An Officer but No Gentleman (19 page)

He unbuttoned his pants. “You’re not going to say anything like that in front of my mother are you?”

“Of course not. At least not on purpose.”

Jaxon stripped his bottom half dow
n to his unmentionables then sat down on the bed with pillows propping him up.  He hadn’t lied.  It was ugly.  There was a large chunk of muscle missing from his thigh.  The scar was deep and extended almost the entire length of his thigh.  Charlie didn’t need to know what her own burn looked like to recognize this wound had been burned to seal it.

“It was cauterized?” she asked.

“Aye.”

She pushed up the leg of his drawers to get a better look.

“Show me where it’s hurting.”

“Here and here, mostly.”  He indicated the areas running his finger along the sore spots.

“Since it’s such an old injury there’s not a whole lot I can do, but Dr. Kirk told me messaging the area can be beneficial.  I know it’ll be a little painful, but try to relax the muscles as I work them.”

She took the heel of her hand and slowly
, but firmly ran it along the length of his leg over and over.  There were spots where he seemed to grimace with each pass and she would stop there and make circles until she felt the knots give.

“I think we should do this every day for the next week and then taper down to a couple of times a week.  I think over time
, it’ll make your leg more flexible, especially if you push your limits with it a little every day.”

“It feels better already.”

“Good.  I’m going to check the water for your bath.”

“I’ll help you,” he said, moving to rise from the bed.

“I don’t need your help.  Just stay off your leg for a while.”

It took her a good ten minutes to tote the water and fill the tub.  She poured only enough cool water to make it tolerable.  While she was gone he had laid out the soap and a pair of towels.

“You want to join me?” he asked unbuttoning his shirtwaist.

He could see the internal debate flashing across her face.

“I’m not ready, Jaxon.”

She knew where bathing together would lead.  But more than being nervous about the bedding, it was Jaxon seeing her without clothes on that scared her.  Although Charlie might have been comfortable with the male naked form
, she was not comfortable with her own.  If it had been nighttime and most of the lights could be dimmed, she might have taken him up on it.

“Maybe if you’re out before the water is completely cold, I’ll take one after you.”  She turned to leave so he would have privacy.

“You can stay if you want,” he said. “I brought up your dress if you want to see it.”

Indecision played across her face before a small grin emerged. “Well, I suppose you might need some help with your back.”  She gave him her back until she heard him sink into the water.  She located the basket of clothes on the dressing table and carried it to the bed where she could lay it out.

Jaxon saw her frown at the first garment she pulled out.

“Is this the dress? It looks like a sleeveless nightgown.”

“I think they call that the chemise. It goes between you and the dress.”

“Chemise.
Got it.”

Next were the drawers. She knew what they were and hid them behind the
basket so he wouldn’t see them. Then came the corset. She had heard men talk about corsets, but she’d never seen one. “How does this thing work?”

“Laces in the back, over the chemise.  The narrow part goes at your waist,” he said noticing she was holding it upside down.

She set it aside and pulled out a pair of bloomers.  “How nice.  She sent me and extra pair of unmentionable.”

“Actually those are bloomers.  They go over your unmentionables.”

“Indeed?”

Next came the crinolines. “My hea
vens how many layers do I need? Do you think everyone will think I’m fat with all this on?”

“No fatter than anyone else.”

Two gossamer thin silk stockings came next.  She touched them to her cheek and began to cry.

“Are you crying?” he asked when he heard her sniffle.

“Don’t make fun of me, Jax.  You don’t know how much I wanted silk stockings.  At least once a week, I would shave the hair off my legs then run my hand over the smooth skin and pretend my legs were smooth because I was wearing silk stockings.”  She turned to him as she wiped her eyes.  “May I borrow your razor so there won’t be anything between my legs and the silk?”

It was moments like this that made him love her so much.  Something as ordinary as stockings amazed her and he wanted to discover the world through her eyes.

