by P. J. Dean
“At my expense?” Kindred leaned into Adeline to finally get a closer look. She heard the girl swallow, then hold her breath. “The only expense I would incur would be the one for your passage back to England.”
“Well, never in all my life have I been spoken to like that by someone like you.” She continued to worry the stain and mutter. “I demand an apology!”
“Miss Penvenen, you will require an overcoat in Hell before I apologize to you.”
Joshua, Rozina, Nachman and Aliqupiso laughed out loud. Dr. Twain chuckled. Kindred righted her stack and headed for the cooking room. Lelaheo trod after her. They placed their piles of dishes on the pine table. Kindred was so angry that she went to the kitchen door, opened it and yelled. Lelaheo came up behind her.
“Kindred.” He attempted to pull her into his embrace, but she twisted away. “I have missed you. Kiss me.” He stepped forward, Kindred took a step back.
“Lelaheo, what would Missus Harkness say? Have you forgotten the blond, British woman at the dining room table? How dare you bring her here.” She seethed with rage, her jaw ached at being clenched so tightly. “She figures greatly in this equation.”
“I do not love her!”
“But you are married to her. You have ripped my heart out. Why?”
“She is a formality from which I am trying to extricate myself.” He frowned, raw fury in his expression. “Forgive me.”
“Formality? Forgive? Lelaheo, you exchanged vows with this woman. Something beyond convention must have urged you.”
“Kinny, something did, but I cannot discuss it here in the kitchen. Meet me in the library after everyone is asleep tonight. I shall try to explain all. Please give me that chance.” His voice wavered as he spoke. His gaze was somber and expectant. “Kindred?”
“How will you account for your absence to your wife?” She drew a deep breath and finally relented. “Tonight then.” Even though she was unbelievably incensed, she wanted to know how this predicament came to pass.
“Tonight.” Lelaheo turned to go, then stopped and turned back to Kindred. He scratched his scalp at the base of his braid. “Kindred, are my ears playing tricks on me or did I hear a babe’s cry during supper?”
Chapter Twenty Two
“Adeline, I will not be staying here,” Lelaheo said as he gathered his thoughts to meet Kindred. His hand was on the door knob. Adeline was already in bed.
“We did on our journey here,” she reminded him. “Where are you going?”
“I stayed in the same room. On the floor. As I recall the hostels were packed and we had to share.” He whirled around to face her. “Adeline, I do not care for you. Stop pretending this is a love match.”
“Have you forgotten we are husband and wife, Cassian. Love has naught to do with marriage. As long as we can … fulfill each others’ needs, we should be content.” She left the bed to come stand before him. She stood on tiptoe, wrapped her arms around his
neck and surprised him with a rather wanton kiss. She let her wrapper slide open as she stepped back, exposing her nakedness.
“How can I forget, Adeline? That … fact haunts me every hour. As for where I am going … ’tis none of your affair.” He wiped his mouth. “Good night.” He opened the door and left.
****
Kindred turned at the sound of the library door opening. She sat on the mahogany settle in her robe and gown. Lelaheo entered softly. The father of her baby was as starkly handsome as he’d always been. Except for the hint of melancholy in his eyes. This new aspect imbued him with a maturity he’d not had when he’d left the valley over a year
earlier. Before she could say anything, he picked her up and showered her face with kisses.
“No! You have a wife.” She beat at his shoulders with her fists, but Lelaheo was impervious to her blows. He ceased kissing her long enough to look down into her face.
“I know. I am holding her.” He bent his mouth to hers. She attempted to avoid his lips, but he held the back of her head steady. He kissed her, exploring all the sweet recesses of her mouth. Kindred’s half hearted blows ended. She moaned and gave herself over to his embrace. He began stripping her of her garments.
“What are you doing?”
“Getting you naked to make love with you.”
Before she knew it, he had them both nude. On the rag rug in front of the cold hearth, he knelt at her feet.
