Tempting Torment (The McClellans Series, Book 3) Author's Cut Edition

by Jo Goodman

  "Just so you understand."

  She felt compelled to protest. "This is so unfair to them, Noah. It would be better if you sent me away now."

  "When I'm ready," he said, holding her pale gaze. "Not until then."

  Noah and Jessa caught up to Courtney at the house's east entrance. She was hastily putting on her shoes and stockings and begging them to wait for her now. Once dressed, Courtney led them into the hallway, pressing a finger to her lips so they would know to be silent. Feeling rather like childish conspirators themselves, Noah and Jessa followed.

  Courtney parted the heavy double doors to the dining room just enough to stick her head through the opening. Affecting a penitent expression, she waited for someone at the crowded dining table to notice her.

  Ashley McClellan caught sight of her daughter out of the corner of her eye and gently nudged her husband. Salem looked up, bit back a smile when he saw Courtney's tiny face framed by the doors, and addressed her in a mildly interested tone. "Are you ready to join us, Court?"

  "Yes, Papa," she answered solemnly. "I've caught my dinner."

  "A big fish?" he asked, one dark brow kicking up.

  "Oh yes! A very big fish!"

  A single dimple appeared at the corner of Salem's mouth. "I hope you've given it to Tildy to prepare. I don't think your grandmother wants you to bring it in here."

  "That's true, darling," Charity agreed, setting down her fork. Her deep blue eyes twinkled as she turned toward her granddaughter. "Please say you've given it to Tildy."

  Courtney glanced about the room, delighting in the fact she had everyone's attention. At the head of the table her grandfather was regarding her with amusement. Rae and Jericho, with their two oldest girls between them, had turned toward the door hoping to get a glimpse of the fish if there was one. Even Courtney's brothers, Trenton and Travis, were looking at her with admiration.

  "I don't think Tildy wants this fish," said Courtney. "I don't even know what sort it is. Mayhap it wouldn't be good eating." At her back she heard Noah's soft chuckle. "I should like it very much if someone would tell me what I've caught."

  "Very well," said Charity. "But please hold it up in the doorway. I don't want it in here unless it's on a platter."

  Smiling gleefully, Courtney threw open the doors and scampered out of the way.

  Noah placed one hand at the small of Jessa's back and stepped forward. Grinning roguishly, he counted the seconds of stunned silence under his breath for Jessa's benefit, stopping at five.

  "Uncle Noah!" cried Trenton, sliding off his chair before his mother could grab him. He was immediately joined by his brother and his young cousins. All four of the children danced around Noah, waiting to be picked up, scarcely noticing the babe he held in his arms.

  Hunkering down, Noah gave each of them a squeeze with his free arm and added kisses for Elyse and Katie when they demanded them.

  "Courtney," Salem called sternly. "This is most definitely not a fish for eating!"

  Jericho had risen to his feet. Scooping one daughter under each arm, he pulled them away from Noah before they toppled him. Their squeals of protest went unheeded. "I say we throw it back in the river," he drawled, glancing back at Salem.

  "Do you hear the abuse I must take?" Noah asked, looking up at Jessa. He gave Trenton and Travis a pat on the behind and sent them back to the table. Standing, he circled Jessa's shoulders with one arm and pulled her closer. "This is my family," he said, pride evident in his voice. "And for all they may want to pitch me in the river, they won't do it until their curiosity's been satisfied."

  Jessa smiled weakly under the curious, interested stares of so many eyes. She was grateful when Noah gave her Gideon to hold again. She squeezed him so tightly that he gave a little yelp and her cheeks reddened with embarrassment. "I'm very pleased to meet you," she said.

  The uncertainty in Jessa's voice and the wariness in her beautiful pale gray eyes brought a burst of laughter from nearly everyone at the table.

  "I don't know how you could be," Ashley said sympathetically, coming to her feet as the laughter quieted. "Be pleased to meet us, that is. I remember my arrival at the landing and it was nothing short of frightening to be subjected to all these McClellans." Her bright emerald eyes turned on Noah. "Would you kindly put her at ease by making introductions?" she asked.

  "Very well," said Noah. He left Jessa's side and went to the foot of the table. "This is my mother Charity McClellan." He bent and kissed the finely lined cheek that was raised to him.

