Rebel Enchantress (18 page)

“But-” Tom began.

“Bother Delilah again, and I’ll horsewhip you.” A single push of powerful arms sent Oliver stumbling through the still-open door. Seconds later Nathan had thrown him out of the house and slammed the door behind him.

“Now,” Nathan said to his aunt when he returned to the library, “why did you believe any of this nonsense?”

“I didn’t know. I couldn’t … it’s impossible to … Tom would have told everybody mat she—”

“I don’t intend to mold my behavior to fit what Tom Oliver or anyone else says. When you know a person of character, no matter what their station, it’s your responsibility to stand up for them. You can’t believe Oliver just because he has money. You can’t be afraid of him for that reason either.”

Both women stared at Nathan. He had said more in the last five minutes than he’d said in the last two weeks. He had defended all people of integrity, had attacked the honor of the wealthy merchants, and had backed a servant’s actions rather than his aunt’s.

“You may want to consult Mrs. Stebbens about dinner,” Nathan said to Serena. It was a dismissal, however politely worded, and they all knew it.

Serena fled in haste.

“Now tell the what really happened,” Nathan said, turning to Delilah. He came closer, so close she could hardly breathe.

“I told you… .”

“Only in part. What did he do?”

“He did exactly what I said. He got angry when I said some unkind things about him. He wanted to punish me.”

“Punish you! How?”

Fury blazed in Nathan’s eyes, and Delilah knew right away she had used the wrong word.

“I don’t mean punish. I suppose he only wanted to scare me, to bolster his vanity by proving he was bigger and stronger man I am”

“Did he touch you?”

“No.”

“Is that the truth?”

“Yes.”

Nathan stared hard at her. Delilah didn’t let her gaze waver.

“Why are you trying to protect him? Why won’t you tell me what happened?” He advanced a step toward her.

“I have.” She stepped back.

“No, you haven’t.” She saw his eyes flicker from her face, hold, and then grow vivid with fiery anger. “How do you explain the bruises on your shoulders?”

She had forgotten them.

His right hand reached out and touched the bruised spot on her left shoulder. As Delilah stood transfixed, his left hand reached out to the right. Delilah hardly knew what was happening to her. She could barely think.

“He didn’t mean to do that. I said he was vulgar and crude, and that made him mad.”

“You shouldn’t have let him touch you. You should have called out.”

She felt she would jump out of her skin as an incredible amount of energy surged through her; then she was sure she would faint from the weakness that invaded her limbs.

“I’ve known Tom all my life. He’s nothing but a braggart. He can’t stand it when a woman doesn’t find him attractive.”

She wanted to run away because she couldn’t control the way he was affecting her; she wanted to stay rooted to the spot and let him touch her again and again. She wanted to tell him how happy she was that he cared about her; she was afraid to say a word lest it break the spell.

“If you knew what he was like, why didn’t you stay away from him?”

Delilah stepped back, breaking contact with Nathan’s fingertips.

“Why are you getting mad at me?” she demanded. “I had no idea anything would happen, or I wouldn’t have opened the door. And if you believe I did anything to suggest I would welcome his advances, I’ll leave this house immediately.”

“I don’t believe anything of the sort” Nathan said, the fire in his eyes cooling. “I suppose I’m feeling guilty for not protecting you, and I’m taking it out on you.”

He stepped forward and allowed his fingers to caress her skin from the arch of her shoulder to the curve of her neck.

“It’s not your fault,” she said.

“Yes, it is. This is my house.”

Nathan stroked her cheek with the back of his hand, gently, tenderly.

“None of this would have happened if I had been home. I’ve been a fool to dunk I could accomplish anything by running away. It won’t happen again.”

Delilah sensed that he was talking to himself more than to her, but she didn’t care. Her whole being seemed to become focused on the hand that moved down the side of her neck, brushing her skin ever so slightly, burning like fire, causing her muscles to go weak.

“I want you to feel safe here.”

“I do.”

“If anything happens, anything at all, you’re to come to me. You understand?”

Delilah nodded. His touch had rendered her helpless. Her whole body shivered uncontrollably.

