Rebel Temptress (Historical Romance) (24 page)

"Let us not talk of apples and farming," Meagan said, sitting down beside Adam. "I find it a boring subject." She stared boldly at the dark, handsome Yankee, and no one in the room missed the message her blue eyes sent to Adam.

Darcy came to the door and announced that dinner was ready, and as everyone stood up to go to the dining room, Meagan linked her arm through Adam's. "Later, after we dine," she told him, "I want to hear all about your home in Boston. I have never been to Massachusetts, and I confess I would like to visit there one day."

"Perhaps you shall, Mrs. Elderman," Adam told her in a deep voice that thrilled her down to her toes.

Over dinner the conversation was light. An outside observer might have thought that the occupants of the room were enjoying themselves. Meagan was the center of attention, and Honor was silent as she watched her sister work her magic, a magic that had never failed in the past when there was a man she wanted to charm.

"And did you enjoy Paris, Mr. O'Roarke?" Meagan asked.

"But of course, what young man would not be enchanted by Paris in the springtime?"

"Did you meet anyone special while you were there, or perhaps there is a lady at home in Boston who awaits your return?"

"No, there is no one," he said in a cold voice.

"How sad," Meagan said, giving him a smile that showed her perfect teeth. "I cannot credit that someone has not already snapped you up."

"Meagan!" Maggie scolded, feeling embarrassed by the way Meagan was monopolizing Mr. O'Roarke's attention. "Mayhap Mr. O'Roarke does not want to discuss his personal life with strangers."

"Not at all, Mrs. Daniels. My life is open to inspection," Adam told her politely.

Honor thought the dinner would never end. Why had Adam come to Green Rivers? Was he interested in Meagan, or had he done it merely to strike back at her for not accepting his proposal? She barely tasted the food. She noticed the smug look on Jordan's face, and wondered at the reason for it. He was being very attentive to her, filling her plate and making little innuendos where the others could hear.

"You are not eating, my dear. I worry about you, you are much too thin."

Taking a spoonful of the custard, she looked at him without comment.

"How would you like it if we went into Richmond for a few days, honey, just the two of us, We never did have a honeymoon, you know. I am sure Mother would look after Aaron for us."

"I would be delighted to look after my grandson," Maggie said brightly, thinking it would be good for Jordan and Honor to get away from Meagan for a while.

"See, honey, with Aaron taken care of, you cannot say no."

Honor was angry. What was Jordan trying to do? He knew she had no intention of going away with him. He also knew she could not say so in front of Adam. "We shall discuss it later, Jordan," she said quietly. She felt Adam's eyes on her from the other end of the table, and, although she had avoided looking directly into his eyes all evening, she now felt she could not look away, his eyes were so cold and accusing.

Honor stood up and placed her napkin on her plate. "If you gentlemen will excuse us, we ladies shall leave you to your brandy and cigars."

Adam stood up, not wanting to be left alone with Jordan Daniels. "If you have no objections, Daniels, why do we not join the ladies? I cannot stay long, and it has been quite some time since I have enjoyed the company of three such charming ladies."

"By all means, then, O'Roarke, let us join the ladies," Jordan told him.

Honor led the way to the sitting room, and after everyone was seated, she began to serve the coffee that Darcy had placed on a tray near her chair. First she poured Adam's coffee and added cream to it without thinking, for she knew how he liked it, having had coffee with him on several occasions while he occupied her home. The gesture was not lost on Meagan, nor did it go unnoticed by Jordan.

"Tell me, Mr. O'Roarke," Meagan said, smiling over the rim of her cup, "how do you take to farming? I confess you look nothing like one would expect a farmer to look."

"Would it surprise you to learn I have farming in my blood, Mrs. Elderman? And that I own a farm outside Boston, called Penrose?"

Meagan studied his handsome face. There was something fascinating about this man. He had a magnetism that seemed to draw her to him. Her eyes wandered over his broad chest. She noted his hands and the long, lean fingers. One could see the strength in them. She wondered what it would feel like to be caressed by those hands. Meagan felt her body tremble. She would soon find out, she thought.

"I wonder if you would consent to call me Meagan?" she said boldly.

