Seeds of Love: Prequel to Lily in Bloom (3 page)

He stepped back to her. His hands came around her waist again pulling her close. Dropping his head close to her ear one more time he whispered hurriedly, “I should tell you that it is because I saved you. That I have touched you already. Your father could mean a great deal to my business and I should stay away from you but I will tell you the truth. We are drawn to each other.”

As soon as he said the words, Regina felt their truth. She closed her eyes and pictured being married to a man like James. Being held in strong arms. Cherished and treasured rather than what she felt with Obediah.

“I wish…” she let her words trail off. She couldn’t say it because she couldn’t marry James. The decision had already been made.

He sighed and stepped back, but the back of his fingers trailed across her cheek. “Find me when you are willing to finish that sentence.” Then he turned and left.

Regina stood there and watched him walk away. She remained long after the door had closed and he was gone.

What options did she have? Did any of them include him? Regina was the oldest daughter and had always done what the family asked of her but she wondered if she could really marry Obediah. What woud happen if she didn’t? Would she ever see her family again? Well, Obediah wanted to move her to Virginia where she was unlikely to see them anyway.

Regina started up the stairs and headed to her room. Her maid removed her gown and unpinned her hair.

“Will there be anything else, miss?”

“No, thank you. Good night, Mabel.”  Regina sat at her dressing table. She put her hair in a simple braid and looked at her reflection. She turned her face from side to side, assessing her appearance.

James had called her beautiful. Actually, he had said she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She hadn’t really paid attention, but she supposed she was pleasing to look at. He was certainly handsome. He sent her heart racing every time she looked at him.

Her mother stepped into the room. “Regina,” the other woman’s voice held worry.

Regina stood and crossed the room. Her mother held her arms out to her and she stepped into them. “Oh, Mama.”

“I know.” They held each other.

“What is to be done about it now?” Regina’s voice caught as she spoke.

“You aren’t married yet. The announcements haven’t even gone out. We will fix this. We have to.”

“Oh Mother, please. I beg you. I can’t love Obediah. I don’t even like him.” Regina felt tears prick her eyes.

“I know. I don’t think there is a less lovable man in the whole of the country.” Her mother shook her head.

“But Papa,” Regina started but paused as her father walked into the room.

“What is wrong with the two of you?” His eyes traveled up and down the two of them embracing.

“We were discussing Obediah and his dear cousin, Margaret.” Her mother straightened her shoulders.

“What about them?” He straightened as well. Battle lines were being drawn. Regina’s parents loved each other, but they could disagree terribly. Usually, Regina was the peacemaker.

“They are odious. And Obediah is even worse with her here. And he plans to move our daughter in with them both. It can’t be done.”

“It has to be done. Contracts are being signed. Agreements have been made.”

“Our daughter is not a business deal. She is a person and her happiness matters.”

“I have given my word, I won’t go back on it.” Her father’s voice was rising.

“You will. My daughter will not marry that man.” Her mother was now nose to nose with her father.

“It is my right to arrange a match for my daughter.”

“It was my father’s right as well. But that didn’t stop me from marrying you instead. He was wrong. I was right. Look at the life you have built for us.”

“And I wish to continue that life for us through this match.”

“Obediah will never be what you are, no matter how smart he his. He won’t even stand up to his cousin, who now wants to look at your books. Don’t think I didn’t catch that. He will never sit atop a great empire. Once you are gone, it will crumble in his hands.”

Her father threw up his hands and stomped out of the room. Regina’s mother followed, continuing her tirade. Regina realized that her hands were clutching her nightgown at her neck. She slowly relaxed them. Was this one of the options James had talked about? Somehow, she didn’t think so.

He had said she was beautiful. She knew her family was wealthy. But without her father’s approval, her wealth didn’t mean much. She had breeding. Her maiden name would lend a man credibility.

She had love to give as well. James’ face rose in her mind. The feel of his strong arms around her.

Was he one of the options? That made her smile and she realized it was the first real smile she could remember in weeks.

He had said that he should be the first one she told. While she couldn’t imagine telling her father all of this she could picture being held in James’ arms in vivid detail. Was that enough for her to defy her father’s wishes?

SEEDS OF LOVE

CHAPTER THREE

Regina hurried down
to breakfast the next morning, anxious to hear what decision her parents had made. Her skirts billowed behind her as she rounded the corner to the dining room. She stopped abruptly at the sight of Obediah and her father deep in conversation. Her mother sat stiffly at the other end of the table.

Her mother had lost the discussion, that much was obvious. Regina’s shoulders slumped. Obediah stood and came around the table. “Stand up straight, Regina. You are far prettier when you don’t slouch.”

