Chapter 12
“My, we’ve certainly made the rounds in the last two weeks, haven’t we?
” Celeste commented to no one in particular inside the swaying coach.
She began to count on her slim white fingers.
“First, of course, was Camille’s lovely welcome ball, which was a huge success by any standards, then Amy’s birthday picnic on Tuesday, followed by several dinner parties and overnight stays at the homes of some of the finest families in the Tidewater…
” She paused and pointedly regarded her brother, who was seated directly across from her ogling Susanna. “Help me, Matthew dear. What else?”
He shot her a look of chagrin. “There was the all-day musicale last Monday at the Wormeleys’—”
“Oh, yes, the one event Adam couldn’t attend because he had to catch up on his work at Briarwood,” Celeste said in a petulant voice, placing her hand possessively on Adam’s forearm.
When he continued to stare out the window without replying, she focused her attention upon Susanna, who was seated across from him, uncomfortably close to Matthew.
“I still can’t believe you refused to play the pianoforte for us, Camille, especially after how your father once boasted to my papa that you played like an angel.
And don’t tell me that you’re just too shy to perform in public.
You’ve blossomed into the belle of the Tidewater since your ball, so that excuse doesn’t count any longer. ”
Exasperated because she had already explained herself to Celeste several times, Susanna nonetheless kept her voice light as she repeated her excuse. “Papa highly exaggerated my skills. I’m really not very good, despite what he must have said.”
Not good was an understatement, she thought, trying to ignore how Celeste was caressing Adam’s sleeve. She couldn’t play a note. Recalling how unpleasant it had felt to be pressured in front of so many people, she resolved again never to attend any more musicales.
“Well, I don’t know if I believe you,” Celeste replied airily, snaking her arm through Adam’s as she said to him in a playful aside, “Do you?”
“If Miss Cary says she doesn’t play well, then I believe her,” he answered, the tightness along his jaw showing that he wasn’t happy with Celeste’s increasingly frequent gestures of familiarity.
“Oh, you would, seeing as Camille’s your employer,” the redhead retorted, then she blithely changed the subject, counting once more upon her fingers.
“Let’s see, after the musicale there was the card party Wednesday at the Dandridges’, a boat ride on the James and that wonderful two-night stay with the Fitzhughs’, a barbeque at our house on Saturday, services yesterday at the parish church, and now today, a trip into Yorktown to visit the shops.
” She meaningfully kneed her brother, who was staring at Susanna with a look of rapt admiration.
“Do you have any suggestions as to what we might do tomorrow, Matthew? We have several events to choose from or we could find our own amusement.”
“Well—”
“Actually, I’d like to spend the day at home,” Susanna interrupted him, more weary of Matthew’s incessant company and moon-eyed, worshipful glances than she could ever say.
When Celeste and her brother looked equally surprised and crestfallen, she hastily added, “I’ll see you again on Wednesday.
That is, Mr. Thornton and I” —she glanced at Adam, who was smiling his approval in that warm, intimate fashion that never failed to fluster her, then she skipped her gaze back to Celeste— “since we’re all attending the horse races together at the Tates’.
I need some time to rest. We’ve been so busy, traveling so much… ”
“No, you just want some time to decide which of your suitors you’re going to take seriously, isn’t that right, Camille?” Celeste said, arching a slim russet brow. “You certainly have enough of them.”
“I don’t know what you mean,” Susanna answered, acutely aware that Adam’s smile had suddenly faded.
“Oh, come now, you don’t fool me. You know that you’ll have a riot on your hands if you don’t make up your mind soon.
Why, you’re making all the unmarried girls in the Tidewater as jealous as peahens.
” She gave Adam’s arm a light squeeze, smiling up at him.
“Except me, of course.” She sobered a little, darting a sympathetic glance at her brother.
“I think you’re making Matthew a little jealous, too. ”
“Celeste…”
She ignored her brother’s embarrassed entreaty and rushed on.
“I do believe today was the first time he didn’t have to compete with anyone else for your attention, and especially not the honorable Mr. Spencer.
Yorktown must have been a bit too far of a drive for him from Raven’s Point.
” Her forehead crinkled into a frown. “I really don’t know what attracts you to him, Camille.