"I would deem it an honor, but only if you will call me Adam."

She laughed delightedly. "You were aptly named, Adam. Beware I do not play the role of Eve and entice you to take a bite of the forbidden fruit."

Maggie gasped. "Meagan! You will have Mr. O'Roarke thinking that you are . . . that we . . ." Poor Maggie was at a loss for words. "I am sure I do not know," she finished, feeling flustered.

Jordan laughed. "Mother, you know Meagan was always bold and daring. Perhaps Mr. O'Roarke likes his women that way. Not everyone can be as quiet and unassuming as my wife."

"La, Jordan, you will have Adam thinking my sister is a little mouse."

Honor cringed inside. Most probably she did come off as mousy, as one who could not stand up and fight for what she wanted out of life. She was forced to listen to the insulting conversation, knowing there were many not so hidden innuendoes in it.

"I have found your wife to have great strength of character. It is a quiet sort of strength that one cannot see, you just know it is there. Not many women could have reacted so well under some of the circumstances I have seen her in," Adam said, his voice deep with feeling and his eyes soft as he looked at her face.

"That is true," Maggie spoke up. "We would have lost Green Rivers had it not been for Honor, and when Clayton died she was a wall of strength for me to lean on."

"She has the strength of my Aunt Amanda," Meagan said. "Honor was always able to look after herself, while I always needed a strong man to lean on." She moved closer to Adam. "I wonder if you would allow me to visit Landau, Adam. I still think of it as my home, you know."

Maggie sniffed at Meagan's audacity. Had the girl no shame? Once more she was relieved that Jordan had married Honor and not her red-headed sister. She noted the look in Meagan's eyes. It was the look of a hungry cat stalking its kill. No, let Meagan pursue the Yankee, maybe then Jordan would see her for what she was.

"You are welcome to visit Landau any time you wish, Meagan," Adam said politely. He recognized Meagan for what she was, and he felt no attraction for her. Maybe if he had never met Honor he would have been intrigued by her sister, but only for a time. He had never been drawn to a woman who tried so obviously to entrap a man. The contrast between the two sisters was all the more apparent as they sat in the same room. Adam's heart felt heavy, noticing the attention Jordan had lavished on Honor all evening. At the moment he held Honor's hand, and Adam felt as if his heart was dying inside him. How he loved her. If he could help her by removing her sister from her life, it would be an easy thing to accomplish. He was aware of his power over women, and he knew that Meagan would be an easy conquest for him.

Maggie stood up and Adam rose to his feet politely.

"If you will all excuse me, I think I will have an early night." She forced herself to smile at the Yankee. "Mr. O'Roarke, you must come to our home again."

"I thank you for your hospitality, Mrs. Daniels, and I must say you have a lovely home." Adam knew that Jordan's mother disapproved of him and that it was an effort for her to be polite. He also knew she wanted him and Meagan to like each other. Maggie Daniels was a lot shrewder than he had thought at first.

Honor stood up hesitantly. "I, too, wish to be excused. It has been rather a long day."

Jordan was on his feet instantly. "I am sure Meagan and Mr. O'Roarke will understand if we both wish them a good night, isn't that right?" he asked as he took Honor's hand and drew her toward the door. "My wife and I bid you a good night, Mr. O'Roarke."

Honor wanted to jerk her hand free from Jordan. He was intimating that they would be going to bed together, and she was embarrassed that Adam would draw the wrong conclusion.

Adam bowed slightly but made no comment. His eyes were half closed as he looked at Honor. "Good night, Mrs. Daniels," he said.

Honor heard the accusation in the tone of his voice, and saw what looked like hurt in his eyes. "Good night, Mr. O'Roarke," she said, allowing Jordan to escort her upstairs. Then she turned to him at the door of her bedroom. "Good night, Jordan."

He placed his hands on either side of her face, trapping her between the door and himself.

"It seems that your Adam O'Roarke is enamored of Meagan. How quickly he forgot you when Meagan turned on her charms."

Honor could not have felt worse if he had struck her. "Let me go, Jordan."

"Let me come into your room, Honor. I have paid for my indiscretions. Have you not forgiven me yet?"

