Part 53 (1/2)

The door opened and from her boudoir she saw Devlin in full dress, his black felt hat in hand, standing on the threshold of the bedroom. She felt her eyes widen and she trembled with surprise.

His expression was hard, but his nostrils were flared and tinged with red-from the cold, she thought. ”I see I did not wake you.” His gaze quickly took in her untidy appearance. ”I set sail within the hour and I have come to take my leave.”

She wanted to beg him to love her again, the way he had before. She wanted to tell him that she could live with his need for revenge, if it meant so much to him. But she did not speak because she could not. She did not move; she did not breathe.

His jaw hardened; his eyes darkened. ”How are you, madam?”

She wanted to scream, I am dying inside, moment by moment and minute by minute. But she simply stared. Then, finally, she managed, ”As well as can be expected.”

”How is the child?” he demanded sharply.

She inhaled and fought for some composure now. ”Fine, I believe.”

He nodded, grinding down his jaw, and it was a long moment before he spoke, as if he had something to say that he was struggling with.

And she prayed.

But she was wrong. He merely said, ”I will return in six months, I think. G.o.d keep you, Virginia.” And he bowed and turned and left.

She wanted to run after him and tell him to stay safe. But her d.a.m.nable body simply would not move.

Oh, G.o.d. He would go away like this? And what if she never saw him again? What if this was the war that took his life?

Virginia ran to the window. Outside, she saw him striding toward his coach. She struggled to unlatch the panes of heavy gla.s.s and heave them open. He was already inside the carriage. Panting from the exertion, she stuck her head outside. The coach began to roll away. ”Devlin! G.o.d speed,” she cried.

But she had no idea if he heard her.

LATER THAT DAY, VIRGINIA stood in a salon in Harmon House, wringing her hands nervously. Devlin's departure had been a stunning blow-and she knew what she must do now.

Cliff entered the room, his stride long but unhurried, his manner as indolent. ”Virginia? You wish to see me?” he asked with mild surprise.

She nodded, then wet her lips and said, ”Could you close the doors?”

More surprise flickered in his sky-blue eyes. Cliff turned and closed the double doors. ”This is very odd,” he said, moving toward her. He held out a chair. ”Please.”

”I would rather stand,” she whispered, filled with desperation now.

”What is wrong?” he asked, his gaze intent and searching.

She did not avoid it. ”I am with child,” she said. He started. ”I am with child and I must go home to Sweet Briar, where I was born, and bear my child there.”

His expression was one of astonishment.

”You have a fleet of s.h.i.+ps!” she cried. ”Surely one of them will disembark for an American port? Please, my lord, I can pay for my fare, and I beg you to let me find a berth on that s.h.i.+p!”

He was clearly shocked. ”Are you running away from my brother?”

She stiffened. That was not quite the case, but she had no delusions. She doubted they would ever recover what they had so briefly had. Still, her goal was not to leave her husband. She simply had to go home. Her country was at war, Sweet Briar was being threatened, and she must bear her child there, where she would not be alone.

”Virginia-” his tone became kind ”-I cannot aid you in such a feat.” Clearly he had taken her silence for an affirmative.

She inhaled harshly and sat down. Then she covered her face with her hands. ”I love your brother,” she whispered, not looking up. ”And I always will. But it was one thing for me to bear the brunt of his obsession with the Earl of Eastleigh.” She glanced at Cliff and held his gaze. ”I have begged him to give up his revenge for the sake of his child. He will not. I must think about our babe now. Our child comes first.”

Cliff was grim. ”Of course I agree with you. I agree that Devlin must end his obsession-but I am doubtful that he can.”

”He can't,” she whispered, fighting her tears. ”He has made that clear. And he is gone now, gone to war against my country, maybe even against my home. I am not staying here, Cliff. If you do not help me, I will find another way, another s.h.i.+p. I am going home to have my child, and if the war dares come near Sweet Briar, I will defend my land, even if I must defend it against Devlin. I have no choice now.”

Cliff stared, his eyes wide and thoughtful. It was a long moment before he spoke. And when he did, he sighed. ”I know you will do exactly as you have said. I would rather escort you safely to Sweet Briar than see you on some s.h.i.+p that founders or is attacked. I was setting sail next week for Martinique-I have acquired a sugar plantation there. I will take you home first.”

