Lady Fugitive

by Shannah Biondine

  "My aunt told you all about it, though." Rachel wondered what dramatic tale Violet had concocted. Then decided she was hardly one to complain, after the balderdash she'd spouted about the policeman's ball and that horse.

  Boyd coughed. "She led Mr. Soames to understand you'd had a rough time back on the frontier and arrived in England with limited resources. I don't mean to dwell on your misfortune. I thought I might ask my betrothed to look in on you tomorrow. Chrissandra would love to help you stock up on provisions. She adores any excuse to be out browsing. Please dine at the inn this evening and tell Mrs. Poole to put your meal on Morgan's account."

  Rachel studied his face. "What's he like, sir? I feel a little strange moving into the man's home and eating at his inn, working in his office, yet knowing nothing about the fellow."

  "Let's see. Some call him the Bargainer. He lives and breathes trade, which makes him the ideal partner for me. I believe there's more to life than commerce. Morgan believes life is commerce. He's a proud man, but not above plowing a field or making a delivery himself. Has a reputation for honoring his word. Something we literally bank upon. I think you'll get on. You seem the earnest sort, which he'll appreciate."

  He was almost back in the carriage before she remembered to ask when she was expected at his office. "Take a few days to settle in," he called back. "I'll send Miss James by tomorrow and expect you Friday morning at nine."

  Rachel closed the cottage door and turned to gaze again around the snug parlor. This musty but appealing little domicile was hers alone. The thought had her mind reeling. For the first time in her life, she would be residing alone. Working at a clerking post she had chosen to accept, eating meals when she wanted to fix them, bathing and sleeping and doing dozens of things when her whims—not Cletus—struck her. He'd been gone for over three months, but she hadn't been able to shake the horrid memories of all their years together.

  Those bleak nights in the shack. The even worse times when his elder brother had come to stay for extended visits. The sour smell of liquor, stale smoke, vomit, and God knew what else on the men's clothes.

  There would be no drunken fools to contend with here, no groping fingers, no rushed apologies for imaginary failings.

  She was really and truly alone.

  Accused criminal, wanted fugitive, and yet free for the first time in years. That thought brought her a strange peace that allowed her to rest easy in the unfamiliar bed that night.

  Rachel surveyed the cottage again the next day. The furniture was in good condition, but the kitchen curtains would have to be replaced. The hardwood floors in the parlor needed polishing. All she could do now was give the place a good clean sweep. She opened the front door and knocked a cloud of dust onto the porch.

  "Good God! Why don't you watch what you're doing?"

  An attractive and furious blonde woman shook off her brocade skirts. Rachel propped the broom against the wall. "I beg your pardon! Mr. Atkinson told me you'd be over today, Miss James, but I didn't expect you this early."

  "I'm not Chrissandra. My name's Pamela Prine. I'm a close personal friend of the owner, Morgan Tremayne. He's away, so I thought I'd greet the new tenants. I'd like a word with your master or mistress, please."

  Rachel extended her right hand. "I'm Rachel Cordell, Mr. Tremayne's new tenant. I'd ask you in, but I haven't a thing in the house to offer as refreshment."

  "You're the tenant?" This seemed to set her back for a split second. "Well, I hope your husband doesn't find our village too provincial, Mistress Cordell."

  "My husband's in a grave back in America." Rachel gestured meaningfully at her own dark skirts.

  "A widow? And a Colonial?"

  "American, yes."

  "Boyd is known to take pity on charity cases...which explains why he would rent to the likes of you. But I warn you, widow, the rest of us don't accept strangers so easily."

  "So I see," Rachel observed dryly. "I'm also Mr. Atkinson's new clerk, so I'll be meeting other villagers soon."

  "A woman can get only so far on pity. Don't expect to turn other men's heads just because Boyd feels sorry for you."

  Rachel's eyes narrowed. "Is Mr. Tremayne terribly handsome?" she asked. The flash of anger in the cold blue eyes told Rachel she'd guessed correctly. "I know he's young and successful. He must be something, indeed. And I wonder which you favor most—his looks or his money?"

  "Morgan's looks are of no concern to you, hireling."

