral staircase. At the top of the stairs Eugenia paused and listened. There were still no noises in the house.
"I've hidden a candle over here," she whispered, going to a table, opening the closed doors on the front. "We can't turn on any lights in the upper floors of the house or Frederick will see when he returns from the Opera House."
"Whatever you say," Drew said, looking around him. He could now see why Eugenia had agreed to live with Frederick. Drew had never seen such a magnificent house. He only wished he could afford to house Eugenia in such a manner. And maybe someday he could. But this was now. And it was too dangerous to let his thoughts wander to such things so far in the future.
The staircase leading to the tower rooms was dark and foreboding. It led straight upward at the end of the hall from where Eugenia and Frederick slept. When she reached the top, she turned the doorknob, barely breathing, afraid that she would find it locked. She just hadn't had time to check it out earlier. There had been too much activity in the house. Frederick had always looked so angrily in her direction whenever she had mentioned wanting to see the tower rooms. She had always known that if he had ever caught her disobeying his commands, she would more than likely be set free, out into the cold winds of the night. He had burned all her personal possessions. But she couldn't let things like this enter her mind now. She had Drew to think about. Only Drew. With trembling fingers, she breathed a deep sigh of relief when the door opened easily. "Come on, darling," she whispered, pulling Drew by the hand once again.
There were many closed doors lining the hallway stretched out before Eugenia and Drew. The flickering of the candle that Eugenia held before her danced in wavy shadows on the walls all around her, like ghosts warning her to not enter. With a pounding heart, she began to make her way down the hallway. "Which door shall we try first, Drew?" she asked.
"From what I've gathered, there are four towers. One on each corner of the roof," he answered. "Let's try to find one that is at the back of the house. That way I could feel more safe. The moonlight's so bright tonight, it might give way to shadows, shadows that Frederick could make out upon arrival home."
Eugenia flashed Drew a look of admiration. "You're right, you know," she whispered. "One of those rooms on each end of the hall on the left should be the safest place for the night. I'm sure they will be the ones at the back of the house."
Again, with trembling fingers, Eugenia turned a knob and entered. She held the candle before her and gasped loudly. The room was just as beautiful as any other room in the house. She held the candle up and moved it in front of her, then around her as she turned slowly.
"What the hell?" Drew snarled.
"It's a room mainly of pillows on the floor," she whispered. "Why would Frederick have such a room as this?" But her eyes could also see the red velveteen drapes pulled shut at the windows, and the rich texture of a lightly colored carpeting stretched out beneath her feet.
Walking on ahead of Eugenia, Drew's eyes widened in disbelief. "I'll be damned," he muttered, picking up a long length of tubing. "Your German friend has himself a hop joint here."
Eugenia went to Drew's side and lowered the candle to get a better look at what Drew was looking at. The tip of the tubing had what looked like the tip of a smoking pipe attached to it. She had seen many pipes that her Papa had made. And the tip looked the same as this. But why would this long tubing be attached to a bottle?
"What do you mean, Drew?" she finally asked.
"This is a most illegal opium den, my love," Drew said, handling more of the paraphernalia draped around, and across the floor.
"What is an opium den?"
"Opium is a powerful narcotic drug," Drew answered, reaching down, picking up a bottle. He twisted the lid off and sniffed. He handed this in Eugenia's direction.
"What that?" she asked, her eyes wide.
"My love, that's opium. In powder form. To be snuffed."
Eugenia could recall the many times she had seen Frederick put such a powder to his nose, then fall into a deep sleep shortly afterward. Now she knew what he had used to create such a sense of euphoria for himself.
"But why such a room as this?" Eugenia asked, her eyes sweeping all around her.
"Your German keeper is rich, hon," Drew said, placing the jar back down on a small table beside deeply piled cushions. "He entertains friends in here. I'm sure. Only the rich could get away with such actions. I'm sure he keeps the authorities well paid for secrecy."
"But I haven't seen any such friends," Eugenia said, remembering how quiet the house was most of the time and how alone Frederick always seemed.
"He probably just hasn't had any friends in since you've been a part of his household," Drew said. "But I'm sure he's enjoyed this pleasure, alone, many times."
"I bet you're right," Eugenia said remembering the mysterious disappearances of Frederick. "Some days I never see or hear him come or go. I bet he's been here all along."
"I'm sure of it," Drew said. "Be careful with him, hon," he added. "This might be a part of his future plans for you. To get you up here to drug you… then take his pleasures with you."
