Bewitching My Love (15 page)

“
Come to my kitchen and I’ll pour ye a cup of cider.” Elizabeth spoke first.

“
Have you spoken the curse yet, Elizabeth Wilds?” His voice was raspy and deep.

“
No, and I won’t until the day of my daughter’s execution. Ye bother me with these visits. I made a bargain with ye, that is all. Stay away from my home, do ye hear me?”

“
I want him killed, ye understand that, Elizabeth? If you fail, I will have ye put to death for witchcraft right next to thy daughter.”

“
Go away, leave me be. I made a bargain, one ye shall see come to pass. I am an old woman and my patience is wearing thin. Go, lest I bring a spell upon ye and thy filthy adulteress Sarah Nichols.
Go now!
” Elizabeth’s voice screeched from her place above them.

“
Heed my warnings old woman, I will have no excuses for failure.” His voice rang heavy with his threats.

* * * *

Rowen and Fern huddled close together under the stairs and held their breath as the boots crossed over them. Fern breathed a sigh of relief when the boots disappeared into the thicket of the woods beyond the house. They didn’t see who the man was as they had wished because his back was to them most of the time. They were just getting ready to slip out from under the stairs when the raking of Elizabeth’s cane stopped above their heads.

Fern looked at Rowen and he shook his head to indicate they should be still until she left. Feeling the urge to sneeze again, she held her finger against her nose. She saw Rowen’s eyebrows rise, warning her, but it was too late. Although soft, her sneeze was still heard. They both looked up slowly, hoping the old woman hadn’t heard.

“
The vermin grow large under my house.” Cackling through her nose, Elizabeth turned and walked back toward the door. “Leave me alone, child, I have more power in one of my wiry gray hairs than you do in your entire body.”

Rowen laced his fingers with Fern’s in preparation to run. After feeling sure that Elizabeth had gone, he pulled her behind him until they reached the horse where it stood tethered to a tree in the woods. “I can’t believe you sneezed, Fern. Couldn’t you hold it?”

“
I’m sorry, Rowen, I thought I had it under control. Do you think she knew it was us?” Fern wiped away a cobweb from her dress that she’d picked up underneath the porch.

“
I don’t doubt it, Fern. What’s interesting is what she said about you having power. I wonder why she thinks that.” Putting his foot in the stirrup, he pulled himself up on the horse then reached his hand out for Fern. Once she was settled against his back, he turned the horse in the direction of the cottage.

“
I haven’t a clue, Rowen. I don’t have any power that I am aware of. I don’t even believe in witches, or at least I didn’t until now. Maybe she’s just afraid of the unknown, I mean, she doesn’t know me, does she?”

“
No Fern, she doesn’t.” Rowen let his eyes scan the stars in the sky and the moon beyond. He’d taken many of his women friends for romantic rides on the horses from his stables. But those rides weren’t nearly as interesting as this one right now. Fern was pressed against his back and he could feel the swell of her breasts as she held him with her arms wrapped around his waist. His abdomen tightened when her fingers began tracing his navel in a circular pattern. “I’ve never known a woman who could tease a man the way you do and still be a virgin, Fern.”

Fern jerked her hands away and let them hang to her sides. “I didn’t realize… I’m sorry, Rowen. I promise I won’t do that again.”

“
Oh love, you don’t have to stop. I just can’t get over how alluring you are, and you don’t even realize it, or the effect you have on me when you touch me like that.” He chuckled when she pulled away, sitting back further on the horse’s rump.

Fern looked away from his strong back and tried to focus on their surroundings. The shadows of the trees mixed with the sounds of an owl screeching in the distance made her want to grab on to Rowen’s sides again. She was relieved when they finally made it back to the cottage. The candlelight glowing from the window was a welcome sight. “Looks cozy, doesn’t it, Rowen, I think I’ll go to sleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.”

Rowen frowned. “I didn’t leave a candle burning, Fern, did you?”

Fern did grab his sides then. “No, I didn’t, Rowen.” She peeked over his shoulder and saw the light. “It would appear we have a visitor.”

Rowen held Fern’s hand as she slid down to the ground then quietly got down after her. “Stay here and hold the horse, I’ll go check it out.”

