What?
This night was taking disastrous turns by leaps and bounds. His sister in law? Lynna nearly choked on a pickle as her aunt commenced to thumping on her back. When she could breathe again, she took a sip of Madeira and turned to Judith, who seemed completely befuddled by Samuel’s startling announcement as well. How dare Daniel!
He had informed Samuel that they were to be wed, when she had certainly not accepted his proposal. However, one glance at Daniel’s apologetic expression assured her that he was every bit as startled by Samuel’s remarks as she herself had been.
Drawing a deep, steadying breath, Lynna released it slowly and asked in as calm a voice as she could muster under the circumstances, “May I ask where you gathered this information, Samuel?”
Samuel had known Lynna long enough to realize that even though her temper was rare, she was indeed in possession of one. He could also tell by her sparkling eyes that the emotion she was trying so desperately to conceal was threatening to spill forth at any moment. “Evidently I was misinformed. Perhaps I was a bit hasty in my eagerness to welcome you into the family fold, darling.”
His apology did not appear to appease Lynna in the least. “Now don’t go getting your feathers all ruffled,” he teased playfully. “As usual, Suzanne was the rumormonger.” He glanced askance at his sister, but she only shrugged. “She was so overjoyed at the thought of you becoming her sister that she had to tell someone. You know my dear sister never could keep a secret.”
Daniel cast an adoring smile at Lynna and took the opportunity to set the record straight. “It’s true. I have asked Lynna to become my wife, that is no secret. Unfortunately, she has not consented, yet, but rest assured that I will keep trying until I eventually wear her down.” With a wicked smile and a nod toward Lynna, he added, “I don’t mean to cause you undue pressure, but by the same token, if the matter were left exclusively up to me we would be man and wife before the sun sets tonight.”
“Perfect timing,” Samuel joked.
“Lynna, darling, you take all the time you need to be sure.” Mary smiled, giving Samuel a chastising glance for his off color remark. “Daniel will simply have to be patient. Why, I myself have always been partial to fall weddings.”
Lynna lowered her eyes, feeling miserable. How could she tell Daniel’s mother that after tonight, after the effect the handsome sea captain was having on her emotions, she was more sure than ever that she could not marry her son?
As usual Suzanne jumped in feet first to make matters much worse. “Oh, Mother, honestly. We all know that Lynna and Daniel will eventually wed. We have known it for months now,” she simpered. “Why not proceed with the festivities? We haven’t had a decent party in ages.” She looked at Lynna with a fake smile and eyes that were filled with contempt. “Why, their wedding would be the social event of the season.”
Lynna marveled at whether she was to have any input whatsoever on the subject of her own betrothal.
Mary hushed her outspoken daughter with a stern glance. “Suzanne, you do not make a decision as important as marriage simply because it is the social season. Whenever they decide to wed will be reason enough to celebrate.”
Joshua had held his breath during most of their conversation, fearing that Lynna might even be considering accepting Daniel’s proposal. But when he caught her eyes and witnessed the pain reflected in their sorrowful blue depths, he knew that he had nothing to fear. It was obvious that she had no desire to wed Daniel Fletcher. Yet his family, each of them it seemed, was pressuring her into holy matrimony. Why did the mere thought of such a union rip at his gut so?
Inwardly, Lynna groaned. She loved Mary and Silas deeply and hurting them was what she least wanted to do. It broke her heart to know that if she refused their son, they too would feel the sting of rejection. It was a hopeless situation, one with no easy way out to avoid someone getting their feelings trampled.
A deep voice speaking her name brought Lynna out of her reverie. “How long will you be visiting Charleston?” Joshua queried before biting into a chunk of savory venison.
It was some moments before she found her voice as his twinkling green eyes fused with hers. “I’m not sure, exactly.” She didn’t miss the sparks that shot from Suzanne’s eyes at his soft words. If looks could kill. “Samuel and Beth were kind enough to invite Aunt Judith and I and we certainly hope not to overstay our welcome.”
