Married At Midnight (36 page)

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A deafening clap of thunder seemed to shake the large plantation house right down to its foundation, rattling windows, frightening servants, and sending dogs scurrying off the porch to find another place of shelter. Upstairs in the master bedchamber, the new mistress of Oakley came awake with a startled gasp, having been rudely snatched from the depths of sleep. Unable to recognize her surroundings, she glanced about her in confusion. The bed wherein she lay was unfamiliar, yet the place beside her had been slept in, evidenced by the rumpled bedclothes and the top sheet that had been thrown aside. A pair of dark trousers and a shirt were hanging over the door of an armoire, but she saw no sign of the one who had worn them. Lightning flashed, briefly chasing the storm-borne gloom from the room. A loud rumbling intruded into the flickering display, severing the silence with a crescendo of riveting peals that made her flinch at every horrendous crack of thunder. When the deafening din faded, delicately tinkling chimes began to play.

Charmed by the music, Raelynn sat up and swept her gaze over the unfamiliar furnishings until her eyes lit on the porcelain clock residing on the marble mantel at the far end of the room.

The fourth hour!

Raelynn gasped in dismay, realizing she had slept nearly the whole day away without putting to rest the matter that had plagued her most, the welfare of her husband. Though she had to assume he was the one who had been sleeping beside her, at least for short time, she could not rest until she saw him for herself.

A strong gust of wind swept inward through the open windows, fluttering silken panels and bringing with it a cooler breath of air. A delicate floral essence, mingled with the scent of rain, filled the chamber, drawing Raelynn from the bed. She went to stand near the window and gazed out upon a wind-swept terrain. Off in the distance she could see the rain marching across the fields toward them. With the force of the strengthening gale, it would only be a matter of moments before the storm

reached Oakley Plantation.

As predicted, the downpour came, but just as quickly it passed, leaving the air sweet and pleasantly cool

in its wake. Raelynn felt greatly refreshed by her lengthy respite, and after a careful toilette, she went downstairs to see if she could find Jeff.

The butler was hurrying across the front foyer when she reached the upper landing. He seemed in an anxious dither to escape toward the back, but he failed in his quest when she halted him with a question.

"Kingston, could you tell me where Mr. Birmingham is?"

Shame-facedly the servant turned and lifted a hand lamely toward the front of the house. "Mistah Jeff's out on the porch, Miz Raelynn. He's got a visitor, but I s'pect he'll be comin' in shortly if'n yo' wants ta wait in the parlor for him." Kingston smiled more hopefully. "I'll bring yo' some refreshments ta tide yo'

o'er 'til din. .."

An enraged scream came from the porch, squelching his offer and serving quick death to the peace of the hall.

"You had no right to marry another after you did this to me!" a woman shrieked in shrill tones. "Here I am, about to give birth to your child, and you tell me you want nothing more to do with me! I wonder what your highfalutin' friends will say when I let it be known that I'm carrying your bastard."

The suddenly flustered Kingston tried to redirect Raelynn's attention to something less disturbing than the accusations being hurled on the porch. "That was a mighty fierce storm we had for a spell, wasn't it, Miz Raelynn?"

His words might just as well have never been spoken, for they fell on ears that were completely attentive to the jeering threats that came from the porch.

"Maybe I should talk to your new wife, too, and tell her what she can expect when her back is turned!"

"You're talking nonsense, Nell, and you know it!" Jeff barked.

"Nonsense, is it?" Her tone was snide. "You didn't think it was nonsense when you took me into your bed and made love to me!"

"You little liar! You slipped into my bed like a sneak-thief in the night when I was asleep," he accused. "I may have been a bit dazed, but this much I know! I woke up before anything of this nature happened between us!"

"I'll soon be carrying proof in my arms for all the world to see that you had your way with me!" Nell muttered suddenly.

"And if the babe looks like his father, then everyone will know who fathered the poor li'l thing!"