"I do not wish to discuss this with you, Jordan, and I will never allow you to come into my bedroom."

"Never is a long time, Honor." His hand drifted down to her neck and over her breasts. "Do you know that even in your rags you outshine your sister? I could hardly keep my eyes off you tonight."

"I noticed you could not keep your hands off me either. Had we not had a guest you would never have behaved so boldly."

His hand moved to her hair. "I wanted to show O'Roarke that you belonged to me. He can never have you," he said in a passionate voice.

"As you said, Adam was only interested in my sister," Honor said.

"I wonder. Can a man who has tasted your lips ever want to kiss your sister?"

Honor hated the way he was looking at her. She had seen that look before and was frightened by it. "It seems you can," Honor said as she felt for the doorknob behind her. She turned the handle, opened the door, and going inside, bolted it. Hearing Jordan's laughter, she had the urge to run downstairs and throw herself into Adam's arms and beg for his protection. But the urge vanished as she realized that would be impossible. Undressing, she slipped between the covers without bothering to light the lamp. Her body began to tremble. Tonight had been almost beyond endurance, and now she wondered what was taking place at that moment between Adam and Meagan. She found she could not bear the thought of Adam's making love to her sister as he had to her. Closing her eyes she could remember how his hands had felt against her naked body, and how it had felt to be loved by him. "I love you, Adam, do not betray me," she cried.

16

"Well, Adam, it would seem we are alone," Meagan said, as her face creased in a frown. She was wondering why everyone had left her alone with Adam. It was completely unheard of. Then she smiled. Whatever their reasoning had been, she would turn it to her advantage.

"Perhaps I should be going," Adam said.

Meagan patted the cushion beside her. "Come and sit beside me for a while. I would like to hear more about you."

Adam sat down, his mind wandering upstairs to Honor. Was she at that very moment lying in Jordan Daniels' arms? Oh, God, why had he come here tonight? Why did he not just return to Boston?

"Tell me," Meagan asked, "what went on between you and my sister?"

Adam looked at her quickly. "It would lose something in the telling," he said, not wanting to discuss Honor with her sister.

"I am aware that you and Jordan quarreled over my sister."

"Did Jordan tell you?"

"No, I am not privy to his confidences."

"Strange, I thought he would have told you."

Meagan frowned. "Why should you think so?"

"Do not play innocent with me, Meagan, I know all about you and Jordan."

Meagan opened her mouth in surprise. "What do you mean?"

"I do not think you want me to spell it out for you. Let me just say that I know Jordan cannot make up his mind as to which sister he wishes to bed."

Meagan laughed delightedly. "And do you have the same problem, Adam?"

His eyes flashed dangerously. What an unscrupulous little baggage she was. It did not bother her in the least that he knew about her and her sister's husband.

"I may very well find myself tumbling between the sheets with you," he said in a deep voice that caused Meagan's eyes to flame with sudden passion.

She reached out her hand and rested it against his broad chest. "A wise choice, Adam," she whispered, "for had you bedded my sister you would soon have tired of her." Her lips were very near his, and she saw the fire in his blue eyes.

"Not after a hundred years," he said as his lips covered hers, leaving her to wonder at his words. But she did not wonder for long, for he ignited a fire inside of her body and she clung to him, thinking she had never met a man who was so exciting. Not even Jordan had stirred her to the core of her womanhood as this man did. When Adam raised his head, Meagan saw no answering fire in his blue eyes. Rather, they held an expression she could not identify.

Meagan did not want Adam to think badly of her. She knew she had done some awful things in the past, but she was changed, and she wanted him to see it. "Adam, I know you are disgusted by what you think I am, and maybe in the past I have done much to be ashamed of. I admit I sought out my sister's husband. I have tried to make amends to my sister, but she is not very forgiving. She will not even forgive Jordan, who is her husband, let alone myself."

"It seemed tonight that she has forgiven him."

"I noticed that little display between Jordan and Honor tonight, and I do not know what Jordan is up to, but I can assure you if you were to go upstairs right this moment you would find that my sister and her husband occupy separate bedrooms."