“Kindred?” he implored, extending a hand. Hesitant at first, she acquiesced. He pulled her down to the rug. Their joining was as pleasing as the initial time they’d made love. It was as if they’d never been apart. Kindred melted at the way Lelaheo loved her. He was all controlled chaos until the rapture hit him and then he always disintegrated at the correct moment completely.
“Lelaheo!” she hissed, as he rode her roughly. She buried her face in the crook of his neck to muffle her louder utterances. She smiled as his roughhewn way stirred up the familiar, strong, inner pulsations that she had missed in his absence.
“Kindred!” Lelaheo cried, waves of pure bliss washing over him as her contractions caused him to explode. He held her tightly, caught his breath and rolled.
“Madman!” she squealed as she suddenly found herself straddling him.
Lelaheo speared his fingers through her wild mane and panted, “Again, woman.”
****
“How dare the arrogant dog leave me alone!” Adeline hopped off the bed and planted herself in front of her one, true friend, a looking glass. She went through her list of reliable assets. She fluffed and brushed her smooth tresses. She tossed the brush on the bed. Shedding her wrapper, she assessed her body. “Breasts still high, waist still small.” She turned around. “Bottom still where it should be.” Exasperated, she pulled it back on. “Why has he not succumbed? Why has he not bedded me?” Their union, which had taken place over two months ago, remained unconsummated. She had hoped that since they had been found nude together in his bed, he would have thought they had known each other in the biblical sense and would have proceeded to continue to do so. But he had not. Tired and offended, she turned down the lamp and crawled into bed.
****
“This room has witnessed many loud and delightful events, but none so cacophonous and pleasurable as the event that has just transpired tonight,” said Lelaheo. He and Kindred rested on the rag rug, their clothes strewn about. Lelaheo sat propped against the settle, his long legs stretched out before him. Warm breezes and soft
moonlight played over both his and Kindred’s damp forms.
“Kindred, I meant to tell you that you looked fetching in the outfit that Douglas bought you and my necklace. You appeared every bit the mistress of Twainhaven.”
“And I meant to tell you that I love the chair. Rozina likes hers too.”
He reached over to caress her calf. “You are very welcome. I must say there is more of you to grace that chair. You feel different. Not as slight as before. You have put on a bit of weight.” He rubbed her leg again. “Now, do not take me to task. I adore it. It is in all the precise places I fancy.”
“Lecher!” she whispered, nudging his well-muscled thigh with her foot. Her bosom jostled at the motion. “Is that all I am good for?” She chuckled. “A tumble?”
“No. Two tumbles.” Lelaheo reached down and pulled her into the circle of his arms. As he inclined his head, his hair spilled over her upper body. The feather touch of it flooded her with memories of how it fanned about them when they made love. He and it always smelled of the woods, tobacco and most recently, orange blossom water. Kindred hugged him tighter.
“You are loved for so much more.” He sighed into the hollow of her neck as he ran his hands over her body. “But I must say I like this new voluptuousness.”
A babe’s faint cry pierced the night. Lelaheo jerked to attention.
“There it is again. I know you heard it. It was a child. From the sound it appears to be quite new.” He held stock still, listening. Kindred had to think quickly.
“Lelaheo, the war has displaced many families.” She placed a palm on either biceps and massaged the sinew. “They cross our land while fleeing and I am sure babies are in their numbers. Besides, it is night, sound carries ….” She kissed him. She hoped her explanation had been suffice. Poor Lela. She was crying because she was hungry. It was time to feed her. That last cry almost made her milk come down. Kindred’s decision to keep Lela hidden had been difficult, but seeing Lelaheo arrive with a wife had been too. She intended to keep Lela hidden until Lelaheo answered her questions about the circumstances in which he found himself. She knew she tested the Fates by making love with him, any one of their sessions could expose her secret. “Pay the woods no mind.”
Lelaheo pressed her back onto the rug. He bent his head to her bosom and sucked firmly on a nipple. Kindred tensed at the hot suction of his lips. This time, the inevitable happened. Abruptly, he stopped and sat back on his heels, balled fists balanced on his
thighs. Kindred watched him rim his lips with his tongue.
“Kindred!” he bellowed. Lelaheo turned her about, examining her. He snatched her to her feet.