Fern watched as Rowen crept silently to the door. He’d pulled his pistol from where he kept it hidden in his coat and slowly opened the door. She held her breath when he disappeared into the cottage. The horse was nudging her gently on the shoulder so she turned to rub him behind his ears, she didn’t want him to whinny. The intruder might hear, giving him opportunity to prepare for them. Relief rushed through her when Rowen poked his head back out the door.

“
Come on in, Fern, it’s only Jonathan. Tie the horse to that post over there.” Rowen stood waiting for her to finish before going back in.

Jonathan was sitting on the settee when Fern made her way through the door. He looked completely at home. But then he should, she supposed, considering it was his home. “Mr. Nichols, it is nice to see you again.” She smiled at his searching eyes.

“
The pleasure is mine, I assure ye, madam.” He kissed the back of her hand then sat down once she’d made herself comfortable across from him. “My Mary wouldn’t know what to say if she were to see ye with her own eyes, ye are so much alike.”

Rowen sat down next to Fern and took the cup of tea he offered. Apparently he had been waiting for their return for quite a while. “Mary has seen Fern, Jonathan. Like you, she is aware of our existence. Were you able to speak with her today? About young Rose, I mean.”

“
I did, but only for a moment. She wasn’t able to tell me if I am the child’s father. She told me where ye were just before our worship, Judge Hauthorn, came in to question her. My heart tells me I am, and that my Mary would never allow another man to touch her other than I.”

“
What do you plan to do now, Jonathan? Will you reveal what you know?” Fern’s words were harsh, she didn’t know this man and couldn’t understand her sudden anger toward him.

“
Mistress Fern, if I reveal what I know I will be hung for adultery on gallows hill. My wife Sarah would be without a father for our child. As ye can see, I find myself in a most precarious position.”

“
So you’ll let the child you already have go on believing she has no father? How could you live with yourself if you do such a thing? I grew up an orphan, Mr. Nichols, trust me, it isn’t pleasant. Little Rose is my great grandmother, many times over, so you’ll have to excuse me if I seem irritated with your callous attitude about your acceptance of fatherhood.” Fern stood and walked to the window as she tried to settle her temper.

“
Jonathan, please excuse us for our little knowledge of your ways. This hasn’t been easy on any of us.” He let his gaze travel to Fern. “Right now we need to work out a solution to our problem. There is no time for anger.”

“
I agree, Rowen, please, Fern, come sit down and forgive my impertinence. I don’t want Mary to meet her death any more than ye. Rowen is right, we must find a solution to our problem.”

Fern brushed the tear from her cheek with the back of her hand then walked back to her seat. “We went to Elizabeth’s house tonight to see if we could find out anything. While we were there a man come to visit her. They talked of Mary and your wife Sarah. From what we gathered, it looks as though Elizabeth and this man have a bargain. But they were too vague for us to understand what that bargain was, and it was too dark for us to see who the man was.”

“
Aye, I have long believed Elizabeth Wilds had someone other than herself to help her with her ill deeds. I assure ye that I will investigate this new information. I have also always known her to be a true witch, but for Mary’s sake have never brought her to justice.”

“
When is your child due to be born, Jonathan? Sarah seems to be getting close, am I right to believe it will be soon?” Rowen waited for him to reply.

“
Aye, any day Sarah will deliver my child. Ye can understand why I try to avoid her becoming upset over this matter with Mary.”

Fern couldn’t keep the look of astonishment from her face. “Yet you can watch her accuse Mary falsely of witchcraft when you know it is untrue.” Biting her lip she turned away again.

“
Fern, had I known of Sarah’s intent, I would have stopped her. When the words were spoken, I couldn’t take them back without revealing my feelings for Mary. My heart has been troubled every day since then. She sits waiting for her death because of me.” Jonathan stood then in preparation to leave. “I will take my leave now as it is late and Sarah will send someone looking if I don’t go. I will keep an eye out for this man who visits Elizabeth. When I know who he is I will come to tell ye.” Setting his hat on top of his head he turned to Fern. “Goodnight, mistress Fern.”

