Take My Heart (Heroic Rogues Series) (16 page)

After a few awkward minutes in silence his mouth twitched into a grin. “My, aren’t we edgy this morning?”

“I am having a hard time understanding you, William.” She rolled her eyes. “Does nothing make you happy? Are you never satisfied?”

He folded his arms across his wide chest and lost his grin. “Lately, I have not been satisfied at all, and no, nothing makes me happy. Have you forgotten the reasons you gave for not wanting me as a husband—in all sense of the word—right after we married?” He walked to her and stood mere inches in front of her. Fire shot out of his eyes.

She swallowed the lump of fear quickly rising to her throat. “I must have forgotten.”

“Let me remind you, then,” he continued. “According to your standards, I was not a fitting bed partner because I could not understand your disloyalty. You accused me of complaining about everything, and you did not like the way I lived my life.”

She gulped back at the crudeness of her sister’s words. The apology gathered on the tip of her tongue, but she dared not voice it. She needed to let him speak to understand his feelings. “I am certain I spoke without thinking,” she managed to whisper.

He grasped her wrist. “You knew exactly what you were saying, my dear. You did not like the way I touched you, the way I kissed you, and especially the way I treated you.”

Defiantly, she took hold of her fear and straightened her shoulders. “Well, if you were as gentle then as you are now, it is no wonder I did not like the way you touched me.” Anger quickly replaced her fear. “Most women like a strong man with a gentle, loving hand. Not a forceful beast that will take whatever he wants, whenever he wants. That is barbaric.” A memory flashed through her head of the way her husband treated her right after they married, and her stomach rolled.

He released her arm as if he’d been burned and stepped away. His brows drew together, anger lines remaining around his mouth. “When you finally realize what you want, please let me know. I am not going to take any action, mind you, but I would like to keep it straight in my head what you want and do not want so I can warn your next conquest.” He turned away and marched out the door, slamming it hard behind him.

Her heart broke into pieces, and she wished it didn’t affect her so. The main purpose of being here was to keep him alive – and to make him come to accept his
new
wife. She had to make him see she was not the same woman he stood beside on their wedding day.

Mercedes’ chest ached, and she knew everything about William’s marriage had been a lie brought on by her own twin sister. But now Mercedes must make things right. She was falling in love with William and she was unable to stop it.

* * * *

William raised his glass of brandy in salute, then quickly drank the liquid, wishing he were someplace else besides here. After the luncheon he and the rest of the men had gathered in the library to discuss politics. The women wandered outside on the porch to converse about more delicate subjects as they daintily sipped their tea. William had tried to sneak away from the men several times, but someone stopped him every time.

Unfortunately, he had to paste a smile on his face and nod like a fool, raising his glass at the right moment. He thanked the good Lord nobody could read his thoughts. But deep inside, rage boiled. These men talked of war as if it were just another fencing match.

This was a waste of time, yet he couldn’t get away to do more productive work...like search through the house to find incriminating evidence the Sons of Liberty could use in their fight. A map, a plan, or even the colonel’s journal would help.

Dejected, he sighed and relaxed against the wall. He hadn’t joined in the conversation, and he hoped others wouldn’t consider him an outcast because of it. A servant passed by with another tray of drinks and William put his empty glass on the tray, refusing a second offering. When the servant left, a man walked toward him. William groaned, fisting his hands by his side. He didn’t want to talk to Brandon Kennedy right now.

Brandon’s self-assured expression stayed on his face when he stopped beside William. “Saw you over here by yourself and thought I would come join you.”

“How considerate,” William muttered.

“I did not think you would merit an invitation to the Burwell’s party, but I am glad to see you here.”

William lifted his brows. “Why would you think I would not be invited? I am working on the ships just as you.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Besides, you were the one who hid my invitation in the first place.”

Brandon chuckled. “You cannot prove that. But I was not referring to that matter, anyway.” He stepped closer and lowered his voice. “I did not think you would come with your wife.”

William gave his partner a smirk and nodded. “Strange, because she is the one who obtained the invitation.”

Brandon’s eyes widened. “She did? Who did she charm to achieve that?”

William wanted to throttle the rude man right here amongst the others in the room. He bunched his hands tighter, keeping himself from doing that very act. “Actually, she charmed no one. Lady Burwell witnessed a scene where Kat protected my children from a dog and it impressed the colonel’s wife. After that, an invitation came through a messenger.”

Brandon leaned his shoulder against the wall and scratched his chin. “William, have you noticed your wife’s behavior has been peculiar lately?”

He laughed. “Brandon, my wife’s behavior has always been peculiar.”

“Well said, but lately she has gotten worse.”

William fought the humorous grin that tugged on his mouth. Kennedy didn’t know the half of it. “Are you just upset she has not been to visit you lately?”

Brandon’s face lost a little color. “You know about that?”

“Yes.”

“Did she tell you why she stopped coming to see me?”

“It is none of my business.”

Brandon folded his arms. “I heard,” he lowered his voice even more, “you are the man she’s charming now.”

Although the topic was ridiculous, William couldn’t help but laugh. He was certain Captain Wilkes had started the rumor. “No, Brandon.” Yet, if given the chance, he just might allow his wife’s attention. He couldn’t explain it, but he still felt she wasn’t the woman he’d married. “She can be very persuasive,” he said in a somber tone. “You forget, Brandon, I do not want a woman who cannot stay faithful to her husband.” He stepped away from the wall. “And this conversation is boring me to tears, so I hope you will excuse me because I am leaving now.”

He turned and walked out of the room. Thankfully, nobody stopped him this time.

