Surrender to the Fury (13 page)

“I hope your solitude has been productive. You’ve had plenty of time to contemplate your crime.”

“It’s the punishment I’ve been thinking about.”
Her expression was guarded. “Have you come to tell me when I’m to be sent to prison?”

“I haven’t decided,” Nick said sourly. She didn’t sound the least bit contrite. Why should she? She was a true defender of the South.

“Why have you come?”

“Damned if I know.”

“What have you done to Gar?”

“Nothing that he didn’t deserve. Your lover is a spy; he’ll be dealt with accordingly.”

“Are you going to torture me, too?”

Nick flushed, enraged that Aimee would think he’d stoop to torture. “Perhaps, if that’s what you’re expecting.”

“I always expect the worst from you.”

Nick sent her an oblique look. “It’s taken me all day to calm down enough to speak with you without wringing your beautiful little neck. You certainly have a way of destroying a man’s ego, Mrs. Trevor. You must have had a lot of practice at seduction, for I could have sworn there was something special between us.”

Aimee lowered her eyes. Oh, yes, Nick Drummond, she thought. There was indeed something special between us. You demanded my soul, and I gladly, happily, ecstatically, surrendered it to you. With a note of constraint in her voice, she said, “You’re much too fanciful, Captain. I did only what was necessary, and I’m not sorry. I’d do it again if it helped the Confederacy.”

“I’m sorry for you, Aimee Trevor,” Nick said, “but it’s Brand who truly has my sympathy. You should have thought of him before spying for a Confederacy that is all but defeated.”

“Damn you, Nick Drummond, for being a heartless Yankee blue-belly!”

Consumed by anger and frustration, she flew at him, sobbing and pounding his chest with small fists, cursing the day he had arrived at Tall Oaks, cursing their first meeting five years ago. Against his better judgment, Nick’s arms closed around her, holding her close while she poured out her rage and frustration. For a brief moment he wanted to lift her chin, smother her lips with his, feel her passion build as he claimed her body in the most basic way. But in the nick of time he remembered how she had lied to him, used him, betrayed him, and he shoved her away, fighting the lust that shuddered through him.

Aimee gasped in dismay as Nick flung her away from him, leaving the room in angry strides. She hadn’t even realized she had been clinging to him with almost frantic desperation, or seeking comfort where none was forthcoming. For one blissful moment she felt so secure in his arms,” she never wanted to leave them. The comforting warmth of his big body made her forget that Nick Drummond was the man responsible for some of the most traumatic moments in her life. A man she had vowed to hate.

The following morning Aimee watched from the window as Garson Pinder was loaded in a wagon and taken from Tall Oaks. Nick and a small group of mounted soldiers served as escorts. She supposed Gar was being taken to prison, and wondered why she had been left behind. She knew it wasn’t because he felt sympathy for her, for there wasn’t a sympathetic bone in Nick Drummond’s
rather impressive body. And since she was still under lock and key, she suspected that he had no intention of freeing her. Just what exactly did he have in mind for her?

Nick was gone for a week. Lieutenant Dill was left in charge of Tall Oaks, and his orders differed little from his superior’s as far as Aimee was concerned. Her meals were brought to her three times a day. Brand was allowed to visit morning and evening, and she wasn’t mistreated in any way. She was even allowed to bathe in the big brass tub upon request. Sergeant Jones was usually the one who carried in the tub and filled it with hot water. When she asked to see Savannah her request was denied. But Savannah was a resourceful woman and Aimee prayed her companion would find a way to bend the rules.

Nick reached headquarters with his prisoner and turned him over immediately to intelligence. Then he reported to Colonel Brooks, his superior. Brooks sat back in his chair while Nick explained the circumstances leading to Garson Pinder’s apprehension.

“Good work, Captain,” Brooks said. “We’ve been after this man for a long time. You say there was a woman involved? Where is she?”

“Yes, sir,” Nick replied, his tension mounting. What if Brooks denied his request? “She’s under house arrest at Tall Oaks.”

Brooks’s shaggy eyebrows rose askance. “Why haven’t you brought her here for questioning along with Pinder?”

“I didn’t think it would serve any purpose,” Nick explained. “Mrs. Trevor is a widow and
mother of a young son. I’m convinced this is her first offense, and I’ll personally vouch for her if you’ll allow her to remain under my custody for the duration of the war. I—I knew Mrs. Trevor before the war, Colonel, and I feel prison is too harsh a punishment for her.”

