“I can say that of most women.” Hunter hadn’t meant to speak so harshly, but it was too late to stop the words.
“And I can say that of most of the officers in this room,” his partner quipped. She quickly flashed him a smile, as if she too regretted the rashness of her words. “Though, I dare say, you boast less than others of equal military rank.”
Hunter laughed softly. “Please don’t compare me to them. One only need boast when his record does not speak for itself.”
“Then please don’t compare me to most women,” she said. “I believe you will find the semblance equally unreliable.”
“Fair enough, Miss Marlow.” Hunter fell silent then, but his mind remained busy. He was both bewildered by his partner’s boldness and fascinated by her charm. He found it refreshing to speak to someone who was well mannered, yet not reverent or fawning like the others in attendance. Not only was this young lady indifferent to flattery, she did not seem the least bit in awe of his power or reputation. Rather, she seemed intent on disproving he was worthy of possessing either one.
If she was hiding something, she was doing a good job. He had never met anyone whose eyes could be so expressive one moment, expressionless the next.
“What did you do before the war, Captain Hunter?” she suddenly asked somewhat nervously, as if feeling the weight of his stare upon her. “Before you became a soldier?”
“Miss, I am not a soldier. I am a citizen of Virginia defending my native soil.”
Hunter thought he saw a hint of anger flicker in her eyes, but it quickly disappeared—if indeed it was ever there at all. He gave up trying to read her expression. “I am a horse breeder by trade.”
“Truly?” The vague look in her eyes turned to intense interest. “And what bloodlines do you have?”
“You really want to know?”
“Why wouldn’t I?” She appeared sincerely confused.
“Most women are not interested in such things.” He felt his partner stiffen in his arms, and her brows drew together. Gone instantly was the demure ladylike demeanor and the lovely green eyes that had seemed to dance.
“You presume to know me so well as to assume I am like most women.”
Yes, the innocent, young girl had disappeared. The chin and firmly pursed lips now clearly bespoke the strength of a lion. Eyes that had sparked now flamed, lit from a spirited fire within.
“Pardon my presumption.” Hunter studied her reaction curiously. “To answer your question, my stock is in a state of decline with the war—but Lyonhart is my main sire.”
“That cannot be so,” she replied, almost stopping in the middle of the dance floor. “Why, everyone knows Lyonhart stands at Hawthorne.”
“Your information is correct.”
She responded with a disbelieving stare. “You? Hawthorne?”
“Alexander Hawthorne Hunter at your service. I assume you’ve heard of my estate.”
Hunter had no way of knowing how many hours his partner had spent in the loft above her father’s stable in South Carolina, listening to men below discuss horses and that far-away breeding farm Hawthorne where so many of the bloodlines originated.
“And Fearnaught—”
“Ah-h, you do know bloodlines. Fearnaught, our original sire, lived to quite an old age.”
Hunter could tell his partner listened intelligently, a trait he found rather unusual for a woman. “Now how would a young lady from Maryland be so knowledgeable about Virginia horseflesh?”
Hunter watched a curtain descend upon his partner’s eyes, cloaking any clues hidden there.
“Everyone knows of the famous sire of Eclipse,” she said, referring to the legendary racehorse. “I just heard it somewhere.” The smile planted on her face faded as she stared wistfully into space.
Before he could discover anything more about his mysterious partner, the music came to an end.
“Welcome to Virginia, Miss Marlow.” Hunter disengaged himself from her grasp and gave a low bow with cavalier grace. “I hope your time with us is pleasant and agreeable for a long time to come.”
Chapter 34
We are born on the same soil, breathe the same air, live on the same land, and why should we not be brothers and sisters?
– Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest
A dull throbbing in her ankle as she stood dumbfounded on the dance floor brought Andrea back to her senses. Declining a number of requests for her dance card, she made her way to the door, trying not to limp as the pain grew more intense. She needed a break, some fresh air, and a chance to rest her ankle.