  "My, a handsome landlord. I can hardly wait to meet him."

  "And I can hardly wait until you fall flat on your face! Which you will. A woman clerking," Pamela scoffed. "Preposterous."

  "Excuse me," Rachel reached past her unwelcome visitor for the broom. "I'm not used to your English accent. Could you spell that last word for me?"

  "What?" Pamela sputtered in outrage.

  "I didn't think so." Rachel stepped back inside and slammed the door.

  When a knock sounded later, Rachel was more cautious in greeting her visitor. This girl's hair fell in a gleaming platinum cloud around her shoulders. She had dramatic blue-green eyes that sparkled as she greeted Rachel. "I'm Boyd's fiancée, Chrissandra James. I've come to take you shopping."

  Rachel explained her wariness had been in reaction to her first visitor. Chrissandra scowled. "That Pamela! She's the worst snob in town. My only reservation about Boyd hiring a woman as his clerk was the difficulty Pamela's bound to stir up. She's a vicious gossip and can't bear other women within a mile of Morgan. She won't make your tasks any easier."

  "I get the impression Mr. Tremayne's the favorite son around here."

  Chrissandra led her toward the square. "I've been in love with Boyd ever since I can remember. He and Morgan are best friends. Morgan's almost like a brother to me. He's gorgeous, and unlike most of the local men, yet he gets on with all of them. Well, you'll see."

  They made a day of shopping and filling Rachel's larder. When the flour and sugar sacks were tucked inside the pantry, Rachel thanked Chrissy for her help.

  "You're a refreshing change, Rachel. We've never had an American here for any length of time. A few have passed through, but you're the first to stay. Don't be put off by Pamela. For all the show, she's just another farmer's daughter. You'll make a wonderful clerk."

  * * *

  Rachel succeeded well enough at her new post, until it came time to audit the inn. Boyd had introduced her to Thomas and Emily Poole, the middle-aged couple who managed the place for Morgan. Boyd patiently explained how they were to complete the new tally sheet. Rachel would go by on Thursdays to collect the sheet and post the information into Morgan's ledger. But Rachel arrived to find the sheet blank.

  "There were no sales last week?" she asked Thomas. "No purchases? No activity of any kind?"

  He shrugged, running a hand through spiky gray hair. "Aye, sales aplenty, all right. Don't know how many rounds the men went through over Barker's birth announcement. His sixth. You'd think the effects would've worn off by now. Bless 'em again, Lord," he prayed, eyes lifted to the ceiling. "It's good for business!"

  "Mr. Atkinson explained this," Rachel sighed. "I need to know what you sell each day and what you order every week. An empty sheet is useless."

  Emily sniffed as she bustled past. "Don't have all day to go marking up papers. Got beef and cabbages to boil. Roasts don't make themselves, you know."

  "I realize that, but it only takes a moment once a day to mark the tally. Surely you could spare that."

  Emily bristled. "Never known such folderol in my life! Why can't I just tell you what's what when you come in each week? Always done it that way before Boyd hatched his notions about tallies."

  "If you're too busy, perhaps Thomas can do it," Rachel suggested.

  "He agrees it's nonsense, don't you, Thomas?" Emily shot her husband a pointed look. He muttered something and ducked behind the polished oak bar. A patron with a full tankard in his hand leaned over the bar. The craven barkeep rose to give a nodding answer, then d
ucked out of sight again. The customer straightened and turned to pin Rachel with his gaze.

  She caught her breath. The man was dressed like any other farmer, with muddy boots and a rumpled shirt beneath an open vest. Black breeches clung to trim, well-muscled thighs. The sun had tanned his skin a deep bronze. Dark, shoulder-length hair was tied back at the nape of his neck and formed a thick mustache that obscured the upper lip of a sensual mouth.

  But the man's eyes were what transfixed her. They were unexpectedly light. A pale pewter, totally arresting against such dark coloring. Rachel found it hard to ignore the strong physical reaction she had to his gaze. He made her feel as though she were standing there naked.

  He crossed to where she and Emily stood. "Young lady has a point, Emily. If Atkinson's going to send her over each week, the least you can do is have the numbers ready. I know you ken what she needs."