Rowen stood close to Fern’s side as they watched Jonathan disappear into the night. Fern hadn’t said a word since becoming so upset with Jonathan, and it appeared even now she was having trouble dealing with her feelings. He wanted to reach out and take her hand, hold her close and comfort her. “Come back inside, Fern.”

Fern looked up into Rowen’s eyes. “I don’t understand my feelings, Rowen! Why am I upset with him? Shouldn’t I understand his dilemma and be as compassionate for his as I am to ours?”

Rowen raked the tears from her face with the tips of his fingers, losing himself in the feel of her silky skin. “Come here, Fern.” Pulling her forward, he wrapped his arms around her and held her close. His nose floated in the heavenly scent of her hair. He wanted her, damn it, even when she was in obvious distress he couldn’t control his desire. He was struggling with his temptation to pick her up and carry her to the soft down mattress of the bed, when she pulled away. Softly he cursed under his breath as he watched her walk across the room to sit on the edge of the bed.

“
I think I’ll lie down now, Rowen. Are you sure you won’t mind the settee? I’m shorter, maybe I could sleep there instead.” Fern hadn’t missed what Rowen wanted. His body had shown evidence of it almost as soon as he pulled her close to his chest. Looking at him now from across the room, she could still see his chest rising and falling against the cotton of the shirt, much faster than normal.

“
No love, you take the bed. I’ll be fine over here.” He cringed when he sat down too quickly, bringing the tight leg of the short breeches against his groin a little too snugly.

“
Did you say something, Rowen?” Fern glanced back across the room before snuffing out the candle. She wanted to sleep in her normal attire tonight since they would be apart for the first time since they’d gotten there. She was tired of the confines of the dress. Back home her friends called her a naturalist because she was more comfortable in fewer clothes.

“
No, no Fern. I was just enjoying the comfort of this soft couch. Go to sleep, I’ll see you in the morning.” Rowen grumbled again under his breath before lying back against the arm of the settee. Miserable uncomfortable thing, he’d regret not crawling underneath the covers of the bed, as he wanted. Shifting his weight, he rolled to his side just in time to watch her dress hit the floor. It was dark except for the glow of the moon. It was casting its beams against her creamy white skin. She looked like a Goddess, beautiful, tantalizing. Not one article of clothing had been left to block her from his view. When she raised her slender arms above her head to rake back some wisps of rogue hair from her forehead he felt his manhood jump to life. With a shaking hand he wiped a bead of sweat from his brow. “Love, I’m only human. Is it your intent to drive me to madness? Because you’re doing a dammed good job of it if that is what you plan.”

Fern stood like a statue with her arms still extended over her head. Slowly she let her head roll around, their eyes meeting across the distance. Even in the dark she could see, no, she could feel the heat radiating from his body. Ultimately it was the tingling of her own breasts that brought her arms down. Feeling somewhat embarrassed by her own physical response she quickly jumped under the covers. “I had no intention of you seeing me, Rowen. I thought there wasn’t enough light. I’ll be careful next time I undress.”

“
Don’t worry about me, Fern, I was enjoying the show, parts of me a little more than the others. When we do finally make love, I want it to be in the light of the moon, just like tonight. You are exquisite, I will never forget what I saw tonight.” He heard her breath quicken across the distance and smiled.

“
Rowen please, you’re embarrassing me. I’ve told you I won’t allow us to make love. It just isn’t meant to be. Besides, we don’t love each other. That may seem a bit on the old fashioned side to you, but love is important to me, it always has been.”

“
Just admit you’re curious, Fern. We would be dynamite together and you know it.” Rowen knew it would be like fire against fire, their union would be fantastic. He’d never been so physically attracted to a woman. As he waited for her reply he imagined his hands pressed against the small of her back as they exacted their pleasure from each other. How her small waist blended with her rounded hips and thighs. Torture, pure and simple.

“
Physical attraction is exactly what it is, all it is, Rowen, but for me, love comes first. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to sleep now.” Rolling over, she tried to keep the vivid image of what he was talking about off her mind. “Tomorrow is the eleventh, isn’t it? We have only seven days left; let’s get some sleep, all right? Goodnight!” Closing her eyes, she tried to force the image of Rowen’s muscled arms holding her as he made love to her under the moon out of her mind; it was with that image that she finally fell into a restless sleep.