And she needed a moment to think. Had she unwittingly said too much? Something that would incriminate her? Everything about the last few minutes seemed a blur.
The heat grew oppressive as she made her way through the crowded room. Having to sidestep groups of women who stopped to talk in front of her caused her to become increasingly frantic and irritated. The closer she got to her destination, the more she began nudging people out of the way—some none too politely.
Finally squeezing through the door, Andrea rushed to the railing of the veranda, leaned over, and gulped in deep breaths of the cool night air. But even the veranda was too crowded for her liking. Despite the pain in her ankle, she walked down the stairs and through the garden until the voices from the party finally hushed to a whisper. Half sitting in the notch of a huge oak tree to rest her ankle, Andrea closed her eyes, leaned her head back, and let out a long sigh.
“I see I’m not the only one who feels like a caged animal in there.”
The voice came smooth and deep from out of the darkness, but it startled Andrea so much that she jolted upright. Two strong arms caught her when her ankle gave way, and once again Andrea found herself staring into the eyes of Captain Hunter. A faint thread of hysteria returned.
“Are you all right?” Concern softened his granitelike face and his voice sounded surprisingly sincere.
“Yes. No. I mean…I’m afraid I sprained my ankle during a…ah…riding accident.” Andrea sighed in exasperation. “And dancing has made it worse.”
“I confess I noticed you limping and wanted to make sure my dancing was not the cause.”
Andrea took a deep breath and began to regain her composure. “No sir. My own clumsiness is to blame.”
“So you ride then?” Hunter pressed her.
Andrea’s heart floundered in her chest like a fish flopping out of water. Now she knew she had said too much. “N-n-not very well…obviously.”
Hunter grinned slightly at the comment. “Well, you must be quite an actress.” He did not relinquish his hold on her waist, forcing Andrea to remain grasping onto his forearms. The man was as solid as the oak tree behind her, his muscles hard beneath her fingertips.
“Actress?” She tried to sound unconcerned, but it came out more like a fearful question.
“Yes, to be able to dance so effortlessly all evening with an injured ankle.” He stared at her thoughtfully another moment. “You know, you have the most unfathomable eyes. They seem only to show what you want to be seen.”
“Isn’t that the way for most women?”
Hunter did not return her smile this time. “I can tell what most women want at a glance.”
“And you find that most women want something?”
He did not answer with anything other than his eyes, which appeared eerily blue-gray in the moonlight and seemed to betray a suggestion of disdain toward the subject.
“Then again, I hope I stand apart,” Andrea said.
Silence stretched between them, yet neither turned away until another couple came walking toward them. “My aunt will be worried.”
Hunter looked at her intently, released his grip and tipped his hat. “Yes, and I’m afraid I’ve made myself late for a train.”
“You are leaving Richmond?” Andrea knew her voice sounded more relieved than concerned. “I mean…I hope you have a safe trip, Captain.”
“And I hope your ankle feels b
etter, Miss Marlow.”
Andrea gave him a quick nod, then picked up her skirts and turned toward the house. She controlled the urge to run, despite feeling the stabbing effect of his penetrating gaze until she was well beyond his view. It was then that Andrea compared her evening at the ball to riding a hundred grueling miles under punishing temperatures and wind-driven rain without benefit of sustenance or water or rest.
And she wondered why she had ever thought this night was going to be easy.
Chapter 35
From the first moment I beheld thy face, I felt a tenderness in my soul towards thee.
– John Endicott
Fredericksburg
November, 1862
Andrea sat with gloved hands clenched together in her lap, trying to maintain her balance in a carriage that careened violently over a rutted road. She blamed her trembling hands and banging heart on exhaustion and nerves, not on the fact that in a few minutes she would be standing in front of Colonel Daniel Delaney for the first time in several months, and not on the fact that he had no idea she was coming.
