“Almost 8:00.”
“Jace,” Maddie finally managed. “You can’t be in here.”
“What was that?” Jace asked, not sure he’d heard her.
He waited a moment, but Maddie said nothing and only stared at him. Jace wanted to pay attention to what she might say, but the covers had slipped down her chest a bit. Jace’s gaze went that way.
When Maddie realized it, she tugged them up in a hurry. Gathering all blankets and sheets around her, she scooted against the headboard and frowned a little.
“Jace,” Maddie whispered. “Did something happen last night?”
“A lot of things happened last night. Why are you whispering?”
“Jace, do Sherry and Beth know you’re in here?”
“Of course.”
“You have to get out,” she wanted to tell him urgently, but her head ached.
“It’s all right, Maddie.” He smiled a little and reminded her, “They were at the wedding.”
“What wedding?”
Jace stared at her, waiting for her to smile back or throw a pillow his way, but she did neither. Jace was starting to feel as confused as she.
Maddie looked back at him, certain she had misunderstood, her mind still on the other women. She knew that having Jace in here at this time of the morning meant that Sherry and Beth would assume the worst. She had to clear her head and figure out how to explain to them.
“You said there’s coffee?”
“Right here.”
Jace handed it to her and moved to lean against the footboard. Since Maddie looked so sleepy, he was keeping his distance, but it was no easy feat. If this is what waking up next to her would be like every morning, he couldn’t believe he’d wasted a moment in asking for her hand. Her hair was a delightful mess, spilling around her face and shoulders. Bare shoulders. And her face, a little flushed from sleep, looked as soft as he knew it to be, her eyes very blue in the morning light.
“Now tell me,” Maddie suddenly said, half the coffee gone, “did I hear you talking to Beth or Sherry?”
“I was talking to both of them. What is bothering you about that?’
“Jace,” Maddie shook her head a little. Something wasn’t right. “What are you talking about?”
Jace began to put it together. He forced himself to stay calm, knowing he didn’t have all the facts, but things were not looking good. He took a breath and started with a question.
“What do you remember about last night?”
“Last night?”
“Yes. We went to dinner at the Seaside Hotel.”
“I remember. I had the beef and you had chicken.”
“Right. What else do you remember?”
Maddie closed her eyes and rubbed her head.
“I tried the champagne,” she said before her brow creased in thought.
“What about the ride back to the house?” For Jace, this was when the evening truly began. “We talked and made plans. Do you remember?”
“After dinner?” Maddie asked, and Jace felt anger rising inside of him.
“This couldn’t have happened again,” he said sternly. “You didn’t drink that much. You were completely lucid.”
“What are you saying?”
“We got married last night. You have to remember, Maddie.”
Maddie searched her mind but found nothing. It was so frustrating, so maddening. She wanted more of the night to be there, but it was gone.
“I would remember if we had gotten married,” she finally said. “I know I would.”
Jace didn’t say anything. She had been normal. A little giggly, but not staggering like that day on the picnic. He was sure she had been herself. Even Sherry and Beth had been all for it. If Maddie had been that drunk, wouldn’t they have seen?
Maddie wished she knew what to think. She wished Jace would say something, but he looked a little upset. Not until Maddie reached again for her forehead did she realize the bracelet was back in place. Having no memory of receiving it, she looked at it and knew in a heartbeat that Jace had been telling the truth.
“Was I drunk?” she asked, her heart sinking.
“Evidently.” Jace’s voice was tight.
“Were you drunk?”
“Not in the least.”
Maddie glared at him.
“Do not get angry with me, Madalyn. You did not seem drunk to me, and last night you were all for this.”
“I still hold you responsible. You know from last time what happened.”
“How was I to know that you can’t handle a drop of alcohol?”
Maddie glared at him and Jace glared back.
Maddie stared at him until she realized his attention had been drawn. The sheet had slipped a little more. He wasn’t used to seeing that much skin on any woman, and certainly not on his wife. Every other man he knew would understand. Maddie did not.
Maddie looked to where Jace’s eyes had landed and then yanked the sheet into place. Her voice was little more than a hiss when she spoke.
“Get out.”
Dragging his attention back to her face, he said, “We need to talk about this.” But Maddie only shook her head.
“Out.” She pointed at the door, clearly furious.
Jace—no more happy than she was—saw no help for it. He rose from the bed and looked at her, but Maddie would not look his way. Jace let himself out the door, not sure what he was supposed to do. He was in the hall before he realized that his warm welcome in this home was probably going to be short lived. He headed toward the kitchen for some breakfast and coffee of his own. As soon as Sherry and Beth discovered that Maddie knew nothing of last night’s events, he’d be in trouble with all three of them.
“All right,” Maddie began, having come from her room dressed and ready for battle. After talking to Sherry and finding out with a few subtle questions what had gone on the night before, she’d found Jace and asked him to join her in the library. “I think I have this figured out.”
“You have what figured out?” Jace asked, not liking her tone very much, but having calmed down quite a bit.
“What we’re going to do.”
