by Vikki Vaught
Once they finished touring the garden, Alex took them back out to the sidewalk in front of the house, and they strolled down the street. They passed several houses with beautifully manicured lawns, as well as the church Alex had mentioned at dinner. It was a gray stone building with large, stained glass windows. Anissa looked forward to seeing the light reflected through them when she went to church on Sunday.
Next, Alex showed her the shopping district, which reminded her of a very small Bond Street. Elegant shops lined both sides of the street and the window displays were enticing. She would have no problem finding anything she wanted; the problem would be having the money to spend.
She had never worried about spending money before. It would be a challenge to resist temptation. When she spied a lovely bonnet in the window of the millinery shop, which would go with one of her new gowns, she realized it was a good thing all the shops had closed for the day, because if the shop had been open, resisting the purchase would have been difficult. She had bought a perfectly good bonnet in Baltimore that went well with all her new gowns. Besides, she would not be making social calls and going to the theater, as she would have done in London. She would go to church and visit Mrs. Moore, nothing else.
With the sun beginning to set, Alex turned around and led them back to the house. As he opened the gate, he asked, “So what do you think? Will you be comfortable here?”
“Oh, my, yes. Everything is quite convenient. My biggest challenge will be resisting all those delightful shops.”
Alex glanced down at her. “I’ve told you I’ll be happy to lend you more if you run short. We both know you can readily pay me back when you return to England. After all, you’re a very wealthy woman. I’m sure your husband left you a generous widow’s jointure.”
“You are correct. Kendall did leave me comfortable, but I hate to be more indebted to you than I already am. You have given me a lovely place to stay, and you are taking care of all our basic needs. However, I promise, if I do run short, I shall consider accepting a loan. It is time for me to put Harry to bed. He is almost asleep on his feet, and I am growing tired myself.” By this time, they were back in the house. “Thank you for showing me around. I shall see you in the morning.” Then Anissa led Harry to his room.
* * * *
Alex watched Anissa as she led Harry away. He could not help noticing the gentle sway of her generous hips as she made her way up the stairs and felt an immediate tightening in his loins.
How in the hell am I going to resist this temptation?
Every minute he spent with her, his attraction for her grew stronger. This puzzled him, since he usually found it easy to shrug off an attraction to a respectable woman. It was far too dangerous to dally with unmarried ladies. Of course, he never dallied with married ladies either. After what Pamela put him through, he refused to do that to another man. He would hate to have a woman trap him into marriage. One thing he knew for sure, Anissa had too much honor to do that. She understood how impossible it would be for them to have a marriage.
Sighing, Alex went into his grandfather’s study, poured himself a glass of whiskey, and slumped down into the chair behind the desk. He only needed to be strong for two days, and then he could leave her here and return to Baltimore. Surely, once he no longer saw her on a daily basis, he could break the obsession he had for her. He sat there drinking well into the night. He did not normally overindulge, but since Anissa had come into his life, he found himself needing the liquor so he could sleep without dreaming of her.
Thank God I leave on Sunday.
It could not be soon enough for him. Tomorrow he would make sure he did not spend any time alone with her. He wished he had not promised to take her around to meet Mrs. Moore, and then attend church with her on Sunday. He should have told her he needed to get back to Baltimore. His mother had given her a letter of introduction for Mrs. Moore, so he did not need to take her there himself. It was too late to think of that now. He had already told her he planned to stay until Sunday. Hearing the clock in the hall strike midnight, he slowly made his way up to bed.
Alex awoke early the next morning as dawn broke across the sky. He’d had a restless night; even whiskey had not kept the dreams away. He hurried through his ablutions and went out to the stable. Saddling up Blazer, he headed out into the countryside for a ride to clear his head. As he rode along, the warmth of the sun on his face and a summer breeze ruffling his shirt did a lot to calm him.
By the time he returned to the house, Alex felt much more in control. He ate breakfast with Anissa without feeling any intense desire for her. Once they finished breakfast, he excused himself. “I will be spending the mornin’ in my grandfather’s study, if you need me. We’ll go to Mrs. Moore’s house after lunch. I’m sure you need to finish settling in, so I’ll see you then.”
Alex spent a productive morning going over some reports he had with him. He kept thoughts of Anissa out of his mind for the most part, and he managed to be entertaining at lunch. On the way to Mrs. Moore’s house, he kept the conversation light, and before long, they arrived at their destination.
He helped Anissa out of the carriage, then escorted her up the sidewalk to the house and knocked on the door. A tall, thin black woman of middle years opened the door. He gave her his name and told her he would like to see Mrs. Moore. The woman showed them into the parlor and asked them to take a seat while she went to get her.
Five minutes later, Mrs. Moore entered. “Good afternoon, Alex. It’s wonderful to see you again. Is Georgia in town with you?”
“No, she isn’t,” he replied. “I’ve brought someone to meet you. This is Mrs. Carlson. She’s visiting from England. She will be staying at Meadow Grove for a few months. I hope you’ll make her feel welcome and introduce her to some of the other ladies in town.”