Adam closed his eyes for a moment. All of a sudden his heart felt as if a weight had been lifted from it. Honor was not sleeping with Jordan. His relief caused him to speak more kindly to Meagan. "The hour is late, Meagan, and I must not overstay my welcome. I would deem it an honor if you could come over to Landau tomorrow."

"I got the impression you did not like me very well, Adam."

"Do not always believe what you see, Meagan. Sometimes appearances can be deceiving," Adam said, knowing at the moment he was being very deceitful. "Tell me you will come over tomorrow."

"Yes, I will look forward to it."

Adam stood up and Meagan walked him to the front door, wishing he would kiss her once more, but knowing she dared not ask it of him.

"Until tomorrow, Adam."

He bowed to her, and she watched as he walked down the steps, mounting his horse, and rode away. Her heart was beating erratically. He could arouse her with a touch, a word, or just a look. Love that had always eluded her had come to her so suddenly, and from an unexpected source. What had gone on between Adam and Honor? Why had he bought Landau? She would seek the answers to her questions.

She ran up the stairs to her room, feeling as lighthearted as a young girl with her first love.

* * *

Jordan lay in his bed wondering where this was all going to end. If Adam O’Roarke would remove Meagan from his life, it would smooth a path for him, a path he hoped would lead Honor to him. He wanted her, and deep inside he knew he would have to win her love.

The last couple of months he had visited Madame DeVane's House of Pleasure regularly, for he was a man and could not go too long without a woman. It had been totally unsatisfying to him, however, for he wanted what only Honor could give him. He would not pay any more visits to Madame De Vane's, he thought; it would not do for Honor to hear of his indiscretion. Time was all he needed, time for Meagan to ensnare Adam O'Roarke.

* * *

Meagan walked beside Adam O'Roarke, her green silk gown rustling in the wind. She held a matching parasol to protect her delicate skin from the harmful rays of the sun from under which she peered up at Adam boldly.

"Let us walk in the apple orchard, Adam."

"No!" he answered her abruptly, not wanting to be in the apple orchard with her. It was his own private place, where he went when he was troubled, for there he could almost feel Honor’s presence. “Perhaps you would like to visit the gravesite of your family instead?”

“Not really. I do not like to visit the dead, it is too depressing. Besides, the only ones I know who are buried there are my mother and father and my Aunt Amanda. I hardly remember the former, and I did not really care for the latter.”

Adam stopped beside her. She had snapped her parasol shut since they were standing under the shade of a giant sycamore tree.

"I never did know what happened to your mother and father. They died when you and Honor were quite young, I believe."

"Yes, in a boating accident. That is why Honor and I came to live with our aunt."

"And you had no regard for your aunt?"

"I loved her, of course, but she was very stern and old-fashioned. Honor was her favorite, a fact that she did not bother to hide."

"Was it very difficult for you growing up, then?"

Meagan laughed. "Not at all, Adam. I found ways to get around my aunt. Some of them she may have found out about, others she may have gone to her grave without discovering."

"So she was not stern with Honor?"

"No," Meagan said thoughtfully. "Honor was of a different disposition than myself. She always seemed weak and subservient, or so I thought at the time, but as you observed last night, my sister has a quiet strength. She has very high ideals and expects everyone else to behave much the same as herself."

"Yes, I have found that to be true," Adam said in a voice deep with feeling.

"It has not escaped my notice that you admire my sister a great deal. She will never leave Jordan, you know."

Adam looked away from her with the pretense of watching a hawk that circled above them. "Was your marriage to Mr. Elderman a happy one?"

"Yes. You may not believe this, but Horace was very good to me, and I was sad when he died. I believe in time Honor will find the same contentment with Jordan that I had with Horace."

"You do not think Honor loves Jordan?"

"I know she once did, or at least thought she did. Yes, perhaps she does."

"What would you say, Meagan, if I asked you to go with me to Boston?"

Meagan's heart skipped a beat. "In what capacity, Adam?"

"I do not believe I shall ever marry, so I cannot ask you to be my wife, but I believe you and I could deal quite well together."

"Most probably I should be insulted by your proposal, but instead I find it intriguing. Why is it you have no wish to take a wife? I thought all men wanted a son to carry on their name."

"For me to marry, I would have to love, and I do not think I will ever give my heart to any woman."