“What’s mine is yours.”

The next item in the basket was carefully folded in tissue paper.  It was the gown.  It was gold silk with an empire waist.  It was trimmed in
a white embroidered vine design around the round neckline. The sleeves puffed at the shoulders then gathered tightly and stopped at the elbow.  She kept wiping at her eyes as she looked at it.  Her eyes wouldn’t stop filling with tears and blurring her vision.

“It’s so beautiful.  I’m going to hate to give it back.”

“You can keep it. That was from two years ago so I know Imelia doesn’t wear it anymore. She had another baby six months ago and she’s still nursing so it doesn’t fit at all—or so she said.”

Charlie hadn’t heard Jaxon step out of the tub.  But suddenly
, he was standing next to her with a towel wrapped around his waist.

“I know I’m being silly.
You just don’t know what this means to me. No one ever asked me if I wanted to be a boy, they just started dressing me that way.”

“You’re going to look beautiful.”

He put his hand in her hair and kissed her.  “If you hurry with your bath and getting dressed, I think we can make it to the dressmaker before they close.”

“Truly?”

“Hurry.”

She reached for her shirttail to pull her shirt over her head.  “Turn around.”

“I can stay?”

“If you don’t look.  I trust you.”

It was true; she trusted him.  In some ways, she wished he would look just to have the embarrassment of that moment over with, but she knew he wouldn’t look until she offered him an invitation.

Jaxon crossed the room to a tallboy and pulled out a pair of his drawers.  He pulled them up before discarding the towel.

“May I have your razor?” she asked. 

“I don
’t know if we have time.”

“I’ll be quick.”

He walked backwards to the tub and handed her the straight razor.

“Thanks,” she said as she unfolded the blad
e.  “How does your leg feeling?”

“You did a great
job.  It really feels better—not, I hurt it today and it feels better—but better than it normally does.”

“Oh, good.  We’ll put hot towels on it every day after the message.”

She tried not to rush through shaving her legs, but couldn’t stop herself before she cut her legs several times.

“Damn.
I’m going to get blood on my new stockings.”

“It’ll wash out.  Besides
, I plan to buy you enough silk stockings to last a lifetime.”

As Jaxon finished dressing, she quickly finished washing including washing her hair.

“Jaxy,” she cooed.

“Jaxy?”

“Would you bring me a towel?”

“Only if you promise never to call me ‘Jaxy’ ever again.”

She laughed. “I promise.”

A moment later
, Jaxon stood a foot and a half from the edge of the tub. His kept his eyes closed as he held the towel in outstretched arms.  She stood up and lifted her foot over the edge of the tub, her eyes never leaving his closed ones.  She noted, because the tub was raised on feet, she was nearly exactly his height and decided to kiss him while his eyes were closed.  As she leaned forward, her foot suddenly slipped out from under her.  Charlie squealed and grabbed at his arms.  His eyes flew open as he tried to grab her.  In a blink, they were frozen in place until she could get her balance restored.  This time they held each other tightly as she stepped out.  They nearly knocked heads together as they both reached for the towel on the floor where it had been dropped.

Jaxon got it first and wrapped it around her and continued to hold it in place.

“I should have warned you how slippery that tub can be.  Are you all right?”

Her face burned scarlet and she wouldn’t meet his eyes.

“I banged my knee, but I’m fine.”

“I can feel your heart.  It’s racing."

“Aye,” was all she could manage. He could tell she was fighting tears. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“That I have such a manly body. I’m too skinny and my muscles show. I know men like round hips and big breasts and I don’t have either.”

“First of all, I barely saw anything.  Bu
t what I saw I was very nice—very nice, indeed.  If you can keep a secret….”  He leaned forward and whispered in her ear.  “I’m hard as a stone for you.”

She didn’t think her face could get any hotter
, but it did.