Smiling pleasantly at Anissa, Mrs. Moore said, “It’s delightful to meet you. I wish my daughter were here so I could introduce you to her, but Melissa has gone for a drive this afternoon. What brings you here from England?”
Anissa hesitated, looking a bit overwhelmed. They had not discussed how to explain why she had come to America. Alex spoke up. “Mrs. Carlson lost her husband last fall and decided she needed to get away. When my mother met Mrs. Carlson and learned of her desire to see Washington City, she offered her the use of Meadow Grove for her stay in America, since it’s nearby.”
“I’m so sorry for your loss, Mrs. Carlson,” Mrs. Moore replied. “I can understand your need to get away. I lost my husband three years ago, and I know how difficult it can be. I’ll be happy to show you around. I’ve been invited to a reception for Senator William Cary Nicholas on Wednesday. I would love for you to attend as my guest.”
Anissa smiled. “Thank you, Mrs. Moore, but I don’t want to impose.”
Mrs. Moore laughed as she assured Anissa, “You won’t be imposing. The senator’s a widower and his daughter, Alice, is his hostess. Senator Nicholas has leased the old Montgomery estate, and his daughter is new to the area. She’s a bit shy. She’d be grateful to meet someone closer to her age.”
“If you’re sure I shan’t be imposing—then yes, I will be happy to go with you.”
“Good. I’ll be around to pick you up at seven. Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey are holding it out at their place. I’m sure you’ll find Mrs. Ramsey delightful. Can I offer you some refreshments?”
Alex stood and intervened. “No, thank you, Mrs. Moore. Mrs. Carlson needs to get back to her son. I appreciate your willingness to introduce her to other ladies in the area. I’m sure we will see you at church in the mornin’.” Turning to Anissa, he helped her up, and after taking their leave, he escorted her out to the carriage.
On the short drive back to Meadow Grove, Alex groaned. “When she asked you why you’d come to America, I had to think fast. We never discussed it, and to be honest with you, I didn’t think about her being curious.”
“I couldn’t think of anything to tell her. The excuse you gave her was brilliant. I could
never have come up with something so plausible on the spot like that.”
After they returned to the house, Alex excused himself and returned to the study. Anissa went to find Harry, so she could take him outside in the garden to play. The rest of the day went smoothly, and he avoided spending any time alone with Anissa. All he had to do was get through breakfast and church in the morning, and then he could leave.
The next morning, Alex took another early morning ride. He had passed a fairly restful night, but he still had the morning and midday meal to get through. When he arrived back at the house, he cleaned up and went down to breakfast. Anissa and Harry joined him.
As Anissa sat down, she asked, “Did you have a good night’s sleep? I did. I enjoy the clean country air so much better than the dreadful smells of the city. I feel much safer here than I felt so close to Baltimore. I’m sure Lord Howard shan’t find us here.”
After taking a bite of his fried eggs, he replied, “I’m glad you feel safe. I’m sure Mrs. Moore will help keep you entertained. It’s quite an honor to go to a reception for the senator. I haven’t met him yet, but he’s from the same party I support. The other party believes in a large central government to run our nation, and I believe the individual states can do a better job handling state issues.”
Anissa sat down her teacup. “I do find your country’s method of government so interesting. This is truly a nation of equality. I have even noticed women have more rights here than in England. If England allowed women more freedom, Lord Howard would not have become Harry’s legal guardian, I would have been, and none of this would have happened.”
He leaned forward and touched her hand. “I don’t want you worrying about Lord Howard and his guardianship. I’m confident Barrington will help you.” He glanced down at his watch. “If we’re going to get to church on time we need to leave soon. Why don’t I meet you in the entry hall in ten minutes?”
“As you wish. I will take Harry upstairs and clean him up a bit. I shall meet you there.”
When they arrived at church, Alex ushered them to one of the pews up front, and they took a seat. Father Muller gave an inspiring sermon, and he enjoyed the rousing hymns. It reminded him of the services he had attended with his grandfather when he was younger. Not a particularly religious man, he did not attend church on a regular basis, being at sea so much of the year. Now, he could attend more often, since he would no longer be commanding a ship. That would be good for Melanie.
After church ended, he introduced Anissa to the rector and his wife, and Mrs. Moore introduced her to several other ladies. Knowing she would already know a few ladies relieved him. He could relax and not worry about her as much. Not that it was his place to worry over her well-being anyway, but for some reason, he felt protective of her and Harry. Thank God he was leaving, because he was feeling far too possessive over someone with whom he had no intention of ever having a romantic relationship with.
Lucy had dinner ready when they returned from church, and again, they enjoyed an excellent meal. Alex ate a hearty portion so he could make it back to Baltimore without having to take time to eat along the way.
Anissa accompanied him to the stable, and after he had Blazer saddled and ready to go, he turned to her. “I’m not sure when I’ll return, but I’ll write to you if I have any news. Enjoy the reception Wednesday night. I have a long ride ahead of me, so I need to get on the road. Take care of yourself and if you need anything, write me.”
Then, unable to resist, he pulled her into his arms and gave her a gentle kiss. He kept control of himself and ended the kiss without letting it become too passionate. He released her, mounted his horse, and rode off.
