She stared at him. Heat flooded him and he tugged his collar away from his throat.
Shaking her head, she said, "Why did you do that?"
"Your hair was wet."
"Yes, but why do you keep, oh, never mind. Would you excuse me?"
They stood but she didn't move. She tapped her chin and grimaced, a red hue covered her cheeks. "Pardon but do you have a – a privy?"
He led her to a closed door. She opened it and gasped in delight. "A water closet?"
"Yes. They were quite popular when I visited Europe. You could say it made an impression."
"Regardless of the circumstances I'm grateful to stay inside."
The door closed behind her and he resumed his position on the floor. He stared forward. What was he thinking? He was such a fool. This encounter would never end the way he hoped.
The door opened and he faced her. "Better?"
"Yes."
Settled, she grabbed her cup and cradled it. The hot tea was exchanged for wine and the relaxing agents took effect.
"I think I was telling you why my parents sent me here."
"Yes."
"Like I said, I embarrassed the family. I told a friend Millie married well and didn't need Father's fortune. The rumor spread, and the story became that she was better than us.
"Of course, my parents didn't know the rumor came from me until I told them. I guess you could say I wanted to leave home. I needed to get away."
She sipped the wine and licked her lips. The action caused his heart to thump rapidly.
"This is really good. I would like to know where you purchased this brand. Father would like it."
"I'll get you the name."
"Thank you. Oh, yes, like I was saying, I wanted to come. My chance to get away before I'm saddled to the Beaumont Plantation forever was slipping away. I know Millie doesn't understand. She always knew she would fall in love and move away, and Cora, well she has no intentions of staying. The girl has stars in her eyes. Dreams, big ones, of going north and walking the streets of a grand city. Bayou Sara could never contain that one. But me, poor, simple, proper me, my only destiny is to take care of my parents."
"So you decided to make a trip before that happened?" he asked.
She placed her warm hand on his forearm. Her eyes glassed over. "Oh, it was more than a trip, Charles. Don't you see? I had to see you one last time. I had to know you were real and not part of my imagination. That in the past there was one man who had found me attractive, if even for only a second."
He held his breath as she rose to her knees and wobbled. He moved to help her, but she shoved him away.
"Now I know you're real and that you, even if you don't love me, at least found me attractive enough to kiss. I can live as a spinster, or I can suffer through a loveless marriage because I will always have that knowledge buried in my heart."
She fell forward and landed in his lap. He wrapped his arms around her waist and her chin rested on the top of his head.
This entire situation took him completely by surprise. If only he had something to give her. With Victor's latest words, even what he thought he had no longer belonged to him.
But how could he continue to deny his feelings? If he told her the truth and she cast him aside then at least he would have a reason to stay away.
He opened his mouth to explain when a snore erupted.
Carefully he pulled back, while still holding onto Amelia. Her eyes were closed and soft short breaths exited her mouth.
She was asleep.
****
Something tickled her nose and Amelia used her finger to move it away. Her eyes seemed to be glued to her cheek. One lid opened and she saw the feather. She thrust it aside as she rolled over and threw her arm over her face. So much light.
Suddenly she sat up straight. The room swayed and she fell back against the pillow.
"Finally awake, are you?"
She grabbed the cover and pulled it up to her neck. "Charles? What are you doing here?"
"This is my room," he said, laughing under his breath.
She gulped and licked her lips, attempting to gather her wits. "Charles, this is hardly a laughing matter."
"I beg to differ."
"Am I–I dressed?"
He walked out of the room without answering, laughing all the way. Amelia lifted the pillow and threw it at the door and his laughter grew.
Rising on her elbows, she frowned. In the corner on the back of a rocking chair laid her gown.
"This is not good," she muttered to herself. She lifted the coverlet and peeked. A gasp of breath escaped. Fortunately, her chemise still covered her frame.
Heat flushed her cheeks as memories from the night before rushed to her mind. She remembered Charles laying her on the bed and unlacing her gown in back. When he'd finished, she had wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him into an embrace. She had tried to kiss him but he had turned his head. Frustrated, she'd crossed her arms over her chest and pouted.
The next memory she had was of waking in his bed. What had she done in the between time?
Oh, no.
She jumped from the bed, wrapped a blanket around her, and ran to the living area.
"What time is it?" she asked.
He smiled as he faced her. "I don't know. Why?"
She grabbed the folds of his shirt. "Please, Charles, I must know the time. Oh, dear, this is not good. This is really not good. I'm in so much trouble."
The cover fell to her feet and she ran back to the bedroom. Grabbing her gown she pulled it roughly over her head and tugged it into place. The back flapped open but there was no time to worry about it.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"Where did you put my boots? I need my boots."
"They're in front of the fireplace drying out. Everything you had was wet last night but should be dry this morning."
Sitting in the chair she pulled the shoes on and laced them quickly. Cloak, gloves, and other items littered the room in odd places. Whether they were drying didn't matter, her time was up. She needed to leave, and she needed to leave now.
As she went to rush past, he grabbed her by the shoulders and forced her to face him. "You need to tell me what's wrong. I promise I didn't–"
A desperate plea entered her voice. "It doesn't matter. Nothing matters. Don't you understand? My parents are arriving today!"