“Have you finished inspecting me? Shall I open my mouth too? Stop it.” She batted at his hand.
“The lady doth protests too much.” The anger was barely bridled in his voice. “Milk! How oblivious could I be? And I a doctor.” The fingers of one hand clamped under her quivering chin, holding it firmly. “Do we have a son or a daughter?”
Chapter Twenty Three
Kindred led the way downstairs with an oil lamp to where Aliquipiso and Rozina were tending the baby.
“Mother!” Lelaheo shouted. “You are a part of this too? Rozina?”
“Part of what?” Aliquipiso replied, as she rocked Lela.
“This subterfuge.” He strode to the kitchen table where the ladies were seated.
“How long were you all going to keep me from my child?”
“I wanted to write you and let you know. I was going to, but … Forgive me, Lelaheo,” said Kindred.
Rozina tapped Aliquipiso on the shoulder. “Gib’ him him’own chil’. Uh fo’ one iz habby it iz ovuh. Uh gwine ta bed.”
“Here is your daughter. Good night, my son.” Rozina pulled Aliquipiso along with her.
Lela squirmed and fretted in her father’s arms. Lelaheo cooed to her and kissed her lavender scented pate. He opened her blanket and inspected her.
“Has all her fingers and toes. Is quite active. Has my eyes.” He cupped her head and bottom and hoisted her. “A good weight. The babe bawled as he turned her about. “Mouth like her mother. How is she called?”
“Lelaheo, she is hungry. We call her Lela. I need to feed her”, said Kindred as she took a seat and undid the top buttons of her gown and freed a breast. She too, was glad that the intrigue was over. She just wanted her family together, but she wanted answers.
“Here.” He handed Lela over, took a seat across from them and watched. Lela settled against Kindred and suckled loudly. He leaned back in his chair. He ran both hands through his hair, pushing it off his face and sighed.
“Kinny, this is what I had longed for. A life with you. Children. But now ….”
“We still can have it, Lelaheo. In fact we do it. can erase that. England. Not Miss Penvenen.” Lela made sounds of contentment and ignored her father as he smoothed her wavy hair.
Kindred took his hand and squeezed it. “Lelaheo, tell me why this woman is here. Tell me all.”
“Kinny, I woke up over two months ago at Penvenen Manor to find Adeline in bed with me. We were both naked and she was clinging to me as if we had been intimate.
No matter what, I knew I had not had intercourse with her. I just knew in my bones I had not touched her. I may have felt unwell, but I knew nothing had happened. Next thing I know we were in the parlor before a minister, with a constable keeping watch in the
corner. Please believe me.”
“You have no recollection of how you came to be together like that?” Puzzled, Kindred rearranged Lela to feed at her other breast. “What do you recall from the night before?”
“We had the usual dinner. The tone was somber. Adeline’s association with young Taylor was over and she was facing a future as her aunt’s maid.”
“Umm. I see. You said you had felt unwell the next morning. Had you consumed anything unusual?” Lela ceased eating and waved her tiny hands about.
“I only remember feeling very tired immediately after the meal. I knew I had a long trip ahead of me in a few days and I just wanted to rest. So, I excused myself and went straight to my room. I got undressed, got into bed and was asleep before I could turn down the lamp. Kindred, I never invited Adeline to my bed.”
“The bitch!” Kindred yelled so sharply that Lela began crying.
“Kindred, calm yourself.” He took the baby, got up and walked the length of the kitchen, patting her back.
“No, I will not.” Kindred buttoned up her gown. She grew misty-eyed at the sight of father and daughter together and angry at the woman who wanted to keep them apart.
As he passed close, Kindred’s hand shot out to touch him. “Love, since you cannot recall anything. I suspect you were drugged.” Lelaheo sat down again.
“Kinny, I suspected that too, but nothing tasted off.
“You cannot remember from after dinner to the next morning. So, she must have put something in the food. Again, what was served? Anything out of the ordinary?”
Lelaheo rubbed his forehead against Lela’s. “Beef, potatoes, turnips. Soup, wine, various gravies, chocolate.”
