Erin's Rebel (13 page)

Will stooped and plucked a red rose.

“Be careful,” Erin advised.

He picked a few thorns from the stem, then presented the flower to Erin.

“A rose for a beautiful rose.”

Erin flushed.
Is it getting hot out here or what?

She accepted the flower, holding it under her nose, but her gaze rested on the handsome man at her side.

Afterward, he escorted her to the property line behind the house where a clear creek ran beyond the small outbuilding that housed his father’s horse and carriage. The soothing sound of running water drew her.

If only she could cross that stream and find herself back in the twenty-first century. As visions of what might be happening in her own time drifted through her thoughts, she had to wonder if she’d regret leaving Will, if she could go back.

****

After completing the tour of the garden, Will ushered Mrs. O’Connell onto the front stoop. The sound of horses’ hooves approaching drew his attention from the lavender scent of her skin and hair.

A carriage stopped before the house on the cobbled street. He knew just who it was and sighed.

“Is something wrong?” Mrs. O’Connell asked.

His gaze focused on the carriage. “No, nothing’s wrong. Go inside and find Jenny. I’ll be in shortly.”

She glanced at the carriage before entering the house.

Will waited on the stoop while the driver pulled to a stop. Emily Courtland sat alone, behind the driver. She wore a green gown with an ivory bonnet perched over her blond curls. He stepped toward her.

She smiled when he reached for her hand.

“Miss Courtland, welcome.”

“Why, Will,” she drawled, “we don’t need to be so formal. You know you can call me Emily.”

“Don’t allow my mother to hear you say that. She’d consider it forward and wouldn’t stand for it.”

Emily covered her mouth with a gloved hand and giggled. “We won’t be so familiar in front of your parents, but in private...”

He smiled but said nothing when he helped her down and escorted her inside. Mrs. O’Connell and Jenny stood in the foyer. Apparently, they’d been deep in conversation. From the guilty looks on their faces, their talk must have been about him.

Damn. This is going to be one trying evening
.

Nodding at Emily, he said formally, “Miss Courtland, allow me to introduce Mrs. O’Connell.”

Emily eyed Mrs. O’Connell with interest. She arched an eyebrow and pursed her lips.

Will’s mother entered the foyer. Her thin lips broke into a tight smile. “I see our guest has arrived. Welcome, Miss Courtland.”

“Thank you for having me, Mrs. Montgomery,” Emily said. Glancing at Will, she added, “When I heard our war hero was home, I was just aching to pay him a visit.”

His mother’s gray eyes hardened and raked over Mrs. O’Connell. “William,” she scolded, “you’ve neglected to introduce me to our houseguest.”

Will stiffened. “Mother, this is Mrs. O’Connell. Mrs. O’Connell, my mother, Mrs. Montgomery.”

Frowning, his mother eyed Mrs. O’Connell’s gown. “Jenny, dear, I do believe you have a dress similar to this.” She gestured vaguely toward her daughter.

Jenny scowled. “It’s mine, Momma. Mrs. O’Connell is just borrowing it.”

His mother’s eyebrows rose. “Oh, I see.” She fixed Will with a withering gaze.

He wasn’t about to go into an explanation now of just what Mrs. O’Connell was doing here. All he wanted was to survive this evening.

Fortunately, Amanda took that moment to bounce down the stairs and distract his mother.

“Grandmama. Tillie needs to ask you if she can take me with her to the grocers.” She watched Madeline and bit her lip.

Will smiled at the serious expression on Amanda’s small face. “That sounds like fun, darlin’.”

Amanda rewarded him with a smile.

“Bring Tillie here, and we’ll see,” his mother said.

Seeing his chance to escape, Will quickly excused himself and exited the house.

****

After Will left, Erin felt the urge to do the same. She should have stayed in camp. Will’s mother obviously didn’t like her, and Miss Courtland apparently had designs on Will. Erin was simply in the way. She wished she could go back to camp, better yet, wished she could vanish back into the twenty-first century. Where’s the time machine when you need it?

Jenny came to the rescue, excusing them both. She dragged Erin to her room so they could have some privacy until dinner. Jenny told her Emily Courtland had been trying to catch Will’s attention for the past year, whenever he was home on leave. Since their parents approved of her, they’d been conspiring to get the two married, but he resisted.

“He feels the same about Emily as I do,” Jenny folded her arms across her chest. “I despise her. But my parents think she’d make the perfect wife for him.”

Erin smiled. She recalled seeing Jenny with the young soldier in camp. “I suspect they’ve been doing the same thing to you.”

“Of course. They’ve already picked out several young men from here in town and as far away as Baltimore and Washington City, who would make
proper
husbands for me. But I love Kevin.”

“And they won’t allow you to marry him,” Erin guessed.

“He’s Irish, Catholic, and poor.” Jenny sighed. “They won’t even allow me to see him.”

“Then what will you do?”

“I’ll run away. I’ll become an army nurse.”

“What about Will? He won’t tell your parents?”

