Chapter 27
“It’s almost nine o’clock, my love. Though I would like nothing more than to remain here in bed with you all morning, I have to leave for Williamsburg.”
Stubbornly pretending she hadn’t heard him, Susanna snuggled closer against Adam’s broad chest. She inhaled his warm, musky scent, still basking in the sensual afterglow of their gentle lovemaking.
His tender kisses and caresses this morning and last night, after they had returned together from the stable, had been like a soothing tonic to her bruised body.
Wondrously enough, her head hardly ached at all anymore.
Love held such incredible power to heal.
She shivered deliciously when he pressed his lips to her temple.
“Did you hear me, Susanna?” He chuckled softly when she shook her tousled head, but his voice held an edge of seriousness as he lightly stroked the small of her back. “You know that what I have to do cannot wait for another day.”
“Oh, Adam, I know,” she said, “but I don’t want to be apart from you, not even for a minute. Why won’t you let me go with you?”
“I’ve already told you a dozen times, love,” he murmured, kissing her brow. “The physician stated quite emphatically that you must remain in bed for a few days, at the very least until he visits again tomorrow.”
“But I’m fine, other than a little pain right here…
oooh! “ She sucked in her breath as she gingerly touched the swollen cut on the side of her head. If she had wanted to prove to him that she was feeling better, that wasn’t the way to do it.
“I ran to the stable last night without any ill effects,” she added hastily.
“And saw to your needs quite adequately when we returned…as I did again this morning.”
“More than adequately,” Adam agreed with a roguish smile, “but a long and bumpy carriage ride would be far more tiring than the gentle ride we just shared.” When she opened her mouth to protest, he put his finger to her lips.
“Shhh, now. No more arguments.” He sobered, his eyes staring into hers.
“You’ll have your chance to speak to the magistrate soon enough, maybe even tonight if he’s willing to accompany me back to Briarwood. ”
If you come back to Briarwood, Susanna thought unhappily as he fell silent, purposely avoiding the darker issue that they had already discussed, the slim chance that they both might spend the night in prison.
Instead he kissed her soundly on the mouth and then, tossing back the covers, left their bed, grimacing as he put weight on his wrapped ankle.
“You shouldn’t have jumped, Adam,” she chided him softly, having heard the explanation for his pronounced limp and his bandaged hand last night on their way back from the stable.
“It seemed the thing to do at the time,” he tossed back in a lighter tone, although his ruggedly handsome features had become somber, his thoughts already upon the day’s coming events.
Almost to himself, he added, “I don’t need this anymore,” and undid the bandage around his knuckles.
Then, flexing his stiff fingers, he walked to the washbasin where he began his morning ablutions.
Chilled by the cool breeze wafting in a nearby window, the cloudy morning portending rain, Susanna drew the covers over her breasts and watched him raptly, marveling at his physical beauty.
The scars he bore only heightened his masculinity in her eyes, and despite his disfigured flesh she could see the amazing play of sinewed muscle across his powerful back and shoulders as he washed and shaved.
Even more amazing was the wonderful harmony between them and the utter contentment she felt in knowing that he loved her and she loved him.
It was a dream come true, no matter the pall still hanging over their happiness.
She had to believe that everything would work out.
Otherwise she couldn’t bear his leaving her to make the journey to Williamsburg alone.
“Remember not to say anything to the servants about what’s taking place today,” Adam reminded her as he tied his thick mahogany hair into a queue and hastily dressed.
“Ertha is the only one who knows I’m seeing the magistrate and why, and I’ve asked her to keep the news to herself until we receive the court’s ruling.
If all goes well, there’s always the chance that we might be allowed to stay on at Briarwood to run things until Lady Redmayne decides what she wants to do with the property, which could be months from now.
At least that way life here will bear some semblance of normalcy until the inevitable sale of land and slaves begins. ”
Sickened by the thought, Susanna murmured, “Oh, Adam, I wish there was something we could do for them.”
“I know. So do I,” he replied grimly, coming back by the bed to pull on the coat he had left draped over the divan.
“If we’re granted leave to remain here, I plan to do everything in my power to see that they’re sold to honorable men and that those who are free are able to find new positions.
Other than that, there isn’t much else we can do.
” Reaching into a pocket, he pulled out his pistol and proceeded to check it carefully.
