A SEAL's Oath (SEALs of Chance Creek Book 1) (31 page)

“If ever,” Jericho whispered to Boone.

“Excuse me, ma’am. A ball?” Greg asked.

“That’s right. Surely you’ve heard of them.”

“Um… yes, but—”

“Good. First things first. A seamstress will arrive in about an hour to measure you for your ball attire, but meanwhile, you gentlemen must learn to dance. I’ve been too long in the provinces to imagine you know anything about it.”

More than one man shot Boone a confused and then pleading look, but Boone remained impassive as Maud paired the men up with female partners. Boone, Jericho, Clay and Walker joined them to make a long line. The women stood several feet away in a parallel one. He’d hoped the dances would be easy, but he quickly found out they weren’t. He and Jericho crashed head-on during one particularly lively dance. They weren’t the only ones. The men, who’d all mastered specialized equipment as well as scads of highly technical information and tactics during their service, were little accustomed to formal dancing, except for Harris Wentworth, who’d evidently taken lessons as a boy.

Once they saw how seriously Boone and his friends were treating the lesson, the recruits stopped complaining and buckled down to learn. There was some subtle vying for the chance to pair off with Angelina, but the dance instructor must have been used to that and allowed none of the men to get the upper hand.

As for the men, Boone was happy to see that apart from some consternation at the difficulty of mastering the formal steps, they betrayed no impatience with the activity. He’d judged his candidates well. They were professionals acting in a professional manner.

By the time they left the Russells’ place, after a delicious dinner of roast lamb and duck a l’orange, however, the men couldn’t contain their curiosity.

“Are you ever going to explain what that was all about?” Greg said as they milled around outside the bunkhouse.

“That was about tactics,” Boone said, loudly enough for all the men to hear. “See that house?” He pointed to the warm lights emanating from the manor up on top of its rise of ground. “It’s full of women. We’re going to take it by storm, but we won’t launch a direct assault. Instead, we’ll lure its inhabitants out before we pounce.”

“How are we going to do that?” Harris asked.

“And more importantly, why?” Greg added.

“By attending Maud Russell’s ball and dancing with them. Look around. What’s missing in this community?”

“Houses,” Greg said.

“Food,” Harris said.

“Women,” Angus roared. The others laughed.

“That’s right.” Boone turned toward the manor again. “Our community needs women. Tomorrow we launch a successful campaign to win some.”

Angus led a cheer that split the night. Boone wondered if Riley had heard and if she knew what was coming for her.

“I would have
thought a ball gown would be more opulent,” Win said, holding out the skirts of her new dress and craning her neck to see the full effect.

“This is an extremely opulent gown by Regency standards,” Alice Reed said through a mouthful of pins.

“And we’re extremely grateful you were able to find us all gowns at such short notice,” Riley rushed to say to the seamstress. Thank goodness Regan had recommended her on their first visit to the Hall. The young woman had turned out to be very accomplished.

“I do look attractive in this,” Win said. She turned around and looked back over her shoulder at the large pedestal mirror Riley had positioned in the parlor for their final fittings.

“I didn’t have to look very far,” Alice said. “I have a whole carriage house full of period dresses. Chance Creek doesn’t host enough costume parties to keep up with me.”

“I heard you design clothes for the re-enactments in the summer.”

“I do. Luckily for you I have a score of British Redcoat costumes, too. I thought maybe the men in town would want to re-enact the revolution at some point, but apparently that wouldn’t be historical. There wasn’t even a Montana during Revolutionary times.” Alice waved a hand. “I think that’s silly. If they can travel in time, why can’t they travel in location? They could pretend they’re in Massachusetts for a day, couldn’t they?”

“Since I’ve placed a Regency manor in Montana, I won’t argue with your logic,” Riley said. “You do such wonderful work. Why don’t you sell your costumes on the Internet?”

“Oh, the Internet.” Alice gave an expressive shrug. “Bah.”

Win turned on her. “If you have the inventory you say you do, you could make a fortune.”

Her sudden interest in the conversation animated her features, and for the first time Riley saw the woman Win could be. She’d learned from Andrea that Win was also supposed to get married soon. She’d quit her job recently to prepare for her wedding. “It’s going to be five times more glamorous than mine will,” Andrea had said with a sigh. “I don’t know why I try to compete with her.”