“Good morning, Obediah. It is always a pleasure.” She walked past him to take her seat at the table. She glanced at her father, who was staring absently at her.

Regina picked at her food as her father and Obediah reviewed the prospective costs of their South Carolina-based business.

Clarissa flounced into the room and grinned at Obediah as she took her seat. “Are you two talking about business again?” She pouted her lips as she heaped food onto her plate.

Regina watched in fascination as Obediah pushed the papers away from him and smiled at her sister. “Too true.”

Regina cocked an eyebrow. Had she said that, Obediah would have surely chastised her for interrupting. Or he would have said she didn’t understand the importance of what they were doing.

She took a few more bites of her food. Perhaps Obediah was as unhappy marrying her as she was him. There must be another way.

“Regina, let’s go shopping this morning. Shall we?” Her mother gave her a stiff smile.

“Of course,” she replied. Time away from the house would help clear her head.

“Oh I want to come too,” Clarissa called from her chair.

“Not today, dear,” her mother stated but her father’s sharp eyes rose from the paper he was looking at.

“We’ll leave after tea. If you’ll excuse me, I have some correspondence to attend to.” Her mother rose from the table.

Regina nodded. She took a final bite of her food and then she too stood to leave the table.

“Regina, I want to talk to you later,” her father called as she parted.

“Yes, Papa.” Regina sighed. Those were never fun conversations.

Two hours later, she and her mother stopped for a bite to eat after two hours of trying on dresses in stores. It wasn’t that Regina didn’t like to look pretty. She did. She just normally found staring at endless bolts of fabric rather tedious. But it hadn’t been like that today. Today she had pondered how each matched her eyes or the color of her skin. Did it complement her hair? Would James Carter think it attractive on her?

She blushed as tea and cakes arrived for her and her mother. She must stop thinking about him. Her father wouldn’t bend and she just couldn’t go against his wishes.

As if he materialized from her mind, Regina looked up to see James stride through the door. He looked so handsome and strong. Several ladies smiled at him as he passed and Regina felt niggles of jealousy rise in her chest. She shook her head. She couldn’t think like that. James was not hers.

His eyes caught hers and he approached their table. Regina found herself breathing rapidly. As he reached the table, her mother stood in greeting and she followed suit.

“Lovely to see you, ladies.” He smiled at both of them, his eyes lingering on Regina. She blushed in response.

“Please join us,” her mother offered.

Regina’s eyebrows went up. Her mother didn’t seem at all surprised to see James.

“Thank you, Mrs. Lafayette.” He took the empty chair, and everyone sat.

“What will you do while you stay in town?” her mother asked.

“I will conduct business as needed and then return to Maine.”

“How long will that be?”

“Perhaps a week.” He shrugged.

“That soon.” Regina spoke before she could hold it in and she clamped her lips together. It was unlike her to speak so rashly.

He gave her a warm look. “My business does best when I am there to run it.”

“Of course.”

“If you are not leaving till next week, you must join us at Senator Graham’s ball tomorrow night. There will be lots of perspective clients for you and I know my family would love to have you in attendance.”

“Oh, I couldn’t—“ he started.

“Don’t be silly. You will be my personal guest. The senator won’t mind at all.” Her mother gave James a bright smile. “Come to the house by six and we shall all travel together.”

James nodded and Regina’s insides did a funny flop. Would he ask her to dance? She imagined what it would be like to be held in his arms on the dance floor.

James’ voice snapped her out of her daydream, “Perhaps I will see you later this afternoon.”

“What?” Regina looked blankly at him. She had clearly missed some of the conversation.

“I am meeting with your father today.” He gave her a patient smile.

“Perhaps,” she whispered a slight flush staining her cheeks. She did not normally see her father’s business guests but somehow she would find a way to see James later today.

His knee gently brushed against her own.  Jitters skittered all over her skin. Her mother cleared her throat. “Do you like Maine, Mr. Carter?”

“Very much. We live just south of Portland, so not too far from the city. But we are right on the ocean. The house is just on a bay and we have an amazing view of the water.”

“It sounds lovely.” Regina beamed. She had always loved their trips to the water. They were some of her favorite times. While she enjoyed New York, she had always preferred the quiet of the country.

“You like the ocean?” His gaze was intent upon her.

“Very much. Sometimes, the only sound you hear is the rushing of the waves. It drowns out every noise and then it is just you and your thoughts.” Regina bit her lip. “But I don’t need to tell you about the ocean.”

His gaze was unwavering. “Your voice, your thoughts are unique. I have felt that way about the ocean too but never expressed it so eloquently. Thank you for sharing.”

She gave a single nod, and as she looked up, she caught her mother smiling softly. “Regina has always been happier with a quieter life. Much as I will miss her in New York, I know she will enjoy being out of the city.”