She took a deep breath to calm herself when the carriage began to slow. The wearying ride across an endless succession of ruts and potholes rattled her nerves, causing her to question the decision to embark on this journey. She possessed no pass to cross into Union territory. And though the soldiers at the last outpost had been kind enough, the officer of the guard sent along an escort to ensure that Colonel Delaney could vouch for her character. Andrea hoped he would not be too disturbed by her sudden appearance to do so.
The sound of shouts and the clatter and clank of horses and artillery warned Andrea that she neared her destination. As the road became even more crowded with soldiers, horses, and caissons, the carriage was forced to slow still further. Her nerves were strung to the limit when loud voices and music joined the other sounds of an encampment. At last the horses came to a halt.
Leaning sideways, Andrea peered through the small window and spotted a large mansion that was lit from top to bottom, inside and out, with every conceivable size and shape of lantern.
“This is the Lacy house, miss.” A soldier opened the door and held out his hand to help her out of the carriage. “Who did you say would wish to see you?”
Andrea gazed at a two-story porch that overflowed with officers, soldiers, and even a few women. Suppressing the urge to run, she cleared her throat. “Colonel Daniel Delaney.”
As the men escorted her toward the house, Andrea gazed around. There were soldiers everywhere. Some talked and laughed in small groups, while others appeared to be departing or returning from a nearby field of campfires.
“Might you know a Colonel Delaney?” One of her guards questioned a group of soldiers holding a discussion under a walnut tree. An officer nodded toward the river. “There he comes now.”
Andrea pulled her full-length cloak more tightly around her against the chill as she watched Daniel stride purposefully in her direction with true martial poise. His gaze was locked on the ground, but he nodded his head occasionally, apparently in serious conversation with the officer beside him.
Andrea turned away, the sight of his tall form causing a strange sensation of both fear and excitement to engulf her. She had no idea what she planned to say. What if he does not wish to see me?
She heard muffled voices and knew the guard had approached him. Although actual words were lost in the breeze, she could tell from Daniel’s tone he was irritated by the interruption. Her face grew warm. Her hands trembled.
“Miss?” His voice from behind her made her jump. Andrea took a deep breath and turned.
“I’m Colonel Delaney. You asked to see me?” Daniel looked curiously from her, to her escorts, and then back again, waiting for someone to speak.
Andrea could not bring herself to look into his eyes. Instead, she stared at his broad shoulders and powerful build, and then his boots. “I am … Maryann Marlow.” She mumbled the name she had used to get across the lines, then glanced at Daniel to see his reaction. There was not a hint of recognition on his face.
“What can I do for you, Miss Marlow?” he asked somewhat impatiently. “We are extremely busy here as you might imagine—”
Daniel stopped in mid-sentence when Andrea raised her gaze again and his blue eyes locked directly onto her green ones. Without moving his head, his gaze perused her body, moving from her face, slowly down the length of her gown, inch-by-inch to her toes, and then just as slowly back up.
“Sir, we need to know if you are acquainted with this woman,” one of the escorting soldiers asked. “She didn’t have a pass to come through the lines and was traveling from the direction of Richmond. She says you will vouch for her.”
Daniel did not remove his gaze. “Yes, I can vouch for her character. Thank you for escorting her here safely. You are dismissed.”
Daniel continued to stare, though whether the look was an approving one, Andrea could not tell. What she could tell was that his eyes were not the blue, laughing ones she remembered. They looked strained and tired.
“What are you doing here?” He pulled her into the shadows of a clump of trees.
“That is not exactly the greeting I had hoped for.” She laughed to hide her nervousness.
“That does not exactly answer my question.”
Andrea looked down at the ground, upset at his cold tone. “I have information to report, Colonel Delaney.”
“I believe we have an established method of communicating that does not require you crossing the lines. You might recall that was part of the agreement with Colonel Jordan.”
“But I wished to see you.” Andrea could not bring herself to look into his eyes.
“Why?” There was not a hint of warmth in his voice.