Jeff didn't know why the girl had waited so long to make such claims except that with the birth of her child imminently near

she had perhaps begun to worry about how they would get along. "If it's money you're after, Nell, you'll not be blackmailing

me to get it," he gritted. "I won't be coerced by the threat of you spreading lies against me. If you're so destitute, go talk with the father of the babe. Perhaps he'll take pity on you and do what is right."

"I'm talking to him right now!" Nell insisted. "And you're turning a deaf ear to my pleas!"

The front door was pulled slowly open, and Jeff swung around in surprise as his wife stepped out onto the porch. For the life

of him, he couldn't wipe away his distressed frown and present for her a more noble, reassuring countenance. He was certain he looked as guilty as Nell made him out to be.

Raelynn met his gaze warily and blushed in confusion. "I couldn't help but hear with all the shouting going on."

"So!" With a cold, disdaining glare Nell marked Raelynn's progress across the porch. "This is your new woman, eh?"

Resenting her inference, Jeff stressed a correction. "This is
my wife."

"My! My! My! You are touchy nowadays, Jeffrey. But not so long ago you were calling
me
your woman."

"You're a child! Maybe fourteen! Fifteen, at the most!" he ground out. " 'Twould be a cold day in hell before I'd think of molesting a chit barely weaned!"

"Well, your missus ain't so old either!" Nell snapped with jealous rancor. Her eyes blazed as they swept the beautiful pale

green gown that Raelynn had donned. She could not deny that Cooper Frye's niece was beautiful, but if she had rich garments and a houseful of servants to wait on her, she was sure she'd be just as appealing to the only man that mattered to her. How could he stand there looking so handsome in his casual attire and not understand how desperately she wanted him for her own? Prodded by envy, she voiced her conjecture in hurt tones. "I'd look just as fetching if you'd buy me a pretty dress or two like you promised that night you planted your seed in me belly. Oh, Jeffrey, don't you see how I care for you despite the way you've used me?"

Jeff's scowl turned as black as the storm clouds that had recently passed over the land. Turning from Nell in disgust, he faced Raelynn and found her watching him with a troubled frown. It was obvious that she was upset by their exchange, yet the words that could adequately assuage her suspicions and convince her of his innocence were beyond his ken.

He knew he had a stubborn streak as wide as the sky was high and that he'd never yield to whatever it was that Nell was trying to get from him. If she wanted a job, he could probably get Farrell to hire her on as a seamstress, for she was very talented with a needle and thread, but she apparently wanted more than he was willing or able to give her.

He gathered his wife's trembling hands in his to gently kiss the back of each.
"I
beg you to believe me, my love," he murmured for her ears alone. "I'm innocent of what this girl accuses me of."

"You can turn your back on me if'n you want, Mr. Jeffrey Birmingham." Nell's voice hardened as she observed the tender attention he bestowed on his wife. "But you'll not be so high and mighty when I get through with you!"

Jeff whirled to face the pregnant woman. "Just what in the devil are you after, Nell? What do you expect from me? Do you honestly think I'll roll over like a well-trained dog and submit to the mischief you've brewed in your mind? Did I wrong you so badly when I refused your overtures and sent you away, that you must now wreak vengeance with fabrications? You and I both know what happened that night, and it was nothing that I'm ashamed of. If you were as smart as I once thought you were,you'd see how futile and feeble your lies are. There's absolutely nothing to be gained from this confrontation."

"All I'm wanting is a father for my babe," Nell insisted, "and a husband. You owe me that much."

"That's beyond my capability ... or my desire," he replied bluntly. "I'm married now...."

"You can get the vows annulled.. .."

"Noooo!"
he roared.

Nell stumbled back in sudden trepidation at the force of his denial. She hadn't imagined that the chivalrous Mr. Birmingham could react so strongly toward one of her gender. His vehemence gave her pause, to be sure. Cooper Frye had promised her fifty dollars for causing the breakup of the newly wedded couple, and with her baby coming any day now, she needed whatever money she could get her hands on. Besides, it wasn't so much the monetary rewards that had compelled her to do this thing as much as it was a dream she had once savored, and that was to become the bride of Jeffrey Birmingham.