He pulled the towel tight and tucked one end into the other
, securing it.  “I’ll wait in the hallway until you get the chemise on then call me and I’ll help you with the rest.”

19

Twenty minutes later
, they were running down the street hand in hand.  Charlie had found a pair of shoes in the bottom of the basket, but had to put tissue paper in the toes to make them fit.  She thought they must have been quite a sight to see with Jaxon’s pronounced limp and her losing her shoes at least twice on every block.  Neither one could stop laughing the whole way.

The bell over the door jangled as they burst into the cramped shop.

“We’re closing,” called a woman from behind a curtain.

“This order will be worth staying open late.”

“Mr. Bloodworthy?” the woman questioned.  She pushed through the curtain, smiling.  The smile became fixed when she spotted Jaxon. Her eyes only darted to Jaxon’s momentarily.  “Oh,
Captain
Bloodworthy.  I thought you were your brother.”

“Grayso
n comes in here, Mrs. Jenkins?” Jaxon cast a knowing look at Charlie making her laugh.

“Mr. Bloodworthy comes in sometimes to pay your mother’s bill.”

“Of course.”

Charlie noticed immediately
the woman looked everywhere, but at Jaxon’s face.  She was obviously uncomfortable around him although she was making an effort to be friendly.

“This is my fiancée, Miss Sinclair.”  The women smiled politely and nodded.  “Miss Sinclair’s trunks were lost when she transferred to my ship and needs a complete wardrobe.”

“Oh, I was wondering why she was wearing Miss Imelia’s dress.”

“It’s so beautiful, I cried when I saw it.”

“You did?”

“She did.  You see she’s been wearing—” He low
ered his voice.  “—Breeches since she came aboard my ship.  When I say Miss Sinclair needs everything, I mean everything from the skin out, an entire week’s worth.  If it’s something my sisters have, then Miss Sinclair must have it as well.  Then we’re going to need things for special occasions.  We have to have a black mourning dress by Friday.”

“Did someone die?” Mrs. Jenkins interrupted.

“My cousin, Jimmy.”

“Miss Pru’s Jimmy?  Oh, I’m sorry.  He was so young.  How did your aunt take the news?”

“As you would expect, Mrs. Jenkins.  The service is Saturday, so we need the dress no later than Friday evening.  Do you want to write this down and have your assistant begin her measurements?”

“Of course, of course.  I just didn’t realize this order would be so extensive.  Come, my dear.”

She ushered Charlie into the back and introduced to the assistant, Mabel and returned to the front of the store closing the curtain behind her.

“Shall we choose fabrics?”

Jaxon was out of his element and he was certain that Charlie knew less of fashion than he did.  “Uh, I know she likes silk,” he said hesitantly.  This was why he wanted Imelia to accompany Charlie.  “You’ve seen her coloring and you know what’s fashionable, so until I can get Imelia in here, I’m going to trust your judgment.”

“Surely, Miss Sinclair would like to have some input if you don’t.”

“Actually,” Charlie said from behind the curtain.  “I’ve spent much of my time in the Far East of late where they wear saris and kimonos.  I haven’t an inkling what’s in fashion.” 

It wasn’t entirely untrue.  She had been to India, China and Japan
, but not recently.

“Also, she’s going to need some special occasion clothes.  I’m sure Mother will want to throw us a small engagement party.  It won’t be too fancy; the family is in mourning after all, probably something along the lines of a small dinner party, mostly family and a few of our closest friends.  It should be the first thing you work on after the daily wardrobe.  Then of course the wedding gown and veil.”

“There’s time for that.”

“We plan to marry in a month’s time.”

“Oh my.  All this in a month?”

“Hire more girls if that’s what it takes
, because I’m not finished.  She’s going with me on the ship and I want her to have a uniform of sorts:  navy blue wool skirts, not too full or too long, white high neck blouses and a navel style suit coat, double breasted with brass buttons, but short, cut off at the waist, and flannel night gowns.  A week’s worth of each.  And make sure the wool is fully lined.”