“Impossible,” Samuel assured her. “You and Judith are family, and more than welcome to stay as long as you wish.” Turning to his wife, he added, “Don’t you agree, darling?'
“Absolutely.” Beth’s warm smile convinced them that her words were sincere. “Our home is your home.”
Lynna was grateful that Daniel had been engrossed in conversation throughout dinner and hadn’t noticed Joshua’s unwavering attention. She didn’t dare hope that Suzanne had, by some grand stroke of luck, overlooked it as well. She had glanced up from toying with her food several times to find Suzanne glaring at her with untold volumes of hatred shining in her glistening eyes. The message her eyes had conveyed was clear. “He is mine. Stay away.”
After dinner, during which Lynna had been unable to take a single bite of food for fear her fork would fall clattering to her plate, or she would choke on a mouthful of turnip greens, the group adjourned to the parlor. Lynna went to stand by the open side doors to breathe the cool scented breeze as flashes of lightning began to play across the sky and distant thunder rumbled.
Mary seemed quite interested in her daughter’s latest beau. “Joshua, Suzanne tells us that you are the captain of your own ship, but that you have docked the vessel while you oversee your family’s plantation.”
“That is correct, madam.” A hint of sadness crept into Joshua’s voice as he looked at Lynna with undisguised longing. “The Windjammer will weather her storms without me henceforth.”
Hearing the name of the ship caused another flood of memories to sweep over Lynna, leaving her visibly shaken. Ever observant, Joshua didn’t fail to notice her reaction.
“That is very admirable on your part,” Mary stated. “Yet, after all your years at sea, I fear plantation life may be a drastic change and even a bit boring.”
“Now don’t go feeling sorry for Joshua, Mother.” Samuel grinned, slapping Joshua on the back. “It is without warrant, I assure you. Captain Jordan has enough memories stockpiled to last the average man a lifetime.”
Once again Joshua’s eyes sought Lynna’s as he spoke softly, “I have many treasured memories from the Windjammer, true, but only one that was unforgettable and routinely torments my dreams.”
Every person in the room had witnessed this passionate exchange. It was then that Mary gave up all hope of ever having Joshua as her son-in-law.
Unfortunately, it was painfully obvious that her daughter did not accept defeat quite so gracefully. She rushed to take Joshua’s arm, pressing her bosom against him as she fluttered her lashes wildly, successfully embarrassing her family. “It’s such a beautiful evening, Captain Jordan. Could we perhaps take a round through the garden?”
Lynna needed to be away from Joshua’s suffocating nearness and Suzanne’s persistent whining. “It has been such an exhausting day,” she said to Beth. “If you will excuse me, I will retire for the evening.”
Joshua immediately pulled away from Suzanne, leaving her positively livid as he hurried to Lynna’s side. She feared his purpose was to seduce her then and there as he gripped her small hand in his. “I hope to get the chance to visit with you again before you return to Georgia,” was mercifully all he said.
Glancing over his shoulder, Lynna cringed at the unbridled rage that glistened in Suzanne’s eyes. At that moment her greatest desire was to be away from them both. Jerking her hand from his she bid everyone good night and raced up the stairs. Why had she come here?
Once in the safety of her room, she slipped into a pale pink nightgown and fell breathless and numb on the bed with her mind a chaotic jumble. If only she could ret
urn to Georgia tonight. Why did Joshua have to live nearby? Why did her skin burn where he touched her? Why did he smell so good? And why, oh, why, did he have to be so sinfully handsome? For these and other questions she had no rational answers.
Accepting that sleep would be a long time in coming, she went to stand on the balcony, watching as lightning flashed in jagged forks across the sky and booming thunder drew nearer. A gust of wind blew across the land to rustle the leaves and cool her heated skin as she leaned over the balcony and breathed deeply of the unmistakable smell of rain. The moon cast its golden glow over the earth, lending to it a rosy hue as a multitude of insects played their nightly concert.