Once he was on the open road, he let Blazer go and galloped toward Baltimore. If the weather held out, he should reach it by eight o’clock. He hoped so, because he did not care to ride much past dark. However, since it was late in June, it should not get dark until well after eight anyway.
Thank God I made it through the weekend without losing control.
Now that he was away from her, he should be able to get his equilibrium back. He did not like feeling so unsettled. Anissa might be a beautiful and caring woman, but they were not meant to be. He had to find a way to break the obsession he had with her.
Alex made good time and reached Baltimore shortly before nine o’clock. He went to Bridges’ house to find out if anything had happened while he was gone.
Bridges opened his door and grinned. “Glad to see you back. Did you get Mrs. Carlson to Meadow Grove without mishap?”
“Yes,” he replied, “She should be safe. I introduced her to the rector at my grandfather’s church and one of my mother’s friends, so she would know someone in Alexandria. Do you want to go get something to eat? I haven’t eaten since I left Meadow Grove at one.”
Bridges shrugged his shoulders. “I’ve already eaten, but I’ll be happy to go with you, if you’d like. We can talk about some issues that have arisen. There are some problems procuring the tobacco and cotton for our next run. I need you to negotiate with Reynolds for a lower price. You’re better at that than I am.”
Alex clapped Bridges on the shoulder, reassuring him, “Don’t worry, I’ll get Reynolds down to a fair price. Let’s head over to the Harbor Inn. I’m cravin’ some good crab legs and lobster. No one has fresh seafood like the Harbor does.”
After enjoying an excellent meal, they parted company with his promise to talk to Reynolds the next day. Tired from his journey, he headed home to get a good night’s sleep, so he would be sharp for the negotiations the next day. Reynolds, a contrary old devil, pulled out his tricks every time they tried to procure his tobacco and cotton. He wished they could find another distributor, but Reynolds had the best quality, and they needed those goods for their next run.
By the time he arrived home, he was falling asleep in the saddle. He unsaddled Blazer, gave him some oats. When he made it to his room, he fell into his bed without even removing his clothes. As he closed his eyes, the image of Anissa’s face drifted across his mind.
God, I’m already missing her.
Surely, now that he was away from her, this fixation would leave him. It had to, or he would go mad. He just needed to keep himself too busy to think about her. Finally, exhaustion took over and he slipped into a troubled sleep.
Chapter Ten
After Alex departed, Anissa felt a bit lost without him. This would be the first time he had not been with her since she begged passage on his ship. While not in her presence all the time, he had still been close by, and she had seen him every day. Now she did not know when she would see him again. He had not told her precisely when he might return. However, he had promised to send word if he had any news. She straightened her shoulders, determined to forget him.
Putting him out of her mind, she went to find Harry. Time weighed heavily on her all afternoon. She tried to fill it by playing with her son, but her thoughts kept returning to Alex. Even though there could be nothing between them, in the deepest recesses of her mind she greatly feared she had already given him her heart.
No, I cannot accept this.
I do not love Alex.
It was only natural to miss him. She had become somewhat dependent on him. After all, he had come to her aid in her time of need, giving her and her son a safe harbor, so to speak. What she felt for him was gratitude for what he had done for her. Yes, that was it, gratitude.
Since it was time for supper, she called Harry and took him inside. After they ate, she found a book of children’s stories in the library and spent the rest of the evening reading to him. At half past eight, she took her son upstairs and put him to bed.
Once he fell asleep, Anissa returned to the library to find something to read. Finding a book on the pilgrims who traveled to America, she took it back upstairs. Settling back against her pillows, she opened the book and began reading. While she found the story fascinating, her eyes grew heavy. Finally, she lost the battle and fell asleep as the book slipped from he
r hands.
Anissa awoke refreshed the next morning, returned to her usual cheerful attitude. She hurried through her toilette and once ready, she made her way to Harry’s room and gently awoke him. “Good morning, sleepyhead. Are you going to sleep the day away?”
While he stretched and wiped the sleep from his eyes, he muttered, “Morning, Mama. What are we doing today? Can we take a ride on Buttercup? I want to go ’sploring.”
“I don’t see why not.” She smiled down at him. “As soon as you get dressed and eat breakfast, we shall go for a nice, long ride. Does that meet with your approval?”
Harry jumped out of bed and ran to get his clothes. “Great, I’ll be ready fast.” Anissa laughed as she watched him button up his shirt, crooked as usual. He never seemed to be able to line up his buttons correctly.
“Here let me help.” After putting his buttons to right, she took his hand, and they made their way downstairs to the dining room, where they ate an enormous breakfast of pancakes and sausages.
Soon they headed out to the open countryside. Before long, Anissa came upon a pond, so they stopped to enjoy the peaceful morning. As the temperature climbed, their clothes grew damp with sweat, so when Harry asked if he could go swimming, she agreed. “Be careful and do not go out too far. Stay by the edge of the pond where it is not as deep.”
“But, Mama aren’t you coming in too? Remember when we used to swim with Papa? I want you to join me.”
She hesitated as she glanced around the area. The thought of feeling the cool, refreshing water enticed her. Finding the area deserted and private, she decided it would be safe. “All right, darling.”