Eugenia turned to Drew, her eyes wide. "But Drew, I want to leave with you," she said. "Please take me with you when you leave here."
Laughing hoarsely, Drew pulled Eugenia into his arms. "I can't give you silks and satins, my love," he said softly. "You've grown used to such a way of life now. Do you think you could live day by day in sleazy hotels? And do you think you could ride by horseback beside me, to follow me to find my riches?"
It hadn't been in Eugenia's plans to live as he had just spoken of, but yet, to live without him again… ? "I do love you so, Drew," she whispered, cuddling in his arms, then laughing when she smelled the aroma of cloth singeing. "The candle, Drew. I simply forgot about the candle. I've about caught you afire."
"We'd best leave this room, anyway," Drew said, walking toward the door. "If your friend came home early and decided to have his usual fun, it wouldn't be too wise for him to find us in here."
"True. True," Eugenia sighed. "Then let's check the other room at the far end of the hall. I'm sure that one will do."
Again, the candle's flickering shadows played around Eugenia and Drew as they made their way down the narrow hallway, a hallway that didn't even appear to have ever been painted. It was only a dull gray, with a few webs sparkling beneath the candle's rays. Eugenia turned the knob on this other door and hurried inside.
"God. What a contrast to the room we just left," Drew said, looking around. The windows and floors were barren and there wasn't a piece of furniture to be seen. "I bet rats are the only things that inhabit this room."
Eugenia shuddered. "Please don't say that," she said. "I'll be afraid to leave you here."
Laughing, Drew took her hand. "Hon, I was only kiddin'," he said. "I'm sure this'll be fine. But I think you can blow out the candle. The moonlight can be our light for this night."
Blowing the candle out, Eugenia went to the window and stared outward. The gray clouds of earlier in the day had separated, leaving only the clear sky of night, with the moon so bright and close. She felt as though she could reach up and touch it. And below her, she could see the stables, and knew that she would hear when Frederick's carriage returned. "We're finally alone, my love," she said, swinging around to face Drew. "It's been too long."
Instead of a room filled with dreariness, the tower room became a place for lovers. Lovers hiding together, from everyone… and everything. The moonlight was the bed that Drew was lowering Eugenia down upon. She didn't even feel the coldness or hardness of the floor when her back made contact. She watched Drew's eyes twinkling—the stars to her now—as his fingers untied her cape and opened it slowly from around her, letting it cascade across the floor beneath her.
"Jesus," he groaned, seeing the flimsy attire of the lacy, white chemise. "If I'd known this was all you wore beneath that cape, I couldn't even have left the stables. I would've taken you. Right then and there, in the hayloft. In the straw and the cold air of night."
Eugenia lifted her hand upward, tracing the outline of his lips. Ah, how handsome he was. Even more so in the moonlight. "Hush, my love," she said, feeling the stirrings of desire growing like flames, flickering, kindling the passions until she could hardly wait to be touched and caressed by his skillful fingers. Another night of love beneath the moonlight's guidance. She remembered how wonderful it had all been. She had been waiting… for so long.
"Let's enjoy the moment to the fullest," Drew said, slowly pulling her Papa's combs from her hair. "So beautiful," he whispered, spreading the redness of her hair out across the floor around Eugenia's head. "A crown of roses," he whispered. Then his fingers made contact with Eugenia's flesh, as he pulled her chemise upward and over her head.
"And now. Undress me, my darlin'," Drew said, pulling her up to him. "I want to feel your fingers. Touch me. Set me afire."
Trembling, Eugenia removed Drew's jacket, shirt, then began to unzip his breeches, already feeling a throbbing hardness waiting to be released. When her fingers made contact, waves of pleasure made her feel almost faint.
"Caress it, Eugenia," Drew said, stepping out of his breeches, his fingers now kneading the curves of her breasts, making Eugenia's breath come in short pants. Her fingers wrapped around his manhood and began to fondle and move until he began to moan with pleasure.
With one swift movement, they were spread out on their blanket of moonlight once again. Eugenia shut her eyes, swallowed up in the sensuous feelings of his tongue and fingers exploring her body, preparing her for the moment of bliss that she knew was fast approaching. His fingers were so warm on her womanhood, spreading her, caressing her, while his teeth pulled the nipple of her aching breast to stiffness.
Eugenia couldn't help but begin to writhe, needing the stiffness of his manhood between her thighs, not his fingers. Instead his head lowered and his tongue replaced his fingers.
"Oh, Drew," she murmured, running her fingers through the curly locks of his hair. "What are you doing to me? You're making me feel so wonderful, my mind is leaving me." She spread her legs farther apart and began to fondle her own breasts, lost in the sensations of the moment.
