A few hours later, after a brief nap, Lynna gazed into Joshua’s handsome face and winked seductively.
“Do you never get enough?” he inquired insolently.
“Do I hear complaints?” she inquired just as insolently, reaching to twirl a lock of his hair around her finger.
“Never, my love. And while I am both ready and willing, my body may require sustenance if I am to continue to be able through the remainder of the day,” he chuckled, lifting her up to sit her exactly where he wanted her.
And she was quite content with the seating arrangement.
Much later, Lynna was in the kitchen washing breakfast dishes when, thankfully, they heard a carriage approach. “It’s Aunt Judith.” she giggled. “Quick, Joshua, go out the back door before she catches you here.”
“I will return shortly, my love,” he whispered against her hair before placing a passionate kiss on her lips and closing the door behind him just as Judith called out a greeting.
“Lynna, I’m home. Darling, it was so horrible at the Morehead plantation, you would not believe…oh, dear God!” Judith cried, her hands going to her mouth in horror. “When was he here?”
“Who?” Lynna asked, shamefaced. Dear God! How did she know?
“Oh, you poor dear,” her aunt cried. “Let me look at your face.”
Heavenly days! Her aunt was referring to her uncle. She had all but forgotten the incident with Tobias. “It isn’t that bad, Aunt Judith, honestly. It should heal quickly.”
“When was he here, Lynna?” Judith repeated with tears streaming down her cheeks. “You poor thing.”
“He was here to greet me last night when I came home from helping in the infirmary.” Lynna was ready to change the subject, not at all concerned with her uncle’s visit at the moment. “I volunteered to help since so many of our slaves were sent to aid the burn victims. Now let’s change the subject, this one will only depress us. How are things over at the Morehead plantation?”
“Things are better now, but they lost five slaves and two were badly burned. Miss Fannie, the most knowledgeable healer in these parts, is tending them. We can only pray they will survive.”
“We will certainly lift them up in prayer,” Lynna agreed “Now sit down while I cook your breakfast.”
“Thank you, darling. Now tell me about you. Why are you so cheerful, all things considered?” Judith inquired. “Apparently you had a good night.”
Lynna leaned over the steaming pot, stirring the grits in earnest and hiding her blazing face. “I have never rested better, Aunt Judith.” If only she could share her happiness with this woman whom she loved so much. But it would be best to wait until Joshua had actually proposed, then they could all join in the celebration. “After breakfast I’m going to work in my flower garden. The weeds have taken over lately. Then I’ll come inside to begin work on Suzanne’s new gown.”
Judith was watching her, quietly.
Lynna smiled, humming gaily. “If anyone from the big house should see me, I will simply say that I fell off the porch. They shouldn’t doubt my words for a second since everyone knows that I am eternally clumsy.”
Judith was intrigued by her niece’s carefree mood. Normally after one of Tobias’s visits she would be in a state of depression that would last for days. Now here she stood, almost euphoric. Something out of the ordinary had happened during her absence. Of that she was certain.
Then, all of a sudden, it was all perfectly clear to Judith that Lynna had been introduced to the love that only a man and woman can share.
She wondered if it was Joshua. She knew Lynna didn’t love Daniel and, therefore, would never yield herself to him. It had to be Joshua. Judith was thrilled.
Of course she realized that she shouldn’t be happy about the fact that her niece was no longer chaste. Nathan had placed his trust in her and would be furious to discover that his daughter was no longer an ingénue. But that was of little importance now. What mattered was that Lynna was happy and she could put the pain of the past behind her and begin to enjoy the life that she had been born to live.
After clearing the table and washing dishes, Lynna gathered her gloves and garden tools, kissed her aunt’s cheek, and strolled to the garden. It was a beautiful day and she had her face hidden under the wide brim of a straw hat.
Carefully weeding and loosening the dirt around her roses, she picked one ruby red rose and started toward the house.
A deep, sultry voice stopped her dead in her tracks. “Good morning again, my love.”
Lynna’s heart skipped a full beat and she had to restrain herself from rushing headlong into his arms. “Good morning, Joshua.” Secretly wishing that her aunt had remained at the Morehead plantation, she scolded herself for the thought.
“You look exceptionally lovely this morning.” With his eyes perusing her from head to toe, he whispered, “I trust your night was satisfactory?”
“I look hideous and you well know it.” She turned her face away, realizing how repugnant her bruised face must look in the bright morning sunlight. “But to answer your question, I have no complaints, sir.”
Bestowing upon her a sexy wink, he teased, “It you had, it would have indeed been a first.” When he smiled, his eyes shone and a dimple formed in his cheek.
“You, sir, are outrageously conceited,” she tried to sound convincing, but failed as she herself couldn’t keep a straight face.
