“What do you think you are doing?”
Ginger’s stomach was doing cartwheels as her hand was caught in his. “I’ve wanted to touch your hair since our first dance together. It is unlike any hair I’ve ever seen. So black it’s almost blue, and very straight and thick.”
Joseph’s eyes blazed. “And I have wanted to do this since our first dance together.”
He seized her chin in an iron grip as he captured her lips with his. Ginger’s stomach stuttered in response to his rough, possessive kiss. Before she had time to process what was happening, he backed away, and hurried from the livery as if the very devil himself were at his heels.
• • •
Joseph stopped outside of the livery, leaned against the wall, and closed his eyes, willing his stomach to calm down. It had been in an upheaval since Ginger had pushed him out of the way of the buggy in just the nick of time. His heart raced as he thought of what almost happened to him. It was not like him to be oblivious to his surroundings, but his mind had been full of Ginger at the time.
Still, it was no excuse for losing control of himself with her like he had. What evil force had taken possession of him? He never should have touched her. She was forever forbidden to him, he knew. He should have left town, as he wanted to, after the Cotillion and his first dance with Ginger. For too many weeks now, she had tormented him every time they were together. The swell of her breasts in her low-cut gown at the dinner party made him feel like a dog with his tongue hanging out. He had to force himself to look away, and then keep away, from her all evening.
And then there was the night of the opera. William Davenport had backed down without too much of an argument when Joseph made his presence known, yet he had remained by her side all evening. A hot flash of jealousy had stabbed Joseph’s chest then as he wished he could change places with William.
What was it about this one woman that made all others dull by comparison? Indian, French, white, Canadian, American. What did it matter? She was the embodiment of everything he had ever wanted or hoped for. Spirited, lively, lovely to look at. She would lead a man on a merry chase for the rest of his life, and any man would welcome the challenge. But it could not be him. It could never be him. He took several deep breaths and pushed himself away from the wall.
A few minutes later, he found Ginger’s skirt and her petticoats in the alley, where she had stashed them earlier. He tossed the garments over one broad shoulder and returned to the livery. But she wasn’t in the empty stall where he had left her. He walked to the stall that contained his most spirited stallion — and found her there. She stood beside the big, powerful animal, caressing his neck, absolutely ignorant of the potential damage a horse of this magnitude could do to her. Joseph’s heart began to stutter again as he considered the danger in which she had placed herself. Quietly, he approached her and put his hand on her shoulder.
She jumped, startled, and turned to him. He got a whiff of lilac, combined with the straw mingled in her hair before he backed away from her.
“What are you doing in this stall with my black? Did I not tell you to stay put? This is a most forceful animal.”
She smiled fetchingly up at him. “I wanted to see him again. Everyone is talking about the horse you’ll be racing. It’s all I hear at every blasted party I’ve been to this last week.” She turned back to the horse and brushed her hand over his mane. “But now I see all the talk is not misplaced. He is truly a magnificent specimen. Does he have a name yet?”
When Joseph shook his head, she ran her hand once more down the stallion’s black neck.
“Then I shall call him Midnight.” She turned to Joseph again, with a smile on her face. She reached up and wove her fingers into his hair. “His hair is as dark as yours. But it is more than just your hair that sets you apart. What is it about you, Joseph? You are not like any of the New York men I’ve met.”
She lost herself in his dark brown eyes, which had grown stormy.
“If you know what is good for you, you will get dressed at once and leave here, never to return,” he growled at her.
Her fingers tightened their hold on his hair and she brought his head closer to her. She whispered in his ear, “Or else what?”
“Or else, I will strip those bloomers off your beautiful body and put an end to your teasing.” He tossed her skirt and crinolines at her. “It would be best if you clean the straw from your hair before you return home. Otherwise, your mother will think I have done just that.”
He then turned on his heel, leaving the livery once again.
Ginger’s knees felt weak and her body warmed as little shivers of excitement worked their way to the very core of her being. He had threatened to ravage her! The thought left her breathless with excitement. She backed away from the magnificent steed and returned to the empty stall where she lowered her quaking body to the floor.
Well, bless my bloomers.
• • •
Ginger made her way back to her home, even though her legs were a bit shaky. She had almost lost her life today, as the runaway buggy nearly mowed Joseph and her down. But that wasn’t what was making her knees weak. Joseph had finally shown that he was as infatuated with her as she was with him. That show of emotion from him, that crack in his stern control, was all she needed. He cared for her!
She put a hand on her heart as she walked rapidly down the street to her home, skirting past Elizabeth’s house, because she had told Elizabeth’s mother hours ago that she felt unwell and was going straight home. She let herself in the back door quietly and made her way upstairs to her room, where Colleen was starching and pressing her petticoats. The maid looked up when Ginger came in.
“Hello, my wee lass. Did you have a good time at Elizabeth’s this afternoon?”
Ginger searched for a sign that the maid was on to her, but could find nothing of significance. “Could you please arrange for a bath for me, Colleen? I’m very tired.”
“Most certainly, miss. Right away.”