Meagan felt his words as a personal rebuff, but only for a moment. It would be a challenge to make this handsome man change his mind. "I believe I will turn down your offer to become your mistress, intriguing as it may be."

Adam smiled. "What makes you think I was offering you the position of my mistress? I may have been offering you a job as my housekeeper."

"And were you?"

"I am not sure."

Meagan looked up at him. "You may not be sure, but I am. I will break through this reserve you seem to have erected around yourself, never doubt it. What was she like, this woman who hurt you so badly?"

Adam took her arm and steered her in the direction of the house. "Come, it grows late, and I have things to attend to."

"But I have not made the acquaintance of your sister yet."

"Had I wanted you for my housekeeper, I would introduce you to my sister, but as my mistress I would never let you make her acquaintance," Adam said insultingly.

Meagan felt angry at his hateful words. She somehow got the impression he was striking out at her because she had come too close to the truth. Some woman had indeed hurt him badly. Was it Honor? Wouldn't it be ironic if Adam, who she now believed she loved, loved her sister, Honor? Her blue eyes sparkled as she prepared to do battle. "We shall see, Adam, we shall see."

He escorted her to the waiting carriage.

"Will you come over to Green Rivers to see me, Adam?" she asked, fearing his answer would be no.

Adam handed her into the carriage and stepped back a pace. The sunlight glistened on his ebony hair, and   her   eyes   moved   over   his   handsome, almost arrogant features.

"If you are not doing anything, I would like to call on you, say a week from Friday."

"I shall look forward to it. Can I expect you for dinner?"

"No," he answered quickly, not wanting to be subjected to spending another night watching Honor and her husband together. "I will call on you about two o'clock, if that will be convenient. Perhaps we could go for a drive."

"That would be delightful. I will pack a lunch and I know a place down by the river that would be perfect for a picnic."

"Until Friday then," Adam said, signaling for Chauncey to drive on. He did not wait for them to leave, but walked up the steps and into the house. He was weary of this life and wanted to return home. Maybe he would be able to leave soon. It would take very little to sweep Meagan from Honor's life, forever. He knew all about women, and he knew Meagan would put up very little resistance when he decided to ensnare her.

What he would do with her once he got her to Boston, he did not know. He was angry that he had no desire for her. She was a damn beautiful woman, and he cursed to himself. His body craved what he had found with Honor. Adam tried to push his love for her aside. She had bewitched him, made him unwilling to make love to anyone but her. He must prove to himself that he could still bed a woman, and what more willing partner could he find than the beautiful Meagan?

* * *

Meagan found Honor in the pantry, storing apples that she planned to dry later in the year.

"These apples are not going to taste good no matter which way they are prepared. The crop is all but ruined this year," Honor said.

"How you can go about each day doing such mundane chores is beyond me," Meagan answered. "It would bore me to tears."

"Someone has to do it, Meagan. You would become very upset if you had no food on your plate at mealtime and no clean linen on your bed at night."

Meagan stretched her hands over her head. "Better you than me. I have more exciting ways to spend my time." She studied her sister's face. "I spent the afternoon with Adam O'Roarke."

Honor tried to ignore her sister. "Excuse me. I must put the linen away," she said, brushing past Meagan.

Meagan refused to be put off however. She gathered up an armload of linens and followed Honor upstairs. "What would you think if I told you I am going to marry Adam O'Roarke?"

Honor could not hide the misery in her eyes. "Has he asked you?"

Meagan handed her the linens. "Not yet, but he will."

"Is that what you want, Meagan?" Honor asked as she stacked the clean linens neatly on the shelves of the cupboard.

"Yes, I find that I love Adam as I never thought it possible to love a man."

Honor wanted to scream. She wanted to fly at her sister and scratch the smile from her face. It was happening all over again. Meagan would ever be there to take what Honor wanted most in life. Honor knew that it should not matter to her, she could never have Adam for herself. But it did matter, it mattered so much.

"You have not known Adam for very long," Honor said, trying to conceal what she was feeling.

"It disturbs you that I am seeing Adam, does it not?"

"Why should it?" Honor said, placing the last of the linens on the shelf and closing the door.