“Oh…oh no…I I…can manage that myself,” she said stammering and faltering, drawing heavy breaths, her fingers cruelly crushing a lacy white handkerchief in a frenzy and her face alternating between a false smile and an expression of abject fear.
“Relax Alex. Don’t be silly. Besides, I am just going to help you undress and get you to your bath. I am not going to do anything you don’t want me to. Ok?” he said with utmost patience as he held her by her shoulder and turned her around.
The room spun as he turned her and Alex felt a momentary giddiness. It passed quickly, but she caught hold of the newel post of the huge four poster bed they were standing next to. She was not so much worried about him doing things she did not want as she was of wanting him to do them.
The close inspection he had given her back on the carriage bench while she drove it had left her filled with a strange thrill she had never experienced before. The unguarded appreciation and desire she had seen in his eyes had pleased her immensely, though she had tried to hide it with a sharp reprimand.
Then again when he had suddenly put his hands over hers to stop the carriage, sensations of delightful excitement had coursed through her entire body. And now, in the solitary intimacy of this room, his nearness and his touch had been too overpowering for her senses to endure. And though she reprimanded herself, telling herself that obeying her husband’s wishes was her duty, the pleasure she derived from it scared her.
Jim was tugging lightly at the strings of her dress wondering how she had endured staying so tied up day and night, for a month and a half, on a train.
Alex winced as he pulled at the strings that had tightened against her bony shoulder blades. And when he slowly pushed the dress down her shoulders she rested her head against the post in abandon. Slowly Jim pushed the gown down the rest of the way. Then bent at her feet to help her out of her shoes. He deftly rescued her of her corset, and her stockings then stood back to contemplate his work. He smiled endearingly as he realized he had forgotten the bonnet and it was now the only piece of clothing on her body.
Quickly he slid his fingers under her neck, pressing himself against her soft naked body and trapping her between the bedpost and himself. He pulled the string of the bonnet gently, and it fell to their feet. He then pulled out the pins that secured her hair in a bun at the nape of her neck. When he was done, a mass of thick wavy auburn curls fell over her bare back and around her shoulders.
Jim sucked in a breath suddenly, threading his fingers lightly through her hair while Alexandra held on to the bed post with both her hands and her head resting on them weak and wanting, confused and lost.
No woman had ever had that effect on him and the power that this stranger who was his wife seemed to be having on him terrified Jim. He reminded himself that she was here just so that he could fulfill his grandmother’s wish and give her, her payback. But the tightness in his chest and between his thighs was telling a different story.
Chapter Six
The family dining room looked magnificent when Alex walked in with Ara. It looked like a painting called The Royal Supper, Alex had seen at the museum in New York. Except there were electric lights that hung from the walls. Alex had heard about electric lights, read about them in the newspapers but never seen them and she felt as if she had walked into a magical land. There were the old fashioned candles and gas lamps as well, spread around the room giving it an enchanting ambiance.
As they entered, Alex noticed that the Persian carpets under their feet were thick and soft. The table was laid with the finest china, crystal, and silverware. The curtains were thick and made up of yards and yards of never ending velvety fabric. An aroma of rich perfume hung in the air.
When they entered, Rosa was setting the table. Andreadora and Morgan sat on the plush divan, deep in discussion. Jim and Archi were nowhere to be seen. Eileen and Dr. Scot were playing a game of chess, and something the Doctor said had made Eileen laugh. How could she be so gleeful and content under the same roof with a son she had so cruelly deceived, Alex wondered.
As Ara went to fetch them some wine, Eileen turned to the French window. One side of the room opened onto the back porch that descended into the famous Sullivan Gardens. The long doors that ran the entire length of the wall on that side of the room were open, and a cool breeze blew in. Alex was wearing a peach colored silk gown and a string of pearls, a parting gift from Mother Bernardine.