“Epaulets?”

Jaxon looked at her like she had lost her mind.  “No,” he said.  “As a matter of fact, I just changed my mind about the blouses.  Make one white and the rest different colors with short sleeves.”
              “Short sleeves?  But surely Miss Sinclair would prefer a long sleeve,” she said lowering her voice.  “One that would cover her arm.”  She made a gesture towards her own arm showing where Charlie’s scar was. The woman didn’t miss much.

“Charlie, how long do you want the sleeves on your uniform blouses?” Jaxon called out.

“If I’m still to be your surgeon’s mate, no longer than my elbow.  Jaxon, I’m not sure about skirts for all my uniforms. There may be times when they’re going to be impractical. Do you think I might have maybe two or three pairs of breeches?”

“Whatever you want, Charlie.”

“Oh, I’ll need thick aprons to protect my clothes from the blood, the kind butchers wear.”

“Got that?”

Mrs. Jenkins looked distractedly at the curtain. “Yes, sir.”

“It’s a long story, one that the family will want to hear first.”

“Of course.  Anything else?”

“You would probably know better than I.”

“Then I will think on it overnight and send you an invoice of everything.  I’m afraid an order this big will need a deposit.  Fabrics will have to be purchased.”

Jaxon reached in his pocket and pulled out a pouch containing fifteen twenty-dollar gold pieces.  “Here’s three hundred.  Just let me know if you need more.  Oh, and if you can bring tears of joy to her eyes again
, there will be a bonus.”

It was dark outside when Charlie and Jaxon left the dressmaker’s shop.  The pace was much different from the earlier run.  They continued to walk hand in hand
, but strolled around looking into the shop windows.  Jaxon pointed out places of significance; his schools, his church, and the trees where Grayson broke his arm trying to jump from one tree to another after Jaxon dared him.  He told the story with a little smirk.

When they returned, they ate the food Jaxon’s Aunt Pru sent then stayed up until the w
ee hours talking on the sofa—neither one wanting to go to their separate bedrooms.

Charlie didn’t meet the rest of the family until the funeral.  Despite her protests, Jaxon insisted she sit with the family.  Before the service began, many of his family casually turned around, their eyes always found her before turning back to the front.  Then there would be whispers.  Mostly, they smiled politely, but Charlie wondered if they were upset because she didn’t belong with the family.  She certainly hoped Grayson had not told them about how he had gotten her drunk on Scotch.  Only the twelve-year-old twin girls overtly stared at her.

“Who are they?” she whispered to Jaxon.

“The one on the right is Sloane.  The other one is Grace.” He tilted his head towards her as he spoke and smiling at the girls.

“But who are they to you? Cousins?”

“They are my youngest sisters. You do know twins can run in families.”

“You are the first twin I ever met.  How do you tell them apart?”

“It isn’t easy. They enjoy being twins and fooling people. It’s in their attitude and personality.  Sloane is the quiet one and Grace is usually the instigator.  But don’t let them know or they’ll switch on you.  The littlest Bloodworthy is sitting next to my mother.  His name is Eli and he’s ten.” 

The organist began playing ending their conversation.  Charlie made it through the memorial service without nearly the tears she shed the first time.  Grayson, who sat further down on the same pew, glanced over at her every time she wiped her eyes.  He eventually stopped when Jaxon turned and glared at him.

After the ceremony, as the people lingered in the churchyard, Jaxon introduced Charlie to his Aunt Pru.

“Jaxon tells me you were with Jimmy when he passed.”

Charlie picked up Pru’s hand and moved closer to her.  “Yes, ma’am,” she said softly.

“Did he say anything?”

“No ma’am, he was unconscious when I arrived, so he couldn’t feel any pain, but I gave him a little morphine just in case.  I held his hand like I’m holding yours and I thanked him for rescuing our ship.  I told him he was a hero.  When the end was on him, I told him not to be afraid and prayed the Lord’s Prayer over him.  I don’t know if he could hear me, but I hoped he could.”