“Admitted.” Taking the red rose from her fingers, he brought it to his lips, wishing it were some part of her anatomy instead. “Shall we take a walk toward the river?” The slamming of the door halted him abruptly. Glancing up with an irritated frown, he found Judith approaching, bearing a tray.
“Joshua, I didn’t realize you were here.” So, it was Joshua. Judith could tell by the way the besotted man’s lips were almost caressing Lynna’s rose. “Come join us for a glass of lemonade. I fear it will be another scorcher today.” Placing the tray on the porch rail, she returned to the house. “I will just get another glass.”
“Any chance of your aunt being called away again tonight?” Joshua muttered.
“Joshua!” Lynna chastised him. “You, sir, are far too self-assured of your charm and good…” she stopped herself short.
“Go ahead and admit it.” He winked seductively. “My dashing good looks. I have been told that once or twice in the past by members of the opposite sex.”
She was about to berate the arrogant man when her aunt returned. Thanking Judith, Lynna removed her gloves and sipped the lemonade as Joshua’s heated perusal caused a knot to steadily tighten in the pit of her stomach.
“How have you been, Joshua?’ Judith queried.
“Never better, I can assure you,” his answer was directed toward her, but his smile was solely for Lynna’s benefit. “As of this moment, Judith, I am the happiest man alive.”
Lynna blushed, turning her head to face him.
“Will you be staying with us for a while?” Judith smiled, thinking that maybe if she kept talking she might succeed in gaining a minute portion of his attention.
The smile left his face immediately as he looked at Lynna. She had succeeded in making him forget his purpose again, for he had wanted to be alone with her when he broke the news. “No. In fact, I’m afraid I must leave today.”
Lynna gasped as the glass she was holding slipped from her hand, watching as the dry earth greedily absorbed the liquid. Of course he would eventually return to Sea Grove, but why today? They had just found each other again. Bending to pick up the broken glass, her hands brushed Joshua’s as he bent to assist her. They had only parted a few short hours ago, yet she pined for his touch. When their eyes met their hunger for each other was clearly evident to Judith.
“How clumsy of me,” Lynna stammered, hoping she sounded convincing. “My hands perspired in the gloves and the glass…slipped.”
Judith took the broken pieces. “I will just take this glass inside before someone gets cut.”
Lynna waited until
her aunt was safely in the house. “When are you leaving?” She couldn’t bring herself to look at him as her eyes stared unseeing into the copse of trees behind the cottage, the thought of the lonely days and nights to come settling around her.
Joshua took her soft hands in his, peering into her stunning blue gaze. “Within the hour, I fear. I couldn’t leave without seeing you. But it will only be a few short weeks until we can be together again at the Harvest Ball. This will be our last separation, Lynna.”
Tears formed behind her thick fringe of lashes. It wasn’t fair. She shouldn’t have to give him up so soon. Wait! Their last separation? What did he mean?
That was the exact question on Suzanne’s mind as well. Yes, what did he mean? Feeling rage like she had never felt before, she had hidden beneath the tendrils of a weeping willow tree and heard their every disgusting word.
This would never do, and she knew just who to turn to for help.
Lynna was about to question Joshua further when, much to her dismay, Suzanne came waltzing toward them primly holding up the lacy white hem of an elegant gown that would have been more appropriate for a lavish ball. Glancing only briefly at Lynna, she cried, “Oh, dear Lord! Whatever happened to you, sugah? Why, you look like your poor face was trampled by father’s old Brahma bull.”
“I ran into a door.” Lynna squatted, busying herself with pulling weeds in an attempt to hide her hideous bruises.
“I see.” Suzanne pursed her lips and nodded her head. “Well, you have forever been exceedingly clumsy. Oh, Joshua, darling, there you are.” Ignoring Lynna, she leaned toward Joshua to brush nonexistent lint from his sleeve. “I have hardly had a moment alone with you and now I hear that you are leaving us today. Why,” Suzanne continued her mewling drivel with a brilliant smile, “I must be losing my charm. Nonetheless there will be sufficient time for us to get reacquainted during the journey.”
This piqued Lynna’s curiosity. “What journey?”
“Why, my journey with Joshua of course.” Suzanne cast a contemptuous eye toward Lynna, then she forced a smile as she wiped a light sheen of perspiration from her forehead. “Father has granted permission for me to return to Charleston with you.”
“He did what?” Joshua’s tone was menacing as he glanced from Suzanne’s jubilant face to Lynna’s look of stunned horror.
“For me to accompany you to Charleston, silly. You wouldn’t mind dropping me off at Cedar Hill, would you?” One hand went to rest on Joshua’s chest. “Why, Father would be simply devastated if you refused after he has extended you so much hospitality. Of course the remainder of the family will be following later to attend the Harvest Ball, but as I explained to father, Beth certainly could use my help with that spoiled little Bethany Breanne at such a busy time.”