All thoughts of anything else blurred before her as she felt his body move upward, and then experienced the heat of his throbbing flesh as he finally entered her. Their lips met in frenzied passion, his tongue probing, exploring, as his body moved above her. She moved her body with his, to meet the demanding thrusts, then like a candle, Eugenia felt as though she was one mass of warm, melting wax as her brain exploded with the completion of their union. She clung to him, savoring his body, the closeness of it, the smoothness of the skin of his back, and the smell of him—a man—when she felt his whole body begin to tremble against hers. She felt the ache of her body, as though it might break, as he thrust harder, groaning, gripping her in his arms like in a vice. And then it was over. And much, much too fast. She wanted the pleasurable feelings to go on forever. She wanted not to be aware of anything else, ever, but Drew… his body, and what he could arouse in her.
"Magnificent," he drawled, as his body grew limp.
Eugenia laughed softly. "My love, do you know that I remember you saying that the one other time we made love?"
His lips went to a breast and kissed it tenderly, and he cupped them both in his hands. "These are the most magnificent pair of breasts a man could want to touch." Then he put his lips to the other. "To suck." His teeth nibbled. "To bite."
Eugenia could feel the throbbing of her womanhood beginning again. Could it be possible to have that same glorious experience again? So soon? She reached down and touched Drew's shrunken manhood and began to caress it, until she felt it begin to grow in her hand once again. "Drew, do you think… ?"
"You're a wench," he laughed. Then he entered her once again. It only took three thrusts to make the world explode into a million colors around Eugenia once again, this time leaving her spent and breathless. She waited patiently for the same pleasures to wrack his body, meeting his every thrust with the upper movement of her hips. As before, when the trembling began in his body, she had to try her best to not let out a scream as he held Her tightly to him, pounding his manhood into her so hard and demanding. Then in one more violent shudder of his body, it was over. He rolled from atop her and stretched out on his back on top of her cape.
"God, woman," he gasped. "You're too much for one man."
She laughed quietly, running her fingers over the wetness of his body. He had worked himself up into a lather, just like her horse had so often done back at her parents' homestead, after he had put in a hard day's labor.
"You'll take a chill, love," Eugenia said, scooting over, fitting her body in next to his, wanting to warm him, protect him. Now that she was composed, she realized the coolness of the room.
"And you," Drew said, rising, helping her with her chemise over her head, then her cape.
She sat in rapture, watching Drew's clothes quickly being put on over his body, hating to see it taken from her sight so soon. She looked up into Drew's eyes. "I'm hungry," she blurted, suddenly feeling famished. She then remembered turning down supper, and also knew that Drew had to be as hungry.
"How 'bout a large steak and a glass of champagne to finish off the evenin?" Drew laughed, lighting a cigarette, sitting down, his back against the wall.
Eugenia's lips curved downward into a pout. "I'm serious, Drew," she said.
"I'm sorry, hon," he drawled. "The same as on our first and last night together. I don't have any food to share with you. And I don't think any jackrabbit is goin' to hop by for me to catch. Maybe a rat…"
"Oh, Drew," Eugenia moaned. "Stop. I'm going to get us some food. Kiyomasu was fixing roast duck for supper. Surely there are some leftovers."
"Who the hell is Kiyomasu?"
"Frederick's Japanese cook."
Eugenia rose, lit her candle, and headed for the door. "I'll be back soon, darling," she said, swinging around, taking one last look at his shadow against the wall. She knew that this all had to be a dream. To be with Drew? Surely it was a dream.
"Be careful, hon," he said. Hearing his voice she knew it was indeed real.
Hurrying down the narrow hallway, Eugenia paused only for a brief moment in front of the door that hid a room of evil. She swallowed hard and hurried on her way until she reached the bottom of the steep staircase. She blew the candle out and opened the door slowly, stopping to listen. As before, nothing. She looked toward Clarissa's closed door and saw no light visible beneath the door, so knew that she was free to do as she chose because Clarissa had to be asleep. She would only have to listen for the carriage…
Eugenia made only fleeting shadows as she hurried around the kitchen, stuffing bread, cheese, and wings and drumsticks of the roast duck into a straw basket. Then she went to the library and chose a red wine. It wasn't champagne as Drew had mentioned, but wine could do as well. She eyed the wine glasses, but knew that they could be a telltale way of knowing she had been up to something besides being ill in bed.
Eugenia's Embrace Page 11