Nathan didn’t move. He seemed almost as transfixed as Delilah. His fingertips continued to travel over her skin, sending shivers through her. His face came closer to hers until she was burningly aware of his lips.

Nathan’s body stiffened with desire. The feel of Delilah’s skin was like an aphrodisiac. He was consumed with an uncontrollable craving to do more than touch its softness and gaze longingly at her parted lips. He wanted to experience the intoxication of being alone with her, to take her in his arms and smother her with kisses.

Their lips touched. Briefly. Gently.

They drew apart. Each gazed at the other with new eyes.

“You’re beautiful,” Nathan whispered. He cradled her face in his hands. “Very, very beautiful.”

“You’re beautiful, too,” Delilah replied. “I’ve thought so from the moment you opened the door to me. You confused me so much I asked for tea. I didn’t even know how to serve it.”

“I wanted you here so much I invented something for you to do.”

“Reuben almost didn’t let me come.”

“I would have found a way”

Nathan kissed her again. He could feel Delilah’s lips quiver under his, then tense in response. The tension left his body, and his kiss became more insistent, more hungry. But a kiss wasn’t enough. He wanted to caress her, hold her, crush her to his chest.

They broke apart, each aware of what they had done, each aware of how much more they wanted to do.

Just as Nathan was about to yield to the tide sweeping over them both, the door opened and Mrs. Stebbens entered the room.

“Her brother’s come,” she said. “He’s waiting for her down by the river.” She disappeared as silently as she had come.

Nathan stepped back. “Hell see those bruises. He won’t let you stay.”

“Do you want the to go?” Delilah said, her voice sounding as weak as she felt.

“No,” Nathan said softly.

“I’d better see Reuben. He’s not very good at waiting.”

Neither am I.

Chapter Eleven

Delilah fled to her room. She needed time to calm her racing pulse and cool her flushed cheeks. She needed time to sort through the jumble of thoughts in her mind, to analyze the tangle of emotions in her heart.

She also needed something to cover her shoulders. She was completely incapable of answering another question about her bruises.

The hope that Nathan would become interested in her was no longer a daydream. No man touched a woman in that way unless she was very special to him. She could still feel his kiss. He’d kissed her like a man making a wondrous discovery, like a man kissing a woman for the first time—no, like a man who kisses the
woman he cares for,
for the first time. If Mrs. Stebbens hadn’t interrupted them, he might be kissing her still.

She might be touching him.

That thought sent shivers all through her.

From the first, he had held an unexpected fascination for her. And it wasn’t just his handsome face. It was the sheer impact of his physical presence on every part of her anatomy. That made her feel she was about to explode. She had never responded to anyone that way before. Now he had touched her, and she knew she wanted to touch him. Nathan wanted her just as much as she wanted him.

What was she prepared to do about it?

Delilah didn’t know. The differences caused by a war, an ocean, an entirely different way of living, and several thousand pounds had kept her from giving serious thought to anything more man that he was attractive and she wanted him to notice her.

His understanding and sympathy for people like her was more sincere and more profound than the feelings of many of her countrymen. Could she have found her greatest ally in this most unlikely man?

She would have to think about that. After she thought about Reuben.

His arrival served to point up the fact mat she hadn’t done any of the wings she’d been sent to do. She had never wanted to spy on Nathan, but it would be even more difficult now. How could she spy on a man who constantly concerned himself with her comfort and happiness? Who gave more attention to her than his own family? Who looked at her as if he’d never seen a woman before?

It would be a betrayal.

But wouldn’t going back on her word be a betrayal of her family and Captain Shays? Who had the greatest claim on her loyalty—a handsome, seductive stranger, who had every reason to support her enemies, or the family and friends who loved her and had supported her through the most trying hours of her life?

They hadn’t asked her to hurt Nathan or deprive him of anything. They were merely asking for a chance to hold on to their property so they could pay their debts. Wasn’t that a good enough reason to spy on him?