She cried out in abject relief.

”But I will not keep this a secret,” he warned.

She began to protest.

”No!” His blue eyes flashed. ”You are my brother's wife. He has every right to know where you are-especially as you are with child. I will take you to Sweet Briar, Virginia, but I will also tell Devlin what I have done.”

Virginia knew better than to argue. At least she would be escorted safely to her home. She took his large, rough hands in her own. ”Thank you, Cliff. Thank you.”

He was grim.

IT WAS NOW THE MIDDLE OF MAY. The transatlantic crossing had been a slow and difficult one, with several storms and disadvantageous winds slowing Cliff's schooner down. It had also been a dangerous journey. Cliff, who captained the s.h.i.+p, had ordered a twenty-four-hour lookout for any wars.h.i.+ps, friend or foe. Twice they had evaded American s.h.i.+ps; once, the Amelie had even flown the Stars and Stripes in order to provide cover when a pursuit had begun. Cliff had given her his cabin, a luxuriously appointed affair, but otherwise, he had kept his distance, at once formal and polite. That had been fine with Virginia. Her spirits were bleak and she had not wanted anyone to confide in. All in all, the journey had been long and dismal and she was relieved to see its end.

Virginia had one arm around Arthur, who shared the back seat of the open carriage she had hired in Norfolk. With her other hand, she held on to the carriage door as they bounced down the rutted driveway, her home rising in real glory before her. She almost expected to see her mother running out of the front door, waving madly at her and crying with joy; she almost imagined her father on horseback, riding in from one of the fields. She smiled tearfully, for the house remained such a splendid sight, tall and stately and oh, so welcoming. She had come home after all this time, and her smile was her first since leaving Britain, Somehow, she would bear Devlin's child alone and everything would be all right.

She smiled still, even though more tears fell. To even think of Devlin brought crus.h.i.+ng heartache. Instead, she gazed at the fields, which had yet to be planted, as it was too early in the year. She could see that the soil was in the process of being burned, which sterilized it before the transplanting of the seedling plants, and her heart leapt for the first time in a long time. Suddenly she was eager to walk the fields and inspect them for fungus, rot and other seedbed disease. She was as eager to inspect the crop of seedlings, protected by a thin layer of mulch, so she could calculate the crop they might harvest at the end of the summer. She did not expect much, not with the plantation having been up for sale for most of the past year. But Sweet Briar was now debt-free, so she could borrow money to get them through next winter if she had to. And there had been plenty of rain-she could tell by the thickness of the gra.s.s on the lawns and the abundance of the flowering gardens.

Excitement rippled through her, like the cool, fresh air that came after a hot summer storm.

She inhaled deeply then. The salty-sweet, thick Virginia air was like an elixir; her stomach, long since settled, growled with hunger for the first time in months.

A thin, tall, familiar figure appeared on the porch. Virginia really smiled and she waved at Tillie as the carriage halted in front of the house. She could do this. Before, she had secretly doubted her strength, but now she knew Sweet Briar would save both her and the baby.

”Do come in for a meal before you drive all the way back to Norfolk, Ned,” Virginia told the driver, a man she had known most of her life.

”Thank you kindly, Miss Virginia-I mean, Mrs. O'Neill,” he said, tipping his felt hat at her.

”Down, Arthur,” she said softly, and the big dog bounded to the ground, wagging his tail enthusiastically.

Tillie had not moved. She appeared immobilized as she stared toward Virginia in shock.

Virginia climbed down. ”Tillie!” And the seed of happiness began to take root.

Tillie screamed. ”Virginia! Virginia, it's you!” Skirts lifted, she flew down the porch steps. Virginia ran to meet her and they embraced halfway.

”I haven't heard from you since I got your letter in February,” Tillie cried, pulling away and clasping Virginia's face. Virginia had written her about her marriage and Devlin's wedding gift of the plantation. ”You didn't tell me you were coming home-why didn't you tell me you were coming home? And why are you as white as a ghost-and so skinny?”

Virginia hugged her again. ”There was no time to write since then,” she whispered.

”And you're alone? I mean, other than that dog?” Tillie put her arm around her. She stiffened in surprise, for Virginia's cloak had hidden the protrusion of her tummy. ”You with child? Honey, you got pregnant so soon?”