The Irishman had looked so much like him that she had allowed herself to dream that it was Jeff making love to her. But Jeff was the one who had coldly rejected her and hauled her from his bed like a naughty child, and now she had grave doubts that he would ever change his mind about her. Indeed, she'd be lucky to leave of her own accord.

"I see you're set against doing what's right," she badgered, gathering her courage. "So I'll be leaving you to reap your just due." With a sweep of her hand she indicated the hired livery she had arrived in. "I was hoping you'd take pity on me for what you'd done and at least pay my driver for the fare out here." She dropped her gaze to her rounded belly and heaved a disconcerted sigh. "Here I am, burdened nigh to bearing, but I can see you're not in a generous mood, and certainly not when your wife is standing there listening to every word we say. I don't know what hold she has on you, but I can see that you've made up your mind, and I'll be saying no more. Goodnight to you, Jeffrey."

Pressing a hand to her distended stomach, she carefully descended the steps and approached the carriage. The driver handed her in, closed the door behind her, and then, tipping his hat politely to the couple on the porch, climbed to his seat and slapped the reins, setting his single horse into motion.

Jeff turned slowly to face his wife as the conveyance rumbled down the lane, but she moved stiffly across the porch to stand near its edge. Leaning a shoulder against a Doric column, she gazed solemnly into the distance, oblivious to the beauty of the rain-speckled scenery and the tall, majestic oaks with their gracefully sweeping limbs. She was so confused that she felt numb inside. Only one thing she grasped with startling clarity. She could not give herself to this man until she had settled the matter of his innocence in her heart.

"I'll need some time to consider what effect these accusations may have on us, Jeff," she said soberly. "I hope you'll understand my reservations. In view of what I've just heard, I have much to sort out. I cannot join you blithely in your bed while questions about Nell. . . and her baby torment me."

"I was hoping to enjoy the evening with you as man and wife," Jeff murmured, coming to stand behind her. The fragrance of

her hair wafted through his senses. How he longed to kiss her, hold her, make love to her. . . .

"If you don't mind, I'd rather eat alone tonight," she managed without her voice breaking.

His heart grew heavy. "If you insist, Raelynn. I'll have a tray sent up. . . ."

Her throat was tight, and she was so close to bursting into tears, it was a long moment before she could answer. "Send it to

the bedchamber I would have had if I had not yielded to your kisses. I need some privacy to think this matter through."

"What can I say to convince you of my innocence?" Jeff asked in an anguished tone. "Am I to be judged by the words of Nell, who obviously thinks she can milk me for a fortune with the lies she's willing to tell against me? If your faith in me is so fickle, madam, then I can assure you, we'll be constantly at odds in our marriage. You'll have to learn to trust me, for if you're always attentive to the tales of others who, for their own malicious purposes and aspirations, will try to tear us apart, you'll be forever wondering about me. I'm sure there will be others who will make the attempt, perhaps because of some infatuation for you, or

a desire to extract a bit of wealth from me, yet I must believe in your integrity as you must believe in mine." He released a sigh and spread his arms in futility. "But as we are only strangers barely met, I must allow that you need time to get to know me. I'm willing to grant you that favor. The only thing I ask in return is that I be allowed to court you as your betrothed. Tonight you may dine alone, but in the future I must insist upon your presence at my table and, when we are in public, your hand within my arm, for I could not bear the agony of others knowing we are estranged."

" 'Tis but a small favor you ask," Raelynn murmured in reply. "And I find no difficulty in complying with your wishes. 'Tis what we agreed upon at the beginning, if you'll remember."

"How could I forget?" Jeff mumbled softly. Thinking it best to leave her to her thoughts, he brushed past her and descended