It might have been at one time, but not now. He had reached out to her as his only friend in the midst of enemies, and her feelings had changed. She didn’t know exactly how much, but she could no more think of betraying Nathan than she could Reuben.

And what of Nathan’s feelings for her? His trust? She could never look him in the face if she used his vulnerability to betray him.

But could she five with herself if she did nothing to help her brother and the other poor fanners who were fighting for the little that was left to them?

Delilah couldn’t see any way to reconcile her feelings, at least not now. Firmly putting the question out of her mind, she pulled a light shawl over her shoulders and went down to the river to meet Reuben.

“I was beginning to think that Noyes woman wouldn’t let you out,” Reuben said when she reached him. He was standing at the river’s edge, skimming stones across the smooth surface. The early frosts and dry summer had already begun to turn the leaves to red, gold, and brown. The stalks, topped by dying flowers, crackled in the wind, and hard seeds rattled in their pods.

“I had something to finish up.”

Reuben looked his sister over carefully. “You look all right. I guess they’re treating you nice.”

“Mrs. Noyes doesn’t want me here, and Lester would prefer someone who didn’t argue with him, but Mrs. Stebbens is very good to me. She’s the cook. And I like old Applegate. You’d like him, too. He’s responsible for that garden.”

“I looked it over,” Reuben said, his mouth pulled down at the corners. “We could have a garden like that if we had bottom land and unlimited water.”

“Is the well holding out?”

“It’s a little sluggish, but it’ll last.”

That was a relief. As long as they had water, they could go on. Without it …

“How are the boys?”

“Getting out of hand. Jane doesn’t have the time to keep after them.”

“I wish I-”

“You’re doing more than you ought,” Reuben said, turning his head away so he looked out over the river. “Don’t go wishing you could do more.”

“How’re you getting along?”

“I got the best price ever for the flax. From him,” he said as he motioned toward the house. “And I’ve got more work offered for the oxen than I can do.”

“I’m glad. I was worried.”

“You shouldn’t be. I’m going to have the money for taxes and maybe a little extra. We’ll be all right.” Reuben paused, uncomfortable. “I couldn’t have done it without you.” He still didn’t look at her.

Delilah felt embarrassed. Reuben usually found it impossible to thank anybody for anything. It wasn’t that he was selfish or ungrateful. Saying thanks just didn’t come easily for him.

“Have you decided on a name for the baby?” she asked, changing the subject.

“We’ll call him Johnny if he’s a boy, Delilah if she’s a girl.”

Delilah thought she was going to cry. “You said you were going to call her Margaret?” Margaret was their mother’s name.

“Jane said Mother wasn’t strong enough to stand up to the hard times after the war. She just gave up and died. You didn’t. She would rather our daughter be like you.”

Delilah cried. How could her devotion to these two dear people ever waver? Why did she have so much trouble even remembering it when she was with Nathan?

They talked of other things, mostly the insignificant concerns that filled their days, and they were soon talking as though she had never left home.

Until they saw Nathan coming toward them. Delilah could feel Reuben tense, even without looking at him. She heard it in his voice.

“How’s
he
been treating you?” her brother queried.

“Why do you ask?”

“He’s acting peculiar. I don’t understand him.”

“How do you mean?”

“People owe him twice as much money as anybody else, but he hasn’t taken property from more than half a dozen people.”

“Maybe he doesn’t know enough about things yet.”

“He knows. They weren’t intending to pay him".

Reuben fell silent. Nathan had reached them, and the two men stared at each other for a moment.

“I hear Captain Shays has been rather busy lately,” Nathan said finally. “You with him?”

Reuben’s body became even more rigid.

“You can’t ask him that” Delilah protested. “It’s the same as asking him to incriminate himself.'’

“I don’t care whether Reuben is with the regulators or not” Nathan said. “And I certainly don’t intend to tell the sheriff if he is.”

“But what about …” It was on the tip of Delilah’s tongue to ask about the list in his desk.

“What about Colonel Clarke and the others?” Nathan asked, supplying the question for her.

Delilah nodded.

“I can’t speak for them. While I don’t approve of their methods, I don’t approve of closing the courts either.”