“I don’t know, either,” Riley had told her. “Friendship isn’t a competition.”

Andrea had merely sent her a puzzled look.

“I’m serious,” Win went on. “All you need is to set up a storefront online. It’s so simple these days. As you make your dresses, you post photos of them. And you can take special orders—you could charge a mint for those.”

When Alice didn’t respond, Win’s impatience became all too clear. “I don’t understand you at all.”

Alice didn’t take offense. “No one does,” she said simply. Riley thought that would be the end of the conversation, but after another minute, Alice added, “I suppose it’s because I have a fortune already.”

That caught everyone’s attention.

“If you have a fortune, why are you on your knees hemming my dress?” Andrea asked.

Alice sat back. “If you had a fortune, wouldn’t you do the one thing you love the most?”

Riley was impressed with Alice’s wisdom. She hadn’t known her when they were young. She suspected she was only three or four years older than Alice, but she didn’t remember her hanging around with the other kids in town.

She quizzed the seamstress about that later while Alice packed up her sewing kit and was preparing to leave. Riley detained her by the front door. “How come I never met you all those summers I spent here in Chance Creek when I was younger?”

Alice gave a private smile. “My sisters and I had an unusual childhood. We didn’t leave the ranch too much. We’re more social now.”

“I’m glad. And I understand completely what you said about sewing. If I had a fortune I’d do nothing but paint and ride.” She glanced around her. “And invite people to my Regency B&B when it opens.”

Alice gave her a sudden hug. “I’m glad you came back to Chance Creek.”

“Me, too.”

Five minutes later, Riley met up with Nora on the landing halfway up the stairs. “You look beautiful.”

Nora did. Her updo was threaded with a chain of pearls and her gown was a dark wine red that set off her complexion. Its sleeves were short and her neckline plunging, but long white gloves covered her arms past her elbows.

Nora put a hand on Riley’s arm. “You know, I haven’t said thank you.”

“For what?”

“For bringing us here—for insisting that I join you.”

“You seemed pretty set on getting back to your old life just recently.”

“I do intend to find a way back to teaching someday, but you offered me a haven here, and I’m better for it. Let’s face it; I can’t help anyone if I’m dead. I keep feeling like I should have stayed with my class, even if I did receive threats, but what if that student had followed through? My life would be over and so would his. That wouldn’t help anyone.”

“What made you finally change your mind?”

Nora looked sheepish. “Something felt different from the moment I got here, but it took me a long time to realize what it was. I was… lonely… in Baltimore after my mother passed away. I think whoever was stalking me fed on that loneliness along with my fear. I would never feel afraid like that here at Westfield. Being near you and Savannah and Avery makes me stronger.”

For the second time in short succession Riley found herself in a warm embrace. She hugged Nora back. “I’m so glad you’re here. I hope we find a way for you to stay for a long, long time.”

“There’s one more thing.” When Nora pulled back, her eyes were shining. “I called my old school yesterday during my cell phone time and told them exactly why I had to walk away. I called the school board next and then the local papers. I hope that by bringing attention to the conditions teachers like me work in, the community and government will see something has to change. Now that’s done, I’m ready for a new challenge. There must be someone who needs me in Chance Creek.”

Riley knew she meant children to teach, but her thoughts strayed to Clay. There certainly was someone in Chance Creek who needed Nora. If only Fulsom hadn’t made things impossible between them.

“Meet you downstairs in fifteen minutes?”

“You bet.”

“I look like
a fool.” Boone surveyed himself in a mirror he’d had set up in one corner of the bunkhouse and frowned. Knee breeches and hose were a horrible invention. No wonder they’d been consigned to the trash heap of time.

“You look like a dashing young officer,” Jericho corrected. “The women will swoon all over you. Or so says Maud.”

“Anyway, we’re all in this together,” Clay said, coming to stand next to them.

“Did we lose any recruits yet?” Boone asked him. He wouldn’t be surprised if one or two had slipped away.

“None so far. They’re being good sports about it all.”

“Angus said it beats basic training,” Jericho added.

