A Question of Class (24 page)

“We saved Sophie, I couldn’t have done it alone, that’s true,” she said. “But I think part of you was saving Dolly. By taking care of my sister you were doing what you couldn’t do for Dolly, when you were so young.”

The truth burned into him. He had wanted to save Sophie. It was a connection to Dolly, but there was another reason. “I went with you to save Sophie because I wanted to be with you. I didn’t want to leave your sight.”

“Yes,” she said. “That’s what Mr. Delcour was paying you for.”

“No, I did it to be near you. And to help you.”

“And I’ve thanked you for that.” She rose. “But your duties are finished. Our deal is done. I have Sophie, and you have the proof you needed.”

He got up and reached for her arms. She stood stiffly.

“I’m sorry if I’ve been an ass.” Catherine gave him a look. “Yes, I’ve been an ass. But I’d promised Dolly I’d never interfere with a marriage. Delcour had done so, many times, in Haiti, and I’d seen Dolly becoming bereft at his behavior. I promised I’d never do the same. And there we were...”

“There we were, yes,” she said.

“When you told me you were going off to see another man, I thought I’d go mad,” he continued. “I’ve only wanted you, but I thought by having you I was desecrating Dolly’s memory, turning into Delcour, the man I’ve hated for two decades. I was confused. I’m so sorry.”

“So now that I’m no longer a married woman, you’re free to have a go, is that your thinking?”

“No, Catherine. No.” He shook his head. “But why did you lie to me about where you were going next?”

“Because I wanted you to have your revenge, I wanted you to reach your goal. And you were so angry toward me. I thought you must hate me.”

“I’d never hate you,” he confided. Catherine softened ever so slightly beneath his touch. “Once I fell in love with you, the bitterness I’d been holding inside disappeared. But I thought you despised me.”

“Never,” she said. “Yet I want to be strong on my own.”

In response, he pressed his lips onto hers. She resisted at first, but then she opened her mouth wide. It was sweet and warm and he pulled her body toward him.

“Please,” he said, his voice raspy with desire, “I must have you.”

Benjamin helped her out of her dress and let it fall to the floor. He pulled her gently toward the bed and undressed. Catherine’s body was breathtaking in the dying sunlight of the day, every curve illuminated as if from within, and her nipples were hard and peaked. He moved on top of her. She raised her smooth legs around his hips, and it was as if they fit together like this, always. Her wetness pressed against the head of his cock, and he tested it, pushing in slowly, then retreating, until she moaned and begged him for more.

With one stroke, he was deep inside her. Her breasts brushed against his chest and her nails raked into his back. Benjamin realized he wanted this woman to be his lover for always, he’d never be able to sleep alone again.

The thought sent him reeling, and for a moment he didn’t know where he was, as spasm after spasm racked his body, and Catherine’s muscles contracted in response. Pleasure soared through every pore of his body as she peaked with him, and his juices flowed deep inside her.

* * * *

Afterward, Catherine lay still, the weight of Benjamin on top of her. She heard the sounds of Sophie and Freddie collecting vegetables in the garden and Benjamin’s heavy breath. Her body reeled from what had happened, of being overwhelmed by Benjamin’s smell and the taste of his skin. She would do anything to preserve this moment forever.

“God, Catherine.” He propped up on his elbows and gazed down at her. “I love you.”

She saw in his face the little boy Benjamin had been, and the older man he would become. Happiness surged through her as she realized there was a possibility they could share a life together, and grow old together. “I love you too.”

“I’m sorry for ever doubting you, and I never will again.”

She kissed him. “And I’m sorry I lied. I was unsure who I could trust.”

“Of course. For the past few days I’ve been trying so hard to deny everything I felt for you, and everything you mean to me. I can’t live without you. You understand that, don’t you?”

“I do. And I can’t imagine my life without you. We can do so much now, together.”

“One more thing.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t try to ride off without me anymore. Understood?”

She laughed, remembering the night they met. “I am sorry about that. If you’ll promise to do as I say from now on, we’ll be fine.”

“Anything you ask. As long as you promise to marry me.”

“I will.” Relief poured through her body. Benjamin was hers, and he loved her as much as she loved him. They kissed again, slowly and softly, and his body stirred once more. She gave him a gentle nudge.

“We have to go. We don’t have time for that right now.” She rose and dressed.

Benjamin sat up and put on his shirt. “You’re right. We’ll take Delcour’s horse and carriage and head north and then west.”

Catherine nodded. She imagined the three of them in France together, safe out of Morris’s grasp. She would be Benjamin’s wife. The thought made her smile.

Her reverie was broken by the sound of a galloping horse. They ran to the window overlooking the front of the house.

“It’s Morris,” she said.

Benjamin scrambled to get on his breeches and boots. “I’ll go get Sophie. Take the satchel and the wine and head out the side door. Wait until Delcour has come into the house and then make a run for the barn. We’ll meet you there.”

She dressed and ran downstairs and into the parlor, grabbing the satchel where Benjamin had left it on a chair. She glanced out the window and saw Morris charging inside. If she wasn’t quick enough, he’d trap her and she wouldn’t be able to escape.

Too late, she noticed the Yquem standing on the foyer table. In her rush to grab the bottle, Catherine tripped over the Turkish rug. She lost hold of the satchel, grabbing it before it fell to the ground, but several of the false wine labels fluttered out. Catherine scrambled to put them back in as the front door opened with a thunderous bang.