  Rachel was studying the floor in an attempt to avoid his eyes. She almost succeeded in appearing indifferent until he spoke. His voice seduced her in a deep, rich timbre. Her gaze lifted to catch his wink at the inn's matron. "Whether she knows how to properly utilize the figures is something else again. Let's have a look." He reached for the ledger in Rachel's arms.

  Rachel found her tongue and stepped back to evade his grasp. "Excuse me, but we're capable of resolving this, sir. If the information is provided to me, I'll make the proper calculations."

  Emily glanced up at the man now, uncertainty on her face. Her tone became more petulant. She wiped chapped hands down her apron front. "Will you please explain what it's like running this place, sir? She's no idea. Spends her day resting on her bottom over at the office."

  Amused gray eyes swept over Rachel in a shameless appraisal, lingering on her backside. "Hasn't done her bottom any harm, Emily. Perhaps you should sit more."

  Rachel was flabbergasted. Emily offered no objection to the randy comment, but Rachel wasn't feeling so charitable. She was plainly dressed in mourning attire. The presumptuous cad was asking to have his face slapped. She was about to say so when he turned back to Emily. "Excuse us." He pressed strong fingers against the small of Rachel's back. "Let's step outside."

  Rachel found herself on the broad porch before she could protest. Seconds later she did, and quite clearly. "Your behavior is distressing, to put it mildly, sir. I'm recently widowed and don't appreciate your leering attentions. Don't you have anything better to do than pester women?"

  He gave her an insolent grin and seized the ledger from her arms. God, but he was irritating! And striking as a gypsy. Still, he was just another farmer with a lot of audacity and mud on his boots. She couldn't let his exceptional good looks affect her. "Sir, return that book or I'll be forced to send for Mr. Atkinson."

  "Slippin', boy!" came a jocular voice from behind them. "Bosom like that and you're oglin' your books? Must be some profit this week!"

  Rachel's eyes widened in horror. It couldn't be!

  "Archie, the lady's a widow," came the teasing protest, uttered as a meaty hand clapped down on the younger man's broad shoulder. "Watch your tongue!"

  "I should have a partner like young Atkinson. Hired you a little jewel, didn't he?"

  "Aye. Not one mistake in her addition." Glancing at Rachel, the handsome one nodded, perfect teeth showing below his dark mustache. "I'm suitably impressed." He handed over the ledger. "Plainly there's more to our young widow than meets the eye, though no man would complain on that score."

  Rachel waited until they were alone on the porch. "You might have introduced yourself, Mr. Tremayne! I thought...I assumed you were a farmer."

  "Farmer?" Glancing down at his boots, he released a hearty laugh. "For a few hours today, that would have been accurate." His deep laughter had the same alluring quality as his speaking voice.

  She edged away. "Could you speak to Emily again about the tally sheet? I'm only trying to be of help, sir."

  "Are you headed home now, Widow?"

  "Yes, but I have to drop off the ledger at the office first."

  "I'll save you the stop. I'll see you home and take the ledger back to the office. I generally make a point of checking on my new tenants, but I've been away the past week or so."

  Oh, dear. Rachel stammered, "There's really no need to…ah, visit the cottage personally, sir. Mr. Atkinson and Miss James helped me settle in, and Miss Prine has called on your behalf."

  "So you've met her." He didn't sound surprised. They crossed the cobblestoned square, Morgan nodding to folks they passed along the street. He waved to a wizened stranger in a rickety wagon, then boldly strode up Rachel's front walk. She stared as he fished a ring of keys out of a pants pocket. This particular man having a key readily at his disposal made her nervous, but she held her tongue. He was the landlord. A thought that made her even more discomfited.

  "Do you have a name, Clerk?" The question came as the keys dropped back out of sight and the cottage door swung open.

  "Rachel Cordell," she answered as she preceded him into the parlor. "As you can see, the house is satisfactory. There are some minor points we might discuss, though, since you're here."

  "Such as?"

  "The floors need polishing. If you can't send someone to do it, perhaps I might have a rug. And I'd like to replace the kitchen curtains. If you'll reimburse me for the fabric, I'll sew a new set myself."

