Swept Away (37 page)

“Oh Raven, I never stopped to think you might be hurt. If Daddy hurt you, I’ll—”

When she paused to think of a suitably horrible punishment, Raven began to smile. “I’m not hurt, just disgusted you’re in the wrong bed.”

It had not been disgust Eden had seen, but an emotion far more poignant. Saddened that he would not confide in her, she let the matter drop rather than challenge him on it. “You had no time this afternoon, and there were no servants to put away your things. My room is in good order, though, so I thought you’d prefer to use it tonight.”

“Really?”

“You gave me a key, Raven. Was my door locked?” Raven turned to glance back over his shoulder. Not only had the connecting door between their rooms not been locked, it had been standing wide open, and he had had to step over several valises to reach it.

“I’m sorry,” he mumbled softly as he began to remove the clean clothes she had brought him.

“After I left you, I got to thinking,” Eden revealed as she studied the muscular contours of his body with an appreciative glance. “I’ve seen boys get into awful fights, and then become the best of friends. While I think that’s an exceedingly stupid way to make friends, if that’s what it took for you and my father to reach an understanding, I’ll not say another word about it.”

Raven was soon undressed, and joined her in bed. “I’ll agree, not only is fighting a stupid way to make friends, it’s also quite painful.”

“Then you are hurt?”

Eden looked so alarmed by that possibility, Raven’s smile grew wide. Maybe she didn’t love him as deeply as he would like, but she did care at least a little for him. “Come here,” he whispered as he pulled her into his arms. “I think I know how to make the pain go away.”

With the first brush of his lips against hers, Eden realized he could not possibly be in much pain and she was glad she was no longer angry with him. It would have been impossible to stay mad at him anyway, her conscience reminded her, for she had never been able to concentrate on anything but pleasure when she was in his arms.

Downstairs, Yadira walked slowly through the darkened rooms, the candle she carried providing an eerie light. She paused here and there, remembering the times the house and been filled with Alex’s laughter. She had known he did not have long to live, but she had expected him to die there, in her arms, not in far-off England. She felt doubly cheated that not only had she lost him, she had also lost the chance to share his last hours. How precious those would have been to her.

When she reached his portrait, she placed the candle on the mantel beneath it. She would leave one burning there each night, as a reminder he would never be forgotten. She was certain Raven and his bride were too lost in each other to remember Alex, but he was the only man she had ever loved, and she would keep his memory alive forever.

Chapter Eighteen

September 1863

Eden awakened first the next morning. While she was accustomed to falling asleep in Raven’s arms, she could not recall ever awaking there and it was a most enjoyable surprise. The whole length of his sleek body was cuddled snugly against her. After delighting in his comforting warmth for a long moment, she moved over slightly, propped her head on her hand, and took advantage of a rare opportunity to study the handsome young man while he slept.

In repose, his thick curls and long lashes lent his face a boyish quality that was quite endearing. Eden could not resist the temptation to touch his jet black hair, but afraid she might wake him, she drew her hand back quickly. She had not noticed the bruise on his right cheek, nor the cut that sliced through his brow, when he had come to bed. The perfect symmetry of his features was scarcely marred, but she felt a sharp stab of sorrow nonetheless. Fearing he had suffered other injuries as well, she peeled the sheet away to scan his shoulder and arm. Not only did she find numerous bruises, which she was certain were precisely the size of her father’s fist, but cuts and scrapes as well.

Ashamed she had not realized how badly battered Raven was, Eden leaned over and placed a light kiss on a deep purple bruise on his shoulder. When she moved back, she was startled to find him observing her with an amused smile.

“That you’re covered with bruises isn’t a bit funny,” she scolded softly. “I’d never have left you two alone last night had I known you’d behave so badly.”

Raven scoffed at her sympathetic gesture and words of regret. “Don’t pretend you were concerned with my health just now. If you want to look at me, you needn’t be shy.” With one easy gesture, he flung aside the sheet that covered them, completely exposing not only his well-muscled frame but her delectable figure as well.

Eden’s long curls covered her breasts with a modest drape, and after bending her knee slightly, she did not feel as though she were on display nude merely to satisfy his curiosity. As for him, she already knew how attractive he was without needing another look. Her kiss had been a spontaneous show of affection she had been unable to contain, and she was truly sorry he bore so many marks from a fistfight that should never have taken place. That he had responded not with equal sweetness, but with an arrogant challenge, was not only disappointing, but unnerving as well.

“I was worried about you, not admiring how handsome you are,” she responded defensively.

“You mean that was pity I saw in your glance rather than wifely pride?”

Eden noted the scrapes on his knuckles as he reached out to trace a light path from the cleft between her breasts to her navel. They had made love only once in the morning. That had been at Briarcliff, the day after Alex’s funeral. At that bittersweet memory, her eyes stung with hot tears of shame for she recalled how badly she had wanted Raven, and why.

“Eden?” Raven had awakened in such a good mood he had been unable to resist teasing her. That another of his attempts to make her laugh had failed miserably baffled him.

Eden could not meet his gaze. She knew only that all too often Raven’s words hurt and confused her, or like now, filled her with nearly unbearable remorse. “I know our marriage is an unusual one, but a wife ought to be able to show concern for her husband without him laughing at her.”

“I wasn’t laughing at you,” Raven denied as he pushed her down on her pillow. There was nothing he liked better than pinning her beneath him where their arguments could lead only one place. “If my efforts to amuse you make you cry rather than laugh, I’ll give them up.” He kissed away the drops of moisture that clung to her lashes then nibbled her earlobes until she began to giggle.

“That’s much better.”