  "It's so good to see you, son," Charity said feelingly, taking Noah's hand and squeezing it to reassure herself of his presence. She smiled warmly at Jessa and smoothed back her coffee-colored hair as Noah moved on.

  Noah stood behind both of the boys. "Trenton and Travis McClellan."

  "Hallo," said Trenton. "I'm six." He nudged his brother who automatically held up three fingers.

  Chuckling, Noah ruffled their dark heads and stepped beside Ashley. "I'm sure you realize this is my sister-in-law Ashley McClellan," he told Jessa, delighted to see the boys had coaxed a genuine smile to her lips. He brushed a light kiss on Ashley's mouth. "You're looking very well," he said sincerely, taking in the color in her cheeks and the shining coronet of her thick ebony hair. "Courtney tells me it's another boy."

  She laughed brightly as she sat down. "I'm certain I know precisely the tone she used. She wanted a sister so badly." Her eyes fell on Jessa then dropped to the child in her arms. "Christian will be delighted to have company in the nursery."

  Noah gave her shoulder a light squeeze and went to his older brother. "This is Jerusalem," he told Jessa. "Though I'd advise you to call him Salem. He has no liking for the name our parents settled on him."

  As Salem caught his brother's hand in a firm grip, Jessa was struck by the similarity between the two men. The resemblance was not immediately apparent on the surface. Salem's hair was several shades darker than Noah's and his eyes were pewter gray, yet he and his brother shared the same classic bone structure that Jessa thought set them apart from ordinary men. She found her eyes moving to the head of the table where Noah's father had come to his feet just a moment before Noah got there.

  "My father," he said, taking his father's hand, then abandoning it for a fierce hug. "Robert McClellan."

  Jessa dipped a small curtsey, thinking she would have known this man anywhere. He was as broad-shouldered as his sons, and though his hair was graying at the temples it was still dark and thick at the crown of his head. His smile was faintly bemused but welcoming.

  "My brother-in-law Jericho Smith," Noah went on, tapping Jericho on the back.

  "M'lord," Jessa murmured, remembering this was Geoffrey Hunter-Smythe, Earl of Stanhope.

  Jericho's mouth turned up in a lazy smile and a lock of sunshine yellow hair brushed his forehead. "No one here calls me that," he said, darting a wicked glance at his wife. "Except Red when she's being sassy."

  Noah intervened quickly before his flame-haired sister could take exception to her husband's teasing. "This is Elyse," he said, pointing to the fair headed little girl on Jericho's left knee. "She's nearly five. And the carrot curls belong to Katie who's three." Both girls pressed their faces shyly against their father's chest. "Where's Garland?" asked Noah.

  "Napping," said Jericho, coaxing his daughters back into their chairs.

  "Well," Noah drawled, looking around the table, pointedly avoiding his sister's efforts to be noticed. "I suppose that's everyone then. Gareth and Darlene are at their own home it seems," he said, turning to Jessa. "And I told you that Leah and Troy live in New York."

  "Ooh! I knew you were going to be beastly, Noah!" Rae said, jumping to her feet. She flung herself into her brother's arms and hugged him with only a little less enthusiasm than the children had shown.

  Laughing, Noah lifted her off her feet and kissed her cheek, then set her down and put his arm around her.

  "This is my sister Rahab. We call her Rae. Jericho calls her Red—for
obvious reasons."

  Rae stamped her foot and elbowed her brother in the ribs. "Enough! We have all been very patient, but you must give over." Rae pulled out the chair and motioned to Jessa. "Please, we've been so ill-mannered. Won't you sit down? It can't have been very comfortable for you standing there, listening to Noah rattle on, and no one even moving to offer you a chair."

  Grateful for Rae's thoughtfulness, Jessa sank down onto the ladderback chair. Sunshine filtered through the large bay window and caressed her face. She would have been shocked to know that individually the McClellans were thinking she looked very Madonna-like in that moment, possessing a serene and tranquil beauty. "I suspect you all were a trifle surprised to see that Noah had brought home a guest," she said, not thinking for a second anyone had been rude to her. Quite the opposite, in fact. Under the circumstances, they were incredibly gracious. She turned Gideon in her lap so he could see everyone. His eyes were wide and his smile wavered as he examined the unfamiliar faces. "Two guests, actually."

