Take My Heart (Heroic Rogues Series) (9 page)

“No. You are the only person who has ever called me that name, which I still do not understand.”

“
’Tis
because of the wild streak in you. You are a wild cat.”

“So you think, but I also know you call me that to taunt me further.”

“Aye. The name fits the reputation of the woman I married quite well.”

“Papa?” James tugged on his sleeve again. “Mercy said I could call her that. Please do not be mad.”

William glanced down into the grayish-blue eyes of his son and smiled, knowing he couldn’t deny him anything. “I am not angry, James, but I would like to talk to Mercedes for a few minutes. Will you go to the house and help Horace in the kitchen?”

James frowned. “No. You are
gonna
yell at Mercy again, and I
wanna
go riding.”

“James.” William gave him a sharp tone. “Do as I say.”

“James, honey?” The mysterious woman crouched to the boy’s level. She smiled, her eyes softening. “If your father does not wish you to go riding with me, we must obey. Perhaps he thinks you are still too young. I should have asked before inviting you.” She pushed an unruly lock of James’ chestnut hair off his forehead.

William’s heart softened. Frowning, he gritted his teeth and wished he wouldn’t react in such a way when she displayed such kindness. Obviously, it was just an act.

“But...” James mumbled, then looked back at him. “Papa? It’s all right, you know. I’m a big boy, now. I think I can ride a horse as long as Mercy helps me.” He moved away from her and over to William’s leg. “‘Sides, you need not worry about me. I like her now. She is not mean anymore.” His grin widened. “Even
Lizzy
is starting to like her.”

Anger welled inside William, threatening to suffocate him. He swallowed and forced a smile. “Fine. You can go riding, but not today. You and Kat can go another time. Right now I need to speak with her.”

His son pouted and hung his head. “Oh, all right.” James turned to Kat. “We shall have to go riding another time.”

She stood. “That is fine.”

With wilted shoulders, James moved back to the house, dragging his feet with every step and kicking his feet in the damp soil.

Once the boy was out of sight, William turned his attention back on Kat and glared. “What is going on?”

He stepped closer and the fragrance of her lilac scented soap eased his anger. He closed his eyes and breathed deeper. Realizing what he was doing, he jerked them open and clamped his teeth.

Not knowing what was happening to him, he vowed he wouldn’t let the deceiving woman get to him. Yet, when he gazed over every inch of her face, his heart leapt to his throat, ignoring the anger he wanted to keep. Her beautiful forest-green eyes had a hint of liquid as if she struggled with her emotions. Her heart-shaped lips parted, and a scent of mint blew across his face.

Without being able to control his actions, he touched his finger to her chin, stroking it across her delicate, smooth skin and down her neck until it rested on the high collar of her jacket. Her beauty and the softness of her creamy skin turned his mind to mush. He was helpless to stop the burning sensations ripping through him. He waited for her to swat his hand like she’d done before whenever he touched her in a personal way. She didn’t, and his heart picked up rhythm.

He arched his brow. “Kat, why are you doing this?”

“Doing what?”

“Why are you trying to act like somebody you are not? Your words are confusing and I have grown weary of your game.” Although his words were harsh, he kept his tone soft.

The corners of her lips lifted. “I am confusing you?”

“Yes, and I do not like it one bit.” He slid his finger from her chin upward to touch her delicate earlobe.

“But, William, can you not see? I have changed.”

“Nobody can make such a drastic change.”

“I have.” She touched the lapel of his coat. “I am not the same woman you first met.” Her shy smile widened. “And you need not worry about your children. I have come to care for them.”

A powerful jolt shot through him as if he’d been scorched. Between the heat from her hand touching him and her unbelievable words, his confusion grew by leaps and bounds. Dare he believe his children might get a mother after all?

No, he mustn’t let her weaken him. He dropped his hand and stepped away. “I do not want you to care for them, Kat.” He scowled. “I do not want my children to like you, because soon enough you will go back to your old ways and break their hearts.”

“William.” She stepped closer. “Will you not give me another chance?”

Aha, her game was out now. She wanted to charm him like she did to other men. Obviously, she wanted something from him. Well, he wasn’t like other men, and he wouldn’t let her succeed.

She stretched her hand out to touch him again, but he clasped onto it.

“Stop, Kat. I am warning you, your charm will not work with me. You forget, my dear, I can read you well.”

“William, please—”

“And stop calling me William.”

“Why?”

“Because I do not like the way it sounds when it comes from your deceiving mouth.” He dropped his focus to her enticing delicate raspberry lips, imagining what her kiss would taste like. Honeysuckle? Whatever the taste, he was quite certain it would be heavenly.

“What...do you want...me to call you then?” she said hesitantly. “Mr. Braxton is too formal. I am your wife and should address you with some kind of endearment.”

“You are my wife in name only and I plan on keeping it that way.”

She swallowed and his gaze dropped further to the slender column of her throat. Once again, the urge to press his lips to that location overwhelmed him. His grip loosened, but she didn’t pull her hand away. In fact, she moved closer.

“William.” Her voice softened. “I will not give up.”

Between her intoxicating scent and her alluring mouth, he was a drowning man. How could he resist? But he had to. He stared at her lips, and an invisible force pulled him toward her. He tried to remember how she’d deceived him since they were first married, hoping it would cool his ardor, but her sweet charm made him weaker.

“I deserve a second chance,” she whispered.

Confused by mixed emotions, he growled in anger, then stepped away. “You are wrong, Kat. Women like you deserve no second chances.”

He turned and stalked back to the house, resisting the urge to look at her. He couldn’t risk a glance. He didn’t want to be reminded of what he could have wrapped in his arms and kissed just moments ago. And he especially didn’t want to think he was attracted to her! Especially now when he’d never been before.