Pru’s chin and bottom lip quivered.  Suddenly, she embraced Charlie and wouldn’t let go.  Charlie wished her mother had been alive as she grew up.  Maybe then she would have an inkling of what to do.  Women were supposed to know how to comfort someone
, but Charlie stood there for a moment ramrod still.  Slowly, her arms went around Pru and just held her while she cried.

“Thank you, Charlie,” Pru said hoarsely in her ear.  “Thank you for being with him and holding his hand.”

“I wish I could have helped him.”

“Knowing he didn’t die
alone helps me.”

Pru stepped away
, but took a hold of Charlie’s hands and gave them a squeeze.   “Jaxon, I’m so glad you snagged this one.  She’s a keeper.  I’m almost not mad about what you did with Jimmy’s body when I think Charlie was what you gained.”

“Have you noticed how Grayson keeps looking at us?” Charlie asked later as the family had gathered at Pru’s home.

“He’s looking at
you
.  I think he’s waiting until I leave you alone to approach.”

“Well, maybe you should leave me alone for a minute so we can find out what he wants.”

Jaxon frowned. She didn’t know Grayson like he did. Everything Jaxon liked Grayson wanted.  Charlie was not some toy Jaxon would ever share. Jaxon gave her a peck on the cheek and reluctantly left her standing alone next to the large oak tree in the yard.  He entered the house and watched through the window sheers as Grayson made his approach.

“You are quite the little actress, aren’t you?” Grayson said snidely. “You didn’t even know our cousin so why would you cry over his death?”

“Grayson, I know this is not about Jimmy.  What do you want?”

“I want you to come to my office tomorrow morning at 8:00 o’clock.  I’ve decided to go to Charleston and help you with your inheritance.  You will need to sign some papers giving me the authority to act on your behalf.”

“Oh.”  People rarely surprised Charlie
, but this took her off guard. “You couldn’t tell me this while Jaxon was here?”

“I didn’t know if you’d told him of our conversation.  Attorney/client privilege preve
nts me from telling others what we discussed without your approval.”

“For future reference, I have no intentions
of keeping secrets from Jaxon. You can discuss these things in front of him.”

“Good, I was hoping you would say that.”  Gray
son made a mock bowing gesture. “If you’ll excuse me.”

“We’ll see you in the morning.”

Jaxon was at her side within seconds of his twin’s departure. 

“He wants me to come by his office at 8:00 tomorrow morning so I can sign some papers.  He’s going to go to Charleston to take care of my inheritance.”

“I don’t buy it.  He’s up to something,” Jaxon said frowning, looking off in the direction where Grayson had gone.

“You aren’t children anymore.”

“That is why I don’t know what he’s up to yet.  If that was all he wanted
, why didn’t he just approach you while I was with you?”

“Attorney/client privilege, he said.”

Jaxon continued to frown. Grayson never did anything without a motive. “I’m going with you in the morning.”

“Good, because that’s what I told him.”

Jaxon put his arms around her and pulled her close.  He casually looked around to make sure no one was watching, but didn’t kiss her.

“We have an audience,” he said in her ear.  “Come on.  You haven’t met Jayne yet.  You sit on one side of her and I’ll sit on the other or she’ll get away.”

Jayne sat on the edge of the porch pretending to read her book despite the fact Jaxon had seen her watching them seconds earlier.  She was a petite eighteen-year-old with the signature Bloodworthy black hair, but her eyes were vivid green.

“Hello, Jayne.  Whatcha reading?  I bet it’s something naughty like
Tom Jones
or
Moll Flanders
.”  Jaxon was nearly giddy as he teased his sister.  He began pulling at the book and she pulled back slapping at his hands.

“And what if it is?  I’m eighteen and out of the schoolroom.”