Clarissa began to walk around the room, touching everything with her semidark fingers. "We want to live here. With the other girls. Just the way Iris did before she moved." She swung around and faced Eugenia, showing hate in her dark, flashing eyes. "Before she moved in with you at The Towers," she snapped angrily.
Eugenia could see the reasoning behind all of this. Clarissa felt a deep resentment, jealousy, for not being able to return to The Towers herself even though she had behaved in such an immoral manner when she lived there.
"Now all you girls know there's a space problem," Eugenia said, gathering her skirt up in her arms to sit down in a chair opposite them all. "I only have room for the ones I house already. What can you expect of me?"
Clarissa went to Eugenia and stood over her, glaring. "We can double up. Put each one of us in a room with each one of them. It could work."
"Yes. It would work until the men arrived," Eugenia hissed. "Then where would you each entertain? Out in the hallway?"
"We could all take turns. You know it could be done," Clarissa answered. "Did you know we've been having trouble with rats in that house where we… entertain… as you call it?"
Eugenia gasped as she put her hands to her throat. "Rats?" she uttered softly.
"Yes. Rats," Clarissa said. "Now. Can't you think of any better reason for us wanting to live in this house? I'm sure you don't have rats. And I'm sure you keep much warmer in the winter. The snows are just around the corner. You know that."
Eugenia rose, pushing Clarissa aside. Something was stirring in her brain. She had just begun to realize that what Clarissa was truly after was a way to get back in The Towers.
"Clarissa, don't you think I can see through what you're doing?" she snapped angrily.
Clarissa smirked. "I don't know what you mean, Madam Eugenia." Even her voice mocked.
"Yes you do," Eugenia said, setting her mouth firmly. "You know that you've stirred up this trouble with the girls, knowing there isn't enough room here. You think I'll be talked into using The Towers instead of this house. Well, it won't work. I should have seen it coming. I've heard the whispers. Now I know who was behind it. No, it won't work."
"Then we all refuse to accept any more men," Clarissa said stubbornly, placing her hands on her hips. She glanced quickly toward the other colored girls, who had yet to speak one word of protest. "Isn't that right, girls?" she added, giving them a threatening look.
Silently, they each rose and began to cower away from Eugenia and Clarissa, watching wide-eyed until they fled into the foyer, leaving Eugenia and Clarissa alone, to face one another.
Eugenia waited until the sound of their scuffling feet faded away with the banging of the front door. Then she swung around and pointed toward the path the others had just taken.
"Clarissa, if you don't get out of my sight right now I don't know what I might do to you."
Clarissa's eyes snapped back at Eugenia in defiance. "I'll get even with you somehow. Someday," she hissed as she turned to leave the room.
Eugenia followed close behind her. "And don't stop when you get outside my door," she added angrily, feeling the hate for Clarissa eating away at her insides. "You get what meager possessions you have and just continue on your way. I've tried to be kind to you, but can no longer tolerate your interference in my life."
Clarissa swung around and faced Eugenia. "It is you who have interfered in my life," she growled. "If you hadn't come along, it would be I living in The Towers right now. Not you."
"Just you remember that last statement, that it is I, not you, who is the mistress of The Towers. By doing so, you'll be reminded of your place in life. Now, please leave my house. I wish to witness no more of your pettiness."
One loud swish of her skirt and petticoats, and Eugenia was left standing alone. She exhaled deeply, sighing with relief. She only hoped this would be the last she'd ever see of Clarissa. The real trouble was all that Clarissa stood for. Then Eugenia's thoughts went to the other colored girls. Now that Clarissa would no longer be among them to keep the dissatisfaction festering, surely they would settle down and accept the way of life that they had grown accustomed to. But she would see to it that each room got fresh wallpaper and new, small coal stoves. And rats? She hoped that had only been a ploy of Clarissa's. No one had ever complained of rats, of anything, until Clarissa.
"Eugenia?"