* * * *

Mercedes rode the horse hard toward the next town, not stopping to give the animal a breath or even take a rest herself. The cool breeze from last night’s storm stung her cheeks, dried her lips, and unraveled the braid in her hair. She didn’t care. This was her only form of release. She couldn’t let William see how his nearness had affected her. For that matter, she couldn’t let anyone see.

When she pictured William’s wounded face, guilt gnawed at her conscience. It seemed he’d been the person truly wronged. But he wasn’t the one who had gone mad and died, either. She must remember her sister above all else.

Then again...was William the real reason for her sister’s melancholy? Mercedes had begun to think differently. Now that she’d come to know him better, she didn’t think he was at fault. From what she had observed and heard about her twin, Kat had done some despicable things to this family. Because of this, Mercedes was drawn to him, to his children. Compulsion drove her to show James and
Lizzy
a caring side, and to show William his presence didn’t repulse her.

Yet, she wasn’t Kat. Only pretending to be. She shouldn’t feel this attraction for William or try to get him to like her. Eventually she would prove him a traitor and turn him over to the King’s soldiers. As soon as she accomplished this, she’d take his adorable children to England—her true home—and raise them as her own.

But the more Mercedes thought of this plan, the more her heart crumbled. For some odd reason, she didn’t want to discover he was a traitor to the Crown. The fluttering emotions in her belly and the tingling in her bosom—caused by William—were new and powerful. Against her own principles, she had enjoyed the way he looked at her with his smoldering hazel eyes.

This feeling had never happened with her own husband. Although they hadn’t been married long before he died of heart failure, not once did Fredrick’s touch make her knees weak and her heart beat out of control. She relished the newfound feelings. Heaven help her if Kat could read her thoughts now. Guilt gnawed at Mercedes’ conscience for behaving in this manner.

A backward glance showed Timothy crouched over his horse, eager to catch up. She reined her animal to a lope until he rode beside her. She’d already informed him about why she played her twin sister’s role. Eager to help, Timothy told her she could count on his assistance.

When they neared the town, she urged the horse to a gallop, anxious to arrive faster. She ran her hand over the package inside the saddlebag. Originally, she’d purchased the jewel encrusted dagger to give to William, hoping it would gain his trust quicker. But after the jolt of pleasure she’d received from his soft touch and heated gaze, she’d quickly decided against it.

Now she would sell the dagger and send the money to Doctor McClain to help pay for her sister’s burial. The last thing Mercedes needed right now was for the doctor to inform William his wife had died and debts needed to be paid. At least giving the doctor some money would keep him quiet for a little while longer.

She’d traveled to the next town over, hoping no one would recognize her as Mrs. Braxton. As she passed down the street, she breathed a sigh of relief when nobody waved or called a greeting. With a bit of fortune, she’d play the part of a woman fallen on hard times and desperately in need of currency.

In front of the General Store she dismounted and prayed people wouldn’t see past her windblown hair and dusty riding habit and know she was wealthy, especially since she traveled with a servant. William had purchased very fine materials to adorn his wife, and right now, she didn’t want to look well off, so she was grateful for the dirt layering one of Kat’s old riding habits.

“You stay here,” she instructed Timothy. “I shan’t be long.”

She walked into the store, the tinkling of the door’s bells announcing her. A handful of people turned and looked her way. She nodded a polite greeting before searching for the clerk. Spotting him behind the counter, she headed his way.

At the counter, Mercedes balled her hands to keep from tapping her fingers on the oak top while waiting for the clerk to help an older woman with her purchases. When the other woman departed, Mercedes stepped forward. She frowned, trying to give the clerk her most sorrowful expression. “Good day, sir.”

The portly fellow’s gaze scanned her attire before meeting her eyes. “Is there something I may help you with?”

She leaned toward him and lowered her voice. “Yes, there is.” Struggling with her thoughts, she hated lying to the man. Never in her life had she lowered her values to deceive, yet the moment she stepped into her sister’s role, she’d done nothing but that. Then again, she didn’t have a choice. “I have fallen upon hard times and wondered if you could give me a price for this dagger which was a gift to my late husband.” She slid the item on the counter.

The clerk’s eyes widened when he spotted the jewel encrusted handle. “Ma’am.” He gasped and picked up the item. “I haven’t seen a dagger like this before. Where did you get it?”

“I have no idea, sir.” She kept her mouth pulled downward. “
’Twas
a gift to my late husband, you see.”

The clerk scratched his chin and slowly nodded. “I am certain this dagger was extremely expensive, but I regret to say my store will not be able to give you what it’s worth.”

Her hopes plummeted. “How much can you give me?”

He studied the weapon a moment longer, then laid it back on the counter. “Probably not even half, ma’am. I am sorry.” He shrugged. “Perhaps another store will give you more, but I cannot.”

“Then I shall move on.” She gathered the dagger and placed it back in her saddlebag. “Thank you for your time, and may God bless you.”

With her head held high and back straight, she left the store, hiding her unraveled dignity. Inside her heart, however, she felt like the lowliest criminal. Trying not to let one incident dampen her spirits, she moved to the next store, and within minutes received another rejection. Not one merchant would give her full price.

After being turned away from yet another store, tears stung her eyes. Panic edged its way into her mind. How could she get the money if no one would buy the dagger from her? Obviously, she’d made the wrong choice. Needless to say, she’d have to collect money in a different way. She couldn’t have the doctor contacting William this soon. Now she must pick up the small amount of pride she still had and return to William’s house.

Moving toward her horse and servant, a man’s red uniform captured her attention. She gaped at the tall soldier she’d run into upon her arrival that first day. By his sly grin and arched brow, it appeared he wished to further their acquaintance.