  "Well?" asked Salem, giving his brother a dark look. "As Rae said, give over. And I surely hope I hear what I want to hear."

  Noah moved to stand behind Jessa, placing his hands lightly on her shoulders. "This is Jessa... McClellan. My wife. And her son... no, our son Gideon."

  There was a brief silence then everyone began talking at once.

  "Thank God," Salem said feelingly.

  "Oh, Noah! That's wonderful!" Ashley added from her heart.

  Rae hugged her brother again. "I'm so happy for you!"

  "Congratulations, Noah!" Robert said, going to the sideboard to bring out the liquor.

  Jericho slanted Noah a grin. "Joined the fallen at last, did you?"

  Tears sparkled in Charity's eyes as she looked at her son. "This is wonderful news!"

  Jessa was more than a little surprised by their easy acceptance of Noah's marriage. She did not understand, as Noah did, that their enthusiasm came in part because he had not married Hilary Bowen. Guilt pressed at her heart and the trick Noah was playing weighed heavily on her mind.

  "May I?" Charity said, holding out her hands to Gideon. "Will he come to me?"

  "I think so," said Jessa, lifting Gideon. He went into his new grandmother's arms without the least protest.

  "He's beautiful," Charity said happily as the infant chortled. "I do so love babies. And Gideon is such a fine name."

  Noah's smile was wry as he glanced at his brother and sister. "Did you have any doubts but that she would approve of it?"

  "Not a one," they answered simultaneously.

  Ashley called to her daughter who was still hovering by the door. "Courtney, will you take the children away now? Perhaps outside to play?"

  Salem saw Courtney look longingly at the remains of the meal set before them. "Did you catch anything at all in the river?" he asked.

  "No, Papa."

  "Well, since you brought back your prodigal uncle, as it were, I think it would be all right if you asked Tildy to fix you something in the kitchen."

  "Oh, thank you! I shan't be rude again. I promise!" She rounded up her brothers and cousins and hustled them out of the dining room, grinning impishly when Noah winked at her.

  "That promise is just as worthless as a Continental," Salem said, shaking his head as Courtney fled.

  "Don't be too hard on her, dear," Ashley said, patting her husband's arm soothingly. "She has your penchant for honesty, and if she seems a bit rude at times it's because she never learned to mince words."

  Salem sighed, biting back a smile. "I suppose you think she inherited that from me."

  "If the shoe fits," she said sweetly.

  Chuckling, Robert served up glasses of dark red wine as Noah seated himself beside Jessa. Rae took the empty chair at her husband's side. "I think we should toast the newest members of the family," he said serenely. "Before Salem and Ashley take up cudgels." He raised his glass. "To Jessa and Gideon McClellan. Welcome."

  "Welcome," everyone added.

  Under the table Noah's hand sought Jessa's and he squeezed it warningly. He could see very clearly that she was puzzled and overwhelmed by his family's warm reception. The sincerity of their welcome rankled more than a little. How was it they had taken such an instant liking to Jessa and could barely thaw to Hilary? Was he the only one who could recognize Jessa for the jade she was? Because it was necessary to do so, Noah put his sour thoughts to the back of his mind. He lifted Jessa's hand to his lips. "They mean it, Jessa. Welcome to the landing."

  "Thank you," she said softly, staring deeply in Noah's eyes. There was no mistaking the cautionary look he returned. He was measuring her every response. When he released her hand it hovered uncertainly in the air a moment, then she let it fall on her lap. "Thank you all. I didn't expect you to be so kind." She gasped, her cheeks flushed, as she realized what she had said. "Oh, I didn't mean that the way it sounded," she said quickly. "I knew you would be kind, but I didn't think you would be so accepting. I know about Hilary, you see, and it must be very shocking to you that Noah married me when he was planning to marry her."

  "Hardly shocking," said Salem, setting down his glass of wine. "Your presence here is the first indication I've had that my brother's senses have returned. And I probably speak for everyone at this table."

  "Except me," Noah said coolly, leveling Salem with a dark glance. "I'd prefer not to discuss Hilary."