“Good night, my sweet,” Joshua’s sexy Southern drawl drifted to her on a warm breeze. “I fear sleep will abandon me tonight as well.”
Joshua didn’t miss her muffled gasp. As one hand flew to her mouth the other clutched her gown more tightly around her bosom. Evidently Suzanne had failed in her effort to secure a private audience with him.
His deep laughter echoed through the still night air. “I don’t suppose you could be persuaded to come down and take a walk with me?”
The very idea. “You should have accepted Suzanne’s invitation, sir. I can assure you that I have no desire or intention of ever spending time in your presence again.” Incredulous, she spun around and rushed into the room, confident that if she ignored him he would go away.
After waiting for what seemed like an eternity and hearing nothing, she tiptoed to the balcony, peering over the railing.
“Just as I feared.” He grinned, blowing her a seductive kiss. “We will have our walk soon, my sweet.” With those words he turned, and Lynna could hear him whistling softly as his horse trotted into the dark night.
“You had your walk… and so much more, Captain Jordan.”
Joshua spurred his horse forward as fat drops of rain splashed his face, quickly soaking his clothes. Heat lightning flashed across the sky illuminating the heavens in a brilliant display. A triumphant grin spread across his face as he raced across the field toward home at a full gallop.
The pouring rain would prevent Suzanne from going to the pond to wait for him. The girl was too demanding by far. He had been with her almost nightly during the last few months and she never seemed satisfied. Hell, he doubted if any one man was even capable of such a herculean feat. No doubt there would be hell to pay when he put a halt to their nocturnal rendezvous, but it must be done.
He still could hardly comprehend the fact that Lynna’s Aunt Judith was employed by the Fletchers, and Lynna had been living with them since leaving his ship in Charleston. Many times Suzanne had pleaded and pouted with him to visit her family home and he had promptly dismissed her requests. Had he known that Lynna was in residence, he might have been a frequent visitor at Magnolia House and worn out his welcome months ago.
The mystical Lynna had certainly woven an enchanted spell over him. Many was the night he had lain awake in his lonely cabin and brought her clearly to mind, often wondering if she was safe and out of harm’s way while at the same time longing for the feel of her soft curves against his burning skin. He had been content with his dalliance with the insatiable Suzanne, and many gratifying encounters with the provocative upstairs maid Juanita. Until now.
Yet, the memory of his passionate encounter with Lynna was as fresh as if it had happened only yesterday. He laughed out loud remembering how his heart had thundered in his chest at dinner when Samuel had inquired about her marriage plans. Greatly relieved, his galloping heart had returned to its normal rhythm only after realizing that the lady had no desire or intent of speaking her vows anytime soon. That left the door wide open for him and he didn’t intend to waste a second chance with her.
They could make a fresh start, for after seeing her tonight he could no longer deny his feelings. She ignited a fire in his loins that no other woman could come close to smothering and he would not allow her to slip through his fingers again. “Will you marry me, Joshua?” she had asked once.
If she were to ask that question of him today she would most likely get a very different response. With his decision made, he arrived home soaked to the skin, and feeling better than he had in…three years.
However, Suzanne sat by the pond in a glorious rage. Her wet hair was plastered to her head and her soaking wet clothes clung to her shivering body. Somehow she had known that Joshua would not make an appearance tonight. He had met her almost every night for the past several weeks, and now, the very night that treacherous slut Lynna arrived, he neglected to meet her. Oh true, there was a torrential downpour at present, but had it detained her from coming? Hell, no. If he was as eager to be with her as she was him would a little rainfall deter him? Suzanne was certain of one thing. Joshua was not at fault here.
Lynna was.
She hadn’t failed to notice how the shameless trollop had practically thrown herself at the poor man at dinner. What red blooded man wouldn’t have been sorely tempted by such an open display of wantonness? Oh, Lynna desired Joshua that much was obvious. Any fool could see that. But if she got her hands on him it would be after Suzanne’s cold, dead body was rotting in the ground.
Chapter 16