Jace already knew what they would do, but he said nothing. Maddie walked around a bit before facing him, feeling very much in charge.
“We’re just going to forget about last night. I mean, nothing really happened, and no one needs to know. Sherry and Beth will be very discreet. You can just head back to Tucker Mills, and I’ll stay here in Boston.”
“I see,” Jace said quietly, wanting to stay calmer than he had earlier. “So you never want to see me again?”
Maddie hadn’t expected this. She looked away, not wanting to admit that nothing could be further from the truth. Yes, she was upset, but she didn’t hate Jace. She could never hate Jace.
“I think this is for the best,” she tried this time, but her voice lacked courage, and she steadfastly refused to look at him.
Jace rose and went to stand before her.
“Tell me something, Maddie,” he asked. “Do you know that I love you?”
Maddie made herself look up at him; she had no choice but to nod in the affirmative.
“I’m glad you know,” Jace said, realizing that being gentle was all he wanted to do. “But there’s something else you need to understand. I know you love me. You might be angry right now. I was angry too until I realized you couldn’t help what happened. But you nevertheless love me.”
“What makes you so sure?” Maddie was ready to argue just to maintain control.
Jace brushed gently at the hair on her temple. “I remember last night.”
It was the most potent thing he could have said to her. Last night was shrouded in mystery. Maddie could attest to nothing. It had been her wedding night, and she remembered not a thing.
“So something did happen?” she asked, sounding very young and uncertain.
Jace nodded, feeling as cheated as she did.
“None of this would have happened if I ha
d realized you’d had too much to drink, and I’m sorry I didn’t see it, but I’m not sorry you’re my wife. And you can fight me, Maddie, but I won’t let you go. I won’t leave Boston without you.”
His words were a comfort and a concern all in the same breath. She knew what was waiting for her in Tucker Mills, and she knew what life in Boston had been without him. Neither place could boast of perfection.
“What if I do refuse?” Maddie had to get in one more blow.
“You won’t have to refuse,” Jace surprised her by saying, having changed tactics just that fast. “All you have to do is tell me you don’t love me, and I’ll leave you alone forever.”
Maddie couldn’t do it. She would never lie about such a thing, and Jace obviously knew that. She still had a little fight left in her, however.
“I won’t be able to leave for several days, quite possibly a week.”
Jace bent to make his point, his eyes direct.
“Much as I’d like to stay here in the lap of luxury, Madalyn, we leave tomorrow,” he told her. “I have a farm to run.”
Maddie looked like she would argue, but she caught Jace’s eye. He meant it. Maddie still frowned at him, and Jace frowned right back.
“Are you going to ask Beth or Sherry to help you pack your things, or do you want my help?”
His kindness disarmed her, and she wondered if he would always be the one to defuse the situation.
“I think I can do it on my own. I have to leave a letter for the family too.”
“Do I need to write one as well?”
Maddie shook her head no. “I’ll explain.”
Maddie was ready to turn away, but Jace’s hand to her waist stopped her.
“Never forget my feelings for you, no matter how rough a start this might be.”
Maddie nodded and allowed Jace to pull her into his arms. She relaxed against him, feeling cherished and secure.
“Have you considered the fact that you might be carrying our child, Mrs. Randall?” Jace asked softly.
It was the worst thing he could have said. It only reminded Maddie of the hours missing from her mind. She left the library and didn’t speak a single word to Jace until well into the afternoon.
Sixteen
Tucker Mills
Clara heard the commotion on the kitchen side of the house, but Maddie had walked in before she could get out there.
“Well, Maddie,” Clara said with surprise, not unhappy to see her.
“Hello, Clara.”
“Is Jace with you?”
“Yes,” she said quietly. “We were married in Boston.”
Clara wanted to smile and hug her, but she looked so young and pale right now that Clara stuck to business.
“What business does he have marrying you without the family and then dragging you across the country like a sack of feed? Sit down right here while I make you a cup of tea.”
“I am a little tired.”
“Of course you are,” Clara consoled, secretly delighted at the news. “Where is Jace?”
“I think he’s talking to the man who fed the stock.”
“Oh, that would be Delmont. He did an okay job, but it was time for Jace to come home.”
“I heard about Woody, Clara. I’m sorry.”
“Well, he’s better off I ’spect. He was only going to get sicker, his heart hurting and all.”
Maddie suddenly wanted to cry. She glanced around the room, realizing she’d never been beyond the parlor of this home and had seen that room with only one candle burning. It looked like a nice kitchen with a large buttery, but it wasn’t her Aunt Cathy’s and it wasn’t Sherry’s. And because she’d been cold to Jace for most of the trip back, she didn’t even have him to console her.
Clara talked to herself, muttering under her breath in a way that Maddie did not feel she was required to answer. She had only just received her tea when Jace arrived inside. She looked up at him, but he had eyes for Clara only.
“What have you gone and done, Jace Randall?”
“I expect you already know.”
“Was her family there, or your sister?”
“No, I’m afraid not.”
