Theresa bent down onto her knees on the carpet at Eugenia's feet. She placed her chin on Eugenia's lap, looking upward with her large brown eyes.
"I never thought anyone could be this happy," she said, smiling. "I do love you so, Eugenia."
Eugenia smoothed the back of Theresa's hair. "And you, I," she whispered.
"Nell told me what we're doing is wrong," Theresa said quietly.
"Nell hasn't any room to tell you anything," Eugenia said firmly. "And anyway, she's got Adam. She doesn't know what it's like to be alone. I think she's forgotten what it was like while living in my house of girls."
"Then you think it is all right?"
Eugenia put a finger to her own lips, kissed it, then placed that finger on Theresa's brow. "Yes. It's all right. Please don't worry."
A light tapping on the door drew Eugenia up from the bed. She looked at Theresa once again as she was rising, smoothing the skirt around her. "Please don't worry. Okay?" she said once again, feeling the same peaceful warmth inside her that this young girl created. A feeling of complete love, so clean, so wholesome. She had kept trying to convince herself that it was just that, clean and wholesome. She turned and opened the door.
"Eugenia," Adam said, looking at Eugenia, then Theresa, and frowning. "I think you'd better come downstairs."
"Why, Adam?" Eugenia asked, looking back at Theresa also. She knew what was in Adam's mind, seeing Theresa in her room. She didn't know if he would ever understand.
"There's someone here to see you," he said.
"I didn't hear a carriage arrive," Eugenia said.
Adam laughed awkwardly. "You were probably too absorbed in your morning's tête-à-tête," he said, again looking toward Theresa.
"Adam, you stop that," Eugenia snapped, curling her hands into two tight fists. This had been the only side of their happy household that could in the end destroy it all if Adam, Nell, and Key didn't begin to understand. Denise did understand. Denise had known only her sister, just the same as Theresa, for so long, until they had been taken in at The Old Homestead Parlour. And Iris? She was so grateful to Eugenia, anything Eugenia did was right.
"Well, what are you waitin' for?" Adam said, his cheeks reddening above his beard. Eugenia knew that she had embarrassed him in front of Theresa, but she didn't care. He had to learn his place. Even though he was a big part of this house, she was still the rightful owner and expected the fullest respect from all who lived under her roof.
"Theresa? Want to come down with me?" Eugenia asked, turning to face her.
"No," Theresa said softly, her eyes watching Adam. "I think I'll just go to my room for now."
"Whatever you say," Eugenia said, then followed behind Adam as they went down the spiral staircase. When she reached the bottom step, she stopped, stunned to see Drew… standing there with a child in his arms; a little girl.
"Drew?" she whispered, feeling lightheaded. She thought she would never see him again. "What are you doing here?" she gasped.
"This is Jessica Marie, Eugenia," he said, straightening a bonnet on her head of tight, black ringlets. "Your niece."
"Jessica Marie?" Eugenia said, going to her, touching her softly on the cheek. She was Drew all over again. With his deep blue eyes, his curly hair, and the same smooth complexion. "My niece?" she said, realizing that the name Jessica Marie was a part of her own name and her Mama's.
"Yes. She's almost two now."
Eugenia's arms ached to hold her, but she saw her clinging tightly to her father's neck. And how sweet she was in her cape of navy blue velvet with black patent leather shoes glistening so brightly one could almost see their reflection shining back at them.
Eugenia's mind went to her sister. She hurried to the door and looked outward. "Where's Elizabeth?" she asked, swinging back around to face Drew. She had long forgotten her resentment of her sister. Elizabeth had been all that was left of Eugenia's family, and Eugenia had wanted to share the rest of her life with her, even if Elizabeth had captured Drew in the most dishonest fashion.
"Can we go in the library and talk?" Drew said, putting Jessica Marie on the floor, removing her cape from around her shoulders and the small hat from her head.
"Why yes," Eugenia said, listening to the clatter of feet as Jessica Marie ran ahead of them. It made her heart swell with pride, realizing that that little girl was a part of her. Her own flesh and blood. But where was Elizabeth?
"Can I get you coffee, or tea?" Eugenia asked as she motioned with her outstretched arm for Drew to go ahead of her into the library. Then she went and stood with her back to the fire.
"Nothing, thanks," Drew said, sitting on a chair. Eugenia watched Jessica Marie climb up on his lap, again wrapping her small arm around his neck, then thrust a thumb of her free hand into her mouth, and turn and stare in wonder at Eugenia.