His arms dropped to his side, and he gathered his coat. "I guess we better get you back to the Green house."
Chapter Twenty-Four
They entered to the sound of frantic voices.
"Where is she? If Father and Mother arrive and find she is not here they'll kill me! No, they'll kill you. Stephen, are you even listening?"
"Believe it or not Millie, I'm listening. I have men out searching for your sister as we speak. Everything that can be done is being done. Now you need to sit down and relax."
"Relax? How can I relax? My sister could be out there dead somewhere and you want me to relax? Did you hear any word from Victor?"
"Victor claims she stopped by yesterday, and a slave sent her away. From what we can tell the slave was the last one to see her."
"Oh, Stephen what are we going to do?"
Amelia's expressions changed so quickly Charles couldn't keep up. One minute she was relieved, the next she appeared worried, and then confused. He needed to get her inside the study before Millie or Stephen said more about Victor.
"Come on, you need to go in and let them know you're all right," said Charles.
"How can I do that? They're going to want to know where I've been," Amelia whispered.
"Then I guess you'll have to tell them."
"You mean tell them I spent the night in their cabin, sleeping in your bed?" Her frown deepened.
Charles gulped as she pondered the reality of what she'd said. Fortunately he was saved by Millie entering the hallway.
"Amelia?" she said, her breath caught.
"Yes, Millie."
>
"Wh-what? Wh-where?" She stopped talking and engulfed Amelia in her arms. "We've been so worried."
"Sorry, I went for a ride and lost track of time," she said.
"But you've been gone all night!"
"Y-yes," Amelia stuttered looking over her shoulder at him.
Charles shrugged and she narrowed her eyes. What made her think he knew what to say any more than she did?
"Come into the study. You must be freezing. Surely you didn't sleep outside in the snow," said Millie, rubbing Amelia's hands as they walked.
Millie released her and Amelia removed her cloak. Millie gasped. Charles groaned.
"What happened to your dress? Why it's hanging half off you!"
Amelia looked at him, her eyes wide. Laughter threatened to burst out, and he had to look away and cover his mouth.
"Oh, that. I took it off to sleep and I can't lace it by myself so I just left it open because I knew you would be waiting on me since Mother and Father are scheduled to arrive today. Maybe I should just leave you and go upstairs to wash up and change. No need to worry, I'm fine." Amelia spun on her heel and headed for the door.
"Stop right there," said Millie. "I want to know exactly what is going on here and I want to know now."
Amelia lifted her hand to her forehead and wobbled from side to side. "I feel faint. Oh, I think I might swoon."
"Stephen! Don't just stand there, catch her!" Millie cried.
"I think Charles has it covered."
Indeed, he did. Before Stephen could move he had Amelia stretched out on the sofa and he was on his knees at her side. "Can I get you anything? Water? A cool cloth? What do you need?"
With her hand on the back of his head she pulled him forward until her lips touched his ear. She whispered, "You have to help me get out of here. I can't tell Millie I spent the night in the cabin with you! If I do, she will tell Father, and the Almighty only knows what will happen then."
Against his better judgment, Charles agreed. He fought the rising laughter and hefted her into his arms. "Where is Amelia's room? After such a night she needs to rest."
Millie drew her brows together in a straight line but led him to her room. Once deposited on the bed, Amelia winked at him before she moaned aloud.
"Oh, Millie, everything looks black. I think—I think, I might be consumed by the darkness."
Millie rushed to her side and held her hand. "Dear sister, don't leave me. Please, you must be well."
Millie cast a glance over her shoulder and added, "Charles, run and fetch the doctor."
"No doctors. I just need quiet," said Amelia, adding an extra groan.
Charles snickered under his breath as he headed back to the parlor.
Stephen casually sat on the edge of his desk, and crossed his legs at the ankles. "Tell me what happened."
Charles poured himself a drink and downed it in one gulp. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Millie may be fooled by Amelia's act but I'm not. The girl has been gone all night and she didn't sleep outside."
"No, she didn't." Charles stood at the window staring at the backyard. The snow melted and tiny shoots of green grass poked through. Squirrels raced up and down bare trees.
Stephen lifted his hands in surrender. "Very well don't tell me. But it'll come out and when it does not hearing your side of the story could be detrimental to you."
"I'll take my chances."
"Suit yourself. While you're here I thought you might like to know that I spoke with a litigator and he informed me…"
"That I had to stop seeing Miss Kyle and Miss Beaumont or Mr. Jones will take the land the cabin sits on."
"How did you–"
"Victor took great delight in telling me."
"Oh." Stephen paused before adding, "You said Miss Kyle and Miss Beaumont?"
"That's what Victor said."
"Interesting."
"What?" asked Charles facing Stephen.
"Maybe it is nothing, but I could swear the lawyer said only Miss Kyle. I naturally assumed word of your courting the young woman had already spread and Mr. Jones fancied her."
The glass shattered against the wall. Charles left Stephen gawking behind him as he grabbed his coat and strode outside to his tethered horse.