That Raven’s dark eyes could hold a charming warmth rather than merely a menacing light was something it had taken Eden a long while to learn. That she still understood so little about him was troubling, but as he began to kiss her gently, obviously taking care to keep his beard from scraping her skin, she was content for the moment with what she did know.

While he waited for Eden to dress later that morning Raven struggled to compose a note to Julian Ryan that not only imparted the sad news of Alex’s death, but also invited him to attend a dinner party in honor of his bride’s father. He had not realized until Nathan had questioned him that Julian would have to know who had fathered Eden’s child, but he did not even attempt to reveal that secret in writing.

After entrusting the message to Azariah to deliver, Raven turned his attentions to the document Nathan seemed so anxious to sign. He had the invoices for the munitions, and asked for exactly what they had cost. When Eden joined him in the study, he showed her what he had written.

“You’ve included nothing for transporting the arms from England, or to allow for a profit?” the fair beauty asked in surprise.

“No, the cost is all I want. Greed has never been one of my vices.”

Another point in Raven’s favor, Eden noted silently. Still enjoying the loving mood he had created that morning, she reached up to kiss his cheek. “My father may not be as gracious about this as he should, but there are hundreds of others who will bless your name.”

Rather than being pleased by that promise, Raven frowned darkly. “I don’t want my name even whispered in connection with the arms. Is that clear? I’ll make certain your father understands that too. That I was drawn into this is bad enough, I certainly don’t want any credit for it.”

Feeling as though she had been dashed with cold water for the second time that morning, Eden turned away as though distance would soften the bitterness of his tone. She was sorry she had forgotten how much he despised the cause she held dear. It made her feel not only lonely, but sad. “It’s nearly noon, I’d rather we postponed the tour of the plantation for a few days. In fact, let’s wait until next week. If my father can come for dinner tonight, we ought to stay here and make certain everything’s ready.”

“The kitchen is fully staffed today, Eden. You’ll not have to don an apron and cook.” Raven had often heard it was a woman’s prerogative to change her mind, but he thought she had made a poor choice for the day’s activities. “I can show you the plantation any day you like, but next week we’ll be in Kingston. I want you to meet Alistair Nash, our attorney, and—”

Eden raised her hand to still his protest before his list grew any more lengthy. “I want to go, Raven. You needn’t try and convince me that I should.”

“Good.” Raven so frequently ran into a brick wall with Eden that he felt as though he were wandering through a maze. He had no doubt he was a totally rational person, but in his view, her moods were as changeable as the direction of a butterfly flight. It certainly made their lovemaking exciting, but he longed to be able to complete a conversation without constantly having to worry he would inadvertently upset her. That was another question he wanted to ask Julian. Perhaps all well-bred young ladies had such delicate natures, or maybe it was merely pregnant ones.

“Let’s take this note to your father to sign. That will give us the chance to confirm the dinner invitation too.”

Thinking that idea a good one, Eden walked back toward Raven, but she was worried still. “My father must have nearly two dozen officers. Do you want to invite them all to dine with us?”

“Why not?”

“I thought perhaps you’d prefer a smaller group since you don’t share our views. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable in your own home.”

“Our home,” Raven corrected her. “I think I can stand to listen to the glories of the Confederacy for one evening at least. I’ve also invited Dr. Ryan and his sister, Rebecca. Your father wanted to meet him. That will make three people for my side.”

“That’s just the point. I don’t want anyone taking sides. I’m certain my father must have a surgeon on board. Why did he want to meet this Dr. Ryan?”

Raven slipped his arm around Eden’s waist as they started for the door. “He wants to be certain you’ll receive the best of care.”

“Oh, I see.”

“You don’t seem pleased.” Raven held his breath, hoping she would not object to the doctor’s presence that night.

“I feel fine. I don’t need to be under a doctor’s care.”

“Humor us, Eden. I want you to stay well and so does your father.”

Eden tried to smile, but she already felt as though she had to work much too hard to humor her husband as it was.

As Eden came down the stairs that evening, she was alarmed by the sound of angry male voices coming from the study. They had visited her father’s ship without mishap, and she had been so looking forward to spending a pleasant evening with him. As she drew close, she was relieved it was not her father’s voice that was raised in harsh tones, but nonetheless dismayed that someone was having a heated argument with her husband. She hesitated to enter the study, and yet did not want to stand at the door and eavesdrop. When she sensed, rather than heard, someone approach, she turned to find Yadira watching her from the hallway.

“Do you know who’s with my husband?”

Yadira was dressed in black that night, and seemed almost to float her steps were so light as she drew near. “It is Julian, and his sister. You were not downstairs to greet them when they arrived.”

Eden thought that point too obvious to merit comment, and could not imagine why Yadira thought she had the right to mention it either. She had checked the time. The doctor and his sister were early; she wasn’t late. Not about to make excuses to the housekeeper, though, she dismissed her with a nod and entered the study without further delay.

“You must be Dr. Ryan,” she greeted him graciously, “and Miss Ryan, I’m so pleased to meet you too.”

Raven could not suppress a smile as he observed Julian’s startled expression. The physician had obviously not expected Eden to be such a stunning young woman, but as always, Raven was filled with pride that she was. She was wearing the ice blue gown that night, and that also pleased him.

Eden judged Julian to be in his early forties. His light brown hair lacked even a hint of a curl and dipped low over his forehead. His eyes were gray, his nose quite prominent, and his square jaw jutted out at a belligerent angle. He was not quite six feet tall, with a build as solid as his features. He was the type who could be described as distinguished rather than handsome, and yet she could not help but think a smile would improve his appearance enormously. Unfortunately, the physician appeared to be in no mood to smile.