Brooks gave Nick a severe look. “You say you knew her before the war? Fraternization is frowned upon, Captain Drummond. Are you and the lady intimately involved?”

“I hope you won’t insist I answer that question, Colonel. Suffice it to say that my relationship with Mrs. Trevor, whether intimate or not, has no bearing on my duty. I wouldn’t recommend sending any woman to prison given the same set of circumstances. I don’t believe she is a danger to the Union. Her lo—Garson Pinder coaxed her into spying, and I personally guarantee she’ll not be afforded another opportunity to do so again. It’s her young son I’m concerned about. The lad is only four years old, and he lost his father early in the war.”

“Hmmm,” Brooks mused, drumming his fingers on the desk. “You plead quite eloquently for the lady’s life. You’re right about prison, though; it’s a vile place for a lady.” Fortunately Brooks was a compassionate man with a family of his own. “And you say there is a small child involved?”

Nick nodded. “I doubt Brand would survive without his mother to see to his welfare. They were both near starvation when I showed up at Tall Oaks.”

“Very well, Captain, you’ve convinced me. But I’ll expect you to make damn certain this woman never spies again. Your career is at stake in this
one. You’re right about the war nearing its conclusion, and Sherman’s sweep through Georgia is the beginning of the end of the Confederacy. I’m convinced that only months remain till the ultimate defeat of the Rebels.”

“You have my word, sir; Mrs. Trevor will cause no further trouble.”

Nick arrived back at Tall Oaks in a bleak mood. He had won Aimee’s freedom from a northern prison, but by so doing, had condemned himself to being her keeper. By rights he should despise her for the calculated way she had seduced him, but deep down inside the hidden chambers of his heart, an emotion that had nothing to do with hatred took root and refused to die. He recalled the sweetness of her kisses, the heat of her body, the incredible passion she was capable of. Lord help him!

Nick received a tepid welcome from Brand when he returned to Tall Oaks. Obviously the lad blamed Nick for keeping his mother locked in her room. Savannah said little, though her accusing eyes spoke volumes. Nick motioned Dill to accompany him into the study.

“Any problems, Lieutenant?” he asked crisply.

“No, sir,” Dill responded. “Everything went smoothly. What about you? Did you turn in the prisoner?”

“He’s in good hands. Let’s hope by now intelligence has gleaned some information from him.”

“And—er—the lady, sir? What about Mrs. Trevor?”

“She’s been released into my custody. Colonel
Brooks agrees with me that no purpose would be served by imprisoning her this late in the war.”

“Is she to be kept under lock and key?”

“For the time being.”

“She’s barely eating enough to keep a bird alive. Why not give her the run of the house?”

“I’ll consider it when the time is right.”

Aimee knew Nick was back when she heard his deep voice echoing through the hallway. She wished he would come and tell her what was to become of her. Did he derive some perverse pleasure from deliberately keeping her in the dark about her fate? Later that night she heard him pass her room, pause briefly, then hurry on by. Damnable provoking Yankee!

Aimee lay on the bed, but her eyes refused to close. Sleep eluded her most nights, due to her intolerable position as Nick’s prisoner. The house was quiet. Presumably everyone was sleeping. Suddenly Aimee became aware of a strange sound at her door and flipped over on her side. With a sense of foreboding she watched the door slide open on noiseless hinges—then she recognized the slightly stooped figure of Savannah.

“Savannah, how—”

“Shhh, honey, you know I’d find a way to see you. Are you all right? Dem Yankees ain’t hurt you, have dey?” She pushed the door shut, but in her haste, it failed to latch properly.

“Oh, Savannah, how glad I am to see you!” Aimee cried, flinging her arms around the older woman’s bent shoulders. “How did you get in? Does Captain Drummond know you’re here?”

“One question at a time, honey. I found another
set of keys. I knew dey were around here somewheres, and it took me a while to find dem. I reckon Captain Drummond would have my hide if he knew I was here.”

“Tell me what’s going on, Savannah. Has anyone mentioned what’s to become of me?”

Savannah shook her head sadly. “I ain’t heard a word. But somehow I don’t think de captain wants to send you to prison. If he did, he would have taken you away with Mr. Garson. Why did you do it, honey? I done tole you not to interfere.”