"Now, tell me. Where's Elizabeth?" Eugenia asked, not liking the expression of bleakness that had seemed to take the blue from Drew's eyes. It was beginning to frighten Eugenia, wondering why he hesitated.
"I have bad news, Eugenia," he began quietly.
"Bad news?" she said, almost inaudibly.
"Elizabeth. She's been dead now for quite some time."
The heartache inside Eugenia was more intolerable than at any other moment in her life. She choked back sobs of desperation. "Elizabeth? Dead?" she whispered, lowering herself down onto a chair. "When? How?"
"During childbirth," Drew said, looking at Jessica Marie. His fingers began to fidget with the white lace that trimmed her pale blue corduroy skirt.
"Childbirth?" Eugenia exclaimed.
Drew continued to look down as he spoke. "You know how frail she was, Eugenia," he said quietly. "She hemorrhaged. Nothing could be done about it. She didn't make it through the night."
"Oh, God," Eugenia said, lowering her head into her hands.
"Go ahead and cry," Drew said. "Get it out of your system."
Eugenia swallowed hard and straightened her back to stare stubbornly in Drew's direction once again. "And you and Jessica Marie? How have you been?"
"We've been barely makin' it," Drew said, coughing nervously.
"And what does that mean?" Eugenia said. "I thought you had made your fortune in gambling."
Drew covered his mouth and cleared his throat. He turned his eyes from Eugenia. "I also lost my fortune by gamblin'," he said hurriedly.
"You what?" Eugenia gasped.
"That's right. I'm flat busted. Barely had enough money to take the train here."
"Oh, Drew," Eugenia groaned. "How could you? Especially since you have Jessica Marie to care for."
"I know. Please don't lecture me."
"What are you planning to do now?"
Drew stood up and carried Jessica Marie over to Eugenia. "Would you like to hold her, Eugenia?"
Eugenia's heart skipped a few beats. "May I?"
Drew handed Jessica Marie to Eugenia and waited.
"Jessica, I'm your Aunt Eugenia," Eugenia cooed, taking Jessica Marie's hand in hers, marveling at it. It was so small, so soft, so cold.
"I thought maybe you might be able to help me and my daughter," Drew said thickly. "You could even raise Jessica Marie as your own if you wish."
"My own?" Eugenia said, feeling a trembling begin at her toes. She watched in disbelief as Drew fell to his knees on the floor in front of her. He took her free hand in his. "Eugenia, you know I've loved only you. Even when Elizabeth and I…"
Eugenia jerked her hand free from his. "Drew, stop it," she snapped angrily. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" she asked in a whisper, quickly glancing down at Jessica Marie.
"I'm askin' you to marry me," Drew continued. "I know you still love me. I see it in your eyes."
Eugenia began to laugh nervously. "Drew, you do beat all," she said. "How do you think you can keep doing this to me? It just isn't going to happen again."
"Do you mean to say you won't marry me?"
"Absolutely not."
"But w
hat about Jessica Marie? What's to become of her?"
Eugenia ran her fingers through the tight curls of Jessica Marie's hair. "She'll live here with us," Eugenia purred.
"Us?" Drew stammered.
"Yes. You and Jessica can live here. Until you find employment. And even then Jessica can stay here if you'll let her."
Drew rose, with his shoulders slouched forward. He sighed heavily. "Thank God you do care enough," he said, going to the fire to rest his arm against the mantle.
"It'll be nice to have three children in the house," Eugenia laughed, rising.
"Three children?" Drew asked, swinging around to face Eugenia.
Eugenia knew the implications of her words. "Not mine, Drew," she laughed. "Nell and Adam's, and Iris's, when she has hers."
"Nell, and Adam's?"
"You remember Nell and Adam?"
"Yes?"
"They married."
"I'll be damned," he muttered. "And Iris?"
"Now that's a long story." Eugenia laughed nervously.
"A long story?"
"One you'll hear about, I'm sure," Eugenia answered. "And now. I'm going to take Jessica around to show her off. One of my maids will show you to a room. Please make yourself at home."
"Thanks, hon," he said warmly.
Eugenia's brows furrowed hearing the familiar note to his voice when he called her "hon." She couldn't help but feel an ache in her loins remembering his mouth, his fingers, the pleasurable feelings his manhood aroused in her. She had missed it for oh, so long. She hurried out of the room.
* * *
Chapter Twenty-six
It seemed to Eugenia that night had fallen more rapidly this evening. She had been relieved to hurry to her room, to seek the much needed privacy, to get away from the looks from everyone. Looks of questioning where Drew was concerned.