“Nothing ominous.”
She stroked his forearm to calm him. “One thing perplexes me love. A man bedding a maid does not warrant matrimony. So why did she choose you?”
“I beg your pardon,” Lelaheo mocked, pulling himself erect in the chair. “But if you have not noted, I am a prize.” Kindred laughed. His injection of levity was needed at this time. “I do not know why I was her target. Adeline has breeding, lineage. I was not on her list of eligible bachelors before.”
“Something altered that. Suddenly, you were. Tell me more about Miss Penvenen.” Kindred was determined to unravel the mystery. She had to. Her happiness was at stake. She twisted a section of hair absentmindedly.
Lelaheo related the story of Adeline’s unfortunate life. Her father’s demise. Her mother’s lot. How belonging to society was important to her. But mainly her unwise decisions of the heart fueled by her obsession for status. Kindred had propped both elbows on the table and supported her chin with both hands, she listened intently.
“She had ruined her ‘reputation,’ that notion of purity to which her class clings!”
“Do you not see? You became key when all her other venues evaporated. You did not figure before because it seemed young Taylor was a possibility.”
“Schemer.”
“Lelaheo, I must inquire. Did you ever imply that you cared for her? Did you ever lead her to think you wanted her?”
“Never! She knows you are the only woman for me. And with the addition of Lela,” he hugged his child tighter, “my bond with you is stronger. You could not rid yourself of me if you tried. Kinny, I’d give her my stake in Twainhaven to see the back of her.”
Kindred’s eyes lit up and she slapped her hand on the table.
“Did you ever reveal to her that you were an heir to Twainhaven?”
“Yes.”
“We have our answer! She knew you would come into money one day, but she also knew she had to contrive a way in which it would be compulsory that you marry her. It seems she’d do anything for money.”
“Kindred, you know I am not boastful. I never elaborated.”
“No need to my boy,” stated Herr Doktor ben Lazer through a yawn. He shuffled into the kitchen. “Remember the one time you mentioned it in passing when we all were in that coffee house in Köln?”
“No.”
“Apparently, she did. You must stop her.” He rubbed his grum
bling middle. “Kindred, my stomach is in an uproar still. From the trip. Would you make me some peppermint tea? Sorry to be a bother.” He took a seat at the table.
“It is not a bother, Nachman.”
“And who is this adorable bundle whose cry I obviously have been hearing off and on?” He looked at Kindred, then Lelaheo, then the baby. Lela rested in the safety of her father’s arms, grabbing strands of his hair, engrossed with all around her.
“My daughter,” Lelaheo answered proudly. He caught Kindred as she passed on her way to the hearth and pulled her close. “Our daughter, Lela.”
Chapter Twenty Four
The following morning, Adeline swept into the dining room and planted her wide paniers on a chair. “I am simply famished. When will you be serving breakfast?” she directed at Rozina, who was returning to the sideboard, candlesticks used to accent last night’s table. Adeline folded her hands on the table and looked expectantly at the woman.
Rozina stayed her task, propped one hand on a hip and eyed the girl.
“Sence you fambly now, fambly eet een de odduh rum. Dis yuh rum iz fo’ speshle t’ings. You ent speshle.” Rozina pointed toward the kitchen. Crimson flooded Adeline’s features. She shot to her feet.
“Where I come from the help knows its place!”
“Missy Harkness, frum wuh uh onduhstan’, you wuz de hep weh you come frum.” Rozina resumed placing candlesticks. Reluctantly, Adeline headed for the kitchen where the rest of the household was gathered. Her eyes narrowed as they fell on Cassian. He had
his arm around Kindred’s shoulder as she nursed Lela.
“What is this?” She pointed at the scene before her. “Whose child is that?”
“Ours,” said Lelaheo, hugging Kindred closer.
“Am I to be cuckolded under my own roof?”
“Adeline, this house, with its accompanying roof, is still mine,” remarked Dr. Twain as he read the gazette. His tone was soft, but challenging.
“Doctor Twain, forgive me. I-I did not ….”