The water was quickly heated, and the tub filled. Ginger removed her clothing and sunk into the hot water with a sigh of true pleasure. Colleen took the pins from Ginger’s hair as she relaxed in the water, and began to brush her waist-length hair.
“What’s this, miss? How ever did you get hay in your hair?”
Ginger blushed from her toes to her hairline, grateful that the hot water had already reddened her skin a bit. She scrambled for an answer.
“Uh, I guess I must have picked it up in the livery. We went there to see the horse that Joseph is going to race in a few weeks.”
“Ah, I see,” Colleen replied, as she continued to brush Ginger’s hair.
“You see what?” Ginger prodded, wanting to make certain her story was sound.
“Well, Mr. Lafontaine is devilishly handsome, if I do say so myself.”
Ginger sat up in the tub and turned on Colleen. “That’s not why I went to the livery. I truly did want to see the horse.”
“Whatever you say, miss.”
Ginger sank back into the tub, covering her face with her hands. Her cheeks were inflamed. Colleen had seen through her feeble story too easily. Well, she would just deny it, should Colleen ever feel the need to tell Mother or the house staff of her suspicions.
But she was right. Mr. Lafontaine was a devilishly handsome man.
Chapter Thirteen
The Hamptons, July 2, 1855
Roslyn Harbor, eighteen miles east of New York City proper and on the north shore of Long Island Sound, was quickly becoming the summer playground of New York’s finest families. With its scenic beauty and harbor views of the Atlantic Ocean, Roslyn Harbor was the place to be seen from June through August. The newly wealthy Americans sought out land to convert into grand estates to show their peers a tangible expression of their affluence and status. They hoped their display
s of wealth would reinforce or establish their place in society, and each new estate became more opulent than its neighbor.
One of these newer estate homes belonged to Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel Curran, who, along with their daughter Georgiana, opened their home to their friends for the Independence Day weekend events. The estate was in the middle of a 250-acre tract of rolling farmland and woods — the perfect setting for the big horserace between Joseph Lafontaine and William Davenport, the Cavalry officer.
New Yorkers had been buzzing about the impending race for weeks, and an invitation from the Currans was one of the most sought after for the Fourth of July weekend. People not fortunate enough to receive a formal invitation planned to line the race route, as word of the big contest spread to everyone who had seen or heard about the two horses.
The rudimentary road between New York and Long Island quickly became overcrowded with carriages, as people interested in getting away for the holiday began the long trek to the harbor from the city. Joseph and Basil were on horseback, so they were able to wind their way between the many carriages, exchanging pleasantries with those less fortunate people who were stuck in the traffic.
Along the way, many men stopped the pair to study Joseph’s mount up close and to decide which horse to bet on. Women also called out to the two men, flirting outrageously with Basil and Joseph. Spirits were high as the festive weekend commenced.
Joseph had studiously avoided any contact with Ginger since his encounter with her in the livery several weeks before. It was not like him to lose control of his emotions as he had done that day. Her ability to make him throw caution to the wind surprised and tormented him. Kissing her was the worst possible thing he could have done. Not only did he break his best friend’s trust, but instead of diminishing his desire for the beautiful woman as he had hoped, it only made him long for her more. When he finally gave in and kissed her lips, he was like a drowning man who had been given a lifeline, and only Ginger could pull him to safety.
This little slip of a woman managed to infuse him with desire every time she was near. He was no stranger to the pleasures of women, although his experiences had mostly been with other Indians or saloon girls in St. Louis. But none had ever tugged at his heart this way. He had always been able to dismiss women from his mind as soon as he left their beds. He knew to his core the nearness of Ginger would probably destroy the fragile hold he still had on his control, so he made one excuse after another to avoid attending the opera, ballet, and musicals — so much a part of the Fitzpatrick family’s entertainment in the past month. If it were not for this blasted race Basil had roped him into, Joseph would have taken his leave of New York weeks ago.
Now he could avoid her no longer. The time had come to face her. He and Basil had just ridden abreast of the Fitzpatrick carriage, and Basil reined in his horse to keep pace with the buggy. Joseph had no choice except to fall in with him, or risk being seen as ungracious. Despite himself, he eagerly looked toward the carriage and spotted the reddish-brown locks of the woman who invaded his dreams every night.
• • •
Ginger’s eyes rested on Joseph’s familiar face as he sat astride the large stallion — the same horse she had been standing beside when he revealed his desire to strip off her bloomers and ravage her. The horse she had named Midnight. That day had been the most momentous, fateful day of her life. The past three weeks had been excited torment for her, as each event approached where Joseph might be seen in her presence without raising any eyebrows. But her excitement was repeatedly dashed as he declined one invitation after another.
Her stomach flipped over as she looked at those chocolate eyes. They were smoldering, and she knew he could probably see the desire in her eyes too, before she lowered her gaze. She felt strangely short of breath, and was warm and damp in places she barely knew she had. She wove her fingers into the fabric of her skirt, remembering how she had threaded them into his hair in the livery. That day would forever play in her mind as the one when she lost her heart, and she knew her life would never be the same again.
Basil and Joseph rode alongside the carriage for ten or fifteen minutes, making idle conversation with her parents until they tired of the slow pace.
“We’re going on ahead, Mother. Joseph is anxious to get to the Currans’ and let his horse rest before the big race. We’ll see you when you arrive.” As they rode off, Ginger melted back into the seat.
“Are you all right, my dear?” Charlotte noticed her daughter’s flushed cheeks and labored breathing. She took one of Ginger’s hands and held it between her own. “Did you bind yourself into your corset too tightly?”
“No, Mother, I’m fine. I’m just restless and eager for the weekend’s festivities, I guess. I wish I could have ridden out here like Basil and Joseph are doing. At least I would have been able to get some exercise.”
“You’ll have plenty of time for exercise.” Charlotte smiled at Ginger. “Between a dip in the ocean, croquet on the lawn, and the hide-and-seek games, you’ll be able to stretch your legs to your heart’s content once we arrive at the estate. Your father and I will be looking at some properties while we’re here, too, and you’re welcome to come along with us, if you’d like.”
“Thank you, Mother, but no. For a change, I don’t want to think about investments of any kind. The horserace will be the highlight of the season, and I want to ride out for a front-row seat. I am beside myself with excitement. I just want this blasted road to end so I can get there and enjoy the weekend.”
“Well, it’s nice to see you’re excited about something. You’ve been so moody these last few weeks I was beginning to wonder whether the long season was taking too much out of you. It’s nice to see my Ginger has her snap back.” Charlotte brushed a hand over Ginger’s hair and kissed her on the forehead. “We’ll get there soon enough. Put your head back and try to nap for the rest of the trip.”
Ginger melted back into the seat and closed her eyes. A vision of Joseph on his mighty steed immediately popped into her head, and she sighed. She was too wound up to fall asleep, but replaying visions of Joseph would be just the thing to make the time pass faster.
Chapter Fourteen
To give both horse and rider enough time to recover from the journey from Manhattan to Roslyn Harbor, it had been decided the race would take place on July 4, with fireworks following in the evening. So the day after the long trek to the country, the guests indulged themselves in a most luxurious and decadent manner. Most of them were not expected to rise until late in the morning. A breakfast buffet was set up in the long dining hall, where guests could avail themselves of all manner of muffins, eggs, bacon, and toast whenever they did manage to stumble out of bed. They could spend the day at the beach or at lawn bowling and croquet. In the evening, there would be a formal dinner and dancing.
Joseph did not plan to attend any of these events. He wanted to be near his horse at all times. He did not trust William Davenport. He had seen the gleam in the man’s eyes when Joseph reluctantly agreed to this race, and knew William would not be above putting Joseph’s steed in danger in order to win. Until the race, Joseph would stay in the stables to ensure the stallion was fed the proper food, and nothing untoward took place. On the racecourse, he would let his common sense and his years of riding experience take over as he bested his competition.
He quietly entered the house early to help himself to the spread of food in the dining hall. As he predicted, he did not encounter any of the other guests. It was too early for these pampered New Yorkers to be up and about. He filled a napkin with food and took the improvised sack back to the stables and to his horse.
Immediately upon entering the building, he sensed there was someone else in the barn, someone other than the stable boys and grooms. Someone the horses didn’t know, for they were on edge. Joseph’s ears quickly registered the pawing of the horses as they nervously clawed their hooves at the
straw in the stalls. Joseph went on high alert, set the bag of food on a bale of hay, and crept silently toward Midnight’s stall.
He peered over the railings and caught sight of a boy in the stall, standing next to his horse, causing the horse to nicker and bray. He dragged the intruder out from the stall, balling his hand into a fist as he prepared to deliver a crushing blow.
But suddenly his senses told him he had hold of a woman’s arm, not a man’s. And he knew who the woman was. He pulled her to the center aisle of the stables and dropped his hand as if she were a hot coal.
Ginger looked up at Joseph, questioning. He finally blinked and exhaled a long breath as he unclenched his fist. He shook his head to clear his thoughts.
“Do you realize how close I came to knocking you senseless? What are you doing here? And why are you dressed as a boy?” His voice was gruff and clipped, but his eyes blazed.
“I wanted to see you, and your horse, before the race. I figured dressing as a stable boy would be the best way to get out here unnoticed. Besides, it’s early, and I knew no one will be stirring for hours.”
“And what could be so urgent that you would risk the possibility of me hitting you?”
Ginger blushed at his harsh words. “You’re obviously in a foul mood, so I’ll just go back to the house.” She straightened her spine and began to stalk away, then turned back. “No! It took a lot of planning and effort for me to borrow these clothes and to get out of the house undetected, so, I will ask you the questions I came here to ask. What I want to know is why, Joseph? Why have you avoided me since the day in the livery? Was the experience of kissing me so dreadful for you?” She broke off as her eyes filled with tears and her voice choked.
Joseph sighed softly as he noticed how the boy’s outfit did nothing to hide her lovely curves. His heart pounded as he said the words he knew would cut her to the quick. “It is for the best you think nothing more of the day in the livery. I regret it happened. That is all you need to know.”
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