Morris stood there panting. He must’ve whipped his horse the entire way back from Trenton.

“What the hell are you doing?” he yelled. “Is it true you’ve been seen carousing around town with Benjamin Thomas? Is this what I get for having taken care of you the past five years? For giving you the best of everything?”

She tried to stand up but he shoved her back to the ground. Her only thought was Sophie, her only goal to keep the girl out of Morris’s clutches. Perhaps, if Benjamin got away safely with Sophie, there’d be hope for the two of them. Morris needed someone to take out his anger on, and Catherine was more than willing to sacrifice herself. Otherwise, he would destroy them all.

“I’m sorry, Morris, I am,” she said.

Morris regarded her oddly. It wasn’t the reaction he expected.

“What did you say?” He glanced around. “Where the hell is Thomas? Is it true what Carpenter said, you ran away with him?”

“Of course not, if I ran away with him what would I be doing back here, waiting patiently for you?”

Catherine prayed Benjamin would know to leave with Sophie when she didn’t show up at the barn. She hoped he would understand, having loved his own sister so, that what Catherine wanted right now was for the two of them to be gone. In the meantime, she needed to draw Morris away from them.

“I’m here and I’m willing to do whatever you like,” she said. “I’ll go away, quietly. You can start again with someone else.”

He eyed her warily. “What’s happened?” When she didn’t answer, a glint appeared in his eyes. “Did Thomas use you up and leave you? He did, didn’t he? I knew it. You’re a broken woman, my dear. And he knew it and so will any other man you’re with know it, if it’s up to me. Everyone will hear you’ve been banished, and let that be a warning to any other scheming woman who comes my way.”

“Of course.” She rose slowly, still clutching the satchel, her eyes glued to his. “I’ll do whatever you ask.”

“What do you have there? Give me that.” Morris tore the satchel from her arms. He rummaged inside, and she could see from the grim line of his mouth he was unhappy. He took out a fistful of the false labels.

“You figured out my little secret, did you?” He turned to her with a menacing look. “You bitch.”

Catherine turned around and grabbed the bottle of Yquem. He lurched toward her but stopped when he recognized the label. She held it high.

“If you come near me, I will drop this,” she threatened.

Morris backed up a step. “Don’t be stupid. I should’ve known you’d find a way to get your hands on the Yquem. I forget what a smart girl you are.”

“If you want this wine, you’ll leave immediately. Get on your horse and go back to town. When you return, it will be here safe and sound, and I’ll be gone forever. You’ll have me out of your life and your precious bottle will be safe. Isn’t that what you want?”

He sneered at her. “And how do I know you won’t take the bottle with you?”

“Because I’m willing to smash it to pieces right now. It means nothing to me.”

The sound of a horse whinnying outside caught Morris’s attention. He turned his head toward the open front door.

Seizing the opportunity, Catherine made a dash for the staircase. If Morris discovered her sister, he’d have complete power over her. He would no doubt send Sophie to the poorhouse, if only to spite Catherine. She had to keep him away. As she hoped, he came after her. At the second landing, he got hold of the hem of her skirt. Catherine kicked him away and kept running, all the way up to the top of the house, still clutching the bottle of Yquem. She pushed through the trap door that led to the widow’s walk and climbed out. Morris, wheezing, struggled to get up the last stairway as she ran to the railing. Far below her, Benjamin was standing in front of a horse with Sophie bundled in the carriage.

“Go!” cried Catherine. “Take Sophie and go. There’s no time.”

Benjamin glanced around, confused, and finally lifted his face upwards.

“You must leave,” pleaded Catherine. “Please, Benjamin, get Sophie to safety.”

Footsteps echoed behind her, and Morris’s beefy hands wrapped around her neck. She fell back on top of him and they both landed hard on the ground as the bottle of wine rolled out of her grasp. Using his weight to his advantage, Morris twisted on top of Catherine and pinned her hands over her head.

“You lying whore. Let your paramour run for the hills, you won’t make it out of here alive.”

“Get off me.” She struggled to break free.

“The more you fight the more I like it, my love.” Morris ran one hand down over her breast, and yanked the material of her dress until it was exposed. He grabbed her hard, and ground his pelvis into her body. “I will miss this, though. But maybe there’s time for one more, no?”

Catherine pushed against him, but he was too strong. She pictured Benjamin and Sophie galloping away. He would take care of Sophie as if she were his own sister. No matter what Catherine would encounter going forward, she had that comfort.

A strange vibration rumbled through the floor. Catherine turned her head to see a pair of black boots running toward her. Benjamin had stayed. Relief and frustration coursed through her body.

Morris was lifted off her. She rolled away, and heard a sickening crack as Benjamin hit him hard in the ribs. Morris reeled backwards, coughing, but still standing.

“Is this how you repay my kindness?” Morris asked. “Did she put you up to this?”

“After everything you did to Dolly, running away like a coward and leaving her to be killed, you expect me to be grateful?” Benjamin was panting.

Morris’s face darkened. “You said you didn’t remember anything from that night.”

“Oh, I remember everything. I remember you hiding in the carriage, quaking from fear as your wife was pulled away. And as they were hacking her to pieces, you left her. You left us behind. You sicken me.”

“No one will believe you or your story. You’re nothing in this town. I’m respected. They’ll take you and toss you in jail.”

“Perhaps they’ll take another look when I explain how you’ve swindled them, and they’re not drinking the Chateau Margaux they’ve paid a handsome sum for.”