She snuggled beneath her blanket, feeling the aching need almost wracking her body. She had fought it off all afternoon, had evaded his touch, his look of want. She had thought she had been able to conquer her feelings about him, but now she knew that she had only been fooling herself, that she could honestly never get over needing him. And now that he was living, sleeping, under the same roof as she… ?
Feeling her heart begin to pound fiercely, she watched as her bedroom door opened slowly. His shadow was identifiable against the dim lighting of the hallway behind him. She didn't say anything when he shut the door behind him. She was barely breathing, waiting for him to stretch out beside her.
"Eugenia?" he whispered from above her.
"Drew," she answered. "Please leave my room."
"Eugenia, we have to talk."
"Tomorrow, Drew," she said, swallowing hard, clutching tightly onto the blanket. "Tomorrow."
"Now," he said hoarsely. Then with one jerk, he had the blanket pulled from atop her.
"Drew, please," she pleaded, unable to see him, or what he was doing in the darkness. She could imagine. When he lowered his unclad figure over hers, she tried to pull away, but was held in place by the thickness of his muscles.
"Just remember how much I love you," Drew said, ripping her silk chemise from her body. Then with his knees, he forced her legs apart.
"Drew, don't take me like this," she sobbed.
"It's been too long, Eugenia."
One downward plunge and his manhood was inside her. She bit her lower lip nervously as she felt the pressure building up inside her, wanting to not let herself enjoy it, afraid of being used again by him.
His lips crushed against hers making the bed beneath her turn to a warm nest of feathers, making her feel as though she were being carried upward into the sky. She searched with her fingers and found her breasts and began to push them against his chest, needing the feel of his body on every inch of her own. She then lay limp, as though drugged, as he pulled from her and began the descent downward with the wetness of his tongue, biting and teasing the erectness of her nipples, then on downward until she wrapped her legs around his head, almost going wild as his tongue brought her to such heights of ecstasy that she no longer cared about what tomorrow might bring.
"Oh, Drew, I've missed you so," she moaned, tangling her fingers in his hair, pulling it, then pushed his head closer to her as her world burst into a smooth, flowing stream of warmth. She lay there, panting, when he entered her roughly, and with three thrusts, she met his pleasure as their bodies became one large spasm.
"My Eugenia. Magnificent," he drawled as he fell away from her. She trembled when a mouth found a breast once again.
"I didn't want it this way. Ever again," she sobbed, pulling away from him.
"You know that you loved it as much as I did," Drew said, placing a hand on her buttocks, squeezing playfully.
"Please get out, Drew," she whined.
"I want you to marry me, Eugenia."
"I can't. Not now," she argued softly.
"Why not?" he said softly. "Hon, it could only be good. Just you and I. Forever. Just think about it."
"I just can't. Not yet."
"Ha! At least you said 'yet,'" he laughed cheerfully.
She turned to him. "I guess I did, didn't I?" she said, wiping her nose.
"Yeah, hon. You did," he said thickly. "We could make a brother for Jessica Marie."
Eugenia laughed nervously. "But, Drew, please leave me alone tonight. Okay?"
"Sure, hon," he said, rising. "But maybe one more kiss?"
Eugenia could feel her heart melting as he kissed her gently. Then without another word, she listened for him to open the door. She watched his shadow in the doorway, then felt a tumultuous feeling inside herself as she went to the bathroom to clean herself, put on a light, and tried to clear her mind. She started to splash water on her face, when another knock on the door made her freeze on the spot. Had he returned? Anxious, but wary, she hurried to the door and found Theresa standing there with a confused look in her dark eyes.
"Can I come in, Eugenia?" she whispered.
"Yes. Maybe you'd better, Theresa."
Eugenia saw Theresa's gaze dart to the rumpled bed and Eugenia was keenly aware of her nudity. Then her gaze followed Theresa's as she stooped to pick up the ripped chemise.
"He was here, wasn't he, Eugenia?" Theresa said quietly.
"Yes. He was here."
"Do you love him?"
"Terribly."
"Are you going to marry him?"
"I imagine."
"What about me?"
Eugenia put the bathroom light out and felt through the darkness for Theresa's hand. When she found it, she clasped it and led her to the bed. Then she pulled her down beside her.
"I also love you, Theresa," she said. "Please sleep with me tonight," she added. Eugenia knew full well that she would say "yes" to Drew, and would be sleeping with him every night after this one.
"But how?" Theresa asked, cuddling up next to Eugenia.
Eugenia sighed. She would have it both ways. Drew had played his games, she would now play her own.
"We'll manage, my sweet," Eugenia said, kissing Theresa softly on the lips.
Eugenia's Embrace Page 29