They spoke together quietly for a spell, unaware that Nick, alerted by a sixth sense, was awake. Something compelled him to walk out into the hall and pause outside Aimee’s door. The soft murmur of voices captured his undivided attention. A spurt of anger shot through Nick when he noticed the door wasn’t completely latched, and he eased it open a tiny bit, wondering how Aimee’s visitor had obtained entrance when the key rested in the pocket of the pants he now wore.

“Dere’s somethin’ between you and Captain Drummond, ain’t there?” Nick heard Savannah ask Aimee.

“You’re imagining things,” Aimee scoffed softly.

“I’ve been doin’ a heap of thinkin’ lately, ’bout Brand’s papa, and lots of things are fallin’ into place.”

Aimee froze. If Savannah had figured out the identity of Brand’s real father, sooner or later so would Nick.

“What exactly is falling into place, Savannah?” Nick demanded.

Savannah started violently.

Aimee groaned in dismay.

Nick walked boldly into the room and lit a lamp.

“Well, Savannah, do you want to tell me about this great discovery you have just made?”

“No, sir,” Savannah gulped, shaking her head. “I don’t reckon I do.”

“Then perhaps you can explain how you got in here.”

Silence.

“Savannah!”

“I found another key. It ain’t right dat you should keep Aimee locked up like an animal. She’s only one small woman amongst all you Yankees. Look at her, Captain. She looks right peaked to me. And Brand is so upset, he cries himself to sleep every night.”

“That’s enough, Savannah; you can leave now.” His expression was so grim, Savannah feared for Aimee’s life.

“Don’t you dare hurt dat poor chile!” Savannah threatened, refusing to budge. “She’s already suffered more dan a woman should oughta.”

Nick’s tone softened. “Don’t worry, Savannah, I’m not going to harm Aimee. Go on to bed; we’ll talk about this tomorrow.”

Her head held high in defiance, Savannah reluctantly left the room. Nick closed the door behind her and turned to face Aimee.

The nightgown she wore was no more than a veil covering the creamy contours of her body. Unconsciously his eyes settled on her breasts, and Aimee could feel her nipples distend, the small buds pushing wantonly against the cloth. Her arms flew over her chest in a purely protective motion. Nick grinned knowingly. With lamplight
dancing over his face, his devil’s eyes glowed with unholy green fire.

“Don’t act coy with me, Aimee.” His voice was dangerously quiet. “We both know you’re no angel. I imagine Pinder is spilling his guts about you right now. How sad that your lover didn’t consider the consequences to your child when he involved you in spying.”

“You’re despicable!” Aimee spat. “Gar isn’t my lover—he never was! I saw him for the first time in years that day I entered the woods to pick berries. If you had asked me, I would have told you, but you were ready to believe the worst.”

Nick’s heart soared in sudden elation. Could Aimee be telling the truth? “Your love life has little bearing on what I think. It only became my concern when you seduced me in order to steal secret information. I might never have known you read those dispatches if I hadn’t discovered a peach stain on one of the papers. You were picking peaches the day I found you in my room, weren’t you, Aimee?”

Aimee groaned. Foiled by a damned peach stain! She’d wondered how Nick knew she was spying. “I—I wondered how you knew.”

“What?” He wasn’t listening. He was occupied elsewhere, thinking of her opulent lips and gorgeous eyes. Of the creamy expanse of skin visible beneath the thin material of her nightgown. His head began to pound, and a rush of hot blood swelled his loins. He forced his thoughts past the dull pounding in his head and his aching loins to the matter at hand, but he couldn’t recall what he was going to say.

All he could think about was a defiant little chin,
pouting red lips, a small, elegant nose, skin as pale as a white carnation. Eyes as warm as molten honey, aslant under arched blond brows fringed by thick lashes. The truth slammed into his gut like a steel fist. No matter what she was or what she did, she had become a sickness in his blood.

He wanted Aimee Trevor.

He wanted her now.

Forever.

He wanted Brand to be his son.

Aimee gazed into his eyes and quickly read his desire. When he looked directly at her in that special way, she almost forgot to breathe.

“Colonel Brooks placed you in my custody, Aimee. I talked him out of sending you to prison. I did it for Brand’s sake and … and because I couldn’t bear the thought of you dying in a northern prison. For the duration of the war you’ll remain under house arrest. But if you deliberately provoke or defy me, I’ll have no recourse but to send you away. And I also expect you to be properly grateful.”