Hands on her hips, Clara shook her head.
“Maddie’s being the sweetest girl in the county is the only reason I’m not running you out of this kitchen.”
Jace had to smile at that.
“Is Delmont bringing your things in?”
“Yes. He’ll get it all upstairs.”
“I’d better go and see that he doesn’t drop anything.”
As soon as they had the kitchen to themselves, Jace brought a chair up close to the table. He sat across from Maddie.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes.”
“Did Clara fix this for you?”
Maddie nodded.
“I never explained to you that Woody made provision to take care of Clara for as long as she lives. But that doesn’t mean she has to be here all the time. She’ll give you your space or be here every day. She’s just that way. So you can tell her what you want.”
“It might be nice to have her show me how she does things here.”
“Would you like me to show you upstairs?”
“Please.”
Jace led her through the parlor, toward the front door, and up the stairs to show her the house’s three bedrooms. He didn’t specify that one was his, one was Woody’s, and the last was the spare room. He let her peek into each one before walking back to his own. Maddie followed. As he expected from Clara, everything was in apple-pie order, but things were not fancy. It had been a bachelor’s home for many years, and that was more than obvious.
“Maybe you’ll want to decorate a bit,” Jace mentioned.
“You won’t mind?”
“No. Your room in Boston certainly was nice. Do what you like.”
Maddie nodded.
“Will you go see Doyle and Cathy tonight?”
“I think I’ll wait for morning.”
“I’ll take you in.”
Maddie nodded, more than a little amazed to be in Tucker Mills but not in town. And the man next to her was her husband! How many nights had she dreamed of that very thing, only to find herself confused and almost lonely now that it was reality.
Jace saw the look on her face and misread it.
“I’m sorry about the house. I know you’re used to better.”
“No, Jace.” Maddie was swift to stop him. “It’s a fine house, but I didn’t expect to be here in this way. I’m still not used to—” Maddie hesitated, looking for words. “I’m not used to us, I guess.”
“That might take some time.”
They looked at each other, and Maddie thought Jace might reach for her, but noise in the downstairs reminded them they were not alone. And on top of that, Maddie wasn’t sure if she wanted intimacy yet. She was frightened of the physical side of marriage but didn’t know how to tell Jace.
“Jace?” Clara called from the bottom of the stairs, and he went that way. “Where do you want things?”
“In the spare room for now. I don’t want Maddie tripping over her trunks in the room she’s sleeping in.”
Maddie heard this from the other bedroom and had one question answered. Hers was not the spare room.
“How many times are you going to adjust your pillow?” Doyle asked of Cathy, feeling her move for the fifth time.
“I can’t sleep. I thought we would have heard from Jace or Maddie by now.”
Doyle didn’t comment. He hadn’t taken time to figure out how long it would take for Jace to arrive back but now wished that he had.
“I can’t believe you’re not thinking about them,” Cathy said next.
“I am thinking about them; I’m just not worried.”
Cathy didn’t believe that for a second, but she didn’t comment. Neither one did. Sleep finally came, but it took much longer than usual.
Not until Maddie took a candle and carried it upstairs to retire did sh
e think about how accustomed she was to oil and Argand lamps. Even Doyle and Cathy used oil lamps. Maddie was used to candles as well, but one had to be slightly more careful with hair and clothing.
Maddie took herself into Jace’s room where she had laid out some of her things earlier. She was extremely tired, emotionally and physically, and wanted nothing more than to sleep. She had just climbed beneath the covers and settled on the pillow when Jace walked in.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m coming to bed,” Jace told her.
“In here?”
“Yes.” His voice was patient. He did not want to fight with her tonight. “What’s the matter?”
“I don’t know if I want you in here.”
“Maddie, we shared a bed in Boston,” he pointed out.
“I didn’t want Sherry and Beth to talk.”
“We’re not going to start out in separate beds, Maddie. Not here.”
“I just thought you would sleep in your own room tonight.”
“This is my room.”
“I thought this was your uncle’s room.”
“No,” he said, his voice showing how weary he was.
“Fine.” Her voice wasn’t angry, but she still wanted the last word. “You just keep to your own side.”
Jace didn’t comment. He readied for bed, Maddie’s back to him, and climbed beneath the covers. It was odd having someone in the bed with him, but he didn’t mind. He knew he just had to be patient and Maddie would move toward him. It had happened every other night; he was sure it would happen tonight.
A full ten minutes passed before she fell asleep. Jace was relieved that his willingness to wait paid off when he felt her shift. As on the other nights, she rolled toward him, seeking his warmth. Jace pulled her close while she slept, his head pillowed near her own. Only when she was warm and soft against him did Jace relax enough to fall asleep. He certainly hoped things would not be this strained every night, but for now he would take whatever closeness he could get.
Dear Eden… Jace had risen very early to write the letter she was watching for. I found Maddie, and we were married in Boston. It’s a rather long story that I won’t try to explain right now. I hope this finds you well. Thank you again for coming and telling me the truth. It means more than you know.