Oh, he might be rich and handsome and have a seat on the governor’s council, but he’s so old! ”
As Adam noticeably tensed, his expression growing thunderous, Susanna wished Celeste would swallow a fly or choke on her foolish tongue, anything to cease her endless chatter.
How much longer would she be able to stall Adam’s desire to publicly announce his courtship of her, when Celeste continually made it a point to comment upon Dominick’s presence at most of their outings?
She could sense Adam’s frustration growing with each passing day, and these little barbs didn’t help.
She couldn’t have been more relieved when the Grymes’s coach turned onto her drive, and the Cary mansion appeared through the trees.
“Are you sure we can’t persuade you to join us tomorrow?” Celeste asked, directing her pouty question more at Adam than at Susanna. “Perhaps just you and I could meet—”
“Sorry, Celeste. There’s a lot of work I have to get done before Wednesday,” he said, cutting her off brusquely, then climbing from the carriage as soon as it jolted to a halt.
As he assisted Susanna to the ground and unloaded her few packages, Matthew jumped down, too, and stood awkwardly next to her.
“I had a wonderful time today, Miss Cary. I’m glad you liked the music box I bought for you.”
“It was too generous a gift,” Susanna said, holding the prettily wrapped box. “You shouldn’t have.”
Matthew shrugged self-consciously, a blush creeping over his chubby cheeks. “I wanted to.”
“I’ll treasure it, then. Thank you, Matthew.”
His neck turned bright red against the abundant white frills at his throat. “Yes…uh, well, good-bye, Miss Cary. We’ll see you on Wednesday morning. Would nine o’clock be too early?”
“No, that will be fine.”
Adam’s voice held barely concealed irritation. “Good-bye, Matthew. You two had better head home. There’s only an hour left before dark.”
Nodding, the young planter reboarded the carriage. Both he and his sister waved from the windows as it clattered around the drive.
“Good-bye, Adam!” Celeste called out, boldly throwing him a kiss. “I can hardly wait until Wednesday!”
“Nor can I,” he muttered sarcastically.
Deciding it was best to pretend not to hear him, Susanna picked up the largest package, which contained a new straw hat she planned to wear at the horse races.
“I’ll carry that for you,” Adam said, their hands brushing as he took the round box from her and gathered up her two smaller parcels.
“Thank you,” she murmured, unsettled by even the slightest physical contact with him. He hadn’t touched her since his good-night kiss yesterday, which was quite enough temptation for her weakening defenses.
She had come to dread that intimate ritual when he escorted her to her room on the evenings they spent alone at Briarwood.
His embraces, sometimes passionate, sometimes achingly tender, never failed to unleash within her desires she had been desperately trying to keep under control.
She had told herself a thousand times she wasn’t falling in love with him, nor he with her, but when he held her in his arms, nothing made sense anymore.
Thank God she had made up her mind to marry Dominick Spencer, Susanna thought as they walked to the house, Adam strangely silent beside her.
She wanted this increasingly disturbing relationship to end.
She had yet to visit Raven’s Point, but now she considered that a mere formality.
During the past two weeks Dominick had more than shown her that he was the kind of gentleman of whom Lady Redmayne would have approved.
He had been very well received by all of her hosts, indicating to her that he was highly respected.
Everything she had heard from him and others about Raven’s Point had convinced her that he would be able to support her without any assistance from her own inheritance, and her marriage to one of the governor’s close advisors certainly wouldn’t damage the Cary reputation.
She wasn’t in love with him, but that had never been an issue.
And she didn’t mind that he was much older than she was, despite what Celeste might think.
Dominick possessed a mature and elegant manner that was altogether lacking in the younger planters she had met.
He was so attractive and charming and generous, she couldn’t help but believe she would be content with him, just as Lady Redmayne had said
“Did you have a nice time in Yorktown, Miss Camille?”
Nudged from her reverie by Ertha’s friendly question, Susanna smiled at the housekeeper, who was holding open the front door for them.
“Yes, I did,” she replied, although it was a half-truth.
Having Matthew follow her around all day like a besotted puppy hadn’t been pleasant, and Celeste’s constant flirting with Adam had defied Susanna’s best efforts to remain unaffected by her niggling, irrational jealousy. Still, she had enjoyed the shopping.