Eugenia turned and found Alison standing in the doorway. Alison who was her friend and ally. Alison who had proven to be one of the nicest, most sincere people Eugenia had yet to meet. Her mouth still drooped occasionally, showing a sullen side to her nature that Eugenia remembered well, but since having been given more responsibility in the house, Alison had appeared more relaxed, more responsible.
"You've sent Clarissa away?" Alison asked.
"Yes," Eugenia answered. "And I hope forever."
"And the other girls?"
"It'll be all right. The girls will return to their normal duties with Clarissa gone."
"Do you think she'll stay away?"
Eugenia headed toward the staircase. "I only hope so," she answered, then stopped and let her shoulders sag, feeling the need to be alone before returning to The Towers. She had much to think about. She could still see the look in Nell's eyes as she watched Adam in silent admiration. Could I have been wrong to leave them alone together so often? Eugenia thought to herself.
"Alison, I'm going to my room," she said quietly. "Please don't disturb me."
"Is there anything I can do?"
Eugenia smiled warmly. "No, dear," she said. "Just a problem I've only recently become aware of. I'll work it out."
"Whatever you say."
As Eugenia ascended the stairs, she could hear soft chatter surfacing from each of the girl's rooms. The two new girls had seemed to have worked out. And, yes, it was nice to have the rooms filled once again. She passed the twins' room and started to open the door that led to the secret window, to see how they were getting along, but she thought better of it. She didn't need to practice voyeurism this evening, she wasn't quite sure if it would be wise to get sexually aroused. She wasn't even sure if she could make love with Adam this night. Not with her suspicions being so strong. She placed a finger to her lips, remembering his kiss upon her departure at The Towers. He had been so unusually rough, as though he was even trying to prove something to himself.
One step into her private room, and Eugenia was aware of the chill of the room. She crossed her arms in front of her, hugging herself for a bit of warmth, then spied the open window. She hurried across the room and put her hands on it to shut it. She looked downward, and saw a man walking along the walk below her. If not for the wide brim of the hat he wore, she could have seen his face. But his gait was what was so familiar to her.
"Drew?" she whispered… then laughed nervously to herself and shut the window with a bang.
The coal stove's door stood agape, so Eugenia went to it and filled it with wadded newspaper, kindling, and several lumps of coal then threw a match to it. Shivering, she stood waiting. A light tap on the door drew a frown. She had told Alison that she didn't want to be disturbed. Eugenia sank down into a chair by the stove, ignoring the intrusion.
"Eugenia? I have to see you," Alison persisted, speaking softly from the other side of the door.
"Oh, dammit," Eugenia muttered, then spoke more loudly, "If you must, you must. Come on in, Alison."
This night Alison had become the bearer of bad tidings to Eugenia.
Alison hurried into the room, her face flushed as red as the coloring of her hair. "It's a man. He's pushed his way in without a previous appointment," she blurted. "He insists on seeing you. Personally."
"Me?" Eugenia said softly, rising, remembering the man she had just seen outside the window.
"His name?" she said, even more softly, in a near whisper.
"I believe he said Drew," Alison said. "He's quite a prominent-appearing…"
Alison didn't have a chance to complete
her sentence. Eugenia brushed past her.
Eugenia lifted her skirts and ran down the stairs, almost tripping at the bottom. If she had, she would have fallen into the arms of…
"Drew?" she gasped, feeling as though her body was a million heartbeats as she looked into those eyes of blue, and upward to the head of dark, curly hair as he tipped his hat in her direction. And he looked so dignified in a navy blue pin-striped woolen suit, with a vest worn over a pure silk shirt. A gold pocket watch chain looped from the third button of the vest to the small pocket on front, reminding Eugenia of the watch he had given her to keep for him.
"So it's true," he said, amusement lighting his eyes.
Eugenia felt awkward with the sudden entrance of Drew into her life once again. He had the same effect on her as before, as his gaze stayed fixed on her. A mesmerizing effect, making her knees grow weak and at a loss as to what to do with her hands dangling at her sides.