Andrea raised her head, disappointment and regret turning to anger. “I was not aware that I needed a reason.”
“Were you aware there is a war going on?”
“Yes, but I—”
“Danny! Danny!”
Someone calling from the porch suddenly interrupted the conversation. Andrea looked up to see a stunning young brunette leaning over the railing…farther than she should have been to Andrea’s way of thinking, considering the low cut of her gown.
It took her a moment to realize she was talking to Daniel.
“Won’t you come in? They are about to start the…” Her gaze shifted to Andrea. “Oh, I am sorry…I did not realize you were…”
Daniel cleared his throat.
“Miss Bradley, I would like you to meet Miss Marlow. She is here…on…official business.”
Andrea watched the woman’s eyes turn to mere slits as she scrutinized her. Her trip had officially shifted from an utter failure to a complete disaster.
“Yes of course…I see.” The woman turned to leave, but not without first shooting Daniel a look that Andrea could not, or did not wish to, interpret.
“I see as well,” Andrea said broodingly, bringing her gaze back to Daniel. “I do not wish to keep you from the frolic within. Perhaps I should leave.”
Without waiting for acknowledgment or consent, she whirled around and headed in the opposite direction, toward what she hoped were the stables.
“Wait!” Daniel shouted, striding after her. “Where are you going?”
“To see if the horses are still hitched.”
Daniel grabbed her arm and pulled her to a stop. “And if they are not?”
“Then I will hitch them, and I will drive them back to Richmond, and I will forget I ever came here!” Andrea struggled from his grasp, picked up her skirts, and ran toward the barn.
“Wait! Please!” The desperation in Daniel’s voice made her stop, though she did not turn around. “Please…wait.”
Andrea heard him exhale behind her.
“I’m sorry. Can we begin again?” Daniel put his hand on her shoulder, his voice low and gentle, the way she remembered it. “Miss Marlow, it is indeed a pleasure to see you again.”
Andrea al
lowed him to turn her around, but her gaze remained on the ground. Daniel put his finger under her chin and lifted her head. For a moment he did not speak, just stared solemnly and earnestly into her eyes. “I’m sorry, Andrea,” he finally said. “Please forgive me.”
“It’s my fault, Colonel Delaney. You’re right. I should not have come.”
“My friends call me Daniel.” He stared at her, unblinking.
“I apologize.” Andrea could not meet his gaze. “I was not sure I had the honor to be considered among them.”
Daniel remained silent for a moment and then pulled her gently into his arms. “Andrea, there’s going to be a battle here. A big battle. And I never expected…I never dreamed that you—”
She waited for him to finish, but he did not. He just increased the tightness of his embrace so that she could feel his heart pounding against her cheek.
“Please forgive me,” he finally whispered. “You must realize…I never saw you like this.”
Andrea realized he had only seen her in boy’s clothing, and began to understand his reaction. “I know you have duties. If you wish, I can wait here for you.”
“Nonsense,” he said, bowing gallantly. “I am devotedly at your service. You must be frozen. Come in and warm yourself by the fire.”
“No.” Andrea glanced toward the crowded house from which much gaiety was emanating. “I’d rather speak to you…privately.”
Daniel took a deep breath and offered her his arm. “Very well. If you’re sure you’re warm enough, let’s walk.”
Andrea linked her arm in his, and walked silently toward the river. They had not gone far before a voice hailed them from a distance.
“Colonel Delaney!” An aide came trotting toward them. “Colonel Delaney, I’m sorry, sir.” He paused, and looked at Andrea appraisingly. “The general wishes to see you.”
Daniel groaned. “About what?”
“Dunno. He was asking about Richmond though.”
Daniel glanced at Andrea. “If he wants a report on Richmond, I suppose you should be the one to give it to him.” He grabbed her hand and led her toward the house.
Duty Bound (Shades of Gray Civil War Serial Trilogy Book 1) Page 16