Joshua started toward Lynna, but Suzanne grabbed his hand, and his attention.
“Anyway, since I am always willing to help my family in any way I can, I graciously volunteered to go on ahead and help with the preparations. Surely you don’t mind having little ole me for company on the long ride.” Tucking her arm securely in his, she maneuvered him away from Lynna.
Lynna’s heart plummeted as Suzanne snatched the red rose from Joshua’s hand, viciously broke the stem, and tucked it behind her ear. “Oh, thank you, Joshua, darling. A little color is just what this outfit needed.” Silas appeared around the corner of the house and Suzanne tugged on Joshua’s arm to steer him toward her father. “Father wishes to have a word with you before we depart. Let’s not keep him waiting. And please,” she leaned toward him to whisper, “just agree with him when he prattles on and on about the dangers of us sharing a carriage for that length of time, and how it is of the utmost importance that my virtue remain intact.”
Joshua only glared at her, his fists tightly clenched by his sides, refusing to create a scene in front of her father.
Lynna rushed to her room and remained inside, heartbroken, until the carriage rolled away in a swirling cloud of dust. She could not bear to witness Joshua’s departure or Suzanne’s gloating victory. Inconsolable, she went to the big house to visit with Jasmine, in search of her favorite comfort food, blackberry cobbler.
“Miz Suzanne sho’ nuff is taken wit’ Mist’ Joshua, ain’t she?” Jasmine commented while vigorously whipping cream.
“Yes,” Lynna mumbled, wishing Jasmine had broached any subject but the current one, “she certainly does seem to be.”
“He sho’ ain’t taken wit’ her doe. Actin’ like po’ white trash an’ runnin’ aftah dat man. Why, Miz Mary let dat chile go, when Mist’ Joshua sho’ ain’t wantin’ ta take her, plum confusin’ me.”
“You know Suzanne always get her way, Jasmine.” Lynna sighed a defeated sigh. “I expect to hear any day now that she is moving to Charleston permanently.”
“Ole Jasmine ain’t miss much whut goes on round heah, an’ I’s heah ta tell you dat Miz Suzanne ain’t gwine be da one whut move ta Char’ston wit Mist’ Joshua.”
Lynna knew Jasmine spoke one truth. She didn’t miss many of the happenings around Magnolia House. And what little she did miss was soon filled in by one of her daughters. Rose, being Suzanne’s chambermaid, often was presented with the opportunity of listening to her mistress’s most private conversations. While Iris, the downstairs maid, reported the most infinitesimal details that may have slipped by the other two sets of ears. So Lynna knew better than to deny anything Jasmine said.
“Whatever do you mean, Jasmine?” she asked innocently. “Who do you suppose is moving to Charleston with him?”
“You is.” Jasmine chuckled.
Lynna was struck dumb. Had Joshua been revealing his innermost thoughts to Jasmine? She had to know. “Why Jasmine, I fear you are dreadfully mistaken. If anyone relocates to Charleston to reside with Joshua it will in all likelihood be Suzanne.”
“I ain’t wrong,” the old slave replied adamantly. “I can’t love dat chile no mo’ if’n she drapped out my own body. But she ain’t da one whut Mist’ Joshua done set his cap on.” She just could not keep a secret, no need in trying. “He done much as tol’ me so.”
Lynna dropped a spoonful of cobbler and was immediately by her side. “He told you what, Jasmine?”
“Well, he ain’t come rite out an tol’ me, but silent rivah’s run deep. His querstions done tol me all I need to know.”
“Querstions? I mean, what questions?” Lynna inquired, wanting to know every word that had passed between them.
“I cain recollect jus’ when it was, he jus’ come in heah one day axkin’ did I see yo face an axkin’ a bunch of querstions.”
“You didn’t tell him about Uncle Tobias, did you?” Lynna cried, praying that she hadn’t. She couldn’t bear the shame if Joshua discovered that her own uncle loathed her so. She would never be able to face him again. “Please promise me that you didn’t, Jasmine.”
Jasmine was at once contrite, seeing the shame on her face. She would never hurt Lynna by admitting her own breach of trust. “No chile, I ain’t tol’ him dat de man he searchin’ fo’ is Tobias.” She turned her head away, shamefaced, unable to look Lynna in the eyes. She had never lied to her before and did not like doing so one bit.
Lynna moved to hug the rotund woman, “Thank you, Jasmine. I knew I could trust you.”
Jasmine was consumed with guilt as she wrapped a slice of cobbler for Judith. Watching Lynna walk home, she wondered if Joshua had found that lowlife Tobias Mathison yet, and prayed fervently to the good Lord in heaven that he had.
Chapter 22