  Morgan glanced around, noting a womanly touch in minor changes here and there. He'd had female tenants before. Married women intent on pleasing their husbands. This was a widow, who'd done these things solely to please herself. A throw pillow on the settee, vase of flowers on the kitchen table, scent of lemon oil in the parlor. Subtle touches he doubted anyone else would notice. But Morgan knew this house well, and found himself oddly gratified by the changes.

  He cleared his throat. "I'll send Thomas to polish the floors. I've no objections to new curtains, assuming your sewing is as good as your ciphering."

  "Thank you, sir. And thank you for seeing me home, but—"

  "I'd take a cup of tea." He took a seat in the parlor, watching her reaction. Any local female would have already offered tea and excuses for him to tarry. This little vixen had practically dismissed him from his own bloody residence!

  Morgan wondered what sort of man she'd been wed to: strapping lumberjack, or some simpering bank teller? Archie had been right about the fine bosom. That thought led Morgan to wonder if her trim waist led to equally slim legs. It was impossible to tell beneath the voluminous dark skirts. Aye, dark skirts befitting a widow in mourning. There was nothing the least bit provocative in her dress or demeanor. Odd then that he found himself very aware of her.

  The somber fabric only served to highlight her tawny coloring. She had luminous brown eyes and gleaming auburn hair. Damned attractive morsel. He imagined brushing her dark hair and inhaling the scent of it, wrapping his hands in her tresses. He'd tilt her head back and explore that sweet mouth...What the devil's come over you, Morgan? The woman's husband just died!

  He realized she was speaking to him. Something about being out of tea. Out of tea? Perhaps it was the manure on his boots. His reliable effect on the ladies was having none on this one. But she wasn't supposed to entertain strange men in her parlor, was she? The whole point of the black was to keep men like him at bay. He knew that. He also knew she was one of the most intriguing women he'd yet to encounter. This little American was different.

  She planted herself by the door. "I'm glad we finally met, Mr. Tremayne. I'm quite comfortable here. I like the house. Thank you again for checking the premises. Perhaps I'll see you tomorrow at the office." She handed him back the heavy ledger.

  "Good day, Widow," he nodded.

  Rachel kept a smile on her face until she'd closed the door behind him. It had been all she could do to resist slamming it off its hinges. Letting her stand there like a ninny while he reviewed his books! He must have known she had no idea she'd been talking to her employer. Then he'd insisted on walking her home as an excuse to snoop ar
ound. She should have guessed the rogue's identity from his looks and manner. Emily's behavior should have warned her.

  "You idiot," Rachel muttered, trudging upstairs to her bedchamber. She unfastened the collar of her dress and froze.

  The accursed man was standing across the street, looking right up at her! She realized he could make out her silhouette through the lace curtains. She backed away and aligned herself with the nearest bedpost. Eventually he turned and walked off, but not before offering a stiff bow. He'd known she'd been watching him, as well.

  Chapter 3

  Rachel arrived at the office the next day and heard masculine voices in a heated debate in Boyd's private back room. The door was closed, but she plainly overheard Morgan express strong displeasure over Boyd's decision to employ her. The argument ended. The door flew open. Rachel fumbled with her shawl as though she'd just walked in. She turned to offer Morgan a smile of greeting, but he didn't meet her gaze.

  He said nothing as he took a seat behind the empty desk directly across from hers. She silently cursed her luck again. First yesterday afternoon's embarrassment at the inn. Now she found herself only a few feet from him. Every time she looked up, he'd be right in front of her! The situation couldn't be worse.

  Evidently when she hadn't swooned at his feet, the local rake had no further use for her. She should have been more obliging or demure. Eager to please. Inwardly she wanted to give a rueful laugh. She'd been taken by surprise yesterday.

  Looking at him now, it was hard to believe she'd ever mistaken him for a common farmer. He wore a crisp linen shirt and a coat of deep blue over fawn-colored breeches. His dark hair was neatly tied back and a trace of cologne wafted to her desk. As Chrissy had foretold, he wasn't like the other village men here. None of them had his looks or general aura of confidence. They were plow horses; this one was a thoroughbred.