“What about Walker? Did we lose him?” Boone hadn’t seen the man in hours.

“I’m here.” When Walker entered the bunkhouse, Boone had to grin. What would the women of Regency England have thought of their fearless leader? He cut an impressive figure, his dark, brooding looks set off by the scarlet uniform.

“I don’t think I can remember any of those dances,” Clay complained.

“The steps will come back to you.” At least Boone hoped so. Otherwise he was screwed. “Ready?”

“Let’s go,” Walker said. “James is out front.”

In an attempt to be true to the period, they’d accepted James’ offer to convey them to Coldfield Cottage in his barouche, and the recruits were to ride in the town carriage. Boone suppressed a smile when he spotted the throng of Redcoats outside of the bunkhouse. Together they did a credible job representing one of Her Majesty’s regiments.

“I’d get drummed out of my clan if they saw me in this gear,” Angus called out as he boarded the cart. “No one better take any photographs.”

“No worries; there weren’t any cameras in Jane Austen’s time. I think you’re safe,” Boone told him.

“Thank God,” someone else muttered. “I’d never live this down.”

They arrived at Coldfield to find Maud and James in the front hall waiting for them.

“Come in,” Maud cried. “Right on time. I love punctuality in my guests. Go on into the ballroom and introduce yourselves. We don’t stand on ceremony here.”

Boone had thought they were to arrive before the women, so he was surprised by Maud’s words, but the press of men behind him pushed him forward toward the ballroom. When he walked inside he was stunned to see that the Russells had drawn quite a crowd to their festivities.

The room was transformed with garlands and flowers, and the light of hundreds of candles cast a warm glow over the assembled guests. Men and women gathered in knots, greeting each other and chattering as if they knew each other well. Boone wondered where they’d all come from.

“The Regency Society,” James boomed in his ear when he appeared suddenly by Boone’s side. “It’s a national group of like-minded people, don’t you know. Montana and the Dakotas have a stronger membership than you might imagine. All too happy to come on a moment’s notice for the chance to go to a ball. You should see upstairs; people pitching camp in every nook and cranny!”

James’ happiness was palpable and Boone decided not to focus on the waste of fossil fuel. He hoped a few of the guests had carpooled, at least. “I think you and Maud are the most cheerful couple I know,” he told James.

“Want to know our secret?” James leaned in closer. “We decided long ago to become each other’s staunchest allies. There’s no pride separating us. When one of us takes up a passion, so does the other one. You should see Maud shoot for all she pretends she doesn’t. If we have a disagreement, we argue each other’s side of it as well as our own. Our first thought we each have every morning is how to make the day wonderful for the other one. Works like a charm!”

Boone was impressed. “I’ll remember that.”

“I’m off to fetch the ladies. Meanwhile, enjoy yourself.”

Boone decided to do just that. He turned to the men who had gathered behind him. “Circulate. Introduce yourselves. Remember you’re part of a regiment newly stationed at Chance Creek.”

“Is the quarry present, sir?” Angus asked, his Scottish burr as pronounced as ever.

“Not yet. But soon.” They spread out. Boone approached an elderly couple and was grateful when they immediately began to ply him with questions. Far easier to answer them than come up with his own. Still, by the time a commotion near the door told him that Riley and her guests had arrived, he’d found out that they lived in Bozeman and attended every Regency event they could find.

All thoughts of conversation fled his mind when Riley entered the room.

She was luminous in a deep blue gown and matching earrings. Something sparkled in her hair and he longed to lead her straight from the room, get her alone, undress her and make love to her again. It had been too long. When their eyes met, she smiled and Boone’s breath caught. No other woman had ever elicited such a strong physical reaction from him. He was drawn across the room as if she’d roped him and reeled him in.

When he approached she curtsied daintily. “Lieutenant Rudman.” Her downturned look made her eyelashes sweep over her cheeks and the hunger within Boone intensified.

“May I have this dance, Miss Eaton?”

“Which one?” She looked up at him, her eyes alight with mischief. “At present the music hasn’t even started.”

He cursed his confusion. How could he think straight when her breasts strained at a neckline so low as to barely contain them? “All of them.”