"What's true?" she said, straightening her back and tilting her chin upward. She couldn't understand how he could stand there so composed, appearing to be enjoying his effects on her.
"So you've become a madam." He laughed, tossing his hat onto a hat rack standing in a corner beside the door.
"So?" she asked cooly. She was losing her self-control, knowing that just this one look at Drew was proof of her passionate love for him. It was deeply imbedded, so much more so than anything she had ever felt for Adam. It was only at this moment that she realized that Adam had only helped to fill the void until Drew's return.
"I heard about the red-headed madam who ran this house who is known to be untouchable herself," he said. "When the name Eugenia was spoken, I had to see if it was you."
Feeling her face begin to turn crimson, Eugenia looked away from him. She put her hands to her face, to cool it, then turned back in his direction. "Drew, why have you come to me now?" she asked firmly.
"Hon, I've come to take you with me to our new home."
A feeling of lightheadedness rushed over Eugenia. She shut her eyes and took a deep breath, then gazed into his eyes once again. "You're here… to what?" she gasped.
Drew walked past her and looked into the parlor. "Can't we go into the parlor and have a talk, hon?" he asked.
Eugenia glanced up the stairs to see if any of the girls were ready to return with their gentlemen friends. She knew that more than likely, before she and Drew would have a chance to have a serious talk, they would be interrupted.
"Come with me up to my room," she said, lifting her skirt, heading up the steps. It just didn't seem possible that it was Drew, truly Drew, walking behind her so close. She could even smell the aroma of a male's expensive cologne rising from the suit that he wore. And what had he said about a home? She opened the door that would lead them to complete privacy and watched as he went and sat on a chair, his eyes following her every move.
She opened the stove door and shoveled in some more lumps of coal, then sat down opposite Drew, cupping her hands stiffly on her lap.
"Eugenia, you're even lovelier than I remember," Drew said, his brows tilting downward. Eugenia was quite aware of the lack of hair across the one eyebrow. He had yet to tell her how that had come about.
"I wouldn't have thought you'd remember anything about me," she said cooly. "You do remember leaving me high and dry the second time. And how long has it been?"
Drew rose and went to her and pulled her up and into his arms. "My Eugenia. Does that really matter?" he said, tilting her chin upward, his eyes smoldering with lust. Eugenia tried to pull away, remembering the hurt when he would use her, then leave her. But his fingers were tracing her facial features, making her skin tingle with each touch. And when his mouth covered hers, she forgot all hurt that she had ever felt because of him and moaned with urgent need as his hands reached down into the bust of her dress, capturing a throbbing breast between the smoothness of his fingers. She had dreamed of this for so long, even while in Adam's arms. Adam had so often been Drew, as she had fantasized, while he had taken her to such heights of gratification.
"Drew, I've missed you so," she whispered, her fingers working through his hair, loving the touch of it.
"Show me how much," Drew said hoarsely, pulling her dress down over her shoulders, until it fell into a heap around her ankles. She stepped out of her petticoats, then underclothes, and stood, poised, nude, watching him slowly begin to undress. This had happened so unexpectedly. So fast. She had only allowed one other man in this room with her, but now she was in a world that included only Drew.
The warm, melting sensation had already begun inside Eugenia as she stretched out across her bed, waiting for his body to make union with hers. She removed her Papa's combs and let her hair spread out in red strands on the satin spread beneath her, remembering how he had always loved her hair, the touch of it, the smell of it.
Her eyes lowered to the erectness of his manhood as he came to the edge of the bed, and instead of climbing beside her, he continued to stand there, looking downward, smiling knowingly.
"Show me how much you still love me, Eugenia," he said, stroking himself, as he reached down to move her head closer to what he was stroking.
She eyed him questionably then replaced his hand with hers, enjoying the warmth of his flesh, and quite aware of the pulse increasing inside it.