****
The whites of his knuckles contrasted against the rugged brown of the reins. Anger gathered in his soul, and his stomach twisted in knots, as he pushed his mount faster and faster toward the Vincent Estate.
Around the bend, a carriage had stalled. Charles tugged against the reins, and the mount came to a shuddering halt.
Henri Beaumont stood outside the carriage. Alice poked her head out and shouted instructions.
"Henri, you're doing it all wrong. If you'll but lift the carriage and set the wheel aright I'm sure we can continue."
"Alice, darling, not to disagree, but the frame is bent. Even if I could set it on it won't work."
"That can't be. We have to reach the house, and I can't walk in my condition."
"Oh, Mother, you don't have a condition."
"Cora, you will stop talking to me thusly. I tell you I can't walk, not even a step."
Charles bit his tongue to keep from laughing. He interrupted, "Perhaps I can help."
Henri looked up from his position. "Charles Vincent? Is that you?"
"Yes."
"Thank the heavens, we're saved." Alice climbed from the carriage leaning heavily on her youngest daughter.
Charles frowned. "Where are your horses?"
Henri answered, "I'm not sure. We passed a gate and there was a gunshot. It spooked the horses and they ran until we hit this hole. When I climbed out of the carriage they were gone."
Charles stroked his chin. "No matter. The Green Estate is close at hand. Mr. and Mrs. Beaumont you may ride my mount and Cora and I will walk."
Expecting complaints from the youngest Beaumont child, he was impressed when she appeared beside him.
"I'm ready when you are."
He sighed heavily and glanced once at the direction he'd been headed. The time to deal with Victor would come later; for now he had another purpose.
Charles gave directions to the riders and they went ahead. He worried the foot trip would be silent, leaving him with his troubled thoughts, so he was glad when Cora spoke.
"I'm ever so glad to be out of that carriage." She stretched her arms above her head and groaned. "I've never been so cooped up in my life. Well, there was this one time my cousin, Alfred, the little troll, locked me in the chicken coop. Dolly looked for me half the day and still didn't find me. I beat and banged against the wood until I had splinters along my arms but still they didn't hear me.
"I probably shouldn't be telling you this."
"Why not?" he said, smiling at her.
"Well Mother tells me I constantly show signs of immaturity. I had to ask Mr. Hughes what that meant and he told me it means I'm not ripe. I'm still not sure I understand, but I think she was trying to say I act like a child."
Cora stopped in the middle of the road and placed her hands on her hips. "Mother says it is all her fault because I was the baby and she let me act like a baby longer. But I'll show her. One of these days I'm going to go away and make something of myself. I'm not going to stay in Bayou Sara and marry someone like Peter, who just wants to run from his mamma, or any of those other silly ninnies. I have plans."
"Indeed?"
"Yep, I do. You know it's funny but the only one who believes I can do it is Amelia. She knows I ain't staying and living no farmer's life. If'n I find me a good man then I'll give her the whole Beaumont plantation. I don't want it. Nothing but a bunch of trouble, if you ask me. Anyone that follows the news can see change is coming. Cotton will be a thing of the past. Southerners need to get them some factories and start building stuff."
"You think so?"
"I know so. Don't tell my parents, but there are these secret meetings about freeing the slaves. 'Course we've done it at our pla
ce, but most of the others don't feel the same way. Why this one time there was a plot to try and kill my father because he did what he did. But I reckon since he didn't try to change anyone's mind about the situation they decided it wasn't worth hanging him over."
"That's good."
"Sure is. Now where is this place? My shoes weren't exactly made for walking. It sure is cold here. I tried to tell Mother to pack warmer clothes but she said we would just have to pack what we had and hope Millie had something we could borrow."
The girl rambled on and on until the Green Estate came in sight. A low whistle slipped through her teeth. "That sure is pretty. I can see why Millie doesn't want to leave."
Charles didn't argue with her assumptions as they climbed the steps. As they entered Henri and Alice were hugging Millie. Stephen waited patiently with his hands folded in front of him and nodded in Charles' direction.
A gasp echoed above his head and he lifted it to find Amelia staring at her family.
"Father! Mother!" She ran down the stairs and fell into their arms.
It was too late to resume his former destination. He wondered if Stephen and Millie would put him up for the night.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Amelia sat on the nursery floor with her mother and two sisters and watched the rambunctious twins.
"They're smart," said Alice, a hint of pride tingeing her voice.
"Mother, they're eight months old. They ain't doing anything but crawling and pulling up on chairs. I think I saw one of them chewing their toes. That ain't what I consider smart," said Cora, sticking out her tongue at the babies.
Millie frowned and Amelia struggled to maintain a straight face.
Alice tickled the twins and they giggled. "They remind me of you three when you were little. Their skin is so smooth."
"That's 'cause they haven't been in the sun yet. Just wait until they get old like you and then they won't be so smooth," said Cora.
Alice widened her eyes and Amelia grabbed Cora's hand. "Come with me. Maybe we should go for a walk."
They donned their cloaks and Amelia dragged her sister to the garden. They sat on a stone bench that faced the entrance to the maze.
Amelia (Southern Hearts Book 2) Page 12