“Why do you still need that?” she queried in alarm.
“Until that bastard Spencer is in prison, I’m not going to take any chances,” Adam answered, returning the ornate weapon to his coat.
“Now I am frightened,” she admitted, flinging her arms around his neck as he sat beside her on the bed.
“Don’t be, my love,” he said, brushing a kiss on her cheek. “Everything will work out. You must trust that I know what I’m doing.”
“I do trust you, Adam—” She stopped abruptly, remembering something. Searching his eyes, she asked, “Did you ever send a reply to Dominick’s letter? You’ve never said anything about it.”
“Don’t trouble yourself with these details, Susanna,” he replied almost evasively. “Now I want you to lie back” —he pushed her gently onto the pillows— “and rest as the physician ordered. Will you promise me to do this?”
Sighing reluctantly, she nodded.
“Good. I might not be back until late, so don’t feel you must wait up for me—”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Adam Thornton!” she said with feigned annoyance, tears smarting her eyes.
“Of course I’ll be waiting up for you.” As he bent to kiss her, his lips so warm and passionate upon her own, her arms flew around him again and she hugged him fiercely, not wanting to ever let him go.
“I love you,” she whispered against his mouth, her heart full to bursting when he fervently echoed her words.
Then he was pulling away from her, caressing the side of her face as he rose from the bed.
“Rest now. I’ll have Corliss bring you something to eat.”
Her throat too tight to speak, she could only watch him stride from the room…leaving her alone, to wait.
“Lord, it’s so good to see you awake, Mistress Camille,” said Corliss, her expression strangely subdued, although her dark eyes showed relief as she set the breakfast tray upon the bedside table.
“You sure struck a fear in me when I saw you yesterday so still and pale in Master Thornton’s arms and your head bleeding like it was.
I thought we’d lost you. I almost fainted myself. ”
“No, I’m still here,” Susanna replied quietly, feeling deep regret as she was reminded by the way Corliss had addressed her that the maid had no idea of what was going to happen today.
Wishing she could say something to prepare the young woman for what might lie ahead, Susanna nonetheless squelched the impulse, knowing Adam had asked her not to.
Corliss seemed upset about something already anyway, and she didn’t want to add to her waiting-maid’s worries.
She rose to a sitting position and settled into the pillows Corliss fluffed and then propped for her against the headboard.
“I saw you frowning just now, Mistress Camille. Are you having a lot of pain?”
“No, only a little,” Susanna said, although in truth her head seemed to be hurting her more now that Adam had left.
She reasoned that her apprehension was probably making it so, combined with missing him terribly.
He had been gone only half an hour, but it felt like forever, the ticking clock and the relentless sound of rain pelting against the windows making it impossible to sleep.
“Well, Prue’s herb tea should make you feel better,” Corliss murmured, pouring the steaming liquid into a delicate porcelain cup and handing it rather shakily to Susanna, spilling some over the rim into the saucer.
“Corliss, what’s wrong?” she asked, taking the cup before any hot tea sloshed on her.
“Nothing…nothing at all,” the maid blurted a bit too hastily, wiping her hands on her starched apron as she surveyed the tray. “Let’s see now…there’s two poached eggs here for you, a slice of honey ham, a basket of wild blueberry muffins, and some of Prue’s cinnamon butter.”
Wondering if perhaps Corliss had heard something from Ertha, which might account for her odd behavior, Susanna set the cup on the table and touched the maid’s arm. “Corliss, I know you. You’re not acting like yourself this morning.”
“I didn’t sleep well last night, Mistress Camille, worrying about you and all.
But I know I’ll get over it soon, just seeing how much better you are.
” The maid uncovered the plate and, adding a few plump muffins from the basket, handed it to Susanna.
“You should eat now, before it gets cold. Meanwhile, I’ll go fetch you some nice hot water so’s you can bathe. ”
“You don’t have to rush.” Susanna glanced out the window. “The rain’s coming down harder now. Why don’t you wait until it lets up a little?”
“Oh, don’t you worry none about that. I’ve got a kitchen boy waiting for me downstairs with a big umbrella.”
Heaving a soft sigh as Corliss hurried around the bed to fetch the pitcher from the washbasin, Susanna bit thoughtfully into a muffin. Something was troubling her maid. But what?