Then before Eugenia was aware of his doing it, Drew had gently moved her head so that her mouth was where her hand had just been. Eugenia hadn't ever done this before, but knew that her girls did, quite often. She had even grown wet between the thighs when she had seen the twins do this to many of their men callers. She was now finding out what pleasure she had been denying herself. And judging from Drew's reaction, the way his body was stiffening, then trembling, as he was caught up in guttural moans, she knew that she was giving him much pleasure, something that she wanted to do, now and forever. He had returned. He was hers.
"Oh, God, Eugenia," he groaned as he clasped his hands on her head.
"You'd better stop, hon," he added, then releasing his hold.
Eugenia moved away from him, her eyes glazed from the rising warmth of pleasure washing over her as his body covered hers. When he entered her, swiftly and surely, it was as always with Drew, she felt as though they were one, their flesh melting, blending into one body, moving, almost flying, as Drew's body thrust fiercely before the last final spasm.
"Magnificent," Drew sighed, as he rolled from atop her.
"Magnificent?" Eugenia giggled, running her fingers over his stomach, watching the ripples she was creating on his skin. "Do you say that to all your women lovers, Drew?" He always had, with her, after their completion.
"You're the only one that particular word describes," he said, stretching, putting his hands beneath his head.
Eugenia swung her body over and laid on her stomach, her eyes devouring the man that she loved, would always love.
"Where have you been, Drew?" she asked softly.
"I've purchased myself a gambling casino and bought a home. All for you," he said, winking at her.
"What do you mean, 'for me?"
"When I disappeared that night?"
"Yes?"
"I stole one of that old German's horses and traveled to Colorado Springs. I've been there ever since. I used my gold to make me rich."
"How, Drew?"
"I gambled. And won."
"Truly?"
"Truly, my pretty," he said, throwing a leg over hers.
"And the house?"
"I've found the perfect one," he said. "Not like The Towers you used to live in. But almost as pretty."
Something grabbed at Eugenia's heart. Apparently, Drew hadn't been in town long enough to have heard about Frederick and The Towers.
"Drew?" she whispered.
"Huh?"
"I have much to tell you." She began, then told all.
Afterwards, Drew sat upright, the look of amusement having returned in his eyes once again.
"So. You've moved up in
the world, huh?" he said hoarsely. "You? Owner of The Towers? Goddamn it, Eugenia. It looks as though you're better at gamblin' than I've ever been."
Eugenia pushed her way upward to sit beside him. "And what's that supposed to mean?" she snapped.
He laughed. "Just a play with words. Just a play with words," he said. "But it seems my plan has been made more complicated by this discovery. Can you truly choose me over your new way of life?"
Eugenia's heart began to pound. "What do you mean, Drew?" she asked softly, wrapping her arms around her knees. She was quite aware of his eyes still devouring her nudity.
"Our new house in Colorado Springs."
"Ours?"
"Yes, ours," he said firmly. "Why else would I purchase a two-storied, ten room house? To lose myself in it each day? No. I bought it for you and I. To move into after we're married."
"Married?" Eugenia gasped. "You… and… me? Married?"
Drew tickled her playfully with a finger in her ribs. "Yes. You and me," he said, laughing softly. "That is if you'll have me."
"Oh, Drew," she sighed, scooting over next to him, placing her head on his shoulder. "How I do love you."
He wrapped his arm around her and bent his head to kiss the nipple of a breast. "Does that mean your answer is yes?"
All thoughts of The Old Homestead Parlour, The Towers, Adam, and the girls were forgotten quickly as she murmured "yes," over and over again, as his lips and tongue began to send waves of warm liquid through her mind. She trembled, even let out a sob of happiness as he entered her gently, then demandingly. There was only Drew, now and forever.
* * *
Chapter Twenty-one
With one hand, Eugenia clung to the reins of her horse, and with the other, pushed her hat more securely onto her head. She watched Drew bouncing leisurely on the horse in front of her. She had never thought they would be together again, on horseback, on her mountain, and of all things, heading for her parents' homestead.
Eugenia's Embrace Page 24