True, his wife’s behavior was certainly out of character, but he wasn’t going to let Brandon know his feelings. William was still trying to figure her out and, most importantly, figure out why she had made his body awaken with awareness whenever they were close. Every time he smelled her lilac scent and looked at her petal soft lips, his body ignited with a fire he had no strength to defuse. Although he liked it, he didn’t want to like it.

He walked through the opened double glass doors on the side of the main building. Ahead of him the women gathered on the patio. They all sat with straight backs, sipping tea like it was the most important function in the world.

Then a woman with raven hair and a curvy figure caught his gaze. Strange that her appearance would distract his attention from the other women. Mercedes looked so pretty in the sunlight, the lavender dress complimenting her creamy skin. This afternoon she wore another of her altered dresses, hiding the deep cut bodice with some fancy stitching and lace. She was probably the youngest woman here, definitely the loveliest.

He sauntered toward the women. At first none had noticed him, and when he came close enough to hear their conversation he figured out why. They talked politics, also. He didn’t think most of these women here had intelligent enough for that.

Lady Burwell spoke about the other night when one of the King’s ships had been raided, and he froze. He backed behind a bush and listened.

“I heard it was nothing but a bunch of drunken fools,” another lady mentioned.

Lady Burwell nodded. “Yes, but there had to be a master-mind behind the attack. Such lowlife miscreants would not be able to have an intelligent thought without having a leader.”

William held his breath for the next comment.

“I heard they did not catch the leader,” another woman spoke. “Is this so?”

Lady Burwell set her teacup down. “I am not certain they even have a suspect.” Lady Burwell puffed her chest. “But if there is a leader, I assure you my husband will find him. Nobody treats Britain like that and gets away with it. These country-folk will soon learn who rules around here.”

A gush of air escaped his lungs as murmurs of agreements bounced throughout the small group of women, but Mercedes didn’t speak. Once again, his suspicions roused. The night Brandon and his wife had been to dinner Mercedes had voiced her opinion, but now she merely glanced around the circle of guests. She sucked in her bottom lip, nibbling it with her teeth. Her brows drew together as if she were confused. Then she cleared her throat, receiving their attention.

“Lady Burwell?” Mercedes asked, frowning. “Exactly what was damaged in the raid?”

Lady Burwell smiled politely and met her gaze. “Just a few personal belongings of Colonel Baxter, and some fine vases shipped from the Orient were broken to pieces. It crushed his wife to see such unnecessary violence.”

“Forgive me,” Mercedes continued, “but can you tell me why the higher ranking men in the King’s Army are bringing such expensive items over here during these times of peril? Do they not realize they will be risking their own personal belongings?”

The wealthy woman sitting next to her snickered as she toyed with her pearls. “Our Englishmen need to have the pleasures of home surrounding them at all times. They were coerced to leave their homes to sail across the ocean just to keep the King’s laws enforced.”

Bobbing of ringlet-heads jumped in agreement, but for some reason Mercedes’ brows still pulled together obviously not pleased with the answer. She shook her head, seeming perplexed again.

“Pardon my innocence,” she continued, “but is there not a rebellion going on around us? Have the good citizens of Philadelphia not been forced from their homes to take on a more simple way of life? Why should it be acceptable for our British men to live with such luxuries when the men who live here cannot? In fact, some of them are even forced out of their homes by our soldiers and all because they cannot pay the high taxes.”

A few women gasped. William bit back his surprised response, too. He wanted to hear more of what his wife thought. So far, he approved, as evidenced by the quickening of his heart. Could she possibly see his point of view? He dared to hope.

“Mrs. Braxton, you are indeed innocent,” Lady Burwell said. “Do not feel remorseful for the people over here. They brought this on, not us, and it was their choice to leave their homes.” Lady Burwell’s smile brightened and she clapped her hands twice. “Let us cease this serious conversation and join our husbands.” She nodded in the direction behind Mercedes. “I see the men are finished with their brandy and cigars.”

William glanced toward the house. Men who’d once been in the house now wandered out on the yard. He cursed under his breath, then moved around the bush toward his wife. Mercedes’ eyes widened. When he came near she smiled. His heart leapt, and he cursed again for responding like a fool.

He stopped by her side. “Hello, my lovely wife. Are you in the mood for a walk?” He held out his arm. All around them glares aimed their way, but Mercedes seemed not to notice as she stood and took hold of his arm.

She nodded. “I have been hoping to see Lady Burwell’s lovely garden.”

William looked over the other ladies. “Please excuse us.”

They all smiled and nodded. Having Mercedes walk beside him made him puff his chest, and he pulled her arm closer to his side. Not only had she voiced her questions amongst a den of wolves, she had entered this party knowing full well most of these women thought poorly of her. Yet, Mercedes had gone ahead and embarked on their circle. Once they were far enough away from the others, he chuckled.

She cocked her head to look at him. “What do you find so humorous?”

“You.”

“Why?”

“Because you are determined to make those ladies hate you.” He met her questioning stare. “Half of them know you have a close relationship with their husbands, and now the other half are wondering if you are a traitor to your country.”

She huffed. “If they do, they are imbeciles. I only asked those questions because I was curious.” She paused, her brows drawn in confusion. “How much of our conversation did you overhear?”

“Enough.” He stopped and moved in front of her, keeping his smile only because he couldn’t control it. “But why did you say what you did? Why did you give them the impression you sympathize with Philadelphia?”

“I cannot say.” She glanced down at her hands as she twisted them against her stomach.

He took them in his, stopping her nervousness. The heat from her body blended with his. Once again the incredible feeling of desire crept into his system. “Mercedes?” He stroked her cheek with his finger then lifted her chin until she met his eyes. “I think you do know.”