  Salem shrugged, seemingly unaffected by Noah's hard stare. "As you wish." He turned his attention back to Jessa and caught the nervous look she darted at Noah. It's almost as if she's afraid of him, Salem thought, his eyes narrowing slightly on the taut, pale skin of Jessa's face. The flush of her earlier embarrassment had vanished, and though she schooled her delicate features quickly, Salem was not deceived by her composure. He found her reaction odd and wondered at it. "How did you become acquainted with my brother?" he asked kindly, changing the subject, hoping to draw her out.

  "We shared a coach on the post road to London," she said. Lifting her glass of wine, Jessa took a deep drink and prayed that Noah would intervene.

  Rae looked at her brother in amazement. "You rode in a coach! I thought it made you ill, just like sailing."

  "It wasn't too bad," Noah said, stretching his legs beneath the table. "And I didn't have much choice. My horse came up lame as I was riding to Stanhope and I couldn't get another one. Therefore I took the coach. Jessa and Gideon were among the passengers. Jericho, do you know someone named Gilton... Gilly... Gil—"

  "Gilmore," Jessa supplied. "Lord Gilmore."

  "He's a twit," Jericho said succinctly. "I played cards with him once. His father managed to pull him away from the tables before he lost his last quarter's allowance to me. Never say he was riding the coach, too."

  "I think his pockets were light again," explained Noah. "Though he did have a very fine watch on his person." Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Jessa take another hasty sip of her wine and he smiled a little darkly, letting her know he was repaying her for bringing up Hilary. "As it happened, he lost the watch when our coach was stopped by highwaymen. Let me finish," he added quickly when it seemed as if everyone was going to interrupt. "We were robbed and I took a pistol ball in the side. I'm fine, Mother," he said reassuringly. "And you can thank Jessa. After the robbery she cared for me in her home and stole me from the very clutches of death," he finished dramatically, raising a smile to everyone's lips. He paused a beat and added softly, "She stole my heart as well."

  Jessa could almost believe he spoke the truth. A surreptitious glance around the table told her that his family accepted his word. The happy smile she forced began to falter at Noah's next words.

  "She's quite an accomplished thief, you see," he told them. "I was forced to marry her else lose my heart forever."

  If Jessa could have kicked him without attracting attention she would have done so. He thought he was so clever, playing at his double-edged words. She knew what he meant when he called her a thief, and it was equally tr
ue that she had forced the marriage on him. She drained her glass of wine shakily.

  "And now I have a son as well," Noah said easily, watching Gideon pluck at the bows on his mother's dress.

  Robert cleared his throat a shade uncomfortably. "I've been wondering about that, Noah," he began, trying to broach the subject of Jessa's son tactfully. Was Noah—heaven forbid—the cause of a divorce, or had Jessa been widowed?

  "I was a widow," Jessa answered, seeing Robert's distress and sensing the cause. "My husband died shortly after Gideon's birth."

  "Did you know Robert Grantham?" Noah asked, watching Jessa carefully. "Ashley? Jericho?" Of course they couldn't know a man who did not exist but it was amusing to see Jessa squirm a little.

  "No. I don't recall any Granthams," Ashley said. "But that isn't surprising. I didn't know many people when I lived at Linfield."

  "I'm not familiar with the name either," said Jericho. "Was your first husband much of a gambler?"

  "N-no," Jessa stammered. "He never gambled at all."

  "Then I probably never met him. The brief part of my adult life that I spent in England was almost entirely consumed at the gaming tables."

  "We're very sorry to hear of your loss," Charity said, tickling Gideon's dimpled chin. "But you can understand that we're happy Noah has you now, and that in turn we have you, too. "She frowned slightly and pressed her hand under Gideon's bottom. "Oh dear. I think this young fellow wants changing. No, stay where you are, Jessa. I'll take him to the nursery. I need to have a room prepared for you and Noah anyway. I'll take care of everything at once." Charity swept out of the room, cooing to Gideon all the while.

  Ashley laughed when she saw the play of emotion on Jessa's face as Gideon was taken away. "She's wonderful with children," she said. "And after a few days you'll wonder how you ever managed without her. Charity has more energy than Rae and I together."

  "I'm afraid Jessa won't have time to become accustomed to Mother's command," Noah put in before Jessa could respond. "We're here because I promised Ashley and Jericho a report on their estates. I have to go to Philadelphia in a few days. The convention, remember?"