Jenny hesitated. “He’d likely side with them and forbid me to do any such thing.”

“It would be a hard life for you,” Erin agreed.

“But I have to get away from them. If I stay here, Kevin will be gone, and they’ll marry me off to one of their choosing.”

Erin felt sorry for Jenny. Her wealth, instead of freeing her, made her a prisoner in her home. She had to find a way to help her. “Aren’t all the men in the army now?” she reasoned. “That should buy you some time.”

“Buy me time?” Jenny seemed mystified by the expression.

“I mean they can’t force suitors on you when they’re all off to war.”

Jenny smiled. “I wish you could stay here with me when Will goes back. What will you do? Will you travel with the army?”

Erin hadn’t thought about that. Her choices of where she could stay were limited. “I suppose, when he leaves, I’ll have to go with him. I have nowhere else to go.”

“Then, stay here,” Jenny said.

Erin shook her head. “Your parents wouldn’t like it. I know you mother wouldn’t.”

“You’re right. I wish I could go with you.”

While Erin wouldn’t mind having a companion like Jenny in camp, she hardly thought Will’s sister would last more than a few days with the army.

****

Will stood inside the carriage house stroking the muzzle of his father’s, gray dappled stallion. He fed the horse, named Snicker, an apple he’d picked from the tree growing beside the house. As Snicker munched the fruit, Will continued to pet him. He was able, for the first time since coming home, to relax and forget his problems, if only for a few minutes.

Longing for freedom, he had none. His marriage to Anne had been arranged by his parents. Even though he could have dissented, he’d never considered doing so, because of his family’s expectations. He’d also taken the post of captain after his father had used his political pull to get him the commission. Now, they were trying to arrange a second marriage for the sake of Amanda. At least the army provided a temporary escape from his parents’ meddling.

At the sound of Amanda’s voice, Will looked toward the house.

“Tillie says dinner’s almost done,” she called.

“I’ll be right there, darlin’.”

He turned back to pat Snicker’s flank before heading up the path. The comforts of home didn’t outweigh his family obligations. Like a weight around his neck, they threatened to drag him down and choke the life out of him. Although he had obligations to the army, he felt freer there. Even though he had superiors to answer to, he commanded other men. Here, he felt thoroughly controlled by his family’s expectations. And one of them waited inside at the dinner table. Emily Courtland was a lovely woman, but she wasn’t what he wanted.

****

Dinner lasted forever. Although he’d been hungry and the meal Tillie had prepared smelled appetizing, Will found it hard to digest any of the ham, cornbread, potatoes, and corn, followed by the Negro woman’s specialty, apple pie.

The family sat at the long dining table, his father at the head, his mother opposite. Emily had been placed between Will and his father. Jenny, Amanda, and Mrs. O’Connell sat across.

Normally Amanda dined in the kitchen with the servants, but his mother had made this concession. Amanda, however, showed impeccable manners for a five-year-old. No doubt his mother’s doing.

Mrs. O’Connell seemed amused by his daughter. “My, what a little lady you are.”

Amanda looked up at her, glanced at her grandmother, then looked down at her plate, saying nothing.

His mother eyed Mrs. O’Connell. “The child is not permitted to speak at the table.”

Mrs. O’Connell shot a glance at Will. He caught it, then cast his gaze down to the food on his plate.

“I can’t quite place your accent,” his mother said to Mrs. O’Connell. “I take it you’re not native to Virginia.”

Jenny shot their mother a glare.

“I’ve lost my memory,” Mrs. O’Connell answered.

“Ah, yes, the accident with the horse.” His mother looked at Will. “Jenny tells me you came to this young lady’s rescue.”

He cleared his throat, aware Emily studied him intently. “I was there when the horse reared up and injured Mrs. O’Connell. Of course, I took her to the surgeon. She appeared to be badly hurt.”

“How horrible.” His mother sighed. “I do hope your memory returns, dear.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Montgomery. I hope so, too.” She raised her gaze to Will as if pleading for rescue.

“Miss Courtland, have you told Will about the dinner at the Peterson’s this Saturday?” his mother asked.

“Why no, ma’am. I haven’t had the chance.” Emily gazed at Will.

He cleared his throat. “My apologies, Miss Courtland, but I’m afraid I’ll be occupied on Saturday.”

Zachary frowned. “May I ask what is so important, son?”

“It’s personal.” He stared at his plate to escape the perplexed glances of his parents, as well as Emily.

His face heated, knowing his parents expected him to compliment and shower attention on her, but he’d spent the entire meal watching Mrs. O’Connell.

Shoving a forkful of pie into his mouth, he nearly gagged. He couldn’t wait to escape from the dining room but didn’t dare excuse himself until his father left to smoke his after dinner cigar.

Although, up until now, his father had said nothing, Will felt his father’s eyes upon him all through dinner. When the meal finally ended, he suggested Will join him for a cigar in the study to discuss the war. He declined and escaped the house, leaving Emily behind.