As she looked out, she thought of Jim and the time she had spent with him earlier. After having undressed her, he had carried her to the plush water closet in his bedroom. A huge tub stood at one end of the room, and steam rose out of it. Jim walked into the closet and closed the door behind them with a push of his boot.
He then lowered Alex into the bath, and she sighed with relief and gratification. The weariness and exhaustion of the long journey slipped away as the hot water engulfed her. She had expected Jim to leave her and go away once he had deposited her in the tub. Instead, he kicked away his boots, pulled off his tie, folded the sleeves of his shirt, pulled a low stool next to the tub and settled down.
He rubbed the fragrant salts and the fruity soap onto her shoulders and her back and massaged gently. All her sense of shame and propriety had given way to the sighs of relief of an over-fatigued body. He repeated the same magical message with her hair and scalp then handed her the soap.
Abandoning his place on the low stool, he then relocated to the foot of the tub. Sitting on its edge, he gently pulled one small foot out of the water at a time and made circular rubbing motions on the arcs of her feet and around her toes and Alex cried out in pain and pleasure.
But apart from those places, he did not touch any other parts of her body. A couple of times Alex did catch him looking at her with longing, but she was beyond taking offense at such a thing. After he was done with her, he left her alone for some time to finish washing up, then came back with a huge fluffy towel. He pulled her out of the tub, wrapped her in the towel and carried her back to the room.
There he deposited her on the bed, covered her with a blanket, and pushed a big bowl of soup into her hands. It was the most delicious soup she had ever had and by the time she swallowed the last spoonful her eyes had already started to droop.
When she had woken up, she had been still wrapped in the towel, covered with a heap of soft, warm quilt, stark naked underneath. The memory of that combined with the cool northern breeze made her shiver. As she turned, there was a sudden commotion from the front of the house followed by loud voices and laughter. Then Jim and Archi walked into the room.
The minute Jim saw her he knew what she had been thinking about. What was worse the moment Alex saw him she knew what he knew, and she turned her eyes to the carpet.
Ara who had been giving Alex strange eloquent looks since the time she had knocked on her door, just as Alex had finished dressing and called her for dinner, now got up from her place, looking splendid in her long black dinner dress with a bold slit up her calf, and said to her nephew.
“You seem in real high spirits, Jim.”
Dr. Scot, the minute he heard the front door open, had risen to pour their drinks, now came forward and handed each of the two men a glass of scotch. Jim threw back his in one go, strode to the sideboard to keep his glass then turned to Ara and said.
“A long thundering horse ride with uncle Archi can put any man in high spirits.”
Then as if to make a point he walked to his wife, gave her a quick peck on the forehead the turned and addressed the room in general.
“I apologize, ladies, for being late, I will take ten minutes to shower then we can eat.” Saying that he walked out of the room.
Archi who still had his drink in his hand slid down to an overstuffed walnut winged armchair and crossed one long leg over the other.
“Since I don’t have Jim’s refined tastes…” he began and looked at Alex, then knowingly at Ara, which made Alex think with mortification that they both knew what she and Jim had been doing ear
lier. Ara smiled like a cat as her twin continued.
“… and as I am just a plain rancher, I don’t think I need that bath before dinner.”
“Archelaus Rubeus Sullivan…” Andreadora thundered, and the tall, burly Archie cringed like a puppy. Alex smiled in glee. This was something only a mother could manage.
“Rancher or no, I will not have a son of mine eating at my table with dirt on his clothes.”
Reluctantly Archi rose and lumbered out of the room mumbling.
“Well then ladies, I will take less than ten.”
Eight and a half minutes later, as Dr. Scot timed it, Jim walked into the room. He was dressed impeccably in a charcoal gray business suit and a dark blue formal tie. He looked handsome and dashing and vulnerable at the same tie with his hair still wet from the shower curled around his forehead and over the brim of his collar.
“Archi is just around the first-floor landing, coming down, wearing his boots on the way.” he declared coming in. Once again he singled out his wife from the entire group and went to her. He had a sapphire colored shawl that he draped around her then and said.
“This is not New York my dear. It gets real cold here. You need to be careful. You can get sick or worse catch your death. And we don’t want her dying before she has served her purpose do we?” he said the last part looking straight at his grandmother, and Andreadora looked at him with something akin to regret.
Archi walked in at that moment. He was dressed in an old faded pair of jeans that was clean, ironed and starched, a blue checkered shirt and a sleeveless logger’s jacket with numerous pockets. He wore a pair of solid work boots and if only he had a Stetson he would have completed his cowboy look.
As they sat down at the table, Alexandra blurted out of habit.
“Let us say grace.”
Everyone at the table was surprised for a moment. Then they started joining hands when Jim suddenly declared.
“No. No, we don’t say grace usually. And we don’t need to change our ways of living for a stranger. Alex has come into this family, and she will adapt to our ways. Not the other way round.”
Alex knew it was her first test. So she nodded. Thanked the Lord for the food silently. And began to eat her soup.
Chapter Seven
The next morning Alex woke well before dawn. The first thing she saw upon opening her eyes was Jim. He was sleeping on his side of the bed, his quilt pulled into a hug like a sleeping woman, one hand folded under his head, sandwiched between the side of his face and his pillow, his hair was tousled, and the front of his nightshirt unbuttoned to the middle of his chest gave an unrestricted view of a thick mat of curly hair growing there. He looked endearing.
Alex threw her quilt over him to keep him warm then went into the water closet to use the facilities and take a quick shower. What she had not expected was for the water to be so cold. She came out dressed in one of her plain dress, still shivering and shaking. She crossed to her closet and took out the shawl Jim had given her the evening before and wrapped it around her shoulder. Then she went down to the kitchen.
As she went out of the room and down the staircase that had turned cold in the night, she shook and shuddered violently. When she reached the kitchen, she was shivering so badly Rosa dropped the pan she was about to put on to the stove and ran to her.
“Miss Alex. You are shivering.” She said putting her hand around Alex and pulling her inside. She kicked a low stool and pushed it in front of the blazing hearth before pushing Alex down on to it. The sudden warmth of the fire brought tears to Alexandra’s eyes. Just then Rosa pushed a steaming mug of coffee into her hands, and though she only ever drank tea, she slurped at it eagerly.
“An early riser are we?” another voice said from behind a huge steaming pot kept on one of the numerous kitchen cooktops, and Alex saw the welcome face of Morgan Langdon peeping out at her. She was happy it was not Ara with her teasing looks, Archi with his smart comments or Andreadora Sullivan with her foreboding looks that she had to face first thing in the morning. Rosa and Morgan suited her just fine.
Morgan gave one last stir to her pot, peeped into it, nodded satisfactorily then wiping her hands on her apron she came to sit from across Alex. She sat there then took Alex’s hand into hers, caressed it absently and smiled at her affectionately. Alex knew her type well. They were born to be a mother, ease troubles and to spread their light. It came to them naturally, and Alex had always secretly called them the human angles.
“I always rise before dawn. It’s a habit of sorts. But you are up and in the kitchen too early.”
“Well, after you and Jim are married in church tomorrow, there will be a big gala later. I am helping Rosa prepare for it. Feeding hundreds of people is not easy.”
“Hundreds? I thought it was going to be a modest affair.” Alex said, and Morgan laughed.
“You will learn pretty soon that nothing about the Sullivan’s is modest. They are a loud, boisterous lot.” When Alex giggled like a school girl, Morgan smiled at her benignly.
“Are you comfortable here Alex? She enquired, and Alex nodded.
“What happened to you?” she asked still holding her hand.
“I am used to waking up early, taking a bath, then doing my chores. I tried to start the day the same way here. Only I did not bank on the water being so icy cold.” She said, and the two women giggled.
“I am sure you will learn these things soon enough…um…after all your husband decreed so at dinner last night…Alex, I am sorry about what he said, about not letting you die till you have served your purpose. He just likes to show himself as a rough and tough heartless rogue. It’s his style. But underneath he is a very nice man. Give him time Alex. He will love and cherish you for life.” Alex looked deep into Morgan’s blue eyes the color of which she shared with Ara and Jim.
“I was wondering what he could have meant by that remark.”
“To tell you the truth, I have no clue. Looks like it’s something between Jim and his mother. They have this connection you know. He respects and adores her, and she is proud of him. But they mostly behave like business competitors with their wagers, bets, stakes and risks. They never tire.”
“And you two love each other very much. You share a special bond. It’s quite evident.” Alex presumed. Morgan nodded smiling sadly and patting Alex’s hand.
“Right After Jim was born Eileen became very ill. My eldest had been born a month before. My husband had had to travel to Canada, and he had left me here for the childbirth. When Eileen could not take care of Jim, I cared for him along with my Bobby.”
“Jim said she left him.”
Morgan was surprised that in such a short time Jim had told her something he never shared with his closest kin.
“Don’t judge her too hard Alex. She had her reasons.” She said looking into the fire. Alex had always believed that when people spoke looking into the fire, they always told the truth. But she could not find it in her heart to pardon Eileen Sullivan.
“Does she live in these parts?”
“Oh yes, she lives right here on the estate. In Gray Cottage. It’s property on the south side of this estate. She has a small outbuilding where she runs the primary school. She also has a library for the kids. You might want to take a look at it. You were a primary school teacher and librarian back in New York, weren’t you?”
“Yes, I was. But I have left that life behind a long time back.”
“Well, you must think of reconnecting with it. After all, that’s who you are. Don’t let Jim bully you into doing otherwise. The Sullivan men have a knack for it. It is your duty to comply with his wishes, but he has no right to oppress you. And if he does you know where to go.” She said sitting up to her full height. She was taller than her mother but certainly shorter than Jim. But Alex had no doubt she possessed the capacity to manipulate the mighty Jim Sullivan.
“Actually you will have plenty of occasions to visit Gray cottage. Mother will be soon shifting there with Eileen.”
“Why?”
“Oh well,” Morgan said faltering. Then she exchanged a knowing look with Rosa who had been quietly kneading the Doug at a nearby counter. Morgan gently put her hand over Alexandra’s then continued.
“Well once you and Jim are married, Mother would not want to stay here, you understand,” she said looking tentatively at Alex. As the meaning of what she was trying to say dawned upon her, Alex nodded without looking her in the eye. Then feeling compelled to say something to end the long silence that ensued she said.
“Jim says that the proxy marriage, signing the agreement and depositing it to the magistrate, is good enough for him. But he feels that saying our vows in front of the Lord matters to me. And so he says we will not live as man and wife until we are married in church tomorrow.”
“And I was wondering why you needed a desperate shower this morning,” Morgan said relieved to hear what Alex had told her. Then faltered as Alex gave her a blank look not having understood what she was trying to say and as Rosa snickered behind her back.
“I don’t know what you mean Morgan. Nonetheless, I thank you for not saying it in front of Ara. I have a feeling if you had, I would never have heard the end of it.”
And at that Morgan and Rosa burst out into peals of laughter.
Chapter Eight
The day went by in a frenzy. After breakfast, the men closed themselves up in the study room to discuss Scot’s new hospital wing. After lunch, they went off to his clinic to take a look at the prospects.
The Bolstons, who owned a fashion boutique in town had been invited. The husband and wife arrived just after breakfast with yards of fashionable fabric, a large assortment of jewelry and four skillful seamstresses. They worked on the women all day till their dresses for the day after were fixed. Ara had declared that she was going to be maid of honor.
The Campus